GB927901A - Method and apparatus for the reinforcement of glass fibre webs or mats - Google Patents

Abstract

927,901. Laminates and laminating. W. H. W. SCHULLER. June 1, 1959 [June 3, 1958], No. 17759/58. Class 140. Apparatus for applying reinforcing elements, e.g. slivers, yarns, threads, strips or rovings across a continuously moving mat, web or the like of staple fibres of thermoplastic material, e.g. glass, comprises a conveyer on which the mat is supported and a main carriage which can be reciprocated along the conveyer so that when they are both travelling in the same direction there is no relative movement between them. Grippers for engaging a plurality of the reinforcing elements from one or more sources of supply are mounted on a second carriage which is positioned on the main carriage, and can be moved across the conveyer and perpendicularly thereto. The grippers can therefore draw the reinforcing elements through tensioning members into position above the mat and then lower them into contact with the mat while the conveyer and main carriage are relatively stationary. Means are also provided to sever the reinforcing elements from their source of supply and for drawing the severed ends of the reinforcing elements into a position where they may readily be engaged by the gripper in a subsequent operation. In the Figure, the base web 1 with lengthwise reinforcements 2 is carried by a conveyer (not shown) in the direction perpendicular to the plane of the paper. Reinforcing means V from bobbins 3 are passed over braking shafts 4 and 5 and guide rods 45 and 46 and through holder 42 to the gripper 10. The flight attachment 8 on the chain 7 engages the lever 6 and draws the gripper carriage 25 across the web, raising the restoring rod 13. The gripper 11 then closes on the ends c of the reinforcement V11 which are blown by a stream of air from the holder 42 into the mouth of the gripper. The gripper track is then lowered towards the web, the gripper 10 is opened, and the restoring rod pulls the reinforcement back until the rod strikes the pawl 12. The band burner 30 is then ignited, and severs the reinforcement close to the edge of the conveyer. The restoring rod then continues to fall drawing the reinforcement back to a position to be ready to be gripped by the grippers when they return. Meanwhile the gripper carriage can on the return stroke draw across and lay reinforcement V<SP>11</SP> in the same manner. A moving glass-fibre mat may be reinforced by laying a first series of reinforcing elements along the mat, lying a second series across the mat by means of the apparatus described above, laying a third series of reinforcing element along the mat in spaced relationship to each other and to the members of the first series, e.g. each member of each of the first and third series may be half way between the two nearest members of the other series, and bonding the reinforcing elements to the mat. Specifications 686,564 and 805,551 are referred to.