DE2611872C2 - Device for unwinding predetermined lengths of fabric from a bale of fabric - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to an apparatus for unwinding predetermined lengths of fabric from one Roll of fabric.

Unwinding fabric from a bale (as opposed to unwinding fabric from a roll) and measuring the length of the unwound fabric pose specific problems because of the elongated cross-section of a bale (as opposed to the circular cross-section of a roll). In a known device intended for this purpose (US Pat. No. 15 15 289), the bale of fabric is placed in a tub, one end of the web of fabric is pulled off the bale, passed between an unwinding roller and a pressure roller and the end clamped in a winding roller Fabric is wound up on the take-up wake. In order to determine the length of the fabric that has been unwound, the unwinding length of the fabric itself is measured in this known device. After the predetermined length of fabric has been unwound and separated from the rest of the fabric web, the cut fabric must be rewound from the take-up roller.

Although there is also a device known (US-PS 35 01 106), in which a roll of fabric in a loop of a endless conveyor belt is wound between two guides, one of the guides from the Others can be moved away as the diameter of the roll of fabric increases, an easy way to However, this does not determine a predetermined length of fabric unwound from a roll of fabric given.

It is the object of the invention. To create an improved device of the first type in which the Unwinding and the determination of the unwound length of fabric are possible in a simpler way.

This object is achieved by the features specified in the characterizing part of claim 1.
According to the invention, one guide is moved away from the other when the roll of material rotates with the longitudinal axis of its cross section into a horizontal position, and is moved towards the other guide when the roll of cloth moves out of this horizontal position

Position, with the movement of the endless conveyor belt as the MaO for the unwound length of fabric is used. The reciprocation of one guide with respect to the other is with the invention provided to enable turning of the roll of fabric, resulting in the unwinding of the predetermined Length of fabric is required to measure the unwound Given the predetermined length of fabric, no direct measurement of the unwound length of fabric is required. The device according to the invention unwinds the predetermined length of fabric from the roll of fabric and brings the unwound fabric in a position for cutting. The predetermined length of fabric is marked with a is measured with a high degree of accuracy, and the unwound fabric is automatically folded. Of the Balls of fabric do not need to be clamped for this purpose, which takes the time required is reduced considerably.

Appropriate refinements of the invention form the subject matter of the subclaims.

Several embodiments of the invention are described below with reference to the drawings described in more detail. It shows

F i g. 1 is a perspective front view of the device according to the invention for unwinding predetermined Lengths of fabric from a ball of fabric,

F i g. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the upper part of the device of Fig. 1, seen from the right, wherein the Housing is removed,

F i g. 3 is a perspective view similar to the view of FIG. 2, but in FIG. 1 from the left viewed with the ball of fabric removed,

F i g. Fig. 4 is a vertical section showing part of an inclined cutting table and a cutting device shows,

F i g. 5 is a perspective view of a collapsible container of the device according to the invention;

F i g. 6 a perspective view of a further embodiment of the device according to the invention,

F i g. Figure 7 is a front elevational view of the embodiment of Figure 6 with parts removed or broken away are,

F i g. 8 is a right side view of FIG. 6, with one side cover removed,

F i g. 9 is a left side view of FIG. 6, with one side cover removed,

FIG. 10 is a longitudinal section on line 10-10 of FIG Fig.fi on a reduced scale,

FIGS. 11 and 12 are the same sectional views as in FIG Fig. 10 shows soft movement positions of a bale during its unwinding,

13 is an enlarged section on the line 13-13 of Fig. 8.

14 is a plan view of a control unit of the device according to the invention, with a length presetting »Partial device, a price setting device, a length display, a price display and various Push-button switches, and

15 shows an electrical circuit diagram

In the drawings, a fabric measuring and cutting device is designated in its entirety by reference number 10 designated. The device is arranged on a frame 11 and with opposite end housings 12, 14 which enclose inner side walls 16, 18.

According to Figures 2 and 3 is an endless conveyor belt 20 sheared around an upper front roller 22, an upper rear roller 24 and two smaller lower rollers 26,28.

The conveyor belt 20 is a powered conveyor belt. A motor 30 is in drive connection for this purpose mation with the shaft of the upper rear roller 24. The ends of the upper rear roller 24 are in horizontal Slots 32, 34 in the side walls 16, 18 are displaceable. A change in the position of the rear roller 24 changes the The amount of tension exerted on the conveyor belt and the depth of the loop in the conveyor belt between the upper rollers 22,24. The motor 30 is mounted on an arm 31, the lower end of which on the Wall 16 is rotatably mounted

A pad of fabric 36 which is an elongated configuration and resembles a rectangle with rounded corners in cross-section, is in the upper groove of the conveyor belt 20 is supported between the rollers 22 and 24, as best shown in FIG. 2 can be seen. A part of the substance is shown in FIG. 2 as hand from the bale 36 over the front upper roller 22 down to one Cutting table 40 shown pulled The cutting table 40, which is arranged at the front of the device, is at an angle of approximately- Λ5 'down and outwardly inclined - according to FIG. 4, next to the lower edge of the cutting table 40 is a small step-like incision 42 which protrudes downward from the surface of the table 40 and in the table edge portion 44 ends, which is parallel to the rest of the table 40, but is separated from it The table is translucent and has a series of photo cells 46 is below the incision 42 for sensing the passage of fabric past the incision 42 appropriate. The passage of fabric 36 on the photocells causes a change in the light intensity in the feelers. This creates an optical encoder, which is in the illustrated Embodiment is a transparent plate 48 (Fig. 2), signals an affirmative count. Several small, dark segments are arranged around the periphery of the plate 48 to form a bundle of Li'-ht interrupt. Depending on the geometry, there is a certain number of interruptions : a suitable unit of measurement, for example a linear dimension of 1.6 mm. The encoder is with connected to the motor 30 so that the feeding of the fabric at the predetermined length is automatic can be stopped. This dimension is recorded on a register 50 in the front of the housing 14 The information about the desired predetermined length and the price is displayed via Push button 51 entered into a computer, and the calculated price of the desired piece of fabric is from is displayed in register 50.

The fabric that moved over the incision 42. You move a gap between a discharge roller 52 on the underside of the edge 44 of the table and through a series of small, spring-loaded pinch rollers 54 supported within a rectangular housing 56 on the front of the device. The roller 52 can be rotated via a drive belt 53 (FIG. 3) which is sheared about a pulley 55 on the shaft of the upper front roller 22 and about a pulley 57 on the shaft of the RoSIe 52. The fabric then falls into a collapsible container 58. According to FIG. 5, the container 58 has longitudinal walls 60,62 and a bottom, which consists of sections 64 and 66 which are inclined above and inward and which meet at an apex. The fabric falls into each other overlap-

the folds on the bottom of the container, as in Fig.5 shown.

When the desired predetermined length of fabric has passed the incision 42, what through the optical Encoder is determined, the substance is shown in FIG. 4 along the upper edge of the incision 42, which as Cutting edge is used, cut off. The fabric is cut off with specially designed scissors, which has conventional blades 70 and 72, with a guide foot 68 on the lower scissor blade 70 is attached. According to Fig. 4, the height of the guide foot 68 is slightly greater than the height of the Incision 42 so that when the underside of the guide foot is resting on the edge 44 of the table, the cooperating Scissor blades 70 and 72 cut the fabric at the top edge of incision 42. on in this way a straight passage of the fabric is achieved and the guide foot keeps the cutting edge off away from the table surface.

A compartment 59 below the container 58 can be used to store bales of fabric.

In operation, a bale of fabric selected by the customer is placed in the trough of the conveyor belt 20 placed between the two upper rollers 22, 24. The desired length and the fabric price will be the Computer communicated by pushbuttons 51. The free edge of the fabric is placed on the inclined table and the drive motor 30 of the conveyor belt 20 is in a simple manner via a control button 74 on the Housing 12 actuated. When fabric is fed over the cutting edge, the photocells 46 report to the encoder a starting count, and "the length and price of what goes over the cutting edge Substance are indicated by the register 50. When fabric is unwound from the bale, the Bales tip over inside the loop, the flexible conveyor belt swallowing this movement and itself adjusts her by shifting the shaft of the rear roller 24 within the slots 32,34. The unwound Fabric falls into collapsible container 58, where it folds itself over.

When the predetermined length of fabric has been pulled over the cutting edge, the motor 30 will turn switched off automatically. Then the fabric is cut by hand along the cutting edge, the scissors described above is used. The pinch rollers 54 hold the top edge of the severed Piece of fabric on roll 52 so that the fabric is still visible to the customer until the fabric is folded Condition that makes it easier to pack, has been pulled out of the device

The F i g. 6 to 15 show a further embodiment of the device for unwinding predetermined lengths of fabric from a bale B. The in FIGS. The device shown in FIGS. 6 to 15, which is designated in its entirety by the reference number 101, is a table model which can be placed on the top of a counter in a retail fabric store. Similar to the embodiment in FIGS. 1 to 5 it contains an endless conveyor belt 103 (corresponding to the conveyor belt 20) and a device 105 for guiding this conveyor belt so that it moves on an endless path with an upwardly open loop L into which a bale B can be inserted, with the bale extending transversely to the conveyor belt. It is one in its entirety with the reference number! 107 designated device for driving the conveyor belt is provided so that a bale B inserted in the loop L can be rotated and fabric can be unwound from the bale. The guide device 105 includes an upper rear roller 109 (corresponding to roller 24) and an upper front roller 111 (corresponding to roller 22), which serve as first and second guides for forming the loop L , respectively. The conveyor belt moves over the first guide (ie over the rear roller 109), from there downwards, upwards and over the second

ίο guidance (ie over the front roller 111). The device designated in its entirety by the reference numeral 113 (cf. FIG. 8) holds these guides in such a way that they can execute a relative movement towards and away from one another when the bale rotates, the loop L forming its frame when the bale rotates changes, namely it goes out of a V-shape. whereby one of the surfaces of the ball rests against a V-leg (cf. Fig. 10 or 12) on the inside of the leg, into a shape with a flat bottom.

one of the surfaces of the bale resting against the flat bottom (see Fig. 11).

In particular, the holding device 113 for the rollers 109 and M1 contains left and right side plates 115 and 117, which extend from a base plate 119 which can be placed on a table or a counter. extend upwards. Each side panel has a vertical rear panel 121, a vertical front edge 123 of less height than the rear edge, and a sloping edge portion 125 extending upward and rearward from the top of the front edge to a horizontal top edge 127. An inclined plate 129, which may be referred to as a sensor plate, extends between the side plates 115 and 117 at their inclined edges 125. This sensor plate, which can be made of wood with an upper side 131 of plastic, slopes towards the front of the device downwards and forwards and has a slot 133 in its top which extends from one end of the sensor plate to the other end adjacent to its front (lower) edge. The rollers 109 and 111 are arranged in a generally horizontal plane at the top of the room bounded by the side plates 115 and 117 and by the feeler plate 129, the upper rear roller 109 (the first guide) being movable back and forth as a whole horizontally to and from the upper front roller 111 (the second guide). The upper front Roller 111 is mounted on a shaft 135 which is supported in bearings 137 in the side plates at the front ends of the upper edges 127 of the side plates d is rotatably mounted and has frustoconical end heads 139 for keeping the conveyor belt 103 centered with respect to the Rr ¹ Ie. The upper rear roller 109 is mounted on a shaft 141 which has frustoconical end heads 143 for centering the conveyor belt.At its ends, this shaft extends through horizontal slots 145 in the side plates 115 and 117. These slots are arranged and extend next to the upper edges 127 of the side plates from near the rear edges 121 of the side panels to the front. The shaft 141 is supported in bearings 147 on the outside of the side plates. These bearings have rollers 149 which roll on guide tracks 151 on the outside of the side plates. The shaft 141 is displaceable forwards and backwards in the slots 145 (and rotatable about its axis when it is displaced), its ends moving in synchronism forwards and backwards without tilting the shaft, namely with hooves

a horizontal torsion shaft 153, which is supported in bearings 155 in side plates 115 and 117 next to their lower ones Edges below the slots 145 is supported, and with the help of arms 157 and 159, which are on the left and the right end of the shaft on the outside of the plates and with the bearings 147 are connected via slots 161 and 163 in arms 157 and 159, respectively.

ji> js conveyor belt JO3 is made of a material that is able to make good frictional contact with the fabric on a bale, where the term "fabric" includes the usual woven and knitted fabrics sold in fabric retail stores. One type of conveyor material that has been used. is a nylon fabric or a fabric made of nylon and rayon, with ribs which extend longitudinally with respect to the direction of conveyor belt movement, the material being approximately 0.8 mm thick. The conveyor belt 103 is passed not only over the upper rear roller 109 and over the upper front roller 111, with the loop L between these rollers, but also under a tension roller 165, over and around a lower front roller 167, upwards and over a Measuring roller 169. which presses it against the lower front roller, and sheared under and around an adjustable lower rear roller 171. The lower front roller 167 is mounted on a shaft 173 which is rotatably mounted in bearings 175 in the side plates 115 and 117 about a horizontal axis which extends transversely to the device next to the upper end of the front edges 123 of the safte plates and the lower end of the inclined edge portions 125 of the side plates extends. This lower front roller has the same overall diameter (ie, the same relatively large diameter) as rollers 109 and 111. The tension roller 165 is located generally midway between the upper front roller 111 and the lower front roller 167 and is, as at the point 177 in FIG. 13, rotatably supported on a horizontal axis extending transversely to the device in the inclined plane of the axes of the rollers 111 and 167 at angles which extend downwards from the ends of the feeler plate 129. It is located below and on the back of the sensor plate. The measuring roller 169 is mounted in bearings 179 which are slidable in inclined slots 181 in the side plates 115 and 117 and are biased towards the lower front roller 167 by springs 183. The slots 181 are located behind the lower front roller 167 and sloping upward in the forward direction with their plane of inclination tangential to the roller 167 at the top of that roller. The lower rear roller 171 is supported in bearings 185 the. as shown at point 187 in FIG. 9 in horizontal slots 189 in side plates 115 and 117 near the rear of the device and below slots 145. From the loop L the conveyor belt 103 goes up, over the upper front roller 111 and around the same, then down and under the tensioning roller 165. Upwards from this, over the lower front roller 167 and around the same, upwards from there and over the measuring roller 169 and back to and under the lower rear roller 171. from this up to the rear of the upper rear roller 109 and forward over the upper rear roller and down into the loop Z_ between the rollers ill and 167 moves the conveyor belt 103 behind and under the sensing plate 129 which extends down and forward from the upper front roller 111,

The device 107 for driving the conveyor belt contains an electric motor 191 (Fig.7) which is attached to the Outside of the right side plate 117 is mounted. This motor is a conventional gear motor (with a built-in group of wheels for speed reduction), and its output shaft 193 is with the right end of the shaft 173 of the lower front roller 167 coupled positively to their drive. The motor 191 is a motor having a conventional one friction-locked brake, which is inevitably actuated when the motor is de-energized, to its shaft 193 to stop. The motor is designed so that when energized it will move roller 167 in the direction of forward motion of the conveyor belt (which is the direction shown by arrows in Figures 10 through 12). The upper front roller 111 is also through the Motor 191 non-positively driven (and braked non-positively by the brake of motor 191 if the motor is de-energized) by means of a drive 195 consisting of belts and pulleys from shaft 193. this drive is constructed so that the upper front roller 111 with the same speed as the lower front roller 167 is rotated. It is a separate device provided for the positive drive of the upper rear roller 109. This device contains a electric gear motor 197th which is slidably mounted on the right side arm 159 and its Output shaft 199 is directly coupled to shaft 141 of the upper rear roller. The engine 197 has a friction brake that is applied when the motor is de-energized and its shaft 199 stops. The engine 197 is mounted on a bracket 201 which has a guide 203 which slidably receives the arm 159 wherein the arrangement is made in this way. that. when the arm 159 swings back and forth, the motor in the guide 203 slides up and down.

The groove 133 in the feeler plate 129 is used to receive and guide a cutting device, e.g. B. a pair of scissors, for cutting fabric extending downward across the panel on a crosswise basis line extending across the fabric. Immediately above the groove 133 is the sensor plate 129 with two Holes 205 (Fig. 6> on opposite sides of the provided in the central longitudinal plane of the device. These holes lie with their center on a line 207th which across the device parallel to the groove 133 and narrow

extends next to the groove (e.g. at a distance of 0.6 mm from the top edge of the groove). In each of these holes 205 a photocell 209 is inserted, soft Receives ambient light and when the ambient light passes through the leading edge of a bale unwound substance is blocked, causes a measuring process to be triggered, as in the following in more detail The feeler plate 129 is also illustrated with two holes 211 on opposite sides of the central one Longitudinal plane of the device provided with their centers on a line 213 next to and parallel to the upper edge of the plate. A photocell 215 is inserted into each of these holes, which receives ambient light and when the ambient light passes through fabric lying over the holes 211 is blocked.

causes an unwinding process to be released, as explained in more detail below

Fabric F is unwound from building B by placing the bale in loop L of conveyor belt 103

230 217/302

and the conveyor belt 103 is driven in the direction of the arrows shown in Figures 10-12 to rotate the bale clockwise (as viewed in Figures 10-12) and thereby unwind fabric from the bale. The fabric moves up the inside of the front leg L 1 of the loop L , goes on the conveyor belt 103 over the upper front roller 111 and down around this, then separates in front of the conveyor belt 103 and goes down over the sensing plate 129 to the lower front roller 167, where it meets the conveyor belt 103 again and moves down between the conveyor belt and the device 217 for pressing the fabric against the conveyor belt on the kidney front roller 167 to a fabric holder 219 (FIG. 6). The device for pressing the fabric against the conveyor belt on roller 167 includes a pressure roller 221 mounted on a hood 223 which is hinged at point 225 so that roller 221 pivots towards and away from the roller can. The hood 223 extends over the front of the device and covers the lower front roller 167 and is urged either towards the roller 167 or away from it by an end position spring 227. It can be brought into contact with the conveyor belt 103 immediately below the lower edge of the sensor plate 129. Their outward pivoting movement is limited by a pin and slot arrangement 229.

The fabric holder 219 includes a plate 231 (Fig. 6) that Loan extends downwardly from the front of the lower plate 119 and is so shaped. that a Substance collecting bowl 233 results at its lower end, the bottom of which in cross section has the shape of an inverted one V has. The vertex of the V cross-section is denoted by the reference number 235. He is overall in the Vertical plane of the front of roll 267. Fabric extends from roll 167 as a whole in the Vertical plane of the apex 235 of the V-section downwards and is laid in folds in the shell, as in FIG F i g. 6 shown. The device can be placed on a table or counter with the plate 231 from the The top of the table or counter is hanging down on an edge from the top of the counter.

A lid 237 is attached to the left side plate 115. A cover 239 is attached to the right side plate 117. The right cover 239 has an inclined faceplate 241 in which an on / off switch 243 is mounted. The left cover 237 has an inclined faceplate 245 in which a control unit is connected to the one device 247 rum presetting • a predetermined length of material to be dispensed, a device 249 for setting the price of the material to be dispensed, a display device 251 turn display of the dispensed length (in yards, • / β-yards, meters or centimeters) and a display device 253 for display of the total price of the amount of substance dispensed The device 247, which can be referred to as a length presetting device, contains a group of thumbwheel switches ■ for presetting the length to be dispensed (e.g. the length required by the customer) in steps of approximately 10 cm (Vs yard) up to about 1.8 m (19 ⁷ / e yard), for example. Therefore, this device may include three thumbwheel switches, one of which is for the Vg Yard setting while the other two are for zero b settings ^; s 49 are provided. The device 249, which may be referred to as a price setter, includes a group of thumbwheel switches for setting the price per yard or per meter (e.g. $ 44.99 per yard). The device 249 may therefore include four thumbwheel switches for performing such price setting The control unit also contains a pushbutton sounder 255 for causing the calculation of the total price of the piece of material to be dispensed (before it is dispensed) and an assigned signal lamp 255a, a second pushbutton switch 257 for initiating the dispensing of the substance without calculating the price (for example for inventory purposes) and an assigned signal lamp 257a ; and a third push button switch 259 for causing the dispensing of the substance with price calculation

(5 voltage and an associated signal lamp 259a. On the Point 261 is a switch controlled by the hood, and point 263 is a manually operated switch, which is referred to as the "pause" switch.

An optically encoded disk or plate 265 is attached to the left end of the measuring roller 169. This record consists of translucent material, for example from a suitable plastic and the one on it Affixed code characters consist of a circular series of opaque areas or Markings 267 placed on the edge of the plate. The distance between these marks is for example chosen so that sixty-four marks correspond to '/ β yard of conveyor belt path (and so '/ * yard of fabric). On the outside of the left side plate 115 is a pulse generator 269th which a light source 271 which sends a light beam through the edge of the plate; and a light detector 273 attached to receiving the light from the source.

the arrangement being such that when the coded edge of the plate is between the light source 271 and the light detector 273 passes, the light is alternately transmitted through the plate and interrupted by the opaque markings so that the light detector generates 273 pulses, one pulse for each mark passing between the light source and the detector so that sixty-four pulses per '/ β yard Sioff generated will.

According to FIG. 15, power is supplied to both motors 191 and 197 for driving the Conveyor belt 103 under the control of a motor enable circuit 301 and a motor control circuit 303. The output of the motor enable circuit 301 is from the inputs from the upper photocells or ambient light sensors 215 inserted in the plate 123. The motor control circuit 303 requires both an enable input signal from circuit 301 and a start signal to start the motors To supply electricity. Typically, the start signal is provided after the length presetting device 247 and the price setter 249 has been set by operating the push button switch 259 (to issue a preset length with price calculation). Dispensing will after it once has been initiated by a comparator circuit 305 controlled which the preset length with the Output of a counter 307 which compares the number of yards (or meters) dispensed in Steps of '/ s yard counts as by the rotation of the optically coded disk 265. The input of counter 307 is taken from the output of a Ve; Yard counter 309 supplied and the output signal

of payer 317 is displayed at position 251 (in Yards * and Ve yards). The '/ s yard counter becomes 309 supplied by a counting release circuit 311, which input pulses from a Schmitt trigger sound 313 and release pulses from the lower photocells or ambient light sensors 209 in the Plate 129 receives. The entrance signa! the Schmitt trigger circuit comes from the pulse generator 269 (which the light source 271 and the light detector 273 contains) when rotating plate 265.

The calculation of the total price of the amount of substance dispensed is initiated by each output signal of the counter 309 is fed to a flip-flop 315. The output of flip-flop 315 and with this coupled pulses supplied by a clock 317 are used to shift the contents a shift register 319 in a total price register 321 is used. The contents of shift register 319 are determined by setting the price adjuster 249. The total price register 321 contains a Äddierschaiturg for combining binary bits from have been hidden in register 319, with the previous contents of the total price register 321 and a register for storing the result of each addition. The contents of the total price register 321 are displayed at position 253 on the control unit 245.

The motor enable circuit 301 is constructed so that it supplies an enable input signal to the motor control circuit 303 only when both of the upper light sensors 215 in the plate 129 are covered by the front end portion of the substance to be dispensed. This prevents the substance from being erroneously dispensed under (instead of over) the top (rear) edge of the sensor plate 129. After the leading end portion of the fabric withdrawn from a bale B. which is in the loop L lies on the plate 129 and extends downward enough to block the passage of light to the upper light sensors 215, these sensors deliver sensors via leads 323 and 325 are input signals to the motor enable circuit 301 so that an enable output signal is fed to the motor control circuit 303 via a line 327 A. Said release output signal is also fed to the signal lamp 259 A via a line 327 B so that this signal lamp lights up and informs the seller that he can start the dispensing of substance by actuating the push button switch 259. Before operating the switch 259, the salesperson sets the thumbwheel switches of the length presetting device 247 to the fabric length desired by the customer and the thumbwheel switches of the price setting device 249 to the price per unit length of the fabric in question, which has been selected by the customer. According to the illustration in FIG. 14, the length presetter 247 is set to dispense 12 ³ / s yards and the price setter is set to a price of $ 235 per yard

When the push button switch 259 is actuated, a signal is fed to the start input of the motor control circuit 303 via a line 329 A. If the enable input signal of the motor control circuit 303 has already been supplied from the motor enable circuit 301 via the line 327A, the circuit 303 supplies power via a line 331 to excite the two conveyor belt drive motors 191 and 197 and to the τ - / Ke nn er ϊΚγργ Rrpmcpn drive the motors thereupon the conveyor belt 103 in the direction of the arrows shown in FIGS. 10 to 12 so that the bale pin of the loop L with respect to the illustration in FIGS. iü turned clockwise to 12 and the fabric F unwound from the bale and the preset fabric length is dispensed. Since the sensing plate 129 is inclined as shown, the leading end portion of the fabric moves by gravity downward over the plate to the point where el is detected in the nip of rollers 221 and 167, whereupon these rollers force the fabric downward to the Move container 219.

The rotation of the bale B for unwinding the fabric results from the bale rubbing against the conveyor belt 103 in the loop L. According to FIG. wherein the generally flat rear side of the bale is in frictional contact with the rear V-leg of the loop L of the conveyor belt. When the conveyor belt moves down the rear V-leg and up the front V-leg, the fabric is raised from the lower edge of the building on the inside of the front V-leg and from there along with the conveyor belt over the Top of the front roller 111 and moved downwards over the sensor plate 129. The bale is rotated and goes from the inclined position shown in FIG. 10, in which it is leaning back against the rear roller 109, into the horizontal position of FIG. 11 and from there into the inclined position of FIG. 12, in which it leans at the front against the front roller 111, and then tilts back into its position of FIG. 10 and repeats one rotation. The loop L changes its shape when the bale rotates, ie its V-shape of FIGS. 10 and 12 merges into the flat shape of FIG. 11 with a flat bottom and from there back again into the V-shape of FIGS. 10 and 12. As FIG. 10 shows, the shaft 141 of the upper rear roller 109 is located at the front ends of the slots 145, which indicates the necessary length Conveyor belt 103 provides between the upper rear roller 109 and the upper front roller 111 (ie, the necessary passage of the conveyor belt between these rollers) to form the V-shape of the loop. When the bale rotates clockwise from its position of FIG. 10, the upper rear roller IC ^ moves back and away from the upper front roller 111, which is made possible by the shaft 141 moving rearward in the slots 145 This removes some of the slack in the conveyor belt between rollers 109 and 111 to allow loop L to reshape into the flat, planar lower edge shape of FIG. 11 can change. Then, if the bale continues to rotate clockwise from its horizontal position in FIG. 11, the upper rear roller 109 moves forward to the upper front roller 111 in its position of FIG. 12 (and FIG. 10), the relatively deep one To restore the V shape of the loop L.

As the bale B rotates to unwind the fabric F, contact between the bale and the conveyor belt 103 is constantly maintained so that there is a 1: 1 ratio between the conveyor belt movement and the length of the unwound fabric. Thus, for a conveyor belt path of 10 yards also 10 yards of fabric unwound With regard to constant contact, see FIG. 10 to recognize that the back of the ball with the rear V-leg Aor- C-MβίΓο I Aac- C ^ Mo- ^ 1 "^ ·«! N RonHnmn ict F) IqCO

^ * ^ * 1 fc_TX # l tlV * lXV » * * V £ ^» O 1 \ Jt Xl \ * t ISU-JXVlWt ^ til i-rwi Ulli Ultfa IhVt * i - * - l% nj ^ side of the bale remains with the rear V-leg in

Contact when the rear roller 109 moves backward and the V-shape becomes shallower. It becomes the underside of the bale when the bale is in the horizontal position of F i g. 11 reaches, and remains with the flat bottom of the loop L in contact. It then becomes the front de; Bale and stay with the front V-tavern! up to the position of Fig. 12, whereupon the bale tilts smoothly and smoothly back into its position of Fig. 10 without interrupting the contact of the bale with the conveyor belt on the underside of the bale. Then the bale begins one more revolution.

The measuring roller 169, which is pressed against the outside of the conveyor belt, is driven by the conveyor belt in a clockwise direction (with respect to the illustration in Figs the illustration in Fig. 9) rotated. This rotation is directly proportional to the rotation of the conveyor belt and directly proportional to the length of the fabric being unwound, since the distance traveled by the conveyor belt is equal to the length of the fabric being unwound. As noted above, sixty-four of the markings 267 correspond to one eighth of a yard of conveyor belt path and one eighth of a yard of unwound fabric. The plate 265 expediently has a total of 64 marks 267 on its edge and the measuring roller 169 is dimensioned so that it performs one revolution for one yard of conveyor belt movement. Thus' / 8 yards of distance traveled by the conveyor belt will result in '/'. which causes the unwinding of 'u yard fabric, that the plate 265 makes one revolution.

When the plate 265 rotates, the interrupt opaque markings 267 the passage of light from the light source 271 to the light detector 273 of the pulse generator 269 and every interruption generates an impulse on a line 335 (cf. F i g 1 5). the / u of the Schmitt Tngger circuit 31 3 carries the latter gives an output signal via a line 335 in the event of an input signal received from the pulse generator 269 to the counting enable circuit 311 from the latter only delivers an output signal when the V "ilcr edge of the fabric that is unwound, the lower row covered by photocells or light sensors 209 inserted into plate 129 Wenn both sensors 209 are covered by fabric, they deliver Enable input signals on lines 337 and 339 the counting release circuit> 11 and the latter begins an output on line 341 for each on received from Schmitt trigger circuit 313 output signal

The output signals of the counting enable circuit 311 are used as an input signal for the / s-yard counter 309 supplied. There. as mentioned, the passage of the sixty-four opaque markings 267 on the plate 265 between the light source 271 and the light detector 273 of the pulse generator 269 of the Delivery of Va Yard fabric is equivalent. the counter 309 counts sixty-four inputs from the Counting enable circuit 311 and then outputs an output pulse to a line 343. The counter is then reset and starts a new counting cycle.

Each output from counter 309 initializes a length range and a price calculation. the Contents of yard counter 307 are incremented by Ve yards for each pulse on line 343, this being Pulse also acts as a displacement input pulse to both yard counter 307 and a one Preset length register 345 is supplied. After the yard counter 307 changes its contents to one has increased additional vs yard, the new result will be from the counter 307 via a line 346 through an AND circuit 347 to the comparator 305 postponed. The AND circuit 347 has two inputs, one of which is the input signal from the

ίο yard counter 307 and the other the O output signal of a flip-flop 349. Unless an inventory is carried out, as will be explained, this has The 0 output signal of the flip-flop 349 on a line 351 has the Η level, which allows the AND circuit 347 to Forward the contents of the yard counter 307 to the! Comparator 305. The contents of the yard counter 307 is also fed via line 346 to a display / interface circuit 353 which has three light emitting Controls diodes that make up the display device 251 for the length of material dispensed is.

The contents of the preset fabric length register 345 are obtained by setting the three Thumbwheel switch of the length presetting device 247 set. When the output of the Vs. Yard counter 309 to the shift or clock input of the register 345 is supplied, the contents are transmitted to the comparator 305 via a line 355Λ fed and at the same time passed back to the load input of the register 345 via a line 355ß, to be saved in it again. The comparator 305 compares that from the yard counter 307 and that Contents fed to register 345 with each other and, if they are not the same, no output signal is given.

If the values are the same, which means that the preset length of fabric has been dispensed, delivers the comparator 305 sends a pulse on a line 357 to an input of an OR circuit 359 to its To temporarily bring the entrance to the H-Pegei.

This high level input to the OR circuit 359 brings its output signal on a line 361/4. which leads to the S input of a flip-flop 363, temporarily high, which sets flip-flop 363 and its I output signal on one line

3654. which is applied to an input of an OR circuit 367, is brought to the Η level. With a H input on line 3654, this OR circuit 367 provides an H output on one Line 369 to the stop gear of the motor control circuit 303. which has the consequence. that the power supply to the Motors 191 and 197 are interrupted and the dispensing of substance is stopped. This state of affairs lasts for so long. until the push button switch 259 is operated one more time, at which point in time an input signal is fed on a line to the /? input of flip-flop 363. This input signal sets the flip-flop 363 returns and the I output goes from the high level to the I. level above, which eliminates the H level The input signal on the line 329β is carried out at the stop event of the motor control circuit 303 also flip-flops 371 and 373 reverse.

Simultaneously with the length comparison described above, the output signal of the Ve-yard counter 309 on line 343 from the S input of flip-flop 315 received.

This sets this flip-flop and its 1 output signal on a line 375, which is at a Input of an AND circuit 377 is applied to the

Η level brought. When this occurs, pulses on a line 3794 from the clock 317 passed by the AND circuit 377 and to shift pulses on line 381A, which leads to the shift register 319, and to input signals on a line 381 B, to a counter 383 leads The counter 383 counts 125 of the pulses supplied by the clock generator 317 each time the filling flop 315 is set, and then supplies an output signal on a line 385Λ to the Λ input of the flip-flop 315 and as an input signal on a line 3855, to reset yourself. When the flip-flop 315 receives the Λ input, it is reset and its 1 output goes from the Η level to the L level, preventing any further pulses from the AND circuit 377 from being passed.

While the counter 383 is counting the 125 pulses, each of these pulses causes the contents of the shift register 319 to be transferred over a line 3 & 7A to the input of the total price register 321 and at the same time back over a line 3875 to the load input of the shift register 319, in order to transfer the contents store it again 7U before the next shift input comes

Each time the contents of the shift register 319 are supplied to the total price register 321, linked the addition part of the total price register 321 this input signal with the existing contents of the Register 321 to calculate a new total price, which is stored in register 321 will.

After each addition, the contents of the total price register 321 become one via a line 389 Input interface circuit 391, soft five controls light emitting diodes which make up the total price display 253. Since 125 additions of the value price per yard to the contents of the total price register 321 each time '/ β is displayed Yard of dispensed material are carried out, the contents of the total price register 321 are increased by three Decimal places shifted to the right before the total price is displayed. This shift will done within register 321. This is done because 125 equals' / 8 of 1000 so that for every eight '/ e-yard advert, the price per yard Substance will actually be added to itself a thousand times, and by postponing the result three places to the right equals 1.00. This means that 1000 additions of the contents of the Shift register 319 to the previous contents of the total price register 321 adding the price per Yard of material are equivalent to the calculated total price each time an additional Yard is given to fabric.

When motors 191 and 197 stop, their brakes are applied relatively quickly to the conveyor belt 103 and bring the unwinding of the fabric to a standstill. While the conveyor belt started can unwind the fabric and advance it down the feeler plate 129 before the leading edge of the substance has reached the reference line 207 of the light sensor 209, the measuring process only begins when the leading edge of the fabric the Lichlfühlef 209 on the Line 207 unmistakably covered over the cutting groove 133 So the motors 191 and 197 begin to drive the conveyor belt so that the pre-settled Length of fabric (however large it is) over line 207 (and past the cutting groove for practical purposes). The fabric moves on plate 129 down and collects in folds in the shell 233. When the preset length at the groove 133 has been passed, the conveyor belt 103 stops feeding the fabric and the seller can then cut the fabric with scissors, using the groove as a guide for the customer to do Piece of fabric with the desired length is obtained. Attaching the sensors 209 a little above the groove 133 has the advantage that a compensation for the further movement of the conveyor belt (due to the Inertia of the conveyor belt system) is created, which tries to advance a little more material than

[5 corresponds to the preset fabric length. It is possible to make a certain compensation for a further movement over the circuit by the Output length count is adjusted by an amount that corresponds to the expected further movement

Before submitting any fabric, the seller can estimate the total cost of a desired length of fabric calculate in advance, d. H. he can use the system for simply use this purpose as a calculator. The seller provides for such an advance calculation simply the thumbwheel switches of the length presetting device 247 to the required length and the thumbwheel switches of the price setting device 249 the price per yard of the selected fabric. Then, after checking whether the indicator lamp 255A is on is. the clerk operates the push button switch 255 to start a price calculation, and that The result is displayed at position 253. This advance calculation can only be carried out when the leading edge of fabric to be dispensed is not above the bottom row of light sensors 215 When These sensors are open to the ambient light, the output signal of the motor enable circuit 301 has the L level, which is below the level of the enable input signal, which the motor control circuit 303 is required to excite motors 191 and 197. The low output of the motor enable circuit 301 however, on line 327S is converted by inverter 393 to energize signal lamp 2554 is, and the output of the motor enable circuit 301 on line 327C is through a Inverter 395 converted so that an input of an AND circuit 397 an input signal with the H level is supplied. When the push button switch 255 is operated, it becomes a temporary high level

so fed to the other input of the AND circuit 397, resulting in a temporary high level output from AND circuit 397 on a Line 399 leads to the 5 input of a flip-flop 401 leads. This high level input signal sets that

5 ") Füpflop 401 and brings the I output signal of the same on a line 403, which leads to an input of an AND circuit 405, to the H level. The other The input of the AND circuit 405 is supplied with pulses from the clock generator 317 via a line 3790.

bo When the! output of flip-flop 401 is high leads, the AND circuit 405 allows the pulses supplied by the clock 371 to the input of the

l / s Yäfd'Zähfers 309 through.

The pulses sent to the counter 309 by the

AND circuit 405, the counter 309 treats in the same manner as that from FIG Count enable circuit 311 receives inputs when substance is dispensed. Thus the

Counter 309 for every 64 received pulses an output pulse on line 343, which represents Va yards of dispensed substance. These output pulses from counter 309 initiate the length comparison and price calculation discussed above, with the appropriate length and total price output signals being displayed at locations 251 and 253, respectively. Finally, the content of the yard counter 307 is the same as that of the register 345 and the comparator 305 supplies, as before, an output signal via the line 357 to the OR circuit 359. The output signal of the OR circuit 359 is via a line 361 B dem Λ input of flip-flop 401 supplied. When this occurs, the flip-flop 401 is reset and its 1 output signal goes low, which prevents the AND circuit 405 from passing further pulses from the clock 317 to the input of the Vs yard counter 309. The display device 251 displays the desired length of fabric, while the display device 253 displays the total price of the piece of fabric with this length.

As mentioned above, the forecast can only be made when the upper light sensors 215 are not covered. When the sensor 215 is covered the motor enable circuit 301 outputs the high output signal on the line 327/4 to the motor control circuit 303 from. This output signal is converted by inverters 393 and 395 to the signal lamp Turn off 255/1 and to the AND circuit 397 a signal with the L level, so that the AND circuit 397 no longer responds to an actuation of the pushbutton scanner 255 to initiate a price calculation appeals to

The device can also be used for inventory purposes to determine the lengths of fabric on a bale. This is accomplished by placing the bale in loop L with the leading end portion of the fabric resting on plate 129 so that upper sensors 215 are covered (so that circuit 301 provides an enable input to circuit 303 to operate of engines 191 and 197). Then the push button switch 257 is operated. This results in a signal at the start input of the motor control circuit 303 and the motors 191 and 197 are supplied with power. Substance is dispensed in the manner described above and the pulse generator circuit 269 begins to pulse the Vs yard counter 309 through the Schmitt trigger circuit 313 and the counter enable circuit 311 in the manner described above. The output of the '/ 8 yard counter 309 advances the yard counter 307 as indicated above. However, the output of the yard counter 307 is now prevented from being supplied to the comparator 305 as an input. This condition is met. because when the push button switch 257 is operated, it emits a signal via a line 407 to the Γ input of the flip-flop 349. The flip-flop 349 has normal outputs of 0 (H level) and 1 (L level). A signal at the 7 input of the flip-flop 349 triggers the flip-flop and the outputs assume the state 0 (L level |) and 1 (H level). With the 0 output signal with the L level on line 351 an input of the AND circuit 347, this is prevented from passing the output signal of the yard counter 307 to the comparator 305. This is the opposite of what takes place in a delivery, measurement and calculation process. Thus, the contents of the yard counter 307 are compared with the contents of the register 345, and the output of the yard counter 307 is only supplied to the display interface circuit 353 so that the length of the unwound fabric is displayed by the display device 251. When the unwinding of the fabric is to be stopped, the push button switch 257 is actuated again and a second signal is fed to the T input of the flip-flop 349. This second input signal again triggers the flip-flop 349 and the 0 output takes the H level

ίο and the 1 output to the L level. The 1 output signal of the flip-flop 349 is fed via a line 409 to an inverter 411, which converts the 1 output signal with the L level into a signal with the H level and applies this Η signal to an input of an AND circuit 413 The other input to AND circuit 413 is the output from '/ s-yard counter 343. Until the inverted 1 output signal of the flip-flop 349 at the input of the AND circuit 411 assumes the H level, the output signals of the Us yard counter 309 cause no change in the L level output signal of the AND circuit 413. Now brings however, the next output of the counter 309 both inputs of the AND circuit 413 to the H level and its output goes from the L level to the H level. The H output signal of the AND circuit 413 is output via a line 415 to a blocking circuit 417. The circuit 41 / is actuated by an input signal on a line 419 and disables the output of the AND circuit 413 only when the push button switch 259 is actuated to initiate a dispense / measurement / calculation operation. Since this does not occur during an inventory, the circuit 417 is blocked and the H output signal of the AND circuit 413 is fed to an input of the OR circuit 359 via a line 421, whereby the output of the OR circuit 359 is at the H level is brought. As mentioned above, the OR circuit 359 delivers a when its output signal has the H level

ίο input signal for setting the flip-flop 363. The ! Output of flip-flop 363 goes high when flip-flop 363 is set, thereby bringing the input on line 365/4 to OR circuit 367 is high. which leads to.

• t5 that the OR circuit 367 has a high output signal of line 369 to the stop input of motor control circuit 303 This causes the power supply the motors 191 and 197 is interrupted. The delivery process is then ended and the Display device 251 shows the total length of the dispensed substance.

Three additional features of the device described here are the possibility of a price-per-yard cut-out during delivery, a break and a power cut-off using a shutdown or panic bar.
The blocking circuit 423, through which the price per yard contents are loaded into the shift register 319, is provided for the free-per-yard recess. The interlock circuit 423 is operated when the push button switch 259 is operated. When actuated, it prevents any changes to the päümenradschältersettings of the PreiS'pro'Yard * input device 249 from being transmitted to the shift register 319-

The pause feature enables the delivery to be stopped manually during each delivery process, While the substance is being dispensed, the actuation continues

of the pause pushbutton switch 263 to a signal at the 7 "input of the flip-flop 373. This input signal triggers the flip-flop 373 to have its O output signal at the L level and its I output signal on a line 425 which leads to an input of an AND -Circuit 427 leads to the Η level. When the next output signal of the 1/8 yard counter 309 appears, both input signals of the AND circuit 427 have the Η level and the AND circuit 427 supplies an output signal the Η level via a line 429 J ₀ to the S input of a flip-flop 431. This input signal sets the flip-flop 431 and brings its 1 output signal on a line 433Λ at the OR circuit 367 to the Η level OR circuit 367 on line 369 at the stop input of motor control circuit 303 goes high and power to motors 191 and 197 is cut to stop the dispensing process.

To restart the dispensing process, the pause push button switch 263 is used a second time. actuated. As a result, a second signal is applied to the Γ-tinganp of flip-flop 373, which triggers flip-flop J73 again and brings the 1-output signal of this FL-flop to the L level and the 0 output signal to the H level. The H level-O The output signal of the flip-flop 373 is applied to the R input of the flip-flop 431 via a line 435. The flip-flop 431 is reset and its 1 output assumes the L level. whereby the high level input to dtr OR circuit 367 is removed, resulting in the high level output of OR circuit 367 being applied to the stop input of motor control circuit 303. The motors 191 and 197 are supplied with power again and delivery is started again. y-,

The switch 261, which is installed in this way, is provided for switching off the power. that whenever the hood 223 is pivoted outward, the switch 261 is operated to stop the operation immediately, for example in the event that a foreign object is detected in the gap between the rollers. Whenever the switch 261 is actuated, a signal on a line 437 is fed to the 5 input of the flip-flop 371. This input signal sets the flip-flop 371 and the 1 output signal of the same assumes 4, the Η level on a line 4338 and a line 433/4, which lead to an input of the OR circuit 367. When the one input of the OR circuit 367 to Η is LOW, the output signal of the OR circuit 367, the tonteuerschaltung to the stop input of the Mc 303 is applied, the level at Η. woi'urrti the power supply to motors 191 and 197 is interrupted. The flip-flop 371 remains set until the hood 223 is returned to its normal position and until one of the push button switches 257 or 259 is actuated. As mentioned, actuation of one of these switches causes a reset signal on line 3295 to be fed to the /? Input of flip-flop 371 in order to reset the flip-flop. The 1 output signal of the flip-flop 371 assumes the L 1 level when the flip-flop is reset and removes the H 'level at the stop input of the motor control circuit 303, which is supplied by the OR circuit 367.

If the switch 261 is operated before a dispensing operation is completed, a signal is given by a Clear circuit 439 released to the contents of the Väfd'Zählefs 307 and the Gesärhtpreisfegister 321 to delete or return. That means that given Material must be rewound on its bale and that the dispensing process is repeated must be. However, when the delivery has ended, the clear circuit 439 is not operated and the Fabric length and price information in yard counter 307 and total price register 321 are displayed, as before.

The clear circuit 439 is operated by the output of an AND circuit 441, the input signals of which the 1 output signal of the flip-flop 371 controlled by the microswitch 261 and the inverted t output signal of the flip-flop 363, the state of which is determined by the output signal of the comparator circuit 305 is controlled via the OR circuit 359. When switch 261 is operated, before the delivery is ended, the 1 output signal of the flip-flop 363 has the L level and is triggered by a Inverter 443 converted into an input signal with the Η level at the AND circuit 441 The 1 output signal ^ al of the flip-flop 371 assumes the Η level. when the flip-flop 371 goes through. e actuation of the Switch 2b1 is set. Uadurci will be both The inputs of the AND circuit 441 are brought to the H level and the output signal of the AND circuit 441 is brought to the H level on a line 445 which leads to the cancellation circuit -139, which is a Reset causes. When the required amount of substance has already been dispensed. has the 1 output signal of the flip-flop 363 the H level and becomes d'.irch den Inverter 433 is converted into an input signal having the L level to the AND circuit 441, whereby the Actuation of the extinguishing circuit 439 is prevented when the hood 223 is pivoted outward and the Switch 261 is operated.

Since the motor 591 forms a positive drive and a non-positive brake for the upper front roller 111 and since the motor 197 forms a positive drive and a non-positive brake for the upper rear roller, the correct loop L is maintained and the conveyor belt becomes relative held taut in its area behind the futiler plate 129, its lower area from roller 167 to roller 171 and its rear area from roller 171 to roller 109. It is important that the belt is kept tensioned (outside of loop L) to ensure the necessary contact between the conveyor belt and the measuring roller 169 for an accurate measurement (ie for a 1: 1 ratio of the conveyor belt movement to the distance traveled by a point on the surface of the roller 169), and also to ensure that the conveyor belt is correct to keep guided on its guide rollers without impermissible lateral displacement. In this regard, roller 169 may have a planarized, rough surface (e.g., made by sandblowing) in order to have good frictional contact with the conveyor belt at the same speed so that roller 109 moves the conveyor belt into loop L at approximately the same speed as the conveyor belt is pulled out of the loop by roller 111 (which is driven by main drive motor 191). However, when there is slack in the conveyor belt from roller 111 to roller 109, the load on motor 197 is less than the load on motor 191 and motor 197 rotates faster with respect to motor 191 to turn cause the

upper rear roller 109 overtakes upper front roller 111 and thereby pulls forward the portion of the conveyor belt which extends from roller 111 to roller 109 so that the slack is removed. The slack pulled out of the conveyor belt from the roller 111 to the roller 109 is put in the loop L to properly maintain the loop. The frictional braking of the upper front roller 111 when the motor 191 is de-energized leads to the frictional stopping of the upper front roller. The non-positive braking of the upper rear roller 109 when the motor 197 is de-energized creates a braking effect to stop the motor 197 and the upper rear roller 109 when the motor 197 is de-energized, which is particularly important if the motor is de-energized while the roller is in motion 109 moved forward, at which point the load on the motor is slightly less than when the roller moves backwards, allowing the rear roller to drive over the upper front wall U ^nr ^ d ^a dli ^ri ^ ¹ Hip I ^ ncp anc rlptn TpU rlt * z to pull out the conveyor belt between the roller 111 and the roller 109.

Due to the upper rear roller 109, which is movable in the manner set out, a bale B placed in the loop L of the conveyor belt is automatically picked up at the correct angle according to its size and weight so that it can be unwound smoothly and smoothly, with the contact is maintained between the bale and the conveyor belt so that the conveyor belt movement and the length of the unwound fabric are the same, which enables the length of the unwound fabric to be measured by measuring the belt movement. The action of the movable upper rear roller leads to a smooth unwinding of the bale despite its elongated cross-section.

The device 101 described above is particularly suitable for dispensing material from a bale, it ■> It is clear, however, that various features of the device for dispensing material, which are not Substance is, can be used from a supply, for example from a winding supply, with the Conveyor belt 103 the device for dispensing ίο material from the supply and in particular the Represents device for unwinding the winding supply.

If a longer length of fabric is required than is left on a bale, the motors 191 and 197, (5 after the rear end of the fabric has passed over the upper light sensor 215 and released it, in order to drive the conveyor belt and thereby a further downward movement The fabric stops in the Ve-yard interval, which is included in the ^{sequence 2C 1.} Since the two rows of sensors 209 and 215 are µm '/ s yard apart, the trailing edge of the fabric does not move The fabric remains clamped between rollers 221 and 167.

The measuring roller 169 is shown as resting against the roller 167 on the outside of the conveyor belt, it it can be seen, however, that the location of the measuring roller could be changed so that it is attached to the Outside of the conveyor belt rests against the upper front roller 111 or possibly elsewhere.

While particular reference has been made above to yards and lengths of fabric in yards, the apparatus can can easily be set up for length measurement in the metric system.

In addition 8 sheets of drawings

Claims (12)

Patent claims: 1. Device for unwinding predetermined lengths of fabric from a bale of fabric, characterized by a rubbed endless conveyor belt (20; 103) which between two guides (22, 24; 109, 111) has an upwardly open loop (L) for receiving the bale ( 36; B) is formed by a device (16, 18, 32, 34; 113) which enables the guides to move relative to one another when the bale rotates with the longitudinal axis of its cross-section into a horizontal position, and towards one another when the Rotates bale out of this horizontal position, and by means (46, 48, 50; 169) for measuring the movement of the endless conveyor belt as a measure of the length of fabric unwound from the bale. 2. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the guides (22, 24; 109, 111) in one a total of horizontal F.hene are arranged and that one guide (24; 109) is overall horizontal to and from the other guide (22; 111) the latter is movable away 3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the guides consist of a first and second roller (24, 22; 109, 111) exist, which are a first and second overall horizontal and are rotatable transversely to the endless conveyor belt (20; 103) extending axis. 4. Apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that the endless conveyor belt (20; 103) is driven by a Hauptantrkibsvorrichiung (Λ; 107) and that the first RsIIe (24; 109) by a separate drive device (53, 55, 57; 197) is driven so that the endless conveyor belt is advanced into the loop (L) by the first roller. 5. Apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that the separate drive device (53, 55, 57; 197) drives the first roller (24; 109) at such a speed that the endless conveyor belt (20; 103) at approximately the same speed m moves the loop (L) as the endless conveyor belt (20; 103) is drawn out of the loop (L) by the main drive device (30; 107). 6. Device according to one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that the device (16, 18, 32, 34; 113). the said guides (22, 24; 109,111), a relative movement allows the axis of the second roller (22; 111) holds and the axis of the first roller (24; 109) is mounted movably, so that this tu of the second roller toward and away from the same is movable away. 7. Apparatus according to claim 6, characterized in that the roller axes in a total horizontal plane and that the first roller (24; 109) in this plane to the second roller (22; 111) can be moved back and forth from the same. 8. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the measuring device contains a measuring roller (169) which rests against the outside of the endless conveyor belt (103) And is driven by this. 9. Apparatus according to claim 8, characterized by means (74j 215) for starting the endless Conveyor belt (20j 103), by means (46, 48; 209) for starting the operation of the measuring device upon arrival of the leading edge of the fabric in a reference position and by a device controlled by the measuring device (367) for Stopping the endless conveyor belt after unwinding the predetermined length of fabric from the Roll of fabric. 10. Apparatus according to claim 9, characterized in that the means for stopping the endless Conveyor belt (20; 103) a device (51; 247) for presetting the predetermined Siofflänge contains 11. Device according to one of claims 8 to 10, characterized by means (249) for setting the price per unit length of the item to be dispensed Substance and by means (50; 251, 253) for calculating and displaying the price of the dispensed Fabric length. 12. Apparatus according to spoke U, characterized by a device (255) for actuating the Price calculating device (251) without actuating the endless conveyor belt (103).