Patent GB-308703-A (GB)
Title: A mat and the process of making the same
Filed: 1927-12-23
Abstract: 308,703. Bell, H. W. Dec. 23, 1927. Mats.-In making a mat such as that shown in Fig. 31 from used motor tyres, apparatus is employed comprising in combination means for cutting off the tyre beads, means for flattening the tyres, means for cutting off surplus material, rotary cutters for cutting the tyre into strips. a punch press having dies for forming apertured blocks from the strips, and means for feeding the blocks in staggered relation on to parallel rods to form the mat. An apparatus for making the mats is shown diagrammatically in Fig. 27. Cutting the tyres and removing the beads. The tyres may be placed on a bar 1 and be fed in succession by a belt to a rotary knife 2 the cut tyres passing to a grooved roller 7 and their outer ends being engaged by a roller 8, whilst their inner ends are forced inwards by a spring finger 9. The cut tyres are thus fed to a mandrel 11 and feed rollers 12 and to a bead cutting machine comprising rotary knives 18 in pairs and grooved feed rollers. In an alternative construction described, the beads are removed by a single knife, on a shaft, which is drawn downwards into operative position by a foot pedal. Removing surplus material and cutting the tyres into strips. The tyre is next fed by rollers 20, 21 in practically a flat position between a grinding wheel or roller 38 and a roller 35, other co-operating rollers being used, and the rollers being adjustable. Surplus material is thus ground from the tyres. In an alternative construction described, this material is removed bv a band krife cutting the tyres into strips. The tyres are cut into strips in a machine described comprising rotary knives 54 on a shaft mounted in adjustable swinging bearings. A grinding-wheel is mounted on another shaft and can be traversed into engagement with the sides of the rotary knives to sharpen these in succession. Punching out blocks from the strips. The strips are next fed forwards to punch presses described whereby blocks 90, Fig. 16, having end holes 89 and also blocks 97, Fig. 18, serving for the ends of the mat are punched from the strips. One or several blocks at a time may be punched, the blocks ejected from the punching dies being forced into openings in an arm 103, which then moves them over an intermittently driven conveyer belt 107, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 29. A projecting arm 105 on the punching press ejects the block into an opening in the belt, and this transports the blocks to an inspection table 117 where imperfect blocks can be removed. A press may be used to punch the blocks 90 and another press to punch the blocks 97. Assembling the blocks. A number of the belts 107 pass over a feed belt 118, to which the blocks are transferred by cam-controlled feed arms 119. The blocks are next threaded on to U-shaped wires 123, Figs. 19 and 20, to form a mat by passing the belt over the upper end of an arm 121 pivoted on a shaft 124 and oscillated by a cord and spring from a rotating drum 128, the arm being moved sideways by a side cam 142, so that the blocks will be arranged in the required, staggered manner on the wires 123. The drum 128 is free on its axle and is driven through clutch mechanism, which is disengaged periodically to allow the arm 121 to fall back. In a modification, the blocks are placed by hand in the openings of a shuttle 131, Fig. 19. Cutting off the wires and clamping the ends inwards. After the wires have been almost filled, the projecting ends 123, Fig. 24, are operated upon by segmental dies 159, 160 coacting with a stationary die 155 and an adjustable die 166. Vertical pins carrying the dies 159, 160 are rotated by means of a handle 165, the dies cutting off the surplus parts of the wires 123 at the points 169 and then bending the wires inwards as shown in Fig. 25. A ferrule 170 may then be placed over the ends of the bent wires and the dies 159, 160 be moved inwards again to crimp the ferrule around the ends and provide a positive closure for the ends. The dies may have small removable inserts so that the cutting edges may be radially sharpened and replaced. By means of a handle 172, the device may be moved along a shaft 153 to operate on successive pairs of wires 123 on the mat as it is supported on a table.