GB2171642A - Improvements in conveyorised heat presses - Google Patents

Abstract

Apparatus for fusing a fusible interlining to a fabric in which a conveyor belt (3) carries the materials around a cylinder (1) which is heated by external heating sources (7b) in front of a reflector (7) and between the main cylinder (1) and a pressure roller (2). The interlining and fabrics are wound on rolls (38) and loaded onto pairs of detachable U-shaped holders (14a, 145b) attached to bars (11, 12) mounted on upright support (10a). Guide means in the form of adjustable collars (18) mounted on bars (19) assist in guiding the material to the entry point (20) to the main cylinder (1). The conveyor (3) is extended after the pressure roller (2) to an off-load guide roller (5) where the processed material is conveyed to driven wind-up rollers (22) mounted on driven shafts (23). A transparent top 40 and associated guides (39) are provided to assist in the correct positioning of the interlining with respect to the fabric. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in conveyorised heat presses The present invention relates to apparatus for fusing fusible interlinings to fabrics in both continuous lengths and in individual cut section form and also for transfer printing and folding of fabrics and similar processes within the clothing and textile industries.

According to known methods fusible interlining may be fused to fabric by passing an assembly of the two through a heat press which will provide a required heat to the assembly and apply a required pressure for a predetermined time so that the interlining and fabric become bonded permanently together thus stiffening the fabric.

One known type of apparatus for the transprinting, bonding or fusing of materials is disclosed in my British Patent Specification No. 1,469,098. The apparatus includes a drum mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis, an endless belt in contact with part of the circumference of the drum, to form a treating zone; a pressure roller at one end of the treating zone; and heating means which extend over a substantial part of the treating zone. Pressure is applied to the pressure roller in order to squeeze the belt into frictional contact with the drum, and it is driven in order to drive the endless belt and the drum, the endless belt being guided in a closed loop outside the treating zone. This known type of apparatus will hereinafter be referred to as apparatus ofthe kind described.

Conveyorized apparatus of the kind described which has also means to adjust the speed of the conveyor and thus the time during which items being transported on the conveyor are subjected to heat and pressure, is capable of fusing continuous lengths of fabric and interlining as well as assemblies of individual cut sections of fabric and interlining.

In the apparatus of the kind described the conveyor belt is guided outside the treating zone by means of rollers. However, there is no provision to ensure the correct tracking of the conveyor belt outside the treating zone. In the case where the conveyor belt is coated with Teflon (Registered Trade Mark), a problem arises in that the belt will tend to track to either one side or the other.

It is therefore one object of the present invention to overcome partially orwhollythis disadvantage in relation to the tracking of the conveyor belt outside the treating zone.

Furthermore, the above described apparatus of the kind described has no provision for feeding into it, in the case where continuous lengths of fabric and interlining are to be fused, rolls of the two in various widths. Furthermore, there is no provision for winding up the fused fabric and interlining after it has been processed in the apparatus and is exiting from the apparatus.

It is therefore another object of the present invention to overcome these further disadvantages of the conveyorized apparatus of the kind described for fusing fusible interlinings to fabrics in both continuous lengths and in individual cut section form, as well as outlined above.

In its broadest aspect, the present invention provides apparatus of the kind described, wherein said conveyor belt is guided outside the treating zone by means of a plurality of fixed shafts over which the conveyor belt slides, means being provided on one or more of said fixed shafts to ensure centralization of said conveyor belt with respect to said one or more of said fixed shafts to ensure correct tracking thereof.

In another aspect means may be provided for holding separate rolls of interlining and fabric. In addition means may be provided for positioning and aligning the interlining and fabric with respect to each other. At the off-loading position means may be provided for winding-up the fused fabric and interlining.

Further additional features of the invention provide for other types of processing which also require feeding from the roll and winding up facilities on a conveyor heat press such as heat transfer printing of fabrics and also folding of fabrics. In yet further aspects of the invention means are provided to enable the processing of cut sections either combined with rolls offabric and/or interlining, transfer paper or similar products or as individual sections which are manually fed into the apparatus and either manually or automatically removed after processing.

By fusible interlining is meant a fabric to which a heat activated adhesive has been applied and which is commonly used in the clothing industry for stiffening and stabilizing fabrics. This operation is carried out by the application of heat and pressure for a predetermined time to an assembly of interlining and fabric so that the two become permanently bonded together.

By transfer paper is meant a paper which has been preprocessed so that it contains a design which will transfer to fabric when heat and pressure is applied for a predetermined time to an assembly of fabric and transfer paper. By main drive source is meant a motor or other driving means which drives the main cylinder and conveyor belt of the apparatus.

In a further aspect of the invention slipping clutch mechanisms are provided for each of the wind-up bars for winding up automatically the fused fabric into a roll. The slipping clutch mechanisms are so designed to be driven at a faster speed than the speed at which the processed material is exiting from the fusing section of the apparatus. This allows the continuous band of fused fabric to be drawn taught onto the roll on the wind-up bar and the drive system for the wind-up bar to start slipping when any slack in the continuous band has been taken up.

Means may also be provided to mount the rolls of fusible intrlining and fabric before being transported into the apparatus so that each roll will unwind as the continuous bands are pulled into and through the fusing section of the apparatus.

The present invention will now be described in greater detail by way of examples with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure lisa diagrammatic elevation view of a first embodiment of an apparatus for fusing fusible interlinings to fabrics; Figure 2A is an elevation view of the roll mounting and tracking means; Figure 2B is a plan view of "U" holder; Figure 2C is a plan view of a modified form of apparatus showing lateral guides and rolls of fabric and interlining; Figure 3A is an elevation view of a wind up assembly and shaft; Figure 38 is an elevation view of a chain, sprocket and clutch plate in an alternative form; Figure 3C represents two elevation views of a double wind up assembly and pulley; Figure 4 is an elevation view of a fixed diameter shaft and tracking collars;; Figure 5 is a plan view of an adjustable guide; Figure 6 is an elevation view of an additional conveyor and vacuum and blowing means; Figures 7A and 7B are elevation views of additional feed-in conveyors; Figure 8 is an elevation view of a modified form of apparatus showing an additional feed-in conveyor mounted in a moveable frame; Figure 9 is an elevation view of an alternative embodiment of the driving means for the additional conveyor; Figure 10 is an elevation view of scraping and wiping means for cleaning purposes; Figure 11 is an elevation view of an additional off-load conveyor; Figures 12A and 12B are plan and elevation views respectively of an alternative extra top embodiment.

Figures 13A and 138 are respectively plan and elevation views of another modified embodiment of the apparatus shown in Figure 1; and Figures 14A, 148 and 14C are respectively side elevation, plan, and front elevation of an alternative embodiment of the folding attachment.

Referring first to Figure 1, the apparatus includes a fusing section which consists of a main cylinder 1, which is driven clockwise (as shown) by the pressure between it and a pressure roller 2 which may be urged against the main cylinder 1 by the use of a lever 2a actuated by means of springs, pneumatics, or hydraulics.

A conveyor belt 3 which is driven by the pressure between the pressure roller 2 and the main cylinder 1 between which it passes is so positioned so that it passes around a top guide shaft 4 and then against the main cylinder 1 until exiting from between the main cylinder 1 and the pressure roller 2.

The conveyor belt 3 then runs out to the off-load position, around a guide shaft 5 and then back around guide shafts 2z, 6a and 6b, to the top guide shaft 4. The guide shafts 4, 5, 6a, 6b and 2z are all fixed shafts made of steel or other material which will present a smooth surface to the conveyor belt 3 to allow the conveyor belt to freely slide there around with a minimum of friction. Heat means is provided either inside the main cylinder 1 or from outside the main cylinder with heat reflected down through the belt using a reflector 7 as shown. In this case, the source of heat is provided by infra-red elements 7b which are mounted on the reflector 7.

The fabric and fusible interlining to be fused is fed into the apparatus by moving the lead edge on a top feeding surface 8 of the apparatus towards a "grip point" 9 between the conveyor belt 3 and the main cylinder 1. Once the assembly of fabric and fusible interlining has been gripped between the conveyor belt 3 and the main cylinder 1 it will be drawn into and through the apparatus causing the fusing process to be completed by first heating the assembly to a predetermined temperature and then assplying pressure by means of the pressure roller 2 and then transporting the fused assembly to the off-load position at the guide shaftS.

The fusing section of the apparatus described above can handle cut sections of fabric and fusible interlining so that such individual sections must be removed by hand when they have been transported through the apparatus to the off-load position at the guide shaft 5.

In order to feed continuous lengths of fabric and/or fusible interlining into the apparatus, means are provided to load rolls of fusible interlining and/or fabric onto the apparatus which will allow the rolls to unwind as the interlining/fabric is taken through the fusing apparatus. One preferred embodiment of such loading means is generally indicated by the reference numeral 10 and is described in greater detail with reference to Figure 2A. The loading means consists of upright support 10a from which two bars 11 and 12 project at right angles to the run of the conveyor belt 3. Rolls 38 of fabric and/or fusible interlining can be either loaded directly onto the bars 11 and 12 or alternatively can be loaded onto a pair of detachable holders 14a and 14b as shown in Figure 1 and the plan view of Figure 2B.As shown in Figure 2B, each holder is a "U" shaped holder which is attached to the bars 11 and 12 by means such as a collar 15 allowing the holders 14a and 14b to be attached and removed as desired.

Rolls 13a, 13b and 13c of fabric and/or interlining can be loaded on to both of the arms 16 of the U-shaped holder in the same manner as on to the bars 11, 12.

The holders 14a and 14b can be loaded remote from the machine or when fitted to the machine. By adding the pair of holders 14a and 14b extra loading positions for rolls 13a and 13c are provided.

When the fabric and/or interlining has been loaded onto the machine the end or ends to be fed into the apparatus are pulled across an open loading position 17 to the point where they are fed into the fusing apparatus at an entry position 20. In an alternative form, means are provided to guide the fabric and/or interlining on a set track whilst they are passing through the fusing apparatus and to prevent them from wandering from side to side. Such guidance must be capable of ensuring that the interlining and fabric are bonded together in the correct positions as sometimes the rolls of each can be of different widths. One preferred form of such guidance means is by the use of collars 18 as shown in Figure 2A.

These collars 18 are adjustable along bars 19 on which they are mounted. The collars 18 have angled faces on the side on which the fabric and/or interlining is to pass. The fabric and/or interlining will run in between the collars 18 and will be prevented from running off track by force exerted when the fabric and/or interlining comes in contact with the edge of the collars 18. The bars 19 containing the collars 18 can be mounted either on the upright member 10a or separate. The fixing of the collars 18 to the bars 19 may be by any means examples of which are by screw fixing or simply by frictional contact. The adjustment along the bars 19 is to allow for different width rolls 13. Thus when the fabric and/or interlining has been loaded the lengths are passed around the guide collars 18 before being fed into the fusing apparatus at the entry position 20.

Additional "lateral guides" 21 are provided for further guidance near the feed in entry position 20 as shown in Figure 2C. Such lateral guides 21 can either be bars with means to adjust their position across the width of the apparatus to provide for different widths of fabric and interlining or be of any other suitable construction.

When the leading edge of the roll of fabric and/or interlining has been fed into the fusing apparatus at the entry point 20 it will exit from the main cylinder 1 at the guide shaft 5 and will be would up onto one or more wind-up rollers 22 mounted on shafts 23 which are driven either from the main drive source of the apparatus e.g. an electric motor or by other suitable means.

In a further aspect of the invention the wind-up rollers 22 are driven at a faster rotational speed than that of the main cylinder 1 and the pressure roller 2, so that the speed at which the band of fused fabric and/or interlining comes off the conveyor at the guide shaft 5 is slower than the rate at which it is wound up. The drive means between the drive source (e.g. an electric motor) and the wind-up rollers 22 may be chain drives, "V" belts, rubber or synthetic drive bands or any other suitable means.

One preferred form of a wind-up mechanism is shown in greater detail in Figure 3A and will now be described.

As shown in Figure 3A, the shaft 23 of the wind-up assembly is driven by means of a pulley 24 which is provided with a semi-circular groove on its outer periphery a drive belt 25 whose cross-section is circular.

Another form of wind-up mechanism is shown in Figure 3B in which the shaft 23 is driven by means of a toothed sprocket 26 which engages with a chain 27. A clutch plate 28 is secured to or incorporated into the toothed sprocket 26.

In either of the above examples of drive mechanisms, a bearing 29 is provided to carry the pulley 24 or sprocket 26 so that it can freely rotate on the shaft 23. A compression spring 30 is provided on the shaft 23 and abuts against a collar 31 on the end of the shaft 23 in order to urge the pulley 24 or sprocket 26 into engagement with a clutch 32 which is mounted on a boss 33.

The clutch plate 32 may have a surface of any material capable of providing a frictional contact between it and the face of the pulley 24 or clutch plate 28.

In an alternative embodiment instead of the clutch material being provided on the plate 32, it can be secured to the surface of the pulley 24 so that it is urged into frictional contact with a clutch plate 32. In a further configuration the clutch material may be freely mounted between the pulley 24 and the clutch plate 32.

The wind-up shaft 23 is thus driven by the firctional contact between the pulley 24, clutch plate 32 which is attached to the wind-up shaft 23. If the pressure of the spring 30 which urges the pulley 24 into contact against the clutch plate 32 were to be reduced so that there was little or no frictional contact, the pulley 24 would rotate free on its own bearing 29 on the shaft 23 which would itself remain stationary.

In a further modified construction shown in Figure 3C, where two wind-up rollers are fitted to the apparatus, the system comprises a pair of pulleys 34a and 34b mounted on respective shafts 23a and 23b, and a third pulley 34c also mounted on the shaft 23b. A belt 25a interconnects the two pulleys 34a and 34b, whilst a belt 25b connects the pulley 34c with the drive means, e.g. the electric motor. Such double pulleys work in the identical manner to that described in relation to pulley 24 shown in Figure 3A.

The wind-up shaft 23 is supported in its own bearing 35 which may be a component bearing, a boss fitted to the frame of the apparatus or any other suitable means.

The purpose ofthe clutch system on the shafts 23 is firstly to take up any slack in the fused fabric and/or interlining as it is coming off the conveyor at the guide shaft 5. When the slack has been taken up since the speed of the shaft 23 is so designed to be running faster than the speed of the conveyor belt 3, the pulley 24 will start slipping on the clutch plate 32 thus keeping the fused band of interlining and/or fabric under tension as it is wound up. The "tightness" of the roll being wound up can be reduced or increased by adjusting the pressure between the pulley 24 and the clutch material 32 by means of the spring 30.

In a further modified construction means may be provided to support the fused fabric and/or interlining whilst it is being wound up on the wind-up shaft 23. It is common for fabric and interlining to have a circular centre onto which they have been wound.

These centres are made of cardboard, plastic or similar material and come in various diameters.

These centres 36 as shown in Figure 2A are suitable locations for supporting the fabric and fusible interlining when loading onto the apparatus. A similar centre is used to wind the fused fabric and/or interlining onto the wind-up shafts 23. However such centres may be of different diameters both on the fabric and interlining to be fused and also when used for winding up the fused fabric.

One preferred means of supporting different diameter centes 36 on both the wind-up shaft 23 and also the holders 16 and bars 11 and 12, is a pair of cone shaped holders 37 as shown in Figure 2A which are pushed into the centre 36 and held in that position by means such as thumb screws or other clamping means. The cone shape holders allow centres of different diameters to find a central position in relation to the shaft. One or two support plates 38 on one or both sides of the fabric, interlining or fused material can be incorporated into the cone shaped holders 37 to support the diameters of fabric, interlining or fused fabric whilst winding or unwinding.

In a further alternative form, a false or adjustable top 40 as shown in Figure 1 is provided on which one or more guides 39 are located. In this configuration the fabric or interlining to be fused is fed underneath the extra top 40 and into the fusing section of the apparatus at the entry position 20. The guide or guides 39 is or are set up so that when a cut section offusible interlining or fabric is located in the correct position by means of the guide or guides 39, it may be slid into the fusing section of the apparatus at the entry position 20 on the top 40 so that it will automatically be positioned correctly on the band of interlining or fabric running underneath the top 40 into the apparatus. By using the above described method correct location of cut sections on a moving band from the roll is possible.

It is preferable that the conveyor belt 3 should be of a non stick material such as polychloratetrafluorethylene (P.T.F.E. or Teflon) coated onto a fibreglass or similar base material. Such conveyor belts 3 are known to be difficult to hold on track i.e.

from wandering off a central track when in motion. A simple way of keeping the conveyor belt 3 on a central track is shown in Figure 4. This centralizing means may be applied to some or all of the fixed shafts which guide the conveyor belt 3 outside the treating zone, e.g. shafts 4, 5, 6a, 6b and 2z. The means for centralizing the conveyor belt 3 consists of a fixed diameter shaft 41 (which may be any one or more of the above referred to fixed shafts) to which collars 42 with angled faces have been attached at either end of the shaft so that the angled faces are facing each other. The conveyor belt 3 slides over the shaft with each edge running at the bottom of the angled faces on collars 42.The sliding action of the conveyor belt 3 against the angled face on the collar 42 against which it is tending to track causes the conveyor belt 3 to slip down the slope of the angled face to the bottom thus keeping the conveyor belt 3 centralized between the two collars 42.

At least one of the above referred to fixed shafts (4, 5, 6a, 6b and 2z) may be adjustable in angular relationship with respect to the conveyor belt as shown in Figure 5 in which the dotted lines represent the position to which the fixed shaft referred to above (herein designated 43) can be adjusted in relation to the conveyor belt and in which the conveyor belt 3 will be caused to track by that adjustment. By the use of the adjustable shaft 43 which acts as centralizing guide, the conveyor belt 3 can be set up to run as centrally as possible between the collars 42 before a fusing operation is commenced.

In an alternative use of the apparatus, rolls of heat transfer paper which is a known product for printing fabric is loaded onto the apparatus instead of fusible interlining. The transfer paper is passed through the apparatus in a similar manner to the fusible interlining with fabric to be printed. However, in this case, the used transfer paper is wound up onto a separate wind-up shaft 23 to that on which the printed fabric is wound after processing.

In a further alternative form as shown in Figure 6, the conveyor belt 3 is shortened so that it passes around the pressure roller 2 and immediately back around the guide shafts 6B, 6A and 4 and then arountthemaincylinderl. In this embodimentthe apparatus has an additional and separate conveyor belt 44 which will transport the processed items from the pressure roller 2 to the off-load position.

The additional conveyor belt 44 extends between the guide shaft or roller 5 at the off-load position and a guide shaft or roller 45 immediately adjacent the pressure roller 2. One of said members 5 or 45 may be a fixed shaft whilst the other is a driven roller. The conveyor belt 44 can be driven in a number of different ways, as follows: (a) it can be directly driven from a separate driving source, e.g. an electric motor; (b) it can be driven by means of frictional contact between the pressure roller 2 and the guide roller 45; (c) it can be driven from the driving source of the main conveyor 3 either directly or through a belt drive taken from the main cylinder 1 or any of the guide rollers.

By whatever means the additional conveyor 44 is driven it will rotate in the direction of the arrow Y, i.e.

in the opposite sense of the main conveyor 3 which rotates in the direction of the arrow X.

Scrapers 46y and 46z are provided to transfer the processed parts from the main conveyor 3 onto the additional conveyor belt 44 and off the conveyor belt 44 at the off-load position adjacent the guide shaft or roller 5. The guide shaft or roller 45 is positioned as to cause the conveyor belt 44 to rub against the conveyor belt 3 at 47 ensuring the transfer of parts onto conveyor belt 44 from the main conveyor belt 3 even if the processed parts are lightly stuck to the main conveyor belt 3. The frictional contact between conveyor belt 44 and the main conveyor belt 3 in contact with each other and travelling in opposite directions may be used additionally for cleaning purposes especially if the additional conveyor belt 44 is made of a material with cleaning capabilities.

The additional conveyor belt 44 will have a cooling effect on the processed parts which have transferred hot from the conveyor belt 3 after passing through the heating means, since the additional conveyor belt 44 does not pass through the heating means and therefore remains cool.

In an alternative form the additional conveyor belt 44 may be made of a number of separate belts.

In order to cool processed parts which have passed through the heating system of the apparatus a vacuum may be provided beneath the additional conveyor 44. This vacuum 47z draws hot air from hot parts situated on the additional conveyor 44 as they pass over the vacuum 47z. Alternatively a cold air blower 47z may be positioned above the additional conveyor 44 which blows cold air onto hot processed parts passing underneath on the conveyor belt 44.

In another form as shown in Figure 7A and 7B a feed-in conveyor is provided for transporting parts into the apparatus. As shown in Figure 7A feed-in conveyor 48a is so positioned as to pass across the loading position 17 of the apparatus, thence around the main cylinder 1 and then out and around another guide shaft or roller 49. Parts to be processed in the apparatus are loaded onto the feed-in conveyor 48a at the loading position 17 and are transported on the feed-in conveyor 48a into the apparatus and are held between the main conveyor belt 3 and the conveyor belt 48a until exiting from between those two conveyor belts after passing between pressure roller 2 and main cylinder 1. The feed-in conveyor 48a is driven by the frictional contact between the pressure roller 2 and the main cylinder 1 between which both conveyor belts 3 and 48a pass.A similar collar tracking means for the conveyor 48a as shown in Figure 4 can be used at or near the guide shaft or roller 49.

An alternative embodiment of the feed-in conveyor is shown in Figure 7B whereby a separate conveyor belt 48b is passed around two or more guide shafts or rollers 50 and 51. Again, either the member 50 or 51 can be a fixed shaft whilst the other is a driven roller. The conveyor belt 48b can be driven directly from the main drive source of the apparatus.

In order to allow access to the main cylinder 1 and the cleaning systems for the main cylinder 1, the conveyor belt 48b is mounted on a movable frame 53 which is shown in Figure 8. The frame 53 mounted on which are the guide shafts or rollers 50 and 51 with the conveyor 48b running around then, is adapted to slide away from the main cylinder 1 so that the portion of the main cylinder 1 around which the conveyor belt 3 does not pass is exposed. In such a contruction it will be necessary to cause the conveyor belt 48b to be driven by means which allows for the complete conveyor system to be moved backwards and forwards as described herein.

Two preferred methods of constructing such driving means are now described. A drive shaft 54 in the form of a rubber or similar covered drive pulley is provided to drive the roller 51 when it is in contact therewith, the driving force being created by the frictional contact between the drive shaft 54 and the roller 51 such frictional contact being either along the entire length of the roller 51 or any portion of it.

In an alternative construction shown in Figure 9, a sprocket or gear 55y is provided at one or both ends of the roller 51 and a drive sprocket or gear 55z which is continuously driven and so located as to come into driving contact with the sprocket 55y attached to the roller 51 when the conveyor frame 53 is in the forward and normal operating mode thus causing the conveyor belt 48b to be driven. When the conveyor frame 53 is slid back away from the main cylinder 1 the gear, rubber covered drive pulley or other suitable driving means will no longer be in contact with the roller 51 and therefore the driving force to the conveyor 48b will cease thus causing the belt 48b to stop running. Any other suitable means may be used to drive the roller 51 provided it allows for the movement of the conveyor system fitted to the conveyor frame 53 towards and away from the main cylinder 1.In an alternative form (not shown) the driven roller may be roller 50 or another fitted to the frame 53.

In the above described construction the conveyor 48b and its drive roller 51 are separated from their drive shaft 54 or sprocket 55z when the frame 53 containing the conveyor belt 48b is moved away from the main cylinder 1 and thus the conveyor belt 48b stops. The conveyor belt 48b will start to move again as soon as the frame 53 is moved back to its normal operating position where the drive shaft 54 or sprocket 55z will be in contact with the roller 51.

The direction of rotation of the shaft 54 is indicated by the arrow W which causes the conveyor belt 48b to travel in the direction indicated by the arrow V by the contact between the shaft 54 and the roller 51.

The top surface of the conveyor belt 48b can be used to lay up parts to be processed within the apparatus which are transported into the apparatus on the conveyor belt 48b thus eliminating the need to pass the parts into the apparatus by hand.

In an alternative form the conveyor belt 48b may be driven by its own separate motor or similar driving source.

A further embodiment of the invention is shown in Figure 10. This embodiment includes means for cleaning the main conveyor belt 3 and main cylinder 1. The main cylinder 1 can be coated with a non stick coating such as TEFLON to prevent resins and other dirt particles from sticking and building up on to the main cylinder 1 and also to allow cleaning systems permanently operating on the apparatus to keep the main cylinder clean. A preferred construction of the cleaning system for the main cylinder 1 includes a wiper bar 56 in the form of a bar around which has been fitted a suitable fabric which is held against the main cylinder 1 so that the fabric wipes resin, dirt or other foreign matter from the surface of the main cylinder 1 whilst it is rotating.The fabric may be renewed when it has been used, or a system can be provided to wind used material directly from the bar 56 onto another bar thus exposing a new section of wiping fabric to the surface of the main cylinder 1 as required.

A scraper 57 can also be provided which scrapes more difficult dirt stuck to the surface of the main cylinder 1 from it and which also separates from the surface of the main cylinder 1 processed parts which may have become stuck to the surface of the main cylinder 1 when exiting from between the pressure roller 2 and the main cylinder 1.

In another form (not shown) means can be provided to automatically remove individually processed parts from the conveyor belt 3 at the off-load position 5 and to stack them.

Yet a further embodiment of the invention is shown in Figure 11. In this further construction an additional conveyor is added to any of the preceding configurations of the invention, from which cut sections which have been fed through the apparatus may be removed.

As shown in Figure 11, the additional conveyor is a single conveyor belt 60 pasing around guide rollers 58 and 59 at respective ends. In an alternative construction a plurality of separate bands are arranged in parallel between the guide rollers 58 and 59. In either construction, the drive to the conveyor belt 60 can be applied to either guide roller.

The area above conveyor belt 3 is used for laying up and feeding fabric into the apparatus and therefore processed parts cannot be removed from the conveyor belt 3 in this area. A scraper 61 or similar device can be used to ensure that processed parts do transfer from the conveyor belt 3 to the conveyor belt 60.

An alternative embodiment of the extra top 40 is shown in Figures 12Aand 12Bwherebythetop40 which may be made of a transparent material such as perspex is positioned on the loading position 17.

Bars 62 on which are positioned adjustable tracking collars 63 having angled faces, are situated across the width of the top 40 below the surface thereof.

One or more bars 62 may be provided below the top 40 and positioned in any suitable position. One or more guides 39 can be provided which sit on the top surface of the top 40 and are secured in relation to the top by means which locates in slots 64 or through the slots 64. Such location means can take the form of a thumb screw 65 or similar locking device. When such locking device is released, it is possible to move the guide 39 to any required position on the surface of the top 40 and then to secure the guide 39 through the slot by retightening the thumb screw 65 against the surface of the top 40.

A secondary plate 66 which covers the area of the top 40 can be provided below the surface of the top 40 and situated just below the level of the collars 63.

The way in which the top 40 is used is as follows. A continuous length of fabric and/or interlining 67 is taken from the roll and fed underneath the surface of the top 40 in between the collars 63 and over the bars 62 which are for the purpose of guiding the continuous length of fabric and/or interlining 67 on a straight track. Slots can be provided in the surface of the top 40 running parallel to the track of the main conveyor belt 3 which can be used to guide the continuous length of fabric and/or interlining over the bars 62 and between the collars 63 by hand until it is gripped between the conveyor belt 3 and the main cylinder 1 and taken through the apparatus automatically. This operation is facilitated by the provision of the secondary plate 66 which is located below the surface of the top 40.Individual cut sections of fabric and/or interlining 68 are prepared on the surface of the top 40 and the guide 39 is positioned so that it will locate the cut section 68 in the correct position on the continuous length of fabric and/or interlining 67 when they come together. The cut section 68 is then moved into apparatus at the entry point 20 and will locate on the already moving continuous length of fabric and/or interlining 67 which is already being taken into the apparatus.

By this means cut sections may be positioned correctly on the continuous lengths and the transparent top is suitable for checking the conveyor belt 60 or plurality of parallel bands.

Referring now to yet another embodiment which is shown in Figures 13A and 13B, one side 70 of the apparatus is so designed as to project a greater distance than the other side 71. By this means the wind-up shafts 23 may be housed and driven from within the projected side 70 and the side 71 of the apparatus does not impede the fitting and removal of new wind-up rolls of processed fabric as one side of the apparatus is left completely open.

The area of projection 72 on side 70 may be used for additional purposes such as a drive housing for an additional conveyor which may have one side completely open and unsupported, or for housing automatic stacking systems for parts coming off the main conveyor 3 at the take-off portion 5.

In a modified construction a separate extension 73 to the shorter side 71 is provided where an extension for the main conveyor belt 3, an additional conveyor belt or some other attachment is required to be fitted.

In a further modified construction means is provided in the area of the apparatus around the feed-in position 20 to fix special attachments which are capable of folding continuous lengths of fabric and to feed the folded fabric into the apparatus so that the fold is set into the fabric by the heating and pressing operation of the apparatus. When the folded fabric has emerged at the off-load position 5 with the fold set and fixed by the heat and pressure through which the continuous length of fabric has passed it may be wound up on a wind-up shaft 23 into a roll.

A combination of fabric and fusible interlining in various forms may be folded together.

In another form a folding attachment is provided in the vicinity of the feed-in position 20 which is capable of folding up to three edges of an individual cut section of fabric.

A preferred embodiment of this folding attachment is shown in Figures 14A, 14B and 14C.

A folder 75 is fitted to the loading position 17 by means of a bolt fixing 74 and so located as to cause its leading edge to be close to or inside the feed-in position 20. The side edges 76 of the folder 75 are folded overto more than 180 degrees to cause the edges of the fabric 77 to fold over when it is slid into the folder 75. Another edge 76a is provided to cause the front edge of the fabric 77 to also fold over when it comes in contact with it. A template 78 is provided which may be of various shapes and sizes and which should be changeable to suitthefold required.The fabric 77 will be caused to wrap itself around the template 78 when the edges are folded over by the side edges 76 and the front edges 76a of the folder 75 thus the shape of the template will determine where the folds are and their nature. The feeding of the fabric 77 into the folder 75 can be carried out by hand or by automatic means using an arm 79 to which is attached to its lower surface, the template 78. The arm 79 may be manually or automatically lifted clear of the fabric 77 and repositioned on each new piece of fabric which is to be fed into the folder 75. The movement of the fabric into the folder 75 can be by lateral movement of the arm 79 with the template 78 sitting upon the fabric 77 causing it to slide when the arm 79 moves. The arm 79 can be operated by means of a pneumatic cylinder 80. Once the fabric has been moved through the folder 75 and its edges have been folded around the template 78 the fabric 77 is then passed through the other side of the folder 75 until it is gripped between the conveyor belt 3 and the main cylinder 1 and is transported through the apparatus where the heat and pressure will set the folds in the fabric 77.

Claims (31)

1. Apparatus of the kind described, wherein said conveyor belt is guided outside the treating zone by means of a plurality of fixed shafts over which the conveyor belt slides, means being provided on one or more of said fixed shafts to ensure centralization of said conveyor belt with respect to said one or more of said fixed shafts to ensure correct tracking thereof.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said means for centralization comprises a pair of collars having angled faces, mounted on said fixed shafts.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein one or more of said fixed shafts is adjustable in angular relationship with respect to the conveyor belt.

4. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein means are provided for holding separate rolls of interlining and fabric.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein means are provided for positioning and aligning the interlining and fabric with respect to each other.

6. Apparatus according to claim 4 or 5, wherein means are provided at the off-load position for winding the fused fabric and interlining.

7. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims 4 to 6, wherein said means for holding separate rolls of interlining and fabric comprise means for supporting a pair of bars at right angles to said conveying means, the separate rolls of interlining and fabric being positioned for rotation on the respective bars.

8. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims 4 to 6, wherein said means for holding separate rolls of interlining and fabric comprise a "U" shaped holder supported at right angles to said conveying means, the separate rolls of interlining and fabric being positioned for rotation on the respective arms of the "U" shaped holder.

9. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims 4 to 8, including means for guiding the interlining and fabric unwound from the separate rolls, in order to ensure that the interlining and fabric are bonded together in the correct positions in the heating and pressing means.

10. Apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said guidance means comprises a pair of adjustable collars mounted on a bar for each of the interlining and fabric, the collars having angled faces on the sides facing the interlining and fabric.

11. Apparatus according to claim 9, including additional lateral guides provided near the feed-in entry position to the heating and pressing means.

12. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims 4 to 11, wherein said means for winding-up the fused fabric and interlining comprises at least one wind-up roller mounted on a driven shaft.

13. Apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the wind-up roller is driven at a faster rotational speed than that of the main cylinder so that the speed at which the fused fabric and/or interlining comes out of the heating and pressing means is slower than the rate at which it is wound up on the wind-up roller, clutch means being associated with the wind-up rollerto allow slip.

14. Apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said wind-up roller is mounted on a shaft together with a pulley having a semi-circular groove on its upper periphery, a drive belt having a circular cross-section engaging in said groove and being driven by drive means.

15. Apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said wind-up roller is mounted on a shaft together with a toothed sprocket, a chain engaging with said sprocket and being driven by drive means.

16. Apparatus according to claim 14 or 15, wherein clutch plate is provided to engage with the pulley or the sprocket to allow for slip to the drive to the wind-up roller said clutch plate being urged to make frictional contact with the pulley or sprocket by spring means.

17. Apparatus according to claim 14, wherein a pair of wind-up rollers are provided, said wind-up rollers are provided, said wind-up roller being linked through a pulley system.

18. Apparatus according to any one ofthe preceding claims 4 to 17, wherein pairs of cone shaped holders are used to support different centre diameters of the rolls on the bars or wind-up shafts.

19. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, including additional conveyor means positioned between the exit from the heating and pressing means and the off-loading means, which convey means comprises an endless belt driven either from a main conveyor associated with the heating and pressing means or by a separate drive source.

20. Apparatus according to claim 19, wherein a first scraper is provided for transferring the processed fabric from the main conveyor associated with the heating and pressing means to the additional conveyor means.

21. Apparatus according to claim 19 or 20, wherein a second scraper is provided for transferring the processed fabric from the additional conveyor means and to off-loading means prior to it being wound on the winding-up means.

22. Apparatus according to any one of claims 19 to 21, wherein cooling means are associated with the additional conveyor means for extracting the heat from the processed fabric after it has come out of the heating and pressing means.

23. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims 19 to 23, wherein a feed-in conveyor forming part of the main conveyor extends between the means for positioning and aligning the interlining and fabric with respect each other and the entry point into the heating and pressing means.

24. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims 19 to 23, wherein a separate feed-in conveyor in the form of an endless belt is located between the means for positioning and aligning the interlining and fabric with respect to each other and the main conveyor at the entry point into the heating and pressing means.

25. Apparatus according to claim 24, wherein the feed-in conveyor is mounted on a movable frame arranged to be slid away from the main conveyor.

26. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims 19to 25, including means for cleaning the main conveyor to remove material which has become stuck thereto during the heating and pressing operation.

27. Apparatus according to claim 26, wherein a scraper is provided for removing material stuck to the main cylinder associated with the main conveyor.

28. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, including the provision of a top of transparent material forming part of said positioning and aligning means for the interlining and fabric, said top having guide means in the form of slots running parallel to the direction of input to the heating and pressing means.

29. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, including means for folding continuous lengths of fabric before it is passed to the heating and pressing means.

30. Apparatus according to claim 29, wherein said folding means comprises a folder having folded over side edges and a template, the fabric being caused to wrap itself around the template when the edges thereof are folded over by the side edges of the folder.

31. Apparatus for fusing fusible interlinings to fabrics constructed substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.