GB711544A - Method and apparatus for packaging fibrous materials - Google Patents

Abstract

711,544. Packaging fibrous materials. OWENSCORNING FIBERGLAS. CORPORATION. June 13, 1951, No. 14060/51. Class 94 (1) In a process of, or apparatus for, packaging fibrous mineral material, a flat mat of the material is advanced lengthwise and wound into a roll, and a surface is pressed tangentially against the roll to exert radial pressure thereon, thereby compressing the mat as the roll is being formed. As shown, in Fig. 1, glass fibres 16, formed by air or steam jets 15 acting on molten glass flowing through orifices 11, are collected on a continuously-moving conveyer 20 which feeds them between a second conveyer 27 and a belt 26, whereby they are formed into a mat M of uniform thickness. A strip of wrapping material P is fed under the mat from a supply roll 32, and the mat and strip severed simultaneously by a reciprocating knife 39 to form mat sections M<SP>1</SP> which pass on to a third conveyer 44 at a higher speed so that the spacing between the mat section is increased before they enter the rolling mechanism 60. While the sections are on the conveyer 27, an operator attaches paper sheets 48 and 54 to their trailing and leading edges, the former having its free end coated with adhesive so that it may be stuck down after the rolling operation. The mat sections pass from the conveyer 44 on to an adjustable guide plate 101, Fig. 5, and then on to a pivoted table 108 whereby they are fed into. engagement with a mandrel 80, Figs. 4 and 5, rotated through gearing by a pneumatic motor which allows the mandrel to slow down as 'the size of the roll increases. The sections are guided around the mandrel to initiate the rolling operation by a series of driven belts 170 passing over rollers 164 and 169, mounted on a frame 158 pivoted on a shaft 156, further rollers 165, 166 mounted on the frame, and driven rollers 175, 176 mounted in .brackets 173 pivoted on the shaft of the roller 166. The frame 158 may be swung about its pivot from an inoperative position by an air cylinder 195 operating through adjustable linkage 199, 202, and the brackets 193 may be swung upwardly or downwardly by an air cylinder 180 having a piston 182 whose rod 183 is formed with a racK 190 meshing with a pinion 189 in a housing 188 linked to the brackets. The pinion is rotatable by a handle 191 for adjustment purposes. As the mat section is rolled radial pressure is exerted thereon by the table 108 which is urged upwardly to an extent limited by an adjustable stop by an air cylinder 115. The supply of pressure air to the cylinder is so controlled as to maintain the radial pressure constant as the diameter of the roll increases. The comepleted packages are stripped from the mandrel by an annular plate 242, Fig. 4, which is rotatable in an opening in an arm 241 mounted on a carriage 227 having rollers 228 running on tracks 230, the carriage being reciprocated by an ,electric motor 210 which drives a chain 222 carrying a pin adapted to engage in one or other of two slotted plates mounted on the carriage. In a modification, the strip P is fed at a faster rate than the mat to form loops L,. Fig. 12. which after the cutting of the mat and strip into sections provide the necessary additional material for covering the leading and trailing edges of the sections. The strip is fed over a bar 300, F,vg. 11, which is movable in guide slots 302 and is the periodically raised by crank mechanism 305, operated in synchronism with the knife, to carry a loop L into continuous relation with the mat. The mat may be slit by rotary cutters 310 to form two or more strips which are rolled simultaneously, in which case the strip P is perforated longitudinally by mechanism 315. In a further modification, Fig. 13 (not shown), the mechanism for initiating the rolling operation is simplified, th.e brackets 173 and associated rollers and belts being replaced by an arcuate, hinged guide plate.