Carpet feeding, measuring and rolling apparatus

In pliable sheet handling apparatus,

• a. a first means to rotate a sheet supply roll at a first station and in an unrolling direction to advance unrolled sheet extent in a generally longitudinally forward direction, whereby unrolled sheet extent may be severed laterally crosswise thereof at a selected longitudinal location to free a section of the unrolled sheet from the supply roll, said first means including a carriage having endless drive elements to support and rotate the supply roll, there being structure supporting the carriage for adjustable lateral shifting, and a drive to shift the carriage laterally,
• b. other means to receive the severed section at a subsequent station located generally forwardly of the first station, and to re-roll said section forming a final roll, said other means including support roller mechanism, and auxiliary means movable between rearwardly collapsed position in which re-rolling of the sheet section adjacent said support roller mechanism is initiated, and a series of forwardly extended positions in which re-rolling of the sheet section is guided toward completion, and while the auxiliary means engages the sheet section being re-rolled, said auxiliary means including a bodily movable roller having a rearward position in which the roller extends at one side of the sheet section to urge the sheet section toward the support roller mechanism, and a forward position in which the roller extends at the opposite side of the sheet section being re-rolled during final build-up thereof and in supporting relation with the re-rolled section.

In pliable sheet handling apparatus,

• a. first means to rotate a sheet supply roll at a first station and in an unrolling direction to advance unrolled sheet extent in a generally longitudinally forward direction, whereby unrolled sheet extent may be severed laterally crosswise thereof at a selected longitudinal location to free a section of the unrolled sheet from the supply roll, said first means including a carriage having endless drive elements to support and rotate the supply roll,
• b. other means to receive the severed section at a subsequent station located generally forwardly of the first station, and to re-roll said section forming a final roll,
• c. means supporting the carriage to pivot about an axis generally normal to said longitudinal and lateral directions, whereby forward feed of the sheet unrolled extent may be accurately directed toward said other means, and drive means to effect controlled pivoting of the carriage, and
• d. support means located generally between said first and other means to receive and support the advancing unrolled sheet extent in position for said severing, said support means including a table having an upper surface, there being multiple ports proximate said surface to underlie said unrolled sheet extent, and means to supply gas to discharge from said ports for exerting upward pressure on said unrolled sheet extent and tending to float said sheet extent as it advances forwardly.

In pliable sheet handling apparatus,

• a. first means to rotate a sheet supply roll at a first station and in an unrolling direction to advance unrolled sheet extent in a generally longitudinally forward direction, whereby unrolled sheet extent may be severed laterally crosswise thereof at a selected longitudinal location to free a section of the unrolled sheet from the supply roll, said first means including a carriage having endless drive elements to support and rotate the supply roll, comprising drive belts, and including pusher means on the carriage and selectively operable to push the supply roll generally away from said carriage, and
• b. other means to receive the severed section at a subsequent station located generally forwardly of the first station, and to re-roll said section forming a final roll, said other means including support roller mechanism, and auxiliary means movable between rearwardly collapsed position in which re-rolling of the sheet section adjacent said support roller mechanism is initiated, and a series of forwardly extended positions in which re-rolling of the sheet section is guided toward completion, and while the auxiliary means engages the sheet section being re-rolled, said auxiliary means including a bodily movable roller having a rearward position in which the roller extends at one side of the sheet section to urge the sheet section toward the support roller mechanism, and a forward position in which the roller extends at the opposite side of the sheet section being re-rolled during final build-up thereof and in supporting relation with the re-rolled section.

The method of handling a sheet supply roll to obtain a selected length sheet section, that includes

• a. supporting and controllably rotating the supply roll to advance unrolled sheet extent in a forward and generally horizontal direction away from the roll,
• b. discharging gas at the underside of said advancing sheet extent for floatably supporting the advancing sheet extent,
• c. stopping advancement of said sheet extent when a selected length thereof has been advanced, and then severing said sheet extent crosswise thereof to produce a desired length sheet section free of the supply roll,
• d. further advancing said sheet section by force transmitted to the forward portion of said section and progressively re-rolling said section to produce a final roll.