US2816409A

US2816409A - Rolling and wrapping machine for sheet materials

Info

Publication number: US2816409A
Application number: US571090A
Authority: US
Inventors: William F Richardson
Original assignee: Flex O Lators Inc
Current assignee: Flex O Lators Inc
Priority date: 1956-03-12
Filing date: 1956-03-12
Publication date: 1957-12-17
Anticipated expiration: 1974-12-17

Description

1957 w. F. RICHARDSON 2,816,

ROLLING AND WRAPPING MACHINE FOR SHEET MATERIALS Filed March 12, 1956 1 t k M e g NE m J m N NE E g 3 m M a. V I t m 8 w H m h w\ f {M S f 6 A M w 3w .& w/ SQ i E NE Kg F x w I ll Q Q n 4 u h r n N\\\ \Q m Q Q N? y Dec. 17, 1957 w. F. RICHARDSON ROLLING AND WRAPPING MACHINE FOR SHEET MATERIALS 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 12, 1956 Af/ameyx Dec. 17, 1957 w. F. RICHARDSON 2,816,409

ROLLING AND WRAPPING MACHINE FOR SHEET MATERIALS Filed March 12, 1956 I 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Affarweyat Dec. 17,- 1957 w. F. RICHARDSON 2,316,409

' ROLLING AND WRAPPING MACHINE FOR SHEETMATERIALS Filed March 12, 1956 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Z 12 g q 0)](0 a) (a a1 (a a lo a! (a a) (old (0 a to (a on 1' in 11 1a s a .w w 2 a I! I INVENTORQ Wm flF/c/z/dra/r Dec. 17, 1957 w. F. RICHARDSON 2,816,409

ROLLING AND WRAPPING MACHINE FOR SHEET MATERIALS Filed March 12, 1956 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 United States Patent ROLLING AND WRAPPING MACHINE FOR SHEET MATERIALS William F. Richardson, Carthage, MO., assignor to Flex- O-Lators, Inc., Qarthage, Mo., a corporation of Missouri Application March 12, 1956, Serial No. 571,090

Claims. (Cl. 53-215) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in machines for rolling a plurality of pliable sheets into a compact bundle, wrapping said bundle in paper or the like, and fastening said wrapping in place to secure the bundle against unrolling, and the principal object of the invention is the provision of a machine which will perform these functions efficiently, rapidly and economically.

These objects are accomplished generally by the provision of a belt on which a stack of sheets to be rolled are laid, a pair of carriages movable along the edges of the belt and a pair of rollers carried by said carriages and about which said belt is trained to form a bight in said belt, whereby as said carriages travel, said sheets are wrapped about one of said rollers within the bight of said belt. Also, a wrapping sheet placed on said belt will be wrapped about the completed roll.

Another object is the provision of a machine of the class described wherein an additional length of belt is fed to the rollers to accommodate the gradually increasing circumference of the roll as it is formed. The belt feed may be controlled by an adjustable brake, whereby to control the tension or pressure under which the roll is formed.

A further object is the provision of a machine of the class described wherein the roller, or arbor, about which the roll is formed is movable with respect to the carriages whereby to permit shifting thereof as the diameter of the roll increases, and which is disengageable from said carriages whereby to be ejected from the belt with the completed roll. In addition, means are provided for automatically depositing a fresh arbor in the carriages as each completed roll is discharged.

Other objects are simplicity and economy of construction, efi'iciency and dependability of operation and adaptability for use with many types of materials and sizes of 7 rolls.

With these objects in view, as well as other objects which will appear in the course of the specification, reference will be had to the drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a rolling and wrapping machine for sheet materials embodying the present invention, showing a plurality of sheets disposed thereon in position for rolling,

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the machine as shown in Fig. 1, partially broken away,

Fig. 3 is an enlarged, foreshortened sectional view taken on line III-III of Fig. 1, with parts left in elevation,

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on line IV-IV of Fig. 3, partially broken away,

Figs. 5, 6 and 7 are fragmentary sectional views taken respectively on lines VV, VIV.I, and VII-VII of Fig. 4,

Fig. 8 is an enlarged, foreshortened fragmentary sectional view taken on line VIII--VIII of Fig. 2,, 7

Figs. '9, 10 and 11 are fragmentary sectional views taken respectively on lines TXIX, XX, and XI.-XI of Fig. 8,

Fig. 12 is a view similar to Fig. 11 showing the roll M Ce '2 completed and approaching its point of discharge from the belt,

Fig. 13 is a view similar to Fig. 12,, showing the roll at its point of discharge from the belt, and

Fig. 14 is a view similar to Fig. 13, showing the carriages at the extreme forward limit of their travel, as a fresh arbor is deposited therein.

Like reference numerals apply to similar parts throughout the several views, and the numeral 2 designates a table-carrying frame including a pair of parallel top side rails 4 rigidly joined at intervals by cross-bars 6 (Figs. 8 and 11-14) and supported by floor-engaging legs 8. The end of the frame to the right in Figs. 1 and 2 will for convenience be designated the rearward end, and the left end will be designated the forward end. The table top 10 carried by said frame is divided into four sections, section 12 starting inwardly from the rearward end of the frame and sloping gradually downwardly and forwardly, section 14 which is horizontal and extends forwardly from section 12, section 16 which slopes downwardly and forwardly from section 14 and is steeper than section 12, and section 18 which is horizontal and extends forwardly from section 16, being offset downwardly from the lower end of section 16 by a step 20 (see Fig. l).

Extending longitudinally along each side of the table, in outwardly spaced relation therefrom, is a horizontal track member 22, said track member being secured to the adjacent frame rails 4 by spacer members 24. At their extreme forward ends, said tracks are fixed to frame leg members 26, and at their extreme rearward ends to frame leg members 28. It will be noted that tracks 22 do not follow the slope of

sections

12 and 16 of the table, but are straight and horizontal throughout their lengths, the upper edges thereof being flush with horizontal table section 14.

Carried on each track 22 for movement therealong is a carriage 30. As detailed in Figs. 8-11, each carriage includes a plate 32 disposed in a vertical plane parallel to but spaced outwardly from the associated track, and a plate 34 parallel to but spaced inwardly from the track. Said plates are rigidly joined together by a connector block 36 extending above the track. Welded to the inner face of plate 32 is a bar 38 which extends forwardly and rear wardly from said plate. Said bar is inclined so that the rearward end thereof extends above the track, and the forward end thereof extends below the track. Journalled for axial rotation in the forward end of bar 38 is an axle bolt 40 on which is rotatably mounted a flanged roller 42 which engages the lower edge of the track. At the rearward end of bar 38, a similarly mounted axle bolt 44 carries a flanged roller 46 in engagement with the upper edge of the track. An arm 48 pivoted to plate 32 at 50 extends horizontally forwardly from said plate, and has jour'nalled in its forward end an axle bolt 52 on which is rotata'bly mounted a flanged roller 54 which engages the upper edge of the track directly above roller 42. Similarly, an arm 56 pivoted to plate 32 at 58 extends horizontally rearwardly from said plate, and has journalled in its rearward end an axle bolt 60 on which is rotatably mounted a flanged roller 62 which engages the lower edge of the track directly beneath roller 46.

As best shown in Figs. 8 and 9, it will be seen that

forward axle bolts

44 and 60 extend outwardly from the

arms

38 and 56 in which they are journalled, and are formed to present blocks 64. An adjusting bolt 66 extends vertically through both of said blocks, and has a pair of nuts 68 threaded thereon respectively at the distal sides of said blocks. The

forward axle bolts

40 and 52 are similarly "connected by an adjusting bolt 70 provided with nuts '72. It is evident that by adjusting the nuts on bolts 66 and '70, the

movable rollers

54 and 62 may be adjusted vertically with respect to fixed

rollers

42 and 46 in order to cause said rollers to engage the tracks smoothly and with as little play as possible, and to compensate for wear of the tracks or rollers.

Carriages 3d are connected by an axle 74 extending transversely across the table top 111 in spaced relation thereabove, said axle being secured rigidly to both of plates 32 and 3d of each carriage. Rotatably mounted on said axle is a roller or drum 76 extending the full width of the table. Normally positioned just below and to the rear of drum 76', and parallel thereto, is a heavy circular rod or arbor 78. Said arbor also extends the full width of the table, the ends thereof being closely adjacent the inner faces of plates 34 of the carriages. Said arbor is normally supported at each of its ends by a pair of rollers 80 and 82 (see Figs. 8 and journalled on bolts 84 afiixed in plate 34 of the associated carriage. It will be seen in Figs. 10 and 11 that said rollers are positioned tosupport arbor 78 for rotation and to resist forward movement of said arbor with respect to the carriage, but to permit rearward movement of the arbor in the carriage. While the belt normally holds the arbor in contact with

rollers

88 and 82 as shown in Fig. 11, there are periods during the operation of the machine when the belt does not encircle the arbor. For supporting the arbor during these periods, there is provided a small platform 86 rigidly attached to the inner surface of carriage plate 34, and extending inwardly therefrom approximately the same distance as

rollers

88 and 82. These platforms support the ends of the arbor as shown in Fig. 14. It will be noted that the platforms slope forwardly and downwardly, in order that an arbor deposited thereon will roll forwardly toward rollers and 82, and not rearwardly off of the platforms. At the rearward edge of platform 86, a roller 88 is journalled on a bolt 98 fixed in carriage plate 34, the axes of rollers 88 being parallel to the axes of rollers St) and 82, and to drum 76. Rollers 88 engage and guide the arbor trough arms, as will be described hereinbelow.

Carriages 30 are driven by a pair of chains 92 arranged in endless loops and disposed respectively at each side of the table just inwardly from tracks 22. At their forward ends, said chain loops are trained about sprockets 94 (Fig. 2) carried rotatably at the upper ends of leg members 26. At their rearward ends, said chain loops are trained about sprockets 96 which are fixed respectively on shafts 98 which are journalled in bearings 16 d affixed to the rearward ends of tracks 22. Shafts 98 are coaxial and extend inwardly from said tracks. At their inner ends (Fig. 3), they are connected by flexible couplings 192 to the power output shaft 184 of a speed reduction unit 186 mounted on frame members 188. The input shaft of said speed reducer has mounted thereon a pulley 112 which is operably connected by belt 114 to a pulley 116 mounted on the shaft 118 of a reversible electric motor 120, said motor being mounted on frame members 122. The ends of each chain 92 are connected to the associated carriage by an adjusting mechanism best shown in Fig. 9. A block 124 is secured to the lower side of carriage plate connector 36 by screw 126, and has a pair of screws 128 projecting oppositely therefrom in line with the upper reach of chain 92. Each of said screws is longitudinally slotted as at 130 to receive slidably therein a T-shaped plate 132. The outer end of each of said T-plates is secured to the adjacent end of chain 92, and the cross-head 134 of the T-plate projects radially from the screw slot 138 and engages the inner surface of a nut 136 threaded on the screw. It is evident that by turning said nuts, the tension of chains 92 may be accurately adjusted, and that the two carriages 30 may be moved relatively along the tracks 22' to bring drum 76 and arbor 78 accurately into right-angled relation with the longitudinal centerline of the table.

The rear corner leg members 28 of the frame are extended upwardly above the level of the rearward end CTI of table top 10. Extending between and affixed to the upper ends of said leg members is a shaft 138 which is parallel to the axis of carriage drum 76. Rotatably mounted on said shaft is a belt drum 148'. A wide flexible belt 142 is afiixed at one end to said drum by any suitable means, not shown. Said belt is then wrapped about said drum for a turn or two, and extends forwardly from said drum to drum 76 carried by carriages 30. The belt is trained forwardly over and rearwardly under drum 76, then rearwardly over and forwardly under arbor 78, and then extends forwardly over the surface of table top 10 to the forward edge of horizontal section 14 of said table. Along its forward edge, said belt is secured by fasteners 144 to the forward edge of an arbor trough 146. Said arbor trough is rectangular in cross-section, being open at the top, and extends the full width of the table and outwardly from the sides thereof. it rests freely in notches 148 (Figs. 12 and 13) formed therefor in frame side rails 4, and normally carries an arbor 78 separate from but identical to the arbor carried by carriages 30. Attached to each end of trough 146 is an arm 158 disposed at right angles to said trough. Said arms extend forwardly and downwardly, and are pivoted at their forward ends, as at 152, to the opposite ends of a rod 154 which is rigidly fixed to table rails 4 intermediate the ends of sloping table section 16, and extends transversely of the table. It is thus apparent that trough 146 may be pivoted upwardly and forwardly, as in Figs. 13 and 14. An arm 156 is welded to each of trough arms and extends forwardly of pivot 152. A tension spring 158 is attached at one end to the forward end of arm 156, and the opposite end of said spring is attached by an adjusting bolt 168 to a bracket 152 afiixed to table frame 2. Said springs tend to urge arbor trough 146 upwardly, but are of insuflicient tension actually to do so. Their function is to cushion the return of the trough to its position in notches 148 after the trough has been elevated by other means, as will be described.

Belt 142 is tensioned by a chain 164 which is fixed at one end to belt drum me by any suitable means, not shown, at one end of said drum. Said chain is then passed about the drum in the opposite direction from that in which belt 142 is wound thereon, so that any tension on said chain will tend to turn said drum to tighten the belt. The chain then extends downwardly from said drum, and is trained around a sprocket 166 which is fixed to an axle 168 journalled in a pair of bearings 178 carried respectively by one of rearward corner frame legs 28 and by a parallel frame member 172, as best. shown in Fig. 3. As best shown in Fig. 1, chain 164 extends upwardly and forwardly from sprocket 166 and is trained over a sprocket 174 carried-rotatably by one of frame side rails 4, then downwardly around a free pulley res, then upwardly to where the end thereof is afiixed to side rail 4 by bracket 178. Free pulley 176 carries a clevis 180 from which is suspended a weight 182. Said weight moves vertically in a tubular guide 184 affixed to frame 2. Weight 182 of course tensions chain 164 and hence belt 142. However, it is not practical to supply in this manner all of the belt tension required for the rolling operation and furthermore it is not desirable that the belt be under maximum tension at all times. Hence weight 182 functions only to maintain a minimum belt tension to keep the belt and arbor 78 in proper position when the rolling operation is not actually inprogress. The principal belt tension is supplied by a releasa le bral;c mechanism actuated by sprocket 166 and best shown in Figs. 3-7.

Fixed on axle 168 with sprocket 166, and rotatable with said sprocket, is a ratchet wheel 186, and a brake drum 188 is rotatably mounted on the hub 190 of said ratchet wheel. Rotatably mounted on the hub 192 of said brake drum is a planar ratchet wheel 194, said ratchet wheel being of larger diameter than ratchet wheel 186, and disposed between ratchet wheel 186 and the brake drum. Aflixed to the spokes: of brake, drum- 188 is a plate 196 in which is aifixed a pivot bolt 198 which is parallel to axle 168 and extends through an oversized hole 200 formed in ratchet wheel 194. Pivoted on the extended portion of bolt 198 is a dog 202 which normally engages ratchet wheel 186 as shown in Fig. 4. Dog 202 is provided with an integral radially extending arm 204 through the outer end portion of which is formed a hole 206. A pin 208 fixed in the face of'ratchet Wheel 194 extends through said hole, fitting relatively snugly therein as compared to the fit of pivot bolt 198 in hole 200. In spaced relation from arm 20.4, a pin 210 afiixed to brake drum plate 196 extends through an enlarged hole 212 formed in ratchet wheel I94, and a tension spring 214 is connected between pin 210 and a pin 216 afiixed to dog arm 204. Said spring serves to urge dog 202 into engagement with ratchet wheel 186.

A pair of brake arms 218 are disposed respectively above and below brake drum 188, and extend horizontally. At its rearward end each of said arms is pivoted by a bolt 220 to brackets 222 fixed to frame

members

28 and 172. A brake shoe 224 is pivoted in each brake arm intermediate its ends, by means of pivot pins 226, and said brake shoes bear respectively against the upper and lower portions of the brake drum. At the forward end of lower brake arm 218, a block 226 is pivoted thereto on a transverse axis by pivot screws 228 (Fig. 7) and has a hook 230 affixed therein. A tension spring 232 is secured at one end to hook 230 and extends upwardly, and is secured at its upper end in a hook 234 formed at the lower end of an adjusting bolt 236. Said adjusting bolt extends slidably through a block 238 pivoted to the forward end of upper brake arm 218 on a transverse axis by pivot screws 240 (Fig. 6). A nut 242 threaded on screw 236 above block 238 engages the upper face of said block and may be adjusted to vary the tension of spring 232 and hence the braking force of shoes 224 on the brake drum.

Pivoted on the rear pivot bolt 220 of lower brake arm 218 is a bell-crank lever 244 to the rearward leg of which is attached a foot pedal 246, and to the upwardly extending leg of which is pivoted by bolt 248 a pawl 250 which engages ratchet wheel 194. Lever 244 is urged resiliently forwardly by a spring 252 secured at one end to bolt 248 and at its opposite end to a pin 254 fixed in frame member 172. Pawl 250 is urged forwardly to engage ratchet wheel 194 by a spring 256 carried by lever 244.

The operation of the brake mechanism is as follows: When the rolling operation requires that an additional length of belt be paid out from drum 140, as will be described, the rotation of said drum causes chain 164 to be wound on the drum, thus turning sprocket 166 and ratchet wheel 186 in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 4. The rotation of ratchet 186 acts through dog 202 and bolt 198 to cause rotation ofbrake. drum 188. against the friction imposed thereon by brake: shoes224. The brake thus resists the paying out of belt from drum 140 and maintains the belt under a predetermined tension, which may be adjusted by moving nut 242' along adjusting screw 236. As the belt is paid out, dog arm 204, acting against pin 208, causes rotation of ratchet 194 with the brake drum, said ratchet wheel ratcheting freely over pawl 250. If, during the operation of the machine it should be desired to release the belt tension, the operator steps on pedal 246. This pivots lever 244- and operates pawl 250 to urge ratchet wheel 194 inv a.

clockwise direction as seen in Fig. 4. Rotation of the 212 in ratchet wheel 194 is suflicient to permit the slight relative rotation of the ratchet wheel relative to the brake drum necessary to operate dog 202. On release of pedal 246, the dog will be re-engaged with ratchet 186 by spring 214.

The general operation of the machine is as follows: With the carriages 30 at their rearmost position adjacent drum 140,v as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 11, a stack of sheets 258 to be rolled and wrapped are laid fiat on the upper surface of belt 142 over the rearward sloping section 12 of table top 10, as shown. The sheets now commonly processed by the applicant on this machine constitute a loose mesh or fabric of wire and cord, which is pliably resilient, but it will be evident that the machine is equally adapted; to roll sheets of nearly any description. The topmost sheet 258 is preferably pulled rearwardly and the rearward edge thereof inserted between the lower side of arbor 78' and belt 142, as shown in Figs. 1 and 11. This insures that the sheets. will be rolled about the arbor in the correct direction. Also, the sheets may be continuously staggered" longitudinally of the belt if desired, in order that they will be engaged on the arbor one at a time. A wrapping sheet 260 of paper or the like is laid out on the belt substantially over the horizontal table section 14, as shown in Fig. 1. This sheet may be laid diagonally as shown, which produces a spiral wrapping and permits the use of paper narrower than the width of sheets 258, or it could of course be laid longitudinally of the belt if of suflicient width. In order to secure the wrapping sheet after the roll is completed, a length of gummed tape 262 (Fig. 1) is preferably affixed to the underside of paper sheet 260 at the forward edge thereof, and extends forwardly therefrom with its gummed side up, said extended portion being pre-moistened.

Motor is then started in a direction to operate chains 92 to drive carriages 30 forwardly. It is apparent that as the carriages move forwardly, sheets 258 will be wound about arbor 78, between said arbor and the bight of belt 142 which passes thereabout as illustrated in Fig. 11. The downward slope of table section 12 accommodates the gradually increasing diameter of the roll of sheets as it is formed, so that said roll may rest on the table at all times; However, it is not actually necessary that the roll engage the table, it being evident that the ends of' arbor 78 will be supported on platforms 86 if the roll is slightly undersized, or will be forced upwardly from said platform if the roll is oversized. The tightness with which sheets 258 are compressed as they are rolled is of course determined by the tension of the belt, which is controlled by the previously described brake mechanism as additional belt is paid out from drum to encompass the increasing circumference of the roll. In the event the machine becomes fouled in any manner as by the misplacement of sheets 258, or by overloading as a result of the insertion of too many sheets 258, or by the possible catching of a portion of an operators anatomy in the roll, or for any other reason, the brake tension on the belt may be quickly released by stepping on pedal 246 as previously described.

As soon as carriages 30 have traversed the length of sheets 258, or substantially at the junction of

table sections

12 and 14, the rolling of sheets 258 is completed. Since there-will thereafter be substantially no further increase of the diameter of the roll, table section 14 is made parallel to tracks 22, or horizontal. As the carriages traverse table section 14, paper wrapping sheet 260 will be rolled around the sheets 258, and secured by gummed tape strip 262. The parts will then have the position shown in Fig. 12. It will be apparent that as the diameter of the roll of sheets 258 increased, arbor 78 was forced rearwardly from its supporting

rollers

80 and 82, and at the movement shown in Fig. 12' is disposed rearwardI'y from the platforms 86. As the forward carriage movement continues from this point, the completed and wrapped roll'passes'over arbor'trough 146, and enters on the forwardly sloping table section 16. Since the carriages travel horizontally and the roll passes downwardly on the table, it will be apparent that the distance between carriage drum 76 and the nearest point of the table will gradually increase until it is equal to the diameter of the roll, as shown in Fig. 13. At this moment, the completed roll will pass out from beneath drum 16, in the direction of arrow 26, and roll downwardly along table section 16 over step 20, and come to rest on horizontal table section 18.

Also, just after the roll has passed over arbor trough 146, the tension of belt 142 pivots said trough upwardly and forwardly, as shown in Fig. 13, the supporting arms 150 of said trough passing in closely spaced relation to the inner faces of carriage plates 34 and coming to rest against guide rollers 88 carried by said plates. Any slack which might otherwise occur in belt 142 at this time is immediately taken up by weight 182. The carriages then continue forwardly to the position shown in Fig. 14, at which time trough arms which are held against rollers 88 by belt tension, have passed forwardly slightly past a vertical position, trough 146 at this moment being immediately above and behind

rollers

82 and 84. The arbor 755 which until this time has been supported in said trough now falls by gravity to rest on platforms 86, as indicated by arrow 266 in Fig. 14. As previously mentioned, the forward slope of said platforms prevents the arbor from rolling rearwardly off of platforms 86, and any possibility that they might bounce off of said platforms is prevented by a pair of inserts 268 (Figs. 1 and 14) welded in the angles between trough 146 and each of its arms 150. As shown in Fig. 14, these inserts are disposed immediately rearwardly of platforms 86, so that the end of the arbor is confined effectively in a trough, the forward Wall of which is formed by

rollers

80 and 82, the bottom wall of which is formed by platforms 86, and the rearward wall of which is formed by inserts 2655.

The direction of motor 120 is then reversed, causing carriages to be returned rearwardly to their original position as shown in Figs. 1 and 11. During the initial return movement, carriage rollers 88 push arbor trough arms rearwardly past vertical, whereupon trough 146 is returned to its normal position in table notches 148 by gravity, springs 158 cushioning its return. Then, as arbor 78 passes over the trough, it engages belt 142 immediately above the trough, the arbor, drum 76 and belt then having the normal relation shown in Fig. 11. During the return travel of the carriages, there will of course be no brake tension on the belt, but only the tension imparted by weight 18?. which is intended to be great enough only to retain the belt and arbor in proper relation to the carriages. The motor 129 is controlled by suitable reversing and limit switches, not shown but well known, whereby the motor, when started with the carriages in their starting position as in Fig. 1, will drive the carriages to their Fig. 14 position, then reverse the motor to return the carriages to their starting position.

An operator stationed at the forward end of the machine pulls the arbor 78 out of the roll after it is received on table section 18, and replaces said arbor in trough 146 after said trough has been returned to its normal position. He then secures the wrapping sheet at the ends of the roll.

While I have shown and described a specific embodiment of my invention, it will be apparent that many changes of structure and operation could be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A rolling machine for sheet materials comprising a frame, an elongated table carried by said frame, tracks affixed to said frame respectively along the longitudinal edges of said table, a carriage mounted on each of said tracks for forward and rearward movement therealong, a drum carried rotatably by said carriages and extending transversely above said table, an arbor parallel to said drum carried rotatably by said carriages, the axis thereof being spaced below and behind said drum, a pliable belt extending longitudinally of said table and having its ends attached to said frame, said belt being trained forwardly over and rearwardly under said drum, then rearwardly over and forwardly under said arbor, means carried by said frame and operable to drive said carriages forwardly, whereby sheet material laid fiat on the belt ahead of said carriages will be rolled around said arbor within a bight of said belt, said arbor being movable transversely to its axis in said carriages, being restrained against forward movement whereby it is retained in said carriages before sheet material is rolled thereabout, but being rearwardly movable relative to said drum whereby to accommodate the increasing diameter of the roll of said sheet material as said roll is formed, one end of said belt being attached to said frame by yieldable means permitting an additional length of belt to be fed to said carriages to encompass the increasing circumference of said roll of sheet material, and brake means carried by said frame and yieldably resisting any such increase of belt length, whereby to tension said belt.

2. The structure as recited in claim 1 wherein said yieldable belt connecting means comprises a drum carried rotatably by said frame at one end of said table, said belt being wound on and secured at its extreme end to said drum, and wherein said braking means is operatively connected to said belt drum whereby to yieldably resist rotation thereof.

3. The structure as recited in claim 1 wherein said yieldable belt connecting means comprises a drum carried rotatably by said frame at one end of said table, said belt being wound on and secured at its extreme end to said drum, and wherein said braking means is operatively connected to said belt drum whereby to yieldably resist rotation thereof, and with the addition of means operable to adjust the tension of said brake, whereby to adjust the tension of said belt.

4. The structure as recited in claim 1 wherein said yieldable belt connecting means comprises a drum carried rotatably by said frame at one end of said table, said belt being wound on and secured at its extreme end to said drum, and wherein said braking means is operatively connected to said belt drum whereby to yieldably resist rotation thereof, and with the addition of means operable to break the operative connection between said brake and said drum, whereby the brake tension on said belt may be released.

5. The structure as recited in claim 1 wherein said yieldable belt connecting means comprises a drum carried rotatably by said frame at one end of said table, said belt being wound on and secured at its extreme end to said drum, and wherein said braking means is operatively connected to said belt drum whereby to yieldably resist rotation thereof, said brake being effective only to resist rotation of said drum in a direction effective to pay said belt out therefrom, but inefiective to resist rotation of said drum to reel said belt thereon, and with the addition of means carried by said frame and exerting a constant torque on said drum in a direction to reel said belt thereon, whereby to maintain a minimum tension on said belt when said brake is ineffective.

6. The structure as recited in claim 1 wherein said yieldable belt connecting means comprises a drum carried rotatably by said frame at one end of said table, said belt being wound on and secured at its extreme end to said drum, and wherein said braking means comprises a chain wound on said drum oppositely to said belt and extending away from said drum, a weight supported by said chain whereby said chain is tensioned, a sprocket carried rotat' ably by said frame and over which said chain is trained, a brake drum carried rotatably by said frame, brake shoes carried by said frame and frictionally engaging said brake drum, and a ratchet connection between said sprocket and said brake drum whereby said brake drum is rotated only in a direction representing rotation of said belt drum in a direction to pay out said belt therefrom.

7. The structure as recited in claim 1 wherein said yieldable belt connecting means comprises a drum carried rotatably by said frame at one end of said table said belt being wound on and secured at its extreme end to said drum, and wherein said braking means comprises a chain wound on said drum oppositely to said belt and extending away from said drum, a weight supported by said chain whereby said chain is tensioned, a sprocket carried rotatably by said frame and over which said chain is trained, a brake drum carried rotatably by said frame, brake shoes carried by said frame and frictionally engaging said brake drum, and a ratchet connection between said sprocket and said brake drum whereby said brake drum is rotated only in a direction representing rotation of said belt drum in a direction to pay out said belt therefrom, and means operable to adjust the pressure of said brake shoes against said brake drum.

8. The structure as recited in claim 1 wherein said yieldable belt connecting means comprises a drum carried rotatably by said frame at one end of said table said belt being wound on and secured at its extreme end to said drum, and wherein said braking means comprises a chain wound on said drum oppositely to said belt and extending away from said drum, a weight supported by said chain whereby said chain is tensioned, a sprocket carried rotatably by said frame and over which said chain is trained, a brake drum carried rotatably by said frame, brake shoes carried by said frame and frictionally engaging said brake drum, and a ratchet connection between said sprocket and said brake drum whereby said brake drum is rotated only in a direction representing rotation of said belt drum in a direction to pay out said belt therefrom, and means carried by said frame and operable to disconnect said ratchet connection manually.

9. The structure as recited in claim 1 wherein said arbor is disconnected from said carriage as the arbor moves rearwardly in said carriage due to the increasing diameter of the roll of sheet material formed therearound, and wherein a section of said table adjacent the forward end of said belt is inclined forwardly and downwardly relative to the direction of travel of said carriages, whereby as said carriages traverse said sloping table section, the space between said table and said carriage drum will be increased to an extent permitting the completed roll of sheet material to pass forwardly under said carriage drum and to roll down said inclined table section by gravity.

10. The structure as recited in claim 1 with the addition of an arbor trough extending transversely of said table substantially at the upper edge of said sloping table section, said trough being pivoted to said frame for upward and forward movement about an axis parallel to but spaced forwardly therefrom, and an arbor carried in said trough, said arbor being identical to the arbor carried in said carriages, the forward end of said belt being secured to said trough, whereby as said carriages traverse said sloping table section and discharges the completed roll forwardly, the tension of said belt will elevate said trough to a position wherein the arbor carried thereby falls therefrom by gravity into said carriages.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,027,393 Brown May 21, 1912 1,486,360 Brown Mar. 11, 1924 1,988,692 Lanter Jan. 22, 1935 2,114,008 Wunderlich Apr. 12, 1938 2,635,401 Cook Apr. 21, 1953