GB2024884A

GB2024884A - Apparatus for supporting and rotating a roll of material

Info

Publication number: GB2024884A
Application number: GB7920676A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1978-06-30
Filing date: 1979-06-14
Publication date: 1980-01-16
Also published as: FR2429738B1; GB2024884B; DE2828917C3; FR2429738A1; DE2828917B2; IT7953368V0; IT7968370A0; DE2828917A1; IT1119305B

Abstract

Apparatus for supporting and rotating a roll of material, such as a bolt of cloth (6) in a fabric laying machine, comprises a trough (1) having two side walls each made up of more than one flexible band (5). The bands (5) run over guide spindles (4), and may be driven. The bands (5) of each side wall cross the plane of the other side wall in order to hold the bolt (6) off the lower spindles (4), even if the bands (5) sag. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Apparatus for supporting and rotating a roll of material This invention relates to apparatus for supporting rolls of material during unwinding.

The rolls of material may be bolts of cloth or rolls of other materials such as leather or plastics.

According to the present invention there is provided apparatus for supporting and rotating a roll of material, the apparatus comprising an upwardly open trough for receiving the roll of material, the trough having two inclined side walls each comprising a plurality of endless flexible elements which are drivable around parallel guide spindles, the flexible elements of each side wall extending across the plane of the other side wall.

Apparatus in accordance with the present invention ensures that, both when the rolls of material are heavy and when the diameter of the roll is decreasing, the rolls are always securely held by the flexible elements alone and the rolls do not engage the guide spindles. This could cause the rolls to be deformed from their generally cylindrical shape, resulting in oscillation of the rolls in the trough, so causing vibration to be transmitted to the rest of the apparatus.

With the crossing arrangement of the flexible elements, which are preferably bands, two lower and two upper, i.e. a total of four, guide spindles are present, the two lower ones lying sufficiently far below the point of intersection of the bands to support even heavy bolts of cloth off the guide spindles even when the bands sag slightly. This avoids the formation of undesired bulges as a result of the guide spindles pressing into the bolt of cloth and it also avoids oscillation of the bolt of cloth. During the unwinding operation the bolt of cloth is in fact supported in a stable manner by the crossing bands. The bands flex round the bolt of cloth and the resulting large contact area ensures that the bolt of cloth is steadily rotated by the driven bands.The free end of the web of cloth runs over the adjacent upper guide spindle and then drops to further processing machinery, for example a transverse cutting device, a laying head for zig-zag laying or a laying head for tubular fabrics. Guide rollers provided at the entrance to such machinery in known apparatus are not needed. The afore-mentioned advantages of the proposed apparatus provided with a transverse cutting device are'also noticable when measuring and cutting curtains and carpets to length. The same advantages occur if the apparatus is used for winding up instead of unwinding.The secure grip of the crossing bands on the bolt of cloth and the large contact area can be further improved if the upper and lower guide spindles are such a distance apart that even at the beginning of the unwinding operation the two upper guide spindles of the upper pair are at a higher level than the highest generatrix of the bolt of cloth.

For a better understanding of the present invention and to show how it may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example only, to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is an end view of apparatus for supporting a bolt of cloth; Figure 2 is a side view of the apparatus of Figure 1; Figure 3 shows a detail of a modification of the apparatus of Figures 1 and 2; Figure 4 is a perspective view of an arrangement comprising the apparatus of Figures 1 to 3 disposed on a fabric laying table; Figure 5 shows an alternative arrangement to that of Figure 4; and Figure 6 shows another alternative arrangement to that of Figure 4.

The apparatus is shown in the drawings as supporting a bolt of cloth 6 which is to be wound up or unwound. The apparatus forms an approximately V-shaped trough 1 which is open at the top and which has two inclined side walls 2, 3 (Figure 1). Each side wall 2, 3 comprises several endless bands 5 arranged side by side which can be driven around parallel guide spindles 4. The number of bands 5 forming each wall 2, 3 depends on the length of the bolt 6 to be handled and is at least two; it is four in the case of Figures 2,4 and 5 and three for one and two for the other in the case of figure 6.

There are advantages if the bands 5 are toothed. Alternatively, chains may be used, but they must be made of a material which will not harm the bolt of cloth. The bands 5 of each side wall 2 or 3 of the trough 1 alternate with those of the other. The bands 5 are therefore intercalated and form a V-shaped cradle for the bolt 6. The lower guide spindles 4 are located so far below the line of intersection of the bands 5 that it is impossible for the bolt of cloth 6 to come into contact with the lower guide spindles 4 or for the lower guide spindles 4 to press into the bolt 6 resting in the cradle. The upper and lower pairs of guide spindles 4 are provided a distance apart such that the upper pair of guide spindles 4 are higher than the highest generatrix of the bolt 6 when at its maximum size. As a result of this the bolt 6 is retained securely by the bands 5.

At least one of the guide spindles 4 is connected to a drive means 7. This drive means 7 may consist of a variable-speed drive in the form of a gearbox provided with a suitable clutch.

Whatever the form of the drive means 7, it is convenient for it to be coupled with one of the lower guide spindles 4.

In the embodiments of Figures 1, 2 and 4, the guide spindles 4 are mounted in a travelling frame 8 with the axes of the guide spindles 4 extending transversely of the direction of travel of the frame.

It is possible for the lower guide spindles 4 to support rollers 9 of the travelling frame 8, but in the embodiment illustrated the rollers 9 are mounted on axles separate from the lower guide spindles 4. At least one of the rollers 9 is driven by the drive means 7. The frame 8 may be moved to and fro over a laying surface 10 of a laying table 11 in the lengthwise direction of the laying surface. For this purpose those rollers 9 which are visible in Figure 4 are guided in a longitudinal guideway 12 of the laying table 11.

in the embodiment of Figure 6, the guide spindles 4 are supported by side plates 13 of a laying carriage 14 of a fabric laying machine. The laying carriage 14 is movable to and fro along the length of the laying surface 10 of the fabric laying machine on rollers 15 driven by drive means in the form of an electric motor 1 6. In the embodiment illustrated, the laying carriage has a cradle 1 8 having a platform 1 7 for an operator.

As shown in Figure 3, a drive arrangement 19 may be associated with the guide spindles 4 is provided which transmits to the guide spindles 4 a peripheral speed which is variable with respect to the travelling speed of the frame 8 or of the laying carriage 14. According to Figure 3 this drive arrangement 1 9 comprises guide pulleys 20 arranged on the guide spindles 4. Each pulley 20 has two flanges 21 of conical shape whose narrower ends face one another. The axial space between these flanges 21 is adjustable, at least one of the flanges 21 being axially displaceable along the guide spindle 4 and fixable in different positions.In the position of the flanges 21 which is'shown by broken lines, a higher peripheral speed is obtained for the band 5, so that the web of fabric 6a to be laid out is laid out during the unwinding operation ahead of the frame 8 or the laying carriage 14 respectively. By increasing the spacing between the flanges 21, a reduced peripheral speed in comparison with the travelling speed is obtained which has the effect of tightening the web of fabric. It is desirable for all four rollers 9 to be driven, particularly if the laying surface 10 is uneven. In the embodiment according to Figure 5 the guide spindles 4 are arranged at one end of a laying out table 11.In this way the web of fabric 6a can be delivered onto the laying surface 10 without the guide spindles 4 needing to travel along the laying surface 1 0. The guide spindles 4 may in fact be mounted in a fixed frame 8a. The bands 5 may be driven by hand, but it is preferable for them to be driven by an electromotor. In the case of Figure 6, for example, the electric motor 1 6 of the laying carriage 14 may serve for this purpose, in which case, for example, a drive belt or chain or such like 22 may be provided for the drive of each lower guide spindle 4.

The ends of the guide spindles 4 are mounted in supporting spiders 23 of the frame 8 or 8a respectively or in the side plates 1 3. Intermediate free-running flanges 24, which are rotatable with the bolt 6 and which bear on the ends of the bolt 6, are arranged between the end of the bolt 6 and the supporting spiders 23 or the side plates 1 3.

This avoids friction between the ends of the bolt 6 and the supporting spiders 23 or side plates 13, and is of particular advantage because the bolt 6 has no fixed axis. The intermediate flanges 24 may be made, for example, of metal, plastic or wood. On its side away from the respective ends of the bolt 6 each intermediate flange 24 has a supporting shaft 25 which is mounted in the supporting spider 23 or the side plate 1 3. The retaining shafts 25 are axially displaceable and may be retained by the supporting struts 23 or side plates 13 in positions corresponding to the length of the bolt 6. A second position for the lefthand intermediate flange 24 is designated in Figure 2 by 24'. This position is suitable for a narrower bolt of cloth.

As indicated in the case of the embodiment according to Figure 5, a photocell 26 is provided which co-operates with the clutch associated with the drive means 7 to control the movement of the bands 5 as a function of the start and finish of a procedure for threading the web of cloth 6a into a transverse cutting device 27. The transverse cutting device 27 may also be associated with the travelling frame 8 in the embodiment of Figure 4.

One advantage of the apparatus described is that the bolt can be lifted from below by a fork-lift truck and can then be picked up easily from above and removed. It is also easy to sieze and lift the bolt of cloth using one or more hooks which can be placed between the bands 5 around the bolt.

In the Figures, various directions of rotation and movement are indicated by arrows.

Claims

1. Apparatus for supporting and rotating a roll of material, the apparatus comprising an upwardly open trough for receiving the roll of material, the trough having two inclined side walls each comprising a plurality of endless flexible elements which are drivable around parallel guide spindles, the flexible elements of each side wall extending across the plane of the other side wall.

2. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, in which the flexible elements comprise bands.

3. Apparatus as claimed in Claims 1 or 2, in which at least one guide spindle of at least one of the flexible elements is drivable.

4. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 3, in which the guide spindles of each side wall comprise upper and lower guide spindles, the lower guide spindles being drivable.

5. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the guide spindles are supported in a travelling frame and extend transversely of the direction of travel of the frame.

6. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 5 when appendant to Claim 4, in which the lower guide spindles are provided with rollers of the travelling frame.

7. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the Claims 1 to 4, in which the guide spindles are supported by a travelling carriage of a fabric laying machine.

8. Apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 5 to 7, in which the ratio of the peripheral speed of the flexible elements to the travel speed of the frame or the carriage is variable.

9. Apparatus is claimed in Claim 8, in which at least one of the guide spindles is drivable by a drive arrangement which comprises a puliey having two conical flanges whose narrower ends face one another, at least one of the flanges being axially displaceable and fixable in any one of a plurality of positions.

1 0. Apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 4, in which the guide spindles are disposed at one end of a fabric laying table.

11. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the flexible elements are manually drivable.

12. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10, in which the flexible elements are drivable by a motor.

13. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the guide spindles are supported by spiders and in which intermediate flanges, which are rotatable with the roll of material, are disposed, in use, between the spiders and the ends of the roll of material.

14. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 13, in which each intermediate flange has a shaft which is supported by the adjacent spider.

15. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 14, in which each shaft is axially displaceable with respect to its spider and is fixable in any one of a plurality of positions.

16. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, the trough containing a roll of material, in which the guide spindles of each side wall comprise upper and lower guide spindles, the vertical distance between the upper and lower guide spindles being such that the upper guide spindles are above the level of the uppermost part of the roll of material.

1 7. Apparatus for supporting and rotating a roll of material, substantially as described herein with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings.