Patent GB-650382-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in cloth laying machines
IPC: A41H43/00
Filed: 1948-05-31
Abstract: 650,382. Folding fabrics PHILLIPS & SONS (MANCHESTER), Ltd., SMITH, J. N., COTTON, S., and FORSTER, B. May 31, 1948, No. 9061. [Class 42 (ii)] In an electrically driven cloth-laying machine of the type in which a cloth-carrying carriage is mounted to be reciprocally driven over a table, the cloth is laid by a pair of feed rollers driven by the carriage and rotating at a surface speed which is in a predetermined ratio to the speed of the carriage, and means is provided for automatically reversing the direction of travel of the carriage at the end of each traverse without reversing the feed rollers and for automatically raising the feed rollers at the end of each traverse. As shown, a carriage A reciprocates over a table B, flanged carriage-supportirig wheels a<SP>2</SP> running on a rail B<SP>3</SP> of insulating material which encloses an electric conductor rail engaged by a pick-up passing through a slot in the insulation. The carriage is caused to reciprocate by one or other of two rubber-covered friction driving wheels F<SP>2</SP>, F<SP>3</SP>, rotating in opposite directions, engaging the underside of rail B<SP>3</SP>. Wheels F<SP>2</SP>, F<SP>3</SP> are driven by a motor C through a two-speed-gear clutch D which introduces a slow speed drive towards the end of each traverse when a roller d<SP>5</SP> is raised by engagement with a ramp at each end of the table. Wheels F<SP>2</SP>, F<SP>3</SP> are mounted on a bracket F<SP>1</SP> pivoted at F<SP>4</SP> and having a cam surface engaged by a sprung roller f<SP>2</SP> on a swinging arm f<SP>3</SP> which is moved from one side to the other, to bring one or other of wheels F<SP>2</SP>, F<SP>3</SP> into action, when a push rod A<SP>4</SP> is moved on engaging one or other of the stops b<SP>14</SP> at the ends of the table. A control knob F6 can be moved to " neutral " positions where it limits the movement of a gate lever f<SP>1</SP> carried by bracket F<SP>1</SP> and so prevents bracket F<SP>1</SP> being moved to bring either of wheels F<SP>2</SP>, F<SP>3</SP> into driving engagement with rail B3. At each movement of rod A<SP>4</SP>, a pin a<SP>151</SP> thereon moves along a cam track g<SP>11</SP> on a pivoted lever g carrying a pawl G<SP>1</SP>, thus rocking lever g and advancing the ratchet wheel G of a counting mechanism indicating the number of layers of cloth laid. Rotation of wheel G also moves a chain g<SP>4</SP> to raise a gearbox G<SP>2</SP>, housing feed rollers A3, A<SP>31</SP> at the end of each traverse so as to accommodate the increased thickness of cloth on the table. Feed roller A<SP>3</SP> is driven from one wheel a<SP>2</SP> through variable speed gearing which can be adjusted so that the cloth may be fed at a greater speed than that of the carriage so as' to be laid loosely on the table, or at a lower speed so that it is laid under tension ; the drive includes double ratchet-and-pawl mechanism to convert the two-directional motion of wheel a<SP>2</SP> into a uni-directional motion of the feed rollers. The distance between rollers A<SP>3</SP>, A<SP>31</SP> may be adjustable, or roller A<SP>31</SP> may be spring-mounted. An anchoring board b' at each end of the laid cloth is raised at the end of each traverse by engagement of a buffer a or a<SP>1</SP> on the carriage with a lever b<SP>4</SP>. When gearbox G<SP>2</SP> has risen a predetermined height it operates a cut-out switch G<SP>4</SP> for motor C; the gearbox can be lowered for resetting the machine by means of a hand lever G<SP>3</SP>. A switch for the current supply to the conductor rail may be operated by push buttons C<SP>2</SP> on the carriage or by a trip cable c<SP>3</SP>. The cloth to be laid is placed on a platform A<SP>1</SP> on the carriage or may be supported in roll form on brackets A<SP>2</SP>. Specification 602,315 is referred to.