US2442946A

US2442946A - Apparatus for producing sheet material

Info

Publication number: US2442946A
Application number: US548615A
Authority: US
Inventors: Richard E Barton
Original assignee: ROPE SOLES Inc
Current assignee: ROPE SOLES Inc; ROPE-SOLES Inc
Priority date: 1944-08-08
Filing date: 1944-08-08
Publication date: 1948-06-08
Anticipated expiration: 1965-06-08
Also published as: FR916291A

Description

June 8, 1948. R. E. BARTON 2,442,945

APPARATUS FOR PROD CING SHEET MATERIAL Filed Aug. 8, 1944 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 REDUCTION QEAR eox INVENTOR. RmHA zo 588K711 BY (3mm $144M A TTORN E Y.

June 8, 1948. R. E. BARTON 2,442,946

APPARATUS FOR I RODUCING' SHEET MATERIAL Filed Aug. 8, 1944 4 Sheets-Sheerl 2 80 INVENTOR.

i- 9 1E BY prcflapp 64??"011/ @wwa A-TTORN E Y..

June 8, 1948.'

R. E. BARTON APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING SHEET MATERIAL 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Aug. 8, 1944 INVENT OR. ARTOA/ 42.44414;

A TTORN E Y.

June s, 1948. R. E. BARTON 2,442,946

APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING SHEET MATERIAL Filed Au 8, 1944 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 l l a 30 IO 7 f 1 l- 34 z j /a INVENTORQ film mm 64.971941 BY A TTORN E Y.

Patented June 8, 1948 APPARATUS FOR; PRODUCING. SHEET MATERIAL Richard 'E. Barton;-Maplewood,-N. J., assignor to Rope-Soles; Inc. New iyork, N Y.', a corporatiOnofDeIaWaIe-r Application August. 8, 1944, Serial No. 548,615

6 -Claims-. (Cl. '242-'-7-)" This invention relates to amachine or appae ratus for use in producing sheet material-formed of strips disposed in abutting side. by side' relation and adhesively secured to eachother in said relation to formthe sheet.

As the sheet material of the present invention is intended primarily for use in the manufacture of outsoles forshoes, said outsoles, being of--thetype known as rope soles, the strips which-aresecured to eachother. in side: by side relation-in the sheet are formed of braidedrope or similar material. Rope soles and the sheet material for producing the same are shown and describedin the United States patent to Wilpan No. 2,315,759,- issued April 6, 1943. The present invention has for its primary objects the provision of-an eificient and commercially practical method of producing the sheet material of the construction disclosed in said patent, that is sheet-material irom'which rope soles can be produced --bydie-stamping or otherwise cutting the rope soles therefrom.=

The above and other objects, features, and advantages of the inventionwill-be fully understood from the following description considered incomnection with the accompanying illustrative draw ings.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side view of a machine or apparatus embodying the present invention and is also illus-- trative of a step in the method ofthe present invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view ofsheet material produced inaccordance with the present invention;

Fig. 3 is a-sectional view on the line 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a sectional View on the-line 4--4*0f Fig. 3;

Fig.5 is asectional view on'the line 5-5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view onthe 'line 6B'of Fig. 3;

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the parts illustrated-in i 5;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary perspective View of part of the apparatus;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view on the :line 9=-9 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 10 is a plan sectional View on the line Ill- IB of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a side View of part of the apparatusand illustrates the feed of the strip'materiali Fig. 12 is a top plan view of strip-winding apparatus,- showing a modification; with-portions broken away for the purposes of illustration;-

Fig. 13 is a detail view, on ,a larger scale',,of a

spring-operated roller. in the, modification, illus: trated in Fig. 12.

In'accordance with-the method of the present invention, the sheet material.S,"which,is similar, to the sheet materialdescrib'ed and illustrated in,

the above mentioned patent and comprises a pl.u.

ralityof latex coated or "impregnated strips It i of braided rope or similar material, is produced by-wi-nding a length-ofysaid material; slitting or cutting through-said'winding along one, or more lines,-- so that the winding can befia-ttened or formed into a sheet from-which the, outsole blanks B can be die-stamped orcutas-indicated indotted linesin Fig. 2. The windingis indicated-at W in-Flg. l and, asherei-nbefore more particularly;

described; is preferably formed onthe hollowcylindrical drum I 2 of the apparatus embodying the-present invention. As illustrated inFigsd and3 said druml-Z isprov-ided with-one or moreslots,- here shown as two diametrica-l opposed slots I4,- extending longitudinally of the-drum -so thatthe winding W canbe-slitaccordingly to facilitate the removal of the -winding-from;the drum and to allow the-winding to -be flattened intoone'or more sheets S5 Thus, inaccordance-withthe method-of thepresent invention; alengthof the strip material is first coated: orimpregnated'with latex orany- "other suitable adhesive- (latex beingpreferred) thenthe strip "material is formedinto a winding in-which-the adjacent-turns are adhesivelysecured inface to race relation: then said winding is cut and formed into one or more sheets in-which-- the strips--are disposed-inside -by side relation;

Duri-ngthe winding of the strip-material. pressure is applied tothe material as it is wound around the drum so that the successive turns of the ma- A terial-in-the winding-are pressedagainst each other in face to face abutting relation-and are adhered toeaoh othE-rin said relation by the-latex or other adhesive with -which'the strip materialiscoated or impregnated: Thestrip material is wound as hereinafter more particularly described-sothat the-thickness of the-sheet-is' determined by the width -of the strip material.

As illustrated in Fig. 3, the braided rope IBA (orother strip material) corresponding-"to the strips -l0-of sheet-'S -(Fig.--2) is supplied tothe drum 1 2 tangentially thereof the leading end of said length ofrope beingsecuredin any-suitable Way to the-drum'at the-lower end thereof, as bytying or otherwise fasteningsaidleading end-of I the rope to=a pinor lug46-fixed to the drum=near the'loWer-endthereof. The =rope-l0A is coated or impregnated with a suitable adhesive preferably latex, and while the rope is being wound around the drum in helical formation thereon, pressure is applied to the rope as it is laid in position around the drum, as the drum rotates, whereby the successive turns of the rope winding are adhesively secured to each otherin abutting face to face relation. It will be understood that the latex or other adhesive coated or impregnated rope IDA is wound on the drum while the latex or adhesive is in non-dried, that is, in moist or tacky condition, and that the winding formed from said rope is removed from the drum before the adhesive sets sufficiently to cause the winding to adhere to the drum. Ifdesired, the surface of the drum can be coated with a substance, for example, chalk, to prevent the strip material from adhering to the drum.

The rotary drum I2, which is hollow as illustrated, can be of any suitable construction and as here shown is mounted in vertical position for rotation on a base ID 'of any suitable construction. The bottom 20 of the drum is provided with a central bearing-trunnion 22 which is journalled for rotation in the bearing 24 fixed to base I8. The drum is further supported for rotation on base I8 by a plurality of circumferentially spaced casters or wheels 26 mounted on base I8 and engaged by a flat circular plate 28 fixed to the bottom 20 of the drum. Said bottom 20 of the drum is provided with a gear 30 which meshes with and is driven by a gear 32 rotated in any suitable way as by an electric motor M through reduction gearing 34.

Provision is made for guiding the length of rope or other narrow strip material IDA to the drum, for laying said material in successive turns around said drum along the length thereof, while the drum rotates, and for pressing said turns.

against each other in the direction of the length of the drum. The means provided for these purposes comprises a collar member 36 which surrounds the drum and which is movable longitudinally of said drum by the material as the latter is wound around the drum in successive turns longitudinally of the drum as just stated. Said collar member 36 is held against turning in the direction of winding rotation of the drum, that is in the direction of arrow A, by a pin '38 which engages a rod 40 which is fixed to base I8 in upstanding relation thereto. It will be understood that as collar 36 is moved longitudinally of drum I2, pin 38 slidably engages rod 40 and moves longitudinally thereof. Collar member 36 is preferably formed of channel iron stock and, as shown, the inner peripheral edges of the

opposed side walls

42 and 44 thereof lie close to the outer peripheral surface of the drum with a slight clearance. A flanged roller 46 is mounted for rotation in collar member 36 at the point where the strip materia1 IDA is supplied to the drum. Said roller 46 is mounted for rotation on the shank 48 of a shouldered bolt which is fastened by a nut 56 to the end wall 52 of collar member 36. Preferably as here shown, an anti-friction member such as a roller 54 is provided near the flanged roller 46.

As illustrated in Fig. 11, the strip material passes over said anti-friction roller 54, into the opening 56 in the side wall 42 and under the flanged roller 46 through the opening 51 in the other side wall 44 of collar member 36. A plurality of circumferentially spaced rollers 58 are carried by collar member 36 and are mounted for rotation therein on the shanks 60 of companion shoulder bolts which are secured to the end wall 52 of the collar member by nuts 62. As shown,

rollers

46 and 58 project through openings in side wall 44 of the collar member and engage the strip material IDA for applying pressure thereto, in a direction extending longitudinally of the drum for pressing the successive turns of the strip material against each other in abutting face to face relation while the material is being wound on the drum. The pressur thus applied to the strip material by the

rollers

46 and 58 is derived from the weight of collar member 36 and said rollers which are mounted thereon. It will be understood, however, that if desired additional pressure can be obtained by means of weights fixed toor suspended from collar member 36 at circumferentially spaced points, but ordinarily sufficient pressure is provide by the weight of collar member 36 the rollers mounted thereon.

As shown, the apparatus is also provided with means for applying pressure to the strip material IDA edgewise thereof and radially inwardly toward the drum during the winding of said strip material. For this purpose there are provided the rollers 64 which are disposed at diametrically opposite points of collar member 36 and correspondingly diametrically opposite points of drum I2. Rollers .64 are mounted in position by means of brackets 66 which are fixed to the end wall 52 of the collar member (Fig. 6). Each roller 62 is mounted for rotation on the shank 68 of a shouldered bolt which is secured to the companion bracket 66 by a nut ID. Bracket 66 is provided with a slot I2 in which the narrower part I4 of the bolt shank is adjustable whereby to provide for the adjustment of roller 64 in relation to the confronting edge of the strip material IDA. It will be understood that each roller 64 is positioned in such spaced relation to the outer peripheral surface of the drum I2 as to exert pressure on the edge of the strip material while the drum rotates for forming the winding thereon. It will be noted that the strip material IDA of the winding W is of greater width than thickness and that said strip material is disposed with the narrower dimension or edge thereof against the drum, the wider dimension or face of the strip material lying in a plane transverse to the drum axis. Accordingly, after the winding is cut and removed from the drum and flattened into the sheet S, the strips ID formed from the strip material IDA are disposed in the sheet in such relation that the thickness of the sheet corresponds to the wider dimension or face of the strip material. It will be understood, however, that the strip material may be differently dimensioned as to its width and thickness as well as in respect to its structure and cross sectional shape or peripheral contour. Although the drum may be of any suitable diameter and of any suitable length, it may be stated by way of illustration, but without limitation, that in apparatus constructed and operated in accordance with the present invention and in the practice thereof, drums 5 ft. in diameter and 5% ft. long have been used with great practical advantage. When the windings formed on such drums are removed therefrom, following the slitting of the winding at the slots I4, that is along lines extending parallel to the axis of the drum and transversely of the abutting face of the turns of the winding, two sheets or mats of material of the construction illustrated in Fig. 2 are produced, each sheet having a length of about 8 ft. measured in the direction of the length of the strips ID and a 2,442ge4e widthlcorresponding to the extent of the winding longitudinally of the drum; the maximum width of saidsheet on a drum of'theabove mentioned length about 5- ft. being of course'equal to-about the length of the drum when as in actual practice, the winding extends for about the full length of the drum. Accordingly, the sheet material is produced in the form of comparative large mats or sheets from which a large number of rope sole blanks can b formed by die stamping or cutting thesame as described above. It will be observed that as the drum is of large diameter in relation to the thickness of the strip material, the pitch of the helical winding is low whereby the sheet or sheets produced from the winding are substantially of rectangular outline.

Instead of winding the strip material MA helically about a drum with the successive turns of the winding disposed longitudinally of the drum, which is the preferred mode of winding in practicing this invention, the strip material IQA can be wound spirally to form a winding WI as illustrated in Fig. 12. Thus as here shown, the strip material IBA is wound around a circular form or short drum [2A on a flat supporting plate 14. After the winding W I is formed it is slit along the radially extending lines as indicated at 78 and after the slit winding is removed from the drum I2A, said winding is formed into a flat mat or sheet by spreading the cut ends of the slit winding away from each other until the strips are disposed in rectilinear relation thus forming a sheet similar to the sheet S illustrated in Fig. 2. It will be noted that in this case the wider dimension of the face or faces of the strips extend axially of the drum instead of at right angles to the drum as in the case of the winding formed on the drum It]. A series of circumferentially spaced spring-pressed rollers 76 can be provided in forming the winding W! for pressing the turns of the winding against each other while the winding is being formed. Further it will be understood that the drum !2A, which is preferably rotatable is of a diameter sufiiciently large to provide the winding W! with a large radius of curvature so that after the winding is slit it can be bent into rectilinear form without distortion or relative displacement of the strips in the resulting sheet. Drum I2A can be rotated by an electric motor or in any suitable way, and if desired a plurality of said drums can be arranged in tandem or end to end, together with companion rollers 75, so that a plurality of windings WI can be produced simultaneously. As illustrated in Figs. 12 and 13, plate 14 is provided with a plurality of longitudinal slots 80 in which the pin bearings 32 on which rollers 1E5 are rotatable are movable by the companion tension springs 84 as the windin expands. One end of each spring 84 is fixed to a companion pin 82 and the opposite end of the spring is fixed to plate id at the adjacent end of the companion slot 80.

It will be understood that various changes may be made in the apparatus and method without departing from the underlying idea of the invention within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. Apparatus of the character described comprising means for forming a winding from a length of strip material with the turns of the winding in abutting relation, said means comprising a vertically positioned drum mounted for rotation about its vertical axis, and pressure-applying means surrounding said drum and positione'd" horizontally to press thesuccessive turns of the winding'against each other in said relation, said pressureapplyingmeans being- 'movable axially of the drum, against the action of gravity, by the engagement therewith of the strip material as the latter is being wound around the drum.

2. Apparatus of the character described comprising a rotary winding-drum for winding a strip of material into a winding having its turns disposed in side by side relation longitudinally of the drum, and means for pressing the successive turns 'of the winding againstyeach other in the direction of the length of the drum, said pressureapplying means comprising a member surrounding said drum and movable longitudinally thereof and a plurality of rollers carried by said member and engageable with portions of the strip in pressure-applying relation thereto.

3. Apparatus of the character described comprising a rotary winding-drum for winding a strip of material into a winding having its turns disposed in side by side relation longitudinally of the drum, and means for pressing the successive turns of the winding against each other in the direction 0f the length of the drum, said pressure-applying means comprising a member surrounding said drum and movable longitudinally thereof and a plurality of rollers carried by said member and engageable with portions of the strip in pressure-applying relation thereto, and means for preventing turning movement of said longitudinally movable member in the direction of strip-winding rotation of said drum.

4. Apparatus of the character described comprising a rotary winding-drum, a collar surrounding said drum and mounted for movement longitudinally of the drum while held against turning movement in the direction of wind of the drum, means carried by said collar and movable therewith for guiding a length of narrow strip material to said drum and for laying said material in suc cessive turns around said drum along the length thereof, and means carried by said collar for pressing said turns against each other in the direction of the length of the drum.

5. Apparatus of the character described comprising a rotary winding-drum, a collar surrounding said drum and mounted for movement longitudinally of the drum while held against turning movement in the direction of wind of the drum, means carried by said collar and movable therewith for guiding a length of narrow strip material to said drum and for laying said material in successive turns around said drum along the length thereof, and roller means carried by said collar for applying pressure to the material as it is wound on the drum, said roller means acting on said material in the direction of the length of the drum for pressing the turns against each other.

6. Apparatus of the character described comprising a rotary drum disposed in vertical position and rotatable about a vertical axis, means movable longitudinally of said drum for guiding a length of narrow strip material to said drum and for laying said material in successive turns around said drum along the length thereof, means surrounding said drum and acting longitudinally of said drum for pressing said turns against each other in the direction of the length of the drum, said pressing means being movable axially of the drum, against the action of gravity, by the engagement therewith of the strip material as the latter is being wound around the drum, and means 7 operable while said material is Vwoundon the drum for exerting pressure on the edge of said material on the drum in a direction radially inwardly of said drum. 1

RICHARD E. BARTON. 7

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Howard Nov. 15, 1881 Number Number 10 Nurnber Name Date 7 Stevens Apr. 16, 1895 Getty July 7, 1908 Wayne Aug. 14, 1923 Kmentt Mar. 6, 1928 Frank June 26, 1928 Hogan Oct. 8, 1929 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Germany Mar. 9, 1926