US3664162A

US3664162A - Leather rolling apparatus

Info

Publication number: US3664162A
Application number: US101835A
Authority: US
Inventors: Hans Christoph Schrade; William F Del Guidice; Charles W Wimer
Original assignee: Howes Leather Co Inc
Current assignee: Howes Leather Co Inc
Priority date: 1970-12-28
Filing date: 1970-12-28
Publication date: 1972-05-23
Anticipated expiration: 1989-05-23

Abstract

Apparatus for rolling and compacting leather either automatically or semi-automatically using in combination a leather rolling press, a plurality of conveyor tables, conveyor boards and an electrical control circuit, the tables and press being positioned to form a continuous pathway for the boards into and out of the press, each board being adapted to receive thereon at a loading table a leather crop or a pair of bends, the boards and their carried leather successively being passed to an inlet table, then into the rolling press from the inlet table, the leather being rolled in two stages in the press, after which the boards and leather are moved to an exit table, thence an unloading table, and thereafter to a loading table where the next crops or bends of leather are loaded on the boards. The cycle is then repeated under the control of the electrical system.

Description

United States Patent Schratle et al.

[541 LEATHER ROLLING APPARATUS [72] Inventors: Bans Christoph Schrade, Bensberg- Refrath, Germany; William F. del Guidice, Durbin; Charles W. Wimer, Bartow, both of W. Va.

[73] Assignee: Howes Leather Company, Inc., Boston,

Mass.

[22] Filed: Dee.28,l970

[21] Appl. No.: 101,835

[52] U.S. Cl ..69/46, 100/45 [5]] Int. Cl. ..Cl4b 1/30 [58] Field ofSearch ..69/46,48, l; loo/45,215

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,704,932 3/1955 Mcllvin et a1 ..69/l 2,721,469 lO/1955 Metzger .69/46 2,799,339 7/1957 Trostel et al ..69/] X [4 1 May 23,1972

3,398,675 8/1968 Potter et a1. 100/21 5 X Primary Examiner-Alfred R. Guest Attorney-Kenway, Jenney & Hildreth ABSTRACT Apparatus for rolling and compacting leather either automatically or semi-automatically using in combination a leather rolling press, a plurality of conveyor tables, conveyor boards and an electrical control circuit, the tables and press being positioned to form a continuous pathway for the boards into and out of the press, each board being adapted to receive thereon at a loading table a leather crop or a pair of bends, the

boards and their carried leather successively being passed to an inlet table, then into the rolling press from the inlet table, the leather being rolled in two stages in the press, after which the boards and leather are moved to an exit table, thence an unloading table, and thereafter to a loading table where the next crops or bends of leather are loaded on the boards. The cycle is then repeated under the control of the electrical system.

8 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures FIG.I

PATENTEDMAY23|912 3,664,162

HANS CHRISTOPH SCHRADE WILLIAM F. del GIUDICE CHARLES W. WIMER ATTORNEYS 'PATENTEDMAY 23 I972 3, 664. 16 2

SHEET

2 or 3 54 7s 44 72 42 F|G.3(b) 38 74 we; 34 30 72 2 76 E84 :6l 76 I [Ii/70 l8 L34 30 INVENTORS HANS CHRISTOPH SCHRADE WlLLIAM F. del GlUDICE CHARLES W. WIMER ATTORNEYS LEATHER ROLLING APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In the manufacture of heavy tanned leather such as sole leathers, a bend of the tanned leather during its processing is compacted by passing it through a heavy duty rolling machine, in which the bend is manually placed on the platen of the machine which then rises to bring the leather in contact with a lengthwise oscillating roller platen with sufficient pressure so that the action of the rollers on the top surface of the leather will roll and compact the latter. After rolling, the press platens open, the bend of leather is removed, and a succeeding bend of leather is placed in the machine for rolling.

Such a machine is one called Bend Rolling Machine No. 46 manufactured by Maschinenfabrik Turner AG whose address is Frankfurt, W. Germany. These machines are now being used in the United States and when such apparatus is purchased from the German manufacturer there are also provided with the machine a full description, a complete wiring diagram, and complete operating instructions for the actual rolling of a bend of leather. It is to be noted that the machine as customarily purchased is one which is large enough to roll a bend. The machine commonly purchased will not compact or roll a crop, that is, a piece of leather in the order of to [2 feet long. Since such machines are well known, a description thereof will not be given in this application, save as noted below.

The above described operation of utilizing the above German rolling machine uses too much time, because the steps of loading a relatively short bend into a machine, then closing the machine so that it rolls, and then unloading the rolled bend from the machine uses too much valuable operator time.

There is a need for apparatus in which the loading and unloading can be done either semi-automatically or automatically, and in which a presently available machine such as the above German rolling machine can be used to roll or compact roll crops of leather as well as bends. It is the fundamental purpose of this invention to provide such an apparatus, andone by means of which the operator or operators need only to load and unload conveying boards, the passage of the conveying boards throughout the system being thereafter governed automatically, or, if desired, semi-automatically.

Consequently, as a result of the position or relationship of certain inlet and exit tables and unloading and loading tables with respect to the rolling machine, a continuous flow of carrier boards can be maintained which will be processed through the combined apparatus in a continuous cycle with the operators simply serving the function of loading and unloading the carrier boards.

Therefore, among the several objects and provisions of the invention may be noted the following:

One object of the invention is the provision of apparatus for rolling successive pieces of leather on a cyclic step basis automatically.

Another object of the invention is the provision of apparatus of the above kind, in which the leather to be rolled is conveyed into and out of a rolling press and a loop flow path including said press, by means of rigid carrier means.

Yet another object of the invention is the provision of apparatus of the last named class, in which loading and unloading tables are provided at predetermined positions in the loop flow path in which leather may be respectively loaded onto and removed from the carrier means preferably manually.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of apparatus of the above kind, in which not only may full crops of leather be rolled but in which bends of leather may also be rolled utilizing the carrier means.

Yet another object of the invention is the provision of a method of rolling a piece of leather in which the leather is conveyed into and out of a rolling press by means of a carrier element.

Still another object of the invention is a method as given above, in which the carrier means is advanced into and out of the press in overlapping steps.

Other objectsand advantages that will be in part obvious, and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the elements and the combinations of elements, steps and sequence of steps, features of construction and arrangements of parts of the apparatus, and methods of operation, all of which will be exemplified in the structures of the apparatus and the methods herein described, and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings in which one of the various possible embodiments of the invention is illustrated:

FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view, of an assembly or combination of individual elements which comprise the invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic view in elevation of the FIG. 1 em bodiment;

FIG. 3a, 3b, 3c and 3d are schematic plan views showing sequential positions of carrier boards of the invention during the cycle of such boards through the apparatus of the invention; and

FIG. 4 is a schematic wiring diagram showing a control circuit for the above embodiment.

In the drawings, the various elements are presented somewhat schematically for clarity in describing the invention. It is within the knowledge of persons skilled in the construction of conveyor tables to make the tables themselves without detailed description thereof being given herein. In respect to the FIG. 4 wiring diagram, it is presented in terms of conventional electrical relays and electrical switches for ease in understanding the invention. Of course, more sophisticated electrical control elements serving the same functions may be used such as transistors, etc. without departing from the scope of the invention.

In the drawings, similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views thereof, and the dimensions of certain other parts are shown in the drawings may have been modified and/or exaggerated for the purposes of clarity of illustration and understanding of the invention.

Referring first to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown an assembly of individual operational units which taken together in combination and operating under the control of the electrical control system of this invention, perform the requisite steps of automatically conveying a crop of leather through a rolling machine in successive steps so that the leather may be compacted. An inlet conveyor table 2 is provided and is operated (as shown schematically) by a conventional drive system 4 which turns, for example, one of the end rollers on which the belt of the conveyor table is trained. Next in line is a leather rolling press 6 of the kind specifically mentioned above, the press being illustrated schematically and having a lower vertically movable platen 8 actuated by the hydraulic cylinder 10. The press has a top platen 12 which is fixed in a vertical direction, but may be operated to move in an oscillatory manner in a lengthwise direction as shown by the arrow 14 of FIG. 2. Next in line is an exit table comprising a short conveyor table 16 and a longer conveyor table 18, each of these being operated by means of the drive system 20 of conventional nature which operates the respective rollers on which the belts of the conveyors are trained.

It is to be noted that in describing the conveyor tables, they are explained as being the belt type in which the conveyor belt is trained around rollers at each end of the conveyor table, with one or both of the rollers of each table being driven by an electrical motor which is under the control of the electrical system of this invention. It is obvious that instead of belt type conveyor tables, there may be used those having a plurality of driven rollers making up the table. I

Conveyor table 16 is separated from the conveyor table 18 in order to provide a gap 22 therebetween to permit sliding through the gap a pusher element 24 operated by an air or liquid operated cylinder 26. At the other end of table 18 and separated therefrom by the gap 28 is a stationary platform or table 30, and to slide in gap 28 there is provided a pusher element 32 actuated by cylinder 33.

Positioned laterally adjacent the conveyor 18 and in the same plane is what is hereinafter called an unloading table 34, this table being a belt conveyor and being operated by the drive means 36 which (like the tables described above) drives the roller on which the conveyor belt is trained. Adjacent the table 34 is an intermediate conveyor table 38 like table 34 which is also operated by the drive 36 as described above.

In line with the conveyor table 38 is a loading conveyor table which comprises two separate tables 42 and 44, in the manner that the two tables 16 and 18 together act as a single table. Both sections can be belt type, but preferably section 42 is a series of rollers, and section 44 can be a freely moving belt. The tables are separated by gap 48 and a pusher element 50 operatable by cylinder 52 slides in this gap. A stationary table 54 is provided adjacent the ends of the conveyor tables 2 and 44 but separated therefrom by the gap 56. Within gap 56 may be moved the pusher element 50 operated by cylinder 60.

As mentioned earlier in the discussion of the general nature of the invention, the underside of the top platen 12 of the German roller 6 is provided with a plurality of rollers 62, these rollers being mounted in suitable bearings and comprising the actual means which contact the surface of the leather in order to roll it to compact it.

Illustrated in FIG. 1 is a single carrying means for a crop of leather 76, the means being, for example, a plywood board 70. The respective lengths of the inlet table, the exit table, the unloading table and the loading table, are so made in respect to the length of the rolling press and length of crop that by rolling first one-half of the crop and then the succeeding half, a plurality of boards can be used as illustrated more fully in FIGS. 3a, 3b, 3c and 3d, as will be described below in respect to

additional boards

72 and 74.

Positioned with respect to the inlet conveyor belt so as to be actuated by board 70 (and succeeding boards) is a switch 80 which may be a photocell type, or a switch whose contacts are moved by a feeler arm. Switch 80 has

electrical contacts

168, 184 and 190. The purpose of switch 80 is to sense the presence of a conveyor board and its leather crop on inlet table 2.

Associated with the roller press 6 in conventional manner so as to sense the presence of a conveyor board in the press is an electrical switch 84 which can be a feeler actuable type or it can be a photocell switching device. Switch 84 has

contacts

160, 162 and 178. Positioned on or connected with the conveyor tables 16-18 is an electrical switch 86 which also may be a feeler type, or a photocell actuated switch, which is adapted to sense the presence of a board as it emerges from the roller press. Switch 86 has

contacts

164 and 166.

Positioned with respect to table so as to be actuated by the end ofu board resting on the table is switch 88 of either of the above types, having

contacts

200 and 204.

Positioned in respect to the conveyor belt 38 so as to be actuated by a conveyor board such as board 70 during its passage on the conveyor is a position sensing switch 89 of the above types and having

contacts

208, 210 and 21 1.

Positioned in respect to table 54 so as to be actuated by a board on table 44 in position for loading is switch 90 of either of the above types, and having

contacts

194 and 232.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 3a and illustrated by dotted lines, there is shown a carrier board 70 in position on the inlet conveyor table 2, the board having thereon an exemplary leather crop 76. In this description, the

various carrier boards

70, 72, and 74 are about 3 feet wide and 12 feet long, and can be made of plywood three-eighths to one-half inch in thickness, as an example. It will be found that boards of such dimensions are sufficiently long to handle conveniently a full crop of leather, and plywood is rigid enough so that when the whole board is moved upwardly (with its crop) by the platen 8 of press 6, there will be sufficient pressure exertable by the rollers 62 on the leather to compact it.

It is also to be noted that if it is desired to roll bends of leather instead of crops, then on a single board two bends can be placed in line, instead ofa single crop. When, in subsequent positions of the board, the forward end of the board is in the position in the rolling press illustrated in FIG. 3b, the bend on the forward portion of the board and a portion of the second or rear bend will be rolled by this portion of the rolling machines cycle. When the board is in the position shown in FIG. 30 so that its rear portion is in the press, the entire rear bend plus a portion of the forward bend will be rolled. Thus, by the use of this apparatus, either full crops or bends can be rolled on the machine with equal facility.

Referring now to FIG. 4, a wiring diagram is given schematically for the control of the circuit. A point to point wiring description will not be given, because since the diagram was given in conventional symbols, the respective connections will be fully understood by persons skilled in the art. However, some description will be given in order to clarify certain portions of the wiring diagram.

schematically illustrated by block is a portion of the internal wiring diagram provided with the German roller press when it is purchased. On the machine there will be found a pair of manually operated

switches

112 and 114. When these switches are closed, the press will operate so that the platen 8 will rise to rolling position, and the rolling machine will go through its cycle of rolling and compacting. Thereafter, the platen 8 will lower to open the space between the press platens for the removal or insertion of material therebetween.

A main switch 116 is provided to connect the system to a power supply, in this instance the three-phase lines 118. Power lines 120 connect to one side of motor control contacts 122 which when closed serve to connect the three-

phase motors

124 and 126 to the electrical power supply. A second set of contacts 128 (actuated by relay 230) when closed serve to connect motor 130 to the power line.

Connected across a pair of single phase power leads is a transformer 136. The secondary of this transformer is connected by

leads

138 and 140 to the electrical control system in a plurality of branches as follows:

A first branch has, in series across leads 138440, the following: manually

operable switches

142 and 144, and relay coil 146. Contacts 148 of relay 146 shunt switch 142.

The second branch has, in series across leads 138140, the following: Relay coil 150, contacts 152 of relay 146, and contacts 154 of relay 174 (see below)v A manually operable switch 156

shunts contacts

152 and 154.

The third branch has in series the following: A parallel circuit having switch 84 with contacts 160-162, switch 86 having contacts 164-166,

contacts

160 and 164 being connected together, and

contacts

162 and 166 being connected through contacts 168 ofswitch 80, this parallel circuit being connected to relay coil 170 which is then connected to line 140v A second parallel circuit connects switch 86 to lead 140 through contacts 172 of relay 170 and relay coil 174.

The fourth branch has a parallel circuit connected across leads 138 and 140, the left side of the parallel circuit consisting of manually operable switch 176 in series with contacts 178 of switch 84 and one side of the solenoids 180 of

cylinders

56 and 60 which cause the

pusher elements

50 and 58 to advance. The right side of the parallel circuit consists of the contacts 182 of relay 174 which are connected in series with contacts 184 of switch 80 and one side of solenoids 186 of

cylinders

52 and 60 which cause

pusher elements

50 and 58 to retract. The other sides of

solenoids

180 and 186 are connected to lead 140. Contacts 188 of a relay 192 (see below) are connected between one each of the

contacts

176 and 182 as shown.

The fifth branch circuit has in series the following: Contacts 190 of switch 80, relay coil 192 and contacts 194 of switch 90. Shunted across contacts 194 are contacts 196 of relay 192.

The sixth branch has the following: Contacts 200 of switch 88 connects to line 138 one side of the advance solenoids 202 of

cylinders

26, 33; and contacts 204 of switch 88 connects to line 138 one side of the retract solenoids 206 of these cylinders. The other sides of these solenoids are connected, respectively, to

contacts

208 and 210 of switch 89, and, depending on the condition of the switch are connected through contacts 212 of relay 174 to lead 140. A manually operable switch 214 is connected across contacts 212. Also, connected across contacts 204 and lead 140 is relay coil 216.

The seventh branch has in parallel contacts 218 of relay 216, and contacts 220 of relay 222. This parallel sub-branch is connected to relay coil 222, and the latter is connected to contacts 211 of switch 89 and thence to line 140.

The eighth branch has the sub-branch consisting of the contacts 226 of relay 222 connected in parallel with contacts 228 of motor relay 230. This sub-branch is connected to relay 230 and thence to lead 140 through contacts 232 of switch 90. A manually operable switch 234 when closed, will connect relay 230 directly across leads 138-140 if contacts 232 are closed.

As has been mentioned above, when the roller press switches 112 and 1 14 are closed, the press goes through a cycle of operation. To tie this into the system, contacts 240 actuable by relay 174 are provided, these contacts being connected across the

contacts

112 and 114 as shown, and being normally open when relay 174 is not energized.

In accordance with conventional practice, suitable fuses or circuit breakers are to be used to safeguard the system against overloading or shorting of the circuits. These elements are not shown on the drawings.

OPERATION In the following description of the operation of the apparatus and the electrical control system, it is to be noted that for ease of understanding the manner in which the apparatus operates and how the electrical system controls the operation, the following assumptions are made:

At the start of the operation to be described, and with a carrier board 70 on table 2, assume the following switches and relay contacts are open: 116, 122, 128, 142, 148, 156, 152, 162, 168, 164, 176, 188, 182, 190, 196 200, 208, 214, 212, 218, 220, 226, 232, 228, 234, 240, 112, and 114.

The following switches and relay contacts are closed: 144, 154, 160, 166, 172, 178, 184, 194, 204, 210, and 211. v

The following relay coils or solenoids are deenergized: 146, 150, 170,174, 192,216,222, and 230.

The relay coils control, respectively, the following contacts:

Relay 146:

Contacts

148 and 152.

Relay 150: Contacts 122.

Relay 170: Contacts 172.

Relay 174:

Contacts

154, 182, 212 and 240.

Relay 192:

Contacts

196 and 188.

Relay 216: Contacts 218.

Relay 222:

Contacts

220 and 226.

Relay 230:

Contacts

128 and 228.

Placing a board 70 carrying a leather crop 76 in position on inlet conveyor table 2 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3a closes contacts 168 of switch 80. Main power switch contacts 116 are now closed to connect transformer 136 to the power line, and connect one side of

motor control contacts

122 and 128 to the line.

Switch 142 is momentarily next closed, manually. This applies power to relay 146 through normally closed but manually operable switch 144, and

relay contacts

148 and 152 close. (The closure of switch 142 is maintained long enough so that closure of contacts 148 electrically locks relay 146 into the power circuit.) Closure of contacts 152 energizes motor relay 150 through closed relay contacts 154, and relay 150 closes its contacts 122. This starts

conveyor motors

124 and 126 to operate their respective conveyor tables 2 and 16-18.

Table 2 moves board 70 and its leather crop into the roller press 6 as shown in FIG. 3b. In so moving, the boards leading edge actuates switch 84, and the latters contacts 160 open and 162 close. Also, normally closed contacts 178 of switch 84 now open. Time delay relay 170 is not yet energized because the board 70 (even though moving) holds contacts 168 open. However, when the board has moved to the position shown in FIG. 3b, the rear end of the board leaves switch 80,

and contacts 168 close. Relay 170 now becomes energized through

contacts

162, 168 and 166 (of switch 86). Relay 174 also becomes energized through

contacts

162, 168, 166 and normally closed (but delayed opening) contacts 172 of relay 170. Energization of relay 174 opens contacts 154 to deenergize relay 150, thus opening motor control contacts 122 to stop

motors

124 and 126. The board thus stops in the position shown in FIG. 3b. Note that due to the physical position of switch with respect to the roller press 6, the board advances into the press about two-thirds of the boards length (or, about two-thirds of the length of a full crop on the board) before the trailing end of the board releases switch 80 to stop the motors.

Energization of relay 174 also closes

contacts

182, 212 and 240. Closure of contacts 240 activates roller press 6, platen 8 rises, and rollers 62 oscillate to roll that portion of leather crop 76 on board 70 which is in the press (about two-thirds of its length).

AS the boards trailing end released switch 80, contacts 184 opened, and contacts 190 closed. Time delay relay 192 energizes through closed contacts 190 and normally closed contacts 194 of switch 90. This immediately closes contacts 196, and after a preset time contacts 188 close. However, solenoids 180 which control the advance of

pusher elements

50 and 58 cannot yet become energized because contacts 178 are open.

After the preset rolling time controlled by relay 170, contacts 172 open. This deenergizes relay 174 so that contacts 154 close, and

contacts

182, 212 and 240 open. The roller press platen 6 moves down, and conveyor tables 2 and 16-18 start again since

contacts

154 and 152 are now closed. Board 70 is now moved to the position shown in FIG. 3c. In so doing, its leading edge actuates switch 86 so that its contacts 164 close and contacts 166 open. This resets relay 170 and closes its contacts 172 preparatory for the next rolling cycle.

As board 70 moves to the right, its back end leaves switch 84 and contacts close and contacts 162 open. Contacts 178 close. Closure of contacts 178 energizes the solenoids 180 for

cylinders

52 and 60 so as to advance

pusher elements

50 and 58 to move the next board onto table 2. (See below.) Contacts 160 again energize relay through closed contacts 164, and relay 174 becomes energized through

contacts

160, and 164 and 172. Thus,

motors

124 and 126 stop with board 70 in the position shown in FIG. 30, (the board having its rear approximately two-thirds in the press), and the press roller is again activated through contacts 240 to perform another rolling cycle during which the rear portion of the crop "76 is rolled.

At the end of the second rolling cycle established by relay 170, contacts 172 open, relay 174 deenergizes, contacts 154 close, and

contacts

182, 212 and 240 open. The roller press 6 opens, and conveyors 2 and 16-18 start. Board No. 70 moves out of the press to the position shown in FIG. 3d. Also, the rear end of the board releases switch 86, so that its contacts 166 reclose and contacts 164 open. At this point, a board 72 with its leather crop, whichhas previously been placed on (or arrives at) table 2 (see FIG. 30) when board 70 reaches the position shown in F 1G. 30, is moved partly into the roller press by table 2, since

motors

124 and 126 have been started again. As board 72 passes switch 84, contacts 162 close, thus energizing

relays

170 and 174 again for a rolling operation on the forward twothirds of the leather cropon board 72, as was the case for board 70 and its leather crop. v

Board 72 has previously been moved to table 2 from a position on the loading table 44 (see FIG. 3b) as follows: When relay 192 (previously energized by closure of contacts 190 of switch 80) has finished its timing cycle, contacts 188 close, and solenoids of the solenoid-actuated

cylinders

52 and 60 are energized through

contacts

182, 188 and 178. This advances

pusher elements

50 and 58, and board 72 is thus moved from loading table 44 to the inlet table 2. When it does, it releasesswitch 90 and contacts 194 thereof open while contacts 232 close.

This action causes contacts 168 to open, contacts 184 to close, contacts 190 to open, contacts 194 to open, and contacts 232 to close. Relay 192 becomes deenergized, and the holding circuit established by contacts 196 also open. Contacts 188 also open. Retract solenoids 186 of the solenoid-actuated

cylinders

52 and 60 are energized through

contacts

182 and 184 to return

pusher elements

50 and 58 to retract position.

As stated, when board 70 leaves switch 86 on its way out of the roller press, contacts 166 close and contacts 164 open. Also, as the board continues, its leading end eventually actuates switch 88 so that contacts 200 close. Solenoids 202 for actuating

cylinders

26 and 33 to advance

pusher elements

24 and 32 are now ready to be energized as soon as conveyors 2 and 16-18 stop, contacts 212 close, and contacts 208 of switch 89 close. Contacts 212 close when the trailing end of next board 72 releasing switch 80 so that relay 174'becomes energized through contacts 168. Contacts 208 close when a third board 74, previously loaded on table 34, is moved by tables 34 and 38 to actuate switch 89. (See FIGS. 3c and 3d in sequence.)

When

pusher elements

24 and 32 are thus actuated, board 70 (to continue with that board and assuming that board 74 has been moved to the loading table 44) is moved to unloading table 34, where the rolled leather crop is removed from the board.

After board 70 is moved to table 34, switch 88 is released so that contacts 204 close, thus energizing relay 216. After board 74 passes switch 89,

contacts

210 and 211 re-close.

Board 74 was transferred to tables 42, 44 and 54 by motor relay 230 becoming energized through

contacts

226 and 232 and thus closing contacts 128 to start motor 130. Relay 230 becomes electrically locked in through contacts 228 shunted across contacts 226. Conveyor motor 130 operates conveyor 38 which moves board 74 from its position on unloading table 34 to a position on table 44 far enough so that the operator can by hand move it along into the final position on tables 44 and 54.

As the board 74 passes switch 89 on moving from the unloading table 34 to the loading tables 44 and 54, contacts 211 open and contacts 208 close. Opening of contacts 21 l deenergizes relay 222, but relay 230 continues to be energized through shunt contacts 228.

As board 74 arrives on tables 44 and 54, it actuates 90 so that contacts 194 close and contacts 232 open. Relay 230 becomes deenergized and opens its own lock-in contact 228 and also contacts 128 to stop the conveyor motor 130.

In the meantime, upon reenergization of

relays

170 and 174, the rolling cycle is started for the forward portion of the crop on board 72. When that cycle is completed so that (as described for board 70) board 72 moves to the next rolling position (shown by board 70 in FIG. 30),

contacts

190 and 178 again close and relay 192 reenergizes through

contacts

190 and 194. Contacts 196 close to shunt contacts 194. Solenoid coils 180 which activate

cylinders

52 and 60 will then move the next board 74 onto table 2.

As relay 216 completes its time cycle, contacts 218 close energizing relay 222 through closed contacts 21].

Contacts

220 and 226 close and relay 230 is again ready to energize to operate conveyor 38 as soon as board 74 (or

boards

70 or 72,

as the case may be) leaves the loading table 44 and 54 which will actuate switch 90 to close contacts 232.

There has thus been described the operating cycle of the apparatus in which three boards are sent around the loop path formed by the several tables 2, 16-18, 34, 38, 42-44, and the A further feature of the invention is the provision of manual switching controls whereby certain safety features are provided, as well as the possibility of operating the apparatus semi-automatically, as follows:

Normally closed, manually actuable switch 144 (when actuated to open its contacts) is provided to stop conveyor tables 2 and 16-18 at any time to interrupt the automatic cycling of the conveyor system for any reason such as, for example, normal work stoppages or emergencies. Opening switch 144 deenergizes relay 146 to open contacts 152, and thus deenergizes relay 150 to stop

motors

124 and 126. Normally-open manually actuable switch 234 gives the operator individual manual control of conveyor 38 providing contacts 232 are closed. Normally open, manually actuable switch 156 gives the operator manual starting control of tables 2 and 16-18 for any reason. Normally open, manually operable switch 214 shunts relay contacts 212 for manual control of

solenoids

202 and 206 to control

pusher elements

24 and 32. Manually operable switch 176 can be used to actuate

solenoids

180 and 186 to control

pusher elements

50 and 58.

In view of the above it will be seen that the several objects of the invention are achieved and other advantageous results attained.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, since the invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.

AS many changes could be made in the above constructions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings, shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense, and it is also intended that the appended claims shall cover all such equivalent variations as come within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

Having described the invention what is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for compressing a length of leather comprismg:

'a rolling press having platens adapted to be separated from each other to receive a length of leather on a support therefor, the platens being adapted to move together to close on the length of leather and its support to compress the leather, the press having entrance and exit ends;

an inlet conveyor table positioned adjacent said entrance end and aligned with the press so that said support carrying the leather may move into the press when the platens are separated;

an outlet conveyor table positioned adjacent said exit end and aligned with the press so that said support and leather can move out of the press and onto the exit table when the platens are separated;

an unloading table positioned laterally of and adjacent said outlet table and having at least a portion adapted to receive thereupon said support and its leather from said outlet table, said unloading table also including a conveyor belt portion thereof;

a loading table mounted laterally of said inlet table and adjacent the side thereof, said loading table being in line with said unloading table;

saidconveyor belt portion being adapted to move said support from said unloading table to said loading table;

first means positioned adjacent said loading table and adapted to move said support and its leather from said loading table to said inlet table;

second means positioned adjacent said outlet table and adapted to move said support and its leather from said outlet table onto said unloading table; and

control means for automatically operating said inlet table, outlet table, conveyor belt portion, first means, second means, and said press in a predetermined sequence with respect to each other.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 in which said predetermined sequence is as follows:

a. said platens separate;

b. the inlet table moves the support and its leather to a first position at which at least a first portion of the support and its leather are between said platens;

c. the platens move together and compress said first portion of the leather on said support;

d. the platens separate;

e. the inlet and outlet conveyor tables move the support and its leather to a second position at which at least a second portion of the support and its leather are between the platens;

f. the platens move together and compress said second portion;

g. the platens separate;

h. the conveying belt portion moves the support to the load- 7 ing table; and

i. the first means moves the support and a successive length of leather onto said inlet table.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 in which said support comprises a flat rigid sheet of material of a length and width, respectively, greater than the length and width of a crop of leather.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 in which said outlet table comprises first and second tables in alignment but separated to leave a space therebetween, and said second means comprises pusher elements adapted to move past the ends of the second table, thereby to engage the side of said support and push it onto the unloading table one of said pusher elements being adapted to move when actuated within said space.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 in which said loading table includes at least one table whose ends are unobstructed, and said first means comprises pusher elements adapted to move past the ends of said one table, thereby to engage the side of said support and push it onto the inlet table.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 in which said control system includes a plurality of electrical sensing switches positioned as follows with respect to the apparatus:

a. A first electrical switch adapted to be in a first condition when the support and its leather are on the inlet table prior to entrance of the support and leather into the press, said first switch being adapted to be in a second condition when the support and leather are in position in the press to have the first portion of the leather compressed;

b. A second electrical switch adapted to be in a first condition when the support and leather are within the press and during the time said first portion is being compressed, and being adapted to be in a second condition when the support and leather are in the press during the time the second portion of the leather is being compressed;

c. A third electrical switch adapted to be in a first condition when the support and its leather are within the press and during the time the second portion of the leather is being pressed; and being adapted to be in a second condition when the support and leather have been moved out of the press and onto the outlet table;

d. A fourth switch adapted to be in a first condition when the support and its leather have moved completely out of the press and are on the outlet table, but being adapted to be in a second condition when the support and its leather have moved from the outlet table to the unloading table;

e. A fifth switch adapted to be in a first condition when the support is on the unloading table, but being adapted to be actuated into a second condition during the passage of the support from the unloading table to the loading table; and

f. A sixth switch adapted to be in a first condition when the support is on said loading table, and being adapted to be in a second condition when the support and leather have been moved to the inlet table and there is no support on said loading table.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, in which said first, second,

third, fourth and fifth switches are electrically interlocked in such manner that a board and its leather cannot be moved from the inlet table and into said press to the position where the first portion of the leather will be compressed unless a preceding board has been moved completely out of the press; a board and its leather in the press in position to have the first portion of the leather rolled cannot be moved into a position in the press where a second portion of the leather is to be rolled, unless there is no board on the outlet table; a board and its leather cannot be moved from said outlet table tosaid unloading table unless there is no board on the unloading table; a board cannot be moved from the unloading table to the loading table unless there is no board on the loading table; and a board and its leather cannot be moved from the loading table to the inlet-table unless a board and its leather being compressed has moved at least to the position in the press where the second portion of the leather is to be compressed.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the electrical control system includes manually operable electrical switches whereby the motion of a support and its leather can be governed manually at the will of the operator through the successive stages of first compressing the first portion of the leather, then compressing the second portion of the leather, moving the support and its leather to the unloading table, moving the support to the loading table, and moving a support with leather on it to the inlet table

Claims

1. Apparatus for compressing a length of leather comprising: a rolling press having platens adapted to be separated from each other to receive a length of leather on a support therefor, the platens being adapted to move together to close on the length of leather and its support to compress the leather, the press having entrance and exit ends; an inlet conveyor table positioned adjacent said entrance end and aligned with the press so that said support carrying the leather may move into the press when the platens are separated; an outlet conveyor table positioned adjacent said exit end and aligned with the press so that said support and leather can move out of the press and onto the exit table when the platens are separated; an unloading table positioned laterally of and adjacent said outlet table and having at least a portion adapted to receive thereupon said support and its leather from said outlet table, said unloading table also including a conveyor belt portion thereof; a loading table mounted laterally of said inlet table and adjacent the side thereof, said loading table being in line with said unloading table; said conveyor belt portion being adapted to move said support from said unloading table to said loading table; first means positioned adjacent said loading table and adapted to move said support and its leather from said loading table to said inlet table; second means positioned adjacent said outlet table and adapted to move said support and its leather from said outlet table onto said unloading table; and control means for automatically operating said inlet table, outlet table, conveyor belt portion, first means, second means, and said press in a predetermined sequence with respect to each other.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 in which said predetermined sequence is as follows: a. said platens separate; b. the inlet table moves the support and its leather to a first position at which at least a first portion of the support and its leather are between said platens; c. the platens move together and compress said first portion of the leather on said support; d. the platens separate; e. the inlet and outlet conveyor tables move the support and its leather to a second position at which at least a second portion of the support and its leather are between the platens; f. the platens move together and compress said second portion; g. the platens separate; h. the conveying belt portion moves the support to the loading table; and i. the first means moves the support and a successive length of leather onto said inlet table.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 in which said control system includes a plurality of electrical sensing switches positioned as follows with respect to the apparatus: a. A first electrical switch adapted to be in a first condition when the support and its leather are on the inlet table prior to entrance of the support and leather into the press, said first switch being adapted to be in a second condition when the support and leather are in position in the press to have the first portion of the leather compressed; b. A second electrical switch adapted to be in a first condition when the support and leather are within the press and during the time said first portion is being compressed, and being adapted to be in a second condition when the support and leather are in the press during the time the second portion of the leather is being compressed; c. A third electrical switch adapted to be in a first condition when the support and its leather are within the press and during the time the second portion of the leather is being pressed; and being adapted to be in a second condition when the support and leather have been moved out of the press and onto the outlet table; d. A fourth switch adapted to be in a first condition when the support and its leather have moved completely out of the press and are on the outlet table, but being adapted to be in a second condition when the support and its leather have moved from the outlet table to the unloading table; e. A fifth switch adapted to be in a first condition when the support is on the unloading table, but being adapted to be actuated into a second condition during the passage of the support from the unloading table to the loading table; and f. A sixth switch adapted to be in a first condition when the support is on said loading table, and being adapted to be in a second condition when the support and leather have been moved to the inlet table and there is no support on said loading table.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, in which said first, second, third, fourth and fifth switches are electrically interlocked in such manner that a board and its leather cannot be moved from the inlet table and into said press to the position where the first portion of the leather will be compressed unless a preceding board has been moved completely out of the press; a board and its leather in the press in position to have the first portion of the leather rolled cannot be moved into a position in the press where a second portion of the leather is to be rolled, unless there is no board on the outlet table; a board and its leather cannot be moved from said outlet table to said unloading table unless there is no board on the unloading table; a board cannot be moved from the unloading table to the loading table unless there is no board on the loading table; and a board and its leather cannot be moved from the loading table to the inlet table unless a board and its leather being compressed has moved at least to the position in the press where the second portion of the leather is to be compressed.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the electrical control system includes manually operable electrical switches whereby the motion of a support and its leather can be governed manually at the will of the operator through the successive stages of first compressing the first portion of the leather, then compressing the second portion of the leather, moving the support and its leather to the unloading tablE, moving the support to the loading table, and moving a support with leather on it to the inlet table.