US3186195A

US3186195A - Transporting arrangements for leather and similar materials

Info

Publication number: US3186195A
Application number: US284580A
Authority: US
Inventors: Braun Dieter
Original assignee: Fortuna Werke Spezialmaschinenfabrik AG
Current assignee: Fortuna Werke Spezialmaschinenfabrik AG
Priority date: 1959-12-16
Filing date: 1963-05-31
Publication date: 1965-06-01
Anticipated expiration: 1982-06-01
Also published as: GB907098A; DE1213951B

Description

June 1, 1965 D. BRAUN 3,186,195

TRANSPORTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR LEATHER AND SIMILAR MATERIALS Filed May 31, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG.

INVENTOR. pew 5m AA W June 1, 1965 D. BRAUN 3,186,1 5

' I'RANSPORTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR LEATHER AND SIMILAR MATERIALS Filed May 31, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 3

FIG. 4

INVENTOR. fi/W fi raw/pm June 1, 1965 D. BRAUN 3,186,195

TRANSPORTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR LEATHER AND SIMILAR MATERIA s' Filed May 61, 1965 a sneets-sieet '5 INVENTOR. flaw flywum United States Patent 3,186,195 TRANSPORTING AANGEMENTS FOR LEATHER AND SIMILAR MATERIALS Dieter Braun, Stuttgart-Bad Cannstatt, Germany, assignor to Fortuna-Werke Spezialrnaschinenfabrik A.G., Stuttgart-Bad Cannstatt, Germany Filed May 31, 1963, Ser. No. 284,580 Claims priority, application Germany, Dec. 16, 1959, F 30,093 32 Claims. (Cl. 69-40) The present application is a continuation-in-part application of my copending application Serial No. 75,512, filed December 13, 1960, and entitled Transporting Arrangement for Leather and Similar Materials, which now is abandoned.

The present invention relates to transporting arrangements for transporting leather and similar materials such as felt or fabric, and more particularly to transporting arrangements for transporting leather toward a cutting tool by which the leather is split.

It is one object of the present invention to provide a transporting arrangement which is capable of reliably transporting leather, felt, or similar workpieces of itregular thickness in a continuous, and trouble-free movement toward a tool, such as a splitting cutting tool by which the workpiece is split into two layers.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a transporting arrangement for sheets consisting of leather, felt, or similar materials by which the sheet is uniformly transported at high speed, and urged with a uniform great force against a splitting knife.

With these objects in view, one embodiment of the present invention comprises an abutment member, preferably a roller, a plurality of rings cooperating with the abutment roller to press a workpiece against the same, an inner drive roll passing through the rings, an outer drive roll, engaging the outer surfaces of the rings, and means holding the inner drive roll against the inner surfaces of the rings, and a plurality of biasing means preferably spring-loaded biasing rollers engaging each of the rings for urging the rings toward the abutment roller.

In this manner, a leather sheet is transported between the abutment roller and the rings toward a splitting knife and pressed against the edge of the same uniformly along the entire width of the sheet which extends in axial direction of the rings and abutment roller, irrespective of irregularities in the thickness of the leather sheet since the rings are free to yield independently of each other.

The outer drive roll is mounted for rotation on a stationary part of the machine, whereas the inner drive roll is mounted on a movable support which is either urged by a spring to move in such a direction that the inner drive roll presses the rings against the outer drive roll, or is adjustable for positioning the inner drive roll.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the axis of the outer drive roll is located between the plane of movement of the axis of the inner drive roll and the working plane in which the workpiece moves.

Since the rings are not mounted on a fixed shaft, it is preferred that the biasing rollers, the outer drive roll, and the abutment roller form an imaginary triangular prism in whose area the common axis of the aligned rings is located.

According to one embodiment the inner surfaces of the rings are in frictional engagement with the inner drive roll, so that it is advantageous to provide the inner surface of each ring with a central projecting annular ridge in frictional engagement with the outer surface of the inner drive roll.

The inner and outer drive rolls are preferably enveloped by a resilient tubular cover in order to obtain sufficient friction between the drive rolls and the rings.

ice

Preferably, both drive rolls are driven, so that the rings may be pressed by a workpiece into a position in which the inner surfaces thereof are not engaged by the inner drive roll, while the rings are still rotated by the outer drive roll.

In another embodiment, the inner surfaces of the rings are toothed and in meshing engagement with a toothed outer surface of the inner drive roller.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating the transporting arrangement of the present invention as provided in a machine for splitting leather sheets;

FIG. 2 is a partial sectional view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 taken on line IIII in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating a transporting arrangement according to a modified embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a partial sectional view taken on line IVIV in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary view illustrating a detail of the embodiment of FIG. 3 on an enlarged scale; and

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary view corresponding to FIG. 5 and illustrating another operational position.

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, a worktable 12 defines a working plane 12a along which a workpiece in the form of a sheet 1 is moved into the bight between a rotary abutment roller 2, and a plurality of aligned circular rings 3 so that the workpiece 1 is transported toward a splitting cutting tool 6 which is preferably a band guided for movement in axial direction of the abutment roller 2 between a pair of guide members 4 and 5.

A set of levers 16 is mounted on a shaft 15 on a support 13, each lever being connected by a spring 18 to the support 13, and biased by the respective spring to turn in counter-clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 1. If no sheet 1 is located between rings 3 and abutment roller 2, levers 16 are turned by springs 18 to a position abutting an abutment face 19 On support 13. A biasing roller 17 is mounted at the end of each lever 16, and the biasing rollers 17 are spaced from each other so that each biasing roller 17 is in rolling engagement with a central portion of the outer periphery of one of the rings 3 for urging the respective ring 3 toward the abutment roller 2.

An outer drive roll 7 is mounted in fixed hearings on support 13 for rotary movement about its axis 20, and is driven in a conventional manner, for example by an electric motor. Thu-s, rings 3 are confined between drive roll 7, abutment roller 2 and workpiece and the respective biasing rollers 17. Since drive roll 7 and abutment roller 2 are cylindrical, the centers of all circular rings 3 are aligned along a common axis if the workpiece is of uniform thickness, or if levers 16 abut on abutment face 19. In this terminal position, the common axis of rings 3 and the axis of drive roll 7 are equidistant from the working plane defined by work table 12. A plane 23 passing through the axis of rotation 20 of drive roll 7 to the common axis of rings 3, defines with a plane 26 passing through the axis of the biasing rollers 17 to the common axis of the rings 3, an angle 22 which is an obtuse angle.

The lines of engagement between the rings 3 on one hand, and drive roll 7, the workpiece l, and biasing rollers 17 on the other hand, define an imaginary triangular prism in whose area the common axes of rings 3 is located. In this manner, rings 3 are confined by the workpiece 1 and m 3 the abutment roller 2, the drive roll 7, and biasing rollers 17 in a determined position, although they may, of course, be displaced by the workpiece 1, with biasing rollers 17 and levers 16 resiliently yielding.

An inner drive roll 8 passes through the rings and is supported by means of stud shafts in bearings of a pair of arms of a movable support 27 which is guided in a supporting part 9 for movement in a plane parallel to the working plane 12a defined by the top face of support table 12. Consequently, the axis of drive roll 8 moves along a plane parallel to the working plane 12a when su-pport 27 is displaced. This plane is substantially parallel to plane 23 which is defined by the axis of drive roll 7 and the common axis of the rings 3, depending on the amount of displacement of rings 3 by the workpiece 1. Plane 23 is located between the working plane and the plane of movement of the axis of the inner drive roll 8, and actually spaced a small distance 11 from this plane of movement. In other words the axis of the inner drive roll 8 is located lower than the axis 20 of the outer drive roll 7 so that the outer peripheries of drive rolls 7 and 8 act on different circumferentially spaced portions of rings 3 so that rings 3 are confined by drive roll 8 in a position in which the outer peripheral surf-aces thereof are located in the working plane 12a. The pressure of spring 18 acting on movable support 27 produces sufficient friction between rings 3 and drive rolls 7 and 8 to effect rotation of the rings 3 and transport of workpiece 1. Since spring acts in a direction substantially parallel to the working plane, the pressure between the abutment roller 2 and rings 3 is produce-d by the biasing rollers 17, which mainly perform the function of urging rings 3 against the workpiece.

If any one of the rings 3 is downwardly pressed by an irregular part of workpiece 1, the respective ring 3 moves relative to the other rings and displaces the respective biasing roller 7 together with lever 16. During such movement, the respective ring 3 rolls on the peripheral surface of drive roll 7 so that its center moves along a circle having its center in axis 20. v A ring 3, thus displaced by an irregularity of the workpiece 1, may momentarily release the outer peripheral surface of drive roll 8, while tensioning the respective assoc'iated spring 18 to a greater extent, resulting in an increased pressure between the respective biasing roller 17 and the displaced ring 3. Such increased pressure not only urges the respective ring 3 to return to its normal position, but also increases the pressure between the respective ring 3 and the drive roll 7 so that the ring continues to rotate driven by drive roll 7. To obtain such increased frictional pressure, the force of the biasing rollers 17 acts in the direction of plane 26, and consequently has a component in direction of plane 23 which supplements the action of the pressure produced by spring 10. This effect is due to the fact that the angle 22 between

planes

23 and 26 is an obtuse angle. To improve the frictional engagement between the drive rolls 7, 8 and the rings 3, each drive roll is covered by tubular elastic cover 21. Preferably, the inner peripheral surfaces 25 of each ring 3 have inwardly projecting ridges 24 which normally engage the elastic tubular cover 21 of drive roll 8 which results in less wear on the tubular cover 21 and in better guidance of rings 3 since the central annular ridges 24 prevent axial movement of rings 3 by slightly depressing the surface of the resilient tubular cover 21 of drive roll 8.

At the beginning of an operation, the biasing means 18, 16, 17 urge all rings 3 into engagement with drive roll 7 and drive roll 8 so that the outer peripheral surfaces of rings 3 are located slightly above the top surface 12a of table 12 while levers abut face 19. Drive rolls '7 and 8 are rotated by a common drive motor, not shown, and effect rotation of all rings 3 by frictional engagement. A component of the force of the biasing means 17, and

the force of the biasing means 10 urges drive roll 8 against the inner surfaces of rings 3.

When a workpiece, for example a leather sheet 1 is moved in the working plane 12a along the top of table 12 into the bight between abutment roller 2 and rings 3, rings 3 are displaced so that the biasing rollers 17 are also displaced. Drive roll 8 remains in engagement with the inner surfaces of rings 3 due to the action of biasing means 10, or is momentarily separated from the ring 3 in which event the pressure of the biasing means 18, 16, 17 is sufficient to urge the rings against the drive roll 7 so that the rings are driven by the same. The workpiece 1 is transported toward the cutting band 6 which moves in axial direction of roller 2 to split the workpiece into two layers. When one of the rings 3 encounters a thicker part of the workpiece 1, it is individually displaced relative to the other rings 3 and turns the respective correlated lever 16 in clockwise direction against the action of the respective spring 18. The pressure of springs 18 and It; restores the normal position of the displaced ring after the irregularity of the workpiece has passed beyond the line of engagement with the respective ring 3.

The embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 operates on the same principle as described with reference to the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2. Corresponding parts are indicated by the same reference numerals, as modified elements are indicated by primed reference numerals.

A plurality of rings 3 are located between the abutment roller 2, the outer drive roller 7, and the biasing rollers 17. A plane 26 passing through the line of engagement between biasing rollers 17 to the axis of rings 3' defines an obtuse angle 22 with a plane 23 extending from the axis 28 of the outer drive roller 7 to the axis of rings 3.

The inner drive roller 8' has an outer toothed surface with teeth 28, and each ring 3' has an inner toothed surface with teeth 39, as best seen in FIGS. 5 and 6. The diameter of the inner surfaces of rings 3' is substantially greater than the diameter of the outer surface of the inner drive roller 8, so that rings 3' can move relative to the inner drive roller 8 when displaced by an irregularity of the workpiece 1. Such movement is opposed by the biased rollers 17 which, however, permit each of the rings to perform an independent movement irrespective of the positions of the other rings 3 which are engaged by a smooth part of the workpiece 1. The inner drive roll 8' is mounted by means of stud shafts in bearings of a pair of arms of a movable support 27' which is guided in a supporting guideway 49 for movement in a plane parallel to the working plane 12a so that the axis of drive roll 8' moves in a plane which is substantially parallel to plane 23 defined by the axis of drive roll 7 and the common axis of the rings 3, depending upon the amount of displacement of rings 3' by the workpiece 1.

The support portion 9' is formed with a bore in which an adjusting screw 41 is mounted for turning movement. The threaded portion of adjustment screw 41 is threaded into a corresponding threaded bore 40 in support 27 so that by turning adjustment screw 41, the inner drive roll 8' is displaced parallel to the working plane 12a. A nut 45 secures the adjusting means in the properly adjusted position in which the

teeth

28 and 30 are in meshing engagement, while still permitting a movement of the rings 3'.

When one of the rings 3 is displaced by an irregularity of the workpiece l. and urged to move downward, it rolls on the outer drive roll 7, while its axis moves along a circle about the axis 29 of the outer drive roll 7, while the distance between-the axes of the inner drive roll 8' and the respective ring 3' is varied.

Due to the fact that the angle 22 between plane 23 and plane 26 is greater than one component of the pressure exerted by biasing rollers 17 on rings 3 urges rings 3' against the outer drive roller 7, whereas the other component urges rings 3' against the workpiece and abutment roller 2. Consequently, each displaced ring 3' is rapidly returned to its normal working position when the S irregularity of the workpiece has passed beyond the line of engagement between the respective ring 3' and the abutment roller 2.

The gear teeth 28 of the inner drive roll 8', and gear teeth 30 of rings 3' are designed and constructed in a specific manner in order to permit the independent displacement of each ring 3 without interrupting the meshing engagement between

teeth

28 and 30.

As shown in FIGS. and 6, drive roll 8' is adjusted by the adjustment means 44 so that in the position of FIG. 5, one tooth 28 is located between two adjacent teeth 39 of a ring 3 without touching the same, while two adjacent teeth 28a engage the corresponding teeth 30 along flanks 29.

As shown in FIG. 6, one tooth Fall of a ring 3' is lo cated between two adjacent teeth 28 spaced from the same, while adjacent teeth 30 engage the flanks of corresponding teeth 28a at 31. The distances indicated at 32, 33, and 34 are obtained by suitably designing the

gears

28 and 30, and permit a radial displacement of the inner drive roll 8' relative to the rings 3 without disturbing the meshing engagement. The meshing engagement may be improved by slightly rounding off the edges of the tips of the teeth.

In accordance with the present invention, the toothed surfaces of drive roll 8' and rings 3', are made up of

gear teeth

28 and 30 which have a small circular pitch. In order to maintain the teeth in meshing engagement even when ring 3 is displaced, the profile of the gear teeth of rings 3 is modified by outwardly displacing the profile center of each tooth with respect to the pitch circle, and by reducing the addendum.

A circular pitch greater than 1, resulting in a smaller number of teeth would provide sufficient depth of the teeth to assure meshing engagement after displacement of the ring 3', but the difference between the numbers of the teeth would be too small, so that a radial displacement necessary for adjustment of the position of the drive roll, could not be achieved in the desired manner. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the inner drive roll 8 has between 4 and 9 teeth less than the inner surface of the rings 3'.

A smaller circular pitch than 0.5 would provide a suflicient number of teeth, but the depth of the teeth would be too small, so that a displacement in radial direction would cause disengagement of the teeth.

In the preferred range of circular pitch, the difference between the numbers of the teeth is between 4 and 9, and the profile of the teeth may be corrected as explained above with reference to FIG. 5 so that one tooth 28 is spaced from the adjacent teeth 30.

It is preferred to make the circular pitch of teeth 28 of inner drive roll 8' somewhat smaller than the circular pitch of the teeth 3%) of rings 3'. During operation with out load, the difference between the circular pitches is hardly noticeable, since the rings are yieldably supported by biasing rollers 17. However, when the axes of rotation approach each other, as occurs during radial displacement when one of the rings 3' is under a specific load caused by the workpiece, a meshing engagement is maintained even if the relative displacement between the teeth corresponds to the addendum, that is the distance between the pitch circle and the outermost tips of the gear teeth.

The modified embodiment described with reference to FIGS. 3 to 6 has the advantage that the transmission of force from the drive roll 8 to the rings 3 is positive, and does not depend on friction, as is the case in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2. When thick, smooth and hard workpieces are inserted into the machine, the pressure between the drive roll 8 and the rings 3 in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2 must be very high to assure the transport of the workpiece. At such a high pressure, the drive roll 8, which has a substantial length, may be slightly bent, so that the pressure is only maintained for some of the rings 3, permitting other rings 3 to slip on 6 the outer surface .of drive roll 8 of the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2.

This disadvantage is entirely overcome by the embodiment of FIGS. 3 and 4 in which the driving force transmitted from the drive roller 8 to the rings 3' is practically unlimited, and corresponds to the torque of the motor driving drive roll 8. However, as explained above, the gears 28 and 36 must be constructed in accordance with the present invention to permit the displacement of the rings 3 by uneven projecting portions of the workpiece 1.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of transporting arrangements differing from the types described above,

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a transporting arrangement for transporting leather sheets toward a splitting tool, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit .of the present invention.

Without further analysis the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this. invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A transporting arrangement comprising, in combination, an abutment roller; a plurality of rings having outer peripheral surfaces disposed opposite said abutment roller for transporting a workpiece; a first inner drive roll passing through said rings and having an outer diameter smaller than the inner diameter of said rings; a second outer drive roll adjacent said outer peripheral surfaces of said rings, at least one of said drive rolls being driven to rotate; first biasing means for urging said first drive roll toward said second drive roll so that said first drive roll engages the innersurfaces of said rings and urges the same against said second drive roll whereby said rings r0- tate; and a plurality of second biasing means for respec tively urging said rings toward said abutment roller whereby a workpiece between said abutment roller and said rings is transported while each ring is capable of yielding to irregularities of said workpiece.

2. A transporting arrangement comprising, in combination, an abutment roller; a plurality of rings having outer peripheral surfaces disposed opposite said abutment roller for transporting a workpiece, said rings having a common axis; a first inner drive roll passing through said rings and having an outer diameter smaller than the inner diameter of said rings; a second outer drive roll adjacent said outer peripheral surfaces of said rings, at least one of said drive rolls being driven to rotate; first biasing means for urging said first drive roll toward said second drive roll so that said first drive roll engages the inner surfaces of said rings and urges the same against said second drive roll whereby said rings rotate; and a plurality of second biasing means engaging said rings along an axially extending line of engagement for respectively urging said rings toward said abutment roller, 2. plane extending through said line of engagement to said common axis defining an obtuse angle with another plane extending through the axis of said second drive roll to said common axis, whereby a workpiece between said abutment roller and said rings is transported while each ring is capable of yielding to irregularities of said workpiece.

3. A transporting arrangement comprising, in combination, an abutment roller; a plurality of rings having outer peripheral surfaces disposed opposite said abutment roller for transporting a workpiece, said rings having a common axis; a first inner drive roll passing through said rings and having an outer diameter smaller than the inner diameter of said rings; a second outer drive roll adjacent said outer peripheral surfaces of said rings, at least one of said drive rolls being driven to rotate; first biasing means for urging said first drive roll toward said second drive roll so that said first drive roll engages the inner surfaces of said rings and urges the same against said second drive roll to engage the same along a first line of engagement whereby said rings rotate; and a plurality of second biasing means engaging said rings along an axially extending second line of engagement for respectively urging said rings toward said abutment roller, a plane extending through said second line of engagement to said common axis defining an obtuse angle with another plane extending through the axis of said second drive roll to said common axis, the lines of engagement of said rings with a workpiece, second biasing means, and second drive roll defining an imaginary triangular prism in whose area said common axis of said rings is located whereby a wor piece between said abutment roller and said rings is transported while each ring is capable of yielding to irregularities of said workpiece.

4. A transporting arrangement as set forth in claim 3 wherein each of said rings is capable of being displaced by a workpiece against the action of said second biasing means into a position in which said first drive roll is spaced from the inner surfaces of said rings, said second roll being driven to rotate said rings in said displaced position.

5. A transporting arrangement as set forth in claim 4 including means for guiding said first biasing means to move in a direction transverse to the direction of the displacement of said rings by the workpiece so that in said displaced position substantially only said second biasing means are effective to urge said rings against the workpiece and said abutment roller.

6. A transporting and cutting arrangement comprising, in combination, an abutment roller; a plurality of rings having outer peripheral surfaces disposed opposite said abutment roller for transporting a workpiece; a work table for guiding a workpiece in a working plane into the bight. between said abutment roller and said rings; a tool located in said working plane to act on a workpiece transported by said abutment roller and said rings; a first inner drive roll passing through said rings and having an outer diameter smaller than the inner diameter of said rings; a movable support rotatably supporting said first drive roll for movement with the axis thereof moving in a plane parallel to said working plane; a second outer drive roll adjacent said outer peripheral surfaces of said rings, at least one of said drive rolls being driven to rotate; first biasing means operatively connected to said movable support for urging said first drive roll toward said second drive roll so that said first drive roll engages the inner surfaces of said rings and urges the same against said second drive roll whereby said rings rotate; and a plurality of second biasing means for respectively urging said rings toward said abutment roller whereby a workpiece between said abutment roller and said rings is transported while each ring is capable of yielding to irregularities of said workpiece.

7. A transporting and cutting arrangement comprising, in combination, an abutment roller; a plurality of rings having outer peripheral surfaces disposed opposite said abutment roller for transporting a workpiece; a work table for guiding a workpiece in a working plane into the bight between said abutment roller and said rings; a tool located in said working plane to act on a workpiece trans ported by said abutment roller and said rings; a first inner drive roll passing through said rings and having an outer diameter smaller than the inner diameter of said rings; a movable support rotatably supporting said first drive roll for movement with the axis thereof moving in a plane parallel to said working plane; a second outer drive roll adjacent said outer peripheral surfaces of said rings, and having an axis located between said working plane and said plane of movement of said axis of said first drive roll, at least one of said drive rolls being driven to rotate; first biasing means operatively connected to said movable support for urging said first drive roll toward said second drive roll so that said first drive roll engages the inner surfaces of said rings and urges the same against said second drive roll whereby said rings rotate; and a plurality of second biasing means for respectively urging said rings toward said abutment roller and into engagement with said first and second drive rolls in a position in which said working plane is tangential to the outer peripheral surfaces of said rings whereby a workpiece between said abutment roller and said rings is transported while each ring is capable of yielding to irregularities of said workpiece.

3. A transporting arrangement comprising, in combination, an abutment roller; a plurality of rings having outer peripheral surfaces disposed opposite said abutment roller for transporting a workpiece; a first inner drive roll pass ing through said rings and having an outer diameter smaller than the inner diameter of said rings; a second outer drive roll adjacent said outer peripheral surfaces of said rings, said drive rolls being both driven to rotate in opposite directions of rotation; first biasing means for urging said first drive roll toward said second drive roll so that said first drive roll engages the inner surfaces of said rings and urges the same against said second drive roll whereby said rings rotate; and a plurality of second biasing means for respectively urging said rings toward said abutment roller whereby a workpiece between said abutment roller and said rings is transported while each ring is capable of yielding to irregularities of said workpiece.

9. A transporting arrangement comprising, in combination, an abutment roller; a plurality of rings having outer peripheral surfaces disposed opposite said abutment roller for transporting a workpiece; a first inner drive roll passing through said rings and having an outer diameter smaller than the inner diameter of said rings; a second outer drive roll adjacent said outer peripheral surfaces of said rings, at least one of said drive rolls being driven to rotate; first biasing means for urging said first drive roll toward said second drive roll so that said first drive roll engages the inner surfaces of said rings and urges the same against said second drive roll whereby said rings rotate; and a plurality of second biasing means, each second biasing means including a spring-loaded roller, said biasing rollers engaging, respectively, the outer peripheral surfaces of said rings for respectively urging said rings toward said abutment roller whereby a workpiece between said abutment roller and said rings is transported while each ring is capable of yielding to irregularities of said workpiece.

10. A transporting arrangement as set forth in claim 9 wherein each of said second biasing means includes a pivotally mounted lever, and a spring acting on said lever to turn the same in one direction so that a portion of said lever moves toward the outer periphery of one of said r rings; and wherein said biasing rollers are respectively inounted for turning movement on said portions of said evers.

11. A transporting arrangement comprising, in combination, an abutment roller; a plurality of rings having outer peripheral surfaces disposed opposite said abutment roller for transporting a workpiece; a first inner drive roll passing through said rings and having an outer diameter smaller than the inner diameter of said rings; a second outer drive roll adjacent said outer peripheral surfaces of said rings, each of said drive rolls having an elastic tubular cover on the outer periphery thereof, said drive rolls being both driven to rotate in opposite directions of rotation; first biasing means for urging said first drive roll toward said second drive roll so that said first drive roll engages the inner surfaces of said rings and urges the same against said second drive roll whereby said rings rotate; and a plurality of second biasing means for respectively urging said rings toward said abutment roller whereby a workpiece between said abutment roller and said rings is transported while each ring is capable of yielding to irregularities of said workpiece.

12. A transporting arrangement comprising, in combination, an abutment roller; a plurality of rings having outer peripheral surfaces disposed opposite said abutment roller for transporting a workpiece, and inner annular surfaces having central annular inwardly projecting smooth ridges; a first inner drive roll passing through said rings and having an outer diameter smaller than the inner diameter of said rings, said first drive roll having a smooth outer surface adapted to frictionally engage said annular smooth ridges; a second outer drive roll adjacent said outer peripheral surfaces of said rings, at least one of said drive rolls being driven to rotate; first biasing means for urging said first drive roll toward said second drive roll so that said first drive roll engages the inner surfaces of said rings and urges the same against said second drive roll whereby said rings rotate; and a plurality of second biasing means for respectively urging said rings toward said abutment roller whereby a workpiece between said abutment roller and said rings is transported while each ring is capable of yielding to irregularities of said workpiece.

13. A transporting and cutting arrangement comprising, in combination, an abutment roller; a plurality of rings having outer peripheral surfaces disposed opposite said abutment roller for transporting a workpiece, 'and inner annular surf-aces having central annular inwardly projecting smooth ridges; a cutting tool for cutting a workpiece transported between said abutment roller and said rings; a first inner drive roll passing through said rings and having an outer diameter smaller than the inner diameter of said rings, said first drive roll having a smooth outer surface adapted to frictionally engage said annular smooth ridges; a second outer drive roll adjacent said outer peripheral surfaces of said rings, each of said drive rolls having an elastic tubular cover on the outer periphery thereof, said drive rolls being both driven to rotate in opposite directions of rotation; first biasing means for urging said first drive roll toward said second drive rol'l so that said first drive roll engages the inner surfaces of said rings and urges the same against said second drive roll whereby said rings rotate; and a plurality of second biasing means, each second biasing means including a spring-loaded roller, said biasing rollers engaging, respectively, the outer peripheral surfaces of said rings for respectively, the outer peripheral surfaces of said rings for respectively urging said rings toward said abutment roller whereby a workpiece between said abutment roller and said rings is transported while each ring is capable of yielding to irregularities of said workpiece.

14. A transporting and cutting arrangement comprising, in combination, an abutment roller; a plurality of rings having outer peripheral surfaces disposed opposite said abutment roller for transporting a workpiece; a work table for guiding a workpiece in a working plane into the bight between said abutment roller and said rings; a tool located in said working plane to act on a workpiece transported by said abutment roller and said rings; a first inner drive roll passing through said rings and having an outer diameter smaller than the inner diameter of said rings; a movable support rotatably supporting said first drive roll for movement with the axis thereof moving in a plane parallel to said working plane; a second outer drive roll adjacent said outer peripheral surfaces of said rings and having an axis located between said working plane and said plane of movement of said axis of said first drive roll, said drive rolls being both driven to rotate in opposite directions of rotation; first biasing means operatively connected to said movable support for urging said first drive roll toward said second drive roll so that said first drive roll engages the inner surfaces of said rings and urges the same against said second drive roll whereby said rings rotate; and a plurality of second biasing means, each second biasing means including a spring-loader roller, said biasing rollers engaging, respectively, the outer peripheral surfaces of said rings for respectively urging said rings toward said abutment roller and into engagement with 1% said first and second drive rolls in a position in which said working plane is tangential to the outer peripheral surfaces of said rings whereby a workpiece between said abutment roller and said rings is transported while each ring is capable of yielding to irregularities of said workpiece.

15. A transporting and cutting arrangement comprising, in combination, an abutment roller; a plurality of rings having outer peripheral surfaces disposed opposite said abutment roller for transporting a workpiece, said rings having a common axis; a work table for guiding a workpiece in a working plane into the bight between said abutment roller and said rings; a tool located in said working plane to act on a workpiece transported by said abutment roller and said rings; a first inner drive roll passing through said rings and having an outer diameter smaller than the inner diameter of said rings; a movable support rot-atably supporting said first drive roll for movement with the axis thereof moving in a plane parallel to said working plane; a second outer drive roll adjacent said outer peripheral surfaces of said rings, at least one of said drive rolls being driven to rotate; first biasing means operatively connected to said movable support for urging said first drive roll toward said second drive roll so that said first drive roll engages the inner surfaces of said rings and urges the same against said second drive roll to engage the same along a first line of engagement whereby said rings rotate; and a plurality of second biasing means engaging said rings along an axially extending second line of engagement for respectively urging said rings toward said abutment roller, a plane extending through said second line of engagement to said common axis defining an obtuse angle with another plane extending through the axis of said second drive roll to said common axis, the lines of engagement of said rings with a workpiece, second biasing means, and second drive roll defining an imaginary triangular prism in whose area said common axis of said rings is located whereby a workpiece between said abutment roller and said rings is transported while each ring is capable of yielding to irregularities of said workpiece.

15. A transporting and cutting arrangement comprising, in combination, an abutment roller; a plurality of rings having outer peripheral surfaces disposed opposite said abutment roller for transporting a workpiece, and inner annular surfaces having central annular inwardly projecting smooth ridges, said rings having a common axis; a work table for guiding a workpiece in a working plane into the bight between said abutment roller and said rings; a cutting tool located in said working plane to act on a workpiece transported by said abutment roller and said rings; a first inner drive roll passing through said rings and having an outer diameter smaller than the inner diameter of said rings, said first drive roll having a smooth outer surface adapted to frictionally engage said annular smooth ridges; a movable support rotatably supporting said first drive roll for movement with the axis thereof moving in a plan parallel to said working plane; a second outer drive roll adjacent said outer peripheral surfaces of said rings, each of said drive rolls having an elastic tubular cover on the outer periphery thereof, said drive rolls being both driven to rotate in opposite directions of rotation; first biasing means operatively connected to said movable support for urging said first drive roll toward said second drive roll so that said first drive roll engages the inner surfaces of said rings and urges the same against said second drive roll to engage the same along a first line of engagement whereby said rings rotate; and a plurality of second biasing means, each second biasing means including a spring-loaded biasing roller, said biasing rollers engaging, respectively, the outer peripheral surfaces of said rings along an axially extending second line of engagement for respectively urging said rings toward said abutment roller, a plane extending through said second line of engagement to said common axis defining an obtuse angle with another plane extending through the axis of said second drive roll to said common axis, the lines of engagement of said rings with a workpiece, biasing rollers, and second drive roll defining an imaginary triangular prism in whose area said common axis of said rings is located whereby a workpiece between said abutment roller and said rings is transported while each ring is capable of yielding to irregularities of said workpiece.

17. A transporting and cutting arrangement, comprising, in combination, an abutment roller; a plurality of rings having outer peripheral surfaces disposed opposite said abutment roller for transporting a workpiece, said rings having a common axis; a work table for guiding a workpiece in a working plane into the bight between said abutment roller and said rings; a cutting tool located in said working plane to act on a workpiece transported by said abutment roller and said rings; a drive roll adjacent said outer peripheral surfaces of said rings and having an axis; and a plurality of biasing means, each biasing means including a spring-loaded biasing roller, said biasing rollers en aging, respectively, the outer peripheral surfaces of said rings along an axially extending line of engagement for respectively urging said rings toward said abutment roller and against the workpiece and into rolling frictional engagement with said drive roll, a plane extending through said line of engagement to said common axis of said rings defining an obtuse angle with another plane extending through the axis of said drive roll to said common axis of said rings so that said biasing means urge said rings against said drive roll, the lines of engagement of said rings with the workpiece, biasing rollers, and drive roll defining an imaginary triangular prism in whose area said common axis of said rings is located whereby a workpiece between said abutment roller and said rings is transported while each ring is capable of yielding to irregularities of said workpiece.

18. A transporting arrangement comprising, in combination, an abutment member; a plurality of rings having outer peripheral surfaces disposed opposite said abutment member for transporting a workpiece; a drive roll engaging said outer peripheral surfaces of said rings; first biasing means located within said rings and engaging only a small portion of the inner surfaces of said rings for urging said rings against said drive roll in one direction, while greater portions of said inner surfaces of said rings are spaced from said biasing means; and second biasing means located outside of said rings and engaging the outer peripheral surfaces of the same for urging said rings in another direction toward said abutment member whereby a workpiece between said abutment member and said rings is transported while said rings are capable of yielding to irregularities of said workpiece in either of said directions.

19. A transporting arrangement comprising, in combination, an abutment member; a plurality of rings having outer peripheral surfaces disposed opposite said abutment member for transporting a workpiece; a first inner drive roll passing through said rings and having an outer diameter smaller than the inner diameter of said rings; a second outer drive roll adjacent said outer peripheral surfaces of said rings, at least one of said drive rolls being driven to rotate; first biasing means for urging one of said drive rolls toward the other of said drive rolls so that said inner drive roll engages the inner surfaces of said rings whereby said rings rotate; and a plurality of second biasing means for respectively urging said rings toward said abutment member whereby a workpiece between said abutment member and said rings is transported while each ring is capable of yielding to irregularities of said workpiece.

20. A transporting arrangement comprising, in combination, an abutment member; a plurality of rings having outer peripheral surfaces disposed opposite said abutment member for transporting the workpiece; a drive roll engaging said outer peripheral surfaces of said rings; first biasing means for urging said rings toward said drive roll whereby said rings are rotated by said drive l roll; and'a plurality of second biasing means for respectively urging said rings toward said abutment member whereby a workpiece between said abutment member and said rings is transported while each ring is capable of yielding to irregularities of said workpiece.

21. A transporting arrangement comprising, in combination, an abutment member; a plurality of rings having outer peripheral surfaces disposed opposite said abutment member for transporting a workpiece and annular inner surfaces; an outer drive roll engaged by said outer peripheral surfaces; an inner drive roll passing through said rings and having an outer surface with a diameter smaller than the inner diameters of said rings; means for holding said outer surface of said inner drive roll in driving engagement with said inner surfaces of said rings whereby said rings rotate; and a plurality of biasing means respectively engaging said rings for urging said rings toward said abutment member and said outer drive roll whereby a workpiece between said abutment member and said rings is transported while each ring is capable of yielding to irregularities of the workpiece.

22. A transporting arrangement comprising, in combination, an abutment member; a plurality of rings having outer peripheral surfaces disposed opposite said abutment member for transporting a workpiece and annular inner toothed surfaces; an outer drive roll engaged by said outer peripheral surfaces; an inner drive roll passing through said rings and having an outer toothed surface with a diameter smaller than the inner diameters of said rings; means for holding said outer toothed surface of said inner drive roll in meshing driving engagement with said inner toothed surfaces of said rings whereby said rings rotate; and a plurality of biasing means respectively engaging said rings for urging said rings toward said abutment member and said outer drive roll whereby a workpiece between said abutment member and said rings is transported while each ring is capable of yielding to irregularities of the workpiece.

23. A transporting arrangement comprising, in combination, an abutment member; a plurality of rings having outer peripheral surfaces disposed opposite said abutment member for transporting a workpiece and annular inner toothed surfaces, said rings having a common axis; an outer drive roll engaged by said outer peripheral surfaces; an inner drive roll passing through said rings and having an outer toothed surface with a diameter smaller than the inner diameters of said rings; means for holding said outer toothed surface of said inner drive roll in meshing drive engagement with said inner toothed surfaces of said rings whereby said rings rotate; and a plurality of biasing means respectively engaging said rings along an axially extending line of engagement for urging said rings toward said abutment member and said outer drive roll, a plane extending through said line of engagement to said common axis defining an obtuse angle with another plane extending through the axis of said outer drive roll to said common axis whereby a workpiece between said abutment member and said rings is transported while each ring is capable of yielding to irregularities of the workpiece.

24. A transporting arrangement as set forth in claim 23 wherein said outer drive roll engages said outer peripheral surfaces of said rings along a first line of engagement, wherein said toothed outer surface of said inner drive roll engages said toothed inner surfaces of said rings along a second line of engagement; and wherein said first and second lines of engagement are circumferentially spaced on said rings.

25. A transporting arrangement comprising, in combination, an abutment member; a plurality of rings having outer peripheral surfaces disposed opposite said abutment member for transporting a workpiece and annular inner toothed surfaces; an outer drive roll engaged by said outer peripheral surfaces; an inner drive roll passing through said rings and having an outer toothed surface with a diameter smaller than the inner diameters of said rings; means for holding said outer toothed surface of said inner drive roll in meshing driving engagement with said inner toothed surfaces of said rings whereby said rings rotate, and including adjustable means for moving said inner drive roll toward and away from said outer drive roll; and a plurality of biasing means respectively engaging said rings for urging said rings toward said abutment member and said outer drive roll whereby a workpiece between said abutment member and said rings is transported while each ring is capable of yielding to irregularities of the workpiece.

26. A transporting arrangement as set forth in claim 25 wherein said toothed inner and outer surfaces have a small circular pitch.

27. A transporting arrangement as set forth in claim 26 wherein the number of teeth of each of said outer toothed surface of said inner drive roll is between 4 and 9 teeth smaller than the number of teeth on each of said inner toothed surfaces of said rings.

28. A transporting arrangement as set forth in claim 26 wherein the profiles of the teeth of said outer and inner toothed surfaces are designed in such a manner that said toothed surfaces remain in meshing engagement during small movements of each of said rings in a radial direction relative to said inner drive roll.

29. A transporting arrangement as set forth in claim 28 wherein the profile center of each tooth of said toothed inner surfaces of said rings is outwardly displaced with respect to the pitch circle, and wherein the addendum thereof is reduced relative to the teeth of said outer toothed surface of said inner drive roll.

30. A transporting arrangement as set forth in claim 26 wherein said adjustable means hold said inner drive roll in such a position, and wherein the teeth of said outer and inner toothed surfaces are designed and constructed in such a manner that at least one tooth of said outer toothed surface of said drive roll is located between two adjacent teeth of said toothed inner surfaces of said rings without touching the same, while the teeth on both sides of said one tooth are in meshing contact with corresponding teeth of said toothed inner surfaces.

31. A transporting arrangement as set forth in claim 26 wherein the teeth of said inner and outer toothed surfaces are designed and constructed in such a manner that said teeth remain in meshing engagement upon a displacement of one of said rings by the workpiece for a distance corresponding to half of the depth of the teeth.

32. A transporting arrangement as set forth in claim 26 wherein the circular pitch of the teeth of said outer toothed surface of said inner drive roll is smaller than the circular pitch of the teeth of said inner toothed surfaces of said rings.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 619,477 2/99 Hall 6910 2,803,126 8/57 Meyer 6910 FOREIGN PATENTS 3 18,5 79 1/20 Germany.

JORDAN FRANKLIN, Primary Examiner.

Claims

1. A TRANSPORTING ARRANGEMENT COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, AN ABUTMENT ROLLER; A PLURALITY OF RINGS HAVING OUTER PERIPHERAL SURFACES DISPOSED OPPOSITE SAID ABUTMENT ROLLER FOR TRANSPORTING A WORKPIECE; A FIRST INNER DRIVE ROLL PASSING THROUGH SAID RINGS AND HAVING AN OUTER DIAMETER SMALLER THAN THE INNER DIAMETER OF SAID RINGS; A SECOND OUTER DRIVE ROLL ADJACENT SAID OUTER PERIPHERAL SURFACES OF SAID RINGS, AT LEAST ONE OF SAID DRIVE ROLLS BEING DRIVEN TO ROTATE; FIRST BIASING MEANS FOR URGING SAID FIRST DRIVE ROLL TOWARD SAID SECOND DRIVE ROLL SO THAT SAID FIRST DRIVE ROLL ENGAGES THE INNERSURFACES OF SAID RINGS AND URGES THE SAME AGAINST SAID SECOND DRIVE ROLL WHEREBY SAID RINGS ROTATE; AND A PLURALITY OF SECOND BIASING MEANS FOR RESPECTIVELY URGING SAID RINGS TOWARD SAID ABUTMENT ROLLER WHEREBY A WORKPIECE BETWEEN SAID ABUTMENT ROLLER AND SAID RINGS IS TRANSPORTED WHILE EACH RING IS CAPABLE OF YIELDING TO IRREGULARITIES OF SAID WORKPIECE.