Patent GB-1264661-A (GB)
IPC: B26D7/18
Filed: 1969-02-25
Abstract: 1,264,661. Delivering sheets. UNIROYAL. 25 Feb., 1969 [16 April, 1968], No. 9935/69. Heading B8R. Apparatus for conveying sheets between two spaced and angularly-shifted locations comprises a pair of support means mounted for movement along respective parallel paths between the locations, and means for moving the supports different distances along their respective paths. General arrangement.-A continuous length of material, e.g. tyre-breaker strip is carried by conveyer 110, Fig. 4, to a cutting table 111 where the strip is bias-cut into individual workpieces 30 by a travelling blade 112. The strips are lifted from the angularly-adjustable table 111 and are transferred to a fixed splicing table 113 by means of a support structure 37, Fig. 1. Thus, regardless of the orientation of the workpieces after cutting e.g. at locations B, C, Fig. 1, they are subsequently aligned along the same longitudinal axis at location A on table 113. Construction of apparatus.-A fixed frame 1, comprised of horizontal struts 1a-1h and vertical struts 1a<SP>1</SP>-1g<SP>1</SP>, shown in plan view in Fig. 1, supports two parallel rail guide members 2a, 2b; a pair of arms 4a, 4b, pivoted to the frame 1 at 3a, 3b, support roller guide assemblies 5a, 5b which travel along the rail guides 2a, 2b. Each guide assembly includes respective brackets 6a, 6b for housings 50a, 50b on which the article-support structure 37 is mounted, Fig. 3. The structure 37 includes an elongated beam 21, pivotable cross-bars 24, and at a lower elevation, parallel struts 22. Solenoid housings (25), Fig. 2 (not shown), link the cross-bars 24 and struts 22 and the armatures of the solenoids (25<SP>1</SP>) are attached to elongated bars (27), Fig. 17 (not shown), receivable in the struts and carrying permanent magnetic strips (28). The housings 50a, 50b include inflatable bellows linked to a pneumatic control so that the entire structure 37 is vertically reciprocable. In operation, the structure 37 is positioned over cutting table 111 and is lowered on to a workpiece 30 by allowing the bellows (53a, 53b), Fig. 17 (not shown), to deflate; the workpiece 30, which, in the case of tyre strips, includes metallic reinforcement, adheres to strips (28) and remains attached while the structure is lifted under inflation of the bellows and moved along rails 2a, 2b under the action of variable crank mechanism 10a, 10b acting on pivot arms 4a, 4b through connecting rods 15a, 15b. When the workpiece is lowered on to table 113 at location A, solenoids (25<SP>1</SP>) are energized and the workpiece is stripped from structure 37 as it engages the undersides of struts 22 during upward movement of bars (27). Adjustment operations.-When it is required to bias cut the strip at a different angle, cutting table 111 is shifted, e.g. from location C to location B, Fig. 1, and the workpieces are therefore to be picked up at a different orientation. Adjustment of the variable crank mechanism to alter the effective connecting rod lengths L2a, L2b is carried out after the couplings between pivot arms 4a, 4b and respective connecting rods 15a, 15b have been released and while the entire support structure is locked in location A over cutting table 113 by mechanism (40a, 40b), Figs. 15 and 16 (not shown).