A method and apparatus for displacing a continuous flat sheet of material

Abstract: This invention relates to a method and apparatus for displacing a continuous flat sheet (1) of material having a first edge (3) and a second edge (4), running along a first plane in a first direction which is the direction of its centreline to a parallel but sideways displaced direction in a second plane the direction being parallel to the first, in which the second edge (4) of the sheet (1) is displaced from the first plane to decrease the path length in the first plane of the second edge (4) relative to the first edge (3) to produce a first change in direction of running and subsequently to displace the first edge (3) from the second plane to decrease the path length in the second plane of the first edge (3) relative to the second edge (4) to similarly produce a second change in direction of running equal in magnitude but in an opposite direction to the first change in direction so that the final direction of running is parallel to the first direction of running.

Description: This invention relates to a method and apparatus for displacing a continuous flat sheet of material and particularly to a conveyor suitable for carrying pliable sheet material such as uncured rubber compound. Sheets of such material are conventionally made by extrusion or calendering and may comprise flat sheet 80-100 cms wide but only 3 or 4mm thick. Extruded sheet compound is usually trimmed by edge trimming knife blades and to do this most effectively requires accurate and adjustable alignment of the sheet as it is conveyed to the knife blades along a conveyor. Sideways displacement of sheet of this type is conventionally achieved by means of carrying the material to a roller substantially displaced above the feed conveyor and slightly twisting the sheet during the displacement to provide a turn in path, carrying the sheet on a straight conveyor length to a second high mounted roller and then bringing the sheet back to its original conveyor level with a second twist to return the path to one displaced from but parallel to the original feed direction. Such conveyor devices, however, are long and high and do not allow effective adjustment of the amount of sideways displacement as is required to adjust the feed to edge trimming knives or the like. Furthermore they are not suitable for thin or particularly pliable sheet as the sheet is not supported during its vertical twisting movements. An apparatus for the sideways displacement of a moving sheet of material comprising a pivotable roller conveyor mounted between input and output rollers according to the preamble of claim 6 is known, e.g. from DE-A-2061131. However the conveyor rollers are and remain in the same plane as the input and output rollers. It is an object of the present invention to provide a compact controllable means of displacing sheet material on a conveyor system. Accordingly, one aspect of the invention provides a method of displacing a continuous flat sheet of material having a first edge and a second edge running along a first plane in a first direction which is the direction of its centreline to a parallel but sideways displaced direction in a second plane the direction being parallel to the first, in which the second edge of the sheet is displaced from the first plane to decrease the path length in the first plane of the second edge relative to the first edge to produce a first change in direction of running and subsequently to displace the first edge from the second plane to decrease the path length in the second plane of the first edge relative to the second edge to similarly produce a second change in direction of running equal in magnitude but in an opposite direction to the first change in direction so that the final direction of running is parallel to the first direction of running. Preferably the change in direction of running is produced by a relative difference of the path length in the plane of the two edges of the sheet due to the unequal displacement of both edges from the plane. According to a second aspect of the invention an apparatus for the aforementioned method comprising a feed conveyor carrying the sheet longitudinally in a first plane to a feed or input roller extending perpendicularly to the centreline of the feed conveyor and an output roller and an output conveyor for carrying the sheet longitudinally in a second plane parallel to the first plane and a pivotable conveyor interposed between the input roller and the output roller characterised in that the conveyor comprises a pivot frame pivotally movable by means of an actuator in a plane parallel to the first plane about a pivot pin located substantially on the centreline of the feed conveyor and the input roller, a centre strut fixedly connected to the pivot frame and located substantially at the centre of the conveyor and aligned in a plane parallel to the plane of movement of the pivot frame and substantially perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction of the conveyor, two side frames mounted one at each end of the centre strut and pivotally connected to the centre strut so that side frames can pivot about the centre strut in parallel planes which are perpendicular to the plane of movement of the pivot frame, second and third support rollers disposed between the side frames, the second and third support rollers being spaced apart in the longitudinal direction of the conveyor and perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, for carrying the sheet across the conveyor from the input roller to the output roller respectively and displacement drive means to displace at least one end of the second support roller adjacent to one side frame from the first plane and simultaneously displace the at least the opposed end of the third support roller adjacent to the other side frame from the second plane, the displacement drive means for displacing the ends of the second and third support rollers being operated in response to pivotal movement of the pivot frame such that the displacements of the second and third support rollers affects the sideways displacement of the sheet between the parallel feed and output directions. Further aspects of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of one embodiment of the invention in conjunction with the attached diagrammatic drawings in which:- Figure 1 is a diagram showing the path of a flat sheet through the conveyor system; Figure 2 is an enlarged view of the first displacement in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a side view on Figure 1 showing the paths of the sheet edges; Figure 4 is a plan view of a conveyor system; and Figure 5 is a side view of the conveyor shown in Figure 4. The invention, as shown in Figure 1 is to provide for a longitudinally moving flat sheet of material (1) which would normally exit the conveyor system between the arrows A i.e. as sheet 2, with means to position the sheet in the position of arrows B, or arrows C, as required for an input to a second machine which may for example be a side trimming machine. The method of doing this is to provide at a first point X a small angular turn in the path followed by the sheet 1 and at a second point Y, a second angular turn back to a path which is parallel to the original longitudinal feed direction of the sheet 1. This can be affected as shown in Figure 2 by changing the path length of one side of the conveyor in the horizontal plane. Thus as shown in Figure 2 if the sheet 1 is moving from left to right of the page, and it has a left hand edge 3 and a right hand edge 4, if the right hand edge 4 is taken around a path length lifting it from the horizontal plane 5 in which the input sheet is running and then returning it back to that plane 5, then the effective path length in the horizontal direction of the right hand edge 4 is reduced. This reduction results in a right hand turn when considered in the horizontal direction of the sheet as shown. This is the action at point X and a similar action at point Y where the left hand edge 3 is diverted from the plane 5 by lifting it whilst the right hand edge is kept in the plane 5 will cause a second acute angle turn and this, assuming the path length differences are matched will give a resultant output path parallel to the input direction and in the same plane. Thus the method of the present invention comprises diverting one edge of the flat sheet from the plane in which it is running into the apparatus so that it is effectively slowed in horizontal direction and then diverting the other edge to bring the output direction into a direction parallel to the input direction. The method provides a means of adjusting the deflections and therefore the angles of diversions of path which can be adjusted by a simple means so that output direction of the flat sheet can be moved readily from side to side of the original path without deformation of the sheet. An apparatus to effect this invention is shown in Figures 4 and 5 and basically comprises an input conveyor 6 and an output conveyor 7 both of which may be belt conveyors or roller type conveyors. The input conveyor 6 has a first feed or support roller 8 perpendicular to the incoming direction 1 of the sheet carried on the conveyor 6 and the output conveyor 7 has an output roller 9 to take the sheet from the device and feed it onto the output conveyor 7. Between the input and output rollers 8 and 9 is mounted a short conveyor mechanism 10 which is the real subject of the present invention. The conveyor device 10 in this example, has a length of 800mm so that it fits between the input and output rollers 8 and 9 and a width of approximately 500 mm so that a sheet up to 50 centimetres can be carried. The conveyor 10 comprises a base frame 11 supporting the conveyor section above it. One end 12 of the base frame has a vertically extending pivot pin 13 mounted at the longitudinal centre of the incoming conveyor 6 and having its centreline substantially through the centreline of the input roller 8. A diamond shaped pivot frame 14 has one corner 15 mounted on the pivot pin 13, the opposite corner 16 is substantially aligned with the centreline of the incoming conveyor 6 but is adjacent to the output roller 9 and the other two opposite corners 17 and 18 are at the left hand and right hand sides respectively of the incoming conveyor. Diagonally across the frame 14 is a centre strut 19 and mounted at either end of strut 19 are two side frames 20 and 21. Both side frames 20 and 21 are pivotally connected to the centre strut so that they are maintained mutually parallel but can each move on that pivot so that either side frame 20 or 21 can be raised at one end and lowered at the other. Between both side frames 20 and 21 there is a series of parallel conveyor rollers 22 so that the side frames provide a substantially continuous conveyor surface made up by these rollers 22. The ends of the centre strut slide on a machine base so that they are held vertically in the same plane. An actuator cylinder 23 which operates in the horizontal direction is connected to the corner 16 of the frame 14 which allows it to be moved around its pivot 13 and thus to turn the conveyor assembly 10 to the left or right hand side of the incoming conveyor path and thus to steer the incoming sheet of material. Beneath one end of each of the side frames 20 and 21 is provided a cam and follower mechanism 24 between its respective side frame and the base 11 and this is arranged so that when the actuating cylinder 23 turns the frame 14 one side frame has its input end raised at the same time as the other side frame has its input ends lowered and visa versa at the output ends. It should be noted that the conveyor 10 is mounted a small distance above the input and output conveyors 6 and 7 and this height difference is arranged to be such that at the maximum designed sideways movement of the conveyor 10 the lowest position of the side frame is still slightly above the level of the conveyor 6 and 7. Thus by pivoting the frame 10 about the pivot point 13 one corner of the conveyor 10 is raised and the other end of the roller extending from that corner to the other side frame is lowered. This creates a change in the path lengths at each side of the incoming sheet which compensates for the angle of change of direction of the sheet as it runs on the conveyor 10. At the output end of the conveyor 10 the opposite effect occurs so that the sheet is steered back onto the output conveyor 7 and takes up a direction parallel to its incoming direction on the input conveyor. Thus by operation of the cylinder 23 the conveyor can be steered from side to side of the incoming direction as required. In the case where the displacement of either edge is obtained by dropping a corner of the frame below the level of the input or output conveyor, then conventional hold-down rollers should be provided. These could be of the full width or part width type. The displacements of the frame can be obtained by various means, including the actuator 23 and cam and follower mechanisms 24. Whilst in the main embodiment the support roller which is fitted has one end raised and the other end lowered, it should be appreciated that the necessary relative displacement can also be achieved by maintaining one end at a constant height, thus providing a non-displaced end. This may be in the same plane as the feed and/or output roller. An important advantage of the current invention is that the conveyor 10 is quite short and it provides accurate easy adjustment of sheet material onto the output conveyor without the previously known large assemblies where corrections made during vertical movement to a conveyor substantially above the incoming and outgoing conveyers.

Claims: A method of displacing a continuous flat sheet (1) of material having a first edge (3) and a second edge (4), running along a first plane in a first direction which is the direction of its centreline to a parallel but sideways displaced direction in a second plane said direction being parallel to that of the first, characterised in that the second edge (4) of the sheet (1) is displaced from the first plane to decrease the path length in the first plane of the second edge (4) relative to the first edge (3) to produce a first change in direction of running and subsequently to displace the first edge (3) from the second plane to decrease the path length in the second plane of the first edge (3) relative to the second edge (4) to similarly produce a second change in direction of running equal in magnitude but in an opposite direction to the first change in direction so that the final direction of running is parallel to the first direction of running. The method according to claim 1 characterised in that the change in direction or running is produced by a relative difference of the path length in the plane of the two edges (3,4) of the sheet (1) due to the unequal displacement of both edges (3,4) from the plane. A method according to claim 1 or claim 2 characterised in that the second plane is the same plane as the first plane and the sheet is sideways displaced between the front of the first edge displacement and the position of the second edge displacement. A method according to any of claims 1, 2 or 3 characterised in that the sheet is supported on a series of rollers. A method according to claim 4 characterised in that the sheet is held onto said rollers by at least two hold down rollers one at each edge displacement position. An apparatus for the method of claim 1 for the sideways displacement of a continuous moving sheet of material having a first edge (3) and a second edge (4) comprising a feed conveyor (6) carrying the sheet longitudinally in a first plane to a feed or input roller (8) extending perpendicularly to the centreline of the feed conveyor (6) and an output roller (9) and an output conveyor (7) for carrying the sheet longitudinally in a second plane parallel to the first plane and a pivotable conveyor (10) interposed between the input roller (8) and the output roller (9), the pivotable conveyor (10) comprising a pivot frame (14) pivotally movable by means of an actuator (23) in a plane parallel to the first plane about a pivot pin (13) located substantially on the centreline of the feed conveyor (6) and the input roller (8), charaterized in that it comprises a centre strut (19) fixedly connected to the pivot frame (14) and located substantially at the centre of the pivotable conveyor (10) and aligned in a plane parallel to the plane of movement of the pivot frame (14) and substantially perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction of the conveyor (10), two side frames (20,21) mounted one at each end of the centre strut (19) and pivotally connected to the centre strut (19) so that side frames (20,21) can pivot about the centre strut (19) in parallel planes which are perpendicular to the plane of movement of the pivot frame (14), second and third support rollers (22) disposed between the side frames (20,21), the second and third support rollers (22) being parallel when viewed perpendicularly to the first and second planes and spaced apart in the longitudinal direction of the pivotable conveyor (10) for carrying the sheet across the pivotable conveyor (10) from the input roller (8) to the output roller (9) respectively and displacement drive means to displace at least one end of the second support roller (22) adjacent to one side frame (20 or 21) from the first plane and simultaneously displace the at least the opposed end of the third support roller (22) adjacent to the other side frame (21 or 20) from the second plane, the displacement drive means for displacing the ends of the second and third support rollers being operated in response to pivotal movement of the pivot frame (14) such that the displacements of the second and third support rollers (22) affects the sideways displacement of the sheet between the parallel feed and output directions. An apparatus according to claim 6 characterised in that the first plane of the input conveyor (6) and the second plane of the output conveyor (7) are in the same plane. An apparatus according to claim 6 or 7 characterised in that the second and third support rollers (22) have their non-displaced ends in the same planes as the feed and output conveyors (6,7) respectively first and second planes. An apparatus according to claim 6 or 7 characterised in that the second and third support rollers (22) each have both ends positioned to the same side of the said first and second planes and when one end of the roller is further displaced from said respective plane the other end is moved towards the plane. An apparatus according to any of claims 6 to 8 characterised in that the second and third support rollers (22) are rotated about respective axes perpendicular to the first and second planes such that each roller remains, when viewed perpendicularly to the respective plane, perpendicular to the direction of movement of the sheet over the respective roller. An apparatus according to claim 10 characterised in that the second and third rollers (22) are the beginning and end rollers of a set of support rollers disposed between the sideframes (20,21) and all mutually parallel when viewed perpendicular to the first and second planes. An apparatus according to claim 11 characterised in that the said set of rollers change progressively in angle to said first and second planes which provides for roller ends at gradually increasing and decreasing displacements along the length of the set. An apparatus according to any of claims 6 to 12 characterised in that one end of each side frame (20,21) is connected to displacement drive means comprising a cam and follower mechanism (24) to affect the displacement. An apparatus according to claim 13 characterised in that the pivot frame (14) is a rectangular support frame parallel to said first plane having a pivotal axis at one end (15) perpendicular to the plane and adjacent to the feed roller (8) and an actuator (23) is provided to displace the other end (16) of the frame in a direction parallel to the plane to rotate the sideframes (20,21) and to displace the rollers (22) by means of the cam and follower mechanisms (24). An apparatus according to any of claims 6 to 14 characterized by hold down rollers parallel to and cooperating with the feed (8), second (22), third (22) and output (9) rollers.

Inventors: GOODWIN CHARLES, GOODWIN, CHARLES
Applicants: SUMITOMO RUBBER IND, SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES LIMITED
Application year: 1991
Main classification: B65H23
IPC codes: B65H23, B29D30, B65H5, B65G47