Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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BACKGROUl~D O~ THE I~VENTION
The present in~ention relates to a new and improved
method of producing a substantially flat surfaGe structure
or extended surface from essentially strand-shaped material and
to apparatus for the performance of the aforesaid method.
SU~MARY OF THE INVEi~TION
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It is a primary object of the present invention
to provide a new and improved method of, and apparatus for,
producing flat surface structures from strand-like material
in an extremely efficient, reliable and economical manner.
Another object of the present invention aims
at the provision of a novel method of, and apparatus for,
simply and economically fabricating flat surface structures
for many different purposes, and especially to process strand
material which otherwise is difficult to process.
In accordance with one aspect of the present
invention there is provided a method of producing an endless
belt-like open mesh flexible structure comprising: helically
winding in non-overlapping relation at least one strand over at
least one drum, interconnecting the strands of adjacent helices
at locations spaced apart from one another longitudinally of the
strand to provide said open mesh strUcture, and moving the
stxucture axially along the drum in a direction towards one
end thereof r away fro~ the infed stxand, during winding of the
strand onto the drum.
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In accoxdance ~lth another aspect of the present
invention there is provided an apparatus for making an endless
belt-like open mesh flexible structure comprising: at least
one drum, means for helically winding in non-overlapping relation
at least one strand onto said at least one drum, means for inter-
connecting the strands of adjacent helices at locations spaced
apart from one another longitudinally of the at least one strand,
and means for axially moving the structure along the drum, in
a direction away from the infed strand, during winding of the
strand onto the drum.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
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The invention will be better understood and objects
other than those set forth above, will become apparent when
consideration is given to the following detailed description
thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings
wherein:
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- Figure 1 schematically illustrates a first
exemplary embodiment of apparatus for prvducing a flat surface
structure, partially shown in sectional view;
Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the apparatus
of Figure 1, taken substantially along the line II - II thereof;
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Figure 3 is a perspective view of a second
exemplary embodiment of apparatus employing two drums and
a single strand infeed;
Figure 4 schematically illustrates a flat surface
structure formed upon the machine of Fi.gure 3;
. Figure 5 schematically illustrates another form
of flat surface structure produced upon the machine of Figure
3;
Figure 6 is a perspective view illustrating
the apparatus of Figure 3, but having mutliple-strand
infeeds;
` Figure 7 is a side view of the embodiment of
Figure 3 together with the connection tool;
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Figure 8 is a partial plan view of the embodi-
ment of Figure 7;
Figure 9 is a side view of the embodiment of ~:
Figure 7, but w:ith revolving tool means;
Figure 10 is a top plan view of a further
exemplary embod:Lment of apparatus, similar to the showing
of Figure 3, however having a control mechanism incorporating
a control chain; and
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Figures lla to lle tllustrate examples of flat
surface structures produced with the apparatus of the
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Describing now -the drawin~s, a drum 2 is arranged
in a schematically illustrated machine frame 1. Drum 2 can
be stationarily mounted or driven by any suitable and -there-
fore simply schematically illustrated drive means 100. This
drum 2 also is equipped with a number of axially extending
grooves 3. ~owever, instead of the drum 2 being provided
; with such grooves 3 there also could be employed a drum-like
member having extending axially rods or ribs or the like.
Accordingly, the elements 3 can be also conceptially con-
sidered as constituting such rods which extend in the axial
or lengthwise direction of the drum-like member. At the
outer periphery of the drum 2 there are arranged the
schematically illustrated connection tools 4, 5 which serve
to produce a suitable connection at particular places of
juxtapositioned or adjacent lap strands 6a of the coil or
lap 50 carried upon the drum 2 and formed from the infed
strand-like ma-tlsrial 6. Such connections can be, for in-
stance, in the form of loops 8 formed from a connecting strand
8a. Combs 7 ar~s advantageously provided for guiding
adjacently situated strands 6a. The connecting or connection `
tools 4, 5 howe~Tercould also obviously be constructed such
that more than two adjacently situated strands 6a are inter-
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connected. Equally, as will be further explained, the
connection can be established by other suitable means, such
as welding, sewing, knotting, heat-sealing, by means of
clips or clamps and so forth.
; Continuing, the drum 2 will be seen to possess
a widened portion 2a at the region where the strands 6 run
on to such drum. Due to the tension of the infed strand or
strand-like material 6 the first convolutions formed at the
region of the widened portion 2a are displaced in the dir-
ection of the arrow 2b. The convolutions move the previously
formed convolutions in the same direction towards the free
end of the drum 2 and beyond such, in order to thereby impart
to the coil or lap a doffing or removal movement.
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In the case where the drum 2 is stationary the
strand 6 must be wound in conventional manner with the aid
of a flyer upon such drum, in which case then the connection
tools 4 and 5 are also stationary. If the drum 2 is rotated,
as by the drive means or motor 100, then the strand 6 can
be directly payed-off a supply spool or reel or other suitable
supply means, as generally indicated by reference character 60.
Z In this case the connection tools 4 and 5 correspondingly
move around the drum 2 unless the connections are made only
i after the lap or coil 50 has been produced and during intervals
between rotatiorl of the drum. The grooves or recesses 3
` provide the necessary space to enable the connection tools
1 4, 5 to undertake the connection of the strands. Of course,
'~ more than two connecting tools 4, 5 can be distributed over
~ the drum periphery.~
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In the context of this disclosure the term
"strand" is to be understood as denoting filaments, threads,
bands, ropes or cables, wire ropes, chains and other
strand-like materials.
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The flat surface structures produced from the
strands can be used in a variety of ways, for instance in
the prod~ction of nets, mats, carpets, textiles, flexible
reinforcements for concrete- and plastic-, pipework- and
container constructions, among other things.
Figure 3 illustrates an apparatus for producing
flat or extended surface structures. In this case two winding
drums 9 and 10 are rotatably mounted in cantilever or overhung -
fashion upon a machine frame 1 and each axis of rotation is
substantially horizontal. A single strand 6 is wound onto
the drums 9 and 10 from a -~t~t-~r~ reel or bobbin 11 or
other suitable supply means. Between the drums 9 and 10
there is arranged a connection device 12 having a supply
13 of a connecting material. The connecting device 12 forms
suitable connections~at places distributed over the periphery
of the lap or coil 50, between adjacent strands 6a wound
~ upon the drums 9, 10. The doffing movement is in the dir-
`~ ection of the arrow 14.
Figure 4 illustrates the manner in which there
is continuously fabricatèd a flat hose-like structure 50 of
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desired width, whereas Figure 5 shows the formation of a
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coil or lap 50a of desired width. The individual strand
ls wound to desired width upon the drums 9, 10 and then
there are produced the connections 8. It is also possible
to provide the connections 8 during the winding operation.
A wide variety of connections can be formed. In
many instances two adjacently situated strand portions are
connected by clips or clamps, in the case of heat sealable
materials --for instance plastic-- by heat sealing or welding
and, for instance, in the case of yarns or wire ropes such
can be interconnecked by loops. Further connections can be
produced for instance by knotting or sewing, particularly
if the material is textile. Thus, reference character 8
can represent any one of these or equivalents thereof.
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Figure 6 illustrates the apparatus shown in
Figure 3, but constructed for multiple-strand infeed. The
strands 6, payed-off the supplies ~0, in this instance are
wound in a large number adjacent one another upon the canti-
levered winding drums 9 and 10 supported by the frame or
housing 1 and are interconnected by means of the connection
i~ 20 device 12 having the connection material-supply 13 and
which produces the connections 8. The outEeed or doffing
direction for the material is again indicated by the arrow
14. The feed o~E the lap or coil 50 is accomplished with
the aid of not particularly illustrated conventional grooves
in which there are guided the individual strands and which
impart to the strands a helical path of movement. The
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multiple-strand technique is especially suitable ~or con-
- tinuous production and advantageously the entire incoming
strand package is continuously connected. Figure 6
illustrates three strand packages or grooves upon the drums
9 and 10.
Figures 7 and 8 again schematically illustrate
the apparatus of Figure 3, with particular emphasis upon
the connection or connecting device 12. Figure 7 schematically
illustrates a comb 7 behind which --viewed in the direction
of lap rotation-- the connection device 12 produces the
connections 8. These connections 8 are disposed in staggered
or offset relationship to one another, so that there is thus
B produced an ~ flat surface structure.
; .:. Instead of a single comb 7 there also could be
employed a Maltese comb 14, as shown in Figure 9. The combs
also could be beneficially utilized as transmitter means which
produce control signals controlling the cadence of operation
of the elements, since upon advance of the connections such
come into contact with the combs, and thus for instance there .::-
can be triggered electrical signals.
Continaing, Figure 9 illustrates a co-rotating
or traveling connection device 15, for instance as used during
the heat sealing o~ plastic strands 6. In this case the
connection device 15 embodies two rotating heat sealing or
welding cylindexs 16, 17 which are appropriately profiled : -
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such that they can undertake the desired sequence of
; connections at the wound strands 6.
Figure 10 illustrates the manner in which there
can be produced with the apparatus of Figure 3, a lap or
coil 50 of finite width having terminal or marginal portions
18, 19. Initially, the terminal portion 18 is mounted on
the winding drums 9, 10 and then the strand 6 is secured by
; means of connection 21 at such terminal portion 1~, and then
the lap or coil 50 is formed from the strand 6. Thereafter,
the terminal portion 19 is applied to the winding drums 9,
10 and the end of the lap or coil 50 is connected with the ..
terminal portion 19 by means of a terminal connection 20.
Thereafter, there are produced the connections 8 for the
lap or coil 50. These marginal portions or strands 18, 19
may be advantageously formed of a material different from
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the material from which the lap is formed.
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Figure 10 also illustrates that the apparatus
thereof:is provided with a control mechanism incorporating
a control chain 22 which is trained about both of the winding
20 drums 9 and 10 and the chain links 22a of which trigger the : :
operation of the connection means, for instance the connection
device 12 of Figure 3. Thus, for instance, there is provided
a null-link element 23 which controls the formation of the
/ terminal conneclions 20 and 21. The intermediate connections
1 8 are likewise s~ontrolled by such chain links 22a. The
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arrangement can be effected such that, selectively, for
instance after each chain link or after each second or third
chain link, there can be produced the connections. Control
chain 22 advantageously travels in synchronism with the
formed laps.
In Figures lla to lle there are illustrated
different flat or extended surface structures as the same
may be produced with the discussed apparatuses. In par-
ticular, Figures lla and llb show two different kinds of
net 80 and 85 respectively, and Figures llc, lld and lle
show respective structures 90, 92 and 94 having a variety
of other patterns. The structures thus devised can be given
particular properties according to the kind of connections
8 used therewit~.
Of course, it is desirable to be able to produce
laps or coils of various diameters on a single apparatus.
Accordingly one of the winding drums may have a rocking arm
enabling such drum to be positioned at various distances from
the fixedly mounted second drum. Instead of a rocking or
20 pendulum arm, there may be also provided plug holes in which
there can be mounted one of the drums.
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The winding drums 9 and 10 can be designed in
different ways. They either may possess a smooth surface
or be provided with adjacent peripheral grooves.
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