266,019. Parks, H. M. Oct. 15, 1925. Compound sheet materials. - A machine for making composite material consisting of longitudinally arranged strips of cane between fabric coverings comprises means for applying a coating of adhesive to the upper and lower surfaces of the cane, means for applying canvas or other fabric to the coated surfaces and a knife for cutting the material transversely of its length. Preferably the feeding of the material is suspended during the cutting, and the operation of the cutting mechanism is controlled by the material itself. In the machine described, the strips of cane are assembled by hand on a table, or drawn from drums, while the canvas is supplied from rolls 4, 5, Fig. 1. A tank 6, which may be heated. contains glue or other adhesive, and the cane passes over rollers 7, 8 and under a roller 9 which causes it to dip into the glue. After passing between wipers, the cane passes between pressure rollers 10, 10<a> which apply the canvas to both surfaces. Similar rollers 11, 12 apply a second pressure. Beyond these rollers is a knife 14, Fig. 3, arranged transversely of the material, and moving in guides 15. A fixed blade 16 is located below the blade 14. The machine is driven by an electric motor 18, Fig. 2. A twoway dog-clutch 20 is mounted on the shaft 19 of the motor so that either of two free pinions 22, 23 may be coupled to the shaft. A shaft 24, formed in three parts U, V. W in axial alignment, carries on the part U pinions 25, 26, which engage the pinions 22, 23 respectively. On the outer end of the shaft U is a pinion 27 which engages a pinion 28 on a shaft 29. The latter carries a pinion 30 which drives through a pinion a shaft 31 which is secured to the spindle of the roller 11. The roller 10<a> is driven at the same speed by bevel gearing. A differential gear 37 connects the shafts U, V, the casing of the gear being provided with a brake drum 42. A second differential gear connects the shafts V, W, the casing being provided with a flywheel 46. Mounted on the shafts V, W are brake drums 47, 48. The brake bands of the drums 42, 47, 48 are actuated by levers 49. 50, 51 respectively, provided with balance weights 49<a>, 50<a>, 51a of sufficient weight to apply the bands and to stop rotation. The brakes on the drums 42 and 48 are normally held on by the corresponding counterweights. Levers 54<a> and 55, Fig. 5, are provided with short arms 54<c>, 55<a> respectively, connected by means of a rod 56. Balance weights 54<d>, 55b are mounted on the levers 54a, 55, and set-screws on the lever 54<a> contact with the counterweights 51<a> and 50<a>, and a. set-screw on the lever 55 contacts with the counterweight 49a. The combined weight of the counterweights 54<d> and 55<b> is sufficient to lift the weight 50a so that the brake on the drum 47 is normally off. When material is passing through the machine, the shaft U, Fig. 2, is driven. The casing of the differential being held by its brake, the drive is transmitted to the shaft V which through the second differential gear drives the flywheel on the casing of the latter, the shaft W being braked. The rollers 13<a> which carry away the material after it has been cut are driven by means of a chain h running over sprockets g. The drive is taken from a shaft 57 lying under the shaft 29 and driven therefrom by a pinion 58, through a shaft 61 to a shaft 63, one end of which is connected to one of the rollers 13". The shaft 63 also actuates a shaft 66 through bevel gears and a clutch 67. The shaft 66 carries a segment-shaped arm 68, Fig. 5, and a second arm 70 with a balance weight 71, the segment 68 engaging with the arm 54<c> of the lever 54<a> which controls the application of the brake bands. At the discharge end of the machine is a vertical lever 72, Fig. 1, formed at its upper end with two prongs, one of which projects into the path of the material, so that when the end of the latter touches the lever, the spindle 73<a>, Fig. 2, to which the lever is secured is rotated. Secured to the spindle 73<a> is an arm 74, Fig. 1, to the upper end of which is pivoted a rod 75 which actuates the clutch 67 through levers 77. When the clutch is thrown in, the shaft 66 is rotated, and with it the segment 68. Fig. 5. The lever 54<a> is thus moved, and also the lever 55 by the rod 56, so that the balance weights 54d, 55<b> are raised, and the brake drums 42, 48 are released. At the same time the lever 54<a> allows the weight 50<a> to fall, thus applying the brake to the drum 47. The shafts U, W are thus freed, and the shaft V is held. The energy stored in the flywheel 46 causes the rotation of the shaft W so that the knife 14 is actuated through gears 81. 82 and cams 84, Fig. 3. The knife is returned to normal position by a weighted lever 86, Fig. 2. A rod 90 connects this lever with a lever 92, Fig. 1, secured to the shaft 78 which carries the arms 77 of the actuating mechanism of the clutch 67. Thus when the knife returns, the clutch 67 is thrown out, and the shaft 66 is freed and is returned to normal position by the weight 71, Fig. 5. The segment 68 falls against a stop 69, the weights 54<d> and 55<b> return to normal position and the brake bands are actuated so that feeding of the material is continued. The line of the rollers 13<a> at the discharge end of the machine may be inclined so that the material slides off easily when cut. The material may be pressed down in the vicinity of the lever 72 by a roller 95. The length of material cut off is varied by sliding the bracket 73, Fig. 1, along the base plate of the machine, the rod 75 being adjustably connected to the levers 77. Guards may be provided to prevent the separation of the strips of cane prior to the application of the canvas. Rollers provided with a cutting blade may be used to sever the material instead of the knife described.