APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR MAKING AN INDEFINITE LENGTH COMPOSITE SHEET OF VERY LARGE PREDETERMINED WIDTH FROM INDEFINITE LENGTH SHEET STOCK OF RELATIVELY SMALL WIDTH

摘要

An apparatus and method is disclosed for making a composite sheet of indefinite length and very large predetermined width from indefinite length sheet stock of relatively small width. Included is a supply roll of relatively narrow indefinite length synthetic rubber sheet material, and a conveyor which feeds out in a horizontal direction past a cutter a sheet of the narrow stock equal in length to the relatively large width of the desired composite sheet stock. After feeding out and cutting the desired length of narrow stock, the cut sheet is transferred laterally by a reciprocating vacuum pick-head to overlap the leading edge thereof with the trailing edge of the preceding laterally shifted cut sheet, effectively augmenting the composite sheet. A conveyor advances the composite sheet in the transverse direction to successively locate the lap joints thereon at a lap joint pressing station whereat the lap joints are successively pressed to enhance the permanency of the joints. The composite sheet is then fed through a release powder applicator which applies release powder to both sides of the sheet to avoid the composite sheet stock, which is uncured, from sticking together when stored in roll form. Downstream of the release powder applicator the composite sheet is fed through a variable tension regulator, a sheet slitter which trims the stock to the desired width, and a composite sheet reeling station where it is rolled on a mandrel for subsequent storage and curing. Intermediate the supply roll of narrow length stock and the sheet cutter a station is located for facilitating convenient removal of defective portions of the narrow width supply stock.