GB2042235A - Web supply and take-up apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

Apparatus for selectively, and/or consecutively, exposing portions of a web of material includes a take-up spindle (14) to receive the web, journal means to receive at least one end of the take-up spindle and co-operative aperture means (13) to rotatably receive one end of the spindle, the periphery of the aperture having at least one lobe therein and the spindle including radially flexible detent means to engage the periphery of the aperture so the detent can be urged radially inwardly by engagement with said periphery, and wherein the detent is urged radially outwardly to be received in the lobes of the aperture to restrict rotation of the spindle in a selected direction. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Web supply arrangements This invention relates to web supply arrangements.

Various prior art devices are known to selectively guide a printed web of material, for example paper, from a supply roll to a take-up role past a selected location for viewing or other purposes. Such arrangements have been found, for example, in roll calendars.

Such prior art device have not, however, provided means to deal with problems commorily encountered due to the elasticity of the printed web. More particularly, the elasticity of the printed web and the inherent web tension in such prior art arrangements prevent efficient and proper indexing of the selected segments of the web in the viewing or work area intermediate the supply and take-up spindles. Specifically, such prior art devices do not provide efficient and economical arrangements whereby the web can be indexed to the proper location because of the tension inherent in the web. As a result, the web either "backs-up" or "rolls forward" when the take-up spindle is rotated to index a portion of the web in the work area, and multiple adjustments are necessary to finally secure proper indexing.

A few prior art devices have provided complex, expensive arrangements to prevent web "back-up" or "roll forward" but such devices are prohibitively expensive, and furthermore even the arrangements provided by such prior art devices are not entirely satisfactory.

The present invention in one aspect provides a web supply and take-up apparatus, comprising: (a) a web supply roll to provide a supply of selected web; (b) a- rotatable web take-up means to receive web supplied from the web supply roll including an elongate web take-up spindle of selected diameter having at least one longitudinally extending groove adjacent at least one first end of the spindle where the web is wound onto a portion of the spindle adjacent the said groove upon rotation of the spindle; means; (c) flexible radially outwardly biased detent means disposed for rotation with the spindle and normally located radially outwardly from the said groove in space aligned relation with the groove to be radially inwardly urged into the groove; (d) journal means including co-operative aperture means to rotatably receive the said first end of the spindle wherein a first aperture means has a diameter larger than the diameter of the spindle wherein the periphery of the first aperture means is adapted to engage the detent means to urge the detent means into the said groove and wherein the said first aperture means periphery further includes outwardly extending lobe opening means where the detent means is received in the said lobe means as the spindle is rotated into alignment with the lobe means to restrict rotation of the spindle; and (e) web guide means to guide the web from the web supply roll to the web take-up means.

The invention in another aspect provides a printed web display apparatus, comprising: (a) a casing including a display panel having an aperture to expose a selected segment of the web, wherein the casing includes generally parallel, spaced, first and second sidewalls and spaced end-walls extending laterally from the display panel, wherein a co-operative aperture means is provided in the first sidewall and the said co-operative aperture means has radially outwardly extending lobe means; (b) web supply means located within the casing on one side of the display panel;; (c) web take-up means located on the side of the display panel opposite the web supply means to receive web supplied from the web supply means and including a web take-up spindle journalled for rotation in the said second sidewall and extending through the said co-operative aperture means, the spindle having detent means adjacent the portion thereof located in the said co-operative aperture means where the detent means extends radially outwardly from the spindle and is adapted for radial movement relative to the spindle means to engage the periphery of the said co-operative aperture means and to extend into the said lobe means as the spindle is rotated.

The present invention provides a straightforward arrangement to provide a printed web of material, for example paper, from a web supply to a take-up roll and index the imprinted web at a selected work location intermediate the supply and take-up rolls.

The supply roll and/or the take-up roll is journalled for rotation with means to restrain undesirable rotation of the spindle where an aperture is provided in the journal to receive the take-up roll spindle where at least one lobe of selected depth is provided in the aperture, and the take-up spindle is adapted to be received through the aperture and has a radially flexible detent which extends outwardly from the outer circumference thereof to engage the periphery of the aperture and is adapted to be urged radially outwardly to be received in the lobe to restrain rotation of the spindle within the aperture. A guide member guides a web of material from the web supply to the take-up spindle.

The present invention further provides a straightforward, extremely inexpensive arrangement which is particularly useful in the display of a roll calendar where the calendar roll is imprinted with the days of the year consecutively along the length thereof so that each day of the year can be separately indexed for exposure through a viewing aperture which can be located in the work area described above.

Arrangements in accordance with the present invention can include a one-piece casing with a platten intermediate the web supply and web takeup rolls which can, advantageously, be utilized as a work surface, for example where the apparatus is utilized as a children's colouring tray and where the web is imprinted with the outline of figures to be coloured when the figures are indexed from the supply means to the platten.

Apparatuses in accordance with the present invention overcome the prior art problem of "roll forward" or "roll back" by use of the advantageous journal arrangement for the take-up spindle and the restraint provided on rotation of the supply roll.

Moreover, the apparatuses in accordance with the present invention are useful in any application wherein it is desired to consecutively index an imprinted web of material.

The invention will be further described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is an exploded view of an apparatus in accordance with the present invention as applied to a calendar; Figure 2 is a view taken along the line 2-2 of Figure 1 with the apparatus in assembled form; Figure 3 is an exploded, enlarged view of one spindle as shown in the apparatus of Figure 1; Figure 4 is an outline of the periphery of an aperture provided in a sidewall of the apparatus as shown in Figure 1; Figure 5is an exploded, perspective illustration of an apparatus in accordance with the present invention as a colouring device; Figure Gis a view taken along a plane passing through the line 6-6 of Figure 5; Figure 7 is a view taken along a plane passing through the line 7-7 of Figure 5; and Figure 8 is a view taken along a plane passing through the line 8-8 of Figure 5.

Referring now to Figure 1,showing one apparatus in accordance with the present invention to receive and display for example a calendar roll, a casing 1 is provided with a bottom 2, and spaced generally parallel co-operative sidewalls 3 and 4 located on either side of the bottom 2. A front end wall 6 has an aperture 7 defining a viewing slot and a co-operative rear end wall 6A extends between the sidewalls 3 and 4 to close a portion of the rear of the casing.

Guide means 8, 8A are co-operatively provided in the walls 3 and 4 adjacent the viewing aperture 7 to receive a guide member 9 to guide a web, for example a paper roll. Referring to Figure 2, a top 10 is provided to enclose the top side of the casing defined by the walls 3 and 4, as shown. An aperture 12 is provided in the sidewall 3 and an aperture 13 is provided in the sidewall 4, in generally longitudinally aligned relation to receive a spindle 14 adapted to take-up a web of material, for example a calendar roll, where the apertures 13 and 14 rotatably journal the spindle 14.

A partition 28 (Figure 2) can be provided within the casing 1 to define a supply roll chamber 25 to receive a web supply roll 27 where the partition 28 can extend all the way or, as shown in Figure 1, only a part of the way between the sidewalls 3 and 4. It will be recognized that other devices may be adapted to utilize a journalled spindle in the chamber 25 but the arrangement shown has proved to be satisfactory.

Apertures 12 and 13 can advantageously be of the general shape shown in Figure 4 wherein lobes 13A, 13B and 13C are provided around the periphery of the apertures to receive stop members and have a relatively steep outlet edge as well as a gradual transition section 13D-F. Lobes 13A-C and transition sections 13D-F disposed therebetween form a multiple lobe cam wheel where a detent 22 (Figure 3) acts as a follower.

The spindle 14 is provided with longitudinally extending grooves 16 and 17 located adjacent opposite ends along a portion of the spindle which are, advantageously, of selected width and depth.

Co-operative knobs 18 and 19 are provided to be received on either end of the spindle 14. Each knob 18, 19 can be made of plastics and can include an internal sleeve 21 having a flexible, radially movable detent 22 of selected depth and width. As shown in Figure 3, the radial depth of the detent 22 can be greater than the thickness of the wall of the sleeve 21 and the detent 22, which is advantageously flexible for radial movement relative to the axis of the sleeve 21, is disposed so that the lower portion 22A of the detent 22 extends inwardly past the periphery of the cylinder formed by the sleeve 21.

The inwardly extending portion 22A of the detent 22 can, advantageously, be configurated to be co-operatively received in the groove 16 of the spindle 14 to prevent independent rotation of the knob 18 on the spindle 14 and can be radially movable, relative to the sleeve 21, therein. Advantageously, the depth of the groove 16 can be greater than the depth of the portion 22A of the detent 22 which extends below the inner periphery of the sleeve 21, to allow radial movement of the detent 22 into the groove 16.

Likewise, itwill be noted that a portion 22B of the detent 22 extends radially outwardly from the outer periphery of the sleeve 21.

Referring now to Figure 2, which shows the path of a web 26 through the apparatus shown in Figure 1, the web 26 is supplied from a supply roll 27 and fed in a path beneath and in front of the guide member 9 to expose selected portions of the web to view through the aperture 7. The supply roll 27 is retained in the chamber 25 by partitions 28 as previously described. The web 26 passes upwardly over the front side of the guide member 9 for exposure through the aperture 7, then back over the partitions 28 and to be wound on the spindle 14, as shown.

Partitions 28 can be provided on the walls 3 and 4 between the spindle 14 and the supply roll 27 to retain the supply roll 27 in position. It will be noted that, in Figure 2, the top 10 is in position covering the top of the casing 1.

The web 26 is advanced from the supply roll 27 to the spindle 14 by rotation of the knob 18 connected to the spindle 14.

The detents 22 of the knobs 18, 19 are located in apertures 13 and 12 respectively. With respect to Figures 1 and 4, which illustrate the configuration of the aperture 13 in the sidewall 4, the portion 22B of the detent 22 engages the cam surface provided by the aperture 13 where the detent 22 can be in a relaxed position when located by the lobes 13A-C.

As the knob 13 is rotated the detent 22 engages the transition sections 13D, 13E or 13F of the aperture 13, whereby the detent 22 is urged deeper into the groove 16 and finally, upon reaching the next lobe 13A-C, the detent 22 is released into the lobe 13A-C so that reverse rotation of the detent 22 is precluded to prevent reverse rotation of the knob 18 and the spindle 14.

Because of the co-operation between the detent 22 and the groove 16 of the spindle 14, the segment of the web 26 exposed to the aperture 7 is securely located and recoil of web is prevented so that once a portion of the web 26 is positioned in the aperture 7, the drag inherent in the web flow path does not withdraw the particular segment from exposure to the aperture 7.

Additionally, there are provided means for maintaining tension in the web 26 and preventing the take-up spindle 14 from being reversed upon release after advancing the web 26.

It will be further recognized that, depending upon the application of the invention, additional or few lobes can be provided in the apertures 12 or 13 or the positions of the lobes can be staggered to provide more or less frequent locking of the take-up mechanism.

Figure 5 shows another application of the apparatus of the present invention to a work table, for example a colouring device to store and feed a web of paper imprinted with figures to be coloured by a child where a work area is provided intermediate the web supply and take-up stations.

The apparatus includes a lower casing 31 having deep wells 32, 33 disposed at opposite ends of a work table 34. Spaced apertures 37 are provided in one sidewall with one aperture communicating with each of the wells 32,33 as shown. Lobes 37A are provided in the periphery of the apertures 37.

A pair of saddle brackets 36 having openings 36A are also provided in spaced aligned relation in each well 32,33, where the openings 36A in each well are in aligned relation with an aperture 37. Also, spacer means, for example a bar 35, can be provided in each well 32,33 in aligned relation with the openings 36A, at the sidewall opposite the respective opening 37, as shown.

Sidewalls 41,42,43 and 44 are adapted to facilitate release from a mould in which the casing is formed.

For example, referring to Figures 6,7 and 8, the walls 43 and 44 are slanted inwardly from top to bottom as shown where lines 54, 56 are extensions of the walls 43,44 respectively as related to lines 52, 53 which respectively represent a vertical reference. Likewise, the sidewall 42 of the well 32 is inclined inwardly as indicated by a line 51 which is an extension of the wall 42 as compared with the vertical reference line 56. Likewise, the wall 41, which extends between the wells 32,33 under the table 34 is inclined inwardly as shown by a line 47 which is an extension of the wall 41 as compared with a vertical reference line 46. It has been found that arrangements where the sidewalls of the casing 31 are inclined inwardly facilitate formation of the casing where the internal walls of the wells 32 and 33 and the corresponding well formed beneath the table 34 and bounded by the walls 41 have outwardly sloped walls so that the mould die can be easily released after forming and the casing can be easily released from the mould cavity.

Lugs 40 are provided at each end of the casing 31 to secure a lid.

Reference numerals 48 and 49 indicate the engles between the lines 46 and 47 and 51 respectively.

Claims (7)

1. A web supply and take-up apparatus, comprising: (a) a web supply roll to provide a supply of selected web; (b) a rotatable web take-up means to receive web supplied from the web supply roll including an elongate web take-up spindle of selected diameter having at least one longitudinally extending groove adjacent at least one first end of the spindle where the web is wound onto a portion of the spindle adjacent the said groove upon rotation of the spindle; means; (c) flexible radially outwardly biased detent means disposed for rotation with the spindle and normally located radially outwardly from the said groove in spaced aligned relation with the groove to be radially inwardly urged into the groove; (d) journal means including co-operative aperture means to rotatably receive the said first end of the spindle wherein a first aperture means has a diameter larger than the diameter of the spindle wherein the periphery of the first aperture means is adapted to engage the detent means to urge the detent means into the said groove and wherein the said first aperture means periphery further includes outwardly extending lobe opening means where the detent means is received in the said lobe means as the spindle is rotated into alignment with the lobe means to restrict rotation of the spindle; and (e) web guide means to guide the web from the supply roll to the web take-up means.

2. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the web take-up spindle includes a knob having a collar adapted to internally receive the said first end of the spindle where the collar is adapted to provide a base for the said radially outwardly biased detent means to be urged into the said longitudinally extending groove, and wherein the said aperture means is adapted to receive the collar of the web take-up means and to hold the detent means in the groove until the knob is rotated to a position where the detent means is released into the said lobe means.

3. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein the said aperture means includes at least one cam surface of decreasing radius to contact the detent means of the spindle to urge the detent means into the said groove as the spindle is rotated in a first direction, wherein the said cam surface terminates at the said lobe means, and wherein the detent means springs radially outwardly with respect to the spindle so that the detent means engages the said lobe means to restrict rotation of the spindle in a direction of rotation opposite to the said first direction.

4. A printed web display apparatus comprising: (a) a casing including a display panel having an aperture to expose a selected segment of the web, wherein the casing includes generally parallel, spaced, first and second sidewalls and spaced endwalls extending laterally from the display panel, wherein a co-operative aperture means is provided in the first sidewall and the said co-operative aperture means has radially outwardly extending lobe means; (b) web supply means located within the casing on one side of the display panel;; (c) web take-up means located on the side of the display panel opposite the web supply means to receive web supplied from the web supply means and including a web take-up spindle journalled for rotation in the said second sidewall and extending through the said co-operative aperture means, the spindle having detent means adjacent the portion thereof located in the said co-operative aperture means where the detent means extends radially outwardly from the spindle and is adapted for radial movement relative to the spindle means to engage the periphery of the said co-operative aperture means and to extend into the said lobe means as the spindle is rotated.

5. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 4, wherein the web supply means are disposed in co-operative wells located at opposite ends of the display panel and wherein the said first and second sidewalls and the endwalls are inwardly inclined.

6. Aweb supply and take-up apparatus, substantially as herein described with reference to, and as shown in, Figures 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings.

7. A printed web display apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to, and as shown in, Figures 5 to 8 of the accompanying drawings.