Patent GB-1178534-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to Apparatus for Operating Upon Material in Accordance with a Predetermined Programme
Inventor: BROWN PHILIP
IPC: G05B19/42
Filed: 1966-05-16
Abstract: 1,178,534. Seaming non-metallic sheet material. KEYSTONE Ltd. 11 May, 1967 [16 May, 1966; 22 June, 1966; 19 July, 1966], Nos. 21686/66, 32343/66 and 28005/66. Heading B5K. [Also in Divisions B2, B3, B6, C7, D1, G3 and H1] Apparatus for operating on material in accordance with a pretermined programme comprises a structure supporting a number of rows of tool holders, each holder being movable on the structure between operative and inoperative positions, means for traversing the material along a path extending transversely to said rows, means to reciprocate the structure towards and away from said path between an operating position in which only those tools in holders which are in operative positions can operate on the material and a position in which no tools can operate on the material, means for moving all the holders into operative positions when the tools are not operating on the material, latch means associated with each holder for holding the latter in operative position, means for operating the latch means in accordance with a required programme when all the holders have been moved into operative positions, and means for returning non-selected holders into inoperative positions before the structure reaches the operating position. As shown, structure 13, reciprocable towards and away from a moving web of material 3, comprises three spaced bars 15 each carrying a row of tool holders 16 movable thereon and biased away from material 3 by respective springs 19 to inoperative positions in which notches 22 in the holders are displaced from latches 23 operated by respective solenoids 24. Towards the end of a movement of structure 13 away from material 3, the holders engage fixed bars 21, whereby, when structure 13 is farthest away from material 3, the holders are in operative positions and the notches 22 are aligned with latches 23. Solenoids 24 are then selectively energized via a pattern drum 29, whereby towards the end of the movement of structure 13 towards material 3, those tools in latched holders operate on material 3, while tools in unlatched holders do not engage material 3. As shown, the tools are tufting needles 17 which are threaded with yarns 2 and co-operate with loopers 25. The holders may alternatively carry electrodes connected to a source of high frequency current, and brought selectively into contact with superimposed parts of plastics sheeting to effect welding of the sheets at the locations engaged by the electrodes. The rotary drum 29 is provided with a pattern having axially-spaced circles 27 and axial lines 28. A carriage 33, traversed along the axis of drum 29, is provided with a scanning means corresponding to each element of the pattern. Each scanning means comprises an optical system 31 for focusing a beam of light, derived from a lamp 31a and reflected from the pattern, upon a photo-cell 32. Impulses from cells 32 are conveyed via lines 35 to an instep maintenance drive 36 for actuating circuits 38, whereby the appropriate solenoids are energized via amplifiers 40. Alternatively, the impulses from cells 32 may be fed to a recording head 41 for perforating or magnetizing a tape 42, and the latter may subsequently activate a playing head 43 for energizing the solenoids. Alternatively, the impulses from cells 32 may be fed to the inputs 47 of a computer 46, for subsequent replay over outputs 47a.