IES68339B2 - Manufacture of trailer curtains - Google Patents

Abstract

A material web (18) is drawn from one of a number of reels (10) of material mounted on a support rack (11). A number of rectangular panels of a desired size are cut from the web (18) and delivered to an assembly station. A plurality of reinforcing strips are formed by drawing the web (18) through a cutter (40) on the rack (11). The reinforcing strips are glued spaced-apart onto an inner face of each panel at the assembly station. Side edges of each panel are folded inwardly and glued to the inner face of the panel to form a peripheral hem. Side panels are attached at opposite sides of the top panel and a rear end panel is attached at the end of a top panel. Reinforcing strips are attached across the joints formed between the panels .

Description

Manufacture of trailer curtains This invention relates to a process and apparatus for the manufacture of trailer curtains.

The invention is particularly concerned with the manufacture of trailer curtains wherein different trailer curtains are produced in relatively small batches or individually from different material.

It is an object of the invention to provide a process and apparatus which enables trailer curtains to be produced in an efficient and trouble-free manner and to minimise lost production time due to change-over and handling of different materials used to manufacture the curtains.

According to the invention there is provided a process for the manufacture of trailer curtains, comprising the steps: mounting a plurality of reels of material on a reel support rack, each reel being rotatably mounted on the reel support rack, drawing a web of material from a selected reel on the reel support rack onto a cutting table extending outwardly at one end of the reel support rack, cutting a number of panels of desired sizes from the web the panels for forming a top panel, a pair of side panels and a rear end panel and cutting a plurality of reinforcing strips from the web, delivering the panels and the reinforcing strips to an assembly station, sefl339 J - 2 spreading each panel flat on a support bed with an inner face of the panel uppermost, marking hems on the inner face of the panel and marking positions for reinforcement strips on the inner face of the panel, gluing the reinforcement strips spaced-apart a preset distance on the inner face of the panel, each reinforcement strip extending between a bottom edge and a top edge of the panel, turning in a hem at a peripheral edge of the panel and gluing the hem to the inner face of the panel, attaching the side panels at opposite sides of the top panel and the rear panel at an end top panel, and attaching reinforcing strips across the joints formed between the panels.

In one embodiment of the invention the process includes the step of forming an access opening between a pair of adjacent side or end panels, the access opening being formed by a bifurcated connector piece mounted on a first panel forming a mouth for engagement with a free end of a second panel, the bifurcated connector piece having an inner and an outer flap joined at one end which is connected to the first panel, a row of rings mounted on the inner flap engagable with complimentary eyelets on the outer flap and with associated eyelets at a free end of the second panel, with a locking tape for threading through the rings to fasten the panels together, the connector being formed by cutting a panel of material of a desired size from a web, gluing a reinforcing tape extending between opposite ends of the panel, delivering a panel to a ring mounting station, mounting a row of spaced-apart rings on a bed at the ring mounting station, each ring comprising a base flange with through holes at each end and a ring extending outwardly of the base flange, each ring being mounted in a complimentary stepped socket in the bed with the ring facing downwardly, aligning the panel with an edge guide on the bed, positioning the panel with the reinforcing tape extending over the rings, locating a drill guide over the panel, the drill guide having drill holes in alignment with the ring flange holes, drilling through the panel at each drill hole, retracting the drill guide, positioning a ring backing plate corresponding to the ring flange at each pair of holes in the panel, mounting a fastener through the backing plate, panel and ring flange for securing each ring to the panel, positioning the panel on the bed in alignment with an eyelet marking guide having a row of guide holes corresponding to the centre of each eyelet, drilling a hole through the panel for marking the centre of each eyelet, delivering the panel to an eyelet mounting station, aligning each centre mark with an eyelet former at the eyelet mounting station and forming an eyelet at each centre mark along the panel, folding the panel to engage each eyelet over an associated ring on the panel, threading a tape through the rings, and securing the tape at a top edge of the panel, welding a seam along a folded edge of the panel, and attaching the seam to a free side edge of the first panel.

In another embodiment of the invention the process includes mounting each reel on the reel support rack by means of a shaft passing axially through the reel and extending outwardly at each end of the reel, each outer end of the reel being rotatably supported on the rack on a pair of spaced-apart rotatable bearings on the rack.

In a further embodiment the process includes forming the · reinforcing strips by pulling the web from a reel, feeding the web to a cutter at an outlet end of the reel support «» rack, drawing the web over a plurality of cutting blades spaced-apart corresponding to a desired width of the reinforcing strips for dividing the web to a plurality of reinforcing strips of a desired width.

In another aspect the invention provides apparatus for carrying out the process substantially as herein described.

The invention will be more clearly understood by the following description of some embodiments thereof, given by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a reel support rack used in the process; Fig. 2 is a perspective of an assembly station used in the process; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a trailer curtain 20 formed according to the process; Figs. 4 - 6 are detail perspective views showing a connector piece forming portion of the curtain; Figs. 7-9 are plan views illustrating a number of * steps taken in forming the connector piece; Fig. 10 is a perspective view of a ring mounting station used in the process; Fig. 11 is a plan view of the ring mounting station; Figs. 12 - 14 are detail sectional views showing a ring holder portion of the mounting station; Fig. 15 is a plan view of the ring mounting station shown in another position of use; Figs. 16 - 18 are detail perspective views of the ring holder portion; Fig. 19 is a plan view of the ring mounting station; Fig. 20 is a detail side sectional view of the ring mounting station; Fig. 21 is a plan view of the ring mounting station; Fig. 22 is a detail side sectional view of the ring mounting station, shown in use; Fig. 23 is a perspective view of an eyelet former used in the process; and Fig. 24 is a detail perspective view of portion of the curtain showing attachment of the connector piece to the curtain.

Referring to the drawings a process and apparatus for the manufacture of trailer curtains according to the invention will be described.

A plurality of reels 10 of plastics web material are mounted on a reel support rack 11. The reel support rack 11 has a frame 12 with a plurality of spaced-apart groundengaging upright support struts 14 at each side of the frame 12 on which are mounted a number of vertically spaced-apart horizontal reel bearing beams 15. A shaft 16 passes axially through each reel 10 extending outwardly at each end of the reel 10. Each outer end of the shaft 16 is rotatably supported on a pair of spaced-apart rotatable bearings 17 which are mounted on the beams 15. In this way, conveniently a number of different reels 10 of material of different colours and/or thicknesses or of different types of plastics material may be mounted on the rack 11 ready for use.

To form a. trailer curtain a web 18 of material is drawn from a selected reel 10 on the reel support rack 11 onto a cutting table 19 which extends horizontally outwardly at an outlet end of the reel support rack 11.

A number of rectangular panels 20 of desired sizes are cut from the web 18 and delivered to an assembly station 30 (Fig. 2). A plurality of elongate reinforcing strips 22 are also cut from the web 18 by pulling the web 18 from a reel 10 and feeding the web 18 through a cutter 40 mounted at an outlet end of the rack 11.

The cutter 40 has a cutter bar 41 carrying a plurality of spaced-apart cutting blades 42. The cutter bar 41 is rotatably mounted between mounting brackets 43 on the rack 11. A number of guide, bars 44 are also mounted between the brackets 43 for feeding the web 18 in a controlled manner past the cutting blades 42. A handle 45 at an end of the cutter bar 41 enables the cutter bar 41 to be rotated on the brackets 43 between a cutting position as shown in Fig. 1 and a disengaged position. It will be noted that when in the cutting position as illustrated in Fig. 1 the handle 45 biases the cutting blades 42 downwardly against a web 18 drawn around the guide bars 44 for cutting the web into a plurality of elongate reinforcing strips as the web is pulled off the reel 10.

In this way a plurality of reinforcing strips can be readily easily and quickly produced in an accurate fashion. The spacing between adjacent’ cutting blades 42 on the cutter bar 41 corresponds to the desired width of reinforcing strip required. The reinforcing strips are delivered to the assembly station 30.

At the assembly station 30 each panel 20 Is spread flat on a support bed or table 31 with an inner face 21 of the panel 20 uppermost. Markings for hems and for placement of the reinforcement strips 22 are marked on the inner face 21 of the panel 20. Then the reinforcement strips 22 are glued spaced-apart at preset distances on the inner face 21 of the panel 20. Each reinforcing strip 22 is glued to the panel 20 by means of a welding machine 38 which heat welds the reinforcing strip 22 to the inner face 21 of the panel 20. Each reinforcement strip 22 extends between a bottom edge and a top edge of the panel 20.

A hem is turned in at a top edge 25 and at a bottom edge 26 of the panel 20 and glued to the inner face 21 of the panel 20 with the welding machine 38.

In the above described manner a top panel, a pair of side panels and a rear end panel are formed. Then the side panels are attached at opposite sides of the top panel and the rear end panel at an end of the top panel. Reinforcing strips are attached across the joints formed between the panels. In this fashion a trailer curtain 40 (Fig. 3) is formed having a top panel 41 side panels 42, 43 and a rear panel (not shown). In the illustration in Fig. 3 a pair of side panels 42, 43 are shown, however, in many cases a single side panel will be provided. The advantage of the dual side panels 42,43 is that it provides a centre opening 44 to provide easier access to a trailer on which the curtain 40 is mounted. The opening · is formed by a bifurcated connector piece 45 which is shown in more detail in Figs. 4 to 6. The connector piece «* has an inner flap 46 and an outer flap 47 joined at one end 48 which is connected to the front side panel 43. The connector piece 45 defines a rearwardly opening mouth 49 for engagement with a free end 50 at a front edge of the rear side panel 42. A row of vertically spaced-apart rings 51 is mounted on the inner flap 46, the rings 51 being engagable with complimentary eyelets 52 on the outer flap 47 and with associated eyelets 53 at the free end 50 of the rear side panel 42. As can be seen in the drawings each eyelet 53 fits over a complimentary ring 51 and then the outer flap 47 is folded over the rings which protrude through the eyelets 52. A locking tape 55 attached at an upper end of the connector piece 45 can be threaded the rings 51 to fasten the side panels 42,43 together. It will be noted that the rearwardly facing flaps 46,47 of the connector piece 45 minimise wind resistance.

To form each connector piece 45 a rectangular panel (Fig. 7) of desired size is cut from a web. A reinforcing tape 61 is glued onto an inner face of the panel 60 using the welding machine 38 described previously, the reinforcing tape 61 extending between a top and bottom end of the panel 60. Side edges of the panel 60 can be folded over as at 62, 63 and glued with the welding machine 38 to form a hem.

The panel 60 is then delivered to a ring mounting station * 65 (Fig. 10). The ring mounting station 65 has a bed 66.

A row of stepped sockets 67 are provided adjacent a rear * end of the bed 66. A ring 51 is mounted in an inverted position in each socket 67. As can be seen in Figs. 12 to each socket 67 is stepped and each ring 51 comprises a base flange 68 with through holes 69 at each end and a ring 70 extending outwardly of the base flange 68. In the inverted position placed within a socket 67 an underside of the base flange 68 is substantially flush with an upper surface of the bed 66 as shown in Figs. 13 and 14.

The panel 60 is mounted on the bed 66 and aligned on the bed 66 by means of edge guides 72, 73 positioning the panel 60 with the reinforcing tape 61 extending over the rings 51. A drill guide plate 75 which is hinged at a rear of the bed 66 is pivoted as shown by arrow A of Fig. to sit on top of the panel 60 as shown in Fig. 15. The plate 75 incorporates a drill guide 76 which has pairs of drill guide holes 77 in alignment with the ring flange holes 69. As shown in Fig. 16 a drill 80 is guided down through the holes 77 to drill through the panel 60 to provide through holes in the panel 60 in alignment with the ring holes 69. The plate 75 is then retracted. A ring backing plate 82 (Fig. 17) corresponding to the ring flange 68 is then placed over set of holes in the panel 60. Rivets are then inserted through the holes in the backing plate 82, the corresponding holes in the panel 60 and holes in the ring flange 68 for securing each ring 51 to the panel 60.

Next the panel 60 is aligned on the bed 66 with an eyelet marking guide 85 which is hingedly mounted at a front end of the bed 66. The guide 85 has a number of spaced-apart guide holes corresponding to the centre of each eyelet. A drill 86 is passed through each hole to drill a marking hole in the panel 60.

The panel 60 is then delivered to an eyelet mounting station 90. Each eyelet centre mark hole 91 in the panel is aligned in turn with an eyelet former 92 which forms an eyelet 52 at each marking hole 91. When a row of eyelets 52 have been formed corresponding to the rings 51 the panel 60 is folded over as shown in Fig. 24 to engage « each eyelet 52 over its associated ring 51. Then the tape 55 (Fig. 6) is threaded through the rings 51 and secured * at a top edge of the panel 60. A seam is welded along the inner folded edge 48 of the panel 60 and the seam is attached to the side edge of the front side panel 43.

It will be noted from Fig. 3 that these connector pieces 45 may be provided at a front end of the top panel 41 and the side panels 43 forming effectively an inverted Ushaped front panel for connection of a front end of the curtain 40 to a trailer 100.

It will be appreciated that the invention provides a process and apparatus for the efficient production of trailer curtains. The rack 11 for the reels 10 of material greatly facilitates production runs which comprise large numbers of individual trailer curtains of different material which is taken from different reels 10.

Any required material can be readily easily drawn off a selected reel for use. Reel handling and change-over between different jobs can be carried out in an efficient manner minimising time delays at change-over.

Further, relatively large numbers of reinforcing strips can be produced quickly and accurately by the manner in which the web is drawn through the cutter.

In addition the connector pieces can be efficiently and accurately produced with the aid of the ring mounting station in the manner described. Accurate alignment of rings and eyelets is achieved. * The invention is not limited to the embodiments hereinbefore described which may be varied in both construction and detail.

Claims (5)

1. A process for the manufacture of trailer curtains, comprising the steps: mounting a plurality of reels of material on 5 a reel support rack, each reel being rotatably mounted on the reel support rack, drawing a web of material from a selected reel on the reel support rack onto a cutting table extending outwardly at one end of the 10 reel support rack, cutting a number of panels of desired sizes from the web the panels for forming a top panel, a pair of side panels and a rear end panel and cutting a plurality of reinforcing 15 strips from the web, delivering the panels and the reinforcing strips to an assembly station, spreading each panel flat on a support bed with an inner face of the panel uppermost, 20 marking hems on the inner face of the panel and marking positions for reinforcement strips on the inner face of the panel, gluing the reinforcement strips spaced-apart a preset distance on the inner face of the 25 panel, each reinforcement strip extending between a bottom edge and a top edge of the panel, turning in a hem at a peripheral edge of the panel and gluing the hem to the inner face of the panel, t attaching the side panels at opposite sides of the top panel and the rear panel at an end top panel, and attaching reinforcing strips across the joints formed between the panels.

2. A process as claimed in claim 1 which includes the step of forming an access opening between a pair of adjacent side or end panels, the access opening being formed by a bifurcated connector piece mounted on a first panel forming a mouth for engagement with a free end of a second panel, the bifurcated connector piece having an inner and an outer flap joined at one end which is connected to the first panel, a row of rings mounted on the inner flap engagable with complimentary eyelets on the outer flap and with associated eyelets at a free end of the second panel, with a locking tape for threading through the rings to fasten the panels together, the connector being formed by cutting a panel of material of a desired size from a web, gluing a reinforcing tape extending between opposite ends of the panel, delivering a panel to a ring mounting station, mounting a row of spacedapart rings on a bed at the ring mounting station, * each ring comprising a base flange with through holes at each end and a ring extending outwardly * of the base flange, each ring being mounted in a complimentary stepped socket in the bed with the ring facing downwardly, aligning the panel with an edge guide on the bed, positioning the panel with 25

3. the reinforcing tape extending over the rings, locating a drill guide over the panel, the drill guide having drill holes in alignment with the ring flange holes, drilling through the panel at each drill hole, retracting the drill guide, positioning a ring backing plate corresponding to the ring flange at each pair of holes in the panel, mounting a fastener through the backing plate, panel and ring flange for securing each ring to the panel, positioning the panel on the bed in alignment with an eyelet marking guide having a row of guide holes corresponding to the centre of each eyelet, drilling a hole through the panel for marking the centre of each eyelet, delivering the panel to an eyelet mounting station, aligning each centre mark with an eyelet former at the eyelet mounting station and forming an eyelet at each centre mark along the panel, folding the panel to engage each eyelet over an associated ring on the panel, threading a tape through the rings, and securing the tape at a top edge of the panel, welding a seam along a folded edge of the panel, and attaching the seam to a free side edge of the first panel. A process as claimed in claim 1 or 2 which includes mounting each reel on the reel support rack by means of a shaft passing axially through the reel and extending outwardly at each end of the reel, each outer end of the reel being rotatably supported on the rack on a pair of spaced-apart rotatable bearings on the rack. A process for the manufacture of trailer curtains substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

4.

5. A trailer curtain whenever manufactured according to the process as claimed in any preceding claim.