GB2106553A - Cloth roll loading apparatus for a cloth laying machine - Google Patents

Abstract

A cloth roll loading apparatus 11 includes a pair of loader arms 60 pivotally mounted on the frame 12 of a cloth laying machine 10 and having spindle engaging means 67, 75 for holding a cloth roll 44 during the pivotal movement of the arms 60 between various cloth roll positions, including an auxiliary roll supporting position, positions for loading or unloading the cloth roll 44 from the roll support 41 on the frame 12 and for loading and unloading the cloth roll 44 on the cloth laying table. The cloth roll loading apparatus 11 is further characterized by electrical controls 108 adapted to drive the loader arms 60 through their pivotal paths only when the main drive 25, Fig. 2 (not shown), of the cloth laying machine 10 is inoperative. Centering controls (101, 102), Fig.3 (not shown), are also included for automatically centering the transversely adjustable cloth roll carriage 30 on the machine frame 12 for proper alignment with the loader arms 60. Lock-out controls (145), Fig. 3 (not shown), are also provided to prevent the edge controls (47) from shifting the cloth roll carriage (30) while the loader arms (60) are in a forward position interfering with the carriage (30). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Cloth roll loading apparatus for a cloth spreading machine This invention relates to a cloth spreading machine, and more particularly to an apparatus for loading and unloading a cloth roll upon a cloth spreading machine.

In most conventional cloth spreading machines, a cloth supply roll is carried on the machine as it reciprocates longitudinally over a cutting table for spreading the web of cloth upon the cutting table as the web unwinds from the supply roll. In many conventional cloth spreading machines, the cloth supply roll is carried on an elongated spindle which is rotatably supported in bearings on a pair of upright standards transversely spaced on the spreading machine. In small cloth spreading machines, or where the cloth supply roll is relatively small and lightweight, the cloth roll can be manually loaded upon the machine, sometimes by a single operator, but more often by two men, one at each end of the spindle.

Since the size of cloth rolls handled by conventional cloth spreading machines is increasing in weight and size, auxiliary equipment is needed to load the rolls upon the spreading machine. Examples of some of this auxiliary equipment for loading cloth rolls upon a cloth spreading machine are disclosed in the following U.S. Patents::- 3,458,185 Merrill July 1969 3,460,774 Martin Aug. 12, 1969 3,502,320 Scordato Mar.24, 1970 3,567,211 Martin, Sr. Mar. 2, 1971 3,776,541 Stumpf Dec. 4, 1973 4,215,970 DeSalle Aug. 5,1980 The Merrill and Stumpf patents disclose endless chain type of cloth roll carriers for moving a cloth roll from an inoperative position, such as a pick-up position on the cloth cutting table, or from an intermediate auxiliary storage position, to an operative position in which the spindle is transferred to a spindle support upon the cloth spreading machine.

Martin 3,460,774 discloses an auxiliary cloth roll carrier fixed to the rear end of the spreading machine and includes a fulcrum upon which the cloth roll may be tilted to elevate it to a supported position upon the support standards on the machine.

Scordato, Martin, Sr., and DeSalle disclose separate cloth roll elevators adapted to be moved in position relative to the cloth spreading machine and the cutting table in order to elevate or transport a cloth roll to the cloth spreading machine and deposit the roll upon the roll support on the machine.

The DeSalle patent discloses the cloth loading apparatus as including a pair of pivotal arms which are adapted to elevate the cloth roll spindle to the crest of a pair of guide rails, from which the spindle descends over a pair of depressible bridge tracks and is deposited upon the bearings of the upright standards on the machine. These pivotal loader arms are pivotally mounted about an axis adjacent the cutting table and the bottom of the spreading machine, and are mounted on a separate carrier structure from the cloth spreading machine.

Pivotal loader arms for elevating or loading rolls of various types upon a roll support structure are disclosed in the following U.S. patents:- 527,879 Potter Oct.23, 1894 3,276,712 Walker Oct. 4,1966 3,325,118 Hall June 13, 1967 3,458,147 Teske et al July 29, 1969 3,474,978 Klose Oct. 28, 1969 3,610,144 Woessner Oct. 5, 1971 3,734,307 Degelleke et al May22, 1973 3,789,757 Motteretal Feb. 5, 1974 3,938,671 Leweyetal Feb. 17,1976 British patent 1,304,566 also discloses pivotally mounted arms for carrying a cloth roll spindle for elevating the cloth roll upon a cloth laying carriage, however, the pivotal arms in the British patent 1,304,566 are also adapted to function as supporting standards for the cloth roll, so that there is no transfer from the pivotal arms to any upright standards on the cloth laying machine.

Currently and for the past couple of years, Cutting Room Appliances Corp. of New York City, N.Y., has on the market a cloth spreading machine having a pair of loader arms pivotally mounted on the rear end of the spreading machine for transfering a cloth roll from the cutting table to the support standards on the spreading machine.

The loader arms have hooked ends for engaging the opposite end portions of the spindle in order to carry the spindle from the cutting table to the support standards. The loader arms are fixed to a transverse rotary shaft driven by an independent reversible electrical motor. Upper and lower limit switches are included for stopping the motor when the loader arms reach their predetermined upper and lower extreme positions. Manually operated electrical controls are provided for transversely shifting the cloth roll support carriage to center the carriage for cooperation with the loader arms. However, the Cutting Room Appliances loader arms do not have the capability of unloading a cloth roll from the cloth spreading machine support standards, without manual transfer of the spindle from the standards to the arms.Moreover, the Cutting Room Appliances machine does not have automatic controls for centering the roll support carriage.

None of the above prior art includes a pair of loader arms pivotally mounted directly upon the cloth spreading machine which are capable of not only loading, but also unloading, a spindlesupported cloth roll on a cloth spreading machine.

Moreover, the prior art does not disclose loader arms having adjustable means for regulating the positions of the arms at which the cloth roll spindle is released.

Furthermore, the safety controls in prior art cloth roll loaders are limited to limit switches for controlling the extremities of movement of the cloth roll.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a cloth roll loading apparatus including a pair of loader or lift arms pivotally mounted upon the frame of a cloth spreading machine for raising or lowering a cloth roll between a position on the cloth laying surface or cutting table upon which the spreading machine is supported and an operative position in which the cloth roll is deposited upon, or retrieved from, a roll support on the spreading machine.

Another object of this invention is to provide a cloth roll loading apparatus which can function to carry an auxiliary cloth roll in a storage position upon the spreading machine as the machine reciprocally moves along the cutting table, and where it is available for deposit upon the roll support after the cloth supply roll is exhausted.

Another object of this invention is to provide a cloth roll loading apparatus for a cloth spreading machine in which the loader or lift arms are uniquely structed to hold the cloth roll spindle during a loading or unloading operation. The free or operative ends of the lift arms are provided with open-ended, spindle recesses for holding the spindle of the cloth roll during the entire lifting or loading traverse of the pivotal lift arms from the time the roll is engaged and is lying on the table adjacent the spreading machine to the time that it is deposited into the cradle of the roll support upon the machine.By merely moving a keeper element on the lift arm to a position partially closing the open-ended spindle recess, the lift arms are immediately adapted for retrieving the cloth roll from the roll support and for holding the spindle on the lift arms during the reverse pivotal movement of the lift arms from the roll support to any remote or inoperative pivotal position, including depositing the roll upon the cutting table.

It is also within the scope of this invention to provide lift arms mounted on a cloth spreading machine which are adjustable in length to cooperate with roll supports of adjustable height on a cloth spreading machine.

Another object of this invention is to provide cloth roll lift arms pivotally mounted upon a cloth spreading machine in which the operative ends of the arms are provided with spindle recesses including opposed faces, the lower or proximate face being angularly adjustable to control the angular position of the lift arms at which a cloth roll is deposited upon the roll support.

The cloth roll loading apparatus made in accordance with this invention also includes upper and lower limit switches for limiting the extremities of the arcs through which the load arms are rotated between their operative and inoperative positions, and are also provided with a safety limit switch for limiting the movement of the lift arms toward the roll support until the lift arms can continue their movement toward their operative position, depositing the cloth roll upon the roll support, without interruption or damage.

A further object of this invention is to provide an automatic centering control mechanism for centering a transversely shiftable cloth roll carrier to permit the pivotal lift arms of the cloth roll loading apparatus to move into cooperative loading or unloading position with the roll support, without interference or damage.

The cloth roll loading apparatus made in accordance with this invention, pivotally mounted upon a cloth spreading machine, includes selectively operable drive means for the movement of the spreading machine over a cloth spreading surface or for the movement of the pivotal lift arms, so that only the spreading machine or the lift arms can be driven at any one time.

Fig. 1 is a fragementary side elevation, taken from the operator's side, of the rear portion of a cloth spreading machine having a transversely shiftable cloth roll support carriage, including a roll loading apparatus made in accordance with this invention, and illustrating the lift arms in their operative position in solid lines and in an intermediate upright position in phantom; Fig. 2 is a fragmentary remote side elevation of the apparatus disclosed in Fig. 1, with the lift arms in their lowermost inoperative position in solid lines and in an intermediate pick-up position in phantom; Fig. 3 is a fragmentary rear elevation of the apparatus disclosed in Fig. 2, with the lift arms disclosed in their solid-line inoperative position and in their phantom operative position;; Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view of the upper end portion of a lift arm in operative position, and a roll support standard, with a portion of the cradle broken away; Fig. 5 is a fragmentary side elevation of the upper end portion of a lift arm in operative position, as illustrated in Fig. 4, with the keeper latched in its operative unloading position; Fig. 6 is a fragmentary, remote side elevational schematic view of the drive transmission for the spreading machine and for the lift arms; Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken along the line 7-7 of Fig. 3, illustrating the pivotal end portion of a lift arm in its extreme operative and inoperative positions; Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken along the line 8-8 of Fig. 3, illustrating the lockout switch; and Fig. 9 is a schematic circuit diagram of the electrical controls for the cloth roll loading apparatus.

Referring now to the drawings in more detail, Figs.1,2 and 3 disclose the rear portion of a typical cloth spreading machine 10 upon which is mounted the cloth roll loading apparatus 11 made in accordance with this invention.

The cloth spreading machine 10 includes a machine frame 12 supported upon track wheels 1 3 and table wheels 14 rollably engaging, respectively, an elongated guide rail 1 5 and the top surface of the cutting table 1 6 upon which the machine 10 is adapted to travel longitudinally in reciprocal paths for laying cloth upon the table 16.

The machine frame 12 is reciprocally driven longitudinally of the cutting table 1 6 by an electrical drive motor 18, which drives a reduction gear device 19 through a pulley and belt transmission 20 (Fig. 2). The output shaft 21 of the reduction gear device 1 9 is fixed to a drive sprocket 22 coupled by endless chain 23 to driven sprocket 24, which rotates freely about the transverse wheel drive shaft 25. Fixed to the wheel drive shaft 25 is an electromagnetic clutch mechanism 26 which, when energized, causes the sprocket 24 to drive the wheel drive shaft 25.

The wheel drive shaft 25 is coupled through a sprocket, not shown, and chain 27 to wheel sprocket 28 coaxially fixed to the axle of the table wheel 14 for driving the same.

Also, operatively connected to the wheel drive shaft 25 is an electromagnetic brake 29. When the electromagnetic clutch 26 is energized, the electromagnetic brake 29 is de-energized, and vice versa, in a conventional manner.

Mounted on top of the machine frame 12 is a cloth roll support carriage 30 having rollers 31 mounted on transverse guide rods or rails 32 for transverse reciprocal movement. Carried upon the support carriage 30 is a turntable 34 journaled for rotary movement relative to the carriage 30 about a vertical axis in the journal bearing 35. The turntable 34 includes a pair of transversely spaced upright support standards 37 vertically adjustably supported in the standard brackets 39.

The standards 37 may be vertically adjusted in their corresponding standard brackets 38 by alignment of the adjustment bolts 39 with corresponding vertically spaced apertures 40 in the standards 37.

Fixed to the top of each standard 37 is a roll support cradle or cradle member 41 including a spindle recess or V-notch 42 provided with roller bearings 43 for rotatably supporting a cloth roll spindle 45.

The standards 37 are spaced apart a distance greater than the length of a cloth roll 44 carried on a spindle 45 to be supported upon the standards 37, but are spaced apart a distance less than the length of the spindle 45. Moreover, the cradles 41 and notches 42 are horizontally aligned to support the cloth roll spindle 45 on a transverse horizontal rotary axis.

A reversible electrical motor 47 mounted on the frame 12 is reversible to drive an endless chain 48 fixed to the support carriage 30 by attachment element 49 (Fig. 3). Thus, when the motor 47 is energized in one direction, the carriage 30 is moved to the right of the machine 10, and when the motor 47 is energized in the reverse direction, the carriage 30 is moved to the left of the machine 10. The electrical motor 47 may be the existing edge control motor for operating the cloth roll support carriage in a conventional cloth spreading machine, and which is normally controlled by the edge control sensor 1 19(Fig.9).

The electrical controls for the drive motor 18, electromagnetic clutch mechanism 26, brake 29, the edge control motor 47, and other electrically controlled components are housed in the main control housing 50, and may constitute functionally the same electrical circuit as that disclosed in Fig. 4 of U.S. patent 3,663,006, for "Electrically Controlled Cloth Spreading Machine," issued May 16, 1972, to Robert W.

Benson et al.

The cloth roll loading apparatus 11 made in accordance with this invention includes an elongated transverse rotary shaft 52, the opposite end portions of which are journaled for rotary movement in the journal bearings 53 and 54 mounted on the rear end portion of the machine frame 12, spaced substantially above the cutting table 1 6, slightly to the rear of the support carriage 30, and below the cradles 41. The left end of the rotary shaft 52 extends through the journal bearing 53 into a gear box 55 and terminates in a large fixed gear 56 meshing with a smaller pinion gear 57 fixed to a rotary shaft 58 projecting laterally beyond the gear box 55.

Fixed to the rotary shaft 52 are a pair of transversely spaced loader or lift arm members 60. Each arm member 60 includes a pivotal end portion or hub 61 fixed to the rotary shaft 52 so that the arm members 60 always pivot or rotate in the same transverse plane with the shaft 52.

Each of the arm members 60 is a mirror image of the other. Each arm member 60 is preferably made radially extensible by including a base or mounting arm 62 having a Z-shaped or offset construction to permit clearance of the arm members 60 with the gear box 55 and the cloth roll 44, as disclosed in Fig. 3. An extension arm 63 is secured collinearly to the offset portion of the mounting arm 62 by means of bolts 64.

Longitudinally spaced apertures 65 in each mounting arm 62 permit linear or radial adjustment of the extension arm 63 relative to the mounting arm 62.

The free or operative end portion of the extension arm 63 includes a deep, U-shaped recess 67 for receiving the spindle 45. As illustrated in the vertical phantom position of the arm member 60 in Fig. 1, the sides or side faces 68 and 69 of the spindle recess 67 are substantially parallel to each other and project upward and forward at an angle to the horizontal and terminate in an opening to the recess 67 on the forward or leading edge of the arm member 60. This angular attitude of the recess 67 relative to the radial axis of the arm members 60, permits the spindle 45 to freely rest within the recess 67 during substantially its entire lifting trajectory, from the inoperative position disclosed in Fig. 2 to the operative unloading position disclosed in Fig.

1. In other words, the spindle 45 will not roll by gravity over the lower face or side 69 of the recess 67 until the arm member 60 has substantially attained its operative or unloading position for depositing the spindle 45 within the V-notch 42, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 4.

In order to more accurately determine the operative position of the arm member 60 in which the spindle 45 is discharged from the recess 67 upon the notch 42 of the cradle 41, an adjustable land or lip 70 is pivotally mounted by pivot bolt 71 upon the side of the extension arm 63 adjacent the'lower or inner side face 69. In order to vary the angle of the land 70 relative to the opposite stationary side face 68 of the recess 67, an adjustment bolt 72 is threadedly secured through a lug 73 fixed to the side of the extension arm 63 and abuts against the flange 74 fixed to the land 70. The land 70 is mounted closely adjacent the lower face 69 so that the land 70 can project into the recess 67 and increase the effective angle of the face of the recess 67 opposing the fixed face 68.Thus, when the arm members 60 are pivoting toward their operative position as disclosed in Fig. 1, if the spindle 45 is discharged too soon, the land 70 may be rotated in a counterclockwise direction about the pivot bolt 71, as viewed in Figs. 1 and 4, so that the spindle 45 will not be discharged upon the cradle 41 until the arm member 60 has pivoted to a more forward position, closer to the cradle 41.

Also mounted adjacent the free end portion of the arm member 60 for cooperation with the spindle recess 67 is a keeper 75 having a hookshaped end portion 76 and pivotally supported upon the arm extension 63 by a pivot pin 77. The pivotal end portion of the keeper 74 has an abutment edge 78. The portion of the keeper 75 adjacent the hook-shaped end portion 76 is provided with a ball detent 79 for engaging or being biased into a cooperating recess 84 (Fig. 5), in the face of the extension arm 63, to hold the keeper 75 in its inoperative position disclosed in Figs. 1 and 4.

A latch 80 is pivotally mounted by pin 81 upon the extension arm 63 adjacent the keeper 75 and is provided with a notched edge 82 at its free end portion. The latch 80 biased toward the spindle recess 67 by a spring 83. Thus, when the keeper 75 is pivotally swung about its pivot pin 77 from its inoperative position disclosed in Fig. 4 to its operative position disclosed in Fig. 5, partially closing the opening of the spindle recess 67, the keeper 75 is locked or held in its operative position by engagement of the notched edge 82 of the latch 80 with the abutment edge 78 of the keeper 75, as illustrated in Fig. 5. The spring 83 holds the latch 80 in latched engagement with the keeper 75.Furthermore, as the keeper 75 swings toward its operative position in Fig. 5, its abutment edge 78 cams the latch 80 away from the recess 67 until the latch 80 automatically falls into its locked position against the abutment edge 78.

When the keeper 75 is in its operative position disclosed in Fig. 5, after the arm member 60 has been moved to its operative position disclosed in Fig. 5, then the spindle 45 is contained between the recess 67 and the hooked end portion 76.

Therefore, when the movement of the rotary shaft 52 is reversed in direction, the keeper 75 will lift the spindle 45 and its cloth roll 44 from the cradle 41 and carry it to a rotary position in which the spindle 45 is transferred by gravity to the recess 67. When the keeper 75 is no longer needed, it is unlatched by pivotally moving the latch 80 away from the abutment edge 78, and the keeper 75 is pivoted to its inoperative position disclosed in Fig.

4.

Thus, when it is desired to remove a cloth roll 44 from the cradle 41, the pivotal arm members 60 are moved to their operative positions disclosed in Figs.1,4 and 5, the keeper 76 pivoted and latched in its operative position about the spindle 45, and the rotational movement of the pivot arm members 60 are reversed to carry the roll rearward until the roll 44 is deposited upon the cutting table 1 6. When the roll 44 is in the intermediate phantom position of Fig. 2, the movement of the arm members 60 may be stopped, the pivotal keeper 75 unlatched, the arm members 60 further lowered to their solid-line position in Fig. 2, to completely disengage the arm members 60 from the spindle 45, and the deposited cloth roll 45 rolled away from the machine 10.

It will be observed that the longitudinal axis of the elongated latch 80 is disposed, in its latched position in Fig. 5, collinearly with the direction of the torque created by the weight of the cloth roll 44 against the abutment end of the keeper 75 for a maximum support.

Thus, by the combined construction of the Ushaped spindle recess 67 and the pivotal keeper 75 and its cooperating latch 80, the arm members 60 are fully capable of loading and unloading a spindle supported cloth roll 44 in relationship to the cloth roll support cradle 41.

In order to limit the pivotal movement of the arm members 60, a lower limit switch 85 and an upper limit switch 86, which may be electrical microswitches, are mounted upon the frame 12 of the machine 10, spaced transversely adjacent the rotary shaft 52, as illustrated in Fig. 3. In order to actuate the respective switches 85 and 86, a lower switch cam element 87 and an upper switch cam element 88 are clamped to the rotary shaft 52 in the corresponding vertical planes with the switches 85 and 86 and are circumferentially spaced to determine the lower and upper pivotal movements of the arms 60. Thus, as disclosed in Figs. 3 and 7, the switch cam element or actuator 87 is positioned upon the rotary shaft 52 to engage and actuate the lower limit switch 85 when the arm members 60 are in their lowermost solid-line position disclosed in Figs. 2 and 3. The upper limit cam element or actuator 88 is positioned upon the rotary shaft 52 so that it will engage and actuate the upper limit switch 86 when the arm members 60 have pivoted to their operative positions disclosed in solid-lines in Figs.

1,4 and 5.

The arm members 60 are driven between their upper operative position and their lower inoperative position through the rotary shaft 52 and the gears 56 and 57. The pinion shaft 58 projects laterally outboard through a large sprocket 90, which in turn is coupled to a smaller sprocket 92 by a chain 91 (Figs. 2 and 6). The smaller sprocket 92 is fixed on the same shaft as the larger sprocket 93, which in turn is connected by a chain 94 to a smaller sprocket 95 fixed on the shaft 96. Another sprocket 97, operatively connected to drive sprocket 89 fixed to the reduction gear output shaft 21 through a chain 98, is loosely coupled to the second electromagnetic clutch 99. Also maintained on the shaft 96 is an electromagnetic brake 100.

Thus, when the electrical drive motor 1 8 is energized and the electromagnetic clutch 99 is energized, the brake 100 is de-energized, and the rotary shaft 52 is driven to either raise or lower the arm members 60 in accordance with the direction in which the motor 1 8 is driven. When either of the limit switches 85 and 86 is actuated, the clutch device 99 is de-energized and the brake 100 energized to stop the arms 60 in their corresponding extreme position.

Electrical centering microswitches 101 and 102 are fixed upon the machine frame 12 in transversely spaced alignment and are connected through leads 103 and 104, respectively, to the carriage motor 47. Fixed to the carriage 30 are a pair of corresponding switch actuator cams 105 and 106 which are transversely spaced a distance slightly less than the transverse spacing between the switches 101 and 102. When the carriage 30 has been moved too far to the left, the cam actuator 105 will engage and actuate the cam switch 101 to energize the carriage motor 47 by appropriate controls to cause the carriage 30 to move toward the right. When the cam actuator 105 disengages the switch 101, the carriage motor 47 is de-energized to stop the carriage 30 in a substantially centered position upon the machine frame 12.In like manner, when the carriage 30 has been moved too far to the right, the switch actuator 106 will engage and actuate the right switch 102 reversing the polarity of the carriage motor 47 to cause the carriage 30 to be moved back toward the left until the actuator 106 disengages the switch 102 thereby de-energizing the carriage motor 47 and permitting the carriage 30 to come to rest in a substantially centered position.

In the centered position of the carriage 30, each arm member 60 is permitted to swing to its operative position to engage the spindle 45 between the corresponding end of the cloth roll 44 and the adjacent standard 37.

The control circuitry for the loading apparatus 11 is contained within the loader control housing or switch box 108. As best disclosed in Fig. 1, the control panel of the switch box 108 contains a loader switch 109 adapted to be shifted between an "on" and "off" position, and an arm control or directional switch 110 which can be shifted between a lowering position, a lifting or loading position, and an intermediate "park" or "stop" position. The panel of the switch box 108 also includes a pair of red pilot lights 111 and 112 indicating the direction in which the roll support carriage 30 is being moved, and a pair of amber pilot lights 113 and 114 to indicate the direction in which the lift arm members 60 are moving, "down" or "up".

The electrical control circuit of the loader apparatus 11 is disclosed in the circuit diagram of Fig. 9.

The loader switch 109 includes four ganged switches 109-A, 109-B, 109-C, and 1 09-D, while the arm control switch 110 includes four ganged switches 110-A, 110-B, 110-C, and 110-D, as best disclosed in Fig. 9. Each of the ganged switches 109 and 110 is a single-throw, double pole switch.

The switch 109-A is connected to an edge control supply line 11 6. When the loader switch 109-A is in its inoperative solid-line position, disclosed in Fig. 1, it closes the circuit through the existing edge control line 11 7 to the edge control circuitry 11 8. The edge control circuitry 11 8 is actuated by the edge sensor 119 for energizing the edge control motor 47 in the direction determined by the edge control circuitry 11 8. The other side of the motor 47 is connected to the common line 120.

When the loader switch 109-A is moved to its upper dashed-line operative position, it opens the regular edge control line 117 and connects the supply line 11 6 to the centering circuit 122, which in turn is connected to the left and right parallel leads 103 and 104, each of which respectively includes the left and right centering switches 101 and 102. The centering leads 103 and 104 are connected through reverse diodes 125 and 126 to the motor line 127, which in turn is connected to the edge control motor 47. Thus, when the loader switch 109-A is in its upper operative position, and either of the centering switches 101 or 102 is closed, the edge control or carriage motor 47 is energized to move the support carriage 30 in a corresponding transverse direction until that particular centering switch 101 or 102 is opened.

In this manner, the edge control motor 47 may be utilized during normal operation for controlling the edge position of the fabric doing cloth spreading, or for controlling the centering position of the carriage 30 preparatory to cooperation with the respective pivotal loader arms 60.

The loader switch 109-B is connected, in its solid-line inoperative position disclosed in Fig. 9, in the conventional stop circuit 128-129 of the machine, including the stop switch 130 connected to the circuitry of the drive motor 18.

Normally, the stop switch 1 30 is designed, when manually depressed, to open the circuitry to the drive motor 18 to shut down the machine in the event of an emergency, such as illustrated in the U.S. Benson patent No. 3,663,006.

When the loader switch 109-B is moved to its upper operative position, it immediately opens the stop circuit 128-129, but supplies current to the auxiliary stop circuit 131, including the arm control switch 11 0-A, which may be selectively moved between its dashed-line lower position connected to the lower limit switch 85-A, or to its upper position connecting the upper limit switch 86-A, or to an intermediate open or "park" position, as illustrated in solid lines in Fig. 9. The lower and upper limit switches 85-A and 86-A are connected in parallel, but both are connected to the return line 129 of the stop circuit.

Therefore, if the loader switch 109-B is in its upper operative position, the main drive motor 1 8 will be de-energized if the arm control switch 110-A is in its open or "park" position or if either limit switch 85-A or 86-A is open, while the arm control switch 110-A opens the circuit to the other limit switch.

The loader switch 109-C is connected to a 12volt D.C. supply line 133, which supplies voltage through the loader switch 109-C in its solid line inoperative position to the existing forward and reverse directional circuit 1 32 for controlling the direction of the main drive 1 8 in order to determine the direction of longitudinal movement of the machine 1 0 over the cutting table 1 6.

When the loader switch 109-C is in in the upper operative position of Fig. 9, it supplies current to both arm control switches 110-B and 110-C, connected in parallel, which are illustrated in Fig. 9 in their solid-line neutral or "park" positions. When the arm control switch 11 0-B is in either its raising or lowering position, and the loader switch 109-C is closed, the current is supplied to the existing start switch 1 34 to the motor 1 8 and to the existing high-speed control circuit 135, so that the main drive motor 18 will be energized in high speed for all movements of the loader arm member 60.Thus, the effect of energizing the circuit 135 is to bypass any low speed control normally utilized in the operation of the machine 10, so that the loading operation is done entirely in high speed.

When the arm control switch 110-C is in its lower dashed-line position, illustrated in Fig. 9, it supplies current to the forward directional circuit 136 of the main drive circuitry to cause the drive motor 1 8 to move in a direction to lower the loader arm members 60. Conversely, when the arm control switch 110-C is in its raised lifted position it supplies current to the reverse circuit 137 to cause the arm members 60 to move in the direction to raise the cloth roll.

When the loader switch 109-D is in its lower solid-line position, disclosed in Fig. 9, it supplies a 90 volt D.C. supply circuit to the main drive clutch 26 in order to drive the machine 10 over the cutting table 1 6. Moreover, when the loader switch 109-D is in its lower inoperative position, it opens the loader clutch circuit 142, regardless of the position of the arm control switch 11 0-D to de-energize the loader clutch 99 and simultaneously energize the loader brake 100, to de-actuate the loader apparatus 11.

However, when the loader switch 109-D is shifted to its raised dashed-line operative position, disclosed in Fig. 9, the main drive clutch 26 is de-energized while its corresponding brake 29 is energized so that there will be no movement of the machine 10 while the loading apparatus 11 is in operation.

With the loader switch 109-D in its raised operative position, movement of the loader arms 60 may be effected by either raising or lowering the arm control switch 1 10-D. Lowering of the arm control switch 1 10-D transmits current through the lower limit lead 1 38 and closed, lower-limit switch 85-B to energize the loader clutch 99 and de-energize the loader brake 100.

Simultaneously, the amber lamp 113 is illuminated through lead 139 to indicate the lowering movement of the arm members 60.

When the loader switch 109-D is in its upper operative position, and the arm control switch 11 O-D is in its raised position, then current is supplied through the upper limit lead 140 and upper limit switch 86-B, also to energize the loader clutch 99 and de-energize the loader brake 100.

Opening of the loader switch 109-D to its solid-line inoperative position, or movement of the arm control switch 1 10-D to its neutral or "park" solid-line position will de-energize the loader clutch 99 and simultaneously energize the loader brake 100 to stop the loader arm members 60 in their angular position at the time the loader clutch 99 is de-energized.

One example of the utilization of the auxiliary stop circuit 131 is a situation in which the loader switches 109 are in their inoperative positions and the machine 10 is operating normally, spreading cloth over the table 16, and the loading apparatus 11 is inoperative. If the operator of the machine 10 accidentally pushes the loader switch 109 upward while the machine 10 is in operation, the loader switch 109-B opens the stop circuit 1 28-129 to immediately de-energize the drive motor 1 8 and to stop the machine, if the switch 110 is in its "park" position, or if the arm control switch 11 0-A is in its raised position while the raised limit switch 86-A is open, or if the arm control switch 11 0-A is in its lower position and the lower limit switch 85-A is open.

Subsequently, if the loader switch 109-B is moved to its upper operative position and the arm control switch 11 0-A is moved to its raised or lowered position with the corresponding upper and lower limit switches 86-A or 85-A closed, then, of course, the motor 1 8 will be re-energized, and the loader clutch 99 will be energized to gradually accelerate the corresponding movement of the arm members 60.

Connected into the return line 11 7 of the main edge control circuit is a lock-out switch 145, as illustrated in Fig. 9. This lock-out switch 145 is physically mounted adjacent the right end of the rotary shaft 52, as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 8. The lock-out switch 145 is designed to be opened by a rotary cam actuator 146 fixed to the right end of the rotary shaft 52, when the arm members 60 are substantially in their angular positions disclosed in phantom in Fig. 8 and in solid lines in Fig. 1.Thus, if after a cloth roll 44 is loaded upon the cradles 41, and the arm members 60 are left in their operative positions or any adjacent positions in which the arm members 60 are transversely between the cradles 41, then actuation of the loader switch 109 to its lower inoperative position in order to start the machine 10, with the lock-out switch 145 open, will prevent the carriage 30 from being transversely moved by the edge control motor 47. As illustrated in Fig. 9, the lock-out switch 145 will remain open to de-energize the edge control motor 47 as long as the switch 145 is open, which in turn will be as long as the arm members 60 will be at an angle where the cam actuator 146 is engaging the switch 145. Lock-out switch 145 will prevent the edge control circuitry 118 from actuating the motor 47 to drive the carriage 34 transversely while the arm members 60 are in the way of the transverse movement of the cradles 41, to prevent damaging the equipment, and particuiarly the arm members 60.

It is therefore apparent that an improved cloth roll loading apparatus for either loading or unloading a cloth roll from a cloth spreading machine has been devised, with various types of automatic and safety control features not heretofore found in comparable devices.

Claims (14)

Claims

1. tn a cloth spreading machine having an elongated frame including opposite end portions and supported for endwise movement in a longitudinal direction over a cloth laying surface, and cradle means on the frame for supporting the opposite ends of a spindle carrying a cloth roll for rotatable movement about a rotary axis transverse to the longitudinal direction, a cloth roll loading apparatus comprising:: (a) an arm member having a pivotal end portion and an operative end portion, (b) journal means operatively mounting said pivotal end portion on one end portion of the machine frame for pivotal movement about a rotary axis transverse to the longitudinal direction, (c) spindle receiver means on said operative end portion for supporting the spindle of a cloth roll on said arm member in different pivotal positions and for discharging the spindle upon the cradle means in an operative pivotal position proximate to said cradle means, (d) spindle holding means co-operative with said spindle receiver means in holding position for retaining the spindle on said arm member in any pivotal position, and (e) drive means operatively connected to said arm member to pivotally move said arm member reciprocally between said operative position and pivotal positions remote from said cradle means.

2. A machine as claimed in claim 1 in which said arm member comprises a leading edge and a trailing edge, said leading edge being closer to the cradle means than said trailing edge as said arm member approaches the cradle means, said spindle receiver means comprising a spindle recess on said operative end portion opening through said leading edge, said spindle recess being adapted to receive and support the spindle of a cloth roll in different pivotal positions, and to discharge said spindle by gravity from the unobstructed opening of said recess in said operative pivotal position.

3. A machine as claimed in claim 2, in which said spindle holding means comprises a keeper member movable mounted upon said operative end portion between an inoperative position and said holding position, so that when said keeper member is moved to said holding position when said arm member is in said operative position, said keeper member will lift said spindle from said cradle means and into said spindle recess as said arm member moves away from its operative position.

4. A machine as claimed in claim 3, in which said keeper member is hook-shaped to partially close the opening in said spindle recess, when said keeper member is in said holding position, and means for latching said keeper member in said holding position.

5. A machine as claimed in claim 4 in which said hook-shaped keeper member is pivotally mounted upon the operative end portion of the arm member and adjacent said spindle recess, said latching means comprising a biased latch member on said operative end portion for selectively, latching said keeper member in said holding position or unlatching said keeper member for movement to its inoperative position.

6. A cloth spreading machine having an elongated frame including opposite end portions and supported for endwise movement in a longitudinal direction over a cloth laying surface, and cradle means on the frame for supporting the opposite ends of a spindle carrying a cloth roll for rotatable movement about a rotary axis transverse to the longitudinal direction, and a cloth roll loading apparatus comprising:: (a) an arm member having a pivotal end portion and an operative end portion, and a leading edge and a trailing edge, (b) journal means operatively mounting said pivotal end portion on one end portion of the machine frame for pivotal movement about a rotary axis transverse to the longitudinal direction, (c) a spindle recess on said operative end portion having opposed upper and lower faces and opening through said leading edge, said spindle recess being adapted to receive and support the spindle of a cloth roll in all pivotal positions in which said spindle is retained by gravity within said recess, (d) said arm member having an operative position adjacent the cradle means in which said spindle is discharged through the recess opening by gravity upon the cradle means, (e) drive means operatively connected to said arm member to pivotally move said arm member reciprocally between said operative position and pivotal positions remote from said cradle means, (f) said lower face of said spindle recess comprising a lower face member movable through different angles relative to said upper face to correspondingly change the operative position of said arm member, and (g) means for moving said lower face member through said different angles.

7. A machine according to claim 6 in which said means for moving said lower face member comprises means pivotally supporting said face member on said arm member adjacent and intercepting said lower face, and adjustment means co-operating with said arm member and said lower face member to hold said lower face member in different adjusted angular positions relative to said upper face.

8. A machine according to claim 7 in which said arm member comprises at least a pair of arm sections, and means for adjustably securing said arm sections collinearly of each other to vary the overall length of said arm member for cooperating with cradle means of different elevations.

9. In a cloth spreading machine having an elongated frame including opposite end portions and supported for endwise movement in a longitudinal direction over a cloth laying surface, a cloth roll supporting carriage mounted for reciprocal movement transversely of the frame, cradle means on the carriage for supporting the opposite ends of the spindle carrying a cloth roll for rotatable movement about a rotary axis transverse to the longitudinal direction, and a reversible electrical carriage motor for shifting the carriage transversely, a cloth roll loading apparatus comprising::- (a) a pair of arm members having pivotal end portions and operative end portions, (b) journal means operatively mounting said pivotal end portions on one end portion of the machine frame for pivotal movement about a rotary axis transverse to the longitudinal direction, (c) spindle receiver means on said operative end portions for supporting the spindle of a cloth roll on said arm members in different pivotal positions and for discharging the spindle upon the cradle means in an operative pivotal position proximate to the cradle means, (d) drive means operatively connected to said arm members for pivotally moving said arm members reciprocally between said operative position and said pivotal positions remote from said cradle means, (e) a pair of electrical centering switches transversely spaced on said one end portion of the frame and operatively connected to the carriage motor, and (f) a pair of switch actuator members, fixed on said carriage and transversely spaced from each other a distance less than the distance between said centering switches, whereby when a switch actuator member engages a corresponding centering switch, said carriage drive motor is energized to move said carriage towards a centered position between said centering switches.

10. A machine as claimed in claim 9, further comprising a lock-out switch electrically connected to said carriage motor and mounted on said frame adjacent one of said arm members, a lock-out switch actuator associated with said arm member for actuating said lock-out switch when said arm member is in a predetermined position adjacent said carriage to de-energize said carriage motor.

11. A cloth spreading machine having an elongated frame including opposite end portions and supported for endwise movement in a longitudinal direction over a cloth laying surface, and cradle means on the frame for supporting the opposite ends of the spindle carrying a cloth roll for rotatable movement about a rotary axis transverse to the longitudinal direction, a cloth roll loading apparatus comprising:: (a) an arm member having a pivotal end portion and an operative end portion, (b) journal means operatively mounting said pivotal end portion on one end portion of the machine frame for pivotal movement about a rotary axis transverse to the longitudinal direction, (c) spindle receiver means on said operative end portion for supporting the spindle of a cloth roll on said arm member in different pivotal positions and for discharging the spindle upon the cradle means in an operative pivotal position proximate to the cradle means, (d) first electrical drive means for reciprocally moving the elongated frame in the longitudinal direction, when energized.

(e) second electrical drive means to pivotally move said arm member reciprocally between said~ operative position and pivotal positions remote from the cradle means, when energized, (f) loader switch means having a first mode for energizing said first drive means and for deenergizing said second drive means and a second mode for energizing said second drive means and for de-energizing said first drive means, said loader switch means being selectively actuable in said first mode or second mode.

12. A machine as claimed in claim 11 further comprising an electrical drive motor, a first electromagnetic clutch in said first drive means and a second electromagnetic clutch in said second drive means, said clutches being operably coupled to said drive motor for selective driving engagement when said loader switch means is in said first mode or said second mode.

13. A machine as claimed in claim 12 in which said first drive means comprises a first motor circuit for controlling said motor and a first clutch circuit for controlling the energization of said first clutch, and said second drive means comprises a second motor circuit for controlling said motor and a second clutch circuit for controlling the energization of said second clutch, said first motor circuit and said first clutch circuit being energized when said loader switch means is in said first mode, and said second motor circuit and said second clutch circuit being energized when said loader switch means is in said second mode.

14. A machine as claimed in claim 13 in which said second drive means includes arm control switch means electrically connected to said second electromagnetic clutch and to said drive motor, and in which said arm control switch means has a raise position for energizing said second electromagnetic clutch when said loader switch means is in said second mode for pivotally moving said arm member toward said cradle means, a lower position for energizing said second electromagnetic clutch, when said loader switch means is in said second mode, for moving said arm member away from said cradle means, and a neutral position for de-energizing said second electromagnetic clutch and said drive motor.

1 5. A machine according to claim 14 in which said second drive means further comprises upper and lower limit switches for limiting the movement of said arm members toward said cradle means and away from said cradle means, when said loader switch means is in said second mode and said arm control switch means is in said raise position or said lower position, respectively.

1 6. A cloth spreading machine substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.