Machine for drawing a textile web out of a roll containing the same

Abstract

 Machine for drawing out a web of a roll comprising a trolley (1) carrying a roll of textile web (2) which can travel the length of a table (3) on which the textile is drawn out, the said trolley (1) having two side upright members (4,5) fitted with wheels (6,7) and joining bars (6a,7a) uniting the the side uprights (4,5) and also including at least one textile feed roller (8) with its corresponding guide tubes (9) and a cutting module (10) or a Zig-­zag folding module (11).
The manual advance cutting module (10) can be converted to a motorized cutting module by attaching a compo­site assembly (22) which includes, fitted to one single profile member (23) a motor (24) and a belt and and pulley drive (25 and 26).
The automatic loading device (40) includes two motors (45,46) for raising the roll (2) and a motor (41) for actuating the travel laterally along the joining bars (6a,7a).
One of the uprights (4) of the trolley (1) is provided with orifices (60,62,63,64 and 65) for attaching and coupling up the operating motor (61) and both the uprights (4,5) have therein housings ( 66,67 ) for the bearings of the drive shaft (68). The trolley (1) converts from manual to motorized operation by attaching the motor (61) with its drive assembly (66 and 131 - 137) without the need for further mechanical modification.
The improvements also refer to a drive unit from the motor (61) to a feed roller (8), a unidirectional bearing in one of the two feed rollers (8, 35), a turbulence protection device (85), a device for the quick hooking on of the cutting module (10), a textile tensioning device (84), a horizontal move­ment pantograph unit (109-112), a travel limiting flange (32) for the Zig-zag folder clamps (12, 13), a connector guide bar (123) and a flexible tube (124) for connecting the power supply to the cutting module (10).
Permits a progressive modular assembly.

Description

[0001] This invention refers to improvements in machines for drawing a textile web out of a roll containing the same and which enable various mod­ular elements to be easily incorporated therein.

ANTECEDENTS TO THE INVENTION

[0002] Currently known machines for drawing a textile web out of a roll consist essentially of a trolley carrying the textile, which can move the length of of a table on which the textile is to be drawn: the said trolley having two side upright members prov­ided with wheels and rods which join the members together as well as at least one textile web feed roller and its corresponding guide tubes, a cut­ting unit and a zig-zag folding unit. The cutting unit consists essentially of a cutting head able to travel transversally while the folding unit is made up essentially of a pair of swivelling clamps fitted to one extremity of the trolley and associat­ed with a pair of folder clamps at each end of the table, the said clamps being provided with a stop so as to limit their angular travel.

[0003] There exist various models of machine each of which offers devices suitable to the particular required operation, each such operation necessitat- the requisite machine. Moreover should it be requ­ired to adapt, in a particular machine, some addit­ional device or module such an adaptation is diff­icult as the original machine was not designed for that eventuality.

SPECIFICATION

[0004] The difficulty of adaptability is resolved with the machine disclosed in this invention patent as the various devices designed for use with the machine are designed as modules which can be integrat­ed into it by adding them to the basic machine with no difficulty. The machine in the invention patent described is also provided with other improvements as disclosed herein.

[0005] The improvements in machines for drawing a textile web out of a roll containing the same are characterised in that the manual advance cutting module may be converted to a motorized unit by attach­ing an integrated accessory which includes, mounted on a single profile bar a motor with its belt and pull­ey drive this being fixed at the drive head using the same support member which serves to carry the handle for the manually operated version.

[0006] Thus the conversion of the manually advanced module, once fitted, to become a motorized unit pres­ents a very simple operation, consisting merely of attaching to the module the composite assembly compris­ing the motor and its belt drive mounted on the above mentioned bar.

[0007] It is advantageous if hte cutting and zig-zag folder and other accessory modules are attached at each end to endless chains which run on sprockets mounted on the respective side members of the trolley to enable them to be raised vertically.

[0008] It is also advantageous if the swivelling zig-­zag folder clamps are mounted on the cross bar which is a joining member of the module structure and the stop limiting its angular travel is positioned on a flange attached to the said cross bar. The same flange acts as a limiting stop also for the linear travel.

[0009] Another characteristic of this invention is a pair of orifices, one in each of the upright side mem­bers so that a second feed roller can be fitted. the web feed guide tubes being connected using an attachment to the lateral supports of the guide tubes of the first feed roller.

[0010] Thus the attachment of the second feed roller is very simple in that no further machining modification of the already installed machine is required.

[0011] Preferably the cross-bars joining the side mem­bers are of a precise diameter and joined together by a central plate such that they can serve as guide rails for the lateral travel of a device for loading the roll, this central plate of the integrated unit being the base plate of the motor providing lateral movement of the said loading device.

[0012] Preferably the roll loading integral device comprises a frame which can travel the length of join­ing cross-bars mounted on wheels for this purpose and there being at both extremities of the frame motors for raising the arms supporting the roll of textile web, the frame being connected by chain or other drive mech­anism to a motor for its lateral travel.

[0013] The loading device consists of a module con­taining the arm lifting motors it being easily fitted by simply locating the wheels on the cross-bars and securing the lateral travel motor on the central plate.

[0014] In addition the bar holding the textile roll has at least on one of its extremities a braking device which comprises essentially a disc provided with a plurality of plastic studs in recesses which also contain springs internally and a metal plate having its surface in contact with the studs and provided with a spigot for limiting movement of the bar support arm.

[0015] Thus on rotating the bar the spigot prevents the plate from turning, its surface rubbing on the plastic studs and exercising a braking action.

[0016] The improvements as disclosed herein permit the attachment of a variety of modules to the basic machine. Starting from a simple manual unit the various modules can be added so as to provide a completely auto­matic machine. Described above is the attachment of modules for automatic cutting, a second feed roller and an automatic loading device. The machine is provided with the corresponding control module for the operation of these devices.

[0017] Another characteristic of the invention is the provision in one of the lateral upright members of orifices for attachment and coupling up of a drive motor and both uprights have housings to take the shaft bearings so that the trolley of the machine may be converted from manual to automatic operation by mounting the motor and the transmission mechanism without the need to mechanically modify the unit.

[0018] This conversion responds to the concept of enabling the various modules contributing to the possible variations to be built up on a step by step basis.

[0019] The invention also allows for the provision of a motor gear train for at least one feed roller, this gear train unit comprising a first pinion taking its motion from the wheel, a second pinion engaging with the first pinion, a third pinion coaxial with the second pinion and engaging with a fourth pinion which in its turn engages with the first pinion, the second and third pinions being mounted on a common shaft through unidirectional bearings both operating in the same sense of giration.

[0020] With this gear train, whichever be the direct­ion of rotation of the motor the said common shaft which transmits movement to at least one feed roller always rotates in the same direction.

[0021] The gear train also includes an idler shaft in the interior of the common shaft, provided with means of driving allowing to be coupled thereto a component having a unidirectional bearing device obliging the said idler shaft to rotate in the same sense as the common shaft. The complete gear mechanism is mounted on a side plate forming a module which can be attached to the machine in an opening provided in one of the side members of the trolley.

[0022] This plate mounting is in the same modular concept as those already described.

[0023] Another improvement characteristic of the invention, relating to the two feed roller dis­position, the first roller being positioned nearer to the roll of textile and the second further away, is that both rollers are kinematically connected through a chain and pinion transmission the first roller being the driver and the second the driven, with the pinion of the second roller being mounted on a unidirectional bearing.

[0024] Thus, this roller is unable to rotate in the contrary direction, but invariably at a velocity equal to or greater than the first and hence avoiding the formation of creasing in the drawing out of the textile.

[0025] The invention includes advantageously a device to prevent turbulence consisting of a length of cloth or similar rolled on a cylinder which is placed horizontally and transversely at the exit position of the textile web and having its extremity fixed to a batten which is connected to a pair of chains arranged vertically and driven by pinions fitted to the two upright side members of the trolley, the upper pinions being composite with the cylinder and having their prim­itive diameter equal to the diameter of the cylinder.

[0026] This protective device covers the open space between the two upright members above the textile which is being drawn out. The device also includes a perforat­ed plate in the space below the guide tubes. This avoids the effect of turbulence which could be caused by the passage of the textile between the uprights of the trolley and which could give rise to minor deformation in the continuous length of textile.

[0027] The means of attachment by hooking on the cutting, zig-zag and other modules of the trolley consists, in each of the two attachment plates of the cutting module, a pair of slots in the form of a horizontal slot followed by a verti­cal slot which can engage with a pair of screws in the respective upright members having their heads adapted to the width of the slots.

[0028] This device provides a rapid placing of the module without the necessity for any further attachment when the module is fitted. The screws have been already placed in the uprights permanently.

[0029] Another characteristic of these improve­ments is a textile tensioning device adapted to the cutting module, this device comprising a plurality of metal strips situated between a support bar and a cross member which is in contact with the textile.

[0030] The tensioning device adapts itself well to the textile due to the flexibility of the metal strips.

[0031] The improvements also include two horizontal movement pantographs in the form of an articulated parallelogram one side of which can travel in two slots one being horizontal and the other defining a hyperbola the object of which is the retention of the textile at the end thereof.

[0032] Preferably, the swivelling clamps on the zig-­zag folding module are provided with a flange integral with the articulating bar and carrying a stop, the flange being capable of an angular movement and a linear move­ment the length of the said bar to provide a radial and lateral adjustment of the centralizing and the drop of the textile.

[0033] This invention includes a plurality of connection devices mounted on a guide rail and to which the various modules may be coupled-in elect­rically and progressively starting from the basic machine.

[0034] Finally the cutting module includes a flexible pneumatic tube and a pair of snap-on sockets,one at each end of the tube and in the cross member of the cutting unit and in the body of the cutting disc operating motor so as to provide for the power supply to the motor.

[0035] The above arrangement avoids the necessity for electrical conduit and its high cost and suscep­tibility to defects.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0036] For a better understanding of the above description drawings accompanying this specification show schematically one not limiting embodiment of the invention by way of example.

[0037] In the said drawings: Figure 1 is a side elevation of the basic machine, Figure 2 is a cross section of the manually operated cutting module; Figure 3 is a cross section of a motorized cutting module; Figure 4 is a cross section of the Zig-zag folding module: Figure 5 is a side elevation showing the attachment of the second feed roller. Figure 6 is a plan view of the loading device; Figure 7 is a lateral cross section of the loading device; Figure 8 shows a plan view in detail of the loading device; Figure 9 shows the detailed braking device for the shaft which carries the roll.

[0038] Figure 10 is a perspective view of one of the upright members of the manually operated trolley. Figure 11 shows the same member for the motorized version of the trolley; Figure 12 shows the trolley in perspective with the transmission to the four wheels; Figure 13 shows in perspective the gear train unit for driving at least one of the feed rollers from the wheel; Figure 14 is a plan view of the same gear train unit as is seen in Figure 13; Figure 15 is a perspective view of the detail of a pair of feed rollers; Figure 16 is a perspective view of the turbulence protection device; Figure 17 is a side elevation of the hook-on device for the cutting and Zig-zag modules and other modules and it shows also the textile retention device: Figure 18 is a perspective view of the same retention device; Figures 19 and 20 show in plan the pant­ograph device for retaining horizontal movement in two different positions, the object of which is the retention of the web at its end. Figure 21 shows in perspective the travel end-stop flange for the swivelling clamps; Figure 22 shows a perspective view of the electrical connection guide bar module interconnecting the different positions and thus facilitating the attachment of new electric or electronic modules without supplementary components. Figure 23 shows the electrical supply to the cutting disc operating motor.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERED EMBODIMENT

[0039] As is shown in figures 1 to 6, a machine for drawing a textile web out of a roll containing the same consists essentially of a trolley -1- carrying a roll -2- of textile, able to travel the length of a table -3- along which the textile is to be drawn, the said trolley having two lateral upright members -4- and -5- fitted with wheels -6- and -7- and cross-bars 6a and -7a- uniting the two upright members -4- and -5- and having also at least one feed roller -8- with its corresponding guide tubes -9- and a cutting module -10- comprising essentially a transversally movable cutting head, or a Zig-zag folding module -11- (Figure 4), comprising essentially a pair of swivelling clamps -12- and -13- attached to one extremity of the trolley associated with a pair of folder clamps (not shown) positioned at each end of the table -3-, the swivelling clamps having an end stop to limit their angular travel.

[0040] In figure 2 can be seen the manual advance cutting module which comprises a cutting disc -14- driven by the motor -15- mounted on the body -16- of the head which travels the length of the guide bar -19- on wheels -17- and -18-.

[0041] The advance motion is actuated manually by means of a lever -20- articulated on the support -21 which is integral with the body of the head -16-.

[0042] Figure 3 shows the motorized cutting module. As may be seen the manual advance cutting oper­ation is converted to a motorized operation by att­aching an integral assembly -22- which comprises, fitted to one single bar -23- a motor -24-, a drive belt -25-, pulleys -26-, the head being connected to the belt drive -25- through the support -21- which serves also to carry the manual advance lever -20- in the manual version.

[0043] As may be seen in Figure 4, the Zig-zag folder module -11- depends for its vertical movement on endless chains -27-, one at each extremity, and which gear with pinions -28- and -29- carried respectively on the upright side members -4- and -5-.

[0044] The swivelling clamps -12- and -13- of the Zig-zag folder -11- girate on their respective axes -30- and -31- which unite the module frames and the end stop for their angular travel is formed by the flanges -32- and -33- integral with the said axes. The flanges -32- and -33- also act as limiting stops for the linear travel.

[0045] As is shown in figures 1 and 5, the machine in the invention is provided with a pair of orifices, one, -34-, in each of the upright members -4- and -5- for fitting a second feed roller -35-, the textile guide tubes associated with it -36- and -37- being carried on lateral prolongations -38- of the guide tubes -9- of the first feed roller -8-, thus offering a simple assembly operation.

[0046] The structural joining bars -6a- and -7a- as can be seen in Figures 7 and 8 of the side uprights -4- and -5- are of a precise diameter and mutually joined by a central plate -39-. The bars -6a- and -7a- serve as guide rails for the lateral travel of the roll loading device -40- integral with the unit and of which the central plate -39- is the base plate of the motor -41- which actuates the lateral travel of the loading device -40-.

[0047] Figure 1 shows by dotted lines the outer pro­file of the loading device -40- as shown in Figure 6 in plan.

[0048] The integral loading device -40- for the roll -2- comprises a frame -42- mounted on wheels -43- and -44- travelling the length of the precision bars -6a- and -7a- with motors -45- and -46- mounted one at each end of the frame -42- for raising the arms -47- (fig­ure 1) which carry the textile roll -2-, with the frame -42- having attached thereto a chain -48- (figure 8) driven by the lateral travel motor -41-.

[0049] Figure 9 shows that the rod -49- which holds the roll -2- of textile web has at least at one of its extremities a braking device -50- which comprise essent­ially a disc -51- provided with a plurality of plastic studs -52- in recesses with their respective springs in the interior of the recesses and a metal plate -54- the surface of which is in contact with the plastic studs and is provided with a spigot -55- to act as a limit stop to the arm -56- which carries the rod -49-.

[0050] On rotating the rod -49- the plate -54- is unable to rotate due to the stop -55- and the sur­face rubs against the plastic studs -52- causing a braking action.

[0051] As can be seen, starting from a simple man­ual machine various modules can be incorporated to the point of attaining a fully automatic machine.

[0052] As is shown in Figures 10, 11 and 12, the improvements are characterized also by the fact that one of the side uprights -4- of the trolley -1- is provided with an orifice -60- for coupling up the motor -61- and other orifices 62, 63, 64 and 65 for attaching the same and by the fact that both of the uprights -4- and -5- are provided with housings -66- and -67- to accept the transmission shaft bear­ings -68-.

[0053] As is shown in Figure 10 the manual trolley already has provision for coupling up the motor -61- and the drive shaft -68- by the presence of the res­pective orifices. It is necessary simply to fit these components and the transmission made up of the pinions 130, 131, 132, 133, 134 and 135 and the chains 136 and 137 to convert the machine trolley from manual (Figure 10) to motorized (Figure 11) without the need to carry out any structural modifications at the time of con­verting.

[0054] Figures 13 and 14 show a gear train which in­cludes a first pinion -69- driven by the motor -61-, a second pinion -70- engaging with the first pinion -69-, a third pinion -71- coaxial with the second pinion -70- engaging with a fourth pinion -72- which in turn engages with the first pinion -69-, the second pinion -70- and the third pinion -71- being mounted on a common shaft -73-, each on unidirectional bearings, both designed for the same direction of rotation.

[0055] Whichever the direction of rotation of the motor -61-, the said shaft -73- common to the two pinions -70- and -71- transmitting the movement to at least one feed roller invariably rotates in the same direction.

[0056] The gear train also has an idler shaft -74- inside the common shaft -73- and which is provided a keyway -75- a component -76- to be coupled there­to, this component having a unidirectional bearing which obliges the shaft -74- to rotate in the sense of the common shaft -73-.

[0057] This gear train also comprises a base plate -77- on which are mounted all the pinions -69-, -70- -71- and -72- forming a module which can be coupled up to the machine through an opening -78- (Figures 10 and 11) in the side upright member -4-.

[0058] This transmission block constitutes hence another of the machine modules.

[0059] As is shown in Figure 15, when there are two feed rollers, -8- and -35-, the first roller -35- being situated nearer the roll of textile and the second roller -8- further from the roll of textile, both rollers -8- and -35- are kinematically united by a mechanism of chain -81- and pinions -79- and -80- the first roller -35- the driver and the second roller -8- the driven. The pinion -80- of the second roller is supported with a unidirectional bearing -82- such that the roller -8- is unable to rotate in the contrary sense but invariably at the same or greater velocity as the roller -35- so avoiding the formation of creases in the drawn out textile -83-.

[0060] The bar or counterweight -84- produces a tension in the textile compensating for the loss of velocity in the roller -35-.

[0061] Figures 16 and 12 show a device -85- for protection against turbulence and it comprises a length of cloth -86- or similar material, rolled on a cylinder -87- placed horizontally and trans­versally at the exit of the textile web -83- with its extremity fixed to a batten -88- which is att­ached to a pair of chains -89- and -90- disposed vertically and each engaging with a pair of pinions, -91-, -92-, -93- and -94- fitted to the two side upright members -4- and -5- of the trolley -1-.

[0062] The upper pinions -91- and -93 are integral with the cylinder -87- and of nominally the same prim­itive diameter as the cylinder so that the cloth -86- on rolling up is not under tension or creased.

[0063] The protective device -85- covers the free space between the two upright members -4- and -5- above the textile web -83- which is being drawn.

[0064] Figure 17 shows the hooking means -95- of the cutting module which comprises, in each of the two plates -96- of the cutting module a pair of slots -97- and -98- having an initial length -99- horizontal and a final length -100- vertical and in each of the upright members -4- and -5- a pair of screws -101- and -102- the heads of which are adapted to the width of the slots -97- and -98-.

[0065] Figures 17 and 18 show the textile tens­ioning device -103- adapted to the cutting module the device having three metallic strips -104-, -105- and -106- located between a support bar -107- and and a strip -108- which is in contact with the tex­tile web -83-. The flexibility of the three strips -104-, -105- and -106- enables the device -103- to adapt itself correctly to the textile web -83-.

[0066] Figures 19 and 20 show a pantograph device with horizontal movement comprising an articulated parallelogram -109- one side -110- of which travels within two slots, one horizontal -111- and the other defining a hyperbola, -112-.

[0067] As may be seen in the Figures the arm -113- remains invariably horizontal.

[0068] Figure 21 illustrates that swivelling clamps of the Zig-zag folder module include a flange -32- joined to their articulation shaft -30-, fitted with a travel stop -114- the flange -32- being movable angularly and along the length of the said bar -30- so as to adjust both radially and laterally the drop and the centering of the textile. The flange -32- is secured in position by means of the screw -115-.

[0069] Figure 22 shows a plurality of connection devices -116-, -117-, -118-, -119-, -120-, -121- and -122- mounted on a guide bar -123- and to which the various modules, starting from the basic machine can be progressively coupled up.

[0070] This guide bar may be fitted betwee the two upright members or attached to one of them.

[0071] As is shown in Figure 23 the cutting module has a flexible pneumatic tube -124-and a pair of snap-­on sockets or connectors -125- and -126 disposed at each end of the tube -124- and on the cross member -23- of the cutting module and in the cutting disc -14- motor body -15- for the purpose of the power supply to this motor -15-.

[0072] The above description corresponds to a spec­ific embodiment of the invention but the invention is intended to include all the possible variations within its scope as available to a technician in the art.

Claims

1.- Improvements in machines for drawing a textile web out of a roll containing the same, of the type which essentially consists of a trolley (1) carrying a roll (2) of textile and which can move the length of the table (3) on which the textile is to be drawn, the trolley including two side upright members (4,5) provided with wheels (6,7) and cross-bars (6a,7a) joining the two side uprights (4,5) and also including at least one feed roller (8) of textile accompanied by its corresponding guide tubes (9) and a cutting module (10) which consists essentially of a cut­ting head capable of transverse travel or a module for folding in Zig-zag (11) comprising essentially a pair of swivelling clamps (12,13) attached to one extremity of the trolley and associated with a pair of folder clamps located at each extremity of the table (3), the swivelling clamps (12,13) being provided with a stop to limit their angular travel, characterized in that the cutting module actuated manually by means of a lever (20) can be converted to a motorized unit by attaching a composite assembly (22) which includes, all fitted to one single profile bar (23), a motor (24), a drive belt transmission (25) with its pulleys (26), the head of the belt drive (25) being made integral with the same support member (21) to which a lever (20) is fixed in the manual version of the module.

2,- Improvements as in claim 1, characterized in that the Zig-zag folder module (11) is attached at each extremity to endless chains (27) to provide the vertical travel, these chains engaging with toothed pinions (28,29) mounted on the side upright members (4,5).

3,- Improvements as in Claim 1, characterized in that the swivelling clamps of the Zig-zag folder unit (11) swivel on the cross bar (30,31) of the module and the stop limiting their angular travel is provided on a flange (32,33) which is fixed to the said bar (30,31).

4,- Improvements as in Claim 1, characterized in that there is provided a pair of orifices, (34) one in each of the side upright members (4,5) for fitting a second feed roller (35) its corresponding textile guide tubes (36,37) being attached to a prolongation of the guide tube supports (38) pertaining to the guide tubes (9) of the first feed roller (8).

5,- Improvements as in Claim 1, characterized in that the bars (6a,7a) uniting the side uprights (4,5) are made to a controlled diameter and mutually joined by a central plate (39), the said bars (6a,7a) serving as guides for the cross travel of a loading device (40) for the roll (2) this integrated device having a motor (41), the base plate being the central plate (39) which said motor provides the cross travel of the loading device (40).

6,- Improvemnts as in Claim 5, characterized in that the loading device (4) for the roll (2) is an integral unit comprising a frame (42) mounted on wheels (43,44) which can travel the length of the bars (6a,7a) there being mounted on each extremity of the frame (42) motors (45,46) for raising the arms (47) which carry the roll (2) of textile. The frame (42) has attached thereto a chain or similar means (48) driven by the motor (41) causing its cross travel motion.

7,- Improvements as in Claim 6, characterized in that the rod (49) which carries the roll (2) of textile has on at least one of its extremities a braking device (50) which includes essentially a disc (51) carrying a plurality of studs (52) made of a plastic material, in recesses which house springs (53) associated with them in their interior also including a metal plate (54) the surface of which is is in contact with the said studs (52) and is fitted with a spigot (55) which together with the support arm (56) of the rod (49) forms a stop such that on rotating the rod (49) the spigot (55) acting as a stop prevents the plate (54) from turning so that its surface rubs against the studs (52) thus causing a braking action.

8,- Improvements as in Claim 1, characterized in that one of the side upright members (4) of the trolley is provided with orifices (60, 62, 63, 64 and 65) for the purpose of attaching and securing the driving motor (61) while both the upright members (4 and 5) have housings (66 and 67) for bearings carrying the drive shaft (68) for the conversion of the manual version of the trolley (1) to motorization by fitting the motor (61) and its drive system (66 and 131 to 137) without need for further machanical modification.

9,- Improvements as in Claim 8, characterized in that it includes a gear train unit driven by the motor to at least one feed roller this unit comprising a first pinion (69) driven by the motor, a second pin­ion (70) engaging with the first pinion (69), a third pinion (71) coaxial with the second pinion (70) en­gaging with a fourth pinion (72) which, in turn,engages with the first pinion (69), the second pinion (70) and the third pinion (71) being mounted on a common shaft (73) rotating in unidirectional bearings both operat­ing in the same direction with the result that whichever be the direction of rotation of the motor the said shaft common to the two pinions (70 and 71) which transmits motion to at least one feed roller (35) invariably turns in the same direction of rotation.

10,- Improvements as in the Claims 8 and 9, characterized in that the gear train system includes an idler shaft (74) within the common shaft (73), this idler shaft being provided with a means of coupling (75) which enables a component (76) to be coupled thereto, this component being fitted with a unidirect­ional bearing which ensures that the said idler shaft (74) rotates in the same sense as the common shaft (73).

11,- Improvements as in Claims 8 and 9, characterized in that the gear train transmission comprises a plate (77) on which are mounted the pinions (69, 70,71 and 72) forming a module which can be coupled up to the machine through the corr­esponding aperture (78) in one of the upright side members of the trolley (1).

12,- Improvements as in Claim 8, characterized in that when there are two feed rollers (8 and 35), the first roller (35) being nearer to the textile roll and the second roller being further away from the roll, (8) they are kinematically in train through a chain (81) and pinion (79 and 80) drive,the first roller (35) being the driver and the second roller (8) the driven, and due to the pinion (80) of the second roller (8) being mounted in a unidirectional bearing, the roller (8) is not able to rotate in a contrary direction but invariably at a speed equal to or greater than that of the first roller (35) thus obviating the formation of creasing in the drawn textile web.

13,- Improvements as in Claim 8, characterized in that they include a device (85) for protection from turbulence which include a length of cloth (86) or simil­ar material rolled on a cylinder (87) placed horizontally and transversally at the exit of the textile, there being at the extremity of the cloth a batten (88) fixed to the cloth, the ends of the batten being attached to a pair of chains (89 and 90) disposed vertically and running on pairs of pinions (91,92,93 and 94) mounted on the respective upright members (4 and 5) of the trolley (1), the upper pinions (91 and 93) being composite with the cylinder (87) and having their primitive diameter virtually equal to the diameter of the cylinder (87), the turbulence protection device (85) covering the space between the two upright members (4 and 5) and above the drawn out textile web.

14,- Improvements as in Claim 8, characterized in that the means of hooking the cutting module (95) on to the trolley (1) consists of slots (97 and 98) in each of the two side attachment plates (96) of the cutting module, the slots having an initial horizontal length (99) followed by a final vertical length (100) there being in each of the two upright side members (4 and 5) a pair of screws (101 and 102), their heads being adapted to the width of the slots (97 and 98).

15,- Improvements as in Claim 8, characterized by the inclusion of a textile tensioning device (103) adapted to the cutting module, this device comprising a plurality of metal strips (104, 105 and 106) positioned between a support bar (107) and a cross member strip (108) which is in contact with the textile web and due to the flexibility of the strips (104, 105 and 106) adapts itself correctly to the textile.

16,- Improvements as in Claim 8, characterized in that they include a horizontal travel pantograph comprising an articulated parallelogram (109) one of whose sides (110) can travel along two slots, one being horizontal (111) and the other (112) defining a hyp­erbola.

17,- Improvements as in Claim 8, characterized in that the swivelling clamps of the Zig-zag folder module include a flange (32) fitted to the articul­ating shaft (30) provided with a travel stop (114), the flange (32) being capable of movement both angularly and along the said shaft (30= for the purpose of adjusting radially and laterally, the drop and the centering of the textile web.

18,- Improvements as in Claim 8, being characterized by including a plrality of connector devices (116, 117, 118, 119, 120, 121 and 122) fitted to a trunking bar (123) to which the diverse modules can be plugged in or similarly connected progressively starting from the basic machine.

19,- Improvements as in the Claim 8, characterized by the cutting module including a flexible pneumatic tube (124) having a pair of rapid fitting unions (125 and 126) at either end of the tube (124) on the cross member (23) of the cutting module itself and on the body of the cut­ting disc drive motor, for the purpose of con­ducting the power supply to this motor.

Drawing