Patent GB-970902-A (GB)
Title: Machine for laying cross fibres of web or strand material
IPC: D04H3/04
Filed: 1962-07-24
Abstract: 970,902. Laminating; cutting apparatus. GENERAL GUMMED PRODUCTS Inc. July 24, 1962 [Aug. 3, 1961], No. 28417/62. Headings B4B and B5N. [Also in Division D1] Apparatus for applying a plurality of spaced reinforcing strands, e.g. of plastic or glass fibres, transversely across a continuously advancing web, e.g. of paper or paper board (or across longitudinally extending strands to make a mesh) comprises means for contacting the free ends of the strands, drawing them across the web, laying the free ends on to the web, then bringing down the remaining length of strands on to the web and severing them, the web then advancing whilst the process is repeated. The apparatus is shown in plan, Fig. 1, and in crosssection, Fig. 3, the web 10 the upper surface of which is coated with adhesive, being fed longitudinally over a table 12 whilst the strands 16, fed through a comb 56, are first contacted by a sticky rod 38 which pulls them across the web and presses them down on to it, as shown in Fig. 1. A further sticky rod 36 is meanwhile brought into a position where it contacts the strands 16 just before the trailing ends of the portions which have been drawn across are severed by a knife 60, 62. The portions of strands now sticking to the rod 36 are thus the next batch of free ends and rod 36 is then carried around by the motor-driven sprocket chains 20 and 18 to position B in Fig. 3, thus drawing the strands 16 across as shown by the broken line. An arrangement (Figs. 7 and 8, not shown) is provided to enable the rod 36 to roll at this point so that the strands 16 can slacken while the rod 36 passes around the bend in the chain and then tauten again before being brought down on to the surface of the web 10. The fixed ends of the strands are held clear of the web surface by a comb 52 until they are pressed down by a chopper-like knife member 62 which coacts with the cutting blade 60 to sever the strands. The knife member 62 is provided with a counterweight and is lifted and held clear of the sprocket chains to allow passage of the rods 36 or 38 as they lift the next batch of ends of the strands to carry them across the web, the knife-member being retained in the lifted position by a plunger 74, which is subsequently retracted by means of a solenoid 76. As the rod 36 is carried around further by the sprocket chains it pulls away from the ends of the strands as they are pressed on to the web, and then moves over a surface 122 which is impregnated with a tarry substance which is kept fluid by heating it with a lamp 124. The timing of the sprocket chain drive is controlled by the driving rolls which effect forward movement of the web, and an additional sprocket chain is provided and linked with the main sprocket chains to control the raising and lowering of the knife and switching of the solenoid 76 in synchronism with the movement of the rods 36 and 38 (Fig. 2, not shown). An alternative arrangement (Figs. 10 to 12, not shown) has the two fixed combs 56 and 52 replaced by two sets of laterally moving combs operated by pistons to move across one another as the strands are drawn across the web, so that one half of the strands will be drawn across the other half, giving a diagonal cross-over lay. Additional longitudinal reinforcing strands may be applied. The web surface or longitudinally-extending strands may be coated with an asphalt composition to retain the reinforcing strands when they are laid on to it.