US2821347A - Indexing mat winding machine - Google Patents

Description

J. F. STEPHENS mbsxmc MAT w-mm uc MAGHINEY Jan. 28, 1958 4 Siesta-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 18, 1955 4 INVENTOR.

JOSEPH F STEPHENS f7 TTOPA/EY Jan. 28, 1958 .1. F. STEPHENS 2,321,347

INDEXING MAT WINDING MACHINE Filed Jan. 18, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 uvmvrm JESEPH F STEPHENS ATTOAWEY tions substantially simultaneously performed by the reindexing mat winding machine, containing one embodiment of my invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view of my indexing mat winding machine taken generally along the line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of my indexing mat winding machine.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary perspective view taken on an enlarged scale, with parts in section, showing the mandrel release means of my indexing mat winding machine.

Figure 5 is a schematic view of the automatic control circuit for my indexing mat winding machine.

More particularly referring now to the drawings, my indexing mat winding machine includes a frame having a base and a pair of upstanding bearing support members 12 and 14. The frame side members 12 and 14 support a reel indicated generally by the reference character 16. Reel 16 includes sides 18 and 20 fixed by means of respective hubs 22 and'24 in spaced relationship on a hollow shaft 26 for rotation therewith. Channel irons 28, fixed by any suitable means such as welding or the like between sides 18 and 20, provide rigidity for the reel structure and maintain sides 18 and 20 in spaced relationship. Hollow shaft 26 is rotatably mounted in supports 12 and 14 by respective bearings 30 and 32.

Referring now to Figure l, the reel 16 supports a number of circumferentially-spaced mat winding units, indicated generally, respectively, by reference numerals 34, 36, and 38. As can be seen by reference to Figures 1, 2, and 4, each of the mat winding units 34, 36, and .38 includes an endless belt 40 supported on a plurality of belt carrying rollers. Each unit includes a drive roller 42 fixed on a shaft 44 which is rotatably mounted in respective bearings 46 and 48 carried by sides 18 and 20. Each of the mat winding units also includes a pair of relatively movable belt supporting rollers 50 and 52. Roller 50 may conveniently be rotatably carried by shaft 54. Shaft 54 is slidably mounted in slots 56 provided in sides 18 and 20. Slots 56 are formed by guide members 58 secured to the sides 18 and 20 by any convenient means such as machine screws 60 or the like. In order to provide a means for moving shaft 54 and roller 50 back and forth in slots 56, I mount a pair of double-acting hydraulic cylinders 62 on brackets 66 carried by sides 18 and 20. The piston rod 68 associated with each of the cylinders 62 is coupled to an end of shaft 54 by a fitting 70. It will readily be appreciated that when rod 68 is actuated, shaft 54 moves along the slots 56. The other of the pair of movable rollers 52 may conveniently be rotatably carried by a shaft 72 slidably mounted in slots 74 formed in sides 18 and 20. In order to move shaft 72 back and forth in slots 74, I provide a pair of double-acting hydraulic cylinders 76 of any appropriate type known in the art. Cylinders 76 are mounted on brackets 78 carried by sides 18 and 20. The piston rod 80 associated with each of the cylinders 76 is coupled to an end of shaft 72 by a fitting 82. It will be appreciated that as rod 80 is actuated, shaft 72 is moved along the slots 74.

Each mat winding unit has an idler roller 84 carried by a shaft 86 rotatably mounted in bearings 88 in sides 18 and 20. I provide a mat tensioning roller 90 rotatably carried bya shaft 92, the ends of which ride in radial slots 94 in sides 18 and 20. Rollers are normally urged radially inwardly on the reel 16 by tension springs 96 fixed between points on the reel sides adjacent the respective hubs 22 and 24 and fittings 98 on the ends of shaft 92.

Referring now to Figures 1 and 2, in order to provide a means for driving the mat winding belts 40, as well as a means for driving the reel stepping means, I mount a motor 100 on a platform 102 secured to side 14 of the frame by any appropriate means such as bolts 104. Motor 100 is held on platform 102 by bolts 106. The drive shaft 108 of motor 100 carries a gear 110 thereon for rotation therewith. Gear 110 drives a gear 112 fixed on a shaft 114 which passes through the hollow shaft 26 carrying the reel 16. It is to be noted that while shaft 26 is rotatably mounted in bearings 30 and 32, shaft 114 is free to rotate within the hollow shaft 26. Any appropriate means, such as thrust collars 116 formed adjacent the ends of shaft 114, may be employed to position shaft 114 axially with respect to shaft 26 and to prevent shifting thereof. I mount a pair of sprocket wheels 118 and 120 on shaft 114 for rotation therewith adjacent the ends thereof. A pair of pitch chains 122 and 124 drivingly connect the respective sprocket wheels 118 and 120 with a pair of sprocket wheels 126 and 128 fixedly mounted on the ends of shaft 44 of mat winding unit 34. This shaft 44 of mat winding unit 34 carries a second pair of sprocket wheels 130 and 132 for rotation therewith adjacentthe respective sprocket wheels 126 and 128. The respective sprocket wheels 130 and 132 are arranged to drive pitch chains 134 and 136. Chain 134 passes around and drives respective sprocket wheels 130 fixed on the shafts 44 of the respective mat winding units 36 and 38. Similarly, chain 136 drives respective sprocket wheels 132 fixed on the shafts 44 of the respective mat winding units 36 and 38. It will readily be appreciated that the wrapping belt drive just described drives all the mat winding belts 40 continuously whenever motor 100 is energized.

In'order to provide a means for stepping the reel 16 when the operations at each station have been completed, I mount the driving member 138 of a one-revolution clutch, indicated generally by the reference character 140, on shaft 108 for rotation therewith. Clutch 140 may be of any type knownto the art, such, for example, as that shown and described in U. S. Patent No. 2,140,737. Clutch 140 includes a driven member 142 fixed on a shaft 144 rotatably mounted in a bearing 146 cart-id by member 14. A clutch operating member 148 is adapted to be actuated to release the drive member 142 of clutch 140 to permit shaft 144 to be driven through one revolution. A spur gear 150 fixed on shaft 144 for rotation therewith drivingly engages a gear 152 fixed on shaft 26 for rotation therewith. It will readily be understood that when the actuating member 148 of clutch 140 is operated to release the driven member 142, shaft 144 will be driven through a single revolution. I select a ratio between gear 150 carried by shaft 144 and gear 152 carried by shaft 26 such that when shaft 144 makes a single revolution, shaft 26 makes a third of a revolution.

I provide a mandrel feed station, a mat winding station, and a discharge station at equally spaced positions around and adjacent to the periphery of reel 16. Conveniently, I mount three circumferentially equally-spaced matwindingunits on the reel 16. The arrangement is such that, at-any time when operations are being performed, one of the mat winding units is adjacent each station. Since shaft 26 carrying reel 16 makes a third of. a revolution when one-revolution clutch 140 is actuated, the mat winding units carried by the reel are stepped successively from station to station after each group of operations is completed.

Referring now to Figure 3, I provide an empty mandrel feed station adjacent the top of the reel. A mandrel supply rack'including'a' pair of spaced inclined rails 154 may be. supported by any ,suitable means .from the machine frame; Eiznpty mandie'ls1S6are'supportedHytIieiirespec tivesliafts 158ibn"rails"154'. Sincerails:-15'4"are inclined downwardlyitoward' 'the reel ldjtlie. mandrel. shafts 158 are fed bygravitytb"apairof substantially verticall'yjdif l rected guideways 160. Each of. the guideways' 160I'is fbrmed by a substantiallyvertically' depending portion 162" of a rail 154 .and by at mandrel shafti retaining' mema ber'164." The guidew'ays 160 directa mandrel shaft 158 to a position wherecits' endsare' retained by a pair of mandrel'feedlreleases latches, eachofi'which is indicated generally by.'the' reference character 166.

Ascan be seen Byreference "to Figurer4j eachiofthe mandrel: feed releaselatch assemblies 1"66in'cluds a housing;168 in which-l.f'slidably.rnount a first finger 170. in an axial bore 1T2formed 'in-the housing. Finger 170 is. normally, urged'to' the tleft,.as.-viewedlin Figure 4,. by a coil spring 174' hearing,..between therbase. of 'housingl68 andfian annular flange 176$formedl adjacentan.end;.o finger 170T Cdnveniently, finger. .110 mayiberthel. armasture of asolenoid, the winding ,178iofi which sccarriedtby, a recessi180 inth'ousing ,168' so. as tosurround fiiigerr170,v When winding; 178" is. energized, fingercl7fl" movedhto the. right, as" viewed' in- Figure 4, against the action: of. spring 17.4- to withdraw thefingertfrom under: the. mandrel shaftl1'58l'to. permitth'eamandrel to move. downwardly; against the surface of an open. belt.40. I slidably mount. a retaining finger. 182 within. a second.bore-184-formedv in.l1ousing.,168.. Finger. 182.is..operatively'connectedwith: fiiiger. 170'. by a levers 186 disposed inttransverserrecess #188: and :pivotany, carriedby a.ipin.1 90. O'net-endroflleven 186: engages ina :recessu192 formed. inzfingert 182.-.and' the othenendloflever 186 engages inaurecess 194in'zfingert 170'. Ash finger@.170 movesnto. the: right: when solenoid 1781 is :energ ized,. it drivesdever: 186-to move' retaining; finger...182 to. therleft, asr-viewed. in Figure 4. While finger .1.70 is.so movedzto releaseua mandrel, finger. 182-;

isamoved .to. -a position to support the. next succeeding;

mandrel; and.. prevent its interference with the mandrel:

beingqfed to a matrwindingunit. When'winding 178 is:

dei-ienergized, ,spring .174 returns:the-.-fingers--to. their nor mal positions, shown in Figure 4, and the mandrelawhichL was. caughtnby. fingers 182 drops to: beretained by "fingers" 170.

Eachof thesideslS and 20 is formed-with a radialt slot 192: adjacent. each: of.-v the mat winding units to receive-- antendof a mandrelshaft-which is being fed tov then' correspondingumat winding-unit; In order to=prov1de a.

means .for; driving:a. mandrel into-the open' belt between rollers50 and52againstthe action ofitension-zrol ler. 90}

machine-"frame;

directionioflrotationof shaft 206 is reversed," the racldlis returned. to. the position ishownin Figure '3. A pairr'ot' arms 208I pivotedhon'pins 210carried by the respective sides 198of rack.194 provide a"drivinggengagemerrt be tween therackand-the mandrel shaft 158-of the mandrel bingtedfto-a.matrwinding unit. Springs 212-connected betweensidest198 and arms 2.08 normally urge: arms 208 in. a. counterclockwise: direction, asviewed in Figure 3.- A pair of..stops 214-carried-by sides.198 limitithewmove ment oflarms 208 .-under.the actionof springsr212i- After thehmandrel release means; 166' has operated" to releasea mandrel. for: movement toward'ibelt 1'40, rack-194 is"driven tor-englger arms 2208-6 withzthet: ends F ofthemandt'el snare As thet raclctcontinuesr to -move= downwardlw the empty" mandrel 156 is forced intoi therbel-t 4fl between rollersitl and 52 against the action of tensionroller 90. As this action talfes place,ptension. roller -is drawn up inrslots 94"against the action of-springs.-96. Whenar mandrel 15.6"ha's'b'eemdriven into belt 40 so that the. mandreLsliaft end's'are positioned in journals formedat thehottomnof radial'sl6ts'192j 'lthe mandrelf'eeddrive motor. (not sliown). connected. to shaft 206 in any appropriate manner is 11% versed'ifia manner'to be-describedhereinafter to return the'feedrack tothe position shown in Figure. 31. U

Iir'order t'o' retain themandrel shaft endsin the-journals in'theh'ottoms of lslbtsxll92, Ii mountaipair. of. solenoidoperatedla'tches' 216 'adjacent the bottoms. of slotsa192; E'achof the"1atclres216 is pivoted on a pin. 218 in one of the sides .18""or"20 and is' operatively connectedawith tliearmature' 220"o fo'ne of a pair of solenoids-222carried by the respective side'sxl8 and20. When a= mandrel shaft has beenpositioned'inlthebottoms "of slots. 192, solenoids 222 are "energized in am'a'nner to be describedrhereinafter to: operate latches' 2161 to hold the mandrelafii'mly in. place; A'fter the mandrelhasbeenso positioned and latched;tlrehydrauliccylinders 62and 76, associated with the respective movable rollers 50 and52, .are operatedtto wrap' the 'belt'aboutthe'mandrel torform a pocket. The relative'dispositiolr ofthe parts of the matwindingunit at this tir'ne is asshownfor unit 36'iniFigureJ.

Wh ile"a*matwinding'unit, such as therunit 34 isre- (ZelVi-llg arrernpty mandrel in the manner just described; another oftheunits, such as the unit 36, is in .a "position? to' receivea'len'gthofmat; Ascan be seen by reference to Figure" 1;: amat feed "conveyor, indicated. generally by, the reference character. 224, is disposed. adjacent theunit 3156 -While-unit 3.4 is" being fedan empty. mandrek, unit3f6 isbcin'gfeda length. of a mat onbatofvfibrous, material 226carriedby conveyor-224; As the=mat226 is being fed to the unit '36, it interrupts alight beam from a lightsource 228 to'a photoelectric relay. unit 23th The photoelectric unit'230forrns apart of the: automatic corn trol circuit to be described hereinafter.

While"u11-it34 is receiving an empty mandrel and while unit 36-is beingfed'with mat, the third-unit 38-is dis-- charging-a wrapped mandrel. When-unit 38-reaches the"- discharge'station, the automatic control meanstobeldescribed hereinafter tie-energizes therlatch solenoidswzi fl v associated'with'this station to release the mandrebshatbends. At the sametime, the movable rollercylinders-62- and 7'6-ofthis unit arereversedto open the-belt andl deliver the wrappedmandrel to a chute 232 -which-de-- livers-the wrapped mandrel vto a discharge conveyor (notshown).

When the operations at each ofthe mandrel feeding. mat winding and wrapped mandrel dischargestations have been completed, the actuating member148 of one-revolution clutch is operated to permit reel.16 to be stepped through-a third of ahrevolution; When-this operationtakes' place; unit 34, which has just received anuempty-z. mandrel; advances to the wrappingastation,.whichfor merly was occupied by unit36; unit'36, the mandrelrofu which has justbeenwrapped withimat advancesto the discharge station, which formerly was occupiedby unit.

38; and unit 38-, which has just delivered a wrapped man-v dr'el, is again advanced to the mandrel feed station, which Referring now to Figure 5, the electrical controlIcircui-t for my mat winding machine includes a pair of- supplyp lines 234 and 236 connected respectively to asuitable source of electrical power having terminalst238' and 2401" The field *winding'of the'main drive motor 1'00'is indicated schematically in the figure by reference character 242.?

One side of winding242 is connected'to' line 234 by, a

pair of normally'open contacts 244. The other side ofwindingfl ii is connectedto line 2.36. The armature 246,

of motor 100 is connected'at one side to line 234 by normally open contacts 248 and at the other side to line 236.

In order to drive shaft 206 to feed mandrels to a mat winding unit, I provide a mandrel feed drive motor including a field winding 250, one side of which is connected by normally open contacts 252 to line 234 and the other side of which is connected to line 236. The brake solenoid 251 associated with the mandrel feed drive motor may conveniently be connected at one side to line 234 by a pair of normally closed contacts 253 and at the other side to line 236. The armature 254 of the mandrel feed drive motor is connected to line 234 by normally open contacts 256 at one side and at the other side is connected to line 236 by normally open contacts 258 and normally closed contacts 260 in series. It will readily be appreciated that when both contacts 256 and 258 are closed, the mandrel feed drive motor is energized to rotate shaft 206 in one direction. Conveniently, when these contacts are closed, shaft 206 is rotated to drive rack 194 in a direction to feed mandrels to belt 40.

In order to provide a means for reversing the direction of rotation of shaft 206, I provide reversing connections for the mandrel feed drive motor. These connections include a pair of normally open contacts 262 for connecting the side of armature 254 to which contacts 258 are connected to line 234. To complete the reversing connections, a pair of normally open contacts 264 connect the side of armature 254 to which contacts 256 are connected to line 236. As will be explained hereinafter, when contacts 262 and 264 close to reverse the direction of rotation of the mandrel feed drive motor, normally closed contacts 260 are opened to interrupt the forward drive circuit of the motor.

In order to start the motor 100 and the mandrel feed drive motor to begin operations, I provide a start button 266 having two pairs of respective contacts 268 and 270 associated therewith. Contacts 268 are connected in series with a mandrel drive motor starting relay Winding 272 and a stop switch 287 between lines 234 and 236. Similarly, contacts 270 are connected in series with a main drive motor starting relay winding 274 and switch 287 between lines 234 and 236. When start button 266 is pressed, contacts 268 and 270 are closed to complete the circuits of their respective windings 272 and 274. When winding 272 is energized, it opens contacts 253 and closes contacts 252, 258 and 256 through a linkage 276 to de-energize brake solenoid winding 251 and to energize the mandrel feed drive motor to drive rack 194 downwardly in a feeding direction. In order to maintain the circuit of winding 272 after the button 266 has been released, I provide a holding circuit including a pair of normally open cor1- tacts 278 adapted to be closed by linkage 276. One of the contacts 278 is connected to one side of winding 272 by a conductor 280. The other of the contacts 278 is connected by normally closed contacts 282 to line 236. When winding 272 is energized by the closing of push button contacts 268, contacts 278 close to maintain the circuit of winding 272. This holding circuit may be traced from line 234, through switch 287, through winding 272, through conductor 280, through contacts 278, and through normally closed contacts 282 to line 236.

When contacts 270 are closed upon operation of button 266, winding 274 is energized to close contacts 244 and 248 through a linkage 282, thus starting the main drive motor 100. In order to maintain the circuit of winding 274 after button 266 has been released, I provide a holding circuit including a pair of normally open contacts 284 which are operated by linkage 282. One of the contacts 284 is connected to the side of winding 274 connected to contacts 270 by a conductor 286. The other of the contacts 284 is connected to line 236. After push button 266, which closes contacts 274 and thereby closes contacts 284, is released, the circuit to winding 274 may be traced from line 234, through switch 287, through winding 274, through conductor 286, through the now closed contacts 284 to line 236.

In order to energize the mandrel release latch solenoid windings 178' at the feeding station, I connect windings 178 in parallel between lines 234 and 236. One side of each of the windings 178 is connected by normally open contacts 288 to line 234, and the other side is connected by normally closed contacts 290 to line 236. As can be seen by reference to Figure 5, contacts 288 are closed when linkage 276 is operated to energize windings 178 and actuate the mandrel release latch fingers 170. After the mandrel release latch fingers have been actuated to release a mandrel, and the mandrel rack 194 has been driven until the mandrel shaft ends are positioned in the bottoms of slots 192, rack 194 engages and actuates a mandrel seating limit switch 292. This mandrel seating limit switch 292 is connected in series with a mandrel seating relay winding 294 between lines 234 and 236. At this time the mandrel seating latches 216 of the mat winding unit positioned adjacent the feeding station are to be operated. It will readily be appreciated that the mandrel seating latches 216 must be closed at the feeding station, kept closed at the winding station, and released at the discharge station. Accordingly, the control means for these latches is conditioned to operate the latches in two positions of the reel and is de-energized to release the latches in the third position of the reel. At any particular position of the reel, the control means for the seating of latches of the unit adjacent the mandrel feed station is conditioned to operate. At the same time, the latches of the unit positioned adjacent the winding station are maintained closed and the latches of the unit positioned adjacent the discharge station are opened. Referring again to Figure 5, the windings 296 of the pair of mandrel seating latch solenoids 222 of the mat winding unit adjacent the feeding station are each connected at one side to line 234. The other sides of each of the windings 296 are connected by a pair of normally open contacts 298 to a contact 300 of a rotary switch including a brush 302 which is connected to line 236. The sides of windings 296 connected to contacts 298 are also connected by normally open contacts 304 to a contact 306 of a second rotary switch including a contacting segment 308 which is connected to line 236. Contacts 298 are arranged to be closed by a linkage 310 which is operated by the energization of the mandrel seating relay winding 294. If this relay Winding 294 is energized to close contacts 298 and the brush 302 engages contact 300, the circuit to,

the parallel-connected windings 296 is complete from line 234, through windings 296, through the now-closed contacts 298, through contact 300 and brush 302 to line 236. Brush 302 may conveniently be carried by shaft 26 so that it engages stationary contact 300 at only one position of reel 16. In order to maintain the circuit of windings 296 while the corresponding unit is at the winding station after the reel has been stepped, I connect a holding winding 312 in parallel with windings 296. Winding 312is adapted when energized to close contacts 304 through a linkage 314. Since winding 312 is connected in parallel with windings 296, it also will be energized when contacts 298 are closed and when brush 302 engages contact 300. When brush 302 leaves contact 300 as the reel is stepped, the circuit to windings 296 and 312 is maintained from line 234 through windings 296 and 312, through the now-closed contacts 304, through contact 306, and through segment 308 to line 236. Segment 308 may also conveniently be carried by shaft 26. Its dimensions are such that it maintains the holding circuit provided by contacts 304 for the period of time when the corresponding unit is at the winding station after it leaves contact 300.

The mandrel seating latch windings 316 associated with another of the mat winding units, which may, for examplc,';;be;theunitx35 adjacentv the winding stationtate connected; onev side? by. a. common: conductorr 1G5 line 234; Theothensides; of these windings; 316i are-cone nected byapair ofcnormally open-contacts 318 tora con-. 5 tacti320t associated withbrush 302; Contacts/318:" are arranged: to: be. closed (by the f linkage- 310 when: the man, drel seating relay Winding 29 4ris energized. When Winding-294th energized: to vclose: contactsz318: and; brush 3fl2r eng agest contactsv 32.0,," the. circuit. to: windings: 316 incomplete-frorn line. 234,;through-.w-indings 316; through n0w=c1osedlcontacts-.318; throughcontact1320. and brush .92ztoaline. 236... In orderttovmaintain;the cirouit'ofiwinds ings 316. 01.thQDflCCSsalEX-Pefiod-Offil'llfinlflfil' brush-302 leaves-contact .320 I connect. a-- holding; winding; 3221- in arallehwith windings.316.. Winding. 322?is adapted when: energizeddon close: a-pair, ofg norrnally open contacts 324- by, means-of. a. linkage. 326. Contacts: 324: ,arezdisposede benween.winding ;322; and. a contact 32% associated. with segment. 108. After brush. 3.02: leaves-tcontaet :iizthzthei circuit .of.. windings} Sid-is; maintained from-dine 23.42- throughp paralleleconnected. windings 316w ands. 322;. thmuglgtmow-closed; contacts. 324;, through] a ;contact: 321; and. through. segment. 308402 line; 236' Inprdentooperate thetmandrel seating latch solenoids: 32.81 associated. with, therthird. mat: winding. unit: which may forrexample, be the..unit 38tdisposedaadjacentt.the: dijchargestation, .I connect, the associated -.latch; solenoid: Wiiidii1g:328,at,onesideto line 23,4 and at.,the..-other:side: through normally I open. contacts. 330i to a. third. contact: 3321 associatedjwith. brush. 302.. Gonta-ots: 33.41 arezan-c ranged to. be closedihy, linkage-310 'upon tthesenergizationt of the, mandr'eli seating relay winding. 294. i When wind,- ing,294.is. energized, to. closev contactsa330; and brush engages contact,3,32, .the..cirlcuit ,to windings 328-.isi-come plete from. line 234; through. windings 328, through mow: closed contacts 330; through. contact, Sin-and brush 3,02; to;lii1e 236; In order. to. maintaiimthe. circuitzofawindingsz; 328" for the. necessary, period; of, time; afterbrushififlza 1eaves"contact'322;;Ifconnect aholding relay winding 3.3.4 in;paral1'e1with' windings 328;. Winding.;33.4;is adapted; when energizedtoiclose. a ,pair. of=normally1 o en-contacts;- 336 -hy means ofa.1ii1lage.338. Contacts:336 are.cone nected 'between windings 33,4;and athird .contacti34tlassasciatedrwithKsegment' 3081; After: brush.302. leaves contacts 332, the 'cir'cuit' to windings. 328; isnmaintai-neds from -line--; zflfthrouglrwindings 328and 334, through contactss32l6gthrough contact .340 and segment308ito .line.236.. Itawill readily= be appreciated" that since. Windiug,:334 is. cone neeted in parallelj'with windings 3'28, it-.wi1l .be energized-r when brush- 3'02 engages contact. 332. and :when contacts. 330 are' closed.

It is' to 'be noted thatth'e arrangement; of. segmentx3fl8e and -itscorresponding contacts,-,and .brush.302 and. its core responding-contacts; is such that thelatchesrofsthevarious1 mat winding units: are actuated inthe. proper. sequencer. Botlr segment 3'08 and brush j 302 may. conveniently be; carried 'hy'sliaftzzti to reel 16 'andarrangedto.engage sta=- tio'nary, equally circumferentially -spaced contacts... The." direction" of rotation of 1 segment-3081andpbrush, 302-. is clockwise, as 'is indicated in Figure 5. When segment 308:1, first engages a contact. corresponding ;to a. particular mat. winding unit, brush'302. also engagesa contact: COIIfle-r sppndirrgto this unit. Consequently, when thetassociatedv. mandrel seating relay, contacts close, the latchsolenoids. ofithisunit are.energized. When thereel-isinext:stepped the" segment. 308 maintains v. its engagement with .-the';'conen tact associated with ,theparticular unit, :so that; the man-.5 drelila'tcb; solenoids. remain engaged, When the-reel'isz again stepped segment. 3.08:leaves;theacontact; and't therr' mandrellatch solenoids are de-energizedto release the: mandrel. This sequence .of operation isthe same for-each.- of the mat-winding unitsr34,l36, and-38st When-:1 ayunittx is at. the mandrel ,-feed ..station,? the :latch', solenoidcircuitsz/ are conditioned'to close ,thehlatches when, the mandrel seat- 75 r 10 ing limit switch is engaged. When the reel is stepped to: move; the unit: 103 the: mat: winding station; the. latch solenoid winding .circuitsrare maintained:throughisegment 308. When:therreellisagain.steppedto movecthe'lmit to theudischarge': station; segment 3.085 leaves the associated Contact torinterruptl the mandrel solenoid holdingcircuits and permitithelatcheszto' release the mandrel.

Aftersansempty. mandrel .has beenfed to tone of the mat winding units; soy-as; to: be; seated. in the bottom: of the radial? slots:122;.theurnandre1: feedad'riye motor must be reversed-.1; to: return tdrii ez-rack 194 to.- its: initial position! The; reversal. of: the-:mandrel: feeding! drive: motor: may readily: be: accomplished: by closing normally open. con taotsflfii .-znd-.264 and atttliexsamedime; opening contacts? 260. In; ordergctcxzopnm contacts: 260) and close: contacts 262;. and: 264,5 I; proyi'de: ameversing. trelayt winding 342* adapted.whenrenergiz'edato operate: contacts: 260, 262; and" 264% through 2 aalinkagezriflsti I connectt OIIetSid'G of wind in'g; 3.42.; to}. line; z2342flandothezotherc side: to: line: 236* by: means of;aipair:ofinormallyopen::.contactsi346': Contacts 3d6tarerzclosedihyulihlcage 310swhen :the mandrel seatingg ltelaynwindinglfiisi-energized: by the nclosing of the mandrel:Eseatingclimitzfswitchz 292. Wh'en contacts 336 olose,=; winding 3.42Lis1 energized: to operate contacts 260, 262; t and 264.40 :reverse: the mandreli feed. drive motor. In: ordervto maintain: the; circuit. 'of relay winding 342 afterr. rack: 1&4: isndisengagedtfrom'r the: mandrel seating limitt switch :.29Z-;=.I;connect a holding relay windingx348 imparallel with;winding 342QSOJHS to .be:energized'-when= contactsr3i46 close. Winding348ris connected by normally open contacts. 35.0; anthnormally closed contacts 352 to. line-.236; When: energized... winding 1 34'8". closes conta'ctse 350.- through a:linkagefi54 to maintain-the=reversing wind ing; circuit; after tbie rack-r194 releases the mandrel seat ing limittswitcliizflzh After: 'an=.empty.- mandre11has been seated' in slots-I92 andtlatchedtin-.piacetby latches't2163 the-movablerollers v 5.0t.-a-nd152 loft thezunittto wliichithennandrel has beenfecl are i moved. toward one another! to: form 1 a i pocket of 'th'e' belt:40.1a-bout.the-. mandreh Tosaccomplish' this endg fluidunder: pressure: must. be fed; tortliea proper side'- of F each? of-theecylindersyfifl and 76'associated'with the unitgand' thmother sides:-of:these:double=actingcylindrstslfbnldti? connected tottthenexhaust... Asacanarbetseemby reference to.- Eignrec 3;, each: cylinder: .62 Lisa provided with a"-' fiu'id connection.-356rat: ,one: end! thereof: and a second fiirid connection.358a=at .tl'ierother endSth'er-eof. Similarly; eachf of,.the, cylinders: ;76.-is providedrwithzconnections 360 and 362. Whenethe:moyablearollersz 5'0Jand 52 are' twbev moved .towardtone. anotherato form a' pocket' of belt" 40" aliouta mandrel, ll lles'i356F31Id3362t8h0111d be con-nected'" total-source oftfluidzun'der*pressureeandlines 3'58 and 362:-should1be conneeted-ztwthelexhaust:. Referring 'again to .Eigure. 5,- in orderzto sma'ke :theseiconnections, .I "provide solenoid). control; valves each associated with one=- of" the respective. t man. winding: units. For example; associated? with .therunit.positionedadjacent the feding 'station; arrange:a.valve-;364;-. fmoneeposition of the' valve-a Source ll essure .Brisaconnectedr to lines-356 'and 'SGZ- ofi'theassociated .-uni-t to:actuatesmovablerollers-5 0 and 5-2" to .the .closed -position.r In thistposition of 'th'ewalve; lines" 358..and 3.60 arewonnected to; and exhaust E-i For con-r venie'nce; lines 356 and"!362I of 3each unit;'wliielfleorrtv spond .to.the. closed mositi'omofithesmovaMe rollers-when .1 pressure is applied; thereto; have been' designated by the" outletC of 1the2valves= shown :in :Figure -S 5 Similarly"; lines 358,.andllifitb; whichiitxrirespiondsto the open beltposition" when pressure:is: applied thereto; have been'indi'cated. as themutlet O-oEeaclt ofth'e valyes'shown in..Fi"gure v5'. Thesvalve :364Econrespond *to the mat winding unit which; is adjacent :tlte mandrel feeding station. It is desirable. that this walve'besactuated"to'connect a source of pressure to closez'th'e movable rollers after a mandrel has. been... seatedd in slots wzi In'order to actuate valve 364'. to

accomplish this result, I provide a solenoid winding 366 arranged to actuate valve 364 through a suitable linkage. In order to energize winding 366 to operate valve 364 to close rollers 50 and 52, I connect one side of winding 366 through a pair of normally open contacts 370 to line 236. I connect the other side of winding 366 to line 234 by normally open contacts 372. In order to close contacts 370 and 372 to energize solenoid 366, I connect a relay winding 374 at one side through a pair of normally open contacts 376 to line 236. I connect the other side of winding 374 to a conducting segment 378 with which a brush 380 connected to line 234 is associated. Contacts 376 are closed by linkage 310 when the mandrel seating limit switch closes to energize winding 374 to close contacts 370 and 372 to energize solenoid 366 to actuate valve 364 to connect lines 356 and 362 of the associated mat winding unit hydraulic cylinders to a source of fluid under pressure to close the movable rollers 50 and 52. At the same time, lines 358 and 360 are connected to the exhaust. This is the condition of valve 364 indicated in Figure 5. In order to maintain the circuit of solenoid 366 after the mandrel seating limit switch 292 has been released by rack 194, I connect a holding winding 382 in parallel with winding 374 so as to be energized when winding 374 is energized. Winding 382 is adapted to close a pair of normally open contacts 384 through a linkage 386. Contacts 384 are connected between winding 382 and line 236. It will be appreciated that after the movable rollers 50 and 52 of a unit have been closed to form a pocket of belt 40 about a mandrel, they are to be maintained in the closed position during the period of time when the unit is at the winding station and until the reel has been stepped to advance the unit to the discharge station. In order to reverse the direction of actuation of valve 364 so as to open the movable rollers of the unit with which the valve is associated, I provide a second solenoid 368 for actuating valve 364 in a direction opposite to the direction in which the valve is actuated by solenoid 366. I connect one side of solenoid 368 to line 234 by a pair of normally open contacts 390 and the other side of winding 368 to line 236 by a pair of normally open contacts 388. When contacts 388 and 390 are closed, valve 364 is actuated to connect the lines 358 and 360 of the hydraulic cylinders of the associated mat winding unit to a source of fluid under pressure and to connect lines 356 and 362 of hydraulic cylinders of the associated mat winding unit to the exhaust. In order to provide a means for closing contacts 388 and 390 when the unit arrives at the discharge station, I provide a relay winding 392 connected at one side to line 236 and at the other side to a second segment 394 associated with brush 380. Conveniently, I arrange brush 380 on the shaft 26. The arrangement is such that brush 380 engages segment 378 when the associated unit is at the feeding station, so that the movable rollers 50 and 52 will be closed when the mandrel seating limit switch 292 is engaged. This engagement of brush 380 is maintained during the stepping of reel 16 to keep the movable rollers in a closed position until the corresponding unit arrives at the discharge station. When the unit arrives at the discharge station, brush 380 engages segment 394 to complete the circuit of reversing relay winding 392 from line 234, through brush 380, through segment 394, and through winding 392 to line 236. When winding 392 is energized, contacts 388 and 390 are closed through a suitable linkage to energize solenoid 368. It will be readily understood that segments 378 and 394 are separated by insulation so that the holding circuit provided by winding 382 is interrupted as brush 380 travels from segment 378 to segment 394, thus de-energizing the solenoid 366 which closes the movable rollers. When solenoid 368 is energized, lines 356 and 362 are connected to the exhaust, and lines 358 and 360 are connected to the source of fluid under pressure.

I provide similar valve arrangements for the remainder 12. of the mat winding units. For the mat winding unit positioned adjacent the winding station, I arrange valve 396 similar to valve 364. Valve 396 is actuated by a suitable linkage driven by a solenoid 400. Solenoid 400 is connected at one side to line 234 by a pair of normally open contacts 404 and at the other side to line 236 by a pair of normally open contacts 402. When contacts 402 and 404 are closed, solenoid 400 actuates valve 396 to move the corresponding movable rollers to a closed position. I provide a relay winding 406 connected at one side to line 236 by normally open contacts 408 and at the other side to a segment 410 with which a brush 412, connected to line 234, is associated. Contacts 408 are closed by linkage 310 operated by the mandrel seating relay winding 294 to energize winding 406 when brush 412 contacts segment 410. When winding 406 is so energized, contacts 402 and 404 close to energize solenoid 400 to drive valve 396 to actuate the corresponding hydraulic cylinders to close the movable rollers of the unit. A holding coil 414 connected in parallel with winding 406 is arranged to close normally open contacts 416 connected between line 236 and coil 414 by a linkage 418. The circuit to coil 406 is thereby maintained. In order to reverse the direction of actuation of valve 396 so as to open the corresponding movable rollers when the unit arrives at the discharge station. I provide a second solenoid 398 connected at one side to line 236 by a pair of normally open contacts 420 and at the other side to line 234 by a pair of normally open contacts 422. When contacts 420 and 422 are closed, solenoid 398 is energized to operate valve 396 in a direction to cause the corresponding movable rollers to be opened. In order to ope'rate contacts 420 and 422, I provide a relay winding 424 connected between line 236 and a segment 426 associated with brush 412. As the reel is stepped, brush 412 moves from segment 410 to segment 426 to interrupt the holding circuit of relay winding 406 and complete the circuit of winding 424. Winding 424 when energized closes contacts 420 and 422 to energize solenoid 398 actuating valve 396 in a direction to open the corresponding movable rollers. It is to be understood that the relative length of segments 410 and 426 is such that the movable rollers close when the unit is at the feeding station and the mandrel seating limit switch 292 is actuated, and the rollers do not open until the unit arrives at the discharge station.

-For the unit which corresponds to the unit at the discharge station, I provide a valve 428 which is actuated by a suitable linkage driven by a solenoid 432. In order to energize solenoid 432 to drive valve 428 to move the corresponding movable rollers to the closed position, I connect one side of winding 432 to line 234 by normally open contacts 436. I connect the other side of winding 432 to line 236 by normally open contacts 434. In order to actuate contacts 434 and 436, I provide a relay winding 438 connected at one side by normally open contacts 440 to line 236 and connected at the other side to a segment 442, with which a brush 444 connected to line 234 is associated. Contacts 440 are closed by linkage 310 to energize winding 438 to close contacts 434 and 436 to energize solenoid 432 to actuate valve 428 to move the corresponding movable rollers to closed position. In order to maintain this circuit of winding 438 after the mandrel seating limit switch 292 isrreleased, I connect a winding 446 in parallel with winding 438 so as to be energized when winding 438 is energized. Winding 446 operates a linkage 448 to close normally open contacts 450 connected between winding 446 and line 236 to maintain the circuit of winding 438. In order to actuate valve 428 in a direction to Open the corresponding movable rollers, I provide a second solenoid 430 connected at one side to line 234 by a pair of normally open contacts 454 and connected at the other side to line 236 by a pair of normally open contacts 452. When contacts 452 and 454 are closed, winding 430 is 13 energized to actuate valve-428 in a direction opposite to the direction in which the valve is actuated by ,the energization of winding 432. When the winding 430 is so energized; the corresponding-rnoyable rollers; are opened. To operate-contacts 452 and 454-;to energize solenoid 430;; I= provide a relay wi1'1ding -'456 rcpnnectedj'between line 236- and a segment; 45-8 :'associated with; brush 444; As the reel is stepped; brush" 444 engagessegrnent, 458 W-hen'the corresponding unitis at;the discharge sta on to energize winding 456'j and" close the conta t$i45lflanrl 454 toenergize solenoid 43(Y -and;to open the ,cQ,1ir?.$Pond ing movable rollers;

It-= will i readilybe' ppreciated; that all the brushes 38,0, 412; and-[444 are carried'by shaft"2 6;.for rotation there with, The relative circumferential ,spacing ot gthegbrushes issuch that the' brush correspondingv to the, unit at the mandrel feed; station engages a segment snch assegrnent 378 sothat the rollers-may be moved,to' a closcd positifiln when the mandrekseating limit switchjs actuated, The brush corresponding to'the unit 'at the winding station engages asegrnent such,as the segment 4ljl,,so thatr its associated solenoid is maintained energized in a direction, to close the corresponding movable rollers. The brush 444is sopositioned that;it,engages a segment, such as the segment 458; to energize the solenoidcwhich-i operates valve 428'to move the corresponding movable, rollers to open position.

After'a mandrel, has been fedjtqtthc pen belt and latched in the bottoms f s1ots 192 by, latc hes- 2 16,- and the movable rollers 50,.andj52 haye been closed,.,the rack 194 on its return engages andjactuates a return limit switch 460' connected at one side ;to. line 234;, and, at the; other side to line 236, by areturnrelay, winding 462,, When winding 462is energized, itioperatesalinkagefifii to open normally closed. contacts, 352,,and, thereby interrnpt themandrelfeed drivemotoli reversing; circuit. It ls pens norma lyt lose cont silifllo ev nergize the mandrel feedlatchsolenoids 178v andperrnitthenr to reset. This winding 462 ;also, opens normally clo,sed,con-, tacts 282, to interrupt the holding circuit for. the-.main-- control relay winding, 272 andLPermitcontacts 252, 2518; 256; n 288' to pen; and,con act 53ctQ. e..;

In,order to,.step the,reel.when a groupmf operations have been completed, Iconnect a solenoidflfitl at on sideto line 236tby a pair of norm-ally,open-contactsi46fit. 1 6: other side o f solenoid 1464 is connectedv by normally open, contacts 468f to line 234., Contacts,,466,are closed upon, the energization of, winding 462, when .rack, 19 41-.eng age s-. the rack return limit switchAfitl. Thenormally, open con-,1 tacts 468 are momentarily, closed by the operation; of a timer which; will be describedin detailshereinafter. When both contacts 468., and contacts .466. are: closed, solenoid; 464, is moment ri y erg e pe a e he 1 ctuating mernb'er 148mb one-revolution clutch 140,7totreleasetthe; v n. membet 142m ,perm i g e ev tipnzof;, hat 144. This single reyolution of; shaft- 144 steps; the reelhrough 1 a hir i f. alrcvol nt yr ean f? ars: 150. nd 15.2 The, tepping f e reel, .v utoma ic lly: accomp d at th nd of,. a: r a f pe at on m m ans f, a. pho o e ay tu m-, phot tu ef 230;, Thephoto relay 470, is connectedat. one side toe 234 and at the, other side, to line 236 through a windin 4.72. Winding; 472t;ist adapted when energized ,to :close ,-a-- pain-of: normallycpen contacts474 throug ailinkage fld when' thelight beam fromsource 228-10 phototube 230;is-;interrnptedby a length of mat from the conveyor ;2 24-. C911: tacts 474..Ia re connected in ,series; witha dimer relay-winds ing 478 bctweenilines 2:34. and 236. Winding 478? when ergized initi te he a o t o 1 irnin' t ev ee; &2;

timer. 8. et n. i 1$m24 nd236, T e e i wation .1

of {winding 484 closes c ontacts 46 8l tostepthe reel. It is;

to he nctedalso, that en r iza i nl f. winding 72 c osestv 14 a pair of contacts 486 connected between the conductor &0 .andrlinelfifi. Ihist losure omplet -4, h r ireuitzto the main control\ rje1ay 272'. 'to begin, a. new group. of perat on h me elay. between. the operation a of i photo.. el y 47 .0 and the, operation of jtinrer, 482i is so selected that, all operations willgbe complete bythjeltime-tho timing device 482 operates. That is, the feeding of an empty mandrel o, h matv winding ,unitpositioned dja ent thereto "will have been comple d .80 that the contacts Add associated with the mandrel jfeed rack returnrelay. winding 462 will be closed; Consequently', wherncontacts468i are closed 120. 1 the.- per tio of" hel imer 4822., he solenoid. 46 ill; e nergized; o. ctuate the: ones-r volution clutch to step the reel:

It will gbe appreciated ,that when operations are initiated, the mat ind ng ni at thewindingw ta i n w ll r y n mp y, tmand e g and. not winding, p r ion: will be performed-L onseq en ly, im r" 482. will, not operate after a mandrel has been, fed,v to, themat winding; unit oppositethemandrel feed stationt In'order to energize solenoid464'to, stenthereelafter this initial delivery ffan, empty, mandrel )to the-nnit. positioned adjacent the mandrel. feed v station, I, connect a manually operable pushbuttonswitch 488,in:para1lc1; with contacts 468. After anempty,mandrelghas been fedtto ainatrwinding unit when operation. of "the machine is being set up, switch 488' maybe actuated to energizetsolenoid464 and step, the, reel. It willbe, appreciated that at this time; contacts 466; have been closed, by. winding 462 so ha h Ci cuit 1 lenoida4 4rmav readily be completed nl ne a on,. assuming h relativedisp-osi iom of. the mat'winding unitscto boas, shown in.Figure,1,,so.that the,ma chin e, is; operatinghall. thcebclts 40,, will be con: uously ive nce the.-he1t drive .motor was, started by the operation ot'pnsh button switch 266 to close .contacts 4 n zeiig H01 .apQntaetsZ AseIve.to maintain the circuit. ofjwinding- 27 4.. to keep. contacts 244V and 24 8?clo sed u ntilfstop button 287 Y is operated to. stop the m c ne,

As a length ofjmat 2,6 6tis,fed, to,the,unit.36, it inter-r rupts-jhe bean oilight from lightsource. 228,10 photo-- tubje 23011 When this. occurs, photo, relay, 470 operates; in a manner known to the art to energize winding 472,

lose. ontacts 474 and.48,6.. When wn a s ose they, complete ie irc itrof winding zn from, line, 3i h fo g,t switch. 2& rough. winding 2.72,,thro1- il line, 280; thjtouglicontactsASfi, to, line, 236. The-energiezatio noi wi I i .1g,27 Z p sv ,contacts..:253 ,in vthe man r l, feed drive motor brake solenoid circuit to t de. ,-.energi ze, solenoidj251 to release the brake. The energization of, winding 272 al so closes rnandrel feed, drive. ,motor, field": winding contacts ;25 2,jand,'closes. theridown ,drive: contacts; 5 nd, 51 .01 hem ndrel. fe d drivesmotort arm ture-,- 253 Atfleeame ime contacts..,288., are-clos d,- to ener zefl le man relgfeedreleas sol noids-47$ When sole 0id. 78" re nergized. fingers, movet -a ewed 'inl i g n a4, to,re1ease.. nds ,of .an empty r li' hatt 15.8 1096 51 the ma drel- .to be d downwardt toward an,open belt 40. At ,thesame time. fingers, 182 mo e. to. heleft, (a ewed inEi re...4,,,to catch: n tai n tl 1 'e shaft endsofthe next empty ,mandrel. As-tther an rell riye motor. rotates,-,i ri e r h f 06 in ,ardir rection to d iv rack l94idownw rdly svi wed inF gure 3. As, rack 194 moyes downwardly, arms 208 r engage-.1 the ends of-fth'e relcaS2d,,mandrc1 shaft 158- to force-themandrelj 15,6 downward into, belt ,40 between movable,- ro l1jt; rs .50jand 52,,againsttthe,action of tensioning roller 90,] When rackr194treaches, the limit of its downward; rnqvement the ends .of, shaft 158,-are seated invthebotq om hof, .i cradialag ide sl t 192-; A hi c194v engages and 'actuates the mandrel seating limit switch 292;; to complete he -,cir.e i.t. :0f: th m ndrel se ing relay Windi g;294- Energ zat nzoftthe. mandrel :seating relay nds ing zggi closest contacts, 1 3 462 r to, co nplete-v the: circuit of:

15 winding 342 to open contacts 260 and close contacts 262 and 264. The opening of contacts 260 interrupts the down drive circuit of armature 254, and the closing of contacts 262 and 264 completes the return drive circuit for armature 254. The circuit of winding 242 is maintained by a holding circuit including winding 348 and contacts 350.

The energization of mandrel seating relay winding 294 also closes the mandrel seating latch contacts 298, 318, and 330 of the respective units. It can be seen by ref erence to Figure that the closing of contacts 298 associated with windings 296 completes the circuit of these windings from line 234, through windings 296, through contacts 298, through contact 300, and through brush 302 to line 236. Windings 295 may conveniently be those which are associated with the unit 34 positioned adjacent the feed station. The circuit to windings 296 is maintained after brush 302 leaves contact 300 by the holding circuit including winding 312 and normally open contacts 384. When windings 296 are energized, winding 312 is energized to close contacts 304 and maintain the circuit of windings 296 through contact 306 and segment 308 carried by the shaft 26. As brush 302 leaves contact 308 when the reel is stepped, segment 308 remains in engagement with contact 306 to maintain the circuit of windings 296 when the corresponding unit is at the winding station.

It is to be understood that at the time when the parts are as shown in Figure 5, the circuit to seating latch windings 316 associated with the unit adjacent the winding station are maintained by virtue of the engagement of segment 308 with contact 327. These windings 316 were, of course, initially energized during the preceding group of operations. At this time also the latch windings 328 of the unit adjacent the discharge station are de-energized, since their holding circuit was interrupted as segment 308 left contact 340 when the reel was stepped. During the next succeeding group of operations, after that represented in Figure 5, windings 328 will be conditioned to be energized as that unit moves toward the mandrel feed station, and windings 316 are arranged to be deenergized as the corresponding unit arrives at the discharge station.

The closing of the mandrel seating relay winding 294 also closes contacts 376, 408, and 440 associated with the respective mat winding units. The closing of the contacts 376 associated with the unit adjacent the mandrel feed station energizes winding 374 to close contacts 370 and 372 to energize winding 366 to actuate valve 364 to connect lines 356 and 362 of the unit 34 to a source of fluid under pressure, and to connect lines 358 and 360 of the unit to the exhaust. When the lines are so connected, movable rollers 50 and 52 are driven toward one another, as viewed in Figures 1 and 3, to form a pocket of the belt 40 about the empty mandrel. It is to be understood that during this group of operations the solenoid 400 associated with the unit positioned adjacent the winding station is maintained energized by the holding circuit including winding 414 and contacts 416. This winding was initially energized during the preceding group of operations. At the same time the solenoid 432 corresponding to the unit adjacent the discharge station is deenergized, and the solenoid 430 of this unit is energized. When solenoid 430 is energized, the lines 358 and 360 of the associated unit, which may be the unit 38,. are connected to a source of fluid under pressure, and the lines 356 and 362 of this unit are connected to the exhaust. When these connections are made, the movable rollers 50 and 52 are driven away from each other to force a wrapped mandrel onto the delivery conveyor 232.

It is to be understood that all the brushes 380, 412, and 444 are carried by the shaft 26 and relatively circumferentially spaced so as to engage a proper segment to energize a proper one of the associated solenoids to open and close the movable rollers of the corresponding unit. If, for example, we take the unit 34, its solenoid '366 is initially energized when the unit is positioned adjacent the mandrel feed station, and the mandrel seating limit switch 292 is operated. This is accomplished by the energization of winding 374. When the mandrel seating limit switch operates to close contacts 376, the circuit of winding 374 is complete from line 234, through brush 380, through segment 378, through winding 374 and through contacts 376 to line 236. The circuit of winding 374 is maintained after the mandrel seating limit switch is released from line 234, through segment 378, through winding 374, and through contacts 384 to line 236. It will be readily appreciated that the circuit of winding 374 is maintained by the engagement of brush 380 with segment 378 as the reel is stepped through the winding station. When the reel is stepped to advance unit 34 to the discharge station, brush 380 leaves segment 378 to de-energize winding 374 and permit the circuit of solenoid 366 to open. When brush 380 engages segment 394 as unit 34 arrives at the discharge station, the circuit of winding 392 is complete to energize solenoid 368 and reverse valve 364 to open the movable rollers of unit 34. The operation of units 36 and 38 is similar to that of unit 34.

When the mandrel feed rack has been returned to a position where it engages and actuates the return limit switch 460, winding 462 is energized to open the return drive circuit for the mandrel feed drive motor at contacts 352. At the same time, the circuit to the mandrel release latch solenoids 178 is interrupted at contacts 290. The main control relay winding 272 is de-energized by the opening of contacts 282.

The operation of the return limit switch 460 to energize Winding 462 also closes contacts 466 so that the reel stepping solenoid 464 is conditioned to operate. It will be remembered that the entry of a length of mat into the space between the source of light 228 and the phototube 230 energized winding 472 to close contacts 474 to initiate operation of the timer 482 by means of winding 478. After a mandrel feed operation is complete and a winding and discharge operation are also complete, timer 482 operates to energize winding 484 to close contacts 468 and thereby complete the circuit of solenoid 464. When the circuit of winding 464 is complete, it operates the actuating member 148 of one-revolution clutch to permit the reel to be stepped through a third of a revolution. When the reel is so stepped, unit 34, which has received an empty mandrel, moves to the winding station; unit 36, the mandrel of which has just been wrapped with a length of mat, moves to the discharge station; and the unit 38, which has just discharged a wrapped mandrel, moves to the mandrel feed station. The machine is then ready for a new group of operations to be initiated by the entry of another length of mat into the space between the light source 228 and the phototube 230. It will be remembered that segment 308, brush 302, and brushes 380, 412, and 444 are all stepped as the reel is stepped. Consequently, both the mandrel seating latches 216 and the movable roller drive cylinders of all the units are conditioned to operate properly on the next group of operations of the machine. If when operations are being commenced so that no winding occurs at the winding station and therefore timer 482 does not operate to close contacts 468, the push button 488 may be operated to step the reel to carry a mandrel which has just been fed to a winding unit to the winding station. Operations thereafter will follow automatically. If at any time during the course of operation it is desired to stop the machine, the push button 287 may be operated. Also, if desired, suitable overwrap limit switches and limit switches responsive to a proper latching of a mandrel shaft end with the bottoms of slots 192 may be provided. Such switches are disclosed in my copending application Serial No. 425,837.

While I have shown my mat machine. as including only a single reel carrying only one mandrel at each station, it will readily be appreciated that a number of reels or a reel capable of handling more than a single mandrel at a time at a station could conveniently be employed with a common drive and control system.

It will be seen that I have accomplished the objects of my invention. I have provided an automatic indexing multiple unit mat winding machine which is capable of an extremely high rate of production. My machine includes a number of mat winding units on which various operations are simultaneously accomplished. Further, my machine is provided with means for automatically stepping the units from station to station after a group of operations have been completed. My automatically indexing multiple unit mat winding machine is particularly adapted to produce windings of small diameter or mat windings which have thin walls. Consequently, my machine is adapted to take advantage of the potential productive capacity of a production line when such small diameter or thin-walled windings are being made.

It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of my claims. It is further obvious that various changes may be made in details within the scope of my claims without departing from the spirit of my invention. It is therefore to be understood that my invention is not to be limited to the specific details shown and described.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

l. A mat winding machine for winding lengths of mat about mandrels including in combination a mat winding unit including a belt adapted to be actuated to form a pocket for receiving an empty mandrel to be wrapped and to discharge a wrapped mandrel and drive means for driving said belt to wrap a length of mat about the mandrel, movable means mounting said mat winding unit for movement therewith, means positioned adjacent said mounting means for feeding an empty mandrel to said mat winding unit, means positioned adjacent said moutning means spaced from said mandrel feeding means for feeding a length of mat to said mat winding unit, means positioned adjacent said mounting means spaced from said mandrel feeding means and said mat feeding means for receiving a wrapped mandrel from said mat winding unit, and means for stepping said mounting means successively to position said unit adjacent said mandrel feeding means and said mat feeding means and said wrapped mandrel receiving means.

2. A mat winding machine as in claim 1 wherein said mat winding unit mounting means is a reel.

3. A mat winding machine as in claim 1 wherein said mounting means is formed with means for receiving the ends of a mandrel and latches for seating said mandrel ends in said receiving means.

4. A mat winding machine as in claim 1 wherein said mounting means is formed with means for receiving the ends of a mandrel, latches operable to seat said mandrel ends in the receiving means, and means for operating said latches to seat a mandrel when said unit receives a mandrel from the mandrel feeding means and for releasing said latches to release the mandrel when the unit arrives at the wrapped mandrel receiving means.

5. A mat winding machine as in claim 1 wherein said mat winding unit includes a plurality of belt supporting rollers for said belt, said drive means rotating one of said rollers to drive said belt, at least a pair of said rollers being relatively movable with respect to each other, drive means operable selectively to move said movable rollers toward each other and to move said movable rollers away from each other, and control means for energizing said drive means to move said movable rollers toward one another to form a pocket of said belt about a'mandrel received by the unit from said mandrel feeding means and for energizing said drive means to move said rollers away from each otherwhen said unit is positioned adjacent the Wrapped mandrel receiving means.

6. A mat winding machine as in claim 1 wherein said mat winding unit comprises a plurality of belt supporting rollers for said belt, said drive means driving one of said rollers to drive said belt, at least a pair of said rollers being relatively movable with respect to each other, means including a double acting fluid pressure cylinder for selectively moving said movable rollers toward and away from each other, a sourceof fluid under pressure, a re-. versible valve for controlling the flow of fluid under pressure from said source to said cylinder, and means for actuating said valve to move said relatively movable rollers toward one another to form a pocket of said belt about a mandrel received by said unit from the mandrel feed means and to move said rollers away from each other to open said pocket when the unit arrives at the wrapped mandrel receiving means.

7. A mat winding machine as in claim 1 wherein said empty mandrel feed means includes a rack for holding a supply of mandrels, a feed latch for retaining said mandrels on said rack, and means for releasing said latch to feed a mandrel to said mat winding machine when the unit is positioned adjacent the empty mandrel feed means.

8. A mat winding machine for winding lengths of mat about mandrels including in combination a plurality of mat winding units each comprising a belt adapted to be actuated to form a pocket for receiving an empty mandrel to be wrapped and to discharge a wrapped mandrel and means for driving the belt to wrap a length of mat about a mandrel, means mounting said mat winding units in spaced relationship to each other, mandrel feed means for feeding an empty mandrel to a first one of said mat winding units, means for feeding a length of mat to a second one of said units when said first unit is at a position to receive an empty mandrel, means for receiving a wrapped mandrel from a third one of said units when said first unit is at a position to receive an empty mandrel and said second unit is at a position to receive a length of mat, and means for stepping said mat winding unit mounting means successively to position each of said units adjacent said mandrel feeding means and said mat feeding means and said wrapped mandrel receiving means.

9. A mat winding machine as in claim 8 wherein each of said mat winding units includes a plurality of belt supporting rollers for supporting the belt of each unit, said drive means comprising a common drive means for driving one roller of each unit to drive all of said belts.

10. A mat winding machine as in claim 8 wherein said mounting means is a reel, the arrangement being such that said units are spaced circumferentially around said reel, one of said units being positioned adjacent each of said mandrel feed means and said mat feeding means and said wrapped mandrel receiving means whereby a mandrel feed operation and a winding operation and a discharge operation take place after each stepping operation.

11. A mat winding machine for winding lengths of mat about mandrels including in combination a mandrel feed station, a winding station, a discharge station, a plurality of mat winding means each comprising a belt adapted to be actuated to form a pocket for receiving an empty mandrel to be wrapped and to discharge a wrapped mandrel and means for driving the belt to wrap a length of mat about a mandrel, means mounting said mat winding units such that one of said units is positioned adjacent each of the respective stations, and means for stepping said moutning means to position each of said units successively adjacent each of said stations.

12. A mat winding machine as in claim 1 1 wherein each of said units includes a plurality of belt supporting rollers for each of said belts, said drive means driving one roller of each unit to drive said belts, at least a pair of said rollers ofeach unit being relatively movable toward one another to form a pocket of the belt about a mandrel received by the unit and away from each other to discharge a wrapped mandrel from the unit, means for moving the movable rollers of each unit, and control means for actuating the roll moving means of the unit positioned adjacent the mandrel feed station to form said pocket when said unit receives a mandrel and for actuating the roll moving means of the unit positioned adjacent the discharge station to open said pocket to discharge a wrapped mandrel.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS FOREIGN PATENTS Switzerland July 1, 1953

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