CA1069284A

CA1069284A - Method and apparatus for producing a flat surface structure

Info

Publication number: CA1069284A
Application number: CA259,609A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Karl Bula
Original assignee: Gebrueder Sulzer AG
Current assignee: Sulzer AG
Priority date: 1975-08-28
Filing date: 1976-08-20
Publication date: 1980-01-08
Also published as: DE2558771C3; FR2322227A1; DE2558771A1; FR2322227B1; CH588401A5; IT1123662B; SE7609475L; AT358152B; DE2558771B2; ATA558076A; JPS5227882A

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE

A method of, and apparatus for, producing a substantially flat surface structure from strand-like material wherein at least one strand is wound upon at least one drum to form a lap or coil at least partially wrapped about said drum and consisting of juxtapositioned strands. Neighboring strands of the lap are interconnected at locations distributed over the periphery of such lap.

Description

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BACKGROUl~D O~ THE I~VENTION

The present in~ention relates to a new and improved method of producing a substantially flat surfaGe structure or extended surface from essentially strand-shaped material and to apparatus for the performance of the aforesaid method.

SU~MARY OF THE INVEi~TION
... .. . . _ It is a primary object of the present invention to provide a new and improved method of, and apparatus for, producing flat surface structures from strand-like material in an extremely efficient, reliable and economical manner.

Another object of the present invention aims at the provision of a novel method of, and apparatus for, simply and economically fabricating flat surface structures for many different purposes, and especially to process strand material which otherwise is difficult to process.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of producing an endless belt-like open mesh flexible structure comprising: helically winding in non-overlapping relation at least one strand over at least one drum, interconnecting the strands of adjacent helices at locations spaced apart from one another longitudinally of the strand to provide said open mesh strUcture, and moving the stxucture axially along the drum in a direction towards one end thereof r away fro~ the infed stxand, during winding of the strand onto the drum.

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In accoxdance ~lth another aspect of the present invention there is provided an apparatus for making an endless belt-like open mesh flexible structure comprising: at least one drum, means for helically winding in non-overlapping relation at least one strand onto said at least one drum, means for inter-connecting the strands of adjacent helices at locations spaced apart from one another longitudinally of the at least one strand, and means for axially moving the structure along the drum, in a direction away from the infed strand, during winding of the strand onto the drum.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
. . . _ The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above, will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

., - Figure 1 schematically illustrates a first exemplary embodiment of apparatus for prvducing a flat surface structure, partially shown in sectional view;

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the apparatus of Figure 1, taken substantially along the line II - II thereof;

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Figure 3 is a perspective view of a second exemplary embodiment of apparatus employing two drums and a single strand infeed;

Figure 4 schematically illustrates a flat surface structure formed upon the machine of Fi.gure 3;

. Figure 5 schematically illustrates another form of flat surface structure produced upon the machine of Figure

3;

Figure 6 is a perspective view illustrating the apparatus of Figure 3, but having mutliple-strand infeeds;

` Figure 7 is a side view of the embodiment of Figure 3 together with the connection tool;
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Figure 8 is a partial plan view of the embodi-ment of Figure 7;

Figure 9 is a side view of the embodiment of ~:
Figure 7, but w:ith revolving tool means;

Figure 10 is a top plan view of a further exemplary embod:Lment of apparatus, similar to the showing of Figure 3, however having a control mechanism incorporating a control chain; and '.

- 4 -Figures lla to lle tllustrate examples of flat surface structures produced with the apparatus of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Describing now -the drawin~s, a drum 2 is arranged in a schematically illustrated machine frame 1. Drum 2 can be stationarily mounted or driven by any suitable and -there-fore simply schematically illustrated drive means 100. This drum 2 also is equipped with a number of axially extending grooves 3. ~owever, instead of the drum 2 being provided ; with such grooves 3 there also could be employed a drum-like member having extending axially rods or ribs or the like.
Accordingly, the elements 3 can be also conceptially con-sidered as constituting such rods which extend in the axial or lengthwise direction of the drum-like member. At the outer periphery of the drum 2 there are arranged the schematically illustrated connection tools 4, 5 which serve to produce a suitable connection at particular places of juxtapositioned or adjacent lap strands 6a of the coil or lap 50 carried upon the drum 2 and formed from the infed strand-like ma-tlsrial 6. Such connections can be, for in-stance, in the form of loops 8 formed from a connecting strand 8a. Combs 7 ar~s advantageously provided for guiding adjacently situated strands 6a. The connecting or connection `
tools 4, 5 howe~Tercould also obviously be constructed such that more than two adjacently situated strands 6a are inter-' ' ~36~Z89~

connected. Equally, as will be further explained, the connection can be established by other suitable means, such as welding, sewing, knotting, heat-sealing, by means of clips or clamps and so forth.

; Continuing, the drum 2 will be seen to possess a widened portion 2a at the region where the strands 6 run on to such drum. Due to the tension of the infed strand or strand-like material 6 the first convolutions formed at the region of the widened portion 2a are displaced in the dir-ection of the arrow 2b. The convolutions move the previously formed convolutions in the same direction towards the free end of the drum 2 and beyond such, in order to thereby impart to the coil or lap a doffing or removal movement.
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In the case where the drum 2 is stationary the strand 6 must be wound in conventional manner with the aid of a flyer upon such drum, in which case then the connection tools 4 and 5 are also stationary. If the drum 2 is rotated, as by the drive means or motor 100, then the strand 6 can be directly payed-off a supply spool or reel or other suitable supply means, as generally indicated by reference character 60.
Z In this case the connection tools 4 and 5 correspondingly move around the drum 2 unless the connections are made only i after the lap or coil 50 has been produced and during intervals between rotatiorl of the drum. The grooves or recesses 3 ` provide the necessary space to enable the connection tools 1 4, 5 to undertake the connection of the strands. Of course, '~ more than two connecting tools 4, 5 can be distributed over ~ the drum periphery.~
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, In the context of this disclosure the term "strand" is to be understood as denoting filaments, threads, bands, ropes or cables, wire ropes, chains and other strand-like materials.
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The flat surface structures produced from the strands can be used in a variety of ways, for instance in the prod~ction of nets, mats, carpets, textiles, flexible reinforcements for concrete- and plastic-, pipework- and container constructions, among other things.

Figure 3 illustrates an apparatus for producing flat or extended surface structures. In this case two winding drums 9 and 10 are rotatably mounted in cantilever or overhung -fashion upon a machine frame 1 and each axis of rotation is substantially horizontal. A single strand 6 is wound onto the drums 9 and 10 from a -~t~t-~r~ reel or bobbin 11 or other suitable supply means. Between the drums 9 and 10 there is arranged a connection device 12 having a supply 13 of a connecting material. The connecting device 12 forms suitable connections~at places distributed over the periphery of the lap or coil 50, between adjacent strands 6a wound ~ upon the drums 9, 10. The doffing movement is in the dir-`~ ection of the arrow 14.

Figure 4 illustrates the manner in which there is continuously fabricatèd a flat hose-like structure 50 of .
desired width, whereas Figure 5 shows the formation of a , :: , :

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coil or lap 50a of desired width. The individual strand ls wound to desired width upon the drums 9, 10 and then there are produced the connections 8. It is also possible to provide the connections 8 during the winding operation.

A wide variety of connections can be formed. In many instances two adjacently situated strand portions are connected by clips or clamps, in the case of heat sealable materials --for instance plastic-- by heat sealing or welding and, for instance, in the case of yarns or wire ropes such can be interconnecked by loops. Further connections can be produced for instance by knotting or sewing, particularly if the material is textile. Thus, reference character 8 can represent any one of these or equivalents thereof.

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Figure 6 illustrates the apparatus shown in Figure 3, but constructed for multiple-strand infeed. The strands 6, payed-off the supplies ~0, in this instance are wound in a large number adjacent one another upon the canti-levered winding drums 9 and 10 supported by the frame or housing 1 and are interconnected by means of the connection i~ 20 device 12 having the connection material-supply 13 and which produces the connections 8. The outEeed or doffing direction for the material is again indicated by the arrow 14. The feed o~E the lap or coil 50 is accomplished with the aid of not particularly illustrated conventional grooves in which there are guided the individual strands and which impart to the strands a helical path of movement. The :

~065~ 4 multiple-strand technique is especially suitable ~or con-- tinuous production and advantageously the entire incoming strand package is continuously connected. Figure 6 illustrates three strand packages or grooves upon the drums 9 and 10.

Figures 7 and 8 again schematically illustrate the apparatus of Figure 3, with particular emphasis upon the connection or connecting device 12. Figure 7 schematically illustrates a comb 7 behind which --viewed in the direction of lap rotation-- the connection device 12 produces the connections 8. These connections 8 are disposed in staggered or offset relationship to one another, so that there is thus B produced an ~ flat surface structure.

; .:. Instead of a single comb 7 there also could be employed a Maltese comb 14, as shown in Figure 9. The combs also could be beneficially utilized as transmitter means which produce control signals controlling the cadence of operation of the elements, since upon advance of the connections such come into contact with the combs, and thus for instance there .::-can be triggered electrical signals.

Continaing, Figure 9 illustrates a co-rotating or traveling connection device 15, for instance as used during the heat sealing o~ plastic strands 6. In this case the connection device 15 embodies two rotating heat sealing or welding cylindexs 16, 17 which are appropriately profiled : -_ g _ , , :

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such that they can undertake the desired sequence of ; connections at the wound strands 6.

Figure 10 illustrates the manner in which there can be produced with the apparatus of Figure 3, a lap or coil 50 of finite width having terminal or marginal portions 18, 19. Initially, the terminal portion 18 is mounted on the winding drums 9, 10 and then the strand 6 is secured by ; means of connection 21 at such terminal portion 1~, and then the lap or coil 50 is formed from the strand 6. Thereafter, the terminal portion 19 is applied to the winding drums 9, 10 and the end of the lap or coil 50 is connected with the ..
terminal portion 19 by means of a terminal connection 20.
Thereafter, there are produced the connections 8 for the lap or coil 50. These marginal portions or strands 18, 19 may be advantageously formed of a material different from : , .
the material from which the lap is formed.
.1 Figure 10 also illustrates that the apparatus thereof:is provided with a control mechanism incorporating a control chain 22 which is trained about both of the winding 20 drums 9 and 10 and the chain links 22a of which trigger the : :
operation of the connection means, for instance the connection device 12 of Figure 3. Thus, for instance, there is provided a null-link element 23 which controls the formation of the / terminal conneclions 20 and 21. The intermediate connections 1 8 are likewise s~ontrolled by such chain links 22a. The , I .
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arrangement can be effected such that, selectively, for instance after each chain link or after each second or third chain link, there can be produced the connections. Control chain 22 advantageously travels in synchronism with the formed laps.

In Figures lla to lle there are illustrated different flat or extended surface structures as the same may be produced with the discussed apparatuses. In par-ticular, Figures lla and llb show two different kinds of net 80 and 85 respectively, and Figures llc, lld and lle show respective structures 90, 92 and 94 having a variety of other patterns. The structures thus devised can be given particular properties according to the kind of connections 8 used therewit~.

Of course, it is desirable to be able to produce laps or coils of various diameters on a single apparatus.
Accordingly one of the winding drums may have a rocking arm enabling such drum to be positioned at various distances from the fixedly mounted second drum. Instead of a rocking or 20 pendulum arm, there may be also provided plug holes in which there can be mounted one of the drums.
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The winding drums 9 and 10 can be designed in different ways. They either may possess a smooth surface or be provided with adjacent peripheral grooves.

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Claims

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A method of producing an endless belt-like open mesh flexible structure comprising: helically winding in non-overlapping relation at least one strand over at least one drum, interconnecting the strands of adjacent helices at locations spaced apart from one another longitudinally of the strand to provide said open mesh structure, and moving the structure axially along the drum in a direction towards one end thereof, away from the infed strand, during winding of the strand onto the drum.

2. A method of making an endless belt-like open mesh structure comprising: helically winding in non-overlapping relation at least one strand over at least one drum and at an infeed position having a fixed location relative to the axial length of the drum, interconnecting adjacent helices of the at least one strand at locations spaced apart from one another longitudinally of the at least one strand to provide said open mesh structure, and moving the structure axially along the drum as the at least one strand is helically wound onto the drum.

3. The method of claim 1 or 2 wherein the at least one strand is wound in a continuous single helix over two drums disposed in spaced apart parallel relation and wherein said drums are adjustable in their spacing from one another.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said structure is caused to move axially of the drum by winding of the strand onto such drum.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the at least one strand is wound onto the drum by rotating such drum.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein the at least one strand is wound onto a stationary drum.

7. The method of claims 1, 2 or 4 wherein adjacent helices are interconnected at staggered positions providing a structure expandable in a direction transverse to the length of the structure.

8. An apparatus for making an endless belt-like open mesh flexible structure comprising: at least one drum, means for helically winding in non-overlapping relation at least one strand onto said at least one drum, means for inter-connecting the strands of adjacent helices at locations spaced apart from one another longitudinally of the at least one strand, and means for axially moving the structure along the drum, in a direction away from the infed strand, during winding of the strand onto the drum.

9. An apparatus as defined in claim 8 including means on said drum preventing movement of the infed at least one strand axially of the drum in a direction opposite to that which the structure moves therealong.

10. An apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein said strand movement preventing means comprises an enlarged area on the drum providing a shoulder for abuttment therewith of the infed strand.