EP0733311A2

EP0733311A2 - Improved adhesive application apparatus provided with devices for automatically loading/unloading fabric portions to be reinforced

Info

Publication number: EP0733311A2
Application number: EP96830117A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Giovanni Cartabbia
Original assignee: Macpi SpA
Current assignee: Macpi SpA
Priority date: 1995-03-22
Filing date: 1996-03-18
Publication date: 1996-09-25
Anticipated expiration: 2016-03-18
Also published as: ITMI950574A1; TR199600238A2; DE69612689D1; EP0733311A3; EP0733311B1; DE69612689T2; ITMI950574A0; IT1275959B1; JPH08302290A; ES2158272T3

Abstract

The present invention relates to an improved adhesive application apparatus, characterized in that the apparatus includes devices for properly arranging the fabric portions to be bound, and also including a locating device comprising a plurality of conveyor belts.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an improved adhesive application apparatus provided with devices for automatically loading/unloading fabric portions to be reinforced.
In the prior art are already known adhesive application apparatus or machines which, however, are affected by several drawbacks.
These prior adhesive application apparatus conventionally comprise several loading stations, at which operate 4 or 5 operators arranged at a front loading mouth of the apparatus.
The operators, in these conventional machines, must superimpose on the fabric, or on the fabric portions to be reinforced or strengthened, corresponding portions of adhesive bound fabric.
Thus, in the mentioned prior machines or apparatus, it is necessary to manually drive the two fabric superimposed layers, in order to properly arrange them on a conveyor belt.
Such an operation is frequently affected by great drawbacks, mainly in the case of small weight and "loose" fabrics which, as is known, do not posses a proper size consistency.
These fabrics, as they are manually displaced for introduction onto the conveyor belt of the adhesive application apparatus, are mis-displaced with respect to one another so that to assume a configuration different from the target or desired configuration, with consequent deformations and flaws of the fabric portions to be made.
Thus, it is not possible to prepare, by these fabric pieces, cloth articles having the desired configurations or shapes.
In fact, as the edge of the fabric piece to be processed in order to form cloth articles do not posses the desired configuration, they will assume an irregular shape, with asymmetric portions and creases, which can be difficultly removed during the cloth making process.
As is known, the adhesive application operation is performed in order to provide the fabric with a good size stability, that is in order to reinforce or strengthen some types of fabrics which are conventionally called "loose" fabrics.
On the other hand, as stated, it is not possible, by using the above mentioned prior adhesive application machines, to properly stabilize the fabrics.
In order to overcome at least some of the above mentioned drawbacks, in prior adhesive application apparatus are conventionally used paper portions on which the fabric to be reinforced and the "adhesivized" fabric are arranged.
This operation is performed in order to provide a bearing surface adapted to partially prevent he deformations of the fabrics occurring as the fabric pieces are manually supplied to the adhesive application apparatus.
Such a method, even if improves in a some degree the processing operations on the fabrics, is affected by further drawbacks since it slow-down the manual fabric supplying operations and requires moreover that a suitably cut paper layer be applied, which is added to the two fabric layers to be coupled.
These drawbacks, moreover, are also present at the output of the apparatus, where it is necessary to remove and dispose of those portions of the paper material which have been introduced into the adhesive application apparatus or machines together with the fabric portions.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the aim of the present invention is to overcome the above mentioned drawbacks of prior adhesive application apparatus.
This aim, as well as related objects, are achieved by an apparatus as defined in the accompanying claims.
The apparatus according to the present invention comprises a plurality of structural elements.
At the front portion of the apparatus is provided a locating platform, which is constituted by a plurality of conveyor belts, which can operate either independently rom one another, or in a perfectly synchronized manner of pairs or several adjoining conveyor belts.
Such a result has been obtained by a movement derived from a single movement source, so that, as the conveyor belts are operated in a synchronous manner, the fabric portions to be coupled are always conveyed at a constant speed, the conveyor belts being not subjected to slipping displacements.
In this connection, it should be pointed out that the apparatus according to the present invention provides for the use of several conveyor belts, which constitute the locating station for properly locating or arranging the portions or pieces of fabric to be coupled.
These adjoining conveyor belts, which, as stated, can be operated or driven independently from one another, will allow the operators to work at suitably offset positions, along the fabric supplying or loading platform, which can be extended either in a cross direction or in a longitudinal direction and which can be variously configured.
In the embodiment shown in figure 2, the several platforms have different lengths.
By way of a not limitative example, the central or inner locating conveyor belts can have a length greater than that of the side conveyor belts, so as to allow the operator to strictly contacting the mentioned conveyor belts, thereby greatly facilitating the manual operations performed to properly superimpose and locate the fabric portions to be coupled.
In this connection it should be apparent that, if all of the conveyor belts would have the same length, then the operation for properly arranging and superimposing the fabric portions to be coupled would be more difficult, since the operators at the central conveyor belts would operate in a curved position and in a frontwardly extending position, that is toward the center of the apparatus.
The present invention provides the possibility of making adhesive application apparatus having a greater width and, accordingly, effective to provide greater yields, the fabric supplying speed being the same.
The fabric locating and loading device according to the present invention is arranged with a spaced relationship with respect to the adhesive application apparatus conveyor belts.
Such an approach, in particular in winter time or hot countries, will allow the operators to work away from heat sources which, in the presence of very high environmental temperatures, would excessively fatigue the operators.
The platforms of the fabric loading device proper, as stated, are constituted by a plurality of conveyor belts, the feeding movement of which can be independently driven from one another or can be perfectly synchronized.
Such a synchronous operation, in particular, would be necessary as the portions of fabric to be coupled would have a size greater than that of a even operating track.
In such a condition, it will be possible to arrange the fabrics to be coupled so as to occupy two tracks or adjoining conveyor belts.
In this case, a perfect synchronized relationship of the adjoining conveyor belts will be absolutely necessary in order to prevent the fabric pieces to be coupled and reinforced from deforming.
A further feature of the adhesive application apparatus according to the present invention is that the locating conveyor belts can be held in a rest or stopped condition or they can be driven with a high speed.
In the second section of the loading device, the several conveyor belts can be arranged in two operating conditions.
The first comprises a displacement at a high speed, whereas in the second the several conveyor belts are driven with a speed equal to the operating speed of the adhesive application apparatus.
In order to obtain this results, the conveyor belts are operated in a synchronous relationship, in order to drive the fabric portions or pieces with a constant speed, without causing the conveyor belts to slip.
In this connection it should be pointed out that, in order to obtain satisfactory results, the several conveyor belts arranged in succession in the longitudinal direction must be also perfectly synchronized.
The apparatus according to the present invention comprises two portions of conveyor belts or tracks, which respectively constitute the locating device and the conveying device for conveying the fabric pieces to the conveyor belts provided at the adhesive application part of the machine.
After having coupled the fabric portions or pieces, inside the adhesive application apparatus, the speed of the fabric unloading conveyor belt and of the supply portion supplying the fabric stacking device, will be independent, with respect to the speed of the adhesive application apparatus conveyor belts.
It should be apparent that the fabric stacking or "piling" device will have a number of tracks fitted to the load and that a possible association of two or more fabric locating tracks and fabric loading tracks will involve a corresponding combination of the fabric stacking or piling tracks.
These connections are driven by suitable electronic devices, programming the apparatus operation with a perfect synchronization of the several elements constituting the apparatus itself.
It should be moreover pointed out that the adhesive application apparatus according to the present invention also comprises specifically designed pre-heating and heating plates, which can be indifferently supplied with steam or electric resistances.
Each pre-heating and heating plate is formed by a plurality of aluminium bars, in the bodies of which are formed longitudinal cavities to which can be indifferently conveyed, depending on the operator requirements, pressurized steam, or in which can be housed electric resistances, so as to provide the desired heating.
In particular, the subject adhesive application apparatus can be either heated by steam heating, electric heating, or a steam heating and an electric super-heating.
The apparatus, moreover, depending on the requirements, can be either heated all electrically or all by steam.
In this connection it should be pointed out that the possibility of heating by steam the subject adhesive application apparatus will allow to obtain great power savings and will provide a very constant or even temperature, since a steam heating is much more even than an electric heating mode.
In fact, heat is transmitted from a fluid which is caused to pass with an even and constant speed through the ducts formed in the several aluminium section member constituting the pre-heating and heating plates proper.
The possibility of coupling to a steam heating method an electric heating method allows to increase, if necessary, the temperature of the pre-heating and heating plates, so as to bring them to the desired or set temperature, which can be controlled in a very accurate manner by suitable temperature probes arranged inside said platforms or in contact therewith and which will switch off and on said electric resistances so as to precisely control the temperature.
It should be moreover pointed out that the adhesive application apparatus according to the present invention further comprises pre-heating and heating plates the length of which can be suitably changed by coupling, in a series relationship, a given number of bars, provided with holes, in which, as stated, can be engaged said electric resistances or through which is caused to pass heating steam.
The possibility of supplying with electric power and steam the pre-heating and heating plates will allow, moreover, to supply a different number of plates, so as to afford the possibility of suitably change the length of the pre-heating and heating plates to be heated.
The apparatus according to the present invention, in order to prevent the fabric portions to be coupled from being accidentally displaced further provides for the use of an air cushion between the first section of the conveyor belts of the locating device and of the supply device and a second air cushion between the latter and the conveyor belts of the adhesive application apparatus.
The latter, at the front portion thereof, is moreover provided with a belt tension device, which is arranged at a middle position between the two end rollers thereabout the conveyor belt proper is caused to pass.
The latter, moreover, is provided with a pair of belt guide assemblies, which can be suitably adjusted and can be tensioned by means of air or pneumatic cylinders or spring devices.
The apparatus according to the present invention has furthermore the feature that, at the pressing region thereof, at which is performed the adhesive application operation proper, is provided a pre-fixing roller, which is pressed against the heating plate.
This pre-fixing roller is arranged downstream of the pre-heating plate and contacts the heating plate, which plates will be arranged at opposite positions so as to cause the top and bottom conveyor belts to define a sinusoidal path, in order to apply on the mentioned conveyor belts a slight pressure.
After having being subjected to the above mentioned pre-fixing operation, the fabrics to be coupled pass through two opposite rollers, one of which turns about a fixed pivot pin, whereas the other is pressed against the underlying roller by means a pair of pneumatic pistons.
Thus, the fabrics to be supported will be perfectly coupled one another, without thickness unevenness, which occurred in prior art apparatus, in particular with fabrics provided with a comparatively great thickness.
In this connection it should be also pointed out that the adhesive application apparatus according to the present invention is provided, downstream of an unloading conveyor belt, with a plurality of operating tracks, which operate as a fabric stacking or piling device for stacking the coupled fabric portions.
The above mentioned operating tracks are provided with respective platforms, which can be displaced with two types of displacements.
One of these displacements is a translation movement in a reciprocating rectilinear direction, whereas the second displacement consists of a progressive lowering of the above mentioned platforms, in order to fit the different thicknesses of the several layers of coupled fabrics, as the coupled fabrics are arranged on the single stacking devices occupying the space corresponding to the several front tracks.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above mentioned and other features, of functional and constructional nature, of the improved adhesive application apparatus according to the present invention, as well as of the locating, loading, conveyor, unloading and stacking devices constituting and integrating part thereof, will become more apparent hereinafter from the following detailed disclosure with reference to the figures of the accompanying drawings, where:

Figure 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating the adhesive application apparatus according to the present invention;
Figure 2 is a top plan view illustrating the apparatus according to the invention;
Figure 3 is a cross-sectioned side view of the fabric locating-loading device arranged at the front portion of the apparatus according to the invention;
Figure 4 illustrates the driving device of the several tracks of the subject fabric locating-loading device, and are herein clearly shown the mechanical elements allowing the single tracks to be engaged and disengaged, as well as showing the driving or stop operations for the tracks, in order to cause the latter to be optimally operated;
Figure 5 illustrates the front portion of the adhesive application apparatus according to the present invention, and clearly showing the belt guide assembly and the belt tension device allowing to hold the bottom conveyor belt in a perfectly tensioned and located arrangement;
Figure 6 illustrates a side view showing the main body of the adhesive application apparatus according to the present invention;
Figure 7 is a side view illustrating the fabric loading and stacking device;
Figure 8 illustrates the device for unloading the adhesivized fabric portions;
Figure 9 illustrates the device for longitudinally and vertically driving the fabric pieces, as well as the synchronizing devices for synchronizing the several tracks of the fabric stacking device;
Figure 10 is a side-front view illustrating the device applied to the stacking device for allowing the tracks of said fabric stacking device to be vertically driven;
Figures 11 and 12 are two cross-sectioned front views of details of the device shown in figure 10;
Figure 13 is a front-rear perspective schematic view illustrating the fabric stacking device s applied to the improved adhesive application apparatus according to the present invention;
Figure 14 illustrates a pre-fixing roller, pressed upwardly against the pre-heating plate 15;
Figure 15 is an enlarged cross-sectioned side view illustrating a detail of the heating plate 15, thereagainst presses a pre-fixing cylinder 16 upwardly urged, by a suitable pressure, by the pneumatic pistons or cylinders 60.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference to the number references of the figures of the accompanying drawings, the improved adhesive application apparatus 1 according to the present invention is constituted by a fabric piece or portion locating device, which has been indicated by the reference number 10 and comprises a plurality of conveyor belts 10a, 10b, 10c and 10d.
In the embodiment shown in figure 2, the conveyor belts or tracks 10b and 10c have a length greater than the length of the conveyor belts or tracks 10a and 10d so as to allow an optimal distribution of the apparatus operators, who can be rationally arranged along the longitudinal extension of the above mentioned fabric locating device.
The latter comprises a second section, constituted by a plurality of fabric feeding or supplying belts 11a, 11b, 11c and 11d.
In this connection it should be pointed out that the locating belt, comprising the tracks 10a, 10b, 10c and 10d can be arranged so as to remain in a stopped condition, or, alternatively, it can be driven, under the control of the operators, at a high speed.
The displacement of the several tracks 10a, 10b, 10c and 10d can be independent from one another, with respect to the stop and high speed displacement steps.
The second section of the platform for supplying the portions or pieces of fabrics to be coupled, also comprises a plurality of tracks 11a, 11b, 11c and 11d, which can assume two operating conditions: the first comprises a high speed displacement; the second provides for a displacement with a speed equal to that of the conveyor belts 38 and 39 of the adhesive application apparatus proper, which has been indicated by the reference number 19.
With reference to figures 3 and 4, it should be apparent that the apparatus comprising the fabric portions locating and supplying conveyor belts provides for the use of a motor reducing unit 35 which, by means of toothed belts 36, will cause a toothed pulley 25 to turn so as to entrain a toothed belt 26 in turn causing a toothed pulley 27 to rotate.
The latter rotatively drives the rollers in turn driving the conveyor belts 11a, 11b, 11c and 11d with the same speed as that of the adhesive application apparatus.
In this connection it should be pointed out that the above disclosed fabric locating and supplying device or assembly is provided with a plurality of clutches which, in the embodiment being shown in figure 2, have been indicated by the reference numbers 28, 28', 28" and 28 '''.
These electromagnetic clutches, in particular, are of the front tooth type and, as they are actuated, will cause the toothed pulleys 30 to rotate so as to entrain the toothed belts 29 with a speed greater than that of the toothed pulleys 26.
As shown, the pulleys 30 are provided with a double groove, and rotatively drive the toothed belts 29 and 31 which in turn operate the gear wheels 37 and 32' with a greater speed, so as to drive, consequently with said greater speed, the rollers 33 and 34.
Said rollers 33 and 34, in particular, will control the displacements of the several tracks of the conveyor belts 10 and 11.
With reference to figure 5, is herein illustrated, by a side view, the front portion of the adhesive application apparatus according to the present invention.
In this figure 5 is specifically shown the conveyor belt 38 constituting the bottom portion of the two conveyor belts 38 and 39 for conveying the fabric portions or pieces to be coupled.
This conveyor belt 38 is held under tension by a pair of belt tension devices 39 provided with a pulley 40 and a spring 41 which has an end portion thereof connected to an anchoring element 40'.
Two belt guide assemblies 42 are moreover included, which are provided with an adjusting screw 43 and a cylinder 44, of a pneumatic type, providing on the conveyor belt 38 a pressure which is directed in a direction opposite to the pressure applied by the roller 40 constituting a main portion of the above disclosed belt tension device 39.
The above mentioned devices, respectively the belt guide device 42 and belt tension device 39, are applied by pair in the body of the adhesive application apparatus according to the invention.
This apparatus, as stated, is provided with a top conveyor belt 39 which is entrained on the rollers 18, 45 and 45'.
As shown, the bottom 38 and top 39 conveyor belts are entrained by the cylinders 18, 18' shown in figure 1.
The adhesive application apparatus of the invention is moreover provided with a pre-heating plate 14 and a heating plate 15 which are preferably arranged at two opposite sides with respect to the sliding planes of the conveyor belts 38 and 39.
The portions of the fabric to be coupled, after having being conveyed into the subject adhesive application apparatus 19, are pre-fixed, under the action provided by a roller which, through a pair of pneumatic cylinders 60 is pressed against the heating platform or plane 15.
Because of the pressing force provided by the roller 16, a first pressing is exerted on the fabric, which is subsequently improved and stabilized through a second pressing operation, provided by the two rollers 17 and 17'.
The roller 17, in particular, is held pressed by the pneumatic cylinders 61, with respect to the roller 17', thereby strongly pressing the fabric to be coupled.
Thus, the fabric portions are perfectly coupled to one another, and then are conveyed toward an unloading conveyor belt 20, which is driven with a speed greater than the speed of the adhesive application apparatus 19, and this speed can be suitably changed, depending on the production requirements.
The coupled fabric portions are then stacked or piled on the several tracks 21a, 21b, 21c and 21d, which constituted an integrating portion of that apparatus part operating as a stacker of said fabric pieces.
The above mentioned tracks 21a, 21b, 21c and 21d are constituted by platforms or planes which can be suitably driven or displaced in a reciprocating rectilinear direction and in a longitudinal direction, with respect to the apparatus.
Said tracks 21a, 21b, 21c and 21d, as the coupled fabric portions are stacked, will tend to be lowered, under the action exerted thereon by suitable pneumatic cylinders 62, which are supported by brackets 63 to which are applied wheels 64 sliding along longitudinally arranged guides 65.
The above mentioned pneumatic cylinders, at the top piston stem thereof 66, supports the platforms or tracks 21, provided with lateral cavities 67 in which can be engaged pins driven by suitable pneumatic pistons.
These pins 68 as withdrawn and engaged in an adjoining platform or track 21, will cause two or more adjoining tracks or platform 21 to be connected.
With reference to figure 8, a driving shaft 50 is herein shown which is rigid with a pulley 51 rotatively entraining, by a continuous movement, a toothed belt 53 which, in turn, drives a pulley 52.
The latter is connected, through an electromagnetic clutch 57, to a pulley 55.
The pulley 55 drives, in turn, a toothed belt 56 provided for driving a support carriage 54 for supporting the respective tracks 21a, 21b, 22c and 22d, as shown in figure 2.
Said belt 56 will cause the supports 54 of the tracks 21a, 21b, 21c and 21d to be driven in a set direction.
As they arrive at their end of stroke positions, the track will be urged in an opposite direction by the pneumatic cylinders 55, shown in figure 1.
Of course, before the operation of the cylinders 55 to withdraw the tracks 21a, 21b, 21c and 21d, the electromagnetic clutch 57 will be deactuated, so as to disengage the operating elements driving the carriage 54.
The adhesive application apparatus according to the invention comprises furthermore a pre-heating cylinder, shown in figure 15 and indicated by the reference number 16, which is provided for pressing against a top heating plate 15, under the control of two pneumatic pistons 60 controlling said cylinder, said pneumatic pistons 60 supporting said pre-heating cylinder 16.
As shown, the pre-heating and heating plates, respectively indicated by the reference numbers 14 and 15, are constituted by a plurality of aluminium section members 86, adjoining one another so as to form planes preferably provided with a given curved arrangement, to cause the top and bottom conveyor belts of the adhesive application apparatus, to follow a substantially sinusoidal path.
The section members 86, in particular, are provided with hollows or cavities 87, in which are engaged steam ducts or electric resistances, which can be operated either separately or simultaneously.
The apparatus according to the present invention comprises, as disclosed, a plurality of stacking tracks 21 which can perform a reciprocating rectilinear movement and a combined progressive lowering movement so as to fit the increased thicknesses of the coupled fabric portions, which are stacken on the platforms of the several tracks 21.
Upstream of the latter are provided a plurality of photocells, which are specifically designed for controlling the operation speed of the fabric unloading conveyor belt, depending on the requirements and on the size of the fabric pieces to be stacked or piled-up.
The improved adhesive application apparatus as been hereinabove disclosed and illustrated by way of a merely indicative and not limitative example, for clearly demonstrating the novel features thereof.
The disclosed apparatus, accordingly, is susceptible to several constructional variations and modifications, without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

An improved adhesive application apparatus, characterized in that said apparatus comprises devices for locating the portions of fabric to be coupled, and in that said apparatus further comprises a fabric locating device including a plurality of conveyor belts.
An improved adhesive application apparatus, according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said fabric locating device comprises a plurality of central tracks which have a length greater than that of the side tracks.
An improved adhesive application apparatus, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said apparatus comprises a section constituted by a plurality of fabric supplying conveyor belts.
An improved adhesive application apparatus, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said fabric locating conveyor belt comprises a plurality of tracks which can be in a stopped condition or can be displaced at a high speed under the control of control devices operated by the apparatus operators.
An improved adhesive application apparatus, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said fabric locating tracks are operated in an independent manner from one another, with respect to the stop mode operation and the high speed mode operation.
An improved adhesive application apparatus, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said apparatus is moreover provided with a front fabric locating platform, comprising a plurality of conveyor belts, which are operated in a perfectly synchronized manner between a pair of adjoining conveyor belts or several adjoining conveyor belts.
An improved adhesive application apparatus, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said apparatus is provided with a second section comprising a fabric portion supplying platform, including a plurality of tracks adapted to assume two operating modes, i.e. a high speed operating mode, and an operating mode with a speed equal to the speed of the conveyor belts of said apparatus.
An improved adhesive application apparatus, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device comprising said fabric locating and supplying conveyor belts includes a motor reducing unit which, through toothed belts, entrains in a rotary movement a toothed pulleys in turn driving a toothed belt driving a toothed pulley.
An improved adhesive application apparatus, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said toothed pulley rotatively drives a plurality of rollers which in turn drives the conveyor belts with the same speed as that of the apparatus.
An improved adhesive application apparatus, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said fabric locating and supplying assembly is provided with a plurality of clutches, of the front tooth type.
An improved adhesive application apparatus, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said front tooth clutches, as they are actuated, causes said toothed pulley to turn so as to drive the belts thereof with a speed greater than that of the first toothed pulleys.
An improved adhesive application apparatus, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said apparatus comprises moreover a plurality of pulleys which have a double groove and drive toothed belts in turn driving gear wheels with a greater speed so as to drive, with said greater speed, the rollers driving the tracks of the belts 10 and 11.
An improved adhesive application apparatus, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said bottom and top conveyor belts are driven by cylinders.
An improved adhesive application apparatus, according to one or more of the preceding claims. characterized in that said apparatus comprises a pre-heating plate and a heating plate, arranged at two opposite sides with respect to the sliding planes of the conveyor belts 38 and 39.
An improved adhesive application apparatus, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the portions of fabric to be coupled are pre-fixed by a pair of pneumatic pistons pressing on a roller against the mentioned heating plane.
An improved adhesive application apparatus, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that, in said apparatus, because of the pressure provided by the roller 16, a first pressing is performed which is successively improved and stabilized by a second pressing action provided by a pair of rollers which are pressed by means of pneumatic cylinders thereby strongly pressing on the fabric to be coupled.
An improved adhesive application apparatus, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that, in said apparatus, the fabric portions to be coupled are conveyed toward the conveyor belt, which is driven with a speed greater than that of the conveyor belts of the adhesive application apparatus which speed can be suitably changed depending on the production requirements.
An improved adhesive application apparatus, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said coupled fabric portions are stacked on several tracks arranged adjoining one another, which constitute an integrating portion of the device for unloading and stacking said fabric portions.
An improved adhesive application apparatus, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said platforms or tracks of the fabric stacking portion, as the coupled fabric portions are stacked, are lowered by pneumatic cylinders supported by brackets to which are applied wheels sliding along longitudinally arranged guides and having an oval profile.
An improved adhesive application apparatus, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said pneumatic cylinders, at the top cylinder rod thereof, support platform provided with side cavities, in which are engaged pins driven by pneumatic pistons.
An improved adhesive application apparatus, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said pins, upon withdrawal and engaging in adjoining platforms, connect two or more adjoining platforms.
An improved adhesive application apparatus, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said apparatus comprises a controlled driving shaft, which is rigid with a pulley which causes a toothed belt to turn with a continuous movement, said toothed belt in turn driving a further pulley.
An improved adhesive application apparatus, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said further pulley is coupled, through an electromagnetic clutch, to another pulley which in turn drives a further toothed belt for driving the supporting carriage of each track.
An improved adhesive application apparatus, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that a belt drives said supports 54 and said stacking tracks in a set direction.
An improved adhesive application apparatus, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said belts drive said stacking tracks to an end of stroke position, said tracks being displaced in opposite directions by pneumatic cylinders, upon disengaging an electromagnetic clutch, provided for disengaging in turn the driving members driving the track supporting carriages.
An improved adhesive application apparatus, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said synchronous driving is obtained from a single driving source, so that, ad the conveyor belts are operated with a synchronous relationship, the fabric portions to be coupled are driven with an even speed, without slipping of the conveyor belts.
An improved adhesive application apparatus, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said apparatus is provided with adjoining locating conveyor belts which are independently driven from one another.
An improved adhesive application apparatus, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said locating device is spaced from the conveyor belts of said adhesive application apparatus.
An improved adhesive application apparatus, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said apparatus is provided with a plurality of conveyor belts which are successively arranged in a longitudinal direction.
An improved adhesive application apparatus, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that in said apparatus the speed of said unloading conveyor belt and the speed of the tracks of the stacking portion are independent from the speed of the upstream arranged conveyor belt.
An improved adhesive application apparatus, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that, in said apparatus, a possible combination of two or more loading tracks is associated with a corresponding combination or association of the stacking tracks.
An improved adhesive application apparatus, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said tracks are controlled by electronic devices programming the operation of the apparatus in a perfectly synchronized manner of the several elements of said apparatus.
An improved adhesive application apparatus, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said apparatus further comprises pre-heating and heating plates, which are supplied, indifferently, by steam or electric resistances.
An improved adhesive application apparatus, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that each pre-heating and heating plate is constituted by a plurality of aluminium bars, in the bodies of which are formed longitudinally extending ducts in which is indifferently conveyed, depending on the requirements of the user, pressurized steam, or said duct housing corresponding electric resistances so as to provide a set heating.
An improved adhesive application apparatus, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said apparatus is heated by steam, electric resistances or a steam heater with electric overheating.
An improved adhesive application apparatus, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said apparatus is fully electrically heated or fully steam heated.
An improved adhesive application apparatus, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said apparatus comprises pre-heating plates and heating plates, the length of which can be suitably changed by series connecting a set number of bars provided with holes.
An improved adhesive application apparatus, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said apparatus is provided with air cushions of which one is arranged between the conveyor belts of the locating device and of the fabric supplying device, and a second of which is arranged between the fabric supplying device and the conveyor belts of said adhesive application apparatus.
An improved adhesive application apparatus, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said apparatus is provided with a belt tensioning device, arranged at a middle position between two end rollers, thereabout said conveyor belt is entrained.
An improved adhesive application apparatus, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said conveyor belt is provided with a conveyor belt guide assembly, which is suitably adjustable and is tensioned by a pneumatic cylinder or a spring device.
An improved adhesive application apparatus, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that in the second section of said loading device, the locating conveyor belts can be arranged in two operation modes, the first of which provides for a displacement with a high speed, and the second of which causes the conveyor belts to be driven with a speed equal to that of the adhesive application apparatus.
An improved adhesive application apparatus, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said apparatus is provided with a pre-heating cylinder which, as it is driven by pneumatic pistons supporting said pre-heating cylinder, presses against a pre-heating plate.
An improved adhesive application apparatus, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pre-heating and heating tracks, respectively 14 and 15, are constituted by a plurality of aluminium section members adjoining one another so as to form platforms, having preferably a curved arrangement, so as to cause the top and bottom conveyor belts of said adhesive application apparatus to have a slightly sinusoidal configuration.
An improved adhesive application apparatus, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said section members are provided with holes or hollows in which are engaged steam ducts or electric resistances which can be operated either separately or contemporaneously.
An improved adhesive application apparatus, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said apparatus comprises a plurality of stacking tracks, which can perform a reciprocating rectilinear movement and a combined progressive lowering movements, so as to fit the increasing thickness of the coupled fabric portions, which are stacked on the platforms of said tracks.
An improved adhesive application apparatus, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that, upstream the tracks of said stacking device, are provided a plurality of photocells, for changing the operating speed of the unloading conveyor belt depending on the requirements and size of the pieces to be stacked and piled.
An improved adhesive application apparatus, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said apparatus, upon coupling the fabric portions inside the adhesive application apparatus, is provided with an unloading conveyor belt and with the portion supplying the stacking device, the speeds of which are independent from the speed of the conveyor belts of the adhesive application apparatus.
An improved adhesive application apparatus, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said stacking device has a number of tracks corresponding to the number of tracks of the fabric loading device.