Patent GB-707339-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to machines for measuring the superficial areas of work-pieces
IPC: G01B5/06
Filed: 1952-04-04
Abstract: 707,339. Area meters. BRITISH UNITED SHOE MACHINERY CO., Ltd. April 4, 1952 [April 5, 1951], No. 8605/52. Class 106 (1). [Also in Groups XVI and XXXVII] In a machine for measuring the superficial area of a work-piece of sheet material, an indication in accordance with the measurement is marked on a label or portion of strip material which is attached to the work-piece. General arrangement. - The leather-areameasuring machine described has measuring pinwheels 18, Fig. 1, arranged similarly to those described in Specification 19156/09, [Class 106 (i)], and connected through integrating levers (not shown) to a beam 156 carrying a sector which rotates a disc 164 of " totalizing mechanism " B through an angular distance corresponding to the area measured, the angular position of the disc being translated by an electric switch arrangement into selective operation of printing solenoids. A piece of leather 23, Fig. 2, on table 20 is fed between the wheels 18 and power-driven roll 14 to aninclined table 22 below mechanism C which, under control of fluid motor M, prints the area on a piece of tape L, Fig. 30, and attaches the tape by adhesive or, as shown, by a staple 740 to a trailing portion of the leather. This portion may be selected by moving the mechanism C across the machine by means of handle 56 of control mechanism A which also includes a leather-detecting plate 60 which is moved to the inoperative position shown in Fig. 1, at the end of each measuring operation, by a fluid motor 116 which also operates shaft 110 for resetting the mechanism B. The operation of motors M, 116 is timed by an electric control circuit, Fig. 32. Mechanism A.-The handle 56, Figs. 1 and 2, is fixed on a bifurcated member 44 which is longitudinally slidable along the rod 26 of a rectangular frame which is carried by pivot shafts 38, 40. The plate 60 is pivoted on studs 62, 64 of the member 44 and, when in the lowered operative position of Figs. 2 and 32, is spring- urged into a recess 80 to close the upper, instead of the lower, contacts of a microswitch 72 when it does not contact a piece 23. The frame is held in both the operative and inoperative positions by a spring detent 150, Fig. 1, engaging a plate 142 pinned to the shaft 38, which plate is rotated by a finger 136 through iinkwork 114, 112, 124, 128, 132, when the motor 116 is operated. Sliding of the member 44 along the frame causes the mechanism C to move along tracks 260, 262, Figs. 1 and 11, by means of cables 96, 102 passing over pulieys such as 92, 94, 90, 91, Figs. 2 and 1. Mechanism B.-The disc 164, Fig. 1, carries lugs (shown in section in Fig. 8) which operate the buttons of switches fixed between plates 202, 204 when the latter are moved rightward by solenoid 184, Figs. 1 and 32, which also causes the closure of microswitch 200. The switches are arranged in three sets with their buttons in different concentric circles, Fig. 8. Four switches 222, corresponding to quarters of a square foot are operated by lugs 220 spaced by 1“ square feet around the disc 164; ten switches 224, corresponding to units of square feet, are operated by lugs 226-229 ; and switches 232, 234, and 236, corresponding to 10, 20 and 30 square feet, are operated by lugs 238 and 240 respectively. The position of the lugs shown in Fig. 8 corresponds to 15¥ square feet (see Fig. 30) and each switch is in the circuit of a corresponding print solenoid 5, Fig. 32. The quarters and units solenoids are so arranged that if more than one is operated the lower takes priority and, to prevent errors in the transition between " ¥ " or " 9," and " 0," operation of an " 0 " (quarters or units) solenoid is prevented, if the " ¥ " or " 9 " switch is operated, by the series arrangement of switch contacts shown. For the tens solenoids, the higher takes priority. To move the disc slightly away from positions corresponding to 7/8ths square foot, which might produce incorrect readings, a spring-urged adjustable conical plunger 248 on the plate 202 co-acts with the edges of lugs 246. Mechanism C.-The mechanism is supported by a main frame structure including an upper deck 264, Figs. 1 and 11, and relatively movable intermediate and lower decks 360 and 420. The deck 360 is supported by four links such as 322, 352, connected to a parallel linkwork including 330, 334, 336 and a plate 318 operatively connected to the piston rod 308 of the motor M. The rod 308 has a head engaging a concavity in the piston 304 and is acted on by an adjustable spring 310 engaging a cap 306. Air is supplied through a hose 302 to the cylinder 300 which is supported from the upper deck by a flange 296. The deck 420 is carried by four rods such as 394, 398 which pass through the upper and intermediate decks and are supported on the latter by collars such as 404. Stop nuts 400 co-act with the deck 264 to limit the downward movement of the lower deck 420 into contact with the piece 23. Printing, tape feeding and cutting, ink-ribbon and stapling mechanism (described below) is carried by the lower deck and operated by this movement and the further relative movement, against springs 408, of the deck 360. Printing mechanism.-The printer P, Figs. 11 and 14, is supported by rods 600, 602, Fig. 13, extending upwards from the lower deck and is moved downwards to effect printing, against springs such as 626, by plates such as 672, Fig. 11, on the intermediate deck 360 which engage the ends of plates 604, 606 between which are mounted the printing solenoids S. The plunger of each solenoid is spring-urged leftward against plate 608 but when the solenoid is energized projects through a perforation in plate 606 to form a type sector stop. The plungers of the quarters, units and tens solenoids are arranged in corresponding circles Q, U, T, Fig. 18, and co-act with sectors 660, 662 and 664 respectively which are shown stopped in the position for printing 15¥ square feet (see also Figs. 8 and 30.) The sectors are frictionally mounted on a shaft 650 which is rotatable in a sleeve 652, Fig. 14, and carries a gear 648 which is engaged by a segment 644 pivoted to the plate 608 and operated by a link 294, Figs. 11 and 18, depending from the upper deck 264, as the lower deck is moved relatively thereto. Feeding and cutting tape.-The paper or cotton tape 286, Figs. 11 and 14, is fed from a reel 284, rotatably mounted on the upper deck 264, between rolls 422, 424 and between the guide surface of a member 426 and side strips 434 to a slot in a cutter block 440 and then to the printing position where it is supported by a rubber insert 702 and guided by two further side strips such as 706. A spring-controlled cutting knife 448, pivoted to the block 440, is actuated by the sleeve 652 of the printing mechanism. A spring member 454, Figs. 13 and 14, engaging a ratchet 458 allows rotation of the roll 422 only in one direction, the roll shaft 460 being rotated upon each upward return movement of the deck 420, to feed on a length of tape L, Fig. 30, by a ratchet-and-pawl mechanism operated by a rack 290, Figs. 11 and 13, depending from the deck 264. Ink ribbon mechanism.-The ink ribbon 470, Fig. 14, passing between the type sectors and the tape 286, is stepped on during each upward return movement of the deck 360, Fig. 11, owing to the spring-urged return movement of a pawl 586 carried by a pivoted plate 574 actuated by a depending pin 386. The pawl 586 rotates a ratchet wheel on a shaft 492 which is connected through bevel gearing with one or the other of ribbonspool-shafts 476, 486, Fig. 13. Near each end of the ribbon is an eyelet 570 which engages one or the other of slit ribbon-supporting arms 556, 566 thereby operating a parallel linkwork including rod 560. The linkwork causes a rod 550 to rotate a plate 528 relative to a supporting plate 529, Fig. 14, against a spring member 544, into the path of one or the other of pins 378, 380 depending from the deck 360. The plate 529 is pivoted about pins 522, 524 carried by arms of a bracket 502 and has depending arms 530, 532 carrying pins extending between two discs on the shaft 492. Thus, upon the next downward movement of the deck 360, the plates 528, 529 will be tilted so as to move the shaft 492 axially and reverse the ribbon feed. The shaft 492 is held in its two axial positions by permanent magnets 512, 514 co-acting with two discs such as 508. Stapling mechanism.-The staples 740, Fig. 30, are fed in a strip 738, Fig. 27, from a magazine 736, Fig. 22, along a plate 732 by the fingers 762 of a bifurcated member upon the spring- controlled return movement of a lever 754 fixed to a pivot shaft 750. The shaft also carries a lever 752 connected to a rod 275 slidable in a plate 273, Fig. 11, carried by the upper deck 264, and the sliding movement is limited by a stop ring 277 so that the shaft is rotated when the deck 420 moves downward. A pivoted bifurcated finger 264, Fig. 22, prevents reverse movement of the strip 738, the fingers 262, 264 being biased by a spring 770. The ends of the staples are bent over by the tabs 834 of a die 824, Figs. 22 and 28, and each staple is sheared by an edge 830 of a member 776, co-operating surfaces being provided on the end of the plate 732. The members 824, 776 are secured together, and the latter also has a bottom surface 840 for driving each staple into a piece 23, Fig. 30, which surface preferably co-acts with a metal plate (not shown) on the table 22, Fig. 1, and has a cylindrical part 778, Figs. 11 and 28, which is depressed by a bolt 416 depending from the deck 360 to effect the stapling operation against springs acting on a yoke 780. A blade 842, slidable between the members 776, 824 and having its downward movement limited by stops (not shown) engaging shoulders 856, 858, has stapleguiding portions 860, 862 and tabs 850, 852 for movement along the part 778 against a spring 854. Operation; electric control circuit.-After a piece of leathe