GB869893A - Improved methods of guiding sheet material and apparatus therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

869,893. Laminating. SPOONER DRYER & ENGINEERING CO. Ltd. Sept. 2, 1959 [Sept. 3, 1958; Jan. 3, 1959; July 30, 1959], Nos. 28241/58, 295/59 and 26126/59. Class 140. [Also in Group XVI] An apparatus for transversely guiding a web comprises a pair of roller members for engaging the web, means for axially displacing one of the roller members from a normal axial position with respect to the other roller member, and for returning the displaced roller member to normal position, one of the roller members only engaging the web during the outward movement of the displaced roller member and the other roller member engaging the web during the return stroke of the displaced roller member. As applied to an apparatus for forming a multi-ply web from several plies 11, Fig. 1a impregnated with resin, e.g. polyvinyl chloride, the plies pass under auxiliary and main rollers 23a, 14a and over auxiliary and main rollers 23, 14 respectively before being fed to a heated drum, not shown. The rollers 23a, 23 are carried by slides 24a, 24 respectively vertically reciprocable by hydraulic cylinders 10a, 10 to disengage the plies 11 from the main rollers 14a, 14 which are selectively axially displaceable. Thus, the plies can be guided transversely such that they are in transverse alignment. In the case of the lower plies 11, the weight of the plies rests on the main rollers 14 during their axial displacement, the rollers 23 are then raised to take the weight of the plies and then rollers 14 are returned to normal axial position while disengaged from the plies. The main roller 14, Fig. 2, is rotatably and axially slidable in bearings in supports 30, 31 and the auxiliary roller 23 is mounted in vertically moving slides 24. The roller 14 is axially displaced by pistons 32 or 33 in cylinders 34 or 35 respectively and is returned to normal position by springs 61 or 62. The supply of hydraulic liquid to cylinders 34 and 35 is controlled by an hydraulic control system, Fig. 3 (not shown). In another embodiment, Fig. 4 (not shown) hydraulic fluid acts directly on the ends of a spindle 86 within cylinders 84, 85 and carrying the main roller 14, while the roller 23 is raised and lowered by cams on a cam shaft 101. A cam 102 on the shaft 101 operates valves 103, 104 connected to an air cylinder 96 having a piston 95 which actuates a lever 93 controlling the setting of a valve 107 which supplies hydraulic liquid to the cylinders 84 or 85. In another embodiment, Figs. 5 and 6 (not shown) the roller is displaced by cams 110, 111. In a further embodiment, Fig. 7 (not shown), the auxiliary roller 23 is mounted in bearings 140, 141 attached by cranks 142, 143 to supports 30, 31 carrying the roller 14. Rotation of the cranks causes the roller 23 to move with a circular motion in a vertical plane. The cranks 142, 143 may be driven manually by a handle 144 or by an electric motor. Instead of main and auxiliary rollers, a roller 14, Fig. 3, is formed of a main segment 151 and an auxiliary segment 152, the segment 152 being carried by a spindle 158 axially slidable within spindle ends 153, 154. An extension 159 of the spindle 158 has an operating lever movable between the broken line positions 161 and 161b. A cam 162 indicates the instantaneous angular position of the roller 14 by rocking an indicator 163, Fig. 5 (not shown), of the drawings accompanying Application No. 295/59 for actuating the segment 152 at the appropriate time. Alternatively the auxiliary segment 152, Figs. 6 and 7 (not shown) of the second Provisional Specification may be displaced pneumatically or hydraulically. In another embodiment, rollers 14 and 23, Fig. 1, of the third Provisional Specification are rotatably mounted in a bracket 12 pivotally mounted at 13 to a bracket 15. The bracket 12 is rocked by a rod 16 to transfer the weight of the ply 11 from the roller 14 to the roller 23 and vice versa. The roller 23 is axially displaceable pneumatically, hydraulically or by cams to effect lateral guiding of the ply 11. In each embodiment the rollers may be provided with circumferential grooves to increase friction between the ply 11 and rollers.