US3748078A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Forming machine with web transport
Assignee: Gloucester Engineering Co Inc
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Filing: 1972-03-16
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Granted: 1973-07-24
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Expires: 1992-03-16
Abstract
Abstract In a web forming machine (e.g., with pre-heat oven and die for plastic sheet) the web gripping and transporting members extending along the web (e.g., on a long chain) are advanced by a hydraulic actuated rotor stroking back and forth through a fraction of a revolution, with controlled deceleration of the system by combination of an orifice progressively occluded by the rotor at stroke end and a linkage establishing the motion of the gripping members as dependent upon motion of the rotor in varying ratio, with greatest value near mid-stroke and lesser values near end. The linkage shown is an elongated crank driving a rack which rides about and drives a pinion; preferably the crank extends parallel to the rack at the end of forward stroke and the pivot connecting rack to crank is adjustable to vary gripping member stroke. A clutch permits movement of the gripping members in only one direction and a controller engages the clutch during forward and disengages during backward stroke. The actuator, linkage and extended gripping members are movable as a unit to accommodate different web widths. The actuator is formed of a sandwich of plates, a central plate defining the chamber in which the rotor turns, as well as the stops, and an outer plate defines a fluid orifice which is occluded by the rotor for deceleration.
Inventors
- 👤 C Schott
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 12:16
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65H; B65H20/00; B65H20/06; B65H20/08; B29; B29C; B29C51/00; B29C51/26; B29C51/261; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S425/00; Y10S425/048; Y10T; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/15; Y10T74/1526; Y10T74/1532; Y10T74/18; Y10T74/1856
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
235 words
In a forming machine for acting progressively upon an elongated web comprising a periodically acting forming die and web transport mechanism advancing said web periodically into said die at times when said die is open, said transport mechanism including extended gripping members extending along the length of the web and means for advancing said gripping members, the improvement wherein said advancing means comprises a hydraulic rotary actuator having a housing and a rotor mounted therein rotatable between stops through forward and backward strokes of a fraction of a revolution, said rotor and said housing coacting to define a chamber the volume of whIcn varies as said rotor advances through a stroke, said actuator including a passage connected to conduct fluid relative to said chamber as said rotor advances, said passage having an orifice communicating with said chamber, which orifice, during a terminal fraction of said stroke, is progressively occluded by said rotor, thereby progressively increasing the flow resistance to the fluid of said chamber to smoothly decelerate said rotor, and a linkage connected to and driven in reciprocating motion through forward and backward strokes corresponding to said rotor strokes and connected to drive said gripping members, said linkage establishing the rate of motion of said gripping members dependent upon the rate of motion of said rotor in varying ratio thereto, said ratio having its greatest value near mid-stroke and lesser values near either stroke end.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
235 words
In a forming machine for acting progressively upon an elongated web comprising a periodically acting forming die and web transport mechanism advancing said web periodically into said die at times when said die is open, said transport mechanism including extended gripping members extending along the length of the web and means for advancing said gripping members, the improvement wherein said advancing means comprises a hydraulic rotary actuator having a housing and a rotor mounted therein rotatable between stops through forward and backward strokes of a fraction of a revolution, said rotor and said housing coacting to define a chamber the volume of whIcn varies as said rotor advances through a stroke, said actuator including a passage connected to conduct fluid relative to said chamber as said rotor advances, said passage having an orifice communicating with said chamber, which orifice, during a terminal fraction of said stroke, is progressively occluded by said rotor, thereby progressively increasing the flow resistance to the fluid of said chamber to smoothly decelerate said rotor, and a linkage connected to and driven in reciprocating motion through forward and backward strokes corresponding to said rotor strokes and connected to drive said gripping members, said linkage establishing the rate of motion of said gripping members dependent upon the rate of motion of said rotor in varying ratio thereto, said ratio having its greatest value near mid-stroke and lesser values near either stroke end.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
47 words
The forming machine of claim 1 comprising an elongated pre-heat oven and a forming die adapted to form articles from a plastic web, said web gripping members extending throughout the combined length of said oven and forming die, and constructed to grip and transport said plastic web.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
The forming machine of claim 1 wherein said web gripping members are carried upon an elongated, endless chain, said chain connected to a pinion, and said linkage connected to drive said pinion.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
48 words
The device as claimed in claim 1, said linkage including an elongated crank affixed to said rotor, a pinion with axis parallel to that of said rotor connected to drive said gripping members, and a rack engaging said pinion and a pivot connecting said crank to said rack.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
The device as claimed in claim 4, said crank being affixed to said rotor to extend parallel to said rack when said rotor is at the end of its forward stroke.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
The device as claimed in claim 4, said pivot being adjustable in distance from the rotational axis of said rotor to vary the length of said linkage stroke.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
The device as claimed in claim 1, including a clutch permitting movement of said gripping members in one direction only.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
60 words
The device as claimed in claim 7, including a controller to operate said rotary actuator and said clutch and connected to engage said clutch during the forward stroke of said rotor and to disengage said clutch during the back stroke of said rotor, whereby repeated stroking of said rotor causes stepwise advancing of said gripping members with smooth stopping thereof.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
37 words
The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said actuator, linkage and one of said gripping members are mounted on a base slidably supported by ways on said machine for movement to accommodate webs of distinct widths.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
The device as claimed in claim 9 including a drive gear with a shaft affixed thereto, supported on said base and engaged to drive said one gripping member.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
66 words
The device as claimed in claim 1, said housing comprising a central and two outer plates with parallel faces assembled sandwich-like, said chamber being defined in part by a face of one of said outer plates, said face having a slot sunk therein to provide said passage, said orifice being in part defined by the intersection of said slot with the face of said central plate.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
45 words
The device as claimed in claim 11, said chamber being in part defined by a cylindrical surface passing through said central plate, said orifice being in part defined by the intersection of said cylindrical surface with one of the parallel faces of said central plate.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
50 words
The device as claimed in claim 12, including a second passage communicating with said chamber, said passage positioned to provide unimpeded discharge of fluid from said chamber during a first fraction of said stroke and be blocked by said rotor during a portion of said stroke following said first fraction.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
58 words
The device as claimed in claim 1, including a second chamber defined by said rotor and said housing and opposed across said rotor from said first mentioned chamber with correspondingly disposed second passage and orifice, Said first chamber, passage, and orifice and said second chamber, passage, and orifice alternatively operative for forward and backward strokes of said rotor.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-07-23 | 1977-01-22 | 1977-07-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-07-23 | 1981-01-22 | 1981-07-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-07-23 | 1985-01-22 | 1985-07-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |