Patent Application
20250197147
This invention relates generally to a type of a fabric spreading machine used for piling fabric lengths cut from a roll of fabric on a spreading table.
A fabric spreading machine is used for piling fabric lengths on a spreading table. The machine may comprise a chassis which moves back-and-forth across the table whilst cutting fabric from a spool held in a cradle into individual lengths.
However, a roll of fabric which may weigh approximately 20-30 kg, or even more than 100 kg for heavier fabrics. As such, it is difficult to lift a roll of fabric into the cradle, especially in that the cradle may be approximately at a height of 1.3 m more.
Forklifts or specialised lifting apparatus are therefore generally used to lift the roll of fabric into the cradle.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,405,100 A (Cooper et al.) 11 Apr. 1995 discloses a V-shaped cradle which can pivot with respect to a frame between a loading position and an unwind position. In the loading position, the cradle is pivoted to a position such that a first belt support means is substantially horizontal to the frame and floor to more easily load fabric into the cradle.
It is to be understood that, if any prior art information is referred to herein, such reference does not constitute an admission that the information forms part of the common general knowledge in the art, in Australia or any other country.
There is provided herein a fabric spreading machine comprising a chassis configured to traverse a fabric spreading table in use.
The machine comprises an unspooling cradle of opposing proximal and distal drive belt assemblies. These opposing drive belt assemblies defining a lower vertex therebetween.
The machine further comprises a tilting actuator supporting the cradle from the chassis. The tilting actuator is configured to position the cradle in an unspooling position wherein the cradle is raised so that the drive belt assemblies are each angled with respect to the fabric spreading table to cradle a roll of fabric therebetween for unspooling.
In the unspooling position, the vertex and the fabric spreading table define a raised offset therebetween.
The raised offset provides clearance under the cradle for piled fabric lengths as the chassis traverses the fabric spreading table in use.
The tilting actuator is configured to position the cradle in a loading position wherein the cradle is lowered so that the proximal drive belt assembly is lowered towards the fabric spreading table to a lesser angle with respect to a surface of the fabric spreading table as compared to when the cradle is in the unspooling position.
The drive belt assemblies may be fixed with respect to each other so that the distal drive belt assembly is also lowered in the loading position, but to greater angle as compared to when the cradle in the unspooling position.
In the loading position, the vertex and the fabric spreading table define a lowered offset therebetween. The lowered offset is less than the raised offset.
As such, the lowered offset and the lesser angle of the proximal drive belt assembly allow a replacement spool to be more easily loaded into the cradle.
Unlike the arrangement taught by Cooper et al. which only pivots the cradle about a pivot point, the current arrangement raises and lowers the entire cradle whilst also pivoting the cradle, thereby providing clearance under the cradle for the traversal of the fabric spreading machine to meet the very specific clearance requirements required by the present fabric spreading machine.
In one embodiment, the tilting actuator comprises a pivot arm supporting the cradle from a distal end and pivoting with respect to a pivot point at a proximal end and wherein the pivot point is laterally offset from the vertex.
In an alternative embodiment, side portions of the chassis may define guide rails interfacing the cradle and wherein a linear actuator pushes or pulls the cradle along the guide rails between the unspooling position and the loading position.
Other aspects of the invention are also disclosed.
Notwithstanding any other forms which may fall within the scope of the present invention, preferred embodiments of the disclosure will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
The machine 100 comprises a chassis 101 configured to traverse a surface 102 of a fabric spreading table 103 in use.
The chassis 100 may traverse the surface 102 on wheels 104, at least a subset of which may be electrically driven.
The machine 100 comprises a generally V-shaped unspooling cradle 107 of opposing drive belt assemblies 108. With reference to
The drive belt assemblies 108 are described as having a distal drive belt assembly 108A and a proximal drive belt assembly 108B. The proximal drive belt assembly 108B is closer to fabric roll loading position at one end of the table 103.
The drive belt assemblies 108 define a vertex 111 therebetween. The vertex 111 may be defined by the intersection of imaginary lines through the drive belt assemblies 108 and generally represents the lowermost point under the cradle 107 between the drive belt assemblies 108.
The machine 100 further comprises a tilting actuator 112 supporting the cradle 107 from the chassis 101.
The machine 100 comprises a controller for controlling the operation of the machine 100. The controller comprises a processor which is in operable communication with a memory device configured for storing digital data including computer program code instructions. In use, the processor fetches these computer program code instructions and associated data for implementing the control functionality described herein.
The computer program code instructions may be logically divided into a plurality of computer program code instruction controllers.
The tilting actuator 112 may be controlled to position the cradle 107 in an unspooling position as is shown in
The rollers 109 of the drive belt assemblies 108 may be turned synchronously so that the belts 110 travel in the same direction to rotate the roll of fabric 113 to feed a sheet 114 of fabric from the roll of fabric 113.
The sheet 114 may be fed through counterrotating feed rollers 106 down a dispensing chute 115 onto the fabric spreading table 103. A mechanised cutter 115 may cut across the sheet 114 to cut the sheet 114 into a pile of individual lengths 116.
In the unspooling position, the cradle 107 is raised so that the vertex 111 and the fabric spreading table 102 define a raised offset 116 therebetween. The raised offset 116 provide sufficient clearance under the cradle 107 for the pile of individual lengths 116 of fabric.
Preferably the raised offset is at least 10 cm but may be 20 cm or more in embodiments.
The tilting actuator 112 is further configured to support the cradle 107 in a loading position shown in
In the embodiment shown, the proximal assembly 108B may be lowered to be horizontal or parallel with respect to the surface 102 of the fabric spreading table 103. In embodiments, the undersurface of the proximal assembly 108B may lie close or flat against the surface 102 of the fabric spreading table 103.
The drive belt assembly 108 may be fixed with respect to each other. As such, as the proximal drive belt assembly 108B is lowered to a lesser angle, the distal drive belt assembly 108A is also lowered, but to a greater angle with respect to the surface 102 of the fabric spread in table 103.
In the loading position, the vertex 111 and the fabric spreading table 102 define a lowered offset 117 therebetween, the lowered offset 117 being less than the raised offset 116. Preferably, the lowered offset 117 is less than half the raised offset 116. For example, where the raised offset 116 is greater than 10 cm, the lowered offset 116 may be less than 5 cm.
The lower offset 117 and the lesser angle of the proximal drive belt assembly 108B allows a new roll of fabric 113 to be loaded into the cradle 107 more easily from a lower height.
The controller may be controlled to only lower the cradle 108 to the lowered position at an end of the fabric spreading table 103 as shown in
The controller may measure the length of fabric dispense from the roll of fabric 113 and automatically go to the end of the fabric spreading table 102 and lower the cradle 108 when a new spool is required to be loaded. In this regard, the controller may interface a rotary transducer interfacing one of the feed rollers 106.
The tilting actuator 112 may comprise a curved rack arm 119 interfacing the pivot arm 119 and a pinion 120. The pinion 120 may interface an electric motor 121 via stepdown gearing 122.
The stepdown gearing 112 may comprise a worm drive to prevent gearing runaway when the electric motor 112 is unpowered.
The machine 100 may comprise a single electric motor 112 acting on a cross driveshaft at the pivot point 119 which acts on respective pivot arms 118 at each side of the chassis 101. Preferably the tilting actuator 112 is devoid of any driveshafts or componentry beneath the pivot point 119 so as to maintain clearance beneath the cradle 107.
In an alternative embodiment, the machine 100 comprises a drive motor 121 at each side of the chassis 101 acting on a respective pivot arm 118 and which are controlled synchronously. Similarly in accordance with this embodiment, the tilting actuator 112 is also devoid of any cross driveshaft or the like to maintain clearance beneath the cradle 107.
In alternative embodiments, side portions of the chassis 101 may define guide rails interfacing the cradle 108. A linear actuator may act on the cradle 108 to drive the cradle 108 along the guide rails between the unspooling position and the loading position.
The foregoing description, for purposes of explanation, used specific nomenclature to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that specific details are not required in order to practise the invention. Thus, the foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the invention are presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed as obviously many modifications and variations are possible in view of the above teachings. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical applications, thereby enabling others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the following claims and their equivalents define the scope of the invention.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022900748 | Mar 2022 | AU | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/AU2023/050206 | 3/22/2023 | WO |
