Cross-lapping apparatus

Claim 1

An apparatus for cross-laminating a pair of films, said apparatus comprising: a vertically movable platform; a first film-dispensing means disposed over said platform and including means for carrying a first film supply roll, means for issuing a first film from said first supply roll, a film guide disposed between said supply roll and said platform for guiding said film issuing from said first supply roll onto said platform, and means for moving said first film-dispensing means in back-and-forth strokes across said platform so that a layer of said first film is deposited thereon for each stroke, said layers being accumulated in superimposed relation on said platform; a second film-dispensing means disposed over said platform and including means for carrying a second film supply roll, means for issuing a second film from said second film supply roll, a film guide disposed between said second supply roll and said platform for guiding film issuing from said second supply roll onto said platform, and means for moving said second filmdispensing means in a back-and-forth stroke across said platform so that a layer of said second film is deposited thereon for each stroke, said layers being accumulated in superimposed relation, the path of movement of said first and second film-dispensing means being perpendicular and in intersecting relation so that the layers of said first film are cross-laminated with the layers of said second film; a biasing spring attached to the platform urging said platform upwardly toward the first and second film-dispensing means; said spring having a coefficient of elasticity such that the platform is lowered with each film layer deposited thereon so that the topmost film layer is maintained at a substantially constant elevation; a first film-gripping bar extending across at least a portion of the width of the film dispensing from the first film-dispensing means positioned adjacent the platform on a side of the platform opposed to the second film-dispensing means and being pivotally movable relative to the platform and film deposited on the platform between an operative position at which said first bar is in contact with the film deposited on the platform and maintaining an upper surface of said film at a preselected elevation and an inoperative position at which said bar is laterally spaced from the film deposited on the platform; a second film-gripping bar extending across at least a portion of the width of the film dispensing from the second filmdispensing means positioned adjacent the platform on a side of the platform opposed to the second film-dispensing means and being pivotally movable relative to the platform and film deposited on the platform between an operative position at which said second bar is in contact with the film deposited on the platform and maintaining an upper surface of said film at a preselecteD elevation and an inoperative position at which said bar is laterally spaced from the film deposited on the platform; and first and second separate actuating means each associated with a respective first and second film-gripping bar for synchronously pivoting the bars to the operative and inoperative positions in response to movement of the first and second film-dispensing means, each actuating means moving its gripping bar to the operative position as its associated dispensing means reaches the end of its stroke toward said gripping bar and each actuating means moving its gripping bar to the inoperative position during movement of its associated dispensing means extension stroke toward said gripping bar for maintaining the film relative to the platform and maintaining the upper surface of the film on the platform at a preselected elevation.

Claim 2

An apparatus for cross-laminating a pair of films, said apparatus comprising: a vertically movable platform; a first film-dispensing means disposed over said platform and including means for carrying a first film supply roll, means for issuing a first film from said first supply roll, a film guide disposed between said supply roll and said platform for guiding said film issuing from said first supply roll onto said platform, and means for moving said first film-dispensing means in back-and-forth strokes across said platform so that a layer of said first film is deposited thereon for each stroke, said layers being accumulated in superimposed relation on said platform; a second film-dispensing means disposed over said platform and including means for carrying a second film supply roll, means for issuing a second film from said second film supply roll, a film guide disposed between said second supply roll and said platform for guiding film issuing from said second supply roll onto said platform, and means for moving said second filmdispensing means in a back-and-forth stroke across said platform so that a layer of said second film is deposited thereon for each stroke, said layers being accumulated in superimposed relation, the path of movement of said first and second film-dispensing means being perpendicular and in intersecting relation so that the layers of said first film are cross-laminated with the layers of said second film; a biasing spring attached to the platform urging said platform upwardly toward the first and second film-dispensing means; said spring having a coefficient of elasticity such that the platform is lowered with each film layer deposited thereon so that the topmost film layer is maintained at a substantially constant elevation; a first film-gripping bar extending across at least a portion of the width of the film dispensing from the first film-dispensing means positioned adjacent the platform on a side of the platform opposed to the second film-dispensing means and being pivotally movable relative to the platform and film deposited on the platform between an operative position at which said first bar is in contact with the film deposited on the platform and maintaining an upper surface of said film at a preselected elevation and an inoperative position at which said bar is laterally spaced from the film deposited on the platform; a second film-gripping bar extending across at least a portion of the width of the film dispensing from the second filmdispensing means positioned adjacent the platform on a side of the platform opposed to the second film-dispensing means and being pivotally movable relative to the platform and film deposited on the platform between an operative position at which said second bar is in contact with the film deposited on the platform and maintaining an upper surface of said film at a preselecteD elevation and an inoperative position at which said bar is laterally spaced from the film deposited on the platform; and first and second separate actuating means each associated with a respective first and second film-gripping bar for synchronously pivoting the bars to the operative and inoperative positions in response to movement of the first and second film-dispensing means, each actuating means moving its gripping bar to the operative position as its associated dispensing means reaches the end of its stroke toward said gripping bar and each actuating means moving its gripping bar to the inoperative position during movement of its associated dispensing means extension stroke toward said gripping bar for maintaining the film relative to the platform and maintaining the upper surface of the film on the platform at a preselected elevation.