Patent GB-701327-A (GB)
Title: Improvements relating to the lapping of loose fibrous webs
IPC: D01G27/04
Filed: 1951-04-17
Abstract: 701,327. Lap-winding machines. COULTHARD, J. July 17, 1952 [April 17, 1951], No. 8898/51. Class 120(1) [Also in Croups XVI and VIII] A machine for lapping a loose fibrous web is provided with a rotary frame having a plurality of spools spaced around, and maintained substantially parallel to, the axis thereof, means for periodically indexing the frame to bring the spools successively to a loading station to which the fibrous web is continually advanced in a direction at right-angles to the said axis, and means for driving whichever. spool happens to be at the loading station so as to wind the web thereon whilst leaving the other spool or spools stationary for unloading, the indexing movements of the frame being effected in timed relation with the building up of a predetermined thickness of material on the momentarilyoperated spool. As shown, Fig. 3, a cotton fleece delivered from a carding engine is wound on the topmost of three spools 26 located in slots 13 in radial spider arms 12 of a frame rotatable about a shaft 4. The spool is driven by peripheral engagement of the fleece thereon with two of three rollers 19 continuously driven by gearing from shaft 4. The ends of the spool rise in slots 13 until one end closes a switch 27, 28 to energize an electromagnet 29 and rock two levers 31 and 32; a pawl 22 on lever 31 is thereby retracted from a notch 23 in an indexing wheel 24 fixed to the frame, and a brake 34 is applied to a drum 35 connected by sprockets and a chain 37 to rollers 19. Braking of rollers 19 causes them to make a planetary movement about shaft 4, so that the whole frame rotates about its axis. As the wound spool moves out of contact with switch 27, 28 electromagnet 29 is de-energized, but brake 34 remains applied and rotation of the frame continues, until pawl 22 engages the next notch 23. Movement of the wound spool breaks the fleece, the severed end of which engages the next spool and starts to wind thereon as the spool moves down slots 13 into engagement with its driving rollers. The wound spool is now at the stripping station and has moved down slots 13 out of engagement with its driving rollers. As the spool arrives at the stripping station, Fig. 4, it momentarily closes a start switch 78 to cause compressed air to be admitted to a motor 54 and rams 65, 75 whereby a non-metallic blade 60 is caused to vibrate, grippers 74 engage the ends of the spool, and the blade is advanced on arms 46 to sever the fleece on the spool. The severed fleece falls as a flat. rectangular "blanket" on to a shelf 71 and conveyer 72 and is delivered by the latter. Just before blade 60 would contact the spool surface, a stop switch 70 is momentarily closed to shut off the supply of compressed air to the motor and rams and allow arms 46 to be retracted by a spring 61. Instead of a single cutter blade 60, a number of shorter blades each with its own motor may be used. - For dealing with webs of varying widths (a) the cutter blade may be replaceable with blades of different width, or may be of small width and be automatically traversed across the bobbin, (b) the spool flanges may be clampable at different positions along the spool body and (c) rollers 19 may be variable in length (see Group VIII). The. cutter operations may be mechanically, instead of pneumatically, operated.