EP1212252A1 - Web guidance system - Google Patents

Web guidance system

Info

Publication number
EP1212252A1
EP1212252A1 EP00958798A EP00958798A EP1212252A1 EP 1212252 A1 EP1212252 A1 EP 1212252A1 EP 00958798 A EP00958798 A EP 00958798A EP 00958798 A EP00958798 A EP 00958798A EP 1212252 A1 EP1212252 A1 EP 1212252A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
web
roller
cleaning
guidance system
rollers
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP00958798A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP1212252B1 (en
Inventor
Sheila Nether Knockbuckle HAMILTON
Charles Jonathan Kennet
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Teknek Electronics Ltd
Original Assignee
Teknek Electronics Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from GBGB9920973.6A external-priority patent/GB9920973D0/en
Priority claimed from GB0002996A external-priority patent/GB0002996D0/en
Application filed by Teknek Electronics Ltd filed Critical Teknek Electronics Ltd
Publication of EP1212252A1 publication Critical patent/EP1212252A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP1212252B1 publication Critical patent/EP1212252B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B08—CLEANING
    • B08B—CLEANING IN GENERAL; PREVENTION OF FOULING IN GENERAL
    • B08B7/00—Cleaning by methods not provided for in a single other subclass or a single group in this subclass
    • B08B7/0028—Cleaning by methods not provided for in a single other subclass or a single group in this subclass by adhesive surfaces
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H23/00—Registering, tensioning, smoothing or guiding webs
    • B65H23/02—Registering, tensioning, smoothing or guiding webs transversely
    • B65H23/032—Controlling transverse register of web
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H27/00—Special constructions, e.g. surface features, of feed or guide rollers for webs
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H2301/00—Handling processes for sheets or webs
    • B65H2301/50—Auxiliary process performed during handling process
    • B65H2301/51—Modifying a characteristic of handled material
    • B65H2301/511—Processing surface of handled material upon transport or guiding thereof, e.g. cleaning
    • B65H2301/5115—Cleaning
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H2404/00—Parts for transporting or guiding the handled material
    • B65H2404/10—Rollers
    • B65H2404/15—Roller assembly, particular roller arrangement
    • B65H2404/152—Arrangement of roller on a movable frame
    • B65H2404/1521—Arrangement of roller on a movable frame rotating, pivoting or oscillating around an axis, e.g. parallel to the roller axis
    • B65H2404/15212—Arrangement of roller on a movable frame rotating, pivoting or oscillating around an axis, e.g. parallel to the roller axis rotating, pivoting or oscillating around an axis perpendicular to the roller axis

Definitions

  • a web guidance system which incorporates web cleaning means, the system comprising at least one guiding roller controllable to effect guiding of the web, and at least a first cleaning roller having an outer surface coated with a material having a degree of tackiness capable of removing particulates from a surface of the web.
  • the cleaning roller which constitutes the guiding roller has a surface hardness greater than that of the other cleaning roller.
  • Fig. 7 shows an arrangement in which the web 25 passes through the system substantially linearly, supported by non-steerable infeed and outfeed rollers 70 and 71.
  • Upper and lower cleaning rollers 23A and 23B and backup rollers 24A and 24B are rotatably mounted, as shown only schematically, on a carrier 72 to form an assembly 73 which can be rotated about a vertical axis on a base 74.
  • the assembly 73 is rotated under feedback control as before to correct the track of the web.

Landscapes

  • Cleaning In General (AREA)
  • Current-Collector Devices For Electrically Propelled Vehicles (AREA)
  • Fixing For Electrophotography (AREA)
  • Controlling Rewinding, Feeding, Winding, Or Abnormalities Of Webs (AREA)
  • Soil Working Implements (AREA)
  • Preliminary Treatment Of Fibers (AREA)
  • Eye Examination Apparatus (AREA)
  • Polarising Elements (AREA)

Abstract

A system (20) for handling a web (25) combines guiding and cleaning functions. A guiding roller (22) and upper and lower cleaning rollers (23A, 23B) are mounted in a frame (21) which can be rotated about an axis transverse to the rollers (22, 23A, 23B) to guide the web (25). Other combinations of guiding and cleaning rollers are disclosed.

Description

"Web Guidance System"
The present invention relates to a web guidance system and in particular to a web guidance system capable of web cleaning.
It is known in production processes to make use of webs which require to be cleaned. Such webs are thin, generally plastic materials and web guidance systems are well known in the art . Webs are prone to run off track easily and the web guidance systems are used to keep the web on a desired track.
Web cleaning systems are also known in the art, these cleaning systems being used to remove particulates from at least one surface of the web.
In the past it has been the practice to use separate web cleaning systems and web guidance systems. The surface of a cleaning roller is formed of elastomeric material which is compressible. This compressibility means that when the web is placed in tension over the cleaning roller the web can deviate from track, and this factor has caused cleaning rollers to be thought not to be suitable for use also as guidance rollers which has inhibited the development or use of combined cleaning/guidance systems, system can malfunction.
According to invention, there is provided a web guidance system which incorporates web cleaning means, the system comprising at least one guiding roller controllable to effect guiding of the web, and at least a first cleaning roller having an outer surface coated with a material having a degree of tackiness capable of removing particulates from a surface of the web.
The system may include a second cleaning roller having an outer surface coated with a material having a degree of tackiness capable of removing particulates from the other surface of the web.
One of the cleaning rollers may constitute the guiding roller.
Preferably, the cleaning roller which constitutes the guiding roller has a surface hardness greater than that of the other cleaning roller.
Preferably also, the or each cleaning roller is provided with a respective backup roller arranged to engage the cleaning roller and having a surface coated with a material having a degree of tackiness greater than that of the cleaning roller for removing particulates from the cleaning roller.
In preferred embodiments, the several rollers are mounted for rotation about parallel roller rotation axes m a common frame, the frame being rotatable about a frame rotation axis which is perpendicular to said roller rotation axes; and the system suitably includes a feedback control loop which comprises an edge sensor for sensing the position of the web edge at a location downstream of the rollers, and an actuator arranged to rotate said frame about the frame rotation axis m response to the output of the edge sensor.
Cleaning may take place at an upstream side or at a downstream side of the system.
Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, m which:
Fig. 1 is a schematic isometric view of a web guidance system as known m the art;
Fig. 2 is a schematic isometric view of one embodiment of the present invention; and
Figs. 3 to 9 are views similar to fig. 2 of alternative embodiments of the invention.
Fig. 1 illustrates web guiding apparatus 10 as is known m the art. The web guiding apparatus 10 comprises a mounting plate 11 on which a first guiding roller 12 and a second guiding roller 13 are mounted for rotation about spaced horizontal axes. A web 15 is placed m tension over the first and second guiding rollers 12 and 13. The web guiding apparatus 10 further comprises an edge sensor 14 for detecting the edge of the web and ensuring that the web 15 is running on track. When the sensor 14 detects that the web 15 is moving off track then a suitable control system is activated. The control system comprises a feedback loop 16A driving a linear actuator 16 which is arranged to rotate the mounting plate 11 about a central vertical axis. Thus, the linear actuator 16 causes the axes of the guiding rollers 12 and 13 to swivel m a horizontal plane, in order to cause the web 15 to track m the desired direction. The feedback loop 16A continues to operate the linear actuator 16 until the sensor 14 detects that the web 15 is m the desired location.
Referring to Fig. 2, there is illustrated one embodiment of a web guidance system 20 m accordance with the present invention, which includes web cleaning apparatus for cleaning both the upper and lower surfaces of the web 25. The system 20 comprises mounting plates 21A and 2 IB adapted to mount an input roller 22, an upper cleaning roller 23A, a lower cleaning roller 23B, a first back-up roller 24A and a second back-up roller 24B. The various rollers rotate about parallel, horizontal axes, while the mounting plates are mounted (by means not shown) to rotate about a vertical axis at the midlength of the assembly. The web 25 is fed over the input roller 22 then between the upper and lower cleaning rollers 23A and 23B. The web then passes an anti-static device 26, which removes static built up through the system. An edge sensor 14, feedback loop 16A and linear actuator 16 are provided which operate as m the prior art system to keep the web 25 on the desired track.
As will be evident, the lower cleaning roller 23B also acts as a web guiding roller equivalent to the web guiding roller 12 of the prior art design shown m Fig. 1. In order for the web guidance aspect of this embodiment to operate efficiently, the web 25 must be m tension over the guiding roller 23B.
Normally, cleaning rollers, by their nature, are not as hard as guiding rollers, because the cleaning rollers generally use elastomeric materials and have a degree of "give" . This means that when the web 25 is put m tension over the lower cleaning roller 23B, it is compressed and the web guiding system may not operate effectively.
However, m this present embodiment, the surface of the lower cleaning roller 24B is harder than the surface of the upper cleaning roller 23A. Therefore, the lower cleaning roller 23B has less "give" than the upper cleaning roller 23A thus allowing the guidance aspect of the embodiment to function properly.
The web cleaning system operates m a manner that is well known m the prior art, that is, having upper and lower cleaning rollers 23A and 23B respectively, both having first degrees of adhesive tackiness to remove particulates from the upper and lower surfaces of the web 25, respectively. These upper and lower cleaning rollers 23A and 23B engage first and second back-up rollers 24A and 24B, respectively. These first and second back-up rollers 24A and 24B have second degrees of adhesive tackiness for removing the particulates from the upper and lower cleaning rollers 23A and 23B.
Alternative embodiments will now be described with reference to Figs. 3 to 9. In these Figures like parts are denoted by like reference numerals, and the anti- static device 2 and the edge detector 14 and feedback system 16, 16A have been omitted but operate as before.
In Fig. 3, a mounting plate 11 is pivoted on a support 30. Two rollers are rotatably carried by the mounting plate 11: a cleaning roller 23A at the input side, and a guiding roller 13 at the output side.
In Fig. 4, the mounting plate 11 carries guiding rollers 12 and 13, the guiding roller 13 at the output end having associated therewith a cleaning roller 23A and adhesive backup roller 24A. Fig. 5 is similar, but the cleaning roller 23A and backup roller 24A are positioned at the input end.
The embodiments of Figs. 3 to 5 are therefore suitable for cleaning only one side of the web. The embodiments shown in Figs. 6 to 9 clean both sides of the web. Fig. 6 is similar to Fig. 5, but the input end guiding roller is replaced by a second cleaning roller 23B and backup roller 24B.
Fig. 7 shows an arrangement in which the web 25 passes through the system substantially linearly, supported by non-steerable infeed and outfeed rollers 70 and 71. Upper and lower cleaning rollers 23A and 23B and backup rollers 24A and 24B are rotatably mounted, as shown only schematically, on a carrier 72 to form an assembly 73 which can be rotated about a vertical axis on a base 74. The assembly 73 is rotated under feedback control as before to correct the track of the web.
Fig. 8 shows an assembly 73 similar to that of Fig. 7, but mounted within a mounting plate 11 which also carries guiding rollers 12 and 13. Fig. 9 is similar functionally to Fig. 8, but the assembly 73 is secured by readily accessible bolts 90 into a modified mounting plate 91 such that the assembly 73 can readily be removed and replaced in a modular manner.
Modifications and improvements may be made to the foregoing within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A web guidance system which incorporates web cleaning means, the system comprising at least one guiding roller controllable to effect guiding of the web, and at least a first cleaning roller having an outer surface coated with a material having a degree of tackiness capable of removing particulates from a surface of the web.
2. A web guidance system according to claim 1, including a second cleaning roller having an outer surface coated with a material having a degree of tackiness capable of removing particulates from the other surface of the web.
3. A web guidance system according to claim 2, in which one of the cleaning rollers constitutes the guiding roller.
4. A web guidance system according to claim 3, in which the cleaning roller which constitutes the guiding roller has a surface hardness greater than that of the other cleaning roller.
5. A web guidance system according to any preceding claim, in which the or each cleaning roller is provided with a respective backup roller arranged to engage the cleaning roller and having a surface coated with a material having a degree of tackiness greater than that of the cleaning roller for removing particulates from the cleaning roller.
6. A web guidance system according to any preceding claim, m which the several rollers are mounted for rotation about parallel roller rotation axes m a common frame, the frame being rotatable about a frame rotation axis which is perpendicular to said roller rotation axes.
7. A web guidance system according to claim 6, including a feedback control loop which comprises an edge sensor for sensing the position of the web edge at a location downstream of the rollers, and an actuator arranged to rotate said frame about the frame rotation axis m response to the output of the edge sensor.
8. A web guidance system according to any preceding claim, m which cleaning takes place at an upstream side of the system.
9. A web guidance system according to any of claims 1 to 7, m which cleaning takes place at a downstream side of the system.
EP00958798A 1999-09-07 2000-09-07 Web guidance system Expired - Lifetime EP1212252B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (5)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GBGB9920973.6A GB9920973D0 (en) 1999-09-07 1999-09-07 Web guidance system
GB9920973 1999-09-07
GB0002996 2000-02-10
GB0002996A GB0002996D0 (en) 2000-02-10 2000-02-10 Web guidance system
PCT/GB2000/003413 WO2001017882A1 (en) 1999-09-07 2000-09-07 Web guidance system

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1212252A1 true EP1212252A1 (en) 2002-06-12
EP1212252B1 EP1212252B1 (en) 2004-03-24

Family

ID=26243611

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP00958798A Expired - Lifetime EP1212252B1 (en) 1999-09-07 2000-09-07 Web guidance system

Country Status (5)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1212252B1 (en)
AT (1) ATE262467T1 (en)
AU (1) AU7021700A (en)
DE (1) DE60009316D1 (en)
WO (1) WO2001017882A1 (en)

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB0519263D0 (en) * 2005-09-21 2005-10-26 Teknek Holdings Ltd Surface cleaning apparatus
GB2492991A (en) * 2011-07-19 2013-01-23 Itw Cs Uk Ltd Contact cleaning assembly
CN103128065A (en) * 2013-02-04 2013-06-05 宏茂光电（苏州）有限公司 Anti-static cleaning machine of optical diaphragm

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4018555A (en) * 1975-09-24 1977-04-19 Xerox Corporation Cleaning apparatus for roll fuser
US4344693A (en) * 1980-04-14 1982-08-17 Xerox Corporation Belt tracking system
US4572417A (en) * 1984-04-06 1986-02-25 Eastman Kodak Company Web tracking apparatus
US5387962A (en) * 1993-12-13 1995-02-07 Xerox Corporation Self-aligning roll for belt loop modules

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
See references of WO0117882A1 *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
ATE262467T1 (en) 2004-04-15
AU7021700A (en) 2001-04-10
DE60009316D1 (en) 2004-04-29
EP1212252B1 (en) 2004-03-24
WO2001017882A1 (en) 2001-03-15

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