Patent GB-1320515-A (GB)
Title: Fabric laying machine
IPC: B65H45/103
Filed: 1970-09-04
Abstract: 1320515 Laying fabric CUTTERS MACHINE CO Inc 4 Sept 1970 [12 Sept 1969] 42439/ 70 Heading D1S A fabric laying machine comprising a laying unit 21 mounted on a frame 11 reciprocable over a laying table 14 and which frame is reduced from high speed to low speed as it approaches each reversal point and is increased from low speed to high speed after reversal, is characterized in the provision of fail-safe means to reduce the frame 11 to the low speed upon the occurrence of an absence of power to control means for energizing the drive of the frame 11. The frame 11 is supported on wheels 12, 13 for movement along the table 14 and carries a freely-rotatable fabric supply roll 15. The fabric 17 from the roll 15 is threaded through an edge control device 18 to continuously align the fabric, beneath a pivotally mounted tension rod 19, over a driven roll 20 and through the laying unit 21 having laying blades (not shown). Catcher mechanisms 24 each including a bar 25 and operable by the unit 21 are located one at each end of the table 14. The wheels 12 are driven by a motor 28 through chain and sprocket gearing. The wheels 13 are drivingly connected through chain and sprocket gearing to the roll 20 and an electromagnetic clutch (130), Fig. 4 (not shown) in such manner that the roll 20 is driven in the same direction independently of the wheels 13. A pair of "low-speed" switches 61, 62 are mounted on the side of the frame 11. The switch 62 has a depending arm 64 which is actuated by a ramp 65 as the frame 11 moves from left to right of Fig. I towards the mechanism 24 to reduce the speed of the frame 11 from high speed to low speed. When the frame 11 moves in the reverse direction away from the mechanism 24, the arm 64 merely rides back over the ramp 65 without energizing or de-energizing the switch 62. The switch 61 is provided with a similar arm 66 which operates upon a similar ramp at the far left (not shown) of the table 14. Plunger boxes 60, 60', Fig. 1, are mounted on the frame 11. The box 60 includes a reversing switch 92, Fig. 2, an overfeed switch 158 and a "high-speed" switch 57. Rods 160, 161 carrying a plate 162 and actuator lugs 164, 165 for the switches 92, 158, 57 are reciprocably mounted for longitudinal movement through the box 60. As the frame 11 moves forward at low speed to cooperate with the mechanism 24, the plate 162 engages a stop plate 163 fixed to the table 14. The rods 160, 161 are stopped whilst the box 60 continues to ride along these rods so that the lugs 165 ride over the switch 57 and actuate the switch 158 to cause the roll 20 to be accelerated to overfeed fabric to the unit 21. As the box 60 approaches the plate 162, the lug 164 actuates the switch 92 to reverse the motor circuit and the fabric feed circuit. The frame 11 and the box 60 begin to move away from the mechanism 24. A spring 166 urges the plate 162 outwardly while it remains abutting the plate 163. The lug 165 closes the switch 57 to cause the frame 11 to resume its high speed movement towards the opposite end of the table. If there is any interruption of current during the high speed movement of the frame 11 between the ramps 65, e.g. power failure or broken wires, the speed of the frame 11 is automatically reduced by actuation of fail-safe switches (111), (115), Fig. 4 (not shown). The machine is provided with a remote control handle 85 to be held in the operator's hand or suspended in a bracket 87 on the frame 11. The handle incorporates a starting switch 84 and a re-starting switch 146 for face-up or face-down laying.  The machine may be used for either faceto-face laying or face-up or face-down laying by manually operating a switch 142, Fig. 1. For face-to-face laying, the unit 21 lays on both the forward and return stroke of the frame 11. For face-up or face-down laying, the switch 142 is closed, and the machine 10 automatically stops when either of the reversing switches in the boxes 60, 60' is actuated by the engagement of plates 162, 163. The fabric is cut and the switch 146 opened to resume rearward movement of the frame 11 without laying. The machine is provided with a dynamic brake (125), Fig. 4 (not shown), for decelerating the motor 28 rapidly each time the frame 11 changes from its high speed to its low speed. An electromagnetic brake 45, Fig. 1, is also provided to brake the wheels 12 to an immediate stop. An electrical circuit for the operation of the machine is described, Fig. 4 (not shown).