Apparatus for rolling chain link fence

Abstract

An apparatus for rolling chain link fence including an endless belt including a free loop portion and with the endless belt moved in a particular direction and with the movement of the endless belt producing rotative motion in the free loop portion, and with progressive portions of the chain link fence fed into the free loop portion and with at least the free loop portion of the endless belt supporting the progressive portions of the chain link fence to have the individual links of the chain link fence collapse against each other to provide for a tight configuration of the chain link fence within the free loop portion, and with the rotative motion of the free loop portion of the endless belt producing a rolling of the progressive portions of the chain link fence with the individual links collapsed against each other to form a roll of chain link fence with a tight configuration and a small diameter.

I claim: 
     
       1. An apparatus for rolling chain link fence including an endless belt including a free loop portion, means supporting the endless belt and for providing movement of the endless belt in a particular direction and with the movement of the endless belt producing rotative motion in the free loop portion,   means adjacent the free loop portion of the endless belt for feeding progressive portions of the chain link fence into the free loop portion.[.,.]. .Iadd.and including guide means for guiding the chain link fence in a downward path and with the guide means including a bottom portion bent away from the vertical to a more horizontal slope at the position adjacent the free loop portion of the endless belt to guide the chain link fence to a more horizontal path and to partially collapse the individual links as the chain link enters the free loop portion of the endless belt, .Iaddend.   the free loop portion of the endless belt and the means adjacent the free loop portion supporting the progressive portions of the chain link fence to have the individual links of the chain link fence .Iadd.fully .Iaddend.collapse against each other to provide for a tight configuration of the chain link fence within the free loop portion, and   the rotative motion of the free loop portion of the endless belt producing a rolling of the progressive portions of the chain link fence with the individual links .Iadd.fully .Iaddend.collapsed against each other to form a roll of chain link fence with a tight configuration and a small diameter.   
     
     
       2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the means for feeding includes vertical rods for guiding the chain link fence in a downward path and with the bottom portion of the rods bent away from the vertical to .[.a.]. .Iadd.the .Iaddend.more horizontal slope at the position adjacent the free loop portion of the endless belt to guide the chain link fence to .[.a.]. .Iadd.the .Iaddend.more horizontal path as the chain link enters the free loop portion of the endless belt. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of claim 2 additionally including a chain stop mechanism located along the vertical rods and with the chain stop mechanism including members activated to project into the downward path for supporting the chain link fence to allow for a rolling of a predetermined length of the chain link fence while supporting the initial portion of a next predetermined length of chain link fence. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the means for supporting includes a main frame and a subsidiary frame and with both frames including rollers to support and guide the endless belt and with the subsidiary frame pivotable mounted relative to the main frame and with the subsidiary frame pivoting between a first position wherein the endless belt includes the free loop portion and a second position wherein the free loop portion is straightened out to allow for the removal of the roll of chain link fence. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the subsidiary frame additionally includes an arm member for engaging the roll of chain link fence as the subsidiary frame is pivoted between the first and the second positions to move the roll off of the endless belt and out of the rolling apparatus. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of claim 5 additionally including a support surface mounted adjacent the main frame to support the straightened out belt and the roll of chain link fence as the roll is removed. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus of claim 1 additionally including a restraining arm member biased to have a portion of the arm member lie against a top surface of the roll of chain link fence to restrain outward movement of the roll out of the free loop portion as the roll is formed by the free loop portion. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus of claim 7 additionally including means for straightening out the free loop portion of the endless belt to remove a completed roll and with the restraining arm member automatically disengaged when the free loop portion is straightened out. 
     
     
       9. An apparatus for rolling chain link fence, including means for supporting progressively received portions of the chain link fence,   means coupled to the means for supporting for producing rotary motion of the means for supporting and in turn producing rotary motion of the progressively received portions of the chain link fence,   means adjacent the means for supporting for feeding progressive portions of the chain link fence to the means for supporting.[.,.]. .Iadd.and including guide means for guiding the chain link fence in a downward path and with the guide means including a bottom portion bent away from the vertical to a more horizontal slope at the position adjacent the free loop portion of the endless belt to guide the chain link fence to a more horizontal path and to partially collapse the individual links as the chain link enters the free loop portion of the endless belt, .Iaddend.   the means for supporting and the means for feeding providing a .Iadd.fully .Iaddend.collapsed state for the individual links of the progressive portions of the chain link fence as the means for supporting produces rotary motion of the progressively received portions, and   the rotary motion of the means for supporting producing a rolling of the progressive portions of the chain link fence with the individual links in the .Iadd.fully .Iaddend.collapsed state to form a roll of chain link fence with a tight configuration and a small diameter.   
     
     
       10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the means for feeding includes vertical rods for guiding the chain link fence in a downward path and with the bottom portion of the rods bent away from the vertical to .[.a.]. .Iadd.the .Iaddend.more horizontal slope at the position adjacent the means for supporting to guide the chain link fence to .[.a.]. .Iadd.the .Iaddend.more horizontal path as the chain link enters the means for supporting. 
     
     
       11. The apparatus of claim 10 additionally including a chain stop mechanism located along the vertical rods and with the chain stop mechanism including members actuated to project into the downward path for supporting the chain link fence to allow for a rolling of a predetermined length of the chain link fence while supporting the initial portion of a next perdetermined length of chain link fence. 
     
     
       12. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the means for supporting includes a main frame and a subsidiary frame and with both frames including rollers to support and guide an endless belt and with the subsidiary frame pivotable mounted relative to the main frame and with the subsidiary frame pivoting between a first position wherein the endless belt includes a free loop portion to support and provide the rolling of the progressive portions of the chain link fence and a second position wherein the free loop portion is straightened out to allow for the removal of the roll of chain link fence. 
     
     
       13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the subsidiary frame additionally includes an arm member for engaging the roll of chain link fence as the subsidiary frame is pivoted between the first and the second positions to move the roll off of the endless belt and out of the rolling apparatus. 
     
     
       14. The apparatus of claim 13 additionally including a support surface mounted adjacent the main frame to support the straightened out belt and the roll of chain link fence as the roll is removed. 
     
     
       15. The apparatus of claim 9 additionally including a restraining arm member biased to have a portion of the arm member lie against a top surface of the roll of chain link fence to restrain outward movement of the roll out of the supporting means as the roll is formed by the supporting means. 
     
     
       16. The apparatus of claim 15 additionally including means for removing a completed roll and with the restraining arm member automatically disengaged as the roll is removed. 
     
     
       17. A method of rolling chain link fence, including the following steps, providing an endless belt including a free loop portion,   supporting the endless belt and providing movement of the endless belt in a particular direction to have the endless belt produce rotative motion in the free loop portion,   .Iadd.guiding the chain link fence in a downward path and then away from the vertical path to a more horizontal path at the position adjacent the free loop portion of the endless belt to have the individual links of the chain link fence partially collapse against each other, .Iaddend.   feeding progressive .Iadd.partially collapsed .Iaddend.portions of the chain link fence into the free loop portion,   supporting the progressive portions of the chain link fence with at least the free loop portion of the endless belt to have the individual links of the chain link fence .Iadd.fully .Iaddend.collapse against each other to provide for a tight configuration of the chain link fence within the free loop portion, and   producing a rolling of the progressive portions of the chain link fence by the rotative motion of the free loop portion and with the individual links .Iadd.fully .Iaddend.collapsed against each other to form a roll of chain link fence with a tight configuration and a small diameter. .[.18. The method of claim 17 including guiding the chain link fence in a downward path and then away from the vertical path to a more horizontal path at the   
     
     
        position adjacent the free loop portion of the endless belt..]. 19. The method of claim .[.18.]. .Iadd.17 .Iaddend.additionally including the step of supporting the chain link fence to allow for a rolling of a predetermined length of the chain link fence while supporting the initial 
     
     
        portion of a next predetermined length of chain link fence. 20. The method of claim 17 additionally including the step of straightening out the free loop portion to allow for the removal of the roll of chain link fence. 
     
     
            The method of claim 20 including the additional step of engaging the roll of chain link fence with an arm member as the free loop portion is straightened out to move the roll off of the endless belt and out of the 
     
     
        rolling apparatus. 22. The method of claim 9 additionally including the step of restraining a top surface of the roll of chain link fence to prevent outward movement of the roll out of the free loop portion as the 
     
     
        roll is formed by the free loop position. 23. A method for rolling chain link fence including the following steps, .[.feeding progressive portions of the chain link fence,.].   .Iadd.guiding progressive portions of the chain link fence in a downward path and then away from the vertical path to a more horizontal path to provide a feeding of the chain link with the individual links partially collapsed against each other, .Iaddend.   providing a .Iadd.fully .Iaddend.collapsed state for the individual links of the progressively fed portions of the chain link fence,   supporting the progressively fed portions of the .Iadd.fully .Iaddend.collapsed chain link fence,   producing rotary motion of the progressively fed portions of the .Iadd.fully .Iaddend.collapsed chain link fence, and   producing a rolling of the progressive portions of the .Iadd.fully .Iaddend.collapsed chain link fence to form a roll of chain link fence with a tight configuration and a small diameter. .[.24. The method of claim 23 including the step of guiding the chain link fence in a downward path and then away from the vertical path to a more horizontal path to   
     
     
        provide the feeding..]. 25. The method of claim 23 additionally including the step of supporting the chain link fence to allow for a rolling of a predetermined length of the chain link fence while supporting the initial 
     
     
        portion of a next predetermined length of chain link fence. 26. The method of claim 25 additionally including the step of removing each roll of chain 
     
     
        link fence. 27. The method of claim 26 additionally including the step of engaging the roll of chain link fence with an arm member for removal of 
     
     
        each roll. 28. The method of claim 23 additionally including the step of restraining a top surface of the roll of chain link fence to prevent outward movement of the roll as the roll is formed.