US2539745A

US2539745A - Apparatus for coiling and cutting a continuously moving web

Info

Publication number: US2539745A
Application number: US761508A
Authority: US
Inventors: Frank J Keller
Original assignee: WEAN EQUIPMENT CORP
Current assignee: WEAN EQUIPMENT Corp
Priority date: 1947-07-17
Filing date: 1947-07-17
Publication date: 1951-01-30
Anticipated expiration: 1968-01-30

Description

Jan. 30, 1951 l2,539,745

F. .1. KELLER APPARATUSFOR COILING AND CUTTING A CONTINUOUSLY MOVING WEB Filed July 17, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet l l F1952 72 @E l i i 'lll Jan. 30, 1951 F. J. KELLER APPARATUS FOR coILING AND CUTTING A coNTINUoUsLY MOVING WEB 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 17, 1947 INVENTOR Fran/lfd. /1 e/ /er Jan. 30, 1951 F. `J. KELLER 2,539,745

APPARATUS FOR coILTNG AND CUTTING A coNTTNUoUsLT MOVING WEB Filed July 17, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR Fra/7k d. Ke //e/.1

Jan. 30, 1951 F. J. KELLER 2,539,745

APPARATUS FOR COILING AND CUTTING A CUNTINUOUSLY MOVING WEB Y Filed July 17, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR Jan. 30, 1951 F. J. KELLER 2,539,745

' APPARATUS F COILING AND TING A CONTI USLY MOVING 'I Filed July 17, 1947 5 sheets-sheet 5 Patented Jan. 30, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE APPARATUS FOR COILING AND CUTTING A CONTINUOUSLY MOVING WEB Frank J. Keller, Cleveland, Ohio, assignor to Wean Equipment Corporation, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application July 17, 1947, Serial No. 761,508

13 Claims. (Cl. 242-80) terial can be turned out at speeds as high as 180' per minute. This material is usually sold in coils or rolls containing 150'. Apparatus for coiling the material has not been correspondingly improved so as to enable it to keep pacewith the.

twisting separate strands.

Figure 1 is a, side elevation with parts omitted showing the ceiling apparatus and a runout conveyor adjacent thereto 'for disposing of coils as formed;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the coiling apparatus alone;

Figure 3 is a partial section taken plane of line' III- III of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a central vertical section the coller; y

Figure 5 is a diagram illustrating the automatic valong the control system; and

for the present.; u invention comprises production now obtainable on the fabric-making machines. If it is attempted to dispose of the material by winding it on a mandrel, then cutting off the proper length, removing the coil andstarting the material on an empty mandrel, the time required for these operations is so greatthat it is necessary to stop the machine Ifor each coil with consequent loss of production and increaseA in cost. I have invented a method and apparatus for forming a tight coil of netting without the use of a mandrel, shearing the material, starting a new coil in a region spaced from the first coil, and discharging the'rst coil while the suc ceeding coil is being formed. This makes possible the continuous coiling of the output of a poultry-netting machine without shutdowns for removing a coil and starting a new one.

In a preferred embodiment and practice of my invention, I provide two sets of bending rolls and coil-supporting rollers mounted in spaced coiling regions. I also provide a double-acting shear cooperating with a deflector to divert the leading end of the web issuing from the machine alternately toward one and then the other of the sets of bending rolls. The bending rolls serve to make the web self-coilingas it is fed to the supporting rollers. I also provide coil-holding means and coil ythrow-out means for removing the coils from the supporting rollers when completed, as well as an automatic control system for actuating the shear, coil-holding and throwout means when a predetermined length of material has been coiled.

A complete understanding of the invention may be obtained from the following detailed description and explanation which refer to the accompanying drawings illustrating the present Tueferred embodiment. In the drawings:

Figure 6 is a sideelevation showing-the side of the machineopposite that shownin yFigure 2.

Referring? now-in-'Adetail tothe drawings. and, ure 1, the apparatusof my air of spaced side plates Ill supported on afsuitable base I I and connected adjacent their upper-ends by tie rods I2. The side plates have upp'erand lower coiling tables I3 and; I4 pivoted thereon. A continuous web of poultry netting I5 is fed into one side of the machine between entry guide rolls I6 from any .suitable'vtype of machine for making this material. The entering web then passes between a pair of driven pinch rolls I1 and through a shear I8. Depending on the position of the shear, it engages one side or the other of a deflector I9 from which it is guided toward one of the tables I3 and I4. Further details of these parts of the machine will loe-described later by reference to Figures 2 through 4. Coils formed on the tables I3 and I4 are loosely held thereon by retaining members 20 and 2I and when completed, are ejected by throw-out

members

22 and 23 which normally lie below the level of the tables. Coils delivered from the upper table I3 slide down skids 24 and are guided onto a conveyor 25 by curved arms 26. Coils formed on the lower table are delivered directly to the conveyor by skids 2l. The conveyor consists of an endless belt traversing vspaced pulleys and supporting rollers, the belt being driven by one of the pulleys, and serves to move the coils of netting longitudinally for storage or shipment.

Referring now more particularly to Figure 4, the entering guide rolls I6 are journaled in brackets 28 secured to the edges of the side plates. The web entering between these guide rolls next passes between guides 29 mounted on the inner faces of the side plates I0 by cross rods 3U extending therebetween. The pinch rolls I1 feed the web through the shear and bending rolls to be described later. The upper pinch roll is journaled in bearings fixed in the side plates I0. The lower pinch roll is journaled in floating bearings mounted on levers 3| pivoted to the side plates at 32. Bearings 33 have adjusting screws 34 engaging the levers 3| to control the pressure exerted by the pinch rolls on the web. The shear I8 comprises a gate member or head 35 extending between the side plates I0 and having a, longitudinal slot 35a therethrough adapted to admit the web l5. The gate is slidable vertically in guides 36. A hydraulic cylinder 31 has its piston rod connected to the gate for actuating it upwardly and downwardly. The gate has cutting blades 3B secured thereto adjacent the upper and lower edges of the slot therethrough. These blades cooperate with a xed blade 39 mounted in the deflector I9. #The sides of the deilector adjacent the blade 39 slope upwardly and downwardly to change the course of the web after a shearing operation resulting from vertical movement of the gate 35 in either direction. That is to say, if the gate is in its upper position and the web is being fed to the upper coiling table I3, downward movement of the gate causes severance of the web by the upper blade 38 and the fixed blade 39 and simultaneously shifts the web to the lower face of the deflector which immediately guides the leading edge of the oncoming web toward the lower coiling table I4.

Upper and lower idle guide rolls 40 are journaled in the side plates adjacent the sloping faces of the deflector I9. An upper guide chute 4I conducts the web between secondary pinch rolls .42, one of which is journaled in xed bearings and the other on pivoted lever arms, in the manner similar to the mounting of the lower pinch roll I1. A guide chute 43 conducts the web from the pinch rolls 42 to a cluster of three bending rolls 44. These rolls include a small roll engaging the faces of two larger rolls so that the web passing therebetween is bent to a curvature having the radius of the small roll and is thereby made selfcoiling. After the web passes through the bending rolls, it forms a tight, centerless coil on the table I3 which will be described in greater detail shortly.

When the gate 35 is in its lower position, as

previously described, the web is diverted toward' to a cluster of bending rolls 5I similar to that shown at 4'4. These rolls also serve progressively to bend the web to the radius of the small roll, thereby causing it to be self-coiling, whereby a tight, centerless coil is built up on the lower table I4.

The coiling tables I3 and I4 are substantially identical so only one of them will be described in detail. The table I3 comprises driven rollers 52 lying in a substantially horizontal plane and idle rollers 53 lying in a substantially vertical plane. The rollers 52 are journaled in side plates I0. The rollers 53 are journaled in brackets 54 secured to the edges of the side plates. The coilretaining member 29 cooperates with the

rollers

52 and 53 loosely to conne the coil of netting formed as the web emerges from the bending rolls 44. The retaining members 2U and 2| are substantially identical and the details of their construction are shown in Figure 3. Each com- The web then tube.

prises a pair of arms 55 connected by a tube 56 which is xed on a shaft 51 journaled in the side plates I0. Idle rollers 58 are journaled in bearing bars 59 pivoted on a shaft 60 secured to the outer ends of the arms 55. Coil springs 6I exert a clockwise torque on the bars 59 to hold the rollers 58 in a predetermined position relative to the arms 55 which position is determined by suitable stops (not shown). The pivoted frame composed of the arms 55, tubes 56 and rollers 58 is counterbalanced by a weight 62 secured to the A crank arm 63 on the shaft 51 permits the member 20 to be swung into and out of coilretaining position by suitable operating mechanism to be described later.

The ejectors or throw-out

members

22 and 23 are substantially identical. Each comprises a frame including side plates 64 connected by cross members pivoted on a cross shaft 65. The innermost cross member designated 66 is concave and is adapted to lie below a coil confined between

rollers

52, 53 and 58 as it is being formed. When a coil is completed, it may be ejected by tilting movement of the throw-out member. Each shaft 65 is provided with a crank 61 for effecting such movement. As the inner end of the ejector rises, the finished coil is cradled on the cross member 65 and, when the ejector has been suiciently tilted, the coil rolls downwardly therefrom onto the skids 24' or 21, as the case may be.

'I'he bending rolls and the several sets of pinch rolls are driven by a motor 68 and a reducing gear 68a. A sprocket 69 on the reducing gear drives a chain 10 trained around sprockets on the various driven rolls and suitable idler sprockets as shown in Figure 6. The sprockets on the various driven members are designated by corresponding reference numerals with a prime ailxed. The various idler sprockets are designated 1I.

Hydraulic cylinders

12 and 13 mounted on one of the side plates IIJ operate the

cranks

63 and 61 of the upper and lower coil-retaining members 20 and 2| and

electors

22 and 23. The cylinder 12 has a piston adapted to engage a bell crank 14 and cause counterclockwise angular movement thereof. A link 15 is pivotally connected to the crank 63 of the upper retaining member 20 and to one arm of the crank 14. A link 16 is pivotally connected to the crank 61 of the upper ejector 22 and another arm of the crank 14. The cylinder 13 has a piston adapted to engage a bell crank 11 similarly connected by links 15' and 16 to the

cranks

63 and 61 of the lower retaining member 2| and ejector 23. The

cranks

14 and 11 are journaled on pivot pins secured to one of the side plates.

Figure 5 illustrates an automatic control system for the

hydraulic cylinders

31, 12 and 13. The cylinder 31 is supplied by a pump 18 and the

cylinders

12 and 13 by a pump 18'. Thes pumps are driven by a motor 19 and draw oil from a tank on which the pumps and motor are mounted. The pump 18 delivers oil through a high-pressure line 8| to a 4-way electromagnetic valve 82 controlling the cylinder 31. The pump 18' similarly delivers oil through a high-pressure line 8|' to 4way electromagnetic valves 83 and 84' for controlling the

cylinders

12 and 13, respectively. The

valves

82, 83 and 84 are of known construction and include a reciprocable piston actuated in opposite directions by solenoids on opposite sides of the valve to connect the ends of a hydraulic cylinder alternately to a pressure source anda return pipe 88 connected to the tank 88.

Successive operations of the control system to actuate the shear gate 35, one of the coil-retaining members and ejectors are initiated by a 2-way switch 85 actuated by a counter 92 driven by the pinch rolls |1. This counter is adapted to cause the moving contact of the switch 85 to shift from one to the other of two lxed contacts, after a predetermined number of revolutions of the pinch rolls indicating the passage therebetween of a predetermined length of web. With the shear gate in the upper position as shown in Figures 4 and 5, the incoming' web is formed into a coil between the

upper rollers

52 and 53. As the coil builds up, the retaining member 28 moves clockwise through a small angle. This causes slight tilting of the ejector 22 but the movement of the latter is not sufficient to cause the cross member 66 to engage the coil. When the desired length of web has been formed into a coil, the counter operates the switch 85 from the so'idline position to the dotted-line position. Th's completes a circuit from one side of a power source (designated by a plus sign within a circle) through the switch 85, the left-hand solenoid of valve 82 and a limit switch 86 to the other side of the supply circuit (indicated by a minus sign within a circle). The resulting energization of .the valve solenoid causes the valve piston to move to the left and establish communication between the line 8| and the pipe connection to the upper end of the cylinder 31. The 'shear gate is thus actuated downwardly to sever the web and divert the severed end of the incomng material toward the lower coiling table. The trailing end of the coil on the upper table is wound up as the coil continues to rotate under the driving torque applied by the rolls 52.

As the shear gate 35 descends, limit switch 86 is opened by a finger 86a o n the gate. This deenergizes the left-hand solenoid of the valve 82. The descent of the gate also closes a switch 81 by engagement therewith of an operating finger 81a on the gate. The switch 81 closes a circuit from one side of the suppy line through the switch, and the right-hand solenoid of valve 83 to the other side of the supply line. The piston of valve 83 is thereby operated to connect the high-pressure line 8| to the pipe connected to the bottom of the cylinder 12. The piston of cylinder 12 is then operated to actuate the bell crank 14. This lifts the upper retaining member 28 and tilts the upper ejector 22 to discharge the coil formed thereon. The switch 81 is of such type as to close the circuit for the righthand solenoid of valve 83 instantaneously and then reopen it. The operation .of the bell crank 14 closes a switch 88 which energizes the lefthand solenoid of valve 83. The piston in cylinder 12 is thus forced downwardly and the retaining member 2U and ejector 22 are restored to their lowermost positions. The return of the crank 14 to its starting position opens the switch 88.

When the desired length of the web has been coiled on the lower table I4, the counter restores the switch 85 to the solid-line positon. This energizes the right-hand solenoid of valve 82, the circuit being completed through a limit switch 89 which is closed when the shear gate is in its lower position. This operates the valve piston to connect the high-pressure line 8| to the pipe connected to the bottom of the cylinder 31, thus causing upward movement of the gate 35. The web is thus severed and the leading end of the incoming web is diverted to the upper table. The switch 89 is opened by an actuating nger 88a on the gate, thus deenergizing the solenoid of valve 82.

The upward movement of the gate 35 closes a switch by engagement therewith of an actuating finger 90a on the gate. This switch energizes the left-hand solenoid of valve 84 instantaneously and then opens in the same manner as the switch 81. Energization of the left-hand solenoid of valve 84 causes the high-pressure line 8| to be connected to the pipe extending from the valve to the right-hand end of the cylinder 13. This causes the p'ston of said cyinder to advance and actuate the bell crank 11 in the counterclockwise direction to raise the retaining member 2| and tilt the lower ejector 23 to discharge the coil formed thereon. The movement of the crank 11 actuates a switch 9| to energize the right-hand solenoid of valve 84 and cause retraction of the piston in cylinder 13, returning the retaining member 2| and lower ejector 23 to starting position.

Switches

88, 89 and 9| are of the spring-opened type and thus return to open position as soon as their actuating means is retracted.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that my inventon is characterized by numerous important advantages over prior methods and apparatus for coilin': a web of wire mesh fabric such as poultry netting. In the rst place, the provision of two coilingT mechanisms in spaced positions, operating alternately, permits the continuous coilng of the web without stopping the machine on which it is made, each time a coil is completed and removed. In other words, substantially the full time required to form a coil of proper length, somewhat less than a minute, is available for binding the previously formed coil and delivering it to the run-out conveyor. I thus avoid interruptions in the operation of the fabricmaking machine and I am able to take full advantage of the high operating speed thereof. The progressive bending of the web so that it is self-coiling and tends to form itself into a tight, centerless coil makes it unnecessary to use mandrels and avoids the time and labor necessary for putting them in place and subsequently removing them from the nished coils. The loose connement of the coils as they are formed on the coiling tables permits them to be quickly discharged when finished. The automatic operation of the coil-retaining members and the tilting ejectors insures that the operations will be conducted in the proper sequence and as quickly as possible. In addition, the construction of the apparatus is simple, so that it may be easily manufactured and operated without substantial maintenance.

. Although I have illustrated and described only a preferred embodiment and practice of the invention, it will be recognized that changes in the details of construction and procedure may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

l. Apparatus for coiling and cutting a continuously moving web comprising a frame, two sets of bending rolls journaled therein, a defiector for directing the web toward one or the other of said sets, and a pair of shear blades extending along the defiector adjacent thereto and movable across the path of the web to sever it and carry the severed leading edge of the web from one side of the deector to the other.

2. The apparatus as defined by claim 1 characterized by a pair of feed rolls adjacent said blades for continuously advancing the web toward the deiiector.

3. The apparatus as defined by claim 1 characterized by a xed shear blade on said deiector cooperating with said movable blades.

4. The apparatus as defined by claim 1 characterized by said sets of bending rolls being spaced vertically from said deiiector.

5. The apparatus as dened by claim 1 characterized by a reciprocable head in which said blades are mounted, and means for actuating said head.

6. The apparatus as defined by claim 1 characterized by a reciprocable head in which said blades are mounted, and a hydraulic cylinder for reciprocating said head.

7. The apparatus as defined by claim 1 characterized by a plurality of rollers adjacent each set of bending rolls for supporting the coil oi' fabric formed by the latter.

8. The vapparatus as defined by claim 7 characterized by retractable coilrestraining means for holding the coil on said supporting rollers as it is being formed.

9. The apparatus as dened by claim l characterized by coil throw-out means mounted adjacent each set of bending rolls.

10- The apparatus as defined by claim 1 char' 30 The following references are oi' record in the acterized by means actuated in accordance with the length of web coiled for operating said blades.

11. Apparatus for coiling and cutting a continuously moving web comprising a frame, a set of bending rolls .iournaled therein eiective progressively to form the web into a coil, feed rolls journaled in said frame for feeding the web into the bending rolls, shear means between the feed rolls and bending rolls for severing the web,

i0 the bending rolls, shear means between the feed rolls and bending rolls for severing the web. means for actuating said shear means after a predetermined length of web has been coiled, retractable coil-restraining means for loosely con- '15 mung a con as 11; is being formed and means actuated by operation of the shear for operating said coil-restraining means.

13. In an apparatus for coiling and cutting a continuously moving web, the combination with 20 a pair of vertically spaced centerless coilers of a deflector for directing the web toward said coilers alternately and a vertically reciprocating upcutting and down-cutting shear adjacent said defiector, said shear being effective to sever the web 25 and sweep the leading severed edge from one side of the deilector to the other.

FRANK J. KELLER..

REFERENCES CITED ille oi this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 35 1,474,319 Crosby Nov. 13, 1923 1,871,665 Dallas Aug. 16, 1932 1,872,018 Street Aug. 16, 1932 2,126,528 Beach Aug. 9, 1938 2,200,658 Schefe May 14, 1940 means for actuating said shear means after a 4