US2775410A

US2775410A - Apparatus for winding limp material into coreless rolls

Info

Publication number: US2775410A
Application number: US279274A
Authority: US
Inventors: Morris A Schwartz; Harland S Fisher
Original assignee: Johnson and Johnson
Current assignee: Johnson and Johnson
Priority date: 1952-03-29
Filing date: 1952-03-29
Publication date: 1956-12-25
Anticipated expiration: 1973-12-25

Description

1956 M. A. SCHWARTZ ETAL 2,

APPARATUS FOR WINDING LIMP MATERIAL INTO CORELESS ROLLS 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 29,. 1952 4 TOP/V57.

Dec. 25, 1956 M. A. SCHWARTZ ET AL 2,

APPARATUS FOR WINDING LIMP MATERIAL INTO CORELESS ROLLS Filed March 29, 1952 a Sheets-Sheet 2 4 Wok/var.-

Dec. 25, 1956 M. A, SCHWARTZ ETAL APPARATUS'FOR WINDING LIMP MATERIAL INTO CORELESS ROLLS Filed March 29, 1952 H mm Mn k wAm n m k. a

6 k 7 5mm M -1 Trl l I- u l Dec. 25, 1956 M. A. SCHWARTZ ET AL APPARATUS FOR WINDING LIMP MATERIAL INTO CORELESS ROLLS Filed March 29, 1952 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Dec. 25, 1956 M. A. SCHWARTZ ET AL 2,77

APPARATUS FOR WINDING LIMP MATERIAL INTO CORELESS ROLLS 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed March 29. 1952 BY aid bflxi a/ewir Dec. 25, 1956 M. A. SCHWARTZ ET AL 2,

APPARATUS FOR WINDING LIMP MATERIAL INTO CORELESS ROLLS Filed March 29, 1952 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 7/045 flan Y A 7'70E/VEY United States Patent APPARATUS FOR WINDING LIMP MATERIAL INTO CORELESS ROLLS .Morris A. Schwartz, North Plainfield, N. J., and Harland S. Fisher, Wilmette, 111., assignors to Johnson & Johnson, a corporation of New Jersey Application March 29,1952, Serial No. 279,274

' 3'Claims. Cl. 242-66) weight are severed from a continuous strand .of cotton and ,laid one after another in longitudinal spaced relation upon a continuously moving strip .of paper of width somewhat greater than the width of the bats and Whose .edges are folded over the marginal portions thereof. Thereupon; the paper is :cut transversely between the cotton bats so as to leave suitable lengths of 'the paper extending beyond .the ends of the bats.

In accordance with the invention, the bats thus partially wrapped pass between continuously traveling belts which feed them down to a .convoluting chamber. The partially wrapped bat enters the convoluting chamber where-itis rolled .upon itself without the aid .of a spindle .or core .and the completed roll discharged from the chamber. The .convoluting {chamber is .defined at the rear by the cylindrical surface of .a roll which rotates in adirection .to feed the batendwise into the chamber. .It is .defined .at ,the bottomand at the :front by two .other smaller .rolls arranged .on axes parallel to the .axis of the first roll and which .rotate .in the same .direction. As the .hat engages ,the bottom Ta-nd the front rolls .in order, ,its leading .end is turned :upwardly and then inwardly toward the incoming portion of .the ,bat .and thus is rolled up ,as the .bat continues to feedjntothe chamber. The bottom and front rolls are mounted in a frame which ,is movable away from the roll :defining .the rear .of the chamber in order to accommodate the bat .roll :as .it increases in size;and. a1so to permit theroll .tobe discharged .jfrom the chamber .upon its .completion.

Al o, in accordance with theinvention, a doffer memberjis arrangedin .the movable .frame .adjacent the upper front roll. This serves to .direct .the ,bat as ,it enters the .conv'cluting chamber past the .upper front roll without erference fromsit .and also to prevent .the bat as .it is wound from ,ridingtoo :higharpdn the chamber, as zit may have a tendency {to do .under .certain conditions. "This dofiier member also .is equipped with positively driven inffeed rollers disposed .at the entrance of the .ccnv utiug chambe opp site the al rm Q w h ;fines the ,rear thereof toeliminate drag on the material as it enters the chamber.

Other features .of the invention include mechanism for operating the movable frame to discharge. the finished roll from 'the convoluting chamber and to restore the frame *to its normal position after such discharge, .and devices-for "timing such mechanism in its operation in accordance with the length of the bat to be 'wound up in :the ilh'aln ber.

"Referring "to vthe drawings:

2,775,410 a t d De 95,

. 2 operation of apparatus in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 6 is a front view partially in section of a coreless roll wind-up apparatus equipped with the present inven- .tion;

Fig. 7 is a vertical section on line 77 of Fig. .6;

Fig. 8 is a partial vertical section on line 88 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 9 is a transverse section online 9-9 of 'Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a plan view of a doffer comb element which insures proper entry of the material into the convoluting chamber;

Fig. 111 is a perspective view of a sample of partially wrapped material of the type the improved apparatus is designed to handle; and

I Fig. 12 is a circuit diagram for timing the operation of mechanism for effecting discharge from the convo luting chamber of .a completed .roll of material.

At a stage earlier than that with which we are here concerned, a bat 10 is severed from a continuous strand of limp material such as cotton and deposited upon a strip .of paper .11 widerTthanthe bat and whose lateraledges 12 are turned up over the marginal portions of the .bat .as shown in Fig. '1;-1. The ,paper itself is severed transversely :between successive bats whichare laid one after another on the traveling paper in longitudinal spaced relation, so that there-is a portionof the paper extending beyond the bat at each .end thereof ,for a short distance.

. Sufficient-paper is left extending beyond the trailing end @of the ,bat to make :one complete outer convolution for the roll, .and a daub of glue 13 is applied to the paper near the end so that the outer convolutionwill adhere to .the underlying convolution to maintain the completed roll intact .until use. p r The .bats 10 are delivered one {after another between traveling belts .14 and .15 whose adjacent flights travel downwardly in the same direction .and at the same speed (Fig, 1). The .belts at vapproximately the same point, .pass each outwardly ,around spaced

pulleys

16 and 17 so that the bat ,is discharged endwise from between the ,travelingbehs and its leadingend caused to enter a convoluting chamber 18.

The convolutingchamber 18 is defined at the rear by .a roll 19 0f relatively.large. diameter mounted on ashaft 20 extending transversely :of the machine and which is rotatedrto drive the roll in .acounterclockwise direction looking at the machine from the right .(Fig. 1). The ,convoluting chamber is .also defined ,at the bottom and at the front by a; pair of smaller rolls 2 1 and 22 likewise arranged on

transverse shafts

23 and 24 whicharedriven to rotate the rolls likewise in counterclockwise direc- ..tion. The rolls 21 and .22 are mounted .in a frame 25 pivotedat the .top on ,a transverse shaft 26 which permits theframe

andconsequentlythe rolls

21 and 22 to rnove as a unitaway fromt-helargerroll 19 toenlarge the convoluting chamber 18 for a purpose hereinafter made clear.

.As the partially wrapped .bat .10 is discharged from between the traveling belts ;14 and ,15, its under surface engages the large roll 19 and .substantially simultaneously (therewith its top surface at a.point directly opposite .en-

gages a series of driven infeed rolls 27 arranged in spaced relation on a transverse .shaft,28 and which formpart of a dofier comb arrangement mounted in the frame 25. .As hereinafter more fully described, this arrangement effects with the large roll 19 apositive feedof thebat into the convoluting chamber 18. I

The bat 1 0 ;is fed by the large .roll 19 and the smaller infeed rolls down into theconvoluting chamber .until'its leading end engages: the roll '21 defining thejbottom of the chamber'-(Fig.' 2). The bottom roll '21 turns the bat to the left=ui1til it engagesthe roll '22 which defines the 3 front of thecon'voluting chamber and .since this roll rotates in the same direction as the

other rolls

19 and 22, the leading end of the bat is again turned to form the first or inneficdrivolutioh of the roll (Fig. 3). There after the bat, as it continues to feed into the convoluting chamber, is rolled up upon itself and as its diameter increases, the pivoted frame 25 with the

rolls

21 and 22 therein swings to the left to accommodate this everincreasing diameter (Fig. 4). I

When the roll is completed, the pivoted frame 25 is swung further to the left so as to permit the roll to be discharged by gravity from the convoluting chamber (Fig. Thereafter, the frame 25 is restored to its normal position. ready to receive the next bat for winding.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 6 and 7 it will be observed that the apparatus is equipped with left and right fixed

vertical'side frame members

29 and 30 and that the

pulleys

16 and 17 which drive the belts are mounted midway between the side frame members on

transverse shafts

31 and 32 journalled near their ends in said side frame members. The

shafts

31 and 32 extend beyond the side frame member 30 at the right and have meshing

gears

33 and 34 fixed at their ends to insure their rotation at the same angular speed when driven from the main drive shaft 35 of the machine through

co-operating pinions

36 and 37; g

The belt 14 at the rear and consequently the pulley 16 which drives it are as wide or perhaps slightly wider than the cotton bat in its partially wrapped condition. The belt drive at the front on the other hand is in actuality two separate belts each of a much narrower width and which overlie the marginal edges of the wider belt so that only the marginal edges of the cotton bat are engaged thereby leaving the central portion of the bat exposed at the front for reasons which subsequently will appear. The driving pulleys 17 for the narrow belts are of course mounted on the same shaft 32 but are appropriately spaced to accommodate the spacing of the narrow belts and have crowned surfaces to insure that the belts 15 as they travel will remain centrally located on the pulleys. The transverse shaft which carries the large roll 19 is also journalled at its opposite ends in the fixed side frames 29 and 30 and has an outboard extension at the right on I which there is fixed a gear 38 which also is driven from the pinion 36 on the main drive shaft 35.

The pivoted frame 25 is a box-like structure open at the rear and having relatively

heavy side members

39 and 40, relatively lighter top and bottom portions and a relatively lighter front portion 41 connecting the side members and having a window 42 in its upper half for lightness and observation of the parts (Figs. 6 and 7). The front portion is continued around at the top and at the bottom where it likewise is fastened to the side members to give strength to the frame.

The transverse shaft 26 which supports the frame 25 at the top actually is a rotatable shaft having bearings in the pivoted frame and which also is journalled near its ends in the fixed side frames 29 and 30. Beyond the fixed side frame 29 at the left, there is fixed on the shaft 26 a sprocket 43 chain driven from a sprocket 44 correspondingly located at the left end of the shaft 32 on which the front pulley 17 is mounted. The shaft 26 also has fixed to it, just inside the left machine frame member 29, another sprocket 45 which chain drives a transverse shaft 46 journalled in the pivoted frame 25 near its bottom. The shaft 46 has a sprocket 47 affixed to it at its left end for this purpose. The shaft 46 extends at its right end beyond the side wall of the pivoted frame member 25 where there is fixed a pinion 48 which in turn drives a pair of

gears

49 and 50 fixed one at the right end of each of the

shafts

23 and 24 of the

rolls

21 and 22 that define the bottom and the front of the convoluting chamber 18. Since the pivoted frame 25 swings from the shaft 26 which drives the

rolls

21 and 22, it is obvious that there will be no interference with the continuous drive of such rolls regardless of the position of the pivoted frame.

The large roll 19 which defines the rear of the convoluting chamber is rubber-tired to insure good frictional engagement with the partially paper-encased cotton bat as it is fed into the convoluting'chamber. The two rolls 21 and 22 which define the bottom and the front of the convoluting chamber are likewise rubber-tired, but in their case, the rubber tires are provided with circumferential tongues 51 and grooves 52 with the tongues of each roll partially projecting into the grooves of the other roll. This arrangement actstoprevent the material from getting between the

rolls

21 and 22 which would be detrimental to proper enrolling, and which it might if these rolls had plain cylindrical surfaces with such clearance as would be necessary to prevent one roll rubbing against the other.

The dofier comb device-which serves positively to feed the bat into the convoluting chamber and to prevent the bat from moving up toward the inlet of the convoluting chamber is illustrated in detail in Figs. 8, 9 and 10. Toward the front of the machine it consists of a horizontal body portion 53 Whose ends between the top and bottom surfaces of the body portion are formed with slots 54 open at the front and which engage over correspondingly formed lugs 55 fixed to the inner faces of the side members of the pivoted frame 25. The doifer comb member at the bottom is curved for a portion of its length so as to clear the upper convoluting roll 22 and at its rear end is formed with a series of spaced tines 56 which project downwardly and engage with suitable clearance in the grooves 52 of such roll. The rear faces of the tines curve outwardly and upwardly so as to provide the desired dotfer action previously alluded to.

The spaced infeed rollers 27 previously described are arranged in the spaces between the tines and project beyond the'rear faces thereof far enough to engage the cotton bat and insure that it is fed properly into the convoluting chamber. Set screws 57 extending radially in through the rollers 27 hold them on the transverse shaft 28 which is journalled in the end sections 58 of the doffer comb. The shaft 28 extends beyond the right end of the dofi'er comb member where it is provided with a pinion 59 that meshes directly with a pinion 60 fixed on the shaft 24 supporting the upper convoluting roll 22. This direct drive of the shaft 28 by the shaft 24 causes the infeed rolls to rotate in the direction opposite to that of the upper convoluting roll 22 which is the proper direction of rotation for. the parts to accomplish their intended purpose. j

The proper position of the infeed rolls 27 with respect to the incoming bat and of the tines 56 with respect to the upper convoluting roll 22 is determined when the inner ends of the slots 54 in the doffer comb member bank against the adjacent ends of their supporting lugs 55 (Fig. 8). The doifer comb member is locked in this position by a latch member 61 fixed at the inner end of a fore and aft latch rod 62 rotatably supported in a block 63 fixed in the front wall 41 of the pivoted frame member 25. The latch rod 62 is held against fore and aft movement by a pair of collars 64 fixed to the latch rod and bearing one against the inner face of the block 63 and the other against the outer face thereof. A knob 65 fixed at the front outer end of the latch rod 62 permits the rod to be turned in one direction to cause the latch member 61 to enter a recess 66 centrally located in the top face of the dotfer member, to wedge the latter tightly in its proper position. Turning the latch rod 62 in the opposite direction withdraws the latch from the slot and frees the dolfer member for removal from the pivoted frame member 25 when desired.

The tightness with which the cotton bat is rolled in the convoluting chamber is determined by the pressure exerted on the bat during winding by the top and bottom conwreath volut-ing.ro1ls-,.21 and 2.2 .a-nd this :in turn depends upon the unbalanced \weight ;of:the pivotedqframe .25 zitself. 1n. the embodiment {ShOWJIL :the normal weight off the pivoted frame 25 acting through the convoluting rolls is .augmented by the :reaction of .a spring :67 :anchored at one end :in the machine .frame {and connected :at its other :end with the pivoted frarne through a flexible cable 68 (Big. 7). The cable passes upwardly and over a :pulley 69 mounted on :the tfixed frame and thence :forwardly where it maybe connectedtoa sideelement of the pivoted frame .as by a'pin andshackleconnection 70. A turnbuckle 71 connected {between :the spring 67 and the fixed frame will permit adjustment .in the tension of the spring and consequently in the pressure which zthepivoted frame 25 exerts upon the ,roll of cotton. If relatively lightpressures are .desired, the pivoted frame 25 instead of being spring loaded may :be .suitably counterbalanced.

Thepivoted frame25 -:is swung forward to discharge the completedroll of cotton and then back to its normal ,position after the roll has been discharged, by an airoperated cylinder ,andzpiston device 71 (Fig. 7). The cylinder is pivoted at its rear end on a bracket 72 fixed to themachineframe. A piston :rod 73 extends through the forward end :of :the cylinder and is swivel connected ;at;its:front:end-1:o the pivoted frame. The ,pivoted'mounting of the cylinder and piston mechanism is :necessary to accommodate the swinging movement of .the pivoted frame 25. The cylinder at the front and at the back of the piston is connectedthrougha pair of flexible conduits 74 and '75 with valves 76 and .77 operable selectively to connect each end of the cylinder -=with a source of air pressure ;or to vent such end-s to the atmosphere. The normal position of the valves is as shown in Fig. 7 wherein both ends of the rcylindereare vented to atmosphere through

apertures

78 and 79. This position ofthe parts corresponds to .the normal position of the pivoted frame in which the convoluting chamber .is set to receive a :cottonlbat :for .Windimzv However, when the bat hasbeen completely rolled .up .in the convoluting mb the valve 77 is turned to a position in which the rear end of the cylinder is connected to a source of air pressure through a T connection 80. As pressure builds up in the cylinder the piston moves outwardly to swing the pivoted frame 25 to its open position in which the rolled up bat is discharged (Fig. Upon discharge of the completed roll, the valve 77 is restored to its normal position in which the rear end of the cylinder is vented to the atmosphere and at the same time the other valve 76 is turned to connect the cylinder in advance of the piston with the same source of air pressure through the T connection 80. As the pressure builds up in this end of the cylinder, the piston moves rearwardly to restore the pivoted frame to its normal position ready to receive the next hat. The valve 76 then is also restored to its normal position in which the front end of the cylinder is vented to atmosphere. Both ends of the cylinder are normally vented so that the pivoted frame is free to move without interference.

The bats coming through the machine for winding will vary in length according to the weight of the bat being processed. There may also be some variation in length even as between bats of the same weight due to variations in the cotton itself. The operation of the valves for moving the pivoted frame from and to its normal position is controlled by the length of the bat itself so that no adjustments in the machine are necessary regardless of such variations in length. For this purpose, there is mounted on a bracket 81, supported by the fixed frame of the machine and located behind the window 42 in the pivoted frame 25, a micro-switch 82 which is operated by a finger 83 pivoted on the bracket 81. The finger 83 is pressed rearwardly by the reaction of a light coil spring 84 encircling the pivot on which it is mounted and which reacts between the finger and a fixed part of the bracket 81, so that its lower end will engage the front face of 6 the bats :as they travel =throtrgh the machine. The-finger is located somewhat 011 the center line of the .hats so that it will not pickup anyofthe glue from :thetdaub 13. "T he angular position of the finger 83 determines the-operation of the micro-switch 82. When the that 10 is beneath the finger, the micro-switch is opened. When the bat passes out from beneath the finger 83, the latter-drops under )thfi action of the spring 84 to close the micro-switch. As the micro-switch closes, it establishes as electrical connection through a time delay relay 85 with a suitable source of electrical current (Big. 12). The relay 85 when energized, operates after a time interval which is just .suflicient :to permit the entire cotton bat together with the excess paper .at its end to pass into the convoluting chamber .and be completely rolled up.

Time delay relay '85, upon operation,-c1oses a contact .86 electrically toconnect a solenoid 87 'with the powensource through normally closed contact 88 and leads ;89, :90 and 91. Solenoid 87 when energizedadjusts the air valve 77 to connect the rear end of cylinder 71 with the source of air pressure through connections 75 and-80, thus to move the pivoted frame 25 outwardly and permit discharge of the completed zIOll (Figs. .5, .7 and 12).

Simultaneously with the closing of contact 86, an electrical connection ,is established through another time delay relay 92 through

leads

89,, 91 and 93. This relay when energized operates aftera time interval suflic'ient 1.0 per- :rnit rthe pivoted frame 25 to open and discharge the completed .roll. As it operates, zitzbreaks contact .88 :to dis- .establish the circuit through solenoid 87 whereupon a spring 94 restores the armature .of ithe solenoid IO its normal position and adjusts the valve 77 tovent :the rear end of the cylinder .71 'tolatmosphere through the vport 7-9. Thetoperation of time delay relay 92 also closes .a contact 95 which connects asolenoid 96 with thesource-oflpower through leads -89, 91 and 97 and of course the previously closedcontact 86. Solenoid 96adjuststthe air valve 76 to .connect ,the front tI1d Of cylinder 17d with ,the source .of

.air supply, whereupon the pivoted frame 25 .is restored .to its normal position in a manner previously described.

When pivoted frame 25 has been restored to its normal position, the leading end of another bat 10 to be rolled up will have arrived under the end of the pivoted finger 83 and restored the latter to the position in which the micro-switch 82 is open. When that occurs, the entire electrical circuit is deenergized and all the elements thereof are restored to their normal positions. This includes deenergization of solenoid 96 whereupon a spring 98 acting on the armature thereof adjusts the air valve 76 to its normal position in which the front end of cylinder 71 is again vented to atmosphere through port 78 (Fig. 7).

In order that the product when completed will be smooth and uniform, the bat as it enters the convoluting chamber is maintained under slight tension by giving the large roll 19 and the infeed rolls 27 a surface speed approximately five percent (5%) greater than the linear speed of the bat as it travels down toward the convoluting chamber through the

conveyor belts

14 and 15. Also, to keep the bat, as it is being rolled up, down at the bottom of the convoluting chamber and away from the dolfer comb which might cause rubbing marks on the product, the smaller convoluting rolls 21 and 22 are given a surface speed approximately five percent (5%) less than the linear speed of the bat as it travels down through the

conveyors

14 and 15. The dilferential in surface speed which thus results between the large convoluting roll 19 and the

rolls

21 and 22 tends to give the product as it is being rolled up a resultant movement of transla tion in a downward direction. v

While in the preferred embodiment, the infeed rolls 27 are positively driven, good results also may be obtained if such rolls are idlers or indeed if such rolls are omitted with the substitution in their stead ofa smooth surface 7 that Will not interfere with the movement of the bat into theconvoluting chamber. I

1 The invention has been described in connection with only one embodiment, but many modifications thereof are included within its spirit. The invention therefore, is to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for winding limp material into a coreless roll, including a pair of opposed frames, a series of parallel rolls arranged one in one frame and the others in the second frame and defining a convoluting chamber, means for rotating all said rolls in the same direction so that limp material entering endwise into the chamber is rolled upon itself by such rotation of the rolls, means associated with one of said frames, including devices positively driven in a direction opposed to the direction of rotation of said rolls for guiding said material into the convoluting chamber, said second mentioned frame being mounted for pivotal movement relatively to the first mentioned frame to enlarge automatically the convoluting chamber to accommodate the material as it is rolled upon itself and to permit discharge from the convoluting chamber of the completed roll, and means mounted coaxially with the pivot of the second mentioned frame and from which the rolls in said frame are driven.

2. Apparatus for winding limp material into a coreless roll, including a pair of opposed frames, a series of parallel IOlls arranged one in one frame and the others in the second frame and defining a convoluting chamber, means for rotating all said' rolls in the same direction so that limp material entering endwise into the chamber is rolled upon itself by such rotation of the rolls, means associated With one of said frames, including devices positively driven in a direction opposed to the direction of rotation of said rolls for guiding said material into the convoluting chamber, said second mentioned frame being mounted for pivotal movement relatively to the first mentioned frame to enlarge automatically the convoluting chamber to accommodate the material as it is rolled upon itself and to permit discharge from the convoluting chamber of the completed roll, means mounted coaxially with the pivot of the second mentioned frame and from which the rolls in said frame are driven, and means acting on said second mentioned frame for adjusting the pressure exerted by the rolls therein on the material as it is being rolled up so as'to regulate the tightness of wind'of'the finished roll of material.

' 3. Apparatus for winding limp material into a coreless roll, including a pair of opposed frames, a series of parallel rolls arranged one 'in one frame and the'others in the second frame and defining a convoluting-chamber, means for rotating all said rolls in the same direction so that limp material entering endwise -into the chamber is rolledupon itself by such rotation of the rolls, means associated with one of said frames, including'devices positively driven in adirection opposed to the direction of rotation of said rolls for guiding said material into the convoluting chamber, a rotatable shaft on which the second mentioned frame is freely mounted for pivotal movement relatively to the first mentioned frame to enlarge automatically the convoluting chamber to accommodate the material as it is rolled upon itself and to permit discharge from the convoluting chamber of the completed roll, and means for driving the rolls in said second mentioned frame from said rotatable shaft.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,681,046

Dyken June 9,