Patent GB-1415934-A (GB)
Title: Fabric layering
IPC: A41H43/00
Filed: 1973-02-12
Abstract: 1415934 Laying fabrics G STUMPF 12 Feb 1973 [10 April 1972] 6846/73 Heading D1S A fabric laying machine 4 for movement over a laying surface 1 comprises (a) delivery means 14 operable to pull a fabric web 11 from a supply 10 and to deliver the web 11 downwardly towards the surface 1, (b) fabric-cutting means 19 including a cutting element 21 and being operable to cut, from a portion of the web 11 extending downwardly towards the surface 1, a layered portion of the web along a transverse line of cut at a location in which the web is substantially horizontal, and (c) downwardly sloping deflecting means 26 to deflect the web 11 towards the cutting zone of the means 19 and having a recess 48 at the lower end thereof; there being provided clamping means 36 at one end of the surface 1 and comprising a clamping member 39 movable into and out of a pressing position in which it presses downward onto each first laid end of the layered web portions, the arrangement being such that, when the machine 4 is at the limit of its movement towards the end of the surface 1, the member 39, in moving to its pressing position, extends into the recess 48. As shown in Fig. 1, the machine 4 is driven by a motor 6 and has wheels 5 running on rails 3a. A rod 9 of a fabric roll 10 is supported on 'bearings 8 of devices 7. The web 11 passes over rollers 12, 13 to the roller 14 which is driven in synchronism with the machine 4. A follower carriage 16 is releasably secured to the machine 4 and has rollers 17 running on one rail 3a and two rollers having vertical pivots and running in contact with a rail 3. A cutting device 19 is vertically adjustable on the machine 4 by a chain drive 20 and has a vertically disposed circular knife 21, Fig. 3, drivable by an electric motor 22. The knife 21 is mounted on a leg 25 and cooperates with a foot 24 on the leg 25. The device 19 is movable transversely of the surface 1 on a rail 23 carried on a bracket 27 by arms 28. As the web 11 is delivered by the roller 14 it is deflected into a horizontal plane by a curved plate 26 secured pivotally to the bracket 27 by a joint 30 bridged by a piston-andcylinder device 31. For horizontal adjustment of the device 19 longitudinally of the surface 1 relative to the machine 4, the arms 28 are telescopically arranged at 32 and adjustable by a piston-and-cylinder device 31', Fig. 2. A feed roller (33), Fig. 4 (not shown), is arranged on the plate (26) and is driven by the roller (14) through a chain drive (34). Two sensing means 35, Fig. 2, for controlling the devices 31, 31' and the roller (33) are arranged on the device 19 and may respond, for example, to a clamping rail 36 or to the end edges 37 of the fabric layers 38. The rail 36 supports three clamps 39 each including a part 40 actuated by a cylinder 41 the operation of which is controlled by a device 42 for sensing the edges 37. Also, the device 42 controls by a locking brake (not shown) the stopping and starting of the machine 4 at the end of the lay. The foot 24 of the device 19 is sensed by a device 43 which controls the effect of a magnetic brake (not shown) on the machine as it approaches the end of the lay. The stopping of the machine on reaching the rail 36 can also be effected by two limit switches 44, 45, Fig. 1, the switch 45 cooperating with a cam 46 to brake the machine 4 and raise the clamps 39 and the switch 44 locking the machine 4 relative to the surface 1, lowering the clamps 39 and then restarting the machine 4 in the opposite direction. Also, the switch 44 causes the drive to the rollers 14, 33 to be engaged. A similar device is provided at the other end of the surface 1 but locking of the machine is effected by short circuiting the armature of the motor 6. Recesses 48 in an edge 47 of the plate 26 permit movement of the clamps 39 at the end of each lay.