Patent GB-480224-A (GB)
Title: Mat board handling machine
IPC: D21J1/00
Filed: 1937-04-30
Abstract: 480,224. Conveyers. SWEENEY, O. R. April 30, 1937, No. 12383. [Class 78 (i)] [Also in Group V] Relates to machines for making pulp boards in which the pulp is formed into a continuous sheet, cut into lengths, transferred to a loading rack by a tipping conveyer, and thence to a press in which the sheets are pressed and dried, and consists in a machine having a loading rack provided with a series of conveyers and a press having a series of platens and a conveyer for each platen., wherein the means for operating the conveyers of the loading rack and press are inter-related so that the opening of the press causes the boards automatically to be discharged from the rack into the press. The loading rack and press are disposed in line with the forming machine and conveyers, so that the boards proceeding from the forming machine are fed directly into the loading rack and press in sequence. The machine as a whole is driven by a main chain, the speed of which is adjusted in accordance with the rate of drying of the boards in the drying press, while the operation of the devices for cutting the sheet into boards and for performing all subsequent treatments of the boards is controlled by clutches actuated by solenoids. The solenoids are energized through switches actuated by the passage of the board through the machine. The pulp is formed into a sheet at F, Figs. 1 and 2, and passes through a forming press FP to a chain-driven roller conveyer T. The leading edge of the sheet engages a switch whereby a rotating knife 78 is moved on an inclined guide 84 to sever the sheet while moving longitudinally at the same speed thereof. A portion 46 of the roller conveyer T is then speeded up, and the board is fed to a tipping conveyer TC, Figs. 7 and 8 (not shown), which is rockable about its leading end by a stepped cam and solenoid-operated ratchet device to move its delivery end step by step from the top to the bottom of a loading rack R, and then, in one step, to the top thereof. The loading rack R comprises a series of chain-driven roller conveyers between which the boards are fed. Each conveyer is set in motion through a switch operated by a board on the conveyer TC, and when a board is in the rack, it operates a switch to move the conveyer TC about its pivot. When the rack is nearly filled, the drying press P is opened. The press P comprises a number of platens 218, Fig. 12, around, over, or through each of which passes an endless conveyer 228 formed of interlocking wire coils 244, Fig. 13 and transverse strengthening rods 246. In some cases, the conveyer is formed of the wire fabric extending half way .around the platen and connected at its ends to extensions or chains to form the other part of the conveyer. The press has a fixed head 214 and a hydraulic ram 222. When the ram is lowered as shown in Fig. 12, the platens are held separated from one another by chains 226. When the press P is opened, as controlled by a switch operated by a board in the loading rack R, a switch operated by the straightening of chain 226 causes the uppermost conveyers of the press and loading rack to be connected to the main driving chain. Each board in passing through the press closes a circuit to cause the next conveyer in the loading rack to be operated. The pressed boards are thus successively removed from the press while boards from the rack take their places, fresh boards from the tipping conveyer being supplied to the lower conveyer of the rack while the uppermost boards from the rack are being transferred to the press. When the press is filled, it is closed while the rack continues to be fed by fresh boards, the pressure of the platens on the boards being regulated by springs arranged between the platens. On leaving the press, the finished boards pass successively down a series of roller conveyers DC, Figs. 1 and 2,