US1540722A - Hang-up apparatus - Google Patents

Description

June 2 1925. 1,540,722

, c. c. COLBERT ET AL HANG-UP APPARATUS Filed Oct. 6. 1923 Sheeis-Shat 1 I June 2, 1925.

C. C. COLBERT .ET AL HANG-UP ABPARATUS Filed Oct. 6, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 PatentedJune 2, 1925.

CHARLES 0. counter nn enoncn E. 1 To urnames .coa'rme .MILLS, on DIA A;

EL ART; InnI HANG-UP; nrrnnAmosq Application filed flctober 6, 1923.- Serial No. 666,900.

To callwizomt may concern:

Be it known that we, CHARLES C. COLBERT and Gnonen E. PnnsToN, citizens of the United States, and residents ofElkhart, in the county of Elkhart and State of Indiana, have invented an Improvement in Hang-Up Apparatus, of 'WhlCli the followingfiis a specification.

paratusemployed for hanging up sheet material, such 'fo'rj instance as paper board,

coated papeifor the like, .-.during,:storage, seasoning, drying or other treatment.

. Among other ob ects theinventlon v1s.1n-

r tended to provide a practicable and conven ient hang-up apparatus in which comparatively stiff material may 'beisuspended without undue bending at theupoints' of suspension; i i

The invention will be clearly understood by reference to one illustrative apparatus embodying the invention, which is shown in the'iannexeddrawings. Y I

Insaiddrawi'ngs: .i

Fig. 1 is a side view o-f 'the illustrative apparatus. I I.

Fig; 2 is a plan view thereof:

Fig, 3 is a'detail view representing successive folds'o-f material each supportedby groups orpairs' of 'sticks. i'

F ig. tis' edema view 'showing the ejector wheel-drive andaportion ofthe return conveyor of thersticksadapted for circulating two sticks at a time. i

Fig. 5 is a detail-view ofa deadfrack-ra'il embodied in the apparatus, with dotted lines indicating the elevated position of the rail. I 7

Fig. 6 isa cross-section on the line 66 0fFig.5.

The illustrative apparatus, in which continuous material 1 hangsinfestoons or folds. comprises means including a supply of sticks 2 for carryingsaid 'material on transa verse sup-ports provided; by -pluralities or groups of said sticks. In this instance, the individual supports from which the material hangs are provided-bysticks assembled in pairs. The sticks preferably consist of round Wooden poles or the like, the ends of which may be flattened to enable them to restnpon; appropriate supporting or carrying means without tendency to roll U I 1 ing festoons of material while the This invention relates to the class ofiap-r" of. the j apparatus and Withdrawn; delivery end, the sticks are, causedto travel riati'on in the number of or turn thereon. By utilizing such. in pairs orpluralities for the purpose stated,

rnnsmoiv, or maximum, Imam, assrenons': v

ANA, A CORPORATION or in;

comparatively thickv or stiifmaterial suchfor instance asheavy paper board may-be.

suspended in the apparatus without sharp bending over itss'upports. For collectinga desired supply are is. being introduced intoQt-he receiving end from itsin a circuitous course, and to permit vause, accompanying variation in 'the ac cumulationof hanging festoons of material 1n the apparatus, a reserve supply of. Said. sticks. 1s lnterposed 1n said course. The; sticks are. dlscharged into saldii'eserve supmaterial;

sticks in operative ply after. withdrawal :of,the materialsfromf the sticks; and are returned into circulation in pairs or'groups forhanglng up and conveylng the material. ,The I specific means employed injthe illustrative;machineyfor these purposes will ip-resently. 'be described.

The material .1 may be continuously sup: plied from a producing or treatingmachine, andmay be delivered t'of'the hang-up apparatus by a conveyor'3 or-over a -rollerwor other means at an'appropiiate elevation for thein-feedingfof the,material. V

For hanging up the material,las it-is ide= liveredto the apparatus, thepairsof sticks 2 are successively brought .underfsthe material at appropriate intervals of timeto allow desired lengths of the material-to isag between the successively presented pairs and between the conveyor roller 4 and the pair of sticks being carried into use, 'asshown in Fig.1. This is performed in the'illustrative-ap paratus-by endless elevating chains'5,running at an upward inclination, andliaving appropriately spaced lugs 6 the pairs of sticks.

for supporting The elevating" chains take up the 'sticksgfrom holders 7 to which the sticks are successively introduced in groups or pairs by means hereinafter described. These holders 7 are shownassemisprocket wheels of the elevating'c'hains. i

circular guideways coaxialwith ;the:lower parallel endless chains- 8, appropriatelyw l spaced for supporting the ends of the sticks while allowing the festoons of material tohang between the chains. 7

The parallel chains 8 are'adapted to carry the pairs of sticks longitudinally of the apparatus and, if desired, may have a considerablyslower rate of movement than the elevating chains, so as to cause the pairs of sticks to be deposited upon the chains 8 at closer intervals and consequently to hang the material in closer folds.

The chains 8 typify conveying means of any desired length and character along which the material accumulates in hanging festoons or folds. Said conveying means may if desired comprise successive pairs of carrier chains, running at the same or different speeds for varying the widths of the fe'stoons, and may be associated with any appropriate -means for exposing the material conveyed to the action of a heating medium-or other treating means during its transportation through the hang-up apparatus. v y 7 From the accumulated supply 'of slack material hanging in the hang-up apparatus, the material may be 'continuous1y' w ithdrawn either for subsequent treatment in the course of its manufacture or for reeling in the case of finished material. It may be desirable to vary the amount of accumulation in the han up apparatus for the purpose ofcontrolling a periodo-f seasoning, drying or othertreatment of the hanging material, or for accommodating the accumulation to conditions arising in the operation of plant in which the apparatus is include. j

For example, Where the illustrative apparatus is arrangedbetween a machine for producing raw paper, paper board or the like and a subsequent machine for coloring or otherwise-treating the material, it is desirable in event of temporary,interruption of such subsequent machine to permit continuous operation of the producing machine with continuing delivery to and accumulation of the material in the hang-up appara tus, without necessitating continued withdrawal of the material'therefrom. On the other hand, where the hang-up apparatus receives. material from apreceding treating machine and delivers tea finishing machine. it is desirable in event of temporary interruption of operation of said treating machine to havean ample reserve supply of material in the hang-up apparatus from which the finishing machine may continue to'draw its supply. I 1

I The illustrative hang-up apparatus embodies provision for variationiof accumulating capacity in several ways; In event of any interruption or slowing of opera tion in asucceeding machine or unit of the plant, thereby interrupting or; slowing the withdrawal of material from the delivery end of the apparatus, the hanging folds of material can crowd together in said delivery end asrep-resented in Fig. 1, and as will be explained more fully hereinafter. Considerable variation of accumulation may also be obtained by a speed adjustment hereinafter described. In addition to these provisions, a large reserve supply of the hanging material may be stored at will in the hang-up apparatus by the means now to be described.

Associated with the carrier chains 8 is a dead rack comprising longitudinal rails or bars 9, one beside each of the parallel chains (Figs. 1, 2, 5 and 6 These dead rack bars 9 are supported so as to permit them to be depressed below the levels of the carrying runs of the chains, in the position shown in Fig. 5, which istheir normal position, or to be elevated above the chains in the position indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 5. The rear ends of said bars are bevelled or inclined as indicated at 10 so that, when the bars are in the elevated position indicated by dotted linesin'Fig. 5, the pairs of sticks 2 carrying the festoons of material may ride onto the dead rack bars, after which the pairs will be pushed along said bars one by the other, as represented in Fig. 1. Thus a large number of festoons or hanging folds of material may be accumulated closely on the dead rack. The delivery ends of the dead rack bars are shown provided with curved extensions 11 which in the elevated position of the bars will-overlie the sprocket wheels at the delivery ends of the carrier chains and permit the sticks to be discharged from the delivery end of the dead rack.

In the specific construction shown in the drawings, the dead rack bars 9 are pivoted at their receiving ends to suitable supports, indicated at 12 (Fig. 5), while their delivery end portions are carried by hangers 13 suspended from'cranked portions of a crank shaft 14 journalled in bearings 15 in the upper framework 16 of the hang-up apparatus (Figs. 5 and 6). One of the cranked portions of the crank shaft 14 isprovided with an operating lever 17 which may be operated in one direction. or the other by pull cords 1S and 19. By thismeans the cranked portions of the crank shaft may be moved to a position of dead centers with respect to the bearings of the crank shaft, thus supporting the dead rack bars 9 in elevated position, and the parts may be maintained in this position by maintaining the pull cords 18 and 19 taut and fastening them at any convenient place.

One or more additional reserve racks of the character described may if desired be provided in advance of that shown, so as further to increase the storage capacity of the hang-up apparatus if required. For instance, if the withdrawal of the material from the hang-up apparatus should be suspended for a longer period than that required tofill the dead rack shown 1n the drawings, a preceding similarrack maybe brought into play, so that the successively advancing pairs of sticks carrying the festoons ofmaterial will ride onto said preceding rack and collect in close relation before being redelivered to the conveyor chains.

At the delivery end of the illustrative hang-up apparatus (Figs. 1 and 2), means are provided to facilitate withdrawal'of the material from the accumulated supply hung up in said apparatus. For this purpose the carrier chains 8 deliver the groups or pairs of sticks carrying the suspended folds. of materialupon declined deliver chains 20, from which the sticks are delivered to de- 'clined rails 21 arranged beside said chains and gradually rising to an elevation; above the chains to permit the'groupsof stlcks to ride from the chains onto said rails; The

suspended materialis withdrawn from the pairs of sticks resting on said rails, while 'thesticks slide down the rails and are dis a charged.

If the dead rack bars 9iare depressed,

shown in Fig. 5, the pairs of sticksq2 will ride from thezchains 8 onto v hechains20. andthence onto the rails 21, and the sticks will be caused to slide down the rails under the drag of thenhanging material as it is withdrawn by a succeeding treating, finishing, reeling or other machine. If the with drawal of the material should be interrupted byitemporaryinterruption in the operation of a succeeding unit ofthe plant, the groups of sticks with the hanging folds of material may crowd together and accumnlat enon the declined rails 21 as shown in Figrnl rildthe interruption of withdrawal is fora longer period than that which can be accommodated by the accumulating capacity of said rails, while the material is being continuously' supplied to and hung upln theapparatus, the dead rack bars 9-should beelevated, as already explained, allowing the successively advancing pairs ofsticks carrying the festoons of material to collect in crowded assembly on said bars, as shown in Fig. 1. 1 q i Upon resumption of operation in the succeeding unit of the plant, with accompanying resumption of'the withdrawal of the material from the hang-up apparatus, the dead rack bars may be depressed to allow the sticks to; rest again upon the conveying chains 8, whiclrwill deliver the crowded pairs of sticks onto the chains 20 and thence onto therails 21; and the operation of said succeeding unit may be temporarily speeded up to eiiect a more rapid withdrawalf-ofthe material until the excess accumulation is V drawn ofl? and normal conditions restored.

. other to eflecttheir ejection The rails 21 retard thetravel of thesticks,

and offer a desirable frictional resistance to the movement of the sticks-as. the sagging mate-rial 1s withdrawn therefrom. Furthermore, under various conditions, these rails permit the groups ofst'icks to accumulate one or more behind until the withdrawal folds suspended between successive groups,

another during and thus avoiding continued travel of. the sticks during the withdrawa. .1

The pull of-the material as itis-withj drawn from the hang-up apparatus drags of the board from the groups of sticks down the inclined rails J and causes themto slide down the rails and material from the successive folds, there is provided a suspended or swinging wiper 22 (Fig.,-l),-such for instance as a sheet of carpet or other suitable flexible material,

which rests-upon and drags against 'the-maand to prevent jerking of the terial and exerts a retardingaction on the sticks. :Thusthematerial is. withdrawn against theresistance of the swinging wiper 22 and: ot the sticks 1111 frictional contact withthe declined" rails 21, contributing to smoothand even withdrawal. j I -lhe material may, be iwithdrawn from the hang-up. cp paratus overia' guide roller 23,

while :the sticks slide'down the rails 21 onto the delivery-ends'oflthe chains 20 and are deposited into a magazine comprising;

parallel guides 24E-which are zig-zag shaped to break the fall ofthe sticks j (Figs. "1 and it) anilihecsti'cks pile one upon another in the m ans; in which a reserve supply of *the sticks cessively ejected from the lower .end of the magazine by rotating 1 wheels 25 having ejecting lugs 26 shown arranged in pairs for ejecting the sticks one immediately afterwanice maintained,'and the sticks aresucin pairs. To-per-- mit ejection, the lowerends otthe magazines guides 2lare shown. constructed with feet 27 to support the sticks and with ejecting openings 28*(Fig. 4). i

The ejected pairs oigroups of sticks are carried by'a return conveyor 29 backto the receiving end of the hang-up equipment. Said return conveyor is shown as a pair of i is parallel chains provided at suitable interva-ls with lugs 30for engaging and forwarding the sticks. successively ejected from the magazine, swinging bumpers 31 knock against the As the pairsof sticks are i i sticks-to steady them'and prevent them from being thrown too far. straightening or aligning the pairs ofsticks crosswise on the "return conveyor, inclined obstructors 32 are arranged in the path'of As a means for the sticks, over which the sticks must ride, thus insuring their lodgment against the lugs 30 of the return conveyor chains and their delivery to the receiving end of the hang-up apparatus in proper transverse alignment.

At the receiving end of the hang-up equipment, the return conveyor 29 delivers the pairs of sticks into the curved guideways 7, associated with the lower sprocket wheels of the elevating chains 5, and the lugs 6 of the elevating chains pick up the pairs of sticks and carry them successively under or into position for hanging up the in-feeding material as before explained.

Thus the sticks are circulated back and forth through the hang-up apparatus in groups or pairs, and a reserve supply of sticks is maintained inthe magazine 24k, to permit variation in the number of sticks employed at a given time according to conditions existing as to capacity of accumulation of the material, as determined by speed adjustment, by adjustment of the reserve rack bars 9 or other conditions.

It will be understood that the organization of the illustrative apparatus is such that the desired groups of sticks, in this instance groups of two, are ejected from the magazine guides 24 at suitable intervals of time to be successively engaged and forwarded by the successive lugs 30 of the return conveyor 29, and are thereby delivered one group after another into the curved guide 7 at proper periods to be engaged and picked up by the successively advancing lugs 6 of the elevating chains 5.

Such utilization of pairs or groups of sticks as individual supports is especially advantageous in hanging up certain .kinds of material such as very heavy or' stifi-board when it is desired to relieve the bending of the board.

The several endless chains constituting the stick conveying system of the apparatus may have their upper runs supported on suitable rails 33 as indicated in Figs. 5 and 6, for the upper run of the chain 8, and may be associated with side rails 34; for guiding the ends of the sticks and for preventing the sticks from shifting lengthwise, i. e., transversely of the hang-up apparatus. Idle sprockets or guide wheels 35 for guid ing the lower runs of the chains may be provided as required.

The means shown in the drawings for driving the conveying system of the illustrative hang-up apparatus is as follows:

The elevating chains 5 are trained at their upper ends around driving sprockets 36 aflixed on stub shafts 37, driven by gearing 38 from an overhead shaft 39 (Figs. 1 and 2). On the same stub shafts 37 are loose sprocket wheels 40 around which are trained the receiving ends ofthe longitudinally running carrier chains 8. Said chains 8 are trained at the-irdelivery ends around driving sprockets 11 affixed on stub shafts 42 driven by gearing 43 from an overhead shaft 14 (Figs. 1 and 2). On the same stub shafts 42- are afiixed driving sprockets 4.5 for the declined delivery chains 20. Should the longitudinalconveying means comprise more than a single pair of chains, for in stance, successive pairs of chains, as may be desired in a lengthy conveying'system, each pair of such chains may be trained at their delivery ends around driving sprockets, coaxial with drivensprockets for the receiving ends of the next pair of chains, such driving and driven sprockets being mounted fast and loose on stub shafts driven by gearing from an overhead shaft, in the same manner as explained in reference to the chains 5 and chains 8, the delivery and receiving ends of which are respectively trained around the coaxial fast and loose sprockets 36 and f0 on the stub shafts 37 driven from overhead shaft 39. In the case of conveying means comprising such successive pairs of chains, the several overhead shaftsmay be driven by transmission chains one from another, and at the same or varying speeds as desired. In the illustrative apparatus, where the longitudinal conveying means comprises the single pair of carrier chains 8, the overhead shaft 44 atthe delivery section ofthe apparatus is driven by an endless chain 16 from the overhead shaft 39 at the receiving section; and said overhead shaft 39 isdriven by a. chain 47 from a shaft &8 shown located below the floor of the plant (Figs. 1 and 2).

Referring to the return conveyor 29, at its receiVing ..-end, i. e., at the delivery end of the hangiupgiapparatus, the return conveyor chains are trained around driven sprockets 49 on a shaft 50, from which shaft 50 the shaft 51 of the ejecting wheels 25 is driven by a chain 52 (Figs. 2 and 4). By employing a slack driving chain 52, the ejector wheels may be operated with an intermittent jerking action for effectively discharging the sticks, the resistance to ejection due to the weight of the superimposed pile of'sticks in the magazine will retard the rotation .of the ejector wheels until thechain 52, driven by the comparatively slow running shaft 50, stretches or becomes taut in its lower run, thereby imparting a sudden rotation or jerk to the ejector wheels causing them to eject the sticks and to overrun the chain drive so as to slacken the lower run while the upper run becomes taut tocheck the rotation of the ejector wheels. As soon as the chainbecomes taut in its lower run, the upper run becoming slack, the actionis repeated, and so on.

At the delivery end of the return conveyor, i. e., at the receiving end of the hang-

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