US1866765A - Press for belts or the like - Google Patents

Description

y 1932- D. J. GREGORY ET AL 1,866,765

PRESS FOB BELTS OR THE LIKE Filed Sept. 26, 1929 4 Sheets-$heet l July 12, 1.9.32. 0. 'J. GREGORY ET AL 1,366,765

PRESS FOR BELTS OR THE LIKE 4 Shets-Sheet 3 D. J. GREGORY ET AL PRESS FOR BELTS OR THE LIKE Filed Sept. 26, 1929 July 12, 1932.

July 12, 1932- D. .1. GREGORY ET AL PRESS FOR BELTS OR THE LIKE Filed Sept. 26, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 E. E z. 2 Q i mm mm R oh 6 5 NW 2. 3 mw 0 O mm 2 g E 2 .fi

Patented July 12, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DIMI'I'RY J. GREGORY, OF NEW HAVEN, AND WILLIAM C. TIFFT, OF SEYMOUR, CON- NECTICUT, ASSIGNORS TO FARREL-BIRMINGHAM COMPANY, INCORPORATED, OF

ANSONIA, CONNECTICUT PRESS FOR BELTS OR THE LIKE Application filed September 26, 1929. Serial No. 395,304.

This invention relates to presses adapted to press belts or the like, and especially multiple platen presses. The invention primarily contemplates improvements in the structure of such presses so as to increase their capacity, efficiency and adaptability.

The requirements of such presses are that they be adapted to uniformly stretch a beltlike article or the portion thereof being pressed, be of a construction that is compact, and that will permit the use of a plurality of platens, and be so arranged that a plurality of belts may be pressed therein without time Wasting interruptions. It is also desirable when a plurality of belts are being pressed in a multiple belt press that there be provision to permit the action thereof upon belts of di-iferent widths or thicknesses substantially simultaneously, and that all of the belts may be fed into the press from the same side.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide an improved press that will be adapted to efiiciently meet the above requirements.

Another object is to provide a belt stretching mechanism for a multiple platen press that will increase the efficient operation of such a press.

Another object is to provide a belt stretching mechanism of such structure that a plurality of platens may be provided in a press and efficiently operated Without interference between parts of this mechanism or othor press parts, necessitating the stretching of one belt before stretching the others.

A further object of this invention is to provide a press of this type wherein belts of different sizes may be efficiently stretched and pressed substantially simultaneously.

A still further object is to provide a belt stretching mechanism for a pair of adjacent platens of a multiple platen press that will uniformly stretch a belt or the like, and to arrange these mechanisms in such a manner that all of the belts may be fed into the press from the same side.

A still further object is to provide a belt stretching mechanism that will be efiicient for use in a multiple platen press and Whereby the belts stretched thereby will be properly aligned with the associated pair of platens to insure uniformity of stretch.

To these and other ends, the invention consists in the novel featudes and combinations of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevationalview of a multiple platen press operable by hydraulic pressure and embodying the features of our invention;

Fig. 2 is a top plan View of the same;

Fig. 3 is an end view of the belt clamping means forming part of the belt stretching mechanism of our invention, and is taken as a section on line 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an end View of the belt clamping means and stretching means forming a part of the belt stretching mechanism of our invention, and is taken as a section on line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a section on line 55 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a section on line 66 of Fig. 2

Fig. 7 is a section on line 77 of Fig. 1

Fig. 8 is a section on line 88 of Fig. 2

Fig. 9 is a section on line 99 of Fig. 2

Fig. 10 is a section on line 10-10 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 11 is a section on line 1111 of Fig. 7;

' Fig. 12 is a section similar to Fig. 5 but showing the clamping beams in clamped position, and

Fig. 13 is a section similar to Fig. 9 but showing the parts in belt clamping and stretching position.

The machine selected'to illustrate the features of our invention is a multiple platen press operable by hydraulic pressure, and that is adapted to stretch and press a belt, such as a heavy conveyor belt so as to insure that no stretching of the same will take place after it is placed in actual operation.

The press structure generally comprises a base frame 10, a plurality of lower girders 11 that extend from the front to the rear of the press and support a series of hydraulic cylinders 12, a plurality of upper girders 13 that are spaced from and bolted to the lower girders 11 by means of tie bolts 14 and nuts 15. The press is provided with a plurality of platens, in this instance three, an upper platen 16, a lower platen 17 and an intermediate platen 18. The upper platen 16 is secured to the upper girders 13 and extends from one end of the press to the other. The intermediate platen is suspended from the upper platen 16 by means of bolts 19 in such a manner as to permit relative movement between the platens toward and away from each other, the amount of movement away from each other being limited by the length of the bolt 19. The lower platen 17 is secured to a series of intermediate girders 20, that in turn are secured to pistons 21, that are associated with the cylinders 12.

i The hydraulic cylinders 12 are provided with suitable inlets and oulets whereby fluid pressure may be applied thereto to raise the pistons 21 and thereby raise the lower platen 17 upwardly toward the intermediate platen 18, and then continue the same upwardly with the platen 18 to engage the upper platen 16 whereby any article placed between elther pair of adjacent platens will have pressure applied thereto. To assist in the separation of the platens from each other after the pressing operation has been completed, stripping cylinders 22 and 23 are provided, which in this instance, are hydraulically operated and are secured respectively to the upper platen 16 and the lower platen 17.

A plunger 24 extends from each of the stripping cylinders 22 and 23 toward a lug 25 provided upon the intermediate platen 18, and are adapted to engage the same. The stripping cylinders 22 and 23 are required whenever the article being pressed adheres to the platens between which it is disposed, and does not permit them to readily separate when the pressure is taken therefrom by the release of pressure from the cylinders 12.

In order to insure that the movement of the platens is the same both at the front and rear of the press, a movement equalizing de vice is provided. The movement equalizing device, in this instance, comprises a series of vertically disposed racks 26, one encL of which is secured to the lower platen 17. A rack 26 is Secured to the front edge of platen 17 and another is secured to the rear edge of the same and disposed directly opposite thereto. The racks 26 extend upwardly past the upper girders 13 and through a supporting bracke 27 that extends between a pair of the upper girders 13 and is secured thereto. The teeth of the rack 26 disposed at the front of the press, mesh with a gear 29, rotatably supported by the bracket 27, and the teeth of the rack 26 disposed at the rear of the press mesh with a gear 28,- also rotatably supported by the bracket 27. Gears 28 and 29 are in mesh and are keyed respectively to shafts 30 and 31. WVhenever platen 17 is moved upwardly the racks 26 will respectively rotate the gears 28 and 29, which being meshed together, will insure that the front and rear edges of the platen 17 will move uniformly.

The belts that such a press is adapted to act upon are relatively long, generally much longer than the platens of the press, and, therefore, are fed gradually, by portions, between the platens. Each belt portion in between the platens must be stretched before pressure is applied and to do this the belt must be clamped adjacent each end of the platens before the stretching mechanism is operated. The press of this invention is provided with a stretching mechanism generally comprising a pair of clamping means disposed one at each end of each pair of platens and stretching means that is disposed at one end of each pair of platens. This arrangement permits the feeding in of the belts from the same end and the stretching of the belt portion between two adjacent platens independently of the others.

7 A clamping means embodying features of this invention. is shown disposed adjacent the left-hand end of the press which, in this instance, is the belt entering end, and a clamp ing means in combination with a stretching means is shown adjacent the other end of the press which, in this case, is the belt discharge end. The clamping means at the belt entering end of the press generally comprises a pair of clamp beams 32 and 33, that are supported at their front and rear ends upon guide- bars 34 and 35, respectively. The clamp beam 32 is slidably mounted upon bars 34 and 35, while the beam 33 is securely fastened thereto. The clamp beams 32 and 33 are provided with cooperating belt engaging surfaces 36 and 37 respectively, which, in the embodiment illustrated, are inclined at a relatively slight angle from the horizontal to provide a belt clamping surface of comparatively large area, and to prevent the straining of the belt fibers and objectionable marling of its surface which might result from the clamping surfaces being at too great an angle with respect to the direction of pull.

Movement of one clamp beam toward the other, in this instance, in a generally horizontal direction, will cause a belt to be clamped between the opposing surfaces 36 and 37. A pair of pistons 38, each of which operates within a cylinder 39 by hydraulic pressure, provides the means, in this instance, whereby the relative movement between the beams 32 and 33 is obtained. The cylinders 39 are disposed and secured within openings 40 formed in the clamp beam 33, and pressure fluid may enter therein through an inlet 41 provided in each cylinder 39. Each of the pistons 38 is secured to a cross-head 42, and through bolts 43 that extend from each cross-head 42 to lugs 44 formed on the clamp beam 32 will draw the same toward the clamp beam 33 when the pistons are acted upon by the fluid pressure entering into the cylinders 39 through their respective inlets 41. A pair of pistons 45 are secured to beam 33 by rods 46, and are disposed in cylinders 47 that are secured within openings 48 formed in the clamp beam 32. Operation of pistons 45 by admitting fluid pressure thereagainst into cylinders 47 will force the beams 32 and 33 apart, whereby the belt clamped therebetween may be released.

The combined clamping and stretching means located at the discharge end of the press, generally comprises a pair of clamp beams 49 and 50 that are supported at their front and rear ends upon guide bars 51 and 52 respectively. The clamp beams 49 and 50 are slidably mounted upon guide bars 51 and 52, and are provided with cooperating belt engaging surfaces 53 and 54, which, in the embodiment illustrated, are inclined at a relatively slight angle from the horizontal to provide a belt clamping surface of comparatively large area, and likewise to prevent the straining of the belt fibers and objectionable marking of its surface which might result from the clamping surfaces being at too great an angle with respect to the direction of pull. A movement of one clamp beam relatively toward the other, in this instance, in a generally horizontal direction, will cause a belt to be clamped between the opposing surfaces 53 and 54 thereof. A pair of pistons 55, each of which operates within a cylinder 56 by hydraulic pressure, provides the means, in this instance, whereby the relative movement between the beams 49 and 50 is obtained.

Cylinders 56 are disposed and secured within openings 57 formed in the clamp beam 49, and pressure fluid may enter therein through an inlet 58 provided in each cylind-er. Each of the pistons 55 is secured to a cross-head 59, and through bolts 60 that extend from each cross-head 59 to lugs 61 formed on the clamp beam 50 will draw the beams 49 and 50 toward each other when the pistons are acted upon by the fluid pressure entering into the cylinders 56, through their respective inlets 58. A pair of pistons 62 are secured to beam 49 by rods 63, and are disposed in cylinders 64 that are secured within openings 65 formed in the clamp beam 50. Operation of pistons 62 by admitting fluid pressure therea-gainst into cylinder 64, will force the beams 49 and 50 apart whereby the belt clamped therebetween may be released.

After the portion of the belt or the like being acted upon has been clamped at the entering end of the press between clamp beams 32 and 33, and at the discharge end of the parts between clamp beams 49 and 50, it is stretched before the platens are pressed together to press the same. In this instance, this belt portion is stretched by the use of fluid pressure supplied through inlets 66 to cylinders 67, formed in each of the support ing bars 51 and 52, and acting against pistons 68 operable therein to move in a direction away from the discharge end of the press. Each of the pistons 68 bears outwardly upon a cross-bar 69 and by means of tie bolts 70 that are secured to clamp beam 49 at 71 and cross-bar 69 will tend to move the beam 49 and beam 50 clamped thereto outwardly. As both of the beams 49 and 50 are slidable upon the supporting bars 51 and 52, they will be moved away from the press and the portion of the belt held thereby between the cooperating clamping surfaces 53 and 54 thereof and disposed between them and beams 32 and 33, will be stretched.

The beam supporting bars 34 and 35 and 51 and 52 are slidably mounted at each end thereof in uprights 72. A piston 73 operable by fluid pressure within a cylinder 7 4, is disposed below each end of each of the lowermost supporting bars, and when operated to raise the same will raise the clamping beams carried thereby. By continued movement of the piston 73, the clamping beams being raised thereby will raise the clamping beams disposed thereabove due to the engagement of spacing blocks '75 secured to these beams and disposed therebetween. Suitable arrangement is made through proper fluid pressure controls and an equalizing device to insure tiat the beams are raised substantially in unison with the platens so that the surface of the beams nearest the adjacent end of a corresponding platen "ill be in alignment with the upper surface thereof so as to insure that the belt portion disposed between the clamping beams 32 and 33 and 49 and 50 wil lie substantially horizontal throughout its length. The lowern'iost clamp beam supporting bars 34 and 35 and 51 and 52, are sup ported upon the pistons 73, while the overying supporting bars for the uppermost or overlying clamp beams are retained in spaced relation above the same and limited in respect to their downward movement by the cooperation of stop blocks 92 secured upon the inner edge of uprights 72 and laterally extending lugs 93 that are provided upon each end of each of the uppermost supporting bars. By this arrangement these bars are permitted to rise but are limited in their downward movement and the lowermost oars may raise and not be interfered with by any part of the supporting uprights.

An equalizing device is provided to more precisely insure that the clamp beams rise in unison with their corresponding platens. Shafts 30 and 31 are extended beyond the press at each end thereof. The ends of shafts 30 and 31 that extend beyond the press at the entering end thereof are journaled in brackets 76 and 77, respectively. The bractets 76 and 77 are mounted upon a cross-frame 78 and disposed over the clamp beam 33. A pair of racks 79 extend upwardly from the lowermost clamp beam 33, through suitable l in openings in the overlying clamp beam 33 and the cross-frame 78. A pair of gears 80 and 81 rotatably mounted upon shafts 30 and 31, respectively, are meshed together and dis posed between racks'79, the teeth of the rack adjacent each gear being in mesh with the teeth thereof.

The ends of shafts 30 and 31 that extend beyond the discharge end of the press, are journaled in bearings 82 and 83 respectively, that are disposed upon a cross-frame 8i and are then further extended and journaled in bearings 85 and 86 respectively, that are disposed upon a cross-frame 87. The lowermost supporting bars 51 and 52 are secured together by means of cross-bars 88 that extend from each end of one to the corresponding end of the other supporting bar. A toothed rack 89 is secured to each cross-bar 88 and extends upwardly through the respective crossframes 84 and 87, where the teeth thereof re spectively mesh with a pair of meshed together gears 90 and 91 that are secured to shafts 30 and 31 respectively. The racks 79 and 89 with the respective meshed gears 80 and 81 and 90 and 91 act with the racks 26 and meshed gears 28 and 29 to insure movement of the platens and clamp beams in unison.

The operation of a press of the type de scribed, consists in feeding the portion of the belt or the like to be pressed through the same between the clamp beams 32 and 33, between a pair of the platens, for instance 17 and 18, and then between the clamp beams 1-9 and 50. Hydraulic pressure may then be supplied to cylinders 39 to act upon pistons 38, whereby beam 32 will be moved toward beam 83 to clamp the belt portion between the surfaces 36 and 37 thereof. Hydraulic pressure is then supplied to cylinders 56 which act upon pistons 55 to cause a relative movement between beams 49 and 50, to clamp the belt portion disposed between the surfaces 53 and 54- thereof. Hydraulic pressure is then supplied to cylinders 67 to act upon pistons 68, which through means of bolts 70 will draw the beams 49 and 50 away from the press to stretch the portion of the belt held between the beams 32 and 33 and the beams 49 and 50.

After stretching the belt as above de scribed, hydraulic pressure is supplied to cylinders 12 and acts upon the pistons 21 to raise the platen 17 toward the platen 18 whereby the portion of the belt therebetween will be pressed as desired. After pressing the belt as above described, pressure is released from cylinders 12 to permit the platen 17 to drop away from platen 18 to release the belt portion therebetweenj Should the belt, for any reason, adhere to the platens and tend to retain them together, stripping plungers 23 are operated to assist in separating the same. Pressure is then released from the stretching cylinder 67 and the clamping cylinders 39 and 56 to release the belt from the action thereof. The clamp beams 32 and 33 and clamp beams 49 and 50 are then separated from each other respectively by supplying fluid pressure into cylinders 47 and 64, to act upon the pistons 45 and 62. The belt may then be drawn through the press and clamp beams a sufficient amount to dispose an unpressed portion thereof between the platents whereupon the press may again be operated, as above described.

By the provision of a press embodying the features of this invention as above pointed out, a belt or plurality of belts may be pressed efliciently and economically with the assurance that it or they will be uniformly stretched and pressed over the entire length and width thereof. The provision of an independent elamping and stretching mechanism in association with each pair of platens of a multiple platen press permits the stretching and pressing of a plurality of belts substantially simultaneously, even though they be of different width or thickness. Means has been provided whereby the clamp beams and stretching means may always be disposed in proper position horizontally with respect to the associated pair of platens. By disposing the clamp an d stretching mechanism in a horizontal plane, the feeding of a belt or belts straight through the press is facilitated and when a plurality of belts is being pressed they may all be fed through from the same side. Due to the above provisions in a press of this type, a plurality of platens, even in eXcess of three, may be provided and, therefore, the capacity of such a press will be greatly increased.

While we have shown and described a preferred embodiment of our invention, it is understood that it is not to be limited to all of the details shown, but is capable of modification and variation which will lie within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

l/Vhat we claim is:

1. A press for beltlike articles comprising article pressing means including a movable platen, article clamping means disposed at one end of said pressing means, and article stretching means disposed at the other end of said pressing means, said clamping and stretching means being disposed substantially in the same plane and movable substantially in unison with said platen.

2. A press for belt-like articles comprising article pressing means including a movable platen, article clamping means disposed at one end of said pressing means and article stretching means disposed at the other end of said pressing means, said clamping and stretching means being disposed substantially in the same plane and substantially in alignment, and means to move said clamping and said stretching means substantially in unison with said movable platen.

3. A press for belt-lilre articles comprising article pressing means including a movable platen, article clamping means disposed at one end of said pressing means and article stretching means disposed at the other end of said pressing means, said stretching means being movable horizontally away from said platen to stretch the article, all of said means being disposed substantially in the same plane and substantially in alignment, and means to raise said clamping and stretching means to maintain them in alignment.

4. A press for belt-like articles comprising article pressing means including a movable platen, article clamping means disposed at one end of said pressing means and article stretching means, said stretching means being movable horizontally away from said platen, all of said means being disposed substantially in the same plane and SLlbStil11 tially in alignment, means to raise said platen and said clamping and stretching means to maintain them in alignment, and means to insure that the raising movement of all of said means will be in unison.

5. In a press for belt-like articles, a plurality of article pressing platens, article clamping means at each end of the adjacent platens, and article stretching means at one end of a pair of adjacent platens.

6. In a press for belt-like articles, a plurality of article pressing platens, article 2 clamping means at each end of the adjacent platens, and article stretching means at one end of each pair of adjacent platens, all of said stretching means being disposed at the same end of said platens.

7. In a press for belt-like articles, a plurality of article pressing platens, and article clamping means at one end of the adjacent platens, and a combined article clamping and stretching means at the other end of each pair of adjacent platens.

8. In a press for belt-like articles, a plurality of article pressing platens, and article clamping means at one end of the adjacent platens, and a combined article clamping and stretching means at the other end of each pair of adjacent platens, and means to raise said clamping means and said combined clamping and stretching means in unison.

9. In a multiple platen belt press, belt clamping means at one end of each pair of adjacent platens, and means to raise said clamping means in unison with the movements of the corresponding pair of platens.

10. In a multiple platen belt press, belt clamping means at one end of each pair of adjacent platens, and means to raise said clamping means in unison with the move ments of the corresponding pair of platens, belt clamping means at the other end of each pair of adjacent platens, and means to raise said last mentioned clamping means in unison with the movement of the corresponding pair of platens.

11. In a multiple platen belt press, belt clamping means at one end of each pair of adjacent platens, and means to raise said clamping means in unison with the movement-s of the corresponding pair of platens, belt clamping means at the other end of each pair of adjacent platens, and means to raise said last mentioned clamping means in unison with the movement of the corresponding pair of platens, and other means to insure that both belt clamping means rise in unison.

12. In a multiple platen belt press, belt clamping means at one end of each pair of adjacent platens, belt clamping means at the other end of each pair of adjacent platens, and belt stretching means at an end of each pair of adjacent platens, and means to raise said stretching means in unison with the movement of its corresponding pair of platens. V

13. In a multiple platen belt press, belt clamping means at one end of each pair of adjacent platens, belt clamping means at the other end of each pair of adjacent platens, and belt stretching means at an end of each pair of adjacent platens, and means to raise said stretching means and the clamping means at the same end of each pair of platens in unison with the movement of the corresponding pair of platens.

14,-. In a multiple platen belt press, belt clamping means at one end of each pair of adjacent platens, belt clamping means at the other end of each pair of adjacent platens, and belt stretching means at an end of each pair of adjacent platens, and means to raise said stretching means and both of said clamping means in unison with the movement of the corresponding pair of platens.

15. In a multiple platen belt press, belt clamping means at each end of each pair of adjacent'platens, and a belt stretching means associated with each of said clamping means at one. end of each pair of adjacent platens, and cooperating means to insure that said platen, said clamping means and said stretching means rise in unison during the pressing movement of said platens.

16. In a multiple platen press, a horizontally disposed belt clamping and stretching mechanism disposed at one end of each pair of cooperating platens.

17 In a multiple platen belt press means to receive and press separate belts between adjacent pairs of platens, and means to stretch one belt independently of another.

18. In a multiple platen belt press adapted to receive and press separate belts between adjacent pairs of platens, means at one end of said press to clamp each belt independent- 6} belt pressing platens disposed substantially in a horizontal plane, belt clamping means at each end of said platens, and belt stretching means at one end of said platens, said clamping means and said stretching means being operably movable in a horizontal direction.

20. In a belt press, a pair of cooperating platens adapted to receive and press a belt therebetween by movement of one toward the other, belt clamping means at one end of said platens and movable in a direction substantially parallel to the length of said platens to clamp the, belt, and belt clamping and stretching means at the other end of said platens and movable in a direction substantially parallel to the length of said platens to clamp and stretch the belt.

21. In a belt press, a pair of cooperating platens adapted to receive and press a belt therebetween by movement of one toward the other, belt clamping means at one end of said platens and operable in a direction substantially parallel to the length of said platens to clamp the belt, and belt clamping and stretching means at the other end of said platens and operable in a direction substantially parallel to the length of said platens to clamp and stretch the belt, and means to move said clamping means and said clamping and stretching means substantially in unison with and in the same direction as the movement of one of said platens toward the other.

22. In a belt press, a pair of cooperating platens adapted to receive and press a belt therebetween by movement of one toward the other, means to insure that opposite edges of the moving platen move in unison, belt clamping means at one end of said platens and operable in a direction substantially parallel to the length of said platens to clamp the belt and belt clamping and stretching means at the other end of said platens operable in a directionsubstantially parallel to the length of said platens to clamp and stretch the belt. v i

23. In a belt press, a pairof cooperating platens adapted to receive and press a belt therebetween by movement of one toward the other, means to insure that opposite edges of the moving platen move in unison, belt clamping means at one end of said platens and operable in a direction substantially par allel to the length of said platens to clamp the belt, and belt clamping and stretching means at the other end of said platens and operable in a direction substantially parallel to the length of said platens to clamp and stretch the belt, and means to move said clamping means and said clamping and stretching means substantially in unison with and in the same direction as the movement of one of said platens toward the other.

24. In a belt press, a pair of cooperating platens adapted to receive and press a belt therebetween by movement of one toward the other, means to insure that opposite edges of the moving platen move in unison, belt clamping means at one end of said platens and operable in a direction substantially parallel to the length of said platens to clamp the belt, and belt clamping and stretching means at the other end of said platens and operable in a direction substantially parallel to the length of said platens to clamp and stretch the belt, and means to move said clamping means and said clamping and stretching means substantially in unison with and in the same direction as the movement of one of said platens toward the other, and means to insure that said clamping and said clamping and stretching means move in unison with each other in the direction of the movement of the moving platen.

25. In a belt press, a pair of cooperating platens adapted to receive and press a belt therebetween by movement of one toward the other, means to insure that opposite edges of the moving platen move in unison, belt clamping means at one end of said platens and operable in a direction substantially parallel to the length of said platens to clamp the belt, and belt clamping and stretching means at the other end of said platens and operable in a direction substantially parallel to the length of said platens to clamp and stretch the belt, and means to move said clamping means and said clamping and stretching means substantially in unison with and in the same direction as the movement of one of said platens toward the other, and means to insure that said clamping and said clamping and stretching means move in unison with each other in the direction of the movement of the moving platen, said movement insuring means being adapted to insure that said clamping and said clamping and stretching means move in unison with the moving platen. v

26. In a belt press, a pair of cooperating belt pressing platen-s, a pair of clamp beams disposed at one end of said platens and mounted upon supporting bars, one of said clamp beams being slidable upon said bars and the other of said clamp beams being secured thereto, means to move said slidable clamp beam toward the other in a direction substantially parallel to the length of said platens to clamp a belt therebeween a pair of clamp beams disposed at the other end of said platens and mounted upon supporting bars, both of said last mentioned pair of clamp beams being slidably mounted upon said bars, means to move said last mentioned clamp beams relatively to each other, and

means to move said last mentioned pair of clamp beams in a direction substantially parallel to the length of said platens and away from said first mentioned clamp beams to stretch the belt portion extending therebetween.

27. In a belt press, a pair of cooperating belt pressing platens relatively movable to press a belt therebetween, a pair of clamp beams disposed at one end of said platens and mounted upon supporting bars, one of said clamp beams being slidable upon said bars and the other of said clamp beams being secured thereto, means to move said slidable clamp beam toward the other in a direction substantially parallel to the length of said platens to clamp a belt therebetween, a pair of clamp beams disposed at the other end of said platens and mounted upon supporting bars, both of said last mentioned pair of clamp beams being slidably mounted upon said bars, means to move said last mentioned clamp beams relatively to each other, and means to move said last mentioned pair of clamp beams in a direction substantially parallel to the length of said platens and away from said first mentioned clamp beams to stretch the belt portion extending therebetween, and means to move each of said supporting bars in the direction of movement of said platens when pressing a belt therebetween.

28. In a belt press, a pair of cooperating belt pressing platens relatively movable to press a belt therebetween, a pair of clamp beams disposed at one end of said platens and mounted upon supporting bars, one of said clamp beams being slidable upon said bars and the other of said clamp beams being secured thereto, means to move said slidable clamp beam toward the other in a direction substantially parallel to the length of said platens to clamp a belt therebetween, a pair of clamp beams disposed at the other end of said platens and mounted upon supporting bars, both of said last mentioned pair of clamp beams being slidably mounted upon said bars, means to move said last mentioned clamp beams relatively to each other, and means to move said last mentioned pair of clamp beams in a direction substantially parallel to the length of said platens and away from said first mentioned clamp beams to stretch the belt portion extending therebetween, and means to move each of said supporting bars in the direction of movement oi said platens when pressing a belt therebetween, and means to insure that the platens and clamp beam supporting bars move in unison in the direction of movement of said platens when pressing a belt thereb-etween.

29. In a press hav'n a pair or horizontal platens, a clamping device at each end of said platens, each clamping device having parts adapted to receive an end portion of an article therebetween and being relatively movable in a horizontal plane to clamp the end of the article therebetween.

30. In a press having a pair of horizontal platens, a clamping and stretching device at one end of said platens, said device having parts adapted to receive an end portion of an article therebetween and being relatively movable in a horizontal plane to clamp the end of the article therebetween, said device being movable in a horizontal plane to stretch the article.

31. In a press having a pair of horizontal platens, a clamping device at each end of said platens, means to move one of said clamping devices horizontally away from said platens, said platens being relatively movable toward each other, and means to'move said clamping devices substantially in unison with, and in the same direction as, the movable platen.

32. In a press having a pair of horizontal platens, a clamping and stretching device at one end of said platens, said device being movable in a horizontal plane to stretch the article being pressed, and means to move said device in the direction of the pressing movement of said platens and substantially in unison. therewith.

33. In a press, a pair of cooperating pressing platens disposed substantially in a horizontal plane, article clamping means at each end of said platens, and an article stretching means at one end of said platens, said clamping means and said stretching means being movable to cooperate with said platens to retain the article being pressed in a horizontal plane.

34. In a press, a pair of movably c0operating pressing platens disposed substantially in a horizontal plane, article clamping means at each end of said platens, an article stretching means at one end of said platens, and means to move said clamping and said stretching means substantially in unison with the movement of one of said platens to retain the article being pressed in a horizon tal plane.

35. In a press, a pair of cooperating platens adapted to receive and press an article therebetween by movement of one toward the other, article clamping means at one end of said platens, article clamping and stretching means at the other end of said platens, said clamping and said clamping and stretching means being movable in the same direction as the pressing movement of said platens, and means to move said clamping and said clamping and stretching means substantially in unison with the movement of the movable platen.

36. In a press, a pair of cooperating platens adapted to receive and press an article therebetween by movement of one toward the other, horizontally movable clamping means at one end of said platens, and means to move as the movement of said platens and in unison said clamping means substantially in unison therewith.

with, and in the same direction as, the move ment of the movable platen to retain the article being pressed in a straight line.

37. In a press, a pair of cooperating platens adapted to receive and press an article therebetween by movement of one toward the other, article clamping means at one end of said platens, means to move said clamping means horizontally away from said platens, means to move said clamping means in the same direction as the movement of the movable platen to retain the article being pressed in a straight line, and means to cause said clamping means and movable platen to move substantially in unison.

88. In a press, a pair of cooperating platens adapted to receive and press an article therebetween by movement of one toward the other, article clamping means at one end of said platens, means to move said clamping means horizontally away from said platens, and fluid pressure operated means to move said clamping means in the same direction as the movement of the movable platen to retain the article being pressed in a straight line, and means operated by the movable platen to cause the clamping means to move in unison therewith.

39. In a press, a pair of cooperating platens adapted to receive and press an article therebetween by movement of one toward the other, clamping means at one end of said platens, said clamping means being movable to cooperate with said platens to retain the article being pressed in a straight line, and means, including fluid pressure operated devices, to move said clamping means substantially in unison with the movement of the movable platen, said last named means including means to synchronize the movement of said clamping means with the movement s of the movable platen.

40. In a press. a pair of horizontal platens, a cl ampingr device at each end of said platens, each of said clamping devices having coopcrating parts relatively movable in a horizontal plane to clamp an end of an article therebetween, and means to move one of said clamping devices in a horizontal plane after said parts are in clamping position to stretch the article.

41. In a press, a pair of horizontal platens, a clamping device at each end of said platens, each of said clamping devices having cooperating partsrelatively movable in a horizontal plane to clamp an end of an article therebetween, means to move one of said clamping devices in a horizontal plane after said parts are in clamping position to stretch the article, means to move said platens into article pressing position, and means to move said clamping devices in the same direction I11 witness whereof, we have hereunto set our hands this 19th day of September, 1929. I

DIMITRY J. GREGORY. WILLIAM C. TIFFT.

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