Patent GB-830626-A (GB)
Title: Apparatus for the pressing of bent glass laminated assemblies
IPC: B32B17/10
Filed: 1957-04-25
Abstract: 830,626. Laminating-apparatus; rollers. PITTSBURGH PLATE GLASS CO. April 25, 1957 [Aug. 3, 1956], No. 13192/57. Classes 42 (2) and 140. Apparatus for pressing a bent laminate comprises a supporting structure, a freely turning balanced roll housing assembly comprising a pair of nipper rolls rotatably mounted on a pair of supporting members, each of which has a trunnion rotatably mounted to the supporting structure providing an axis of rotation for the assembly between a position to receive a laminate and a position to discharge the laminate, one of the nipper rolls being operatively connected with a rotatable power-driven means mounted independently of said roll housing in such a manner that the driving of the nipper rolls by the rotatable power driven means provides a torque causing rotation of said assembly into the receiving position. The receiving position is that in which the inward bight of the rolls faces downwards to receive the leading edge of the laminate. As shown, the roll housing assembly is mounted on trunnions 36 and 38, which are rotatably mounted on vertically slidable plates 24 and 26 and which extend through the plates. Flanges on the trunnions are bolted to plates 52 and 54 of the roll housing assembly. This assembly has a pair of nipper rolls 60 and 62, each of which comprises a number of resilient, e.g. rubber, rings 64 mounted on a tubular shaft. Roll 60 is rotatably supported at its ends by flanged bearings 68 bolted to plates which are slidably mounted in guides 80 mounted on plates 52 and 54. This mounting permits roll 60 to move away from roll 62 as a laminate passes therebetween, but it is at the same time resiliently urged towards roll 62 by the pneumatic cylinder assemblies 92. These assemblies have piston rods 94 contacting members 78 mounted on the slidable plates upon movement of roll 60 away from roll 62. The pneumatic cylinder assemblies are mounted on a tubular member 96 which also contains weights 99 to balance the roll housing assembly about the axis of trunnions 36 and 38. Compressed air is supplied to these pneumatic cylinders from a source (not shown) by means of a passage through trunnion 38, coupling 108, conduit 106, T-coupling 104 and conduits 102. A spur gear 156 mounted on sleeve 148 is used to drive roll 62. A drive shaft 160 is rotatably mounted in trunnion 36. One end of shaft 160 has a spur gear 165 keyed thereon and meshing with gear 156. A sprocket 191 keyed on shaft 160 is driven through a jointed-arm drive assembly 184 from a motor (not shown). A spring 216 is mounted on trunnion 36 with one end fastened to ring member 218 fixed on the trunnion by a set screw so that the spring is in the unstressed condition when the roll housing assembly is positioned to receive the leading edge of a laminate between the rolls. The spring has not sufficient energy when stressed to return the roll housing to this position, but when stressed it will provide an immediate torque to start this rotation. The torque transmitted by the spur gears 165 and 156 will return the roll housing to the receiving position. A " door check " 260 is pivotally mounted on shaft 264 which is adjustably mounted on plate 26. A collar 270, mounted on trunnion 38, is connected with the other end of the " door check " to prevent the roll housing assembly from overrunning its receiving position. Plates 24 and 26 and all the parts supported thereby are supported by chains 231 and 232 which pass over sprockets 229 and 230 which are both keyed to the same shaft, and have counterweights (not shown) at their other ends. Stops are provided to limit the upward or downward movement of the roll housing assembly. The central rings 64 of rolls 60 and 62 are slightly harder than the outer rings. The central or all rings of both rolls or of the driven roll only are keyed to their respective sleeves. The top roll may be smaller than the bottom roll. The rolls may be crowned, cylindrical or conical and their axes may be non-parallel. The rolls may be inflated nipper rolls. In an alternative drive for the rolls, a sprocket is keyed on to the end of shaft 160 in place of spur gear 165. An idler sprocket is rotatably mounted on a stub shaft mounted on plate 52, and a third sprocket is keyed on shaft 66. A chain engages all three sprockets and so transmits the drive. In another drive, a sprocket is again keyed on to shaft 160. A stub shaft is rotatably mounted on plate 52 below roll 62 and has a sprocket and a spur gear keyed to it. A chain engages the two sprockets, and the spur gear on the stub shaft meshes with gear 156 and so transmits the drive. In another drive, a driving roll is mounted between plates 52 and 54 in frictional driving engagement with the bottom roll and is driven through a chain and sprockets mounted on its shaft and on shaft 160. Each of these drives provides a torque causing rotation of the assembly into the receiving position. Reference has been directed by the Comptroller to Specification 768,052.