US1873279A

US1873279A - Apparatus for manufacture of sheet material

Info

Publication number: US1873279A
Application number: US505052A
Authority: US
Inventors: Horatio W Brown
Original assignee: Bemis Industries Inc
Current assignee: Bemis Industries Inc
Priority date: 1930-12-27
Filing date: 1930-12-27
Publication date: 1932-08-23
Anticipated expiration: 1949-08-23

Description

Aug. 23, 1932. H. w. BROWN v 1,873,279

APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURE OF SHEET MATERIAL Filed Dec-. 27, 1950 Patented Aug. 23, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT, OFFICE T HORATIO 'W. BROWN, 01: CONCORD, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO BEMIS INDUSTRIES, INCORPORATED, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURE OF SHEET MATERIAL Application filed December 27, 1980. Serial No. 505,052.

This invention relates to an improved apparatus for the manufacture of sheet material which is characterized by pressrolls between which the sheet or mat passes dura ing its manufacture. More particularly this invention is applicable to a machine for manufacturing artificial lumber from strands of fibrous material, such as excelsior which are bound together in a reticulated mass by a suitable binder, such as'an oxychloride cement.

The present invention more particularly provides a drivin arrangement and means generally to facilitate the treatment of fibrous material with the binder, and to drive the press rolls while aiding in urging them toward each other and thus applying pressure to the moving mat. The copending application of Cyrus J. Taylor and Horatio W. Brown, Serial No. 345,077, filed March 7 1929, illustrates a machine of this general type wherein the excelsior mat is pressed between successive pairs of rolls and a liquid binder is fed thereto before it asses between the last pair of rolls, which a 0rd the highest degree of compression. As disclosed in that application, springs are provided to urgethelast pair of press rolls toward each other, and yet to permit slight relative move- 3" ment therebetween, in response to slight variations in the thickness of the excelsior mat passing between these rolls.

The present invention provides an improved type of drive means which is not only effective 111 causing proper rotation of the rolls, but also permits their relative movement and at the same time aids the springs or other yieldable means which tend to urge the rolls toward each other and are efiective in applying pressure to the mat. For this purpose I preferably provide a drive shaft having worms thereon engaging gears secured to'the ends of the rollers, the worms being arranged so that driving of the rolls will continue despite variation in. their center to center distance, and also being arranged so that they are eflectivein tending to urge the rolls toward each other. For this purpose the worms that drive the upper and lower rolls have op osite pitches, as for example, there may be a ri ht-hand thread upon the upper worm and a eft-hand threadupon the lower Worm. Furthermore, in order to prevent undesirable leakage of the binder about the press rolls, 1 preferably provide a novel type of press rolls which include circumferential grooves to receive any surplus binder that otherwise mi ht be squeezed out at the ends of the re is and wasted.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a view with parts omitted, showing in side elevation a paratus for use in the manufacture'of arti cial lumber; and

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of an end portion of one of the rolls shown in Fig. 1, and parts associated therewith.

The apparatus selected for illustration comprises a frame indicated generally at 10, which provides supports for a series of compacting and compressing

feed rolls

11, 12, 13, 14, 16 and 17, preferably spaced one above the other in successive pairs, substantially as shown, for treating loose material such as the mat 18 which may be composed of reticulated strands of fibrousmaterial, as excelsior. Up

. per and lower traveling belts 19 and 21 are arranged to operate'overend

rollers

22 and 23 which are so spaced and positioned with respect to the rolls 11 and 12 of the first pair, that the adjacent runs of these belts may be effective for delivering the mat into the bite of these rolls. The rolls of the succeeding pairs are likewise located to receive the mat from the preceding pair of rolls, in order progressively to compact and compress the same on its passage through the series of rolls. A traveling conveyor 24 may also be provided for carrying the mat away from the rolls 16 ll ride cement, may be discharged from this spraypipe and distributed thereby throughout the mat as the latter passes to the

rolls

13 and 14. An open trough or container 27 extends beneath the rolls for receiving any excess of the cementitious material which may fall from the mat. The binder so collected may be returned to the spray pipe and used again, thus conserving the supply of this rather expensive material.

In an apparatus of this character it is highly desirable that the reatest compression of the matshould be e ected at the final compression stage, as between rolls 16 and 17. More power, therefore, is required to operate these rolls, and greater care should also be exercised at this point to provide adequate compression and yet avoid excess pressures on the thicker portions of the mat. Better results can be obtained by supporting these rolls for relative movement toward and from each other and causing them to exert substantially the same uniform pressure on the mat or other material passing therebetween, even though this material may vary considerably in thickness or in compressibility.

For accomplishing these desirable results there is rovided a vertical shaft 28 which is rotata ly supported in upper and lower bearings 29 and 31 carried by the frame. Power is transmitted from this shaft to the rolls by means of driving gearing comprising, in the present instance, driving members 32 and 33 in the form of worms of opposite pitch, which are spaced along the shaft for engagement with driven members in the form of

worm wheels

34 and 36. The worm wheel 34' is fast on the. end of the upper roll 16,

' while the other worm wheel is fast on the lower roll of this pair. Power may be trans mitted to the shaft 28 from a horizontal shaft slidable vertical y in a slot 41 formed in a block 42 carried by any fixed portion of the apparatus. The slot 41 is so disposed as to guide these movable bearings for movement in a direction substantially parallel to the axis of the driving worm 32, so that the worm ge'arin operating this roll will remain in meshurmg movement of the-roll toward and from the other roll 17 A'spring 43 may also be disposed between the upper end of ,ciently to remove an each of the slots 41 and the bearing disposed therein for urging the bearing and the upper roll downwardly, While the lower roll of this pair may also be mounted for bodily movement in similar manner this is usually unnecessary, and therefore this roll has been shown as journaled in fixed bearings 44. It will also be evident that the preceding

rolls

11, 12, 13 and 14 may be operated in a like manner should this be desired, but it is found that satisfactory results are obtained by supporting these rolls in fixed bearings (not shown) and transmitting power to at least one roll of each pair, as to the

lower rolls

12 and 14 through a chain 46 which operates over a sprocket 47 carried by the lower roll 17 and over similar sprockets, (not shown) carried by the rolls to be driven. Although this driving and operating mechanism has been described only with reference to one end of the rolls, it will be understood that like mechanisms may be provided at each end of these rolls for operating the same, said mechanisms being operable in synchronism through common drive shafts.

In order to prevent the liquid cementitious material from spraying over the rolls and working out over the sides of the machine, side boards 48 are disposed longitudinally alon the sides of this apparatus and are provided with openings which fit about the outer ends of the rolls. I Each roll is preferably provided with one or more circumferential grooves 49 dis osed adjacent its ends, but in a position to within the side boards 48. As the liquid spreads lengthwise of the roll, it is collected and retained by the grooves 49 and thereby prevented from working out about the ends of these rolls.

In the operation of the apparatus it will be observedthat the material to be treated, such as the mat 18, is delivered by the travelling belts 19 and 21 .into the bight of rolls 11 and 12 and passes through the succeeding pairs of rolls being compressed and compacted in passing through each pair. Furthermore, after the cementitious material is applied by the spray pipe 6, the succeeding rolls function to force this binder throughout the mat and to compress the mat suifiexcess of the binder, thereby effecting a rm bond between the reticulated fibers composing the same time avoiding waste of the cemen- .titious material. o

As poweris delivered through theshaft 28, it will be observed that as the worms 32 the mat, and at and 33 are of opposite pitch, the thrust of these worms will be substantially equalized. Furthermore, as this shaft is dis osed approximately normal to the path 0 material passing between these rolls and the worms engage the worm wheels adjacent the material receiving sides of the rolls, it will be seen that the driving torque tends to move the rolls toward each other. This makes it possible to use a smaller spring 43, than could otherwise be employed, and. thus to this extent eliminates the effect of the spring Serial No. 509,081, which produces a substantially constant and unvarying pressure on these bearings. Moreover, as thicker portions of the mat are encountered, the worm wheel 34 of the upper roll may roll over the driving worm in the same manner that a pinion might move along a rack, and thus relative movement of these rolls may take place without disengaging the driving mechanism, while at the same time the driving torque is constantly effective for tending to efi'ect relative movement so as to cause the rolls to move toward each other.

As the upper and lower rolls constitute in effect, cooperating travelling surfaces it will be understood that in some modifications,

either or both of these rolls may be replaced by a travelling belt ofsome approved type, preferably having means for reinforcing the 4 material engaging run thereof so that it may present a relativelyrigid and un ielding travelling surface to the material. bviously where a travelling belt is employed it may also be in the form of a hinge conveyor section or it may be bodily movable toward and from the material to be treated. As these specific features of construction are well known in the art they are'only briefly referred to here, for it is clear that a person skilled in this art when informed by this all) specification would be able readily to adapt such constructions and arrangements for use in an apparatus embodying the present invention. 1

It should be understood that the present disclosure is for the purpose of illustration only and that this invention includes all modifications and equivalents which fall for supportmg the rolls for relatlve movewithin the scope of the appended claims.

I claim: 1. The combination. with rolls spaced for feeding material therebetween, and means for supporting the rolls for relative movement toward and from each other, of means fordrivin the rolls in opposite directions and for utilizing the driving torque for tending to effect relative movement of the rolls towardeach other. a

2. The combination with rolls spaced for feeding material therebetween. and means for supporting the rolls for relative movement toward and from each other, of means fordriving the rolls in opposite directions and for utilizing the driving torque for tending to effect relative movement of the rolls toward each other, and other means tending I thereby.

to efiect relative movement of the rolls toward each other.

3. The combination of a pair of rolls arranged for feeding material therebetween and driving means therefor, said driving means comprising a shaft normal to the path of the driving the rolls in opposite directions and for utilizing the driving torque for tending to effect relative movement of the rolls to- I ward each other, means providing for relative movement of the rolls away from each other in response to pressure of material therebetween while maintaining the driving means effective, and .other means tending to effect relativ movement of the rolls toward each other. 1

5. The combination with a feed roll, and means for supporting the roll for movement toward and from the path of'material' to be fed, of means for driving the roll and for utilizing the driving torque for tending to move the roll toward the material being fed 6. The combination with rolls spaced for feeding material therebetween, and means for supporting the rolls for relative movea ment toward and from each other, of driving gearin comprisin a driven member fast on eac roll, and driving members engageable withthe driven members at points ad acent the material receiving sides of the rolls, whereby the driving torque may be efiective for tending to cause relative movement of the rolls toward each other.

7. The combination with rolls spaced for feeding material 'therebetween, and means for supporting the rolls for relative move-' ment toward and from each other, of driving gearing comprising a driven member fast on each roll, drivin members engageable with the driven m m. .e points a j cent the material receiving sides of the rolls so that the driving torque may be effective for tending to cause relative movement of the rolls toward each other, and means for maintainin the driving and driven members in positive driving engagement during relative movement of the rolls toward an from each other.

, receiving side of this roll so that the driving torque may be utilized for urging the roll toward the material.

10. The combination of means providing a relativel rigid travellin surface, a feed roll space from this travdlling surface for cooperating therewith to feed material, movable bearings for supporting the feed roll, driving gearing for operatin the feed roll comprlsing a driven member ast on the feed roll, a driving member engaging the driven member at a point adjacent the material receiving side of the roll so that the driving torque may be utilized for-urging the roll toward the travellingsurface, and means for guidin the movable bearings for movement through a predetermined path, all points of which are substantially e uidistant from the axis of the driving mem er of the driving gearing whereby the driving and driven members ma remain in driving engagement during bodi y movement of the feed roll toward and from the traveling surface.

11. The combination of rolls spaced for feeding material therebetween, a worm wheel fast on each roll, a shaft disposed approximately normal to the path of material passing between the rolls and adjacent the material receiving sides of the rolls, worms of opposite pitch fast on the shaft and spaced therealong to mesh with the worm wheels for driving the latter so that the thrust of the worms will be substantially equalized and the driving torque may be utilized for ur 'ng the rolls toward each other, bearings br supporting the rolls, the bearings for at least one of the rolls being movable, and means for guiding the movable bearin s for movement in a direction substantia ly parallel to the axis of the shaft for maintaining the gearing in mesh during bodily movement of this roll. 7

12. The comb'nation of olls spaced for feeding material therebetween, a worm wheel fast on each roll, a shaft disposed approximately normal to the path of material passing between the rolls and adjacent the matetherealong vent the latter from wor rial receiving sides of the rolls, worms of op posite pitch fast on the shaft and spaced to mesh with the worm wheels for driving the latter so that the thrust of the' worms will be substantially equalized and the driving torque ma be utilized for urging the rolls towar each other, bearings for supporting the rolls, the bearings for at least one of the rolls being movable, means for guiding the movable bear ings for movement in a direction substantially parallel to the axis of the shaft for maintaining the gearing in mesh during movement of this roll, and resilient means for urging the movable bearings toward the path of material passing between the rolls. 13. Means for compacting and bonding loose material comprising rolls spaced for. feeding material therebetween, means for applying a liquid binder to the material as it passes to these rolls, side boards having openings fitting the ends of the rolls, andmeans carried by the'rolls at points within and adjacent the side boards for retaining the liquid binder to prevent the latter from working throu h the openings in the side boards.

14. Means for compacting and bonding loose material comprising rolls spaced for feeding material therebetween, means for applying a liquid binder'to the material as it passes to these rolls, side boards having openings fitting the ends of the rolls, the

rolls having one or more circumferential grooves disposed within and adj acent the side boards for collecting the liqplid binder to preng through the openinlgs in the side boards. 1

15. cans for compacting and bonding loose material comprising rolls spaced for feeding material therebetween, means for applying a liquid binder to the material as it passes tov the rolls, and means carried by the rolls adjacent the ends thereof for collecting the liquid binder to prevent the latter from spreading over the ends of the rolls.

16. Means for compacting and bonding loose material comprising rolls spaced'for feeding material therebetween, means for supporting the rolls for relative bodily movement toward and from eachother, means for applying a liquid binder ,to the material as it passes to the rolls, means for driving the rolls and for utilizing the driving torque for urging the rolls toward each other and squeezing excess binder out, of the material,

and means carried by each roll adjacent the ends thereof for collecting the liquid binder to prevent the latter from spreading over the outer ends of the rolls.

17. Means for compacting and bonding loose material comprising rolls spaced for feeding material therebetween, means for supporting the rolls for relative bodily movement toward and from each other, means for driving the rollsand for utilizing the driving torque for urging the rolls toward each other, means for applying a liquid binder to the material as it passes to the rolls, and side boards having openings fitting over the ends 5 of the rolls, each roll having one or more oincumferential grooves disposed adjacent the ends thereof and, Within the side boards for collecting the liquid binder to prevent the latter from passing through the openings in 10 the side boards.

Signed by me' at Boston, Massaehusetts, this 23rd day of December, 1930. 'HORATIO W. BROWN.