US3739997A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Square pattern strip winding means
Assignee: Edwards Enterprises of Orlando Inc
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Filing: 1971-11-17
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Granted: 1973-06-19
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Expires: 1991-11-17
Abstract
Abstract A winding machine for winding strips of plant growth material in a square pattern on a pallet which includes a rotatable pallet means; a corner forming means comprising a cruciform support means removably mounted on the pallet means to rotate therewith, spaced above the pallet means and having its arms spanning the pallet means, a plurality of corner form means slidably mounted on the support means and spaced along the arms of the support means to form square patterns, of progressively larger size, of groups of four of the form means from complementary ones of the form means of each of the arms of the support means, and means for sliding the form means toward the pallet means; and drive means for rotating the pallet means and the support means. Where a strip of plant growth material is to be transferred from a full pallet to an empty pallet, the full pallet is mounted on a pallet drive means adjacent the winding machine and a guide means and speed regulating means is placed adjacent the two pallets to guide the strip of plant growth material as it passes from one pallet to the other and adjust the speed of the drive means of at least one of the pallets to compensate for variations in the size of the winding of strip material on the respective pallets as well as other variations in the speed of travel of the strip material.
Inventors
- 👤 P Edwards
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 11:51
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65H; B65H54/00; B65H54/02; B65H54/10; B65H54/106; A; A01; A01C; A01C1/00; A01C1/04; A01C1/042
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
123 words
A winding machine for winding strips of plant growth material on a pallet; comprising, rotatable pallet means; corner forming means, including, cruciform support means removably mounted on said pallet means to rotate therewith, having arms spanning said pallet means and spaced above said pallet means, a plurality of corner form means slidably mounted on said support means and spaced alonG each arm of said support means to form square patterns, of progressively larger size, of groups of four of said form means from complementary ones of said form means on each of said arms of said support means, and means for sliding each of said form means toward said pallet means; and drive means for rotating said pallet means and said support means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
123 words
A winding machine for winding strips of plant growth material on a pallet; comprising, rotatable pallet means; corner forming means, including, cruciform support means removably mounted on said pallet means to rotate therewith, having arms spanning said pallet means and spaced above said pallet means, a plurality of corner form means slidably mounted on said support means and spaced alonG each arm of said support means to form square patterns, of progressively larger size, of groups of four of said form means from complementary ones of said form means on each of said arms of said support means, and means for sliding each of said form means toward said pallet means; and drive means for rotating said pallet means and said support means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
A machine in accordance with claim 1 in which the corner form means are each convex outwardly and have a minimum radius about which the plant growth strips can be turned without damage to said strips.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
A machine in accordance with claim 1 wherein the means for sliding each of the form means toward the pallet means is a spring which biases said form means toward said pallet means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
A machine in accordance with claim 3 wherein the corner-forming means additionally includes latching means for holding the form means in a retracted position against the bias of the spring.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
A machine in accordance with claim 4 wherein the latching means includes an electromagnet.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
41 words
A machine in accordance with claim 1 wherein the means for sliding each group of four of the form means toward the pallet means includes means for sliding all four of each group of form means toward said pallet means simultaneously.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
A machine in accordance with claim 1 wherein the corner-forming means includes means for sliding each group of four form means which form successively larger square patterns toward said pallet means sequentially.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
A machine in accordance with claim 1 wherein the drive means for rotating the pallet and the support means is a variable speed device.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
58 words
A machine in accordance with claim 1 wherein the drive means for rotating the pallet means and the support means includes a rotatable wheel having one side thereof in contact with the pallet means, a friction roller means in contact with the opposite side of said rotatable wheel and a motor operatively coupled to said friction roller means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
A machine in accordance with claim 9 wherein the motor is a variable speed motor.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
37 words
A machine in accordance with claim 9 wherein the drive means for rotating the pallet means and the support means additionally includes hydraulic jack means for moving the drive means toward and away from the rotatable wheel.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
63 words
A machine in accordance with claim 1 which additionally includes a second winding machine, having rotatable pallet means, and drive means for rotating said pallet means, positioned adjacent the first winding machine and a strip guide means for guiding the strip of plant growth material as it passes from one of said winding machines to the other is positioned adjacent the winding machines.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
35 words
A machine in accordance with claim 12 wherein the guide means additionally includes means for regulating the speed of at least one of the drive means for rotating the pallet means of the winding machines.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
32 words
A machine in accordance with claim 13 wherein the means for regulating the speed of the drive means includes pressure sensitive switch means mounted along the internal walls of the guide means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
22 words
A machine in accordance with claim 14 wherein the switch means are mounted adjacent one or more bends in the guide means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
A machine in accordance with claim 12 wherein at least one end of the guide means is flexible.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
21 words
A machine in accordance with claim 12 wherein the guide means includes horizontally-disposed rollers at each end of said guide means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
31 words
A machine in accordance with claim 12 wherein the guide means includes a pair of vertically-disposed rollers on each side of the guide means adjacent both ends of the guide means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
23 words
A machine in accordance with claim 18 wherein the vertically-disposed rollers include means for varying the inward and outward pressure of the rollers.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
32 words
A machine in accordance with claim 12 wherein the guide means includes foliage protective means for preventing the foliage of plants mounted in the strip of plant growth material from being damaged.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
17 words
A machine in accordance with claim 20 wherein the foliage protective means is an air blower means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-06-18 | 1976-12-18 | 1977-06-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-06-18 | 1980-12-18 | 1981-06-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-06-18 | 1984-12-18 | 1985-06-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |