Patent GB-1178791-A (GB)
Title: Cloth Laying Machine
Inventor: MERRILL EDWARD M
IPC: B65H45/103
Filed: 1968-01-31
Abstract: 1,178,791. Layering fabrics. CUTTING ROOM APPLIANCES CORP. 31 Jan., 1968, No. 4869/68. Heading D1S. A fabric laying machine of the type having a carriage 11 including a positively driven roller 53 for progressively feeding a fabric web from a supply source to a point where the same is deposited upon a table 28, is provided with a wrap roller 63 to guide the fabric into contact with the roller 53 over a substantial arcuate sector thereof and means mounting the roller 63 for translational movement parallel to the axis of the roller 53 to facilitate threading of a free end of the fabric web therebetween. The carriage 11 comprises side frames 23, (24), Figs. 2 and 3 (the latter not shown), connected by transverse members 25, Fig. 1, and is provided with wheels 27, Fig. 2, driven by a motor 26. Each frame 23, (24) includes a vertical stanchion 29 having a notch 30, (31) to engage a fabric roll which is guided on ramps 32, (33) from powered fabric roll loading means 15, Fig. 4. Photocell edge alignment means 38, Fig. 1, of the type described in Specification No. 1,013,390 control a motor 39 which shifts the fabric roll transversely through a gear reduction means 41, a sprocket 42 and a chain 43. Switch tripping means 44 operates limit switches 45, 46, 47. The means 38 includes two cells one of which is normally blocked by the fabric edge and the other is normally uncovered and the tripping means 44 is disposed between switches 45, 46. When the end of the fabric passes the normally covered cell, the motor 39 continues to run to move a part 166a to a point at which a cam 167 actuates the switch 47 to stop the motor 26 and arrest the carriage 11. The roll 53, Fig. 1, is journalled in bearings 56, 57 and is driven by a motor 51 controlled by a rheostat 59 including a wiper 60 mounted on a shaft 61 which supports a dancer roll 62 mounted by members 64, 65, see also Fig. 5, on a discontinuous shaft 66 operated by a handle 67, Fig. 6, to move the roll 62 upwardly when the fabric is threaded through the machine. This motion is transmitted to a sprocket 68, Fig. 5, secured to a lever 69 carrying a pin 71 resting against the member 64, the sprocket 68 driving a chain 72, a sprocket 74 and a member 73 to operate a clutch 75, Fig. 6. The roll 53 comprises a shaft 76, Fig. 6, surrounded by a sleeve 77 and when the clutch 75 is engaged motion imparted to the shaft 76 is transmitted directly to the sleeve 77 through a linkage 78 operated by a cam on the sprocket 74, a yoke 79, a groove 80 in a member 81 on a sprocket 82 and a pin 83. When the clutch 75 is disengaged the sleeve 77 can be freely rotated whilst the fabric is threaded thereover. The loading means 15, Fig. 4, comprises jaws 85, 86, the upper jaw 85 being pivoted on a lever 87 connected through links 88, 89, 90, 91 to a solenoid 92 actuated by a switch 93 contacted by a fabric roll on entry into position. A tray support 16, Fig. 8, for a fabric bolt comprises a frame 101 slidable within a frame 100 held in position on the carriage 11 by lugs (105), Figs. 9 and 10 (both not shown), selectively engageable with latches (106). The fabric bolt is supported by the surface 108, Fig. 8, of a platform mounted in the frame 101. A latch (115), Fig. 10 (not shown), retains the frame 101 in retracted position for fabric dispensing. The carriage 11 reciprocates between first and second fabric fold retaining elements. Limit switches (126), Fig. 11 (not shown), are provided to reverse the motor 26. The switches (126) are positioned on the carriage so as to be contacted by the respective retaining element upon the formation of a fabric fold therebeneath. The seam detecting means 19 comprises a microswitch 152, Fig. 12, mounted on a bracket 153 on the frame 23, Fig. 2. The fabric 164 passes through a gap 163 between an adjustable feeler 161 on an arm 159 of a cam 154 and a fixed feeler 162 on an arm 160 of the cam 154. A seam 165 in the fabric pivots the cam 154 about a shaft 155 against the action of a spring 166 to actuate the microswitch 152 to stop the motor 26 at a point at which the seam has reached the table surface so that the operator can manually cut the seam, overlap the fabric and recommence the laying operation. The fabric roll support 20, Fig. 13, comprises a shaft 170 having a bore 173 closed at one end by a plug 174 and having a threaded terminal 175 at the other end. A threaded member 176 engages the terminal 175 and is provided with a hand wheel 178 for rotation thereof. The member 176 contacts a sliding shaft 179 bearing against a spring 180 and provided with annular cams 181 engaging followers 182 pivotally mounted on the shaft 179. The followers 182 project through the openings 184 in the shaft 170 to engage the inner surface of a fabric roll. An outer sleeve 185 is provided with recesses 186 to facilitate engagement within the notches 30, (31).