Patent GB-379168-A (GB)
Title: Improvements relating to jute softening machines
IPC: D01B9/00
Filed: 1931-12-02
Abstract: 379,168. Jute-softening machines. FRASER, G., FRASER, N., and FRASER, J., Westburn Foundry, Arbroath, Angus. Dec. 2, 1931, No. 33376. [Class 120 (i).] In a jute-softening machine of the type comprising pairs of fluted or like crushing rollers driven through bevel or other gearing from parallel side shafts, the roller-driving shafts 5 and gearing 5<1>, Figs. 1 and 3, are enclosed by hinged side guards 1 which are interlocked with start-and-stop mechanism including a main lever 2 at the feed end and a safety lever 3 at the delivery end of the machine so that the guards 1 cannot be opened while the machine is running and the machine cannot be started until the guards are all closed and until an operative at the delivery end rocks the safety lever 3 from position a, in which the lever 2 is locked in the " off " position and the guards may be unlocked, to position b, in which the lever 2 is free, the lever being movable also to position c to stop the machine. The guards 1 are hinged on pins 4 parallel to the shafts 5 and a slide rod 6, Figs. 1 and 2, is movable by means including a lever 9 so as to carry catches 7 into and out of obstructing relationship with a locking-arm 8 movable with each guard. The lever 2 is mounted on a shaft 18 and is solid with a gear segment 19 meshing with a gear 20 on a shaft 21, Fig. 3, which carries a rotary locking sector 11, notched at 13, and an arm 22 connected to the belt-shipper 10 by a link 23. The lever 2 is solid with an arm 24 extending radially of the shaft 18 and engageable by a projection 25 on a counterweight 17 mounted on the shaft 18 and normally supported by a spring-urged detent 16. A latch member 12 is arranged to co-operate with the sector 11 and is connected to the guard locking mechanism by a pin-and-slot connection 14, 15, the slot 15 being formed in the latch 12 and the pin 14 being carried by a fork 42 pivoted to one arm 43 of a bell-crank lever 43, 44 secured on the shaft 45 of the lever 9. The lever 3, pivoted at 36, is connected by a cable 37 to an arm 38 secured on a shaft 39 carrying . a pendulous arm 40 having a cam face 401 engageable when the lever 3 is moved from a to b with a pin 41 on the latch 12 to lift it clear of the notch 13. With the safety lever 3 in position a the machine is stopped, the latch 12 is engaged in the notch 13, and the lever 2 locked in the " off " position, the guards being unlocked and free to be opened, Fig. 4. If the guards are open the arms 8 obstruct the catches 7 and the machine cannot be started. When the lever 3 is moved to position b the latch 12 is lifted clear of the notch 13 and the lever 2 freed. Movement to the position c serves, through the rod 46 and bell-crank lever 47, 48 to retract the detent 16 and allow the weight 17 to descend, a projection 25 thereon engaging the arm 24 and moving the lever 2 to the "off " position, thus stopping the machine. Two movable transverse safety bars 26, 27 are provided at the feed end connected by members 53, 54, 55 and joined by a link 56 and a lever 57, 58 to the detent control-rod 46, so that if pushed in the direction of feed the detent 16 is retracted and the machine stopped.