Mat roller device

Abstract

A machine for quickly and efficiently rolling carpet runners or mats after laundering, for storage, transport and reuse may include a set of belts for generally horizontal travel and an interacting set of belts for generally vertical travel and guide means for directing the leading edge of a carpet runner from engagement with the horizontal belts to engagement with the vertical belts. An assembly including a plurality of arcuate fingers cooperates with the belts to guide the leading edge of a carpet runner into the beginning of a roll and to assist in formation of a tight compact roll of carpet. The machine may include means for driving the belts, means for retracting the finger assembly from a completed rolled carpet runner, and controls for the means. The machine may include a safety apparatus including a light curtain.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A machine for rolling carpet runners, comprising:
 (A) a frame;   (B) a first set of at least a pair of spaced apart parallel rollers supported within the frame;   (C) drive means connected to one of the first set of rollers;   (D) a further roller supported within the frame parallel to and spaced above a rearwardmost roller of the first set of rollers;   (E) a first series of a plurality of endless spaced apart belts supported on the first set of rollers for longitudinal movement in response to rotation of the first set of rollers;   (F) a second series of a plurality of endless spaced apart belts supported between the rearwardmost roller and said further roller for generally vertical travel in response to rotation of the first set of rollers and the further roller, the second series of belts alternating with the first series of belts in the spaces between the belts of the first series;   (G) a concave forwardly facing arcuate guide plate supported at a juncture between the first series of belts and the second series of belts, a lower end of the guide plate extending into one space between the belts of the first series;   (H) an assembly of a plurality of concave downwardly facing fingers pivotally supported and extending forwardly from the spaces between the second series of belts and spaced above the first series of belts;   (I) means for controlling operation of said drive means; and   (J) a safety apparatus including a light curtain attached to the frame;   wherein each roller includes a central axis.   
     
     
         2 . A machine according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 (A) the further roller is located forward of the rearwardmost roller; and   (B) the central axes of the rearwardmost roller and the further roller lie in a generally vertical plane inclined forwardly by about 5 degrees to about 15 degrees.   
     
     
         3 . A machine according to  claim 1 , wherein said drive means is connected to a forwardmost roller of the first set of rollers. 
     
     
         4 . A machine according to  claim 3 , wherein the first set of rollers further includes a transverse idler roller having a central axis, the transverse idler roller being disposed between and parallel to the forwardmost roller and the rearwardmost roller, the central axes of the first set of rollers lying generally in a common plane. 
     
     
         5 . A machine according to  claim 3 , wherein an idler roller is journaled for rotation in the frame closely adjacent to the forwardmost roller, the idler roller being slightly below, forward of, and parallel the forwardmost roller. 
     
     
         6 . A machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the guide plate and the plurality of fingers are formed from or coated with polytetrafluoroethylene. 
     
     
         7 . A machine according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 (A) the plurality of fingers is rigidly supported by a common shaft for pivotal rotation together;   (B) the assembly is spring-biased in a downward direction; and   (C) means are provided for retracting the assembly upwardly against the spring bias.   
     
     
         8 . A machine according to  claim 7 , wherein the retraction means comprises:
 (A) a lever arm rigidly secured to the shaft;   (B) a fluid operated cylinder supported on the frame adjacent to the lever arm;   (C) a pivotal slidable connection between one end of the lever arm and a piston of the cylinder; and   (D) means for providing fluid to the cylinder.   
     
     
         9 . A machine according to  claim 8 , wherein:
 (A) the cylinder is powered by compressed air; and   (B) a bleed hole is provided in one end of the cylinder for controlled bleeding of the compressed air therefrom in response to the spring bias of the assembly.   
     
     
         10 . A machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the first series of belts and the second series of belts each include a roughened outer surface. 
     
     
         11 . A machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the light curtain includes a left light curtain module and a right light curtain module, wherein one of the left and right light curtain modules includes an emitter and the other of the left and right light curtain modules includes a receiver. 
     
     
         12 . A machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the safety apparatus includes a control box operatively connected to the light curtain. 
     
     
         13 . A machine according to  claim 12 , wherein the control box deactivates the machine in response to an interruption of at least a portion of the light curtain. 
     
     
         14 . A machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the light curtain is positioned forwardly of the plurality of fingers. 
     
     
         15 . A machine for rolling carpet runners, comprising:
 (A) a frame having:
 (1) a base; 
 (2) a pair of vertical side supports; 
 (3) a horizontal intermediate support between the side supports spaced above the base; and 
 (4) a horizontal top support between the side supports and spaced above a rearward end of the intermediate support; 
   (B) a first set of a plurality of at least three spaced apart parallel transverse rollers journaled for rotation in a horizontal plane overlying said intermediate support, each roller having a central axis;   (C) drive means connected to a forwardmost roller of the first set of rollers to rotate the same;   (D) a further transverse horizontal roller journaled for rotation and spaced above and slightly forward of a rearwardmost roller of the first set of rollers, a central axis of the further roller and the central axis of the rearwardmost roller lying in a generally vertical plane inclined forwardly between about 5 degrees and about 15 degrees;   (E) a first series of a plurality of endless parallel spaced apart belts supported on the first set of rollers for longitudinal movement responsive to rotation of the first set of rollers;   (F) a second series of a plurality of endless parallel spaced apart belts supported between the rearwardmost rollers and the further roller, the belts of said second series alternating on the rearwardmost roller with the belts of the first series in the spaces between the belts of the first series;   (G) a concave forwardly facing arcuate guide plate supported at a juncture between the first series of belts and the second series of belts, a lower end of the guide plate extending into one space between the belts of the first series;   (H) an assembly of a plurality of spring-biased concave downwardly facing fingers pivotally supported and extending forwardly in the spaces between said second series of belts, and spaced above the first series of belts;   (I) means for retracting the assembly against its spring bias;   (J) a pedal switch means for controlling operation of said drive means; and   (K) a safety apparatus including a control box operatively connected to a light curtain attached to the frame.   
     
     
         16 . A machine according to  claim 15 , wherein an idler roller is journaled for rotation in the frame closely adjacent to the forwardmost roller, the idler roller being slightly below, forward of, and parallel thereto. 
     
     
         17 . A machine according to  claim 15 , wherein the guide plate and the plurality of fingers are formed from or coated with polytetrafluoroethylene. 
     
     
         18 . A machine according to  claim 15 , wherein:
 (A) the plurality of fingers are rigidly supported from a common shaft for pivotal rotation together;   (B) the assembly is spring-biased in a downward direction; and   (C) means are provided for retracting the assembly upwardly against the spring bias.   
     
     
         19 . A machine according to  claim 18 , wherein the retraction means comprises:
 (A) a lever arm rigidly secured to the shaft;   (B) a fluid operated cylinder supported on the frame adjacent to the lever arm;   (C) a pivotal slidable connection between one end of the lever arm and a piston of the cylinder; and   (D) means for providing fluid to the cylinder.   
     
     
         20 . A machine according to  claim 19 , wherein:
 (A) the cylinder is powered by compressed air; and   (B) a bleed hole is provided in a piston end of the cylinder for controlled bleeding of air therefrom in response to the spring bias of the assembly.