US3029493A - Apparatus for forming coreless rolls of fibrous wool ribbon - Google Patents

Description

April 17, 1962 J; G. RZESzUTKO ETAL 3,029,493

APPARATUS FOR FORMING CORELESS ROLLS OF' FIBROUS WOOL RIBBON Filed Sept. 29, 1959 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 L\ T ST S J. G. RzEszuTKo ETAL April 17, 1962 3,029,493

APPARATUS FOR FORMING coRELEss RoLLs oF FIBRoUs wooL RIBBON Filed sept. 29, 1959 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 kw ww April 17, 1962 J. G. RzEszUTKo ETAL 3,029,493

APPARATUS FOR FORMING CORELESS ROLLS OF' FIBROUS WOOL RIBBON 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Sept. 29, 1959 IHHHIIIIIII J. G. RzEszUTKo ETAL 3,029,493

April 17, 1962 APPARATUS FOR FORMING CORELESS ROLLS OF FIBROUS WOOL RIBBON 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Sept. 29, 1959 April 17 1962 J. G. RzEszuTKo ETAL APPARATUS FOR FORMING CORELESS ROLLS OF FIBROUS WOOL'RIBBON 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Sept. 29, 1959 n @y um April 17,-1962 J. G. RzEszuTKo ETAL 3,029,493

APPARATUS FOR FORMING coRELEss RoLLs oF FIBRoUs woor. RIBBON Filed Sept. 29, 1959 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 www@ 3,029,493 Patented Apr. 17,v 1962 3 029,493 APPARATUS FR FRMlNG COREL-ESS ROLLS F FEBROUS WQDL RIBB'ON Joseph G. Rzeszutlro and Frank P. Lawler, Chicago, lll.,

assignors to .iarnes H. Rhodes it Company, Chicago,

lll., a corporation or' Iliinois Filed Sept. 29, 1959, Ser. No. 843,283 "l Claims. (Cl. 29-1) The present invention relates to apparatus for forming coreless rolls of fibrous material, particularly steel wool ribbon. An earlier and different apparatus for performing this operation is disclosed in expired US. Patent No. 1,968,310 to Peterson.

For convenience, the present invention is described herein as an apparatus for forming coreless rolls of steel wool ribbon. It is to be understood, however, that the apparatus also has utility for rolling any kind or" fibrous material such as bronze wool, plastic wool, etc.

An important object of the invention is to provide a new and improved apparatus for forming coreless rolls of steel -wool ribbon and the like wherein the ribbon of steel wool may be directed from a steel wool producing machine directly to the apparatus which then rolls and cuts the ribbon in a manner such that the rolls discharged from the apparatus are substantially uniform in size and weight.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved apparatus of the character described which is mobile and which may be moved between various librous wool producing machines which are turning out dilerent grades of tibrous wool ribbon.

A more detailed object of the invention is to provide a new and improved apparatus of the character described wherein a ribbon of steel wool or the like is advanced onto a rst conveyor for movement beneath a drag device which turns up the end of the ribbon and initiates the formation of the roll thereof after which the initially formed roll is advanced by the first conveyor beneath a second conveyor moving in the opposite direction at a somewhat lesser rate of speed whereby the ditierential action of the two conveyors efects continued formation of the roll of ribbon while simultaneously advancing the roll toward the discharge end of the apparatus.

A further object of the invention is to provide a new and improved apparatus of the character described wherein a timer-actuated cutter is provided for cutting the ribbon of fibrous wool at uniform intervals whereby the rolls of ribbon discharged from the apparatus are substantially uniform in size and weight.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a new and improved apparatus of the character described wherein the drag device, which because it is preferably forme-d partially of felt and is subjected to wear by the steel wool ribbon or the like, is easily and quickly replaceable without shutting down the apparatus.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved apparatus of the character described which is readily adjustable whereby to permit the formation of rolls of fibrous wool ribbon of different sizes, of diderent weights, and of different grades and material.

Further objects or the invention are to provide apparatus of the character described which is economical to fabricate, sturdy, and adaptable for various conditions and requirements, which is simple and efcient in operation, and which requires little maintenance.

Certain other obiects of the invention will, in part, be obvious, and will in part appear hereinafter.

For a more complete understanding of the nature and l scope of the invention reference may now be had to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. l is a side elevational view of a preferred form of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross along the line 2 2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross along the line 3 3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross along the line 4 4 of FIG. I;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross along the line 5 5 of FIG. l;

FIG, 6 is an enlarged cross along rthe line 6 6 of FIG. l;

FiG. 7 is an enlarged right roller assembly taken generally FIG. 1;

FlG. 8 is an enlarged longitudinal vertical section of the roll initiating portion of the apparatus shown in FIG. l and illustrating in broken lines the formation of a coreless roll of steel wool ribbon;

FIG. 9 is a cross section taken generally along the line 9 9 of FIG. 8;

FIG. l0 is an enlarged side elevational view of the rotary cutter assembly shown in FIG. l;

section taken generally sec ion taken generally section taken generally section taken generally section taken generally end view of the pinch along the line 7 7 of FIG. l1 is a right end elevational View, partially in vertical section, of the cutter assembly shown in FIG. l0 with the rotary knife blade shown rotated toits uppermost position;

FIG. 12 is an end elevation View of the cutter assemly brake taken generally along the line l2 12 of FIG. 1l;

FIG. 13 is a reduced scale top plan View of the upper pinch roller illustrated in FIG. 7.

The embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG. 1 comprises a Series of basic structures, namely, a supporting base 10, a lower conveyor 11, an upper conveyor 12, a drag device 13 for initiating the formation of the coreless rolls of steel wool ribbon or the like, a pinch roller assembly 1d for pulling a ribbon of steel wool into the apparatus, and a rotary knife assembly 15 for cutting the ribbon of steel wool. Suitable drive and control means are also provided.

The supporting base 1u is an elongated, generally rectangular open-frame type structure including a series of lower, horizontally disposed support members 18, a series of upper horizontally disposed support members 19, a pair of vertically extending end support members Z at one end thereof, a pair of vertically extending end support members 21 at the opposite end thereof, and a series of inclined brace members 22. The pair of vertical end members 2li extend somewhat above the upper support members 1.9 and the pair of vertical end members 21 extend a substantial distance above the upper support members 19 for purposes which will be self-evident hereinafter. A pair of vertical support plates 23 are secured to the upper ends of the end support members 21 and extend in a direction away from the supporting base .10 whereby to support the pinch roller assembly 14 and the rotary knife assembly 15 therebetween. The supporting base lill is supported on a series of pivotable casters `Z-iwhereby the apparatus is mobile and may be readily moved between various steel wool machines producing different grades of steel wool ribbon, between diierent ribbon stations of the same machine, or to a position adjacent a previously manufactured stock of steel wool ribbon. a

A variable speed drive motor 25, whose speed is readily adjustable by means of a hand crank 26, is centrally supported within the open frame supporting base 10 on `a plate member 27 which is suitably secured between a pair of the lower support members 18. The motor 25 is provided with a drive shaft 2S which carries a small sprocket 29. A pair of side plates Sti are secured between the lower and upper support members 18 and 19 of the supporting base adjacent the vertical end support members 21. A jackshaft 31 is rotatably supported by a pair of bearing blocks 32 each of which is secured to one of the side plates 30. The jackshaft 31 carries a large sprocket 33 which is driven by an endless chain 34 which passes around the small sprocket 29 on the drive shaft 28 of the motor 25. The jackshaft 31 also carries a small sprocket 35.

The lower conveyor 11 (FIGS. l-4) includes a frame 40 which is characterized by an elongated tlat plate member 41 having elongated angle members attached thereto in a manner to provide depending side anges 42. The lower conveyor frame 4th has one end pivotably mounted between the vertical end support members 21 of the supporting base 10 somewhat above the upper horizontal support members 19 thereof. A suitable pivot pin 43 extends between the vertical support members 21 and the side flanges 42 of the lower conveyor frame 4t). The opposite end ofthe lower conveyor frame 4t) is adjustably supported at a point spaced a substantial distance in from the end thereof between the vertical end support members of the supporting base 10 whereby a substantial portion of the lower conveyor 11 projects beyond the vertical end supports 20 of the supporting base 10. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, approximately one-third of the length of the lower conveyor 11 projects beyond the end of the supporting base 1t). A suitable support pin 44 is adapted to be inserted through the side flanges 42 of the lower conveyor frame 40 and through one pair of a series of vertically spaced pairs of openings formed in the vertical end support members 29 whereby the lower conveyor frame tti may be supported in a horizonztal position or in positions inclined slightly above or below the horizontal position. In FIG. l, the lower conveyor frame 40 is supported with the projecting end thereof inclined slightly upwardly from the pivotably connected end thereof.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, a pair of support plates 59 depend from the side flanges 42 of the lower conveyor frame 4t) at the end thereof adjacent the pivot pin 43. A pair of bearing blocks 51 are mounted one on each of the plates 5G and a jackshaft 52. is rotatably supported therein. A large sprocket 53 is keyed to the jackshaft 52 and is driven by means of an endless chain 54 which extends around the sprocket 35 on the jackshaft 31. A pulley 55 and sprockets 56 and 57 are also keyed to the jackshaft 52. The radius of the pulley 55 is substantially equal to the distance between the aids of the jackshatt 52 and the upper surface of the horizontal plate portion 41 of the lower conveyor frame 49. rIhe horizontal plate portion 41 of the lower conveyor frame di? terminates at a point to the left of the axis of the jackshaft 52 (as viewed in FIG. l of the drawings) for a purpose which will be obvious hereinafter.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3, a pair of support plates 60 depend from the projecting end of the lower conveyor frame 40 and include portions extending somewhat forwardly thereof. The plates 6G each support a bearing block 61 between which extends a freely rotatable jackshaft 62. A pulley 63, which is the same size as the pulley 55, is keyed to the jackshaft 62. The forwardly extending portions of the mounting plates 69 are each provided with an elongated slot 64 whereby the jackshaft 62 may be adjustably shifted relative to the plates 69 in a well known manner by means of adjusting screws 65 whereby to adjust the center-to-center distance between the pulleys 55 and 63.

An endless conveyor belt 66 which may be formed of any suitable belt material extends around the pulleys 55 and 63. The belt 66 is approximately the same width as the ribbon of steel wool to be rolled and is provided with a plurality of uniformly spaced transverse or laterally extending cleats 67 which may be either riveted or sewn onto the belt or even formed integrally therewith. During operation of the drive motor 25, the pulley 55 is driven in a direction such that the upper run of the belt 66 moves toward the projecting end of the lower conveyor `frame 4ta which is the discharge end of the apparatus.

A pair of sidewalls or guideways 70 extend upwardly from the horizontal plate portion 41 of the lower conveyor frame 40 with each being disposed closely adjacent to a margin or edge of the belt 66. The sidewalls 70 extend generally the whole length of the lower conveyor frame 46 with their height increasing gradually toward the discharge end of the apparatus. Each sidewall 70 is suitably braced by an attached angle bracket member 71 which is secured to the Hat plate member 41 of the lower conveyor `frame 40.

The upper conveyor 12 is supported directly on the lower conveyor frame 40 as will now be described. The upper conveyor 12 includes a frame 75 which is characterized by a pair of elongated, vertically disposed plate members 76 which are spaced apart in parallel alignment by two sets of transverely extending brace members 77. The two sets of brace members 77 are located near oppo- Y site ends of the upper conveyor frame 75 and adjacent the upper portions of the plate members 76.

One end of the upper conveyor frame 75 is pivotably mounted (FIGS. 1 and 4) between a pair of upright ear members 60 which have dat base portions secured to the ilat plate member 41 of the lower conveyor frame 40 outwardly of the sidewalls 70. 1f necessary, spacer bars 79 may Abe disposed between the plate 41 and the base portions of the ear members 80. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. l, the ear members 80 are located approximately in vertical alignment with the longitudinal midpoint of the mobile supporting base 10. Adjacent ends of the elongated plate members 76 of the upper conveyor frame 75 are each secured to one of a pair of bearing blocks S1 each of which is rotatably mounted in a bore formed in one of the ear members 80. A jackshaft 82 is rotatably supported by the two bearing blocks 81 and has a pulley 83 and a sprocket 84 keyed thereto. An endless chain 85 extends around the sprocket 4 and the sprocket 56 carried on the shaft 52 whereby the pulley 33 is driven counter-clockwise (as viewed in FIG. l) when the drive motor 25 is operated. The arrangement is such that the perimeter of the pulley 83 rotates a relatively short distance above the upper run of the cleated lower conveyor belt 66.

The opposite ends of the spaced apart elongated plate members 76 of the upper conveyor frame 75 are provided with projecting tongues each of which supports a bearing lock 86. A jackshaft 87 is rotatably supported by the two bearing blocks 86 and has a pulley 88 keyed thereto. The projecting tongues of the plate members 76 are provided with elongated slots 89 to permit adjustment of the jackshaft 87 relative to the tongues by means of adjusting screws 96 whereby the center-to-center distance between the pulleys 83 and 8S may be readily adjusted in a well-known manner. An endless conveyor belt 91 extends around the pulleys 83 and 38. During operation of the drive motor 25, the pulley 83 is driven in a direction such that the lower run of the upper conveyor belt 91 moves in a direction away from the discharge end of the apparatus and opposite to the movement of the upper run of the lower conveyor belt 66 disposed therebelow.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings, the pulleys 83 and 88 of the upper conveyor 12 are the same size as the pulleys 55 and 63 of the lower con veyor 11. For a reason which will be fully explained hereinafter the sprockets 56 and 84 are selected such that the ratio of the speed of movement of the upper conveyor belt 91 to the speed of the lower conveyor belt 66 is in the order of 8:10.

Adjustable support means are provided for the upper U conveyor 12 adjacent the end thereof carrying the pulley S8 whereby the end of the upper conveyor 12 may be pivotably raised and lowered relative to the lower conveyor 11. -The apparatus is therefore readily adaptable for forming coreless rolls of steel wool ribbon of Various diameters. The adjustable support means, as best illustrated in FIGS. l and 6, comprises a pair of upright posts of the upper conveyor frame 75 and are secured at their lower ends to the flat plate 41 of the lower conveyor frame 41D. A cross bar 96 is secured to the upper ends of the two posts 95 and is provided adjacent one end thereof with a pair of spaced apart upright members 97 and 98. A horizontally disposed shaft 99 is rotatably supported in aligned bores formed in the upright members 97 and 9S and has a handle 11)@ pinned to one end thereof and a ruiter or bevel gear 101 pinned to the opposite end thereof. A mating miter or bevel gear 1132 is rotatably supported on the `cross bar '96 in meshing engagement with the gear 161 and with its axis in vertical alignment with the lateral midpoint of the upper conveyor 12. A threaded rod 1113 extends vertically through the gear 102, which has an internally threaded bore 130.1 therein, and downwardly through a bore 1115 formed in the cross bar 96.

A bifurcated or U-shaped member 106 is secured to the lower end of the threaded rod 193 and has a pair of laterally spaced arms 197 which extend downwardly alongside the spaced apart elongated plate members 76 of the upper conveyor frame 75. A pivot pin 108 extends through the arms 107 of the bifurcated member 106 and through the spaced apart members 76 of the upper conveyor frame 75 whereby the end of the upper conveyor 12 adjacent the pulley S8 is supported by the threaded rod 163 which is in turn adjustably supported by the gear 102.

When the handle 1110 is rotated, the gear 102 is rotated*v through its meshing engagement with the gear 101 whereby the threaded rod 103 is either adjustably moved upwardly or downwardly relative to the gear 102 to either raise or lower the end of the upper conveyor 12 adjacent the discharge end of the apparatus. angle between the upper conveyor 12 and the lower conveyor 11 is approximately 7 which has been found to be a suitable angle for forming rolls of steel wool ribbon approximately 8 in diameter.

An adjustable elongated backing member or shoe 112 is provided for engagement with the upper surface of the lower run of the upper conveyor belt 91. The shoe 112 is supported adjacent its opposite ends by a pair of rods 113 which extend `upwardly through bores formed in the transversely extending ybrace members 77 of the upper conveyor frame 75. The upper ends of the rods 113 are threadedly engaged in nuts 114 which are rotatably confined between the uppermost transversely extending brace members '77 and inverted U-shaped members 115 mounted thereon. By spinning the nuts 114, the rods 113 may be raised or lowered to decrease or increase, respectively, the compressive and frictional forces exerted Iby the lower run of the upper conveyor belt 91 on the rolls of steel wool ribbon being formed between the lower belt 66 and the upper belt 91. The formation of the rolls of steel wool ribbon will be fully described hereinafter.

As best illustrated in FIG. 6, the hat plate member 41 or" the lower conveyor frame 411, the sidewalls 76 and the shoe 112 define a rolling channel or tunnel 119 which is generally rectangular in cross section with the height thereof increasing progressively toward the discharge end of the apparatus. The upper run of the lower conveyor belt 66 is movable along the lower surface of the rolling `channel 119 toward the discharge end 0f the apparatus and the lower run of the upper conveyor belt 91 is movable adjacent the underside of the upper surface of the rolling channel 119 in a direction away from the discharge end of the apparatus.

The pinch roller assembly 14, which is adapted to advance a ribbon of steel `wool from either a previously In FIGS. 1 and 8, the l' '95 which are spaced in lateral alignment at opposite sides produced supply thereof or directly from a steel wool producing machine onto the lower conveyor belt 66, is best illustrated in FIGS. l, 7 and 13. The assembly 14 includes a pair of pinch rollers 4120 and 121 disposed one above the other with the lower roller being driven and the upper roller 121 being freely rotatable. The driven roller 120 is mounted on a jackshaft 122 which is rotatably supported by a pair of bearing blocks 123 each of which is secured to one of the supporting plates 23 mounted on the upper end of the vertical end supports 21 of the supporting base 21); Asprocket 124 and a Spur gear 125 are keyed to the jackshaft 122. To provide a drive for the lower pinch roller 120 (counter-clockwise as viewed in FIG. 1) an endless chain 126 extends around the sprocket 124 and around the sprocket 57 keyed to the jackshaft 52 upon which shaft the pulley 55 is mounted.

The upper pinch roller 121 is carried on a jackshaft 127 which is rotatably supported by a pair of bearing blocks 128 each of which is mounted on one of a pair of arms 129. Adjacent ends of the arms 129 are each pivotably mounted, as at 1311 in FIG. 13, on one of the supporting plates 23 whereby the upper pinch roller 121 is held against the lower pinch roller 120, or a ribbon of steel Wool disposed therebetween, by its own weight. The opposite ends of the arms 129 are interconnected by a rod 131 which is provided with a pair of vertically extending slidably adjustable guide members 132. The guide members 132 center the ribbon of steel wool being pulled into the apparatus by the pinch rollers 120 and 121. To start a ribbon of steel wool through the apparatus, the upper roller 121 is manually lifted after which the forward end of Ithe ribbon of steel wool is inserted between the guide members i132 and over the lower pinch roller 120 after which the upper pinch roller 121 is released for contacting engagement with the upper surface of the ribbon of steel wool. During operation of the drive motor 25, the two pinch rollers 129 and 121 co-act in a well-known manner to pull the ribbon of steel wool into the apparatus. In the embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings, the axes of the two pinch rollers 120 and 121 are in vertical alignment. As various grades of steel wool may be processed by the apparatus disclosed herein, the arms 129 are provided with elongated slots (not shown) whereby to permit shifting the axis of the upper roller 121 relative to the axis of the lower roller 120. This adjustment permits the angle at which the ribbon of steel wool leaves the roller assembly 14 `to be retained relatively uniform ldespite the various grades of steel wool ribbon being pulled into the apparatus by the pinch rollers 120 and 121. A channel-shaped trough or chute 133 may be provided to direct the ribbon of steel wool from the pinch roller assembly 14 onto the upper run of the lower belt conveyor 1'1 at a point thereon located between the pulley 55 thereof and the pulley 83 of the upper belt conveyor 12.

After the ribbon of steel wool is directed onto the upper run of the belt 66, it is advanced by the cleats 67 thereon toward the drag device '13 which is adapted to initiate the formation of a coreless roll of steel wool ribbon. The drag device 13 and the initiation of the formation of a coreless roll of steel wool ribbon are best'illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9. The drag device 13 includes elements 'Which'are more or less permanently assembled in the apparatus and a readily replaceable pickup cartridge 139. Briefly, the permanently assembled'elements include a pivotably mounted upper `guide block 141i and a rigidly mounted anchor block 145.

The upper guide block is pivotably mounted adjacent the pulley 83 of the upper conveyor 12 on a pivot pin 141 which extends between the sidewalls 70 and the angle brackets 71. An elongated upper guide member 142 which is formed of spring material is secured at one end to the underside of the guide block 140 and is curved in a manner such that the other end thereof extends beneath the pulley 83 and a considerable distance beyond the block 140. As the pivot pin 1411 is disposed between the projecting end of the guide member 142 and the center of mass of the block 140, the projecting end of the guide member `142 is normally pivoted upwardly and into contacting engagement with the lower run of the upper conveyor belt 91, the guide member `142 being approximately the same width as the belt 91. 1f desirable, a counterweight or spring means may be associated with the block 140 to insure this engagement between the guide member 142 and the belt 91. The purpose for this engagement between the end of the guide member 142 and Ithe belt 91 will be fully explained hereinafter. By removing the pivot pin 141, the guide block 140 and the guide member 142 may be removed from the apparatus if this should appear necessary or desirable.

The anchor block 145 is rigidly mounted between the sidewalls 70 on a pair of pins 146 which extend therebetween. The anchor block 145 is mounted at a predetermined angle to a plane which is disposed normally to and transversely of the lower conveyor 11. In the embodiment shown in the drawings an angle of approximately 12 has been found to be suitable. An anchor pin 147 is permanently mounted in the anchor block 145 and it projects from the outer face thereof at right angles thereto whereby to provide a mounting means for the replaceable pickup cartridge `139.

The pickup cartridge 139, as best shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, comprises an upwardly opening U-shaped member 150 the width of which is somewhat less than the distance between the sidewalls 7i), a block 151 which is secured between the ends of the spaced apart arms 149 of the member `150 and spaced from the closed end 143 thereof, and a clamping bar 152 between the arms 149 which is slidable between the block 151 and the closed end 14S of the member 150. The block 151 is provided with a pair of adjustable clamping bolts 153 the ends of which are engageable in recesses formed in the clamping block 152 whereby a series of drag or pickup members may be clamped between the clamping bar 152 and the closed end 148 of the member 150. The block 151 is provided with a central bore 154 whereby the pickup cartridge 139 may be fitted on the anchor pin v147 or removed therefrom very rapidly. In the pickup cartridge 139 shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the drag members include a lower felt pad or tongue 157, a tongue 15S formed of spring metal which overlies the felt tongue 157 and normally biasesv the end of it downwardly into contact with the upper run of the lower conveyor belt 66, and a substantially longer felt pad or tongue 159 which overlies the spring metal tongue 15S. The end of the felt tongue 159 should not extend beyond the end of the upper guide member 1.42.

As the forward end of a ribbon of steel wool is advanced toward the drag device 13 by the lower conveyor belt 66, it is engaged by the lower felt pad 157 which picks up and turns back the end of the ribbon and thus initiates the formation of a coreless roll of steel wool ribbon. The felt pad 157 extends away from the U-shaped member 150 and the anchor block 145 at generally right angles thereto whereby the end of `the felt pad 157 is normally disposed at an angle of approximately 12 to the upper run of the lower conveyor belt 66. Although this angle has been found to provide an effective ribbon-pickup characteristic for the embodiment illustrated and described herein, this angle may be varied to suit other conditions. As the initially formed roll of steel wool ribbon is advanced through the apparatus the frictional engagement of the felt pads 157 and 159 with the upper portion thereof effects continued formation of the roll. As the roll of ribbon increases in size the felt pad 159 is raised upwardly against the guide member 142. The progressive formation of a single roll of ribbon is illustrated in broken lines in FIG. 8. When the roll of ribbon passes the end of the upper guide member 142, the upper portion thereof is frictionally engaged by the lower run of the upper conveyor belt 9-1 which is moving in a direction opposite to the forward motion of the roll. At this point, the action ofthe upper conveyor belt 91 would tend to pull fragments of the steel wool over the end of the guide member 142 and interfere with the proper formation of the roll if the end of the upper guide member 142 were not held in engagement with the lower run of the upper conveyor belt 91 as hereinbefore described. As the upper conveyor belt 91 is moving at a slower rate of speed than the lower conveyor belt 66, the progressively growing roll of steel wool ribbon will have a continuous forward motion toward the discharge end of the apparatus at a speed substantially less than the speed of the lower conveyor belt 66. As before stated herein, it has been found that the speed of the upper belt 91 should preferably be approximately of the speed of the lower belt 66.

The differential action of the two belts 66 and 91 on the roll of steel wool ribbon is highly effective for continued formation of the roll as the roll is moved toward the discharge end of the apparatus and permits the formation of a sizable roll during a relatively short forward motion of the roll itself. This advantageous feature negates the apparatus being so long that it takes up valuable space and is unwieldy to shift from one location to another. Inasmuch as, the upper conveyor belt 91 exerts an opposite frictional force on the upper portion of the roll being formed there is a more rapid roll formation between the belts 66 and 91 than between the felt pads 157 and 159 and the belt 66 as the pads merely exert a static force on the upper portion of the roll being formed. The backing shoe 112 for the lower run of the upper conveyor belt 91 may be adjusted as previously described herein to vary the formation of the roll by varying the compression and frictional forces exerted by the belt 91 on the roll.

During the later part of the formation of the roll between the belts 66 and 91 some tension will develop in the ribbon of steel wool between the roll and the pinch rollers and 121. To prevent the ribbon of steel wool from being pulled across the relatively sharp edge of the pickup cartridge 139 when this occurs, a guide roller 161 is mounted between ythe sidewalls 70 to the right and below the pickup cartridge 139 (as viewed in FIG. l) with the ribbon of steel wool being adapted to pass under the guide roller 161. The fact that there is some tension developed in the ribbon of steel wool during the latter portion of the formation of the roll is very important as will be described hereinafter in detail.

The arrangement and selection of the drag or pickup members for the pickup cartridge 139 may be widely varied for various conditions and materials being rolled. For instance, the felt pad 157 and the spring tongue 15S could be replaced by a single felt pad of greater thickness the weight of which would be sufficient to hold the end of it against the belt 66 and insure a proper pickup of the end of the ribbon of steel wool. The pickup tongues may also be formed of various other materials, such as rubber-like material and certain plastics, to suit different inherent characteristics of various materials being rolled.

When felt is used to form the drag or pickup members, it is obvious that there will be some wearing of the felt due to the frictional engagement thereof with the steel wool. With the replaceable pickup cartridge 139 disclosed herein, it is a simple matter to remove the cartridge from the anchor pin 147 when the felt tongues thereof have become worn, during the period the roll is being formed between the belts 66 and 91, and replace it with a cartridge having new felt tongues clamped therein. With the structural arrangement disclosed herein, this cartridge replacement can be accomplished in a matter of seconds and without shutting down the apparatus. Obviously, this is a very important advantage, particularly during periods of heavy demand for a continuous production of rolls of steel wool ribbon.

Provision is also made for cutting the ribbon of steel wool at uniform intervals whereby the completed rolls discharged from the apparatus will be substantially uniform in weight. As shown in FIG. 1, the rotary knife assembly 15 is disposed adjacent the pinch roller assembly 14. The details of the rotary knife assembly \15 are best shown in FIGS. 10, 1l and 12. A jackshaft 165 is rotatably supported by a pair of bearing blocks 166 each of which is secured to one of the supporting plates 23. A pair of spaced apart arms 167 are rotatably mounted at adjacent'ends thereof on the jackshaft 165 by means of ball bearings .168 with each arm `167 being disposed adjacent fthe inner surface of one of the support plates 23. A knife blade 169 having a cutting edge 170 is secured between the opposite ends of the arms 167. A pair of linkage arrangements are provided for adjusting the position of the knife blade 169 with each arrangement being characterized by a vertically adjustable link member 171 which is carried on the outer surface of one of the supporting plates 23 and by a pin 172 which extends transversely between the upper end of the link member 171 and one of the arms 167 intermediate the ends thereof. The pins 172 extend through vertically elongated slots 173 formed in each of the supporting plates 23. By adjusting the link members 171 in a vertical direction the arms 167 are pivoted about the jackshaft 165 whereby to position the knife blade i169 relative thereto. The 'knife blade 169 should be positioned so that the ribbon of steel wool coming from the pinch roller assembly 14 passes over the cutting edge 170 thereof but preferably not in engagement therewith so as to prevent the steel wool from dulling the cutting edge `170. This blade adjustment feature is provided because it has been found that different grades of steel wool leave the pinch roller assembly 14 at `different angles at any given speed Of the driven pinch roller 120. Once the knife blade 169 has been properly adjusted for a particular grade of steel wool and a particular ribbon feed rate, it is normally retained in its adjusted position. Hereafter, therefore, the knife blade 169 will be referred to as the stationary knife blade.

As best illustrated in FG. 1l, a pair of rotary knife wheels 175 are keyed to the jackshaft 165 with each of the wheels 175 being disposed adjacent the inner surface 0f one of the stationary blade supporting arms 167. A rotary knife blade 176 having a cutting edge 177 is secured in aligned notches formed in the perimeters of the two wheels 175 and extends therebetween. The normal stopped position of the rotary knife blade 176, as illustrated in FIG. 10, is approximately 180 away from the stationary knife blade 169. The rotary blade 176 is adapted to be periodically rotated past the stationary knife blade 169 in a clockwise direction (as viewed in FIG. 10) whereby to cut the ribbon of steel wool.

.An adjustable friction brake 19t) which is disposed adjacent one end of the jackshaft 165 exerts a continual braking action thereon and tends to prevent rotation of the jackshaft 165. The brake 19t) is mounted on one of the supporting plates 23 by means of an angular bracket 191 and includes a brake drum 192 which is keyed to the jackshaft 165, a brake lining 193 disposed about the brake drum 192, and an adjustable clamping member 194 which is disposed about the brake lining 193, The braking action of the brake 19t? is adjustable in a well-known manner by a spring-tightening device 195 associated with the clamping member 194.

A single revolution clutch '180 of a well-known type, such as the single-revolution clutch which is fully disclosed in expired Dickens Patent No. 2,140,737 and is commercially available from The Hilliard Corporation of Elmira, New York, is carried on a reduced diameter portion of the jackshaft 165 and has a spur gear 181 keyed to one portion thereof. The spur gear 181 meshes with the spur gear 125 carried on the jackshaft 122 whereby the one portion of the clutch 18) rotates continuously in a clockwise direction (as viewed in FIGS. l and l0) during the operation of the drive motor 25. A cam 182l having a radial shoulder 133 is associated with the clutch 180.

10 An arm 134 which is pivotably mounted intermediate its ends on a pin 185 has an upper end 136 which is engageable with the radial shoulder 183 of the clutch cam 182. When the end 186 of the arm 184 is in engagement with the radial shoulder 183 of the clutch cam 132, the clutch 180 is disengaged from the jackshaft 165 and the rotary knife blade 176 is retained in its normally stopped position by the brake 19d. A spring 16,7' is connected between an anchor bracket 188 and the opposite lower end of the Yarm 164 whereby to normally urge the end 186 of the arm 18a into its clutch disengaging position in contact with the radial shoulder 183 of the cam 182.

The lower end of the arm 184 is pivotably connected to a plunger 2% of a solenoid 2111. When the solenoid 201 is energized, the plunger 26d is moved inwardly of the core thereof. This inward movement of the plunger 20d pivots the upper end 186 of the arm 184- out of engagement with the radial shoulder 183 of the clutch cam 132 whereby to positively engage the clutch 180 with the jackshaft and cause clockwise rotation of the rotary knife blade 176 past the stationary knife blade 169, thereby cutting the ribbon of steel wool. An eccentric 2414 which is associated with the clutch 1811 is rotatable only during rotation of the jackshaft 1.65. The eccentric 2194 is adapted upon rotation thereof to actuate a plunger 2115 of a limit switch 206 before the completion of a full revolution of the jackshaft 165. Actuation of the limit switch Z116 by the eccentric 2114 deenergizes the solenoid 201 thereby permitting the spring 187 to pivot the arm 184 in a direction such that the upper end 1&3 thereof will be in position for engagement with the radial flange 183 of the clutch cam 182 whereby to disengage the clutch 130 from the jackshaft '165. The rotary knife blade 176 may then be brought to a stop by the brake 190 after a single revolution thereof and until the solenoid 201 is again energized.

The gearing 12S-131 is selected so that the rotary knife blade 176 is rotated past the stationary knife blade 169 at a relatively fast rate of speed so that the newly cut forward end of the ribbon of steel wool will not jam up against the rotary knife blade 176. As before described herein, the ribbon of steel wool is under some tension at the time the rotary knife blade 176 is rotated through its cutting stroke whereby the trailing end of the ribbon in the process of being rolled between the belts 66 and 91 will jump somewhat ahead of the newly cut forward end of the ribbon of Steel wool. rl`his insures that there will be a gap between the trailing end of the ribbon being rolled and the forward end of the ribbon directed onto the upper run of the lower conveyor belt 66. Without such a gap, the lower felt tongue 157 may not drop down into engagement with the belt 66 which is its position for picking up and turning back the forward end of the following ribbon of steel wool whereby to initiate the formation of the next roll of steel wool ribbon.

r[he solenoid 2111 is adapted to be energized to engage the clutch with the jackshaft 165, as previously described herein, by an adjustable timer 210 which may be mounted on the lower conveyor frame 40 in a position convenient to the operator of the apparatus. The timer 211) is of a type well-known in the art and commercially available. As the timer structure comprises no part of the invention it will not be described herein. By adjusting the timer 210, the operator can control the length of ribbon in the rolls and thus the weight of the rolls of steel wool ribbon discharged from the apparatus. Once the timer 210 has been adjusted as desired, the rolls of steel Wool ribbon discharged from the apparatus will be substantially uniform in weight and size.

The operation of the apparatus is relatively simple. After the upper conveyor 12v has been adjusted to a desired angle relative to the lower conveyor 11 and the timer 210 has been set to provide a roll of steel wool ribbon of a desired weight and size for vthe selected speed of operation of the apparatus, the forward end of the ribbon of steel wool is inserted between the two pinch rollers 120 and 121. The drive motor 25 is then started and adjusted for the desired speed of operation. If the steel wool ribbon being rolled is being taken from a stock of previously manufactured steel wool, the speed of the drive motor 25 may be set for any speed within its range of operation. However, if the ribbon of steel wool being rolled is coming directly from a steel wool producing machine, the speed of the drive motor 25 should be synchronized with the output of the steel Wool producing machine so that there will be just a slight dip in the ribbon between the steel wool producing machine and the pinch roller assembly 14. In this situation it has been found that the speed of the lower conveyor belt 66 should be approximately the same as the output speed of the ribbon of steel wool coming from the steel wool producing machine, the speed of the upper conveyor belt 31 being approximately 80% thereof.

The ribbon of steel wool is thus pulled between the pinch rollers 129 and 121, over the stationary knife blade 169 and down the chute 133 onto the upper run of the lower conveyor belt 66. The forward end of the ribbon of steel wool is then moved toward and beneath the drag device 13 `whereby the forward end is picked up and turned back upon itself to initiate the formation of the roll of steel wool ribbon. The initially formed roll is moved past the drag device 13 until the upper portion thereof is frictionally engaged by the lower run of the upper conveyor belt 9i. whereby the formation of the roll is continued while the roll continues its forward motion toward the discharge end of the apparatus at a rate of movement which is relatively slow compared to the rate of movement of the upper run of the lower conveyor belt 66. During the formation of the roll, the solenoid 201 is energized in response to a signal from the timer 210 whereby to drivingly engage the continuously rotating spur gear 181 with the jackshaft 165 through the clutch 180, thus causing a single revolution of the rotary knife blade 176 past the stationary knife blade 169 to cut the ribbon of steel wool.

With the drive motor 25 set at a specific setting, the length of steel Wool ribbon in each roll discharged from the apparatus may be varied by adjustment of the timer 2N. This of course is a means for controlling both the diameter and the weight of the rolls of steel wool ribbon discharged from the apparatus. Once the timer 210 has been set as desired, the rolls of steel ribbon discharged from the apparatus will be substantially uniform in weight and in diameter.

inasmuch as the drag members carried on the pickup cartridge 139 may become worn periodically as a result of their frictional engagement with the steel wool, an important feature of the invention lies in the fact that the cartridge carrying the worn drag members may be quickly removed and replaced by a cartridge carrying new drag members in a matter of seconds whereby there is no necessity for shutting down the apparatus during such replacement.

As previously mentioned, the apparatus of the present invention is applicable for forming coreless rolls of fibrous ribbon other than steel, such as bronze for example, or even for materials other than metal such as plastic Wool or the like.

lt will be understood that certain changes may be made in the construction or arrangement of the apparatus for forming coreless rolls of steel wool ribbon and the like disclosed herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

We claim:

l. Apparatus for forming a coreless roll of steel wool ribbon and the like comprising, means providing an elongated roll-forming channel, said channel being generally rectangular in cross section and increasing progressively in height from its entrance end toward its discharge end, a first conveyor belt having an upper run movable along the bottom surface of said channel toward the discharge end thereof, a second conveyor belt having a lower run movable through said channel adjacent the underside of the upper surface thereof and toward the entrance end thereof, said upper run of said first conveyor belt and said lower run of said second conveyor belt diverging in a direction toward the discharge end of said apparatus, and drag means separate from said first and second conveyor belts positioned adjacent the entrance end of said roll-forming channel and including an elongated friction member normally engaging said upper run of said first conveyor belt, said friction member being frictionally engageable with the forward end of a ribbon of steel Wool advanced into the entrance end of said roll-forming channel on said upper run of said first conveyor belt whereby to turn the forward end of said ribbon upwardly and rearwardly to initiate the formation of a roll of ribbon, said friction member being yieldable upwardly away from said upper run of said first conveyor belt to permit the passage of said initially formed roll end tlierebeneath and said oppositely movable upper and lower runs of said first and second conveyor belts, respectively, serving to engage the formed end and continue the rolling of the ribbon into a roll of ribbon relatively rapidly while advancing the growing roll toward the discharge end of said roll-forming channel.

2. Apparatus as recited in claim l wherein said second conveyor belt is movable at a lesser rate of speed than said first conveyor belt whereby to positively advance the growing roll of ribbon toward the discharge end of said roll-forming channel during formation thereof.

3. tApparatus as recited in claim l wherein said separate drag means comprises a pickup cartridge having a lower felt-like tongue and an overlying spring metal tongue inter-connected at one end of each and positioned so that the opposite ends thereof are inclined downwardly and extend partially into the entrance end of said channel, said spring metal tongue yieldably biasing said felt-like tongue downwardly against said upper run of said first conveyor belt whereby said felt-like tongue is frictionally engageable with the forward end of a ribbon of steel wool carried on said upper run of said first conveyor belt to initiate the formation of a coreless roll of steel wool ribbon by frictionally picking up said forward end of the ribbon of steel wool and turning it back upon itself.

4. Apparatus as recited in claim 3 having an anchor block fixedly mounted adjacent the entrance end of said roll-forming channel, an anchor pin projecting from said anchor block, and said pickup cartridge having a bore formed therein to permit mounting said cartridge on said anchor pin, said cartridge being easily removable from said pin, as when said felt-like tongue becomes worn through frictional contact with the steel wool, whereby it may be quickly replaced with a cartridge carrying a new felt-like tongue, said arrangement permitting said pickup caltridge replacement to be completed in such a short period of time that the apparatus need not be shut down.

5. Apparatus as recited in claim 3 wherein said pickup cartridge is provided with a second felt-like tongue of greater length than said lower felt-like tongue overlying said spring metal tongue for effecting continued formation of the roll of steel wool ribbon prior to engagement thereof by said upper and lower runs of said first and second conveyor belts, respectively.

6. Apparatus as recited in claim 5 having a guide block pivotably mounted immediately forward of said pickup cartridge, and an elongated flat guide member having one end secured to said guide block and the other end projecting beneath the lower run of said second conveyor belt, said guide member being disposed above said second felt-like tongue and projecting slightly beyond the end thereof, the pivotable mounting of said guide block being disposed between the center of mass thereof and the projecting end of said guide member so that the projecting end portion of said guide member is normally urged upwardly into substantially parallel engagement with the lower run of -said second conveyor belt whereby to prevent the upper portion of the initially formed roll of steel wool from being pulled back over the upper surface of said second felt-like tongue by the lower run of said second conveyor belt when said roll is advanced by the upper run of said first conveyor belt beyond the end of said second felt-like tongue and into frictioual engagement with said oppositely moving lower run of said second conveyor belt.

7. Apparatus as recited in claim l having a pinch roller assembly for advancing the forward end of a ribbon of steel wool onto the upper run of said first conveyor belt forwardly of the entrance end of said rollforming channel, a stationary knife blade supported adjacent the exit from said pinch roller assembly whereby said ribbon of steel wool passes over said stationary knife blade, a rotary knife blade, continuously operable 'l drive means for said rotary knife blade, a normally disengaged single-revolution clutch operably connected between said rotary knife blade and said drive means therefor, a solenoid operable when energized to engage said clutch whereby said rotary knife blade is rotated past said stationary knife blade to cut said ribbon of steel wool, said clutch being automatically disengaged after a single revolution of said rotary knife blade, and an adjustable timer for energizing said solenoid at uniform intervals whereby the rolls of steel wool ribbon discharged from said roll-forming channel will be substantially uniform in size and weight.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

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