Silk-recorder

Application filed July 19, 1928, Serial No. 294,018, and in France July 29, 1927.

In the silk industry instruments are regularly used called silk-recorders, of which the purpose is to indicate the reaction produced on a thread when it is stretched a cer6 tain amount.

Among these instruments, there are some which register automatically, in a continuous manner, on a band of paper, the variations in thickness of a thread of silk.

Actually, if a thread of silk is taken and an attempt is made to stretch it a certain amount, it is necessary to exert on this thread a certain tension, which will be greater as the thread is thicker, and inversely, will be less according as the thread is finer. On the other hand, it is recognized that, for slight stretchings and for silks of the same type and origin, this tension is practically proportional to the thickness of the thread of silk.

²³ The principle on which these instruments are based is, therefore, to exert on a thread, which is moving, a constant stretching, sufficiently weak not to destroy the law of proportion mentioned above and to register, au^2o tomatically on a band of paper, the variations in the reaction produced on this thread by the stretching to which it is submitted, a reaction which is equal and in the opposite sense to the tension.

²³ _ In instruments of this kind, numerous improvements to which it is the object of the present invention to bring about, the stretching of the thread is effected by rolling it on drums of increasing diameter.

^s·* The present invention has for its object a number of members which can be taken separately or preferably in combination, with a view to obtaining a continuous self-registering silk-recorder which functions absolutely

-° perfectly. It consists essentially in certain improvements applied to the system of stretching the thread as much as to the method of graphic registering.

It consists also, besides these main dispositions, in other different dispositions to be used, preferably, at the same time, and these will be explained more clearly hereafter.

^e0 It will be possible to understand it, with the aid of the following description and drawings given by way of example:—

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of such a self-registering silk-recorder.

Figs. 2-14 are actual detailed views of the 55 different finished sections.

Fig. 15 is a perspective view of the whole.

In Fig. 1 on a shaft a, connected directly and receiving a rotary movement from the motor, are fixed three drums b, b¹, b², of in- eo creasing diameters, which are all three covered with rubber.

On these drums bear rollers c, c¹, c², which can, under the action of a lever d, be raised, and in front of these drums are placed two 05 pulleys e and e¹, each with four grooves and mounted freely on their shaft in a support /, which, constantly moved by a spring g, can, .. by means of a crank lever h pivoted on a point i move parallel to it. ₇₀

The recording system proper is composed of a pendulum j, which, carrying two small pulleys It and k¹ is connected with a system Z, oscillating on a fixed. axis m. This system includes, in its pivoting: an arm n, at the end 75 of which is fixed a needle o, supported on a cylinder p covered with a band of paper, a counter-weight q, able, with the aid of a screw, to be approached to and withdrawn from the centre of oscillation, in moving be- 80 fore a graduated scale s, the rod t of an oil dash pot u.

Moreover, the cylinder p is actuated by a slow rotary movement around its axis by the principal shaft <z, with which it is connected 85 by a train of gears not shown in the drawings.

The shaft v of the aforesaid cylinder p, moves the crank lever A, by means of a cam w (see Fig. 7^a), a wheel x mounted on a bar y, 90 controlled by a spring z and by a rod 2.

The system of rolling the thread on a bobbin 3 is worked by a hollow shaft 4 on which it is fixed and on which moves freely a pulley 5 controlled by 6. Moreover, a 05 piece 7, fixed on the shaft 4 as regards the rotary movement, but which can move parallel to its own axis, is constantly moved along against the aforementioned pulley 5, by means of a rod 8 crossing the hollow shaft 4 100

1,851,896 by an oscillatory system 9, carrying a regulated counter-weight 10 and a pulley 11.

Guide pulleys 12 and 13 and the guides 14 and 15, placed respectively at the entrance ₆ and exit of the thread from the instrument, complete the ensemble. <

The working of such an instrument is as follows:

The thread of silk 16, coming from a bob₍₀ bin 17, passes through the guide 14 and then over· the drum δ of smallest diameter. It next passes over the first groove of the pulley e returns round the second drum δ¹, of slightly greater diameter than the former, on ij which it makes three turns and passes each time over one of the grooves of pulley e. From there, it passes over the pulleys k and k¹ of the pendulum j of the. recording system, and re-descends over the third drum 20 δ², of a slightly greater diameter than δ¹. It then makes four turns on this drum and passes each time over one of the grooves of the pulley e¹ then passes, between the guide pulleys 12 and 13, over pulley 11 of the oscil•2j latory system, from where, finally, it arrives at the bobbin 3. .

Because of the covering of rubber on the drums δ, δ¹, δ² which prevents slipping, and of the pressing cylinders c, c¹, c², the thread so 16, being thus forced to take the same movement as the circumference of the aforesaid drums, which becomes greater and greater _ in passing from the first to the last, is thus stretched a certain amount which is always 35 constant.

This stretching, resulting from the variations in thickness of the thread, produces a tension more or less great on the pendulum j which oscillates on the axis m and marks these 40 oscillations on the cylinder p actuated by a rotary movement on its axis v proportional to the speed of rotation of the shaft a, and - therefore to the lineal speed of the thread 16.

The oil dashpot u prevents displacements 45 of the needle arising from vibrations in the instrument or from accidental causes. In varying the position of the counter-weight q by the aid of the screw r, the instrument is regulated for all qualities of silk, whatever their ⁵⁰ elasticity.

Moreover, support f of the pulleys e and e¹is actuated, by the recording cylinder p, in an alternative movement (arrows 18) so as _r_ to prevent the thread of silk from passing always in the same place on the drums δ, δ¹, δ² and thus from cutting the rubber.

Then the thread, in pulling more or less on the pulley 11, tends to raise this in making 60 the system 9 swing on its fixed axis 19, modifying in the same proportion the pressure between the pieces 7 and 5 and so modifying the force of the impulse of the bobbin 3.

With regard to the actual manufacture of 65 the different constituent parts, slightly modi fied, of such an instrument, one can set about it as follows, or in a similar manner:

The drums δ, δ¹ and δ² of Fig. 1 may be formed in two parts 20 and 21 which are fixed on the axis a by means of a screw-nut 22 (Fig. ⁷⁰2). This method of mounting allows the adjustment of the drums on the, axis even after they have once been mounted, which assures a perfectly even turning and thus overcomes one of the causes of the breaking of the thread. ⁷⁵

The fixing of the rubber is assured by three movable plates 23, 24 and 25, which press it against the ends of the drums. These plates are controlled by bolts 26 which cross the drum 21 and are supported on the inside of ⁸⁰the drum 20. In screwing these bolts one presses the rubber 51, which is thus fixed at one end and in the middle. The last plate 25 is controlled by a nut 27, screwed on the end of the axis a. This serves, at the same time, ⁸⁵to conceal the placement of the screws.

This arrangement is very suitable for the trial of natural silks of a certain fineness.

For thicker silks and for artificial silks, the drum can be modified by doing away with ⁰⁰the rubber which wears much too rapidly.

In this case, the brass drums covered with rubber are replaced by cylinders of carborundum of very fine grain, made exactly to the desired diameter. These are, then, the pulleys ⁹⁵in Fig. 4 which are covered with rubber.

The pulleys c, c¹ and c² intended to support the thread of silk on the rubber so as to prevent all slipping, must be independent of each other, in such a way that the pressure ¹⁰⁰will be constant, and they must be easily removed, for the fluff from the silk lodges there and prevents the instrument from working.

They are mounted each on a single roller bearing (Fig. 4). These bearings are mount-.¹⁰⁵ed on tubes such as 28. The separation is effected by the sleeve tubes 29, which block the centre of the roller bearing. In unscrewing the pin 30 and drawing it out, it is seen that the pulley can be withdrawn. no

The pulley c² is fixed at the end of two rods 31 and 32, which are swivelled at the point 33 (Fig. 5) and receive by means of a small connecting rod 34 the pressure which tends to communicate to them the movement of the ~^χ0lever 35 swivelled at the point 36 and having the counter-weight 37, giving a constant pressure.

The pulley c¹ is mounted in the same way with a separate counter-weight. It is there- ^x-° fore completely independent of the first. Pulley c is supported by a single rod 38, which carries a tube 39, allowing to pass, with a certain play, the pin of the pulley e¹ and its tube of separation. The rod 38 being mount- — ed on the same axis as the rods 40 and 41, it is seen that the pulley c can move some millimeters with regard to pulley c¹.

As it has also a third counter-weight, it is seen that it will be completely independent ^J

1,851,895 of the pulley c¹ and that the pressure on the drum b is thus constant.

This pulley can be removed elsewhere when the pulley c¹ is raised by simply unscrewing ^e the loose screw-nut 42 which locks' its roller bearing on the tube 39.

To simplify the working of the instrument, the lever of the rheostat for starting and regulating is mounted on the same axis as the ¹⁰ control of the movement of the pulleys which must be separated from the drum every time the instrument is stopped in order that the thread can be placed in.

For this purpose, the lever 43 controls the ¹⁵ rheostat by means of an axis 44. (Fig. 5.) / This axis has three small forks, each with a little pulley 45. These pulleys are supported on the end of the levers 35 and tend to raise them. In moving the lever in the direction ²⁰ of the arrow, it is seen that the three counterweights are raised, that, on the contrary, the three pulleys are lowered and the progressive movement of the motor is stopped.

By acting in the opposite way, the three ²⁶ counter-weights 37 which place the three pulleys against the drum are set free at the same time as the motor is set in motion. Following up this movement, a time comes, when the _ft three pulleys c, c¹ and c² are in contact with ⁸⁰ the drum, when the small pulleys 45 leave the lever. The working of the lever can then be continued to increase the speed, but it is seen that at this moment the levers and the pulleys _ are now submitted only to the action of their ⁸⁵ respective counter-weights.

. To prevent the thread from always travelling on the same point on the rubber and in order not to cut the rubber very quickly, the thread must be moved. It has been judged -° preferable not to move the thread during the course of the trial, which might harm the precision. It is sufficient to move it a certain amount every time a trial is completed.

_ To obtain this result (Fig. 6) the side of •° the recording drum p, placed vertically, bears a cam at a certain point. On this side is supported a small pulley 46 fixed at the end of a lever held by a spring. This lever, in moving, makes to move, by means of a ratchet 47, a toothed wheel 48 which is connected with an eccentric 49. At each turn of the recording drum, it is seen that the toothed wheel moves forward a few teeth. This movement of the

E5 eccentric moves slightly the lever 50 which is connected by diverse levers and axes to the support of the guide pulleys of the thread. At each turn of the drum, the thread is there. fore moved a certain amount and does not

CO run on the same place on the rubber.

It is moreover essential for the good working of the instrument that the thread which has passed over the drum covered with rubber and which is going to be rolled on the final C5 bobbin 3, where one collects it again should be submitted to a constant tension, for variations in the tension can lessen the adherence of the thread on the rubber and, consequently, · falsify the record of the instrument.

For this purpose, the bobbin 3 is mounted 70 (Fig. 7) on a nucleus 53 which turns freely on the axis 54, which is driven by the motor. This nucleus is mounted on two roller bearings. It is closed at 55 by a fibre stopper and at 56 by a loose screw-nut screwing on the 75 axis, which makes it possible to avoid the introduction of dust and to take out this nucleus instantly to clean it and to remove the fluff.

The force of the nucleus, and therefore the tension of the thread, are assured by friction, go A movable deadener 57, running on the axis 54 and driven by it by means of a key 58 can be supported with a variable pressure against the stopper 55. It results from this that the stopper and the nucleus which are interde- 85 pendent, are driven with a force which depends on that which acts on the movable deadener 57.

This deadener is controlled by the thread itself which passes over a pulley 59 (Figs. 13 90 and 14) and tends to lower it, exerting thus a certain traction on a rod 60, which is provided at its lower end with a counter-weight 61 and with a small screw 62 (Figs. 8 and 9). The tension of the thread of silk is thus communi- 95 cated successively to the rod 60, to the screw 62, and to a crank lever 63 which carries the pulleys 64, which act in their turn on the deadener 57, tending thus to remove it from the nucleus carrying the bobbin. 100

It is thus seen that, if the tension of the thread increases for any cause whatever, the deadener is brought back behind, lessening thus the pressure with which it rests on the fibre stopper 55 which lessens the tension by 105 lessening the speed of rotation of the winding up bobbin 3 by reducing the friction of the element 55 thereagainst. There is therefore an automatic regulation of the thread. To arrive at a greater precision, another system 110 has been added (Fig. 10) which consists of a cylinder 65, carrying an arm 66 which can rest, with a variable pressure, against the axis of the aforesaid pulley 64. This pressure is obtained by a spiral screw 67 which is in- 115 side the cylinder and is fixed at the other end on a loose cap 68 which can easily be moved by hand. In turning this cap, it is seen that the screw can be made to move with more or less force on the cylinder, and, consequent- ¹²⁰ly, to produce an effort more or less great on the lever 66, and to rest more or less, by means of the pulleys 64, the deadener 57 against the fibre disc 55, and there is thus a means of regulating precisely the tension of the thread ¹²³of silk. A damper 69 (Fig. 9) regulates the movements of the pulleys 64.

The instrument can be used to determine the type of silk, that is to say, the weight of _{r ϋ}

1,861,895 ery for engagement by the thread and to permit movement of the thread longitudinally of said loose pulleys, a support on which the loose pulleys are mounted, means for imparting a to and fro movement to the support and 7θ means to record variations in the tension of the thread.

2. In thread-tensioning apparatus of the type referred to in which the thread is given a constant stretching, thread engaging rollers 75 of increasing diameter in combination with loose pulleys with grooves on their periphery for engagement by the thread and to permit movement of the thread longitudinally of said loose pulleys, a support on which the 80 .loose pulleys are mounted, means for imparting a to and fro movement to the support, an oscillating device actuated by variation in the tension of the thread under tension, means to regulate the operation of the.oscil- 85 lating device, by regulating the tension of the thread as the same passes from the tensioning means and means to record variations in the tension of the thread.

3. In thread tensioning apparatus of the 80 type referred to in which the thread is given a constant stretching, thread engaging rollers of increasing diameter in combination with loose pulleys, a support on which the loose . pulleys are mounted means for imparting a 05 ίο and fro movement to the support, an oscillating device actuated by variation in the tension of the thread under tension, a winding bobbin, means to rotate the same, and means to regulate the rotation of the wind- 100 ing bobbin to cause the same to regulate the tension of the thread during the passage of the thread from the tensioning means to the winding bobbin and means to record variations in the tension of the thread. 105

4. In thread tensioning apparatus of the type referred to in which the thread is given a constant stretching, thread engaging rollers of increasing diameter in combination with loose pulleys having groves on their periph- ¹¹⁰ery for engagement by the thread and to permit movement of the thread longitudinally of said loose pulleys, a support on which the loose pulleys are mounted, means for imparting a to and fro movement to the support, an oscillating device actuated by variations in the tension of the thread under tension, a winding bobbin, means to rotate the same and means to regulate the rotation of the ₁₂₀winding bobbin to cause the same to regulate the tension of the thread during the passage of the thread from the tensioning means to the winding bobbin and means to record variations in the tension of the thread., 125

5. In thread tensioning apparatus of the class described, a plurality of tensioning drums, means to rotate the same, a plurality of pulleys arranged opposite the tensioning drums, pressure rollers for movement to and 130 a given length of thread. In this case, it is sufficient to take a bobbin, take the weight of it, place it on the instrument, roll on it a known length of silk and weight it.

₆ It is necessary therefore to arrange a method by which the instrument stops automatically when a certain length of thread has passed through it. It is just as desirable as making it go without stopping automatically.

₁₀ With this object, recourse is had to the following system (Fig. 11 and 12).

A disc 70, whose movement arises from that of the drum by means of an endless screw, is divided into a certain number of equal 15 parts, which forms a certain number of notches.

A system of two levers 71 and 72 is supported on the circumference of this disc. The lever 71 carries a pulley 73 and a boss 74, 20 which serves to fix precisely the stopping point of the machine. This lever is supported against the disc by the spring 75.

Mounted on the same axis 82, the lever 72 rests on the lever 71 for it is driven by the ²⁸ spring 52. This lever carries, isolated by a fibre plate, a contact screw 76 which rests permanently against the screw 77 of the first lever, which closes the circuit of the motor. When the instrument is working, the, disc 70 ⁸⁰ turns, the pulley 73 and the boss 74 follow. the notches, the lever 71 moves, but the lever 72 will move along with it, and there is no breakage in the contact of the screws 76 and ₈₆ 77 and, consequently, no stopping of the motor.

But the instrument includes a handle 78, moving on an axis 79 (Fig. 12) whose extremity 80 crosses the supporting plate and _ω can hold up the end 81 of the lever 72. It is seen that, if the handle 78 is lowered, the lever 71 will follow the notches of the disc 70, but that, each time the lever 71 falls in the hollow of a notch, the lever 72 being held 45 up separated, the two screws 76 and 77 will be separated and, consequently, there will be a stoppage of the instrument. The spacing of the notches will be regulated so that at each stoppage there will be the desired length W of thread on the bobbin.

It is evident and follows from what precedes that the invention is not at all limited to the single method of manufacture men_ tioned above, nor is the manufacture of the different parts. It includes, on the contrary, all the variations in execution based on the same working principle.