Patent GB-602315-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to automatic cloth laying-up machine
IPC: A41H43/00
Filed: 1944-10-19
Abstract: 602,315. Cloth laying machines. STEVENS, A. H. (Gilbert, H. W.). Oct. 19, 1944, No. 20255. [Class 42(ii)] In an automatic cloth laying-up machine comprising a carriage mounted to be reciprocally driven on a table, means consisting o f cams mounted on the table near the end portions of the travel of the carriage and co-operating mechanism on the latter, are provided whereby when the carriage is outside the cams it is driven relatively slowly, and when it is between them it will travel relatively rapidly. The mechanism includes a high-speed and low-speed train of gears, which can be alternatively engaged by the operation of one or other of a pair of clutches, further gear trains, engaged by a second pair of clutches being provided to give forward and reverse movement, the drive being by a prime mover such as an electric motor mounted on the carriage. The carriage 20 runs on wheels 22 which are driven from the motor 26 through a transmission in the box 27. The transmission comprises a shaft 32, belt-driven from the motor 26, skew gears 33, 34, a high-speed gear train 47, 48 and a low-speed train 50, 51, either of which may be put into driving engagement with the shaft 36 by the operation of one of the clutches 38 by the fork 41. A forward gear train 52, 53 and reverse train 56, 57, 58 connect the shaft 36 with the shaft 37 and one or other may be put into driving connection therewith by engagement of one of the clutches 43 by the fork 45. The shaft 37 drives a stud shaft 37<1> through a main clutch, 60, chain drives connecting shaft 37<1> with the wheels 22. The forks 41, 45 are pivoted on the vertical shaft 59 and each is connected with an arcuate cam such as 92<1> which'is contacted by a roller 91 carried on a dashpot mechanism such as 89 (Fig. 6). The latter are identical and each consists of a rod 90 sliding axially in the housing 88, and urged outwards by a spring 96 held in compression by the adjustable nuts 97. The rod at its inner end acts through a pin 102, on a lever 99 pivoted at 100 the other end of this acting upon a plunger 106 working in a cylinder 107. A ball 111 pressed on its seating by a spring 112 acts as a valve to regulate the admission of oil to the cylinder, a bleed 110 controlled by a screw 109 allowing for its exit. The dashpot mechanisms are pivoted about shafts 87 or 129 and each on being turned past dead centre causes disengagement of one half and controlled engagement of the opposite half of the clutches 42 or 38 respectively. Operation of the direction-changer clutch 42 is effected through a lever 86 secured to the dashpot mechanism 89, link 85, lever 84, shaft 83 and lever 79, the latter extending below the body of the carriage 20 and being adapted to contact abutments 80, 81 carrying rollers 82, situated near either end of the table. The speed-change clutch 38 is operated through lever 128 secured to its dashpot mechanism, lever 128, link 127, lever 126, the sleeve 125, co-axial with the shaft 83, lever 124, link 123 and levers 122 and 115, the latter having a common pivot 118 on a bracket 121 depending from the box 27. Rollers 119 are mounted at either end of the lever 115, and are adapted to engage cam members 116, 117 mounted near the ends of the table, so that the high speed side of the transmision is operative when the carriage is moving between the cams, and the low speed when it is beyond them. Cloth-holding devices 25, are provided at either end of the table. An automatic cut-out (Fig 16) for stopping the machine when the supply of cloth is exhausted is provided, comprising an arm pivoted at 135 and carrying fingers 137 (Fig 1) over which the cloth is fed, downward pressure on this arm causing an electrical contact on a lever 139 to be held against an upper contact 142, a spring 138 urging it against a lower contact 141 in parallel therewith, in the unloaded state. These contacts are in series with a solenoid - operated magnetic controller switch 145 which is spring-loaded to hold open contacts 150 unless a current is flowing, and with the motor 26. On the circuit being broken between contacts 142 and 139, the contacts 150 are separated and remain so unless replaced by hand. Contact 141 is provided for operation without the automatic cut-out. By disengaging the main clutch 60, the machine may be operated manually.