US3567211A

US3567211A - Cloth roll carrier and loading actuator

Info

Publication number: US3567211A
Application number: US831872A
Authority: US
Inventors: Thomas W Martin Sr
Original assignee: Cutters Machine Co Inc
Current assignee: Saber Industries Inc
Priority date: 1969-06-10
Filing date: 1969-06-10
Publication date: 1971-03-02
Anticipated expiration: 1988-03-02
Also published as: JPS5038865B1; GB1293266A; DE2026862B2; DE2026862A1; DE2026862C3

Abstract

A ROLL LOADING ACTUATOR INCLUDING A CLOTH ROLL LOADING UNIT HAVING MEANS FOR DISCHARGING A ROLL FROM THE UNIT UPON ACTUATION OF A SIGNAL, A ROLL CARRIER MOVEABLE TOWARD AND AWAY FROM THE LOADING UNIT HAVING AN ACTUATOR ADAPTED TO ACTUATE THE SIGNAL MEANS FOR DISCHARGING A LOAD FROM THE LOADING UNIT UPON THE ROLL CARRIER, AND MEANS FOR DEENERGIZING THE SIGNAL ACTUATOR AS LONG AS A CLOTH ROLL IS IN POSITION ON THE ROLL CARRIER.

Description

March 2, 1971 T. w. MARTIN, SR

CLOTH ROLL CARRIER AND LOADING ACTUATOR 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 10, 1969 INVENTOR: 77mm; WMmmgJe BY v 2441 7221 1% firmew March 1971 T. w. MARTIN, SR

CLOTH ROLL CARRIER AND LOADING ACTUATOR 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 10, 1969 March 2, 1971 w, -rm, 5 3,567,211

7 CLOTH ROLL CARRI ER AND LOADING ACTUATOR Filed June 10, 1969 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 60 INVENTOR.

77/0 fish! xiv/n4 J19. F9 M March 2,1911 AR SR 3,561,211

CLOTH ROLL CARRIER AND LOADING ACTUATOR Filed June 10, 1969 4 SheetsSheet 4 [7 INVENTOR. a8 89 77/0/1993 WM/YKT/MAVR' firrombs/ United States Patent ()ffice Patented Mar. 2, 1971 3,567,211 CLOTH ROLL CARRIER AND LOADING ACTUATOR Thomas W. Martin, Sr., Nashville, Tenn., assignor to Cutters Machine Company, Inc., Nashville, Tenn. Filed June 10, 1969, Ser. No. 831,872 Int. Cl. B65h 29/46 US. Cl. 270-31 9 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A roll loading actuator including a cloth roll loading unit having means for discharging a roll from the unit upon actuation of a signal, a roll carrier moveable toward and away from the loading unit having an actuator adapted to actuate the signal means for discharging a load from the loading unit upon the roll carrier, and means for deenergizing the signal actuator as long as a cloth roll is in position on the roll carrier.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a roll loading actuator, and more particularly to a cloth roll carrier having means for actuating a signal to require a roll loading apparatus to discharge a roll upon the carrier when needed. This actuator is particularly adapted for use in connection with reciprocally moving cloth spreading machines.

In the art of spreading cloth from a roll, the cloth spreading machine is provided with a support for one roll of cloth in operative position for spreading. After the spreading operation has exhausted each roll, the machine must be stopped, and another roll of cloth is mounted upon the roll support. The cloth from the roll is then threaded through the various guide rollers and bars and through the spreading elements, such as the fold or tuck blades. Usually, the rolls are manipulated by hand, but Where excessively large rolls, or rolls of heavy web material, are used, hoisting machinery must be employed. Regardless of the size or weight of the roll, or the various operations for mounting the rolls on the machine, considerable time is lost in the loading operation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 'It is an object of this invention to provide a roll loading apparatus, and particularly an actuator for an apparatus to load a roll of cloth upon a cloth spreading mcahine.

This invention contemplates an actuator device carried by a cloth roll carrier, such as a cl th spreading machine, which is in a position, when the roll carrier is empty, to actuate a signal means on a cloth roll loading unit when the carrier is in a loading station adjacent the loading unit. The loading unit may be of any design, so long as it is capable of discharging a cloth roll upon the roll carrier, when energized by a signal mechanism, which in turn is actuated by the actuator device. The actuator device of this invention is adapted to be moved into an inoperative position, upon response to a tripping device engaged by a cloth roll supported on the cloth roll carrier, so that no rolls will be loaded upon the carrier, even in the loading station, unless the carrier is empty.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a cloth spreading machine incorporating an actuator made in accordance with this invention, a cloth roll loading unit, and a roll storage truck shown fragmentarily in phantom;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary top plan view of the cloth spreading machine, actuator and loading unit disclosed in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged elevation of the opposite side of FIG. 1 of the loading unit and spreading machine, shown fragmentarily, with parts broken away;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken along the line 55 of FIG. 2, disclosing the actuator in opera tive position, and disclosing the loading unit in solidline position preparatory to loading, and in phantom position for loading;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken along the line 66 of FIG. 2, showing the roll bed supporting a cloth roll, and the actuator in inoperative position;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged section taken along the line 77 of 'FIG. 5, disclosing the photoelectric signal head, and the reflective actuator arm in operative solid-line posi tion, and in inoperative phantom position;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary plan view of the roll supporting bed of 'FIG. 6, disclosing the treadle and detent arm in locked inoperative positions;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional elevation, similarg to FIG. 6, showing the actuator arm and treadle in solid line inoperative positions, and showing the treadle in operative phantom position; and

FIG. 10 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken along the line 1010 of FIG. 8, disclosing a detent arm in inoperative solid-line position and in an operative phantom position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings in more detail, FIG. 1 discloses a cloth spreading machine mounted for reciprocal movement upon a spreading table 21, a cloth roll loading unit 22, and a roll storage truck 23, disclosed in phantom.

Very briefly, the loading unit 22 includes a platform member 25, vertically reciprocable upon a frame 26, and having an inclined platform surface 27, for carrying a cloth roll 28. Vertical barrier posts 29 cooperate with the vertically moveable platform surface 27 to hold the roll 28 upon the platform member 25 until the lower end portion of the platform surface 27 is substantially flush with the top of the barrier posts 29, such as disclosed in phantom in FIG. 5. In this position, the roll 28 is automatically discharged by gravity over the ends of the barrier posts 29. The loading unit 22 is provided with a reversible electric motor 30 which is automatically energized by various controls for not only elevating and discharging the roll 28 from the loading unit 22, but also for removing one roll 31, or 32, at a time from the storage truck 23, by pivotal fingers 33, as previously described in the above co-pending application.

The cloth spreading machine 20 includes a mobile frame supported by wheels 36, for movement longitudinally of spreading table 21. A principal roll support 37, including driven cloth feed rollers 38, supports a cloth supply roll for unwinding of the cloth web 41. The web 41 is threaded through various guiding elements, top roller 42, and then through the spreading unit or mechanism 43, for laying the cloth web 41 in layers 44 upon table 21.

The frame 35 carries an electric motor 45 connected through various transmissions and controls for moving the mobile frame 35 in forward and reverse directions, and also for driving the cloth feed rolls 38.

The details of the above cloth spreading machine 20 form no part of this invention.

Supported upon the rear end of the mobile frame 35 is an auxiliary cloth roll support, or bed plate 47.

As disclosed in FIGS. l-3, 5 and 9, the cloth spreading machine is shown adjacent one end of the spreading table 21 at a loading station adjacent the loading unit 22. The mobile frame is provided with a stop 49, including an electrical switch, engaging a stop arm secured to the rear catcher mechanism 51 mounted upon the spreading table 21 and adapted to cooperate with the spreader unit 43 to form folds in the layers of cloth 44 at the rear end of the table 21. These elements are shown in phantom in FIG. 1, and are well known in the art.

In the loading position or station, the cloth bed 47 will receive a cloth roll 28 discharged from the loading unit 22.

The roll bed 47 carries an actuator device 53, which, when the roll bed 47 is empty and the spreading machine 22 is in the loading station, will actuate a signal device or head 54. The signal head 54 includes a normally open starting switch not shown, which, when closed, will energize the motor 30 to elevate the platform 25 and discharge the roll 28 from the loading unit 22 upon the bed plate 47.

In its particular form disclosed in the drawings, the starting switch in the signal head 54 is controlled by a photoelectric sensing means. This sensing means is best disclosed in FIG. 7, and includes a light source 55 and a photoelectric cell 56. When the incident light rays 57 from the light source 55 are intercepted by a reflective surface, such as the reflective surface of an actuator flag 58, the reflected rays 59 are received by the photo cell 56 to energize and close the starting switch, which is connected through electrical conduit 60 to the motor 30.

The signal actuator 53 includes an elongated shaft 62, mounted transversly in the bearings 63 for rotary movement beneath the bed plate 47. Fixed to the remote end of the rotary shaft 62 is the actuator arm 64 supporting the reflective flag 58 in such a manner, that, when the actuator arm 64 is in its operative position, and the spreading machine 20 is in its loading station, the reflective flag 58 will intercept the light rays 57 from the light source 55 and causes the reflected rays 59 to enter a photoelectric cell 56, as disclosed in FIG. 7.

Pivotally mounted on a hinge pin 65 to pivot about a transverse axis and extend longitudinally over the rotary shaft 62 is an elongated treadle 66. The treadle 66 is adapted to rest within a slot or recess 67 in the bed plate 47 and upon a retainer bar 68, substantially co-planar with the bed plate 47, in inoperative position.

Fixed to the rotary shaft 62 and in vertical alignment beneath treadle 66 is a treadle actuating, hook-shaped,

detent fingers 69. The detent finger 69 is so positioned upon the rotary shaft 62 that when the actuator arm 64 is in its lower operative position for actuating the signal head 54, the detent finger 69 is in its raised position for engaging and elevating the treadle 66, as disclosed in solid-lines in FIGS. 1 and 5, and in phantom in FIG. 9. The actuator arm 64, detent finger 69 and treadle 66 are normally maintained in their operative positions by virtue of the counter-weight effect of the actuator arm 64 and signal flag 58. However, when the treadle 66 is depressed, as by the weight of a roll 28, as disclosed in FIGS. 3 and 6, the treadle 66 will be depressed to its inoperative position flush with the bed plate 47, thus depressing the detent finger 69, automatically elevating the actuator arm 64 and signal flag 58, to their positions disclosed in FIGS. 6 and 9.

It will thus be seen that when a roll 28 is resting upon the bed plate 47 and depressing the treadle 66, there will be no demand for any additional rolls on the bed plate 47. Accordingly, no demand will be made, since the actuator signal flag 58 will be in its raised inoperative position, disclosed in phantom in FIG. 7, so that it will not intercept any light rays 57 from the light source 55. Consequently, the starting switch in the signal head 54 will not be energized, even though the spreading machine 20 is in the loading station.

In the particular embodiment of this invention, the spreading machine 20 is designed to stop in the loading station when the stop member 49 on the machine frame 35 engages the stop arm 50 on the cutting mechanism 51, and when the bed plate 47 is empty.

In order to re-start the machine 20 after a roll 28 is discharged upon the bed plate 47, a switch arm 70 is fixed upon the rotary transverse shaft 62 to successively engage and energize the starting switch 71 and the motion holding switch 72 mounted in switchbox 73 on the bottom of and adjacent the remote end of the bed plate 47. The switches 71 and 72 are connected through the

leads

74 and 75 to the electrical motor 45 which controls the motion of the spreading frame 35.

Thus, when a cloth roll 28 is deposited upon the bed plate 47 to depress the treadle 66, the switch arm 70 is raised from its phantom position, disclosed in FIG. 9, to first momentarily close the starting switch 71. The closed switch 71 automatically energizes the motor 45 to start the frame 35 in its forward motion away from the loading unit 22. As the arm 7 0 continues to move past the starting switch 71, the arm 70 engages the motion holding switch 72, so that the frame 35 will continue its reciprocating motion, back and forth along the table 21, as long as the switch arm 70 engages the motion holding switch 72.

In order to prevent a cloth roll 28 supported upon the bed plate 47 from inadvertently rolling forward upon the spreading machine 20, one or more detent arms, such as the

detent arms

77 and 78, are fixed upon an elongated shaft 79 to normally project upward through longitudinal slots 80 and 81 respectively, in the bed plate 47. The detent shaft 79 is mounted in bearings 82 for both rotary and axial movements transversely of the machine 20. The proximate end of the shaft 79 is provided with a knob or 5 hand wheel 83 for manual manipulation. Each slot 80 and 81 is at least as long as the

corresponding detent arm

77 and 78 to permit rotary movement of the

detent arms

77 and 78 to positions below the bed plate 47, is disclosed in FIG. 10. Surrounding the shaft 79 is a coiled spring 85 rotatably biasing the shaft 79 to a position projecting the

detent arms

77 and 78 upright through their corresponding slots 80 and 81. As disclosed in FIG. 8, after the detent arm 77 is rotated down through the slot 80, the hand wheel 83 may be thrust toward the remote end of the machine, as disclosed by the arrow in FIG. 8, to move the detent arm 77 beneath the bed plate 47 and out of registry with its corresponding slot 80. In this manner, the detent arm 77 is retained in its lower inoperative position. The rotary movement of shaft 79 to lower the

detent arms

77 and 78 may be limited by the squared limit block 87, disclosed in FIGS. 2 and 3 on the remote end of the shaft 79.

If desired, the treadle 66 may be locked in its lower inoperative position, even when the bed plate 47 is empty, by means of a dependent tongue 88 having locking aperture 89 projecting down from the front end of the treadle 66. Mounted beneath the bed plate 47 for transverse reciprocal movement is a locking rod 90 in bearings 91. The remote end of the rod 90 is adapted to be projected through the locking aperture 89 when the treadle 56 is depressed to the solid-line position of FIG. 9. However, normally, the locking rod 90 is biased by coil spring 92 out of locking engagement with the locking aperture 89. As best disclosed in FIGS. 8 and 10, the locking rod 90 may be projected into locking position, when its proximate end is engaged by the detent arm 77, when the arm 77 has been thrust to its inoperative position out of registry with its corresponding slot 80. In this manner, both the treadle 66 and the

detent arms

77 and 78 may be maintained locked in their inoperative positions simultaneously by simple manipulating the hand wheel 83, when the treadle 66 is depressed.

The operation of the invention is fairly apparent from the above description.

The loading unit 22, which is disclosed in FIGS. 1 and 3 as being mounted upon wheels, is moved into a loading position, as illustrated in the drawings, at the rear end of a spreading table 21. One or more cloth rolls 28 may be deposited manually upon the platform member 25, or the loading unit 22 may be actuated to pick off rolls 31 and 32 from the loading truck 23, in a manner described in the above co-pending application. In any event, after a roll 28 is deposited upon the platform member 25, it is elevated to its initial operative position disclosed in FIG. 1 and in solid lines in FIG. 5, preparatory to loading.

During a normal spreading operation of the machine 20, an auxiliary roll will be resting upon the bed plate 47 to depress the treadle 66, and will also be resting against the

detent arms

77 and 78 projected upward in operative position. The spreader unit 43 will spread the layers of cloth 44 as the web 41 is fed from the cloth supply roll 40 mounted upon the principal roll support 37. After the supply roll 40 is exhausted, the machine 20 is stopped, and the hand wheel 83 is rotated to depress the

detent arms

77 and 78. The auxiliary roll is then rolled forward from the bed plate 47 upon the principal roll support 37, and the cloth is threaded, as previously, for spreading by the spreader device 43. The machine 20 is re-started. However, when the frame 35 moves to its rear extreme position, that is the loading station, disclosed in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3, the signal flag 58, now lowered in operative position by virtue of their being no auxiliary roll to depress the treadle '66, will intercept the incident light beam 57, from the signal head 54. Energization of the signal head 54 closes the starting switch to energize the motor 30 to elevate the platform member 25 to its loading position (FIGS. 3 and 5), permitting the cloth roll 28 to roll by gravity across the barrier posts 29 and upon the bed plate 47.

While the spreading machine 20 is in the loading station with the treadle 66 raised, the machine 20 is automatically stopped by the actuation of the stop switch within the stop member 49 by the stop bar 50. The stop switch and the stop member 49 dominate the electrical system within the spreading machine 20 because, when the treadle 66 is raised, the switch arm 70 is disengaged from the motion holding switch 72, which normally over-rides the stop switch in the stop member 49.

However, when the roll 28 is deposited upon the bed plate 47, the treadle 66 is again depressed causing the switch arm 70 to momentarily engage starting switch 71 to start the machine 20 forward, and then to engage the motion holding switch 72, which permits the machine 20 to continue its reciprocatory motion over the table 21 as long as the treadle 66 is depressed by an auxiliary roll 28.

Since depression of the treadle 66 raises the signal flag 58 to an inoperative position, as disclosed in phantom in FIG. 7, it will no longer energize the electrical signal head 54 as the machine 20 moves into the loading station on each cycle of its spreading operation. Accordingly, the loading unit 22 will only be energized when the bed plate 47 is empty and there is a demand for another auxiliary roll.

When the platform member 25 reaches its upper loading or discharge position, it simultaneously engages a reversing switch 94, which reverses the motor 30 to move the platform member 25 down to a lower position for receiving another cloth roll 28, or for actuating the pivot fingers 33 in order to receive another roll 31 or 32 from the storage truck 23. Also, as described in the above copending application, the platform member 25 is returned to its initial position disclosed in "FIG. 1, preparatory to depositing the next auxiliary cloth roll 28 upon the bed plate 47.

This continuous and automatic loading and spreading operation may be continued as long as desired, until no more cloth rolls are available, or until the spreading of the cloth layers 44 is completed.

What is claimed is:

1. A roll loading actuator comprising:

(a) a roll handling apparatus having roll discharging means thereon, signal means on said apparatus for discharging a roll from said apparatus onto a roll carrier and spreader when said signal means is actuated,

(b) a horizontal reciprocal mobile cloth roll carrier and spreader movable toward and away from a loading station adjacent said roll handling apparatus,

(c) a signal actuator device mounted on said roll carrier and spreader and so positioned as to selectively actuate said signal means on said apparatus, when said roll carrier and spreader is in said loading station, and

(d) motive means for moving said roll carrier and spreader in a path longitudinally aligned with said roll handling apparatus.

2. The invention according claim 1 further comprising a roll supporting bed on said carrier and spreader for receiving a roll at said loading station, a tripping device engageable by a roll on said bed, means connecting said tripping device to said actuator device, so that when a roll engages said tripping device said actuator device is rendered inoperative to actuate said signal means.

3. The invention according to claim 2 in which said tripping device comprises a treadle movably mounted in said bed, said actuator device comprises a movable arm and said connecting means comprises a mechnical linkage whereby said arm and said treadle are substantially simultaneously moved between operative and inoperative positions.

4. The invention according to claim 3 in which said mechanical linkage comprises a rotary shaft mounted on said bed, said treadle being operatively connected to said shaft for pivotal movement between an operative position raised above said bed and an inoperative position substantially flush with said bed, and said actuator arm is operatively connected to said shaft for pivotal movement between an operative position for actuating said signal means at said loading station, and an inoperative position for de-actuating said signal means.

5. The invention according to claim 4 in which said signal means comprises a photoelectric cell and a light source, said actuator arm comprising a reflective surface for reflecting rays from said light source to said photoelectric cell, in operative postion at said loading station.

6. The invention according to claim 3 in which said motive means is electrical, a starting switch for energizing said motive means, means associated with said treadle for actuating said starting switch to energize said motive means.

7. The invention according to claim 3, further comprising one or more detent arms, means movably mounting said detent arms in said bed on the opposite side of the normal position of said roll on said bed from said loading apparatus, means biasing said detent arms in normal raised position to limit the movement of a roll on said bed away from said loading apparatus, recesses in said bed for receiving said detent arms in inoperative position and means for moving said detent arm to said inoperative position.

S. The invention according to claim 7 in which said bed comprises a bed plate, each of said recesses comprises a slot through said plate, and the mounting means for said detent arms comprises a shaft mounted for axial and rotary movements beneath said bed plate adjacent said slots, said detent arms being fixed to said shaft to extend upward through said slots in operative position, said detent arms being beneath said slots in inoperative position, means for shifting said shaft axially to move 7 said detent arms in said inoperative position and beneath said bed plate out of registry with said slots to hold said detent arms in inoperative position.

9. The invention according to claim 8, further comprising a locking aperture in said treadle depending beneath said bed plate in inoperative position, a locking rod mounted beneath said bed plate for axial movement into and out of registry with said locking aperture, one of said detent arms being rotated to engage one end of said rod and to move the other end of said rod into said locking aperture when shifted into its inoperative position beneath said bed plate, and spring means biasing said rod away from engagement with said locking aperture.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,949,481 3/1934 Koller 214 38 3,502,320 3/1970 Scordato 27031 FOREIGN PATENTS 158,669 4/1964 U.S.S.R.

GERALD M. FORLENZA, Primary Examiner 10 R. B. JOHNSON, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 21416.4, 95