US2516636A - Band cleaning mechanism for continuous vulcanizing machines - Google Patents

Description

July 25, 1950 G. D. MARCY BAND CLEANING MECHANISM FOR commuous VULCANIZING MACHINES 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 4, 1947 July 25, 1950 G. D. MARCY BAND CLEANING MECHANISM FOR CONTINUOUS VULCANIZING MACHINES 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 4, 1947 ,lv weraiar' July 25, 1950 G. D. MARCY BAND CLEANING MECHANISM FOR CONTINUOUS VULCANIZING MACHINES 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March 4, 1947 Patenteci July 25, 1950 BAND CLEANING MECHANISM FOR CON- TINUOUS VULCANIZIN G MACHINES Grosvenor D. Marcy, Newton Highlands, Mass,

assignor to Boston Woven Hose & Rubber Com- P Massachusetts Cambridge, Mass,

a corporation of Application March 4, 1947, Serial No. 732,255

9 Claims. 1

My invention relates to machinery for carrying out the continuous vulcanizing, molding or pressing of sheet stock such, for example, as rubberized belting, rubber flooring, thermoplastic materials, or combinations of textile and plastic compositions. Machines of the type to which the invention relates employ a heated drum on which bears a flexible steel pressure band, the arrangement being such that the material is fed between the surfaces Of the drum and the pressure band and removed therefrom after having passed over a large portion of the circumference of the drum. Such machines are discussed in detail in United States Letters Patent No. 2,039,271 issued to John M. Bierer on April 28, 1936.

One important factor in the process carriedout on machinery of this type is the character of the surface imparted to the stock by the operation of the machine. It has been found that the surface of the band which presses against the material rapidly become dull and foul with traces of the material against which the band has been pressed. In consequence the surface effect imparted to the material reflects the condition of the band surface and is also dull, characterless and streaked. A particularly difficult problem has been encountered when the machine is used first upon material of one color and then upon material of a different color. The scraps r traces of the first material stick to the band surface and come off to some extent on the second material to form streaks and spots which so mar the appearance of the material as to reduce its sales appeal.

The most important object of my invention is to provide apparatus by means of which the operating surface of the pressure band can be continuously scoured and cleaned while the machine is in operation and so that a freshly scoured surface is always presented to incoming material.

The most important feature of my invention resides in .the combination of a motor-driven brushand means for automatically reciprocating the revolving brush across the surface of the band at a sufficient rate of speed to insure that no portion of the band escapes the securing action from the brush.

These and other objects and features of my invention will be more readily understood and appreciated from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof selected for purposes of illustration and shown in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a View in longitudinal :cross section through the entire apparatus, including :a view in end elevation of the cleaning apparatus,

Fig. 2 is a view in end elevation of the cleaning apparatus showing it detached from the machine,

Fig. 3 is a view in cross section along the line 33 of Fig. 2,

Fig. 4 is a view, on a larger scale, showing the cleaning apparatus in end elevation secured in operating position on the machine,

Fig. 5 is a view partly in cross section and partly in plan showing the machine in its operat ing position,

Fig. 6 is a view in end elevation of a portion of the cleaning apparatus taken along the line 6-6 of Fig. 5, and

Fig. 7 is a view in cross section through the guide and clamp.

The machine illustrated in the drawing is representative of what may be referred to for convenience as continuous rotary vulcanizing machinery and is organized about a pair of substantially identical skeleton side frames I!) of suitably heavy steel webbing. Mounted transversely within the frames in and journalled for rotation is a large diameter hollow steel cylinder or drum l2 carried on a shaft l4 and disposed adjacent an upper roller 16 and a lower roller I8, both smaller in diameter than the drum l2 and mounted for rotation oil-axes parallel to the shaft M. A third roller 2|) is mounted in the rear of the frame upon a shaft 22 journalled in bearings provided with hydraulic pressure cylinders 24 so that the distance between the shaft 14 and the shaft '22 may be varied. An endless flexible steel pressure band 26 is looped over the drum l2 and about the rollers I6, [8 and 21! as shownclearly in Fig. 1 so that the band embraces a considerable portion of the circumference of the drum l2. The material 28 which is to be vulcanized, molded, or pressed in the machine is led from a reel (not shown) to the bite of the pressure band 26 and the drum l2. The rollers and drum are rotated by means not shown, and the drum l2 and the band 26 are usually heated by steam jackets or other means (not shown). The material 28 trav- .els about the surface of the drum 12, leaving it adjacent the upper roller 46; then the material 28 follows on the surface'of the .band 26 over the roller It and between the frames of the machine from whence it is rolled up by any suitable mechanism (not shown).

ment with each other are two steel plates 30 providing anchorage for the ends of a stout steel tube 32 which extends transversely between the frames. Each end of the tube 32 is filled with a block 34 carrying a stud 30 passing through a hole in the plate 35 and threaded to receive a nut 38. The nuts 38 secure the tube 32 rigidly to the plates 30. Above and parallel to the tube 32 is disposed a shaft 40 threaded intermediate its ends as shown at 42 and journalled in bearings i6 mounted in the plate 30. One end of the shaft 45 projects beyond the side frame I and carries a pulley 48 for a V-belt 50 driven from a motor 52 which is mounted on a base plate 53 at the side of the machine. The threaded portion 42 of the shaft 40 carries a knurled nut 44.

A flat bar 54 spans the frames parallel to the tube 32 and the shaft 40 and is secured at its ends to a pair of plates 55 secured to the frames I0. The bar 54 is located somewhat higher than the tube and shaft, and all three members are disposed beneath the bottom stretch of the band 26 adjacent the rear roll 20. Closely adjacent the bar 54 and parallel thereto is a rod 53 mounted for axial movement in three bearings 50 secured to the bar 54. Fixed to the rod intermediate its ends is a pair of spaced collars l28 and B0, while one end of the rod 58 is extended beyond the frame to receive a cam 00 which cooperates with a roller 62 carried on the end of a switch arm 04, mounted on a bracket 55 arranged to control the direction of the motor 52, and spring-loaded to be urged inwardly toward the frame I0. The rod 58 may be moved axially to throw the switch arm 64 from the full-line position to the position indicated in broken lines in Fig. 5.

The cleaner is organized about a stout flat metal plate 68 from which depend three supporting legs I0 mounted at their lower ends on casters 'I2 and in effect forming a dolly. A hollow steel housing I4 is suspended from the plate 58 and provides support for a motor IS carrying a pulley I8 with three sheaves for a V-belt 84 which passes about one of three sheaves of a pulley 82 mounted on the end of a spindle 00 journalled in the housing 14 and projecting upwardly through the plate 68. A flat steel disk 86 is secured to the spindle 00 by means of a nut 81 and is provided with three holes for the re ception of stout pins 88 each of which is surrounded by a compression spring bearing against the disk 06 and against a second steel disk 94 in which the upper ends of the pins 88 are anchored. The lower end of each pin 88 is bored to receive a retaining pin 92 which prevents a separation of the pins and disk 94 from the disk 86. Screwed to the upper surface of the disk 94 is the wooden back 96 of a circular wire brush 98, and it will be seen that when the motor "I0 is turned on, the brush 98 will be revolved about the axis of the spindle 80 at a rate according to the position of the belt 84 on the sheaves of the pulleys I8 and 82. Mounted on one edge of the plate 68 is a pair of depending stationary jaws I00, spaced from each other and secured to the plate 68 by bolts IOI. Each stationary jaw I00 carries a pivot pin I04 about which swings a movable jaw member I02 terminating in its free end in a U-shaped lug H0. The jaws I00 and I02 are curved to fit the contour of the steel tube 32. Pivotally mounted in the edge of the steel plate 68 is a pair of threaded studs I06 each of which carries a threaded cap I08. In mounting the cleaning device upon the machine, the stationary jaws I00 are fitted over the tube 32 and the movable jaws I02 are then swung up to engage the shanks of the studs I06, following which the caps I03 are screwed in until the tube 32 is locked to the plate 08. The clamps are dimensioned to permit the plate 68 to slide back and forth on the steel tube as a guide; that is to say, the jaws do not grip tightly.

. A third stationary jaw I I2 is secured to the upper side of the plate 68 and carries a pivoting jaw II4 which carries at its free end a U-shaped lug dimensioned to fit the shank of a pivotally mounted stud IIB carried by the edge of the plate 68 and receiving a threaded cap H8. The upper jaw is dimensioned to engage the nut 44 on the shaft 40 and to grip it tightly so that the nut cannot turn with the shaft. The other end of the plate carries a lug I20 to which a dog leg link I22 is pivotally mounted. The link I22 carries at its free end a roller I24 having an upstanding rim or shoulder I26. After the clamps have been engaged on the tube 32, the housing 14 is swung upwardly until the roller I24 slips over the top of the flat bar 54, and the upper clamp H4 is then secured about the nut 44. In this position the wire brush 98 bears against the lower surface of the pressure band 20. The bearings 56 for the cam shaft 58 are so dimensioned that the roller I24 does not encounter them, but the rim I20 will strike against the collars I28 and I30.

In operating the device the motor 52 is started which turns the shaft 40 forcing the nut 44 in one direction or the other. The plat 68 and the housing I4 are carried with the nut, the clamps on the tube 32 fitting loosely enough to permit easy sliding. The roller I24 rolls on the upper surface of the flat bar 54 until the rim I25 encounters one of the collars I28 or I30. At that time the cam shaft 58 is pushed in one direction or the other to change the position of the switch arm 04 and reverse the motor 52. This starts the shaft 40 turning in the opposite direction and the plate and its associated mechanism are carried back in the opposite direction until the rim I26 again operates the cam shaft 58 to reverse the direction of movement. The collars I28 and I30 may be adjusted to vary the length of the cleaning strokes.

When the motor I6 is turned on, the brush 9% revolves at about 300 R. P. M. and scours and polishes the surface of the pressure band 26. It will be understood that the band 26 moves very slowly. I have found it satisfactory to adjust the speed of reciprocation of the brush 98 so that any given point on the surface of the band is secured three times before it passes through a space equivalent to the diameter of the brush.

The scouring is aided by the fact that the band is heated, and the result is a surface polish of high luster. As will be apparent from an inspection of Fig. l, the pressure surface of the band is secured after it leaves the drum and before it returns to the drum so that no portion of the stock is acted on by a dirty portion of the band surface. I have found that a wire brush is quite satisfactory, although I may alternatively employ a pad of steel wool, emery cloth, or any other suitable scouring or polishing material. Also I may impregnate a scouring pad with any suitable cleansing solution, detergent, or abrasive.

The disposition of the guide 32 and the bar 54 is such that the plate 68 is substantially parallel to the portion of the band above it. Thus the brush 98 bears evenly on the band. The

;....springs 90, however, provide a yielding support for the brush, permitting the brush to accommet-me itseIi'tothesurfac'eof the band and thus to compensate for slight changes the angle of the band-due to 'movement er the tension roll 20 which is always under hydraulic pressure.

It will be apparent that the band-scouring mechanism, when in operative position, is suspended from the tube 32 and the bar 54. The legs and their casters 12 provide convenient means for trundling the cleaner to and from a machine and facilitate the operation of changing the brush or adjusting'the speed thereof.

Itwill'tl'ius be seen that 1 have provided a power driven band scouring mechanism located in contactwith the active face of the pressure band as it approaches the drum, in combination with powereoperated meansfo'r traversing the securi'ng mechanism across the pressure band. The scouring tool, moreover, is yieldingly supported for universal adjustment in respect to the band and so operates with a uniform degree of pressure regardless of variations in the angle of the band travel.

The improvement in the quality of the surface of the stock which is occasioned by the use of the cleaning or scouring mechanisms herein described is most important. The stock comes out of machines with a bright lustrous surface, extremely attractive to the eye and the effect not only lends an air of quality to belting and similar products, but also materially increases the salability of such products as flooring. Furthermore a machine equipped with the cleaning mechanism of my invention may be used to operate on stock materials of different colors in rapid succession without any necessity for stopping the machine between runs to clean or prepare the band surface.

The particular mechanism shown in the drawing is one which has proved eminently satisfactory in service, but is only one example of an embodiment of the invention.

Having now disclosed my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a press including a frame and an endless pressure band movable along a predetermined path in the frame; a band cleaner comprising a guide spanning the frame adjacent one portion of the band path, a plate slidably mounted on the guide, a brush-driving mechanism secured to the plate, a brush driven by said mechanism and mounted in position to bear on the band, and a reversible motor-driven mechanism for reciprocating the plate, brush and brush-driving mechanism on said guide within the frame.

2. In a press including a frame and an endless band movable along a predetermined path in the frame; a band cleaner comprising a guide spanning the frame adjacent the band, a threaded shaft journalled in the frame parallel to the guide, a nut threaded on said shaft, a housing, a first clamp mounting said housing to slide on said guide, another clamp securing said housing to said nut, a motor driven spindle journalled in said housing, a brush secured to said spindle in position to bear on said band, a reversible motor arranged to drive the threaded shaft and slide the housing along the guide, a switch controlling the direction of the motor, and means operated by the housing to throw the switch every time the housing approaches one end of the guide.

3. In a press including a frame and an endless pressure band movable along a predetermined path in the frame; a band cleaner comprising a guide spanning the frame adjacent to the path or the band andat :right angles thereto, a motor.

mounted-to slide on -the guide, a brush driven by said motor and bearing on. the band, and an electro-inechanioal train for sliding said motor. and brush to and fro on-saidguide.

4. In a rotary vulcanizing machine including a revolving drum, and an endless pressure band movable-over a portion of the periphery of the drum, a band cleaner comprising a guide dispos'edtransversely to one portion of the path of. the band, a housing slidably mounted on the guide; a first motor supported by the housing, a spindledr-iv'enby the motor, a brush carried by the spindle-and disposed to bear on theband, a secondmotor, a mechanical train driven by the second motor and arranged to slide the housing-on the guide, a switch controlling the direction of the second motor, and a cam controlling the switch and actuated by the motion of the 7 housing.

5. In a press including a frame and an endless pressure band movable along a predetermined path in the frame; a band scourer comprising a guide spanning the frame and disposed transversely to one portion of the path of the band, a bar spanning the frame parallel to the guide, a cam shaft mounted adjacent and parallel to the bar, a housing mounted to slide on the guide and the bar, a rotary scourer mounted in the housing, a motor-driven mechanical train for sliding the housing along the guide and bar, a switch controlling the direction of the motor, a cam secured to the cam shaft and actuating said switch, and means on the housing for operating the cam shaft.

6. In a press including a frame and an endless pressure band movable along a predetermined path in the frame; a band cleaner comprising a bar spanning the frame, a housing, a roller secured to the housing and bearing on the bar, motor-driven means for moving the housing along the bar, a rotary scourer mounted in the housing in position to bear on the band, a switch controlling the direction of the motor, a cam shaft slidably mounted adjacent the bar, a spaced pair of collars adjustably secured to the cam shaft in position to be struck by said roller, and a cam mounted on the cam shaft in position to control said switch.

7. In a machine for vulcanizing or curing a continuous Web of sheet stock and including in its structure a heated drum and a metallic pressure band supported on the circumferential surface of the drum and guided thereto from beneath, and a guide roll about which the band passes and reverses its direction of movement in approaching the drum; power driven band-scouring mechanism located in contact with the drumengaging surface of the pressure band as it approaches said guide roll, said mechanism including a scouring tool having a yielding and selfadjusting mounting permitting the tool to accommodate itself to angular variations in the position of the pressure band, spaced members supporting said mechanism for straight line movement transversely of the band, and power operated means for bodily reciprocating the scouring mechanism on said members.

8. In a press including a frame and an endless pressure band movable along a predetermined path in the frame; two supporting members spanning the frame adjacent to the band, one supporting member consisting of a tube and the other consisting of a bar, band cleaning mechanism including a power driven brush suspended beneath, the band upon said supporting members,

7 9. clamp mounted on the mechanism and fitting loosely around the tube, said clamp being detachable from the tube, a link pivotally mounted on the mechanism, and a roller carried by the link and traveling upon the bar.

9. In a press including a frame and an endless pressure band movable along a, predetermined path in the frame; band cleaning mechanism suspended below the band and including a rotatlng brush bearing on the lower surface of the band, the brush consisting of a, disk, bristles mounted in the disk, a plurality of pins anchored in the disk on the side opposite the bristles, a second disk having holes through which the pins extend, springs surrounding the pins in the space 15 between the two disks, means for preventing the pins from becoming separated from the second 8 4 disk, and a driven shaft operativeiy connected to the second disk.

GROSVENOR D. MARCY.

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

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 208,272 Spencer Sept. 24, 1878 379,068 Heller Mar. 6, 1888 889,507 Chambers June 2, 1908 1,967,964 Miller July 24, 1934 2,0 9,271 Bierer Apr. 28, 1936 2,291,553 Mathy et al June 28, 1942 OBrien et al Apr. 25, 1944

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