Method and apparatus for rolling cut filter pad

Claim 2

Apparatus adapted to compactly roll filter material and comprising, in combination, a length of support material having strength in tension but also being flexible so that said support material can be turned on itself into a spiral roll form while providing support for said filter material, a take-up roll, means supporting said take-up roll for rotation, said support material extending to and engaged on said take-up roll for rotation therewith so that said support material is coiled onto said take-up roll, means supporting said filter material for introduction with said support material into the coil being formed so that said filter material is positioned between adjacent turns of said support material in said roll form and is held in said roll form, and means for driving said take-up roll to draw said support material into said roll form and maintain said support material under tension as it is drawn into said roll form so that said support material is tightly coiled into said roll form and said filter material is held between adjacent turns of said support material in a compressed state.

Claim 3

Apparatus adapted to compactly roll filter material and comprising, in combination, a length of support material having strength in tension but also being flexible so that said support material can be turned on itself into a spiral roll form while providing support for said filter material, a take-up roll, means supporting said take-up roll for rotation, said support material extending to and engaged on said take-up roll for rotation therewith so that said support material is coiled onto said take-up roll, means supporting said filter material or introduction with said support material into the coil being formed so that said filter material is positioned between adjacent turns of said support material in said roll form and is held in said roll form, means defining a support matrix for said support material through which said support material is threaded in extending to said take-up roll, said support matrix including roller means over which said support material is threaded prior to entry thereof into the coil being formed, means for rotating said roller means at a preselEcted speed, and means for rotating said take-up roll and operative to vary the speed of rotation of said take-up roll to maintain the speed of entry of said support material into the coil substantially equal to said preselected speed of said roller means, whereby said support material is introduced into said roll form under tension so that said support material is tightly coiled into said roll form and said filter material is held between adjacent turns of said support material in a compressed state.

Claim 4

Apparatus adapted to compactly roll filter material and comprising, in combination, a length of support material having strength in tension but also being flexible so that said support material can be turned on itself into a spiral roll form while providing support for said filter material, a take-up roll, means supporting said take-up roll for rotation, said support material extending to and engaged on said take-up roll for rotation therewith so that said support material is coiled onto said take-up roll, means supporting said filter material or introduction with said support material into the coil being formed so that said filter material is positioned between adjacent turns of said support material in said roll form and is held in said roll form, means defining a support matrix for said support material through which said support material is threaded in extending to said take-up roll, said support matrix including roller means over which said support material is threaded prior to entry thereof into the coil being formed, means for rotating said roller means at a preselEcted speed, and means for rotating said take-up roll and operative to vary the speed of rotation of said take-up roll to maintain the speed of entry of said support material into the coil substantially equal to said preselected speed of said roller means, whereby said support material is introduced into said roll form under tension so that said support material is tightly coiled into said roll form and said filter material is held between adjacent turns of said support material in a compressed state.

Claim 5

The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said means for rotating said take-up roll includes a motor, and a torque responsive control connected to and controlling said motor, said torque responsive control sensing the torque on said motor and adjusting the speed of said motor to maintain a relatively constant torque on said motor and thereby maintain the speed of entry of said support material into said coil constant.

Claim 6

The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said support matrix and said take-up roll define a generally horizontal extension of said support material just prior to entry of said support material into said roll form, and wherein said filter material is positioned on said horizontal extension of said support material.

Claim 7

The apparatus of claim 1 including means defining a support matrix for said support material through which said support material is threaded in extending to said take-up roll, wherein said support matrix and said take-up roll define a generally horizontal extension of said support material just prior to entry of said support material into said roll form, and wherein said filter material is positioned on said horizontal extension of said support material.

Claim 8

The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said filter material is in cut pad form.

Claim 9

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said filter material is in cut pad form.

Claim 10

The apparatus of claim 1 in combination with means for cutting said filter material into cut pads and for delivering said filter material to said support material for introduction into the coil being formed.

Claim 11

Apparatus adapted to compactly roll filter material and comprising, in combination, a length of support material having strength in tension but also flexible so that said support material can be turned on itself into a sprial roll form while providing support for said filter material, a take-up roll, means supporting said take-up roll for rotation, said support material extending to and engaged on said take-up roll for rotation therewith so that said support material is coiled onto said take-up roll, means supporting said filter material for introduction with said support material into the coil being formed so that said filter material is positioned between adjacent turns of said support material in said roll form and is held in said roll form, means for cutting said filter material into cut pads prior to introduction thereof into the coil being formed, means defining a support matrix for said support material through which said support material is threaded in extending to said take-up roll, said support matrix including roller means over which said support material is threaded prior to entry thereof into the coil being formed, means for rotating said roller means at a preselected speed, and means for rotating said take-up roll and operative to vary the speed of rotation of said take-up roll to maintain the speed of entry of said support material into the coil substantially equal to said preselected speed of said roller means, whereby said support material is introduced into said roll form under tension so that said support material is tightly coiled into said roll form and said filter material is held between adjacent turns of said support material in a compressed state.

Claim 12

Apparatus adapted to compactly roll filter material and comprising, in combination, a length of support material having strength in tension but also flexible so that said support material can be turned on itself into a sprial roll form while providing support for said filter material, a take-up roll, means supporting said take-up roll for rotation, said support material extending to and engaged on said take-up roll for rotation therewith so that said support material is coiled onto said take-up roll, means supporting said filter material for introduction with said support material into the coil being formed so that said filter material is positioned between adjacent turns of said support material in said roll form and is held in said roll form, means for cutting said filter material into cut pads prior to introduction thereof into the coil being formed, means defining a support matrix for said support material through which said support material is threaded in extending to said take-up roll, said support matrix including roller means over which said support material is threaded prior to entry thereof into the coil being formed, means for rotating said roller means at a preselected speed, and means for rotating said take-up roll and operative to vary the speed of rotation of said take-up roll to maintain the speed of entry of said support material into the coil substantially equal to said preselected speed of said roller means, whereby said support material is introduced into said roll form under tension so that said support material is tightly coiled into said roll form and said filter material is held between adjacent turns of said support material in a compressed state.

Claim 13

Apparatus adapted to compactly roll filter material and comprising, in combination, a length of support material having strength in tension but also Being flexible so that said support material can be turned on itself into a spiral roll form while providing support for said filter material, a take-up roll, means supporting said take-up roll for rotation, said support material extending to and engaged on said take-up roll for rotation therewith so that said support material is coiled onto said take-up roll, means supporting said filter material for introduction with said support material into the coil being formed so that said filter material is positioned between adjacent turns of said support material in said roll form and is held in said roll form, means for introducing said support material into said roll form under tension so that said support material is tightly coiled into said roll form and said filter material is held between adjacent turns of said support material in a compressed state, and means for cutting said filter material into cut pads and for delivering said filter material to said support material for introduction into the coil being formed, said means for cutting said filter material includes, a cutter, means for delivering filter material in continuous form to said cutter, means for varying the amount of extension of said filter material beyond said cutter to vary the length of said cut filter pads, and a conveyor for transporting said cut filter pads to said means for supporting said filter material.

Claim 14

Apparatus adapted to compactly roll filter material and comprising, in combination, a length of support material having strength in tension but also Being flexible so that said support material can be turned on itself into a spiral roll form while providing support for said filter material, a take-up roll, means supporting said take-up roll for rotation, said support material extending to and engaged on said take-up roll for rotation therewith so that said support material is coiled onto said take-up roll, means supporting said filter material for introduction with said support material into the coil being formed so that said filter material is positioned between adjacent turns of said support material in said roll form and is held in said roll form, means for introducing said support material into said roll form under tension so that said support material is tightly coiled into said roll form and said filter material is held between adjacent turns of said support material in a compressed state, and means for cutting said filter material into cut pads and for delivering said filter material to said support material for introduction into the coil being formed, said means for cutting said filter material includes, a cutter, means for delivering filter material in continuous form to said cutter, means for varying the amount of extension of said filter material beyond said cutter to vary the length of said cut filter pads, and a conveyor for transporting said cut filter pads to said means for supporting said filter material.

Claim 15

The apparatus of claim 10 including means defining a support matrix for said support material through which said support material is threaded in extending to said take-up roll, wherein said support matrix and said take-up roll define a generally horizontal extension of said support material just prior to entry of said support material into said roll form, and wherein said filter material is positioned on said horizontal extension of said support material, and said horizontal extension of said support material positioned adjacent to and extending away from said conveyor.

Claim 16

The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said means for rotating said take-up roll includes a motor, and a torque responsive control connected to and controlling said motor, said torque responsive control sensing the torque on said motor and adjusting the speed of said motor to maintain a relatively constant torque on said motor and thereby maintain the speed of entry of said support material into said coil constant.

Claim 17

The combination of claim 12 including counter control means for counting the number of pads cut and stopping said apparatus when a predetermined number are cut.

Claim 20

The method of claim 14 wherein said filter material is cut into filter pads of limited length prior to introduction into said spiral roll form.