Patent GB-1387242-A (GB)
Title: Fabric-laying machine carriages
IPC: B65H45/105
Filed: 1973-03-31
Abstract: 1387242 Laving fabric CUTTING ROOM APPLIANCES CORP 31 March 1973 15601/ 73 Heading D1S A fabric laying machine comprises a laying carriage 22 having thereon a positively driven feed roller 29 which rotates in a single direction and is driven by means responsive to movement of the carriage over a fabric laying table 25 in either of two opposite directions, a pair of movably mounted foldforming bars 31, 32 selectively guiding a fabric 30 from the roller 29 beneath a catcher bar positioned to fall thereupon, and means interconnecting the roller 29 with the move ment responsive means to permit lost motion therebetween corresponding to movement of the surface of the roller 29 equivalent to the distance between the fabric guiding edge of an inactive fold-forming bar 31, 32 and the point at which this edge contacts the fabric at the point of commencement of movement of the carriage 22 at the beginning of a fabric laying cycle. As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, a laying carriage 22 reciprocates on wheels 24 over the surface 25 and a fabric 26 passes over idler rollers 27 and a driven roller 29 to drop substantially tensionless between fold-forming bars 31, 32. A sprocket chain 33, driven by lost motion means, Fig. 3, drives the roller 29. As shown in Fig. 3, three shafts 41, 42, 43 are rotatably mounted between plates 39, 40. The shaft 41 carries a sprocket 46 driven by a chain which also drives the wheels 24. A sprocket 48 on the shaft 41 is interconnected by a pair of chains and idlers (not shown) to transmit motion in the same direction to a sprocket 50 on a short shaft 51 coaxial with the shaft 42. Lost motion means 53 comprises a member 52 turning with the sprocket 50 and carying two studs 54, 55 one or the other of which engages a stud 57 on an arcuate member 56 on the shaft 42 as motion is imparted to the shaft 42. The shaft 42 carries a gear 61 in constant mesh with a gear 68 on the shaft 43 and incorporating a unidirectional clutch 69 operative only in clockwise direction, Fig. 2, of the shaft 43. Also, the shaft 42 carries a sprocket 62 incorporating a unidirectional clutch 63 which transmits motion only in an anticlockwise direction, Fig. 2, of the shaft 42. A sprocket 70 is interconnected by chains and a pair of idlers (not shown) so as to turn in the same direction as the sprocket 62. A sprocket 71 drives the chain 33. In use, lost motion occurs each time the direction of the carriage is reversed. As shown in Fig. 7, a laying carriage 122 is reciprocable over a laying table 121, has fold forming means comprising bars 145 and catcher means, and has means for forming a degree of slack in the fabric 132 being laid as a fold is formed. The fold forming means comprises sets of links 141, 142, Fig. 10, pivoted on axes 143, 144 and each set supporting a fold-forming bar 145, the arrangement being such that, when one set of links is pivoted to a horizontal position, the other set is locked against pivotal motion. Cantilever bar operating means 148, Fig. 9, is provided. A fixed frame element 149, Fig. 8, is mounted on the carriage 122 and a movable frame element 150 is supported by the element 149 for limited longitudinal movement thereon. Each element 149 has a member 153, Fig. 7, having an elongate opening 154, with narrower end portions 155, 156, and a rectangular opening 158 in which a guide plate 177 is located. The plates 177 are secured to a trapezium-shape plate 166 forming the element 150. Detents 182 cooperate with spring pins 183 on adjustable limit members 184 interconnected by a turnbuckle 185 to adjust the permissable movement of the elements 150 with respect to the elements 149. Stop means 124 has an adjustable stop 191, Fig. 8, which contacts a member 171 when the carriage 122 reaches a point on the table at which the formation of a fold is commenced. Arms 192, Fig. 9, support a bar 193 and each mounts a cam follower roller 195 engagable with the upper surface of a ramp 134 so that the bar 193 is progressively elevated until the fold is formed and subsequently drops onto the foldfolding bar 145 to retain the fold as the bar 145 is withdrawn at the reversal of the carriage 122. In use, when the members 171 contact the stops 191, the movement of fold-forming means is arrested and the detents 182 are disengaged from the pins 183 so that the element 150 slides relative to the element 149 in a direction opposite to that of the stillmoving carriage 122. A fabric feed roller 129, powered by the movement of the carriage, continues to feed the fabric 132 to form an amount of slack equivalent to the distance through which the element 150 slides. The carriage 122 stops after the bar 193 has fallen onto the new fold which motion actuates a reversing linkage to start the carriage moving in the opposite direction. The structure of Figs. 7-10 cooperates with the structure of Figs. 2 and 3. During the approach of the carriage towards the catcher, the fabric feed roll is continuously driven and rectilinear relative movement between the fold-forming bars and the carriage provides additional fabric feed to permit the formation, of a tensionless fold. As the carriage reverses, the lost motion linkage causes an interruption in further feeding, permitting the taking-up of excessive slack and allowing the fabric to resume feeding with the commencement of movement of the foldforming bars in a reverse direction from a new position relative to the carriage.