IE45315B1 - Apparatus and method for cutting loop pile fabric - Google Patents

Abstract

1514455 Cutting loop pile fabric MILLIKEN RESEARCH CORP 19 July 1977 [13 Aug 1976 11 Aug 1976] 30284/77 Heading D1S Apparatus for cutting a loop pile fabric 10 with a selvedge comprises a rotor 12 or 14 with a plurality of rows of cutters 50, Figs. 2 and 4, arranged in operation, to rotate against the pile face of the fabric and cut the pile loops, a selvedge protector 48 at at least one end of the rotor and comprising protecting elements 54 extending between the rows of cutters 50 for holding the margin of the fabric away from the cutters, means 46 for sensing an edge of the fabric, and a servo-mechanism responsive to the means 46 automatically to adjust the position of the protector 48 in the axial direction of the rotor. As shown in Fig. 1, the fabric 10 is fed over two cutting rotors 12, 14 by rolls 18, 20 driven by a motor 16, the rotors 12, 14 being driven by separate motors 34, 36. Each rotor 12, 14 is cleaned by a brush 38 driven by a motor 40. Selvedge protector fingers 54, Figs. 2 and 4, each having a toothed surface 56 to provide a lateral pull on the selvedge, are positioned between each row of cutting blades 50 and are slidably mounted in notches in a collar 58 at each end of each rotor. Projections 92 on the fingers 54 prevent the fabric falling between the fingers 54 and the blades 50. At each end of their respective rotor, the fingers 54 are connected to a circular ring 52 engaged with the collar 58 and driven with the rotor. The ring 52 rotates about a stub shaft 60 movable coaxially of a shaft 64 by a hydraulic actuator (66), Fig. 3 (not shown), to move the protector 48 inwardly and outwardly. The edge sensor 46 is mounted on a bracket 80 on a member 74 movable with the shaft 60. If the fabric has a pile-free margin adjacent the selvedge thereof, the sensor 46 senses the selvedge when the width of the margin is less than a predetermined amount and, when the width of the margin exceeds this amount, the sensor 46 senses the edge of the pile. The sensor 46, Fig. 6, comprises pivotal flag members 120, 122 for sensing the selvedge and the pile edge, respectively, and jointly controlling the pressure of a fluid controlling the servomechanism. The back of the margin of the fabric runs against a plate 124 and the members 122 pivots in dependence upon the extent to which a feeler 128 thereon rides up the edge of the pile and thus moves away from the plate 124.

Description

The present invention relates to apparatus and a method for cutting a loop pile fabric with a selvedge and is concerned with the problem of preventing accidental cutting of the selvedge margin which is free from pile.

According to the present invention there is provided apparatus for cutting a loop pile fabric with a selvedge, comprising a rotor carrying a plurality of rows of cutters arranged, in operation, to rotate against the pile face of the fabric and cut the pile loops, a selvedge protector at least one end of the rotor, the selvedge protector comprising a plurality of protecting elements extending in between the rows of cutters for holding the margin of the fabric away from the cutters, means for sensing an edge of the fabric, and a servo-mechanism responsive to the sensing means automatically to adjust the position of the selvedge protector in the axial direction of the rotor.

Further according to the invention, there is provi20 fled a method of cutting loop pile fabric having a pilefree margin on a machine having a rotor across which is mounted a plurality of rows of cutting blades, comprising the steps of passing a web of the loop'pile fabric over the rotating rotor with the main body of the loop pile fabric in contact with the cutting blades while holding the pile-free margin away from the cutting blades by a protecting device, cutting the loops in the main body - 3 of the loop pile fabric while sensing the position of an edge of the fabric, and automatically positioning the protecting device in the axial direction of the rotor in accordance with the position of the sensed edge.

The invention will be described in more detail, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein?Figure 1 is an overall schematic view of an apparatus to produce cut loop pile fabric; Figure 2 is an elevation view of a partial Section of one of a plurality of cutting rotors taken on line 2-2 of Figure 3; Figure 3 is a top view of Figure 2; Figure 4 is an end view of the cutting rotor taken on line 4-4 of Figure 3; Figure 5 is a schematic fluidic-hydraulic diagram for the edge guide sensor? Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 2 showing a modified edge guide sensor; Figures 7 and 8 are partial view of Figure 6 showing the edge guide sensor in different positions; Figure 9 is a view taken on line 9-9 of Figure 6? and Figure 10 is a right-hand elevation view of the edge guide sensor shown in Figure 6.

Referring to Figure 1, a loop pile fabric 10, such as tufted or bonded fabric, is supplied from a supply roll (not shown), over rotating cutting rotors 12 and 14 whereat the loops are cut, to a take-up roll (not shown). A motor unit 16 is employed to drive a roll - 4 18 which pulls the loop pile fabric 10 from the supply and to drive a roll 20 to aid in pulling the fabric 10 through the machine.

The roll 18 is driven directly from the motor unit 16 by a suitable pulley belt 22 while the roll 20 is driven from a clutch box 24 by a pulley belt 25. Clutch boxes 24 and 26 transmit power from a pulley belt 28 which is driven by a sprocket 30 which in turn is driven from the motor unit 16 by a pulley belt 32. Clutch box 26 transmits power to another portion of the machine which is not part of the invention.

The cutting rotors 12 and 14 are driven by separate motors 34 and 36 respectively. Mounted adjacent each of the rotors .12 and 14 is a rotating cleaning brush 38 driven by a motor 40 to clean the lint, trash and yarn from the rotors 12 and 14 deposited therein during the loop cutting operation. A plurality of idler rolls 42 and threaded guide bars 43 are employed to guide the fabric 10 through the machine. Schematically represen20 ted by reference numeral 44 (Fig. 1) are edge guide controls 46 (Fig. 2}, preferably of the fluidic type, to adjust the position of selvedge protectors 48 on each of the cutting rotors 12 and 14.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, it is desired to use at least two loop cutting rotors so that the speed of production can be increased but the number of rotors is optional. The basic use and operation of the cutting rotors 12 and 14 is as set forth in Patent Specification No. 42001 wherein is descri30 bed the specific action of the cutting blades to out the loops of a loop pile fabric to produce a cut pile product 313 - 5 Each of the rotors 12 and 14 has a plurality of rows of cutting blades 50 mounted in slots in the rotors as disclosed in the aforementioned specification. Slidably mounted in notches in a collar 58 and between each row of cutting blades is a selvedge protector finger 54 having a sawtooth outer surface 56 thereof with teeth angled away from the selvedge to provide a lateral pull thereon. Integrally attached to each of the fingers 54 is a projection 92 to prevent the loop pile fabric being cut from falling down between the fingers 54 and the cutting blades during operation.

All of the fingers 54 at any one end of the rotors are connected to a circular ring 52 which rotates with its respective rotor due to its engagement with the collar 58 which is driven with the rotor and rotates with respect to a hollow stub shaft 60 via suitable bearings 62. The stub shaft 60 is mounted on a rotor shaft 64 through a suitable sleeve bearing and is moved coaxially of the shaft 64 by a hydraulic actuator 66 (Fig. 3) to move the selvedge protector inwardly and outwardly for reasons hereinafter explained. A piston rod 68 is fixed at 70 by means of a nut 72 while the cylinder of the actuator 66 is fixed to a connecting member 74 which moves the stub shaft 60 in coaxially to move the selvedge protector 48. To stabilize the sliding movement of the selvedge protectors, the connecting member 74 also moves a sleeve 76 telescoped over a fixed rod 78. Also attached to and movable with the connecting member 74 by means of a support bracket 80 (Fig. 2) is the edge guide sensor 46.

As shown in Figure 5, the edge guide sensor 46 is of the fluidic type and depending on the position - 6 of the selvedge 82 of the pile fabric 10, changes the pressure on a spring loaded diaphragm 84 to vary the position of a two-way valve 86. The valve 86 controls the flow of fluid from the tank or reservoir 88 and pump 89 to the double-acting piston 66 to correctly position the selvedge protector 48 relative to the selvedge 82 of the fabric 10 being sensed. The fluidic Sensor 46 is a commercially available type which enploys air from a blower 90 to provide a pressure differential tc actuate the spring loaded diaphragm 84.

Figures 6 to 10 show a modified edge sensor control 46 which sens^ the edge of the looped pile in the fabric unless the selvedge of the fabric is less than a predetermined width. In the preferred form of this embodi15 ment, the sensor 46 senses the edge of the looped pile unless the selvedge is less than one inch in width and then it will automatically sense the edge of the selvedge instead. This modification simplifies an operator's job since it eliminates constant readjustment as the selvedge widths vary and also eliminates off-quality ... „. encountered ,,, cut pile fabric normally / when the operator failed to make the necessary adjustment.

As with the edge sensor disclosed above, the modified sensor is attached to and movable with the sup25 port bracket 80. To support the edge sensor, a mounting block 100 is connected to the bracket 80 and has openings 102 and 104 therein to support rods 106 and 108. Mounted on the rods 106 and 108 are support blocks 110 and 112 to which are secured support plates 114 and 116. Connected to the bottom of block 112 is a control unit 118 To control the air pressure to the diaphragm 84. , a pair of flags or air interrupters 120 and 122 are pivotally mounted on the plates 114 and 116. Also mounted on the plates 114 and 116 below the pivot point of the flags 120 and 122 is a fabric guide plate 124 to sense and guide the edge of the loop pile fabric on to the rotors 12 and 14. Suitably connected to the flag is an adjustable counterweight 126 to bias the flag 120 to the upward position. Connected to the bot10 tom of the flag 122 is a feeler 128 which contacts the fabric 10 running under the plate 124. The action of the feeler 128 can be varied by an adjusting screw 130 acting on the underside thereof to vary the positions of the flag 122 relative to the air return opening 132.

As discussed briefly before, the modified edge guide sensor is designed to sense the loop pile edge of the fabric unless the selvedge is narrower than a predetermined width and then will automatically act to sense and control fcy the outside edge of the loop pile fabric.

Figures 6, 7 and 8 represent the three basic conditions of the fabric that can exist when fabric is being supplied to one of the rotors 12 or 14. Figure 6 illustrates the position when the width of the sel25 vedge is at the desired level while Figure 7 represents the conditions when the fabric selvedge is too narrow and Figure 8 indicates the conditions when the fabric selvedge width is above a predetermined width.

As in the embodiment of Figures 1 to 5, the sel30 vedge protectors are controlled by the same basic circuit as shown in Figure 5 with air being supplied to the sensor via conduit 134 and returned to the diaphragm 43315 - 8 84 via conduit 136. The diaphragm 84 in turn controls the position of the valve 86 to control the flow of fluid to the actuator 66 via conduits 138 and 140.

In Figure 6 the selvedge 82 has the desired width so the edge thereof maintains the flag 120 in its predetermined position so that it cooperates with the flag 122 to provide the desired pressure to the diaphragm 84 to correctly position the selvedge protector 48. The two flags will move together as one senses the selvedge and the other senses the edge of the pile. If the width of the selvedge 82 should reduce to a value below that desired, the apparatus will assume a position like that shown on Figure 7 where the edge sensing flag 120 under the bias of the counterweight 126, will pivot into the position where it controls the flow of air through the opening 132 while the flag 122 will be pivoted clockwise out of control position by the action of the feeler 128 riding up on the loops of the fabric 10. Conversely, if the width of the selvedge increases, the con20 dition shown in Figure 8 will prevail where the selvedge will act against the bias of the counterweight 126 to pivot the flag 120 clockwise out of controlling relation with the opening and the tuft or loop sensor will pivot counterclockwise into controlling position due to the weight of the apparatus below the pivot point and the positioning of the feeler 128 on the selvedge 82. The above-described movement of the flags 120 and 122 will vary back and forth depending on the width of the selvedge. In the preferred manner, it is desired that the selvedge always be equal to or above a predetermined width so that the tuft or loop sensor will control the position of the selvedge protector, as in Figs. 6 and B. 43315 - 9 It can readily be seen that an apparatus has been described that substantially decreases the opportunity for the rotor cutting blades to cut the selvedge of a loop pile fabric being cut by the blades since the disclosed apparatus not only protects the selvedge but also tends to eliminate creases or folds in the fabric being cut.

Claims (13)

1. Apparatus for cutting a loop pile fabric with a selvedge, comprising a rotor carrying a plurality of rows of cutters arranged, in operation to rot5 ate against the pile face of the fabric and cut the pile loops, a selvedge protector at at least one end of the rotor, the selvedge protector comprising a plurality of protecting elements extending in between the rows of cutters for holding the margin of the fabric

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the 15 protecting elements are fingers projecting between the rows of cutters.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the surfaces of the fingers engaged by the fabric margin are serrated. 20

4. Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the serrations are inclined away from the end of the end of the rotor opposite that whereat the selvedge protector is located. 5. While the edge of the pile is sensed when the width of the margin exceeds the predetermined amount. 5 towing pipe in constantly heavy seas and submerging the pipe in regions where there is significant surface wave motion. It is o£ course necessary then to assure complete water tightness of the electrical equipment associated with the winch. The operation of placing pipe on the ocean floor, using 10 this invention wil: now be described. First, one selects either the primary float arrangement of Fig. 1 or an arrangement including both primary floats and secondary floats, depending on the dimensions of the pipeline to be handled and other factors such as the water depth and the 15 ocean conditions. With the apparatus of Figs. 4-7, the launching is done with the pipe on or close to the surface as shown. The pipeline is first constructed in the assembly area, and is launched, the primary float at this time being in a horizontal position. The 20 primary float is bound to the pipeline, for example, by band 35 as shown at Fig. 4 and the winch cable is tightened to provide sufficient tension sc that the float is firmly against the upper portion of tube G, The towing of course can be done on the surface with the 25 primary float in its horizontal position, when operating in calm seas as shown at Fig.

5. Apparatus according to claim 2, 3 and 4, 25 wherein the fingers are mounted on a collar axially slidable with respect to the rotor but rotationally f&st therewith.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the servo-mechanism includes a piston and cylinder actua30 tor coupled to the collar for moving the collar axially. <£»22 3 The embodiment of Fig.

7. , because of its lower center of gravity when in the upright position as shown, has the advantage over the embodiment of Fig. 6 of a better stability of the primary float. The embodiment of Fig. 7 would be preferred when

8. In rough water, the primary float is moved to its vertical position of Fig.

9. In which the pipeline and secondary floats are each submerged so as not to be affected by wave 'S'ct ion.

10. Accompanying drawings. 10 away from the cutters, means for sensing An edge of the fabric, and a servomechanism responsive to the sensing means automatically to adjust the position of the selvedge protector in the axial direction of the rotor.

11. A method according to claim 10, wherein the edge of the pile-free margin is sensed when the width of the margin is less than a predetermined amount, - 11 - 12 the sensed'edge.

12. Apparatus for cutting a loop pile fabric substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated in Figures 1 to 5 of the

13. Apparatus for cutting a loop pile fabric substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 5 to 10.