GB760103A - Improvements in or relating to apparatus for feeding articles to a machine for imparting an ironed finish to textile articles - Google Patents

Abstract

760,103. Endless belt conveyers. TOMLINS, Ltd., B. & M. Nov. 18, 1953 [Aug. 18, 1952; Oct. 3, 1952; Jan. 14, 1953], Nos. 20742/52, 24872/52 and 1122/53. Class 78 (1). [Also in Group VIII] An ironing machine is combined with a conveyer for feeding articles thereto, the conveyer being adapted to move at at least two speeds and being controllable independently of the speed of passage of the articles through the machine, one of such speeds of the conveyer being the same as the ironing speed, whereby the articles may be fed on to the conveyer while it is moving at a speed which differs from the normal ironing speed and thereafter the conveyer may be caused to move at the ironing speed whilst feeding the articles into the machine. The speed may be controlled manually, or by means of sensing rollers or lingers, by automatic timing means or by photo-electric cells. First embodiment (Fig. 2 of the first Provisional Specification). Articles are fed to the ironer 1 by a conveyer 2 running on rollers 3, 4, the roller 4 being driven at the ironing speed by a pulley 16, belt 17 and a pulley 18 incorporating a free wheel, and at a higher speed by an electric motor 5 and free wheel pulley 7. A number of rollers 14 each carried by an arm 13 extending from a rotatable shaft 12, rest on the conveyer 2 which comprises a number of bands. The conveyer 2 is normally driven at the higher speed by the motor 5, but when the leading edge of an article reaches the rollers 14 the latter are lifted and operate a switch to stop the motor and allow the slow drive from the ironer to come into operation. A pivoted finger guard plate 10, when rocked, stops the apparatus. Modifications. The freewheel in pulley 7 may be omitted and the motor allowed to be driven idly when its power is cut off. Alternatively, the freewheel 18 may be replaced by a solenoidoperated clutch, the lifting of the rollers 14 stopping the motor 5 and engaging the clutch. When the article has passed the rollers 14 the solenoid is operated to disengage the clutch and stop the conveyer. In a further alternative, roller 4 may be driven by pulley 16 through a two-speed gear and clutch under control of the rollers 14. The rollers 14 may be disposed between adjacent bands of the conveyer with their lower edges below the plane of the bands whereby a larger lift of the rollers is obtained. Second embodiment (Fig. 3 of the first Provisional Specification). High speed drive of the conveyer 2 is provided by a motor 25 and freewheel device, and low speed drive by a second freewheel device connected to the ironing machine. A chain 39 carrying a cam 40 is also driven by the motor 25 and co-operates with a lever 43 controlling the motor switch. The motor 25 is energized by means of a pedal 44 and de-energized after a predetermined time by means of the cam 40. A sprocket 41 over which the chain passes can be adjusted for chains of different lengths. Third embodiment (Fig. 6 of the first Provisional Specification). The articles are fed to and received from the ironer 1 at the same side of the machine, the conveyer being in two parts 60 and 61. The conveyer bands 60, 61 are driven at the same speeds, the high and low speed drives being supplied through freewheel devices by a motor 71 and pulley 72 respectively. Rollers 14b operate to change the conveyer speed in the same way as the rollers 14 in.Fig. 2 of the first Provisional Specification. In order to give access to the ironer a take-off .board 62 is pivoted at 78, and the conveyer 60 can be raised at one end by means of lifting jacks 77. The conveyers 60, 61 may each be divided laterally to form two feeding "lanes," one being for small articles and arranged to run continuously at ironing speed or its speed may be controlled similarly to but independently of the other "lane." Modifications. As illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3 (not shown) of the second Provisional Specification, the changeover from high to.low speed may be effected by a cam carried by a chain which is driven by the motor until the cam contacts and operates a lever to switch off the motor and actuate change-speed mechanism. The chain and conveyer are then driven at low speed from the ironing machine until a second lever is operated by the cam and stops the feeding apparatus. When this occurs an electric bell may be automatically sounded. A device for counting the sheets may be provided. In a further modification, Figs. 1, 2 (not shown) of the Complete Specification, instead of stopping after the slow speed travel, the conveyer continues to move at this speed while the next article is laid on it after which the high speed travel comes into operation again. The change speed mechanism includes a spring-biased clutch operated by a solenoid which is energized and de-energized by means of a switch operated by a cam carried on a chain. The conveyers may extend under instead of over the ironer. Fourth embodiment. In Figs. 3, 4 (not shown) of the Complete Specification, the invention is applied to a high-speed multi-roll ironing machine, the conveyer normally travelling at a slower speed than the ironing rollers but being accelerated to ironing speed when the leading edge of an article reaches a predetermined point on the conveyer. The trailing edge of the article may reduce the speed again, the devices for effecting the speed changes being as described in the earlier embodiments.