IE44665B1 - Web edge decurling device and method for using same - Google Patents

Abstract

WEB EDGE DECURLING DEVICE AND METHOD FOR USING SAME A device is disclosed and claimed herein for engagement with a moving web to remove curl, fold or crease from an edge thereof. Opposite banks of elongated stationary fins are angularly disposed with respect to the direction of movement of the web and are spaced apart to define a predetermined web passageway therethrough, The edge of the traveling web passes between the banks of fins and cooperative forces produced by the opposing banks of the elongated angularly disposed fins remove curl from the edge of the web as well as removing folds and creases. In a preferred embodiment, the elongated fins have opposite taper at leading and trailing ends to permit proper feeding of a web therebetween and to permit location of the device in close proximity to adjacent web handling equipment. In another preferred embodiment, the two banks of elongated fins are operatively associated under spring tension, whereby adjustment may be made between banks of fins while damage to a web passing therethrough or to the device is substantially alleviated,

Description

This invention is concerned with a device for engagement with a moving web to remove curl, fold or crease from an edge thereof.

Textile webs in general are subject to curling along an edge or selvedge thereof when being handled and often have pressed folds or creases thereat. In order to produce a compact roll of goods or to achieve proper web handling along a process line for printing, inspection, drying, extraction of moisture, washing doubling, tacking or other web treatment, it is desirable and sometimes necessary to ensure that the web is in a flat condition, with little or no fabric deformation being present at either selvedge during handling. Proper package preparation or web handling may thus be achieved in conjunction with apparatus of the present invention that engages the web selvedge and due to a particular action, removes curl, folds and creases in the selvedge of the web. While the device of the present invention is suitable for curl, fold and crease removal, hereinafter the term decurling only will be used for all.

Several different classes of decurling devices have heretofore been developed that include static as well as power driven approaches. Known static systems include a pair of spring loaded elements that are disposed above and below the web, with each of the elements being U shaped where a short leg of the U is presented on the web side and engages the web so as to strip curl therefrom.

A further static structure includes a planar surface having ridges disposed thereon over which the web passes, with frictional forces produced between the web and the - 2 4 4 6 6 5 ridges attempting to remove curl from the selvedge of the web. Many of the web edge decurlers in commercial operation are of a driven type where oppositely disposed discs, rotating fingers, screws, belts or the like are located along a selvedge of the web. The elements are driven to produce a motion which, in turn, imparts a spreading effect on the web to remove curl along the selvedge of same. Likewise, air jets have been directed against web curl to cause an uncurling of the selvedge.

IO All of the aforementioned prior art decurling devices are expensive, bulky, and/or are limited as to deployment due to physical size or construction. Further, the driven units require a high energy consumption and operating cost.

It is an .object of the present invention to provide an improved device for removing curl, folds and the like from the edge of a moving web.

The present invention is a device for removing curl, folds and the like from an edge of a moving web comprising a top plate having a first plurality of parallel elongated fins associated therewith, said fins having a smooth, angled edge for contact with said web, a bottom plate having a second plurality of parallel elongated fins associated therewith, said finds having a smooth, angled edge for contact with said web and being located adjacent and vertically offset from said fins associated with said top plate, adjustment means associated with said plates for setting said fins in a predetermined relationship, and means for mounting said plates at the edge of a moving web such that the web passes between the plates and the fins are inclined towards the edge of the fabric in the direction of travel thereof More specifically, the device of one embodiment of the present invention is a unit where two banks of 44665 elongated spaced apart angularly disposed fins are adjustable to provide an overlap or a predetermined gap therebetween. ‘ Spring loaded at the particular relative positions, the two banks of fins co-operate and act on a ,web travelling therebetween to spread the web in a direction transverse to the direction of web travel to a point where any curl along the selvedge of the web is removed Since the installed device is a static structure, no maintenance problems are inherent therewith. Likewise, initial cost of the device is small compared to the initial cost of certain of the prior art driven units for removing curl .from the selvedge of a travelling web. The device also may be adjusted to provide a wider gap at the entrance end than at the exit end for certain webs whereupon curl is progressively removed along the angular length of the fins of the device.

A further feature for consideration is that the elongated fins are preferably tapered at a leading end for ease of web entry into the device. An element taper away from the plane of the oncoming web assists in guiding the web between the banks of fins. Likewise, a taper may be provided along a trailing end of the elongated fins of the device, which permits the unit to be located immediately adjacent anip defined by a pair of rolls, a roll and a planar surface, ox* other processing equipment. Hence, after removal of curl from a selvedge of a travelling web, the web can be immediately engaged by adjacent equipment before the curl can return. In this manner, processability . of a travelling web is improved or the web may be wound into a roll without any end distortion due to curl, folds - 4 44635 or the like therein.

In one arrangement along a process line, a web feed means may be provided to supply a source of web. The feed means is located upstream from the decurling device while a suitable web take-up means is located downsti’eam of the decurler. Obviously, other processing equipment may be interspersed along the web line as desired. In fact, the decurling device of the present invention may be submerged in a finishing range, may be located on a simple fabric batcher, may be used on a tenter frame Just ahead of the pins, may be used in conjunction with a pad, an extractor, print machines, doublers, and tackers, and the like.

The present invention is also a method for removing curl, folds and the like from a travelling web comprising the steps of providing a pair of opposite pluralities of elongated static fins, one plurality being above said web and the other below said web, said pluralities of fins being preadjusted to a predetermined. relationship providing a passageway therebetween, passing an edge of said web between said pluralities and engaging said web with said fins, and further handling said web.

While a wide range of webs may be flattened by the device of the present invention, a proper setting of the device removes curl, folds and the like without instituting any longitudinal tension in the web or picking of the web.

Moreover, the fins of the decurler unit may be hardened or otherwise treated to handle abrasive webs without any adverse effects thereto. Likewise, a proper adjustment of the decurling device enables the removal of curl, folds and the like without producing any web bulge at the entrance - 5 44665 to the device. The web being flattened is preferably fed through the decurler unit in a straight line at both the entrance and exit ends of same.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:Fig. 1 is a side cross sectional view of a segment of a web decurler according to the teachings of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of a further embodiment of an edge decurler of the present invention; Fig. 3 is a plan view of an embodiment of an edge decurler according to the teachings of the present invention; Fig.'4 is a schematic view of a segment of travelling web showing edge decurlers along both selvedges of same and removing curl from the web; Fig. 5 is a schematic plan view of an edge decurler according to the present invention showing a particular fin placement embodiment; Fig. 6 is a side view of a fin of a decurler unit of the present invention; Fig. 7 is an end view of the fin illustrated in Fig. 6; Fig. 8 is a schematic illustration of a simplified process utilising edge decurlers according to the present invention; and Fig. 9 illustrates a further embodiment of decurler elements according to the present invention.

Referring to the Figures, preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail. _ 6 Figure 1 illustrates an edge decurler according to the present invention generally indicated as 10 and having a fabric indicated as F passing therethrough. Note that upstream of decurler 10 a slight roll or curl C appears along the fabric edge which is removed by decurler 10 as illustrated by a flat fabric appearance downstream of decurler 10.

Decurler 10 as illustrated in Figure 1, has a top cover 12 and a bottom cover 14. Top cover 12 has a plurality of elongated elements or fins secured therealong in an angular arrangement such that the elements are directed outwardly frcm their leading edges towards the edge of a fabric path of travel. As will be described in more detail hereinafter, a plurality of elongated fins 20 are deployed in side by side generally parallel fashion. Further elongated fins 20’ are secured to bottom 14 in like fashion to those secured to top 12.

As illustrated in Figures 6 and 7, elongated elements 20 (and 20’) may be represented by singular members 20 having a flange 21 extending outwardly therefrom. A leading end of element 20 has a bevel 22 along a portion thereof extending upwardly to a shoulder 23. The angle of bevel 22 may differ depending upon the type of web being handled. For example, the angle shown may be suitable for a knitted web while for a woven web, the angle of bevel 22 may be as illustrated in phantom in Figure 6. Likewise, in an opposite direction, the trailing end of element 20 may be provided with a bevel 24 down to a shoulder 25 or may be square. All of the edges of element 20 that encounter a web passing thereby are smooth to avoid damage to the web. The particular embodiment of - 7 44665 element 20, as illustrated in Figures 6 and 7, is secured to its appropriate portion of the decurler unit 10 by a weldment or the like. Flange 21 may, for example, be welded to upper cover 12 or to bottom 14 as is required.

Conversely, as is illustrated in Figure 9, a single plate 112 may be employed having a plurality of elements 120 die cut therefrom in part such that the elements may be pressed downwardly to bend at the edges 121 that are integral with plate 112. In this fashion, all of the individual elements of the unit are integral along the top and bottom sections respectively. Shape and disposition of the elements 120 as pressed from plate 110 are dictated only by the techniques for cutting elements 120 from plate 110. Thereafter, if necessary, the edges of the elements 120 may he deburred,, buffed or the like so as to remove any rough spots therefrom that could damage a web passing thereby.

It is preferred that the plurality of elements or fins be cut from a single plate with the elements being unitised along the top and bottom of the unit or that singular elements as described in Figures 6 and 7 be individually secured to an appropriate plate. the With/elements 20 properly secured to top 12 and bottom 14, decurler unit 10 may be assembled by use of threaded bolts 30 which extend downwardly through sleeves that are secured to the underside of top plate 12 and have threads complementary to those on bolts 30. Bolts 30 - 8 44665 thus extend downwardly and are received in a dished out area 18 of a base 17 to limit in one direction the gap settings of unit 10. Bolts 30 may have an adjustment nut 32 received therearound and locked in place by a set screw 33 or the like. A stop pin 34 is secured to nut 32 and depends downwardly therefrom. A further stop pin is secured to plate 12 and extends upwardly therefrom, being located in a path of travel of pin 34. Bolts 30 are then limited in rotational movement of any setting of adjustment nut 32 whereby adjustment of fins 20 and ’ are limited at said setting. Should a greater adjustment be required for device 10, adjustment nut 32 can be moved along holt 30 to permit such further adjustment. Bolts 30 further have a thumb head or the like 36 at an upper end thereof for grasping same for adjustment. Thumb heads preferably further have indicia means 36* such as a groove therein as a reference so that all of the bolts 30 can be maintained at a common adjustment if desired.

A threaded element 37 is also employed for adjustment of unit 10 and is secured to a base 17 by welding or the like. Element 37 extends upwardly through an opening 13 in plate 12 that is provided therefor. A lock nut arrangement 38 is provided atop top cover 12 along with a compression spring 39 to continually apply force against a pair of flanges 39' received therearound. Bolts 30 are thus preset so as to secure unit 10 from one direction. Thereafter, with the lock nut 38 preset in accordance with bolts 30, compression spring 39 maintains spring pressure on the decurling unit. With the adjustment means just described for decurler 10, fins 20 - 9 and 20’ can be preset with a definite gap between the respective lower edges of same, or may be moved together for an interference fit where a web passing therebetween is forced to follow a tortuous path. In any event, the setting for the decurler unit depends upon the particular web being handled. In the sense of a textile web, a primary use of the present invention is found in treating textile webs where a wide range of materials may be handled, extending from very delicate tricot fabrics to heavy double, knit fabrics.

Making further reference to Figure 1, note that the bevelled areas 22 on the entrance end of unit 10 co-operate insofar as top and bottom elements are concerned to define a V shaped entrance path for the fabric web F to enter unit 10. In like fashion, top and lower covers 12 and 14 respectively, are provided with intumed flanges 12’ and 14’ which likewise further assist in defining an entrance to unit 10. As a web passes through unit 10, the angular presentation of elements 20 causes the curl, fold or the like C to move outwardly towards an adjacent selvedge and to be removed from the web. As will be described in more detail hereinafter, the trailing edges 24 of elements 20 and 20’ decurler may be bevelled or flat to permit/unit 10 to be located immediately adjacent a nip or the like to permit further handling of fabric F after being treated by decurler unit 10 and preclude any return of curl C along the selvedge.

Figure 2 shows a further embodiment of a decurler unit generally indicated as 110 according to the present invention. In Figure 2, top cover 112 has a - 10 4 4 6 6 5 larger opening 113 adjacent an outer edge with a cup 115 being received therein around a threaded element 135, Threaded element 135 is secured to base 11? in like fashion as seen in Figure 1 and has a spring 137 received therearound. A cover 138 is received at an upper end of spring 137 and has a nut 139 received around threaded element 135. Spring 137 may be compressed by movement of nut 139 in an appropriate direction to provide spring tension for the same purposes as set forth in Figure 1. This particular embodiment is more compact than that of Figure 1, reducing the height of threaded element 37.

Figure 3 illustrates an edge decurler 210 positioned above a web W that is passing therethrough in the direction of the arrow. Note that decurler unit 210 extends outwardly beyond an edge E of web W. Note further that fins 220 are angled in a direction such that curl along edge E of web V is forced outwardly towards the outer edge E thereof. In the embodiment shown in Figure 3, the upper plate 212 is provided with three threaded elements 230 in the fashion of Figures 1 and 2. Elements 230 are in a triangular configuration with a spring threaded rod arrangement 235 of either Figure 1 or Figure 2 therewithin. The decurler unit 210 of Figure 5 illustrates a particular embodiment of a mounting means therefor. A web support plate 2 AO is secured to an underside of decurler 210 and holds the web away from an edge 211 of the decurling unit in those situations where there is no intermediate support for web W. For example, decurler 210 could be utilised on the arms of a tenter 44668 frame, located just prior to the pins. A fabric being fed to the tenter frame could thus be provided for securement on the pins in a flat condition, whereby waste is avoided.

In practicing the present invention, webs of different widths would obviously be encountered. As such, making reference to Figures 1, 2 and 4, width adjustment for the decurler unit will be described. Mounting bars 40, 140 and 340 respectively may be provided and secured to a suitable frame member 42, 142 and 342 respectively.

Figure 1 shows a rear end 14 of bottom 14 that extends around a corresponding edge 41 of support 40. Opposite edge 43 of support 40 is provided with a downward leg 44 which receives a suitable holding means 50 secured to end 14’ of bottom 14. As shown in Figure 2, bottom 114 of decurler 110 may have opposite ends both turned inwardly at 114’ and 114 to fit around mounting bracket 140 which is supported by framework 142. In the embodiments shown in Figures 1 and 2, mounting brackets 40 and 140 can be made of a flexible plastic material or the like such that upon a snap fitting relationship, the plastic support 40 or 140 will be toved to exert lateral forces at the .> appropriate ends 14’ and 14 or 114' and 114 to securely hold the decurler unit in place. The mounting brackets do not necessarily extend completely across the width of the web path.

Instead, as shown in Figure 4, supports 340 terminate intermediate the length of frame 342, leaving an intermediate portion free for the removal of decurling units 310. Hence, decurling unit 310 may be moved laterally along its support 340 inwardly or outwardly to a desired location - 12 4 4 6 6 5 depending upon the width of web W being handled thereby.

Figure 4 illustrates two decurling units 310 located along opposite edges of a web W that is passing in the direction of the arrow. Note that decurler units 310 have a plurality of angularly presented fins 320 engaging a web W having a curl C therein as illustrated to remove the cui-1 and flatten the web to its normal width.

Also shown in phantom in Figure 4, are a second set of decurling units 310' which are inwardly disposed along mounting brackets 340. The tandem units 310' may be useful in performing the function of an edge guide.

In this regard, with the units in place and a web passing therebetween, an actuation of pressure against same will reduce clearance between the banks of fins and provide a driving force which will cause the web to move in the direction of the particular unit where the pressure is actuated. As such, the tandem units 310’ serve the dual purpose of removing creases and the like from the web as well as serving as a guide for the edge of the web.

Pressure actuating means for initiating web movement to properly associate the edge of the web with the decurler 310 is operatively associated with the detector means in a fashion commonly used in the art. Schematically illustrated are a pair of photocells 350 that are connected to a control system 360 which, in turn, is connected to the particular decurling units 310’. Once web deviation is sensed, control system 360 actuates the particular unit 310’ that is needed to return web W to its proper position. Also if necessary, an opposite action may be produced on the decurler opposite the direction of - 13 44665 movement. A web edge detector system may be utilised in conjunction with any of the embodiments of the present invention along with a converter system to keep the edge of the web in the decurler unit.

Figure 5 illustrates a plurality of fins 20 in plan cross section. The fins 20’ are secured to a bottom cover while the fins 20 would be secured to a top cover (not shown). In the arrangement shown in Figure 5S the fins are not vertically aligned, but are offset from each other in a vertical plane and may be canted.

Upper and lower covers may be positioned with sufficient closeness to each other such that a tortuous passageway is produced between adjacent fin edges to apply sufficient frictional contact against web W to cause the curl, fold or the like to be removed therefrom. Since certain fabrics are more prone to curl than others and certain fabrics are more difficult to decurl than others, it is desirable to have adjustable decurler units as described herein. In this regard, a proper way of adjustment for general operation is to bring opposing fins together until slight binding occurs when a sheet of paper is pulled through the unit. There is thus operative association between the upper and lower fins to remove curl from the web in an expeditious fashion.

The general process according to the present invention is illustrated in Figure 8 along with a further embodiment of the physical attributes of the decurler unit. A roll 400 is symbolically illustrative of a feed means for a web W. The particular type feed means is not limited to a roll, but could be any suitable source of web supply. - 14 4 4 6 6 5 A phantom illustrated block 450 is symbolic of intermediate operations, if any, as may be necessary for any textile or other web handling system. Along the line of web travel are located a pair of rolls 460 that define a nip 465 therebetween. Subsequent to the nip rolls 460 is a web take-up 470, Note in handling of the web W, a thickened area indicated by C that represents curl along an edge of a fabric that extends into a decurling unit 41C. Symbolically illustrative of decurling unit 410 are a pair of fins 420 as are used to produce same. Note that the trailing end of the unit 410 that is disposed adjacent the nip 465 finds the fins 420 tapered to permit a disposition immediately at the nip. Hence, once the curl C is removed from the web W by the unit 410, and the web immediately passes into the nip 465 between opposing rolls 460, there is no opportunity for the curl to return to the web. Instead of a nip 465 between two opposing rolls 460, any web take-up, processing or other means may be immediately adjacent the decurler unit 410.

Claims (14)

1. CLAIMS:1. A device for removing curl, folds and the like from an edge of a moving web comprising a top plate having a first plurality of parallel elongated fins associated therewith, said fins having a smooth, angled edge for contact with said web, a bottom plate having a second plurality of parallel elongated fins associated therewith, said fins having a smooth, angled edge for contact with said web and being located adjacent and vertically offset from said fins associated with Said top plate, adjustment means associated with said plates for setting said fins in a predetermined relationship, and means for mounting said plates at the edge of a moving web such that the web passes between the plates and the fins are inclined towards the edge of the fabric in the direction of travel thereof.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first and second pluralities of fins are held at a predetermined relative location under spring tension.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said fins are tapered at an end.

4. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said second plurality of fins are vertically offset from said first plurality of fins, and wherein said plates are adjustable to permit intermeshing of said fins whereby said web will follow a tortuous path therebetween.

5. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said pluralities of fins are spaced further apart on a leading end than on a trailing end. 4 4 8 6 8

6. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said fins are tapered on the trailing ends of same, whereby said device may be positioned immediately adjacent further web handling means which prevent curl from returning to said web.

7. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said fins are integral with their associated plates.

8. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said adjustment means comprise three bolts located in triangular configuration at an outer end of said unit.

9. A method for removing curl, folds and the like from a travelling web comprising the steps of providing a pair of opposite pluralities of elongated static fins, one plurality being above said web and the other below said web, said pluralities of fins being preadjusted to a predetermined relationship providing a passageway therebetween, passing an edge of said web between said pluralities and engaging said web with said fins, and further handling said web.

10. A method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the web is a fabric.

11. A method as claimed in claim 9 or claim 10, wherein said pluralities are set to provide a tortuous web path between said pluralities of fins.

12. A method as claimed in any of claims 9 to 11, wherein said pluralities of fins are provided along both edges of said web.

13. A device for removing curl, folds and the like from an edge of a moving web, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings. 17 £4665

14. A method for removing curl, folds and the like from a travelling web, substantially as hereinbefore des cribed with reference to the accompanying drawings.