US2180433A - Method of and apparatus for manufacturing wallboard joint tape - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 21, 1939.

1.1 PAGE E'r u. 2,180,433

METHOD O1" AND APPARATUS 'FOR MANUFACTURING WALLBOARD JOINT TAPE Filed Dec. 27, 1937 10 Sheets-Sheet 1 A DTTORNE J. PAGE ET AL 2,18 33 METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING WALLBOARD JOINT TAPE Nov. 21, 1939.

K c Ram N @Z W 9 NNU ,R e EH5 0 .m T N E T m 1 S A e w E e L a M w W 7 3 NW0 .7 2 c e D d e l 1 F Nov.' 2l, 1939. JQP'AGE El AL METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING WALLBOARD JOINT TAPE 1O Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR JOHN PHGE' C/"IBELES E. 5 UrHH/GK ATT Filed DeC.. 27, 1937 ORNE Nov. 21, 1939.

J. PAGE ET AL 7 METHOD OF AND APPARATUSFOR MANUFACTURING WALLBOABD JOINT TAPE Filed Dec. 27, 19s? 10 Sheet s-Shet 4 11v VENTOR JOHN PAGE CHARLES E. GUf/W/CK A ITTOR/VE Nov. 21, 1939. J. PAG ET AL 2 433 METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING WALLBOARD. J OINT TAPE Filed Dec. 27, 1957 10 Sheets-Sheet 5 IN VENTQR JOHN P465 CHARLES 2.504/7HN/6K 51 I J 50 v M 254 ATTORNEY Nov. 21 1939. .1. PAGE. ET AL METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING 'WALLBOARD JOINT TAPE Filed Dec. 27 1957 l0 Sheets-Sheet 6 I'II INVENTOR JOHN PHGE WsoumW/ck Nov. 21, 1939. J. PAGE El AL I 2,180,433

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING WALLBOARD JOINT TAPE I Filed Dec 27, 1957 I 10 Sheets-Sheet 7 IN VENTOR JOHN PAGE CHARLES 2.5a TIMI/ck A TTORNE Y Nov. 21, 1939. J. PAGE El AL '2.l80,433 MET HOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING WALLBOARD JOINT TAPE Filed Dec. 27, 1957 10 Sheets-Sheet 8 INVENTOR JOHN PHGE CHHELESE. our/mun A'TTORNE Nov. 21, 1939. J. PAGE ET AL 2,180,433

METHODOF AND APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING WALLBOARD JOINT TAPE I Filed Dec. 27 193:7v 10 Sheets-Sheet 9 v I INVENTOR l JOHN 346E 0= i chm/245s R. scum ma =9 A from??? Nov. 21, 1939. J. PAGE ET AL METHOD OF AND APPARATUS F( )R MANUFACTURING WALLBORD J'OiNT TAPE Filed Dec. 27', 1937, 10 Sheets-Sheet 10 H vv 1N VENTOR JOHN PAGE CHARLES R5 raw/0 RIVEY Patented Nov. 21,1939

amassma'mon or AND mm'ros FOE racruamo wanmoann JOINT 'r a hn e. Evanaton, and Charles R. South wick, 01110880, Ill-,aleignora to United Siam Company of 'Illinoil a icago, 11]., a corporation Application December 27, 1237, SeriaI No, 181,770

C 19 Claims.

This invention relates to a method of making a special paper tape for use inreinforcing the joints of wallboard. The invention further relates to a machine or apparatus suitable forearwin: out the method.

The wallboard joint tape to which we refer in this application, is that disclosed and claimed in the patent to John Page, No. 2,047,982 issued July 21, 1936, especially the tape shown in Fig. of said patent. This paper tape is usually 2-4" in width and is composed of strong rope or wood fiber paper in which a substantial portion of the fibers extend transversely of the tape to provide lateral strength. The longitudinal edges of the tape are beveledor feathered in order to provide an invisible wallboard joint. The present invention deals especially with the preparationof these feathered edges, and in providing said tape which lies perfectly fiat in a plane-ready for application to a wallboard joint with cement.

-An object of this invention therefore is to" provide a method of preparing a feathered edgev paper tape for the reinforcement of wall. board joints.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improvedapparatus forcarrying out the wallboard tape method; also to improve methods of and apparatus for the making of paper tapein other respects hereinafter'specified and claimed.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, in which- Fig. l is a plan view of a section of joint tape made according to my improved method,

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view through the joint tape shown in Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view on a large scale through an edge of the paper tape at an intermediate state in manufacture,

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 of the finished tape,

Fig, 5 is a diagrammatic elevation of a machine for manufacturing the joint tape,

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic plan view of the machine,

Fig. 7 is an elevation of the feed end of the machine,

Fig. 8 is an elevation of an intermediate or grinding section of the machine.

Fig. 9 is an elevation of an intermediate or wetting and drying section of the machine,

Fig. 10 is an elevation of the delivery end of the machine,

Fig. 11 is a side elevation on a large scale of the grinding and ten'sioning devices shown in Fig. 15 is a sectional elevation through a grinding machine also taken on line i l-I4 of Fig. 7, Fig 16 is a sectional, elevation of one of the tape guides adjacent a grinding wheel,

Fig. 17 is a sectional elevation of one of the tapes bearing against a grinding wheel,

Fig; 18 is an elevation on a large scale of the end of a winding device,

' Fig. 19 is an elevation of an adjusting device adjacent a grinding wheel, Fig. 20 is a sectional elevation through one of the grinding wheels,

Fig. 21 is an elevation on a large scale of draw rolls shown in Fig. 8,

Fig. 22 is a plan view of the draw rolls shown in Fig. 21, I

Fig. 23 is a plan view of the tape wetting device,

Fig. 24 is a central transverse sectional elevation through one of the drying drums,

Fig. 25 is a central sectional elevation through a drying drum'at right angles to the section shown in Fig. 24,

Fig. 26 is a sectional elevation of tape guides taken on line 26-26 of Fig. 9,

Fig. 27 is a sectional elevationon line 21-21 of Fig. 10 showing the draw rolls,

Fig. 28 is a sectional elevation through the tensioning device shown in Fig. 10,

Fig. 29 is a diagrammatic sectional elevation showing the drive for the winding. rolls,

Fig. 30 is a sectional plan view through a winding device taken on line 30-30 of- Fig. 10,

Fig. 31 is a sectional elevation through a winding device taken on line 3l-3l of Fig. 30, and

Fig. 32 is a sectional elevation through a winding device taken on line 32-32 of Fig. 10,

Fig. 33 is a plan view of the delivery end of the machine, and

Fig. 34 is an elevation of a grinding wheel.

The paper joint tape 30 whose manufacture is the subject matter of the present application is best illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 4. The tape 30 isformed of rope fiber paper, wood fiber a tape guide adjacent or the like, with a substantial portion of the u fibers extending transversely of the tape to give it transverse strength. The tape has a plurality of perforations 3| in the body thereof so that when the tape is pasted over the joint by a suitable adhesive, the adhesive will ooze out through the perforations and be levelled off at the outer surface of the tape to provide a smooth surface for the reception of paint, wallpaper or other wall decorations. The edges of the tape are ground to be bevelled surfaces 32 and 33, which terminate substantially in the knife edge 34, the later lying flush against the surface of the wallboard to which it is applied without leaving any noticeable mark at the joint.

The machine for making this tape is arranged in a number of sections viz: a storage section A, a grinding sectionB, a wetting section C, a drying section D, and a winding section E. The paper tape is provided with the perforations 3| bya suitable rotary perforating machine not shown. after which the tape is formed into rolls 36 which are supported upon shafts 31 and 38 carried on suitable brackets 39 and 48, respectively, said brackets being supported upon a vertical framework 4I. If desired, a standard rotary or reciprocating perforator may be provided between the sections A and B, said perforator being syn chronized with the balance of the machine. An

auxiliary standard 43 secured to horizontal frame the machine as illustrated, we have shown six' strips of. tape 38 passing continuously through the machine to be subsequently described.

The tape 38 leading from upper and lower rolls 36, cross andpass about arotatably mounted roller 48. A similar roll 49 is provided above the roll 48 to be used when the tape rolls 36 are carried on the brackets 44 and 45.

After the tape 38 leaves the roll 48, it passes to a tensioning device comprising a plurality of bars 54 which are 'rigidlymounted at the ends thereof in frame angles55, said angles being supported on transverse frame members 56. A pivoted support frame 51 is in the form of a ushaped bar having parallel legs 58 connected by a bar 59. The free ends of the legs 58 are hingedly mounted upon upstanding brackets 68 by means of hinge rod 6|. 'A plurality of plates 62 are hingedly supported at one end on the rod 6|, said plates being arranged in pairs with a plurality of round bars 63 rigidly connecting the two plates 62 of each pair. The bars 63 are spaced midway between the bars 54 with paper tapes 38 following a tortuous path between the bars 54 and 63 to provide tensioning of said tape by friction against said bars. A rod 84 passes through the two legs 58, and tubular spacers 65 positioned on said rod 64 serve to locate a series of blocks 86 which, are hingedly supported at one end on the rod 64. A rod 61 extends through the free end of each block 85, said rods 61 being threaded to receive wing nuts 68 and 69. The lower end of each rod 61 is hingedly connected to a pin 69 which rigidly connects the free ends of each pair of bars 62. A rod 18 extends through the larger rod 64 near each end thereof, and also extends through a tubular spacer 65, the upper end of said rod 18 being threaded-to receive positioning nuts 1| and 12. The lower ends of rods 18 are each provided with a hook member 13 which detachably engage studs 14 extending outwardly from the angle frame member 55. The

adjustment of wing nuts 68 and 59 serves to vary the tensioning effect on each tape individually, while the adjustment of nuts1I and 12 serves to adjust the tensioning effect on all the tapes collectively. By disengaging the hook membars 13 from the studs 14, the frame 51 may be moved upwardly about the rod 6| to relieve the tension on all tapes, the movement of said frame 51 being limited by a stop member 15 which engages a fixed point on the frame of the machine.

After the tapes 38 leave the last of the tensioning'rollers 54, they pass downwardly to engage the lower edges of a series of guide plates 11 which are pivotally and adjustably secured by bolts 18 to an angle bar 19, the latter being secured transversely on the framework of the machine. By adjusting the angular position of the plates 11 relative to the vertical, the running position of the tape relative to arcuate guides 88 and 8| can be accurately controlled. Each pair of guides 88 and 8| has an arcuate lower edge which cups or bows the paper tape longitudinally and causes the edges of the tape to bear against the periphery of a grinding wheel 81 so as to bevel the edges of said paper tape. Each of the guides 88 and 8| is slidably received between legs 83 of a bifurcated block 84 (Figs. 11 and 16). A rod 85 is threaded and passes transversely through the block 84 so that when said rod 85 is rotated by an adjusting knob 88 on the end thereof, the block 84 is moved toward or away from the grinding wheel 81 to vary the grinding effect. The inner end of the rod 85 is rotatably received in a bearing block 81a secured to a frame bar 88, the latter being secured transversely of the machine to fixed frame angles 89. The end of the rod 85 adjacent the knob 86 is rotatably received in a bearing block 98, the latter being secured to a transverse bar 9| which is also secured to the frame angles 89 at each end thereof. A guide bar 92 also passes loosely through 'each of the blocks 84 being rigidly seated at each end in the bearing blocks 81a and 98. The rods 85 and 92 thus serve to support the blocks 84 in a vertical position. The guide 88 is adjustable vertically to vary the pressure of each tape onthe grinding wheel 81 by means of a stud 94 which is connected by a pin 95 to said guide 88 and extends upwardly through the block 84. Plates 96 are secured to the top of block 84 by screws 91, said plates having opposed semi-circular recesses 98 which fit around a shouldered adjusting nut 99 engaging a threaded section on the stud 94. A lock nut I88 is also provided on the stud 94 to lock the nut 99 in any adjusted position. It should be understood that the tape guiding mechanism is arranged in pairs, one pair for each of the six tapes passing through the machine.

The angle bars 89 and transverse bars 88 and 9| form a carriage for supporting all the tape guides 80. It is desirable that this carriage be adjustable vertically so that as the grinding surface of the wheel 81 becomes worn, the guides can be lowered a desired distance to increase the pressure of the tapes on the grinding wheel and thus insure uniform grinding results throughout the life of the emery cloth on the surface of wheel 81. For this purpose, outstanding angle clips I82 are secured. as by welding, to the frame angles 89. Each of the clips I82 rests upon a cam I83, each pair of cams being rigidly secured to a transversely extending cam shaft I84. The ends of shafts I84 are rotatably supported in main frame angles 42, and a lever I85 is secured to each end of each shaft I84. A set bolt I86 extends through the free end of lever I85, the inner end of said bolt engaging one of a series of lock openings I01 arranged in a semi-circle in the angle 42, a lock nut I08 being provided on the bolt I08. The lower-edge I09 of angle 89 engages the cams I03 to prevent lateral movement of the guidecarriage. Upstanding studs I I are secured by welding to the outstanding legs I I I of frame angles 42 and pass loosely through angle clips I02 to receive a nut H2 at their upper ends. A compression spring II3 between the nut H2 and the angle leg I02 serves to yieldingly press the guide carriage downwardly in contact-with the cams I03. Thus when the levers I05 are rotated a predetermined distance, the pressure of all the tapes 30 on the grinding wheel 81 is accurately regulated.

The grinding wheel 81 is composed of a metal cylinder II5 surrounded by a cylinder II8 of wood or other suitable material. An annular web H1 is welded to the inside of each end of the cylinder II5, the inside annular opening in each of said webs receiving a collar I I8 which is welded thereto. The collars I I8 are mounted on a coaxial shaft H9 and are secured to said shaft by keys I20. The shaft H9 is rotatably supported in suitable roller bearings I2I and I22 which are supported on standards I23. The shaft II 9 extends beyond the bearing I22 and is connected to a motor shaft I24 driven by motor I25, by a coupling I28. Diametrically opposite longitudinal grooves I21 and I28 are formed in the periphery of the wooden cylinder II 8, the sides of said grooves being provided with wearing strips I I29 which taper inwardly at an angle to the axis.

of the grinding wheel 81. U-shaped channels I30 fit into the grooves I21 and I28, said channels having flaring flanges which fit the angles of the wearing strips I29. A series of socket headed tap bolts I3I extend diametrically through the web of channels I30, the cylinder II8, the

cylinder H5, and are threaded into a pair of diametrically opposite clamping bars I32. A strip of emery cloth I33 is wrapped about the wooden cylinder II8, the free ends of said strip being clamped between the channel strip I30 and the wearing strips of groove I21. The center of the strip is then pulled down tight into the groove I28 to accomplish the stretching of the strip of emery cloth so as topresent a smooth tight.

grinding surface to the edges of the tapes. Suitable dust hoods I34 are provided over each grinding wheel 81, each of said hoods being connected to an exhaust duct I35 for removal of the dust by means of an exhaust fan not shown.

It is desirable that each of the grinding wheels 81 be reciprocated' axially so as to utilize all first two grindingwheels have tape cupping surfaces I48 (Fig. 17) of small radius so as to proof the grinding surface of the emery cloth. For I this purpose, the bearing standards I23 and the motor I25 are rigidly mounted on a slide table I31, the latter being slidably supported on a base I38 which is bolted to a foundation I39. A

bracket I40 is secured to the table I31, and is provided with a hinge pin I H which connects with one end of a pitman I42. The other end of pitman I42 is provided with an eccentric strap I43 which engages an eccentric I 44 secured to a rotary shaft I45. Suitable means not shown, are provided to rotate the shaft I45 continuously and accomplish the reciprocation of the table I31. The reciprocation of the grinding wheel prolongs the life of the emery cloth 8 to times over the life when no reciprocation is used.

In bevelling the edges of the ,paper tape 30,

it is desirable that the edge of the tape be first given a sharp bevel I41 (Fig. 3) before the more inclined bevels 32 and 33 are produced. By 'acduce the sharp bevels I41, while the guides for the final two grinding Wheels have cupping surfaces I49 of longer radii, thus producing the final gradual tape bevels 32 and 33 by cupping the tapes to a smaller extent.

The grinding mechanism in which the grinding wheel 81 at the first position is located below the tape, has already been described. An identical grinding mechanism, except for the guides 80, is located in the third position. .The grinding wheels in the second and fourth positions are located above the tapes. These second and fourth grinding wheels have modified mechanism (Fig. 19) for supporting the same. Bearings I5I' rotatably support a shaft' I52 on which is secured a grinding wheel. I 53. The bearings I5I are supported on vertical standards I54 which in turn are supported on a table I55'which reciprocates on a base I58 axially of the shaft I52 in the manner previously described. Bearing plates I51v are secured to the inside of angles 42,

said plates being adapted to rotatably support transverse cam shafts I 58, each of said shafts. carrying a pair of cams I59; A'guide carriage is supported on the cams I59, said carriage comprising a pair of transverse angles I80, the ends of which rest upon the cams I59. Angle clips I8I are secured to the anglesv I80 and longitudinal angles I82 are secured to the clips I8I by bolts I83. Transverse bars I84 are secured to the angles I82 by bolts I85. Blocks I88 are secured to the bars I84, said blocks serving to support guide rods I81 and I88 on which verticallyextending guides I89 are mounted in the manner previously described. Suitable vertical slots not shown are formed in the .angle clips I8I to provide clearance for the shaft I58 as said shaft moves up and down under the action of cams I59. Long bolts I10 extend downwardly from angles I60 and pass through angle clips "I which are secured to the inside of plates I51, as by welding. Compression springs I12 on bolts I10 below the angle clips I1I are confined by nuts I13 on bolts I10 so as to yieldingly hold the guide,

carriage on; the cams I59. A lever I14 is. secured on one end of each cam'shaft I58, being provided on the free'end thereof with a lock bolt I15, the inner pointed end of which engages in a series of arcuately arranged openings I18 formed in the upper end of plate I51 so as to lock the cams I59 in any desired position with the guides I89 exerting the proper pressure on the tapes 30.

It will be noted that the tapes are self supporting as they contact with the grinding drums. The tapes are cupped longitudinally at the point where they contact with the grinding drums, so that. the stiffness of the tapes exert their own pressure against the grinding drums, this pressure decreasing as the thickness of the tape edge is decreased due to the weakness of the edge. This enables the tapes to be beveled down to a feather edge without appreciable tearing or cutting through of the edges. If the tapes were rigidly supported over the grinding drums, the tapes would not be beveled with nearly as smooth -rubber covered rolls I18 and I8I to be resuran edge as is obtained by our method of self support of the tapes at the grinding drums.

After. the paper tapes 38 leave the last of the grinding wheels 81 and I53, they pass over a rubber covered draw roll I18 which is mounted on a shaft I19. the latter being rotatably supported in suitable take-up bearings I88. A second rubber covered draw roll I8I is rotatably mounted below the roll I18 so that the tapes pass between said rolls I18 and I8I, around the roll I8I and then upwardly to a slack take- I up device to be hereinafter described. A counter shaft I82. is rotatably mounted in bearings I83 adjacent the lower roll I8I. A spur gear I84v is secured to one end of the shaft I82 and meshes with a spur gear I85 which is secured to a'shaft I88 on which the roll I8I is mounted. A sprocket wheel I81 is secured to the end of shaft I82 opposite the gear I84 and a similar sprocket wheel I88 is secured to the end of shaft I19. A chain I89 passes around the sprocket wheels I81 and I88 to a sprocket wheel I98 on the shaft I9I of a motor and reducer I92. The chain I89 thus drives shafts I19 and I82 while shaft I88 is driven through the spur gears I84 and I85. This driving arrangement permits the faced to a smaller diameter as they wear rough. In order to keep the desired pressure between the rolls I18 and I8I, the bearings I88 are mounted in slideways I93 and are adjustable vertically by means of hand screws I94. The draw rolls I18 and I8I thus positively pull the paper tapes under tension through the grinding zones previously described.

As the tapes 38 leave the roll I8 I, they pass upwardly to a' slack take-up device consisting of a pair of rolls I98 and I91 which are rotatably mounted on shafts. I98 and I99 respectively, said shafts being supported on suitable elevated framework 288. Between rolls I98 and I91, the tapes pafidownwardly about rollers 28I, each of which is rotatably mounted on a weighted slide block 282' which is guided by vertical guides 283. As more or less slack occurs in the tapes 38, the rollers 28I and slide blocks 282 rise or loweras the case may be. The tapes leaving rolls I91 pass downwardly over a curved channel guide 285 and over narrow wetting rolls 288 which are only wide enough to contact the center unbeveled section of the paper tapes. The rolls 288 rotate in a pan 281 containing water so that the periphery of said roll 288 is kept wet. An inclined brush 288 contacts with the top surface of each tape between the beveled edges, said brush being kept wet by water dripping from a cock 289 on the bottom of a water reservoir 2I8. After the centers of the tapes are wet,-a soaking zone 2 is provided in which the water soaks into the tape center for about min. Thus with a tape speed of 23 ft./min.,a soaking distance of about 17 feet is provided between the wetting device and the subsequent tensioning device. The wetting rolls 288 are. secured to a shaft 2I2 which is rotatably mounted in bearings 2 I3. I A chain 2 connects a sprocket wheel 2I5 on shaft 2I2 with a sprocket wheel 2I8 on shaft I88.

After the tapes 38 pass the soaking zone, they ating spokes 231.

idly mounted on a shaft 238, the ends of which ards 223 so that said angle 228 and guides 2I8 are vertically adjustable. Mounted above and between the bars HI and 222, is a series of short tension cylinders 225 each of which is secured to the lower end of an adjusting stud 228 held in place on frame angle 221 by adjusting nuts 228 and 229. Each of the cylinders 225 bears upon the upper surface of a tape 38 so as to force the traveling tape against the upper surfaces of bars HI and 222 in a tortuous path with more or less pressure to individually regulate the tension of each tape. In the soaking zone 2| I the tension of the tapes is maintained at a low point so as not to rupture the tapes. Between the bar 222 and a first drying cylinder 238, the tension of the tapes is considerably increased in a tension zone 2221 of the tapes prevents the tapes from tearing in this stretching zone.

The tapes are dried 'while under tension by means of heated drying rolls 238, 23I, 232 and 233 about which the tapes pass in a tortuous path (Fig. 9) The drying rolls are cylindrical in form and stationary electrical heating elements 235 (Fig. 25) in arcuate form are mounted inside said rolls to keep said rolls hot, and dry the tapes in a perfectly flat condition under tension. The drying drums 238, 23, 232 and 233 are each provided with a concentric hub 238 having radi- Each of the hubs 238 are rigare rotatably received in bearings 239 so that said shafts idle in said bearings. Stationary drum ends 248 are provided adjacent the ends of the heating drums, said drum ends being preferably constructed of a heat insulating material to confine the heat to the heating drums.

As the tapes pass from the last drying drum 238 in a perfectly flat, dry condition, they pass between a pair of rubber driving rolls 242 and 243 (Fig. 28) which are rigidly mounted on shafts 244 and 245, respectively. A counter-shaft 248 is rotatably mounted adjacent the shaft 245 and a sprocket wheel 241 is connected by a chain 248 to a sprocket wheel 249 rigidly secured on shaft 244, said chain 248 passing around a drive sprocket wheel 258 secured to the shaft of a motor speed reducer 25I. A spur gear 253 on shaft 248 meshes with a spur gear 254 on shaft 245 so as to cause the rotation of drive roll 245 at the same peripheral speed as drive roll 242. Take-up bearings 255 rotatably support the ends of shaft 244, an adjusting screw 258 being provided for each hearing so that the pressure of the rolls 242 and 243 can be adjusted. The rolls 242 and 243 wear down through use due to the abrasive on the tapes, and are then turned down smooth to smaller diameter. The driving arrangement for the rolls is designed to operate successfully as the rolls decrease in diameter.

As the tapes 38 leave the drive roll 245, they. pass over a guide table 258 with a downwardly curved flange 259 which is arranged to permit a loop 288 to form in the tapes when a full roll of tape is removed from the wind-up mechanism to be hereinafter described. From the guide table 258 the tapes 38 pass in a tortuous path between stationary spaced tensioning bars 28I and intermediate spaced bars 282 secured to a frame This frame 283 is pivotally' secured at the forward end by a pair of eye bolts 284 having a pivot connection 285 on the framework of the machine. The rearward end of frame 263 is pressed'downwardly by means of a hand nut 266 on an eye bolt 261 which is connected by pivot studs 263 to the framework of the machine.

The tapes leaving the tensioning bars 26I and 262 pass downwardly around a stationary guide bar 216 which is secured to the framework of the machine, and thence upwardly to winding mandrels or tubes 21I of cardboard or other suitable material. Each of the tubes 21I is removably mounted on one of the shafts 212, 213, 214, 215, 216 and 211, which are rotatably mounted in spaced parallel relation at an inclination to the horizontal (Figs. 10 andll). As the' mecha nism associated with each of said shafts is subsequently identical, only one set will be described in detail. The shaft 212 is rotatably mounted in bearings 218 and 219 and is provided near one end with a driving sprocket 286 which is rotatably mounted on said shaft 212 adjacent a stop shoulder 212a. A clutch plate 28I is secured by screws 282 to the hub 283 of the sprocket wheel 286. A clutch 284 is slidably mounted on the shaft 212 by feather key 285, and is provided with a fiber friction face 286 which bears against the clutch plate 28I. The clutch 284 is urged to the lei't as seen in Fig. 30 by a compression spring 288 which is mounted on a'stud 289, said stud being threaded into the end of shaft 212. 30 The tension of the spring 288 is adjusted by a thumb nut 296 on the, stud 289 thus regulating the pressure of the fiber facing 286 on plate 28I to maintain a constant tension on the tape 36 being wound up by permitting the clutch to slip 5 slightly at all times to compensate for the changing diameter of the roll of paper tape being wound up. A drive chain 29I engages all of the sprocket wheels 286 (Fig. 29) to drive the shafts 212-211 in the proper direction, said chain be- 40 ing driven from a power sprocket wheel 292. A

clutch yoke 293 has inwardly extending lugs 294 which engage an annular groove 295 formed in the hub of clutch 284. The yoke 293 is formed on the upper end of a lever 296, the lower end of which is connected by a rod 291 to a bell cra'nk v by the operator, thus releasing the frictionclutch 284 and permitting the wound roll to be removed and a new tube 2" substituted.

In passing to the winding tube 2', the tape 36 first passes around an idler pulley 36I which has a crown face 362 functioning to steer the lever 298 having a foot pedal 299 to be actuated paper tape exactly onto the center of the tube 2". Edge guides are useless for the paper tape due to the fragile feathered edges and the crown pulley operates successfully to secure the desired results. The pulley 36I is rotatably mounted on one end of a lever 363 having bifurcated arms 364 between which said pulley 36I- is positioned. The opposite end of lever 363 is pivotally mounted by a bolt 365 to the end of a lever 366, the latter being concentrically and rotatably mounted at its inner end on shaft 212. The bearing 218 has an outstanding flange 361 which lies in face abutting position against an enlarged section 368 formed on the lever 366. An arcuate slot 369 .in section 368 registers with a slot 3I6 formed in flange 361, bolts 3 engaging in said slots to lock the lever 366 and pulley 36I in any.

desired angular position relative to the roll of tape 3I2. As seen in Fig. 10, some of the shafts 212211 will have the pulley 36I in one angular position and others in another so as to give proper clearance to the paper tapes. A tape measuring counter 3I3 is mounted on pulley shaft 3 so that when a pulley with a circumference of one foot is used, each revolution of the pulley will mean a foot of tape produced. The tension in the tapes 36 keeps the pulley 36I tightly pressed against the roll 3I2.

The tube 2" is removably supported on an annular series of wedge bars 3I6' which are slidably received in inclined slots 8I1 formed in the periphery of a collar 3| 8, said collar being rigidly secured to the outer end of shaft 212 by screws 3I9. The bars 3I6 are held in place by a band 326 of spring steel encircling said bars at their inner ends,said band326 having a transverse slit not shown to permit contraction and expansion. In order to expand the outer diameter of the bars 3I8, so as to tightly engage the inner surface of tube 2", a disc 32I engages in a slot 322 formed in the outer end of each bar 3I6, said disc being rotatably mounted in an annular groove 323 formed in a hub 324 of hand adjusting wheel 325. A stud 326 is threaded into the end of shaft 212 and is provided with a section 321 adapted to be locked within'a concentric hole in hub 324'by a pin 328. Thus by turning the adjusting wheel 325, the outer periphery of bars 3| 6 may be contracted to permit the removal of a full roll 3I2 and the substitution of a new tube or core 2".

In operation the paper tapes 36 unwind from rolls 36, cross, and pass about roller 48 to a tensioning device composed of lower spaced bars 54 and upper short bars 68, each carried between a pair of spaced plates 62. The plates 62 are pressed downwardly about hinge rod 6| by rods 61 attached to a frame member 58 through blocks 66 and hinge pin 64 so as to force the tapes to pass in a tortuous path through the tensioning.members. The tapes from the tensioning device each pass below a pivoted guide plate 11 and then contact the lower curved edge I 48 of a guide 86 to bow the tape longitudinally into arcuate form and press the edges against a grinding cylinder 81 so as to sharply bevel the 1 edges of the tape as shown in Fig. 3, an upper.

and lower grinding cylinder being provided for this purpose. The guides 86 are movable horizontally by turning the adjusting knob '86, and the frame 88-9I carrying the guides 86 is adjustable vertically by loosening bolt I66 and turntake-up stationary cylinder 26I, then upwardly to roller I91, after which the tapes pass under guide 265 and over a wetting roll 266 which applies water to the lower center of the tape. The brushes 268 wet by water from tank 2I6 apply water to the upper centers of the tapes, and in a soaking zone '2 this water soaks into the tapes. Guides 2I8 now space the tapes an equal distance apart, and a stretching zone is provided between tensioning bar 222 and the first drying drum 236. Subsequent drying drums 23I, 232 and 222 complete the drying operation, and the tapes pass between draw rolls 242 and 245 and over a guide plate 258 to a tensioning device including bars 26I and 262. The tapes 6 now pass downwardly to a guide bar 210 and thence upwardly to a guide pulley 30! which is provided with a counter 3l3. The tape from pulley 30! winds up on a tube 211 which is carried on' expanding bars 3I6. The bars 3l6 are rotated by a, shaft 212 driven by a constantly slipping friction clutch 284, the pressure of which is adjusted by an adjusting knob 290 engaging a spring 288. By rotating the adjusting knob 325, the bars 3l6 may be contracted in diameter so that the finish roll of feathered edge tape can be removed and shipped to a customer for reinforcement over the joints of wallboards.

We would state in conclusion that while the example illustrated and described constitutes a practical embodiment of our invention, we do not wish to limit ourselves precisely to these details, since manifestly the same may be considerably varied without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. The method of preparing a flat paper tape from a tape in which the edges of said tape have been made wavy and also longer than the body of the tape, which comprises wetting said tape, stretching said tape while moist to bring said body and edges to the same length, and drying said tape while infiat condition to produce a tape free from wavy edges.

2. The method of preparing a feathered edge paper joint tape, which comprises bending said 'tape longitudinally to arcuate cross sectional shape, and pressing the edges of said tape against a rotating grinding surface while said tape is under tension, the pressure on said grinding wheel being supplied solely by reason of the stiffness of the arcuate shaped tape under tension, said pressure varying according to the degree of grinding and weakness of said feathered edges.

3. The method of preparing a feathered edge paper joint tape, which comprises subjecting the longitudinal edges of said tape to a grindingaction to reduce the thickness thereof, moistening said tape, and after a predetermined soaking period, drying said tape.

4. The method of preparing a feathered edge paper joint tape, which comprises bending said tape longitudinally to arcuate cross sectional form, and pressing the edges of said tape against a rotating grinding surface.

, 5. The method of preparing a flat, feathered edge paper joint tape, which comprises reducing the thickness of the longitudinal edges of said tape, moistening said tape, permitting said tape to soak for a predetermined period, and stretching and drying said tape.

6. The method of preparing a feathered edge paper joint tape, which comprises alternately bending said tape longitudinally to arcuate cross sectional form in opposite directions, and subjecting the outstanding edges of said tape to a grinding action while said tape is in arcuate form.

'7. The method of preparing a feathered edge paper joint tape, which comprises subjecting the longitudinal edges of said tape to a grinding action to reduce the thickness thereof, moistening the center of said tape between said feathered edges, and after a predetermined soaking period, drying said tape.

8. The method of preparing a fiat, feathered edge paper joint tape, which comprises subjecting the longitudinal edges of said tape to a grinding action to reduce the thickness thereof, mois- .tening the center of said tape, permitting said edge paper joint tape, which comprises reducing the thickness of the longitudinal edges of said tape, moistening the centerof said tape, permitting said tape to soak for a predetermined period, and stretching and drying said tape.

10. In a machine for preparing paper joint tape, means for supplying said .tape, means for grinding the longitudinal edges of said tape to feather the same, means for moistening said tape and permitting the moisture to soak for a predetermined period, and means for drying said tape in flat form.

11. In a machine for preparing paper joint tape having feathered edges, a plurality of grinding means, means for moving paper tape past said grinding means, arcuate guides of a predetermined radius for bowing said tape longitudinally so as to cause the edges of said tape to contact with said grinding means and produce a sharp bevel on the longitudinal edges of opposite faces, and additional arcuate guides of longer radius than said first mentioned guides for causing said tape to contact with additional grinding means and produce feathered longitudinal edges.

12. In a machine for preparing paper joint tape, means for rotatably supporting a roll of tape, means for continuously drawing said tape through said machine from said roll, means for applying tension to said tape, grinding means for feathering the edegs of said tape, means for wetting said tape, means for stretching saidtape, drying cylinders for drying said wet tape under tension, and means for winding said tape into rolls.

13. In a machine for preparing paper joint tape, means for supplying said tape, grinding means for feathering the longitudinal edges of said tape, and means for bowing said tape longitudinally during said grinding operation.

14. In a machine for preparing paper joint tape, means for supplying said tape, a cylindrical rotary grinding surface, means for bowing said tape longitudinally and pressing the longitudinal edges against said grinding surface to feather said edges, and means for receiving the finished tape.

15. In a machine for preparing paper joint tape, means for supplying said tape, means for grinding the longitudinal edges of said tape to feather the same, means for moistening said tape and permitting the moisture to soak for a predetermined period, and means for drying said tape in fiat form. v

16. In a machine for preparing paper joint tape, a rotatably mounted grinding element, means for passing a paper tape over said grinding element with the longitudinal edges of said tape in contact with said element, and means for reciprocating said element axially during the rotation thereof.

1'7. In a machine for preparing paper joint tape, means for rotatably supporting a roll of tape, means for continuously drawing said tape through said machine from said roll, means for applying tension to said tape, grinding means for feathering the edges of said tape while under tension, means for wetting .said tape, means for stretching said tape, drying cylinders for drying said wet tape under tension, and means for winding said tape into rolls.

' 19. In a device of the class described, a plur i 10 ity of grinding elements arranged alternately above and below the path of travel of a continuously moving paper tape, means for alternately bowing said tape longitudinally so as to successively contact the tape edges withfthe several grinding elements to feather the edges of said tape, means for producing said tape in flat form,

and means for winding said tape into rolls.

JOHN PAGE.

- CHARLES R. SOUTHWICK.

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