Title: Method of and apparatus for applying mat to the roof of a mine working

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Abstract: A method of and apparatus for applying a succession of strips of mat to the roof of an underground mine working wherein the strips are applied by an applicator means mounted on a mining machine or other transporter means, and the lateral position of the applicator means is adjustable relatively to the mining machine or transporter means so that, despite lateral deviations of the latter when the mat is undergoing laying, each newly laid strip of mat can be brought into the desired lateral position with the nearer edges of the newly applied strip of mat and the last applied strip of mat is proximate relation. A sensing means providing an electrical output representative of the position of the last applied strip of mat serves through control means to control the operation of a pressure fluid double-acting piston and cylinder forming an actuating means for adjusting the lateral position of the mat applicator.

Excessive lateral deviations of the mining machine or transporter means are detected by limit sensing elements and movement of the mining machine or transporter means is then stopped.