US2045059A - Web supply mechanism for printing machines - Google Patents

Description

June 23, 1936. J. R. TOMLIN WEB SUPPLY MECHANISM FOR PRINTING MACHINES 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 29, 1932 vJune 23, 1936. J. R. ToMLlN WEB SUPPLY MECHANISM FOR PRINTING MACHINES Filed Jari. 29, 1932 5 Sheets-Shea?I 2 nv. www

J. R. TOMLIN 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 June 23, 1936.

WEB SUPPLY MECHANISM FOR PRINTING MACHINES Filed Jan. 29, 1952 y June 23, 1.936. R TOMLlN (2,045,059

WEB SUPPLY MECHANISM'FOR PRINTING MACHINES Filed Jan. 29, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 June 23, 1936. J. R. TOMLIN 2,045,059

LY E FOR PRINTING MA CCCC ES Filed Jan. 29, 1932 5 Sheets-Shee+I 5 Patented June 23, 1936 WEB SUPPLY MECHANISM FOR PRINTING MACHINES John R. Tomlin, Brooklyn, N. Y.; assignor tn R. Hoe & Co., Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York; Irving Trust Company, trustee Application January 29, 1932, Serial No. 589,566

` 29 claims.

This invention relates in general to web supply mechanism foraise with machines which print or otherwise operate upon websof paper or similar material that are drawn from rolls and especially high speed rotary printing machines. More particularly the invention relates to a novel mechanism for controlling the tension of a web running to a printing machine so that tension will be applied to a web of the smaller or exhausting roll of a pair of web rolls mounted on a support and then automatically transferred to a' web of the other or spare roll as the latter replaces Vthe former. The device makes use of tension or braking mechanism of the character shown and described in co-pending application of John R. Tomlin, Serial No. 505,551, filed Dec. 30, 1930, now Patent No. 1,930,733, granted Oct. 17, 1933, and Ihas for its object the provision of means whereby tension or regulating action is communicated automatically from one web to 'another of a plurality of web rolls revolvably mounted on a common web roll support connected to a printing machine, without interruption to the operation of the said machine.

A further object is the provision of a web roll carrier adapted to rotatably support each of a n plurality of web rolls in operative position for supplying a continuous running web to a printing machine, and to apply and transfer a tensioning action from the web of one web roll to another, so that the'feeding ofthe running web to the print-v ing machine may be e'ected under operating conditions of the highest efficiency and without inter-- ruption or retardation of the v operation of the printing machine. q

Another object is to provide means for revolvably mounting a pair of web rolls on a support Iand connecting said web rolls toa common brakroll in immediateuse until the said roll has been.

replaced by another and then applied to the latter automatically, without stoppage or retardation of the said machine.

A still further object is to provide a web roll support particularly designed and adapted to operatively mount two web rolls in proximity to each other in such wise as to eiect the utmost economy `of space.

It is also an object to provide a web roll support of generally improved construction. whereby the device will be simple, durable and inexpensive in construction', as well as convenient, serviceable and eillcient in its use.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, the

practical,

Figure 1 is a front View, with parts broken away,

of a web roll carrier to which the invention has been operatively applied;

Figure 2 is a top 'plan view, partly in section, looking in the direction of the arrow 2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a front view of a modified form of the invention;

, Figure 4 is a top plan view of the modified form of the invention looking in the direction of the arrow I of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is an enlarged elevational detail view, partly in section, of details forming a part of an associated tension device for applying and transferring braking action from one web roll to another;

Figure 6 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 6-6 'of Figure 5 looking in the direction of the arrow; and

Figure 7 is a transverse sectional view, partly in elevation, taken on line 1 1 of Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrow.

In the drawings, A and B designate web rolls which may be for example an exhausting and a replacement or spare web roll respectively, rotatably mounted upon an adjustable web roll carrier D embodying one form of the invention.

The web roll carrier D comprises a supporting frame or structure which includes uprights or pedestals II and I2 respectively. The upright II is ilxedly secured to a floor or foundation while the upright I2 is slidably mounted in any suitable manner upon a base plate I3 for providing axial or longitudinal movement to a portion of the web roll carrier assembly which coacts with the fixed portion thereof in adjustably supporting the plurality of web rolls A and B.

The web rolls A and B are supported on yoke vmembers or arms Il, I5 each of which is formed '.with a pair of hubs or bearing heads I6, I1 having spaced apertures formed therein for the sliding reception of twin shafts I8 andV I9, the hubs being` adjustably secured to the twin shafts I8, I9

in any suitable manner as by set screws 20.. The shafts I8, I9 are joined by a brace or web 2l having twin collars or heads 22 in which the said shafts I8, I9 may be slidably secured or locked thereto as by the set screws 23. The-ends of the 'yoke member I4 have protruding roll supporting spindles 24 with tapering portions or sleeves 25 rotatably supported thereon, a'pair of which latter are adapted to be thrust into and out of the cores of the web rolls at one end by manipulating the hand wheels 26 when the web rolls are mounted on and taken 'off the said yoke members. The mechanism for adjusting the spindles 24 into and out of the cores of the web rolls may be of a type similar to that shown in patent of Lamatsch, No. 1,859,301, datedMay 24, 1932, for Web roll supnport, and need not be described in detail here.

The other yoke member I5 shown in Figures l and 2 is provided with means forming an important feature of the present invention as will hereinafter appear, which" coacts with anadjustable braking or tension device or assembly E for automatically and alternately transferring a braking or regulating tension from the web of one revolving web roll A which may be an, exhausting roll to the web of another rotating web roll B which may be a replacement or reserve web roll. This tension on the web is effected by the resistance offered to the rotation of the web rolls by the braking or tension device E. Each of the opposite ends of the yoke -member I5 on either side of the twin hubs I1 comprises, as best shown in Figures 5 and 6, a hollow annular member or casing 21 which may be of the conventional form shown and which serve to house the free or overrunning clutch and 'roll core-engaging assembly 28 forming a component part of present invention and of the means which directly coact to support the web rolls A and B by engagement with the cores 29 thereof.

The clutch and core engaging assembly 28, which is rotatably mounted inthe housing 21, comprises a sleeve 3| to which is fastened by screws 32 a plate 33 having a'hole 34 in the marginal edge of which is an annular pocket 35 adapted to receive a flbre washer 36 or other suitable material for preventing the seepage of oil rfrom the interior of the sleeve 3| wherein a spindle 31 having an outer tapered core-engaging end 38 is revolvably mounted .by means hereinafter described.- The inner annular surface of the sleeve 3| is provided with an annular inwardly directed flange 39, von either side of which are arranged the roller and ball bearings 4|, 42 respectively secured in the-races or guides 43, 44 which are seated in somewhat relative staggered relation on the said inner surface of the sleeve 3 I. spection of Figure 5, it will be seen the spindle 31 is formed with an enlarged portion or external flange 45, which is. adjacent to the outer surface of the plate 33, and is also provided with a series of integrally-formed, annular bearing-supporting or reduced portions 46, 4 1, 48, and a reduced end 49,-all of which are arranged in concentric and stepped relation, the portion 46 coacting with the washer 35 to retain oil withinthe sleeve 3|, while the portion 41 and the reducedend 49 serve as bearing surfaces for the roller and ball bearings' 4| and 42 which permit the free rotation of the said spindle. On the portion 49 a sleeve or annular member 5I is secured by keys 50, and this member has recesses or pockets 52 accommodating rollers 53 confined between guide strips 54 arranged in pairs and suitably secured to the annular member. Each of the rollers 53, as best shown in Fig. 6, is engaged by a plunger assembly 4.0, comprising a small block or plate 55 having an arcuate 'surface and provided with a stem 55 received in a spring 51 positioned in a recess 50 communicating with each of the pockets 52, the spring 51 pressing against the plate 55 to normally and yieldingly maintain the roller 53 against the By ininner surface or inwardly directed flange 39 of the sleeve 3|, but permitting the said rollers to have 'movement against the resistance of the said spring for a purpose appearing hereinafter. To the outer extremity of the reduced end 49 of the spindle 31 a plate 59 is fastened in any suitable manner as by the screw 6|. The plate 59, it will be noted, serves to retain the ball bearing 42 against the side of the flange 39 in order to maintain the bearing 42 in correct alignment for seating on the reduced end 49, of spindle 31 and fo:- coasting with plate 33 and roller bearing 4|, to maintain the sleeve 5| and its rollers 53 on the flange 39.

A second plate 62 which is recessed as at 63 to receive the smaller plate 59 has a boss 64 which is shouldered or reduced as at 65 to provide a reduced end 56 on which a collar 61 having a sprocket or gear 88 is splined or keyed. The plate 62 is secured by the screws 32 and screws 89 to the sleeve 3| and aids in retaining the bearings and spindle 31 hereinbefore mentioned in correct alignment in the sleeve 3|. As best shown in Figure 5, the means for rotatably supporting the core-engaging assembly 28 within the housing 21 includes a thrust ring 10 securedv by aseries of screws 10 to the sleeve 3|. Roller bearings 21' arranged on either side of the said thrust ring 10 and positioned between the housing 21 and sleeve 3| serve to rotatably support the latter when torque is being transmitted fromlthe spindle 31 to the said sleeve 3| and thereby to the plate 62 and sprocket 58 which is operatively connected, as hereinafter described, to the tension device E.

To rotate' the web roll support when required in order to alternately bring one roll or another to a position suitable for feeding a web to a printing machine or joining the web ofthe replacement roll to the exhausting roll, the twin shafts I3 and I9 on which the yoke members I4 and I5 are secured, are shouldered as at 1| to provide reduced ends 12, 13, which are received in holes 14 formed in spindle blocks or trunnion members 15, 16. the latter being fastened against the shoulders 1| of the twin shaft I8, I9 by nuts 11 threaded on extremities 18 of. the shafts I8, I9 and engaged against washers 19 abutting shoulders 8| on the blocks 15, 16. 'I'he spindle blocks 15, 16 have projecting hubs or journals 32, 83 respectively on the latter of which a worm gear 84 is secured as by the key 85. The hubs or journals 82, 83, which serve as pivots or axles for the entire assembly between the blocks 12, 13, are mounted on journal bearings 86, 81 secured to the uprights and I2 respectively. As clearly shown in Figure 2, the spindle block 16 is provided with a hole or passageway 89 through which a shaft 89 having a` reduced end 90 is passed, the latter being connected at one end by a coupling 9| to the coacting tension device E mentioned above, the details of which latter in themselves form no part of the present invention. The reduced end 90 of the shaft 89 is received in a pocketl 92 formed in, the brace 2| and is slidably keyed or splined to an element 94 having two sprockets 95, 96 secured to or formed integrally thereon. The element 94 which, as shown in Figure 2, is positioned in a pocket 91 formed in the hub 98 of the yoke member I5, is shouldered as at 99 and has a reduced end |0| which is rotatably received in a hole |02 provided in the inwardly directed hub |03 of a plate |04 which is secured in a suitable manner .as by the screw bolts |05 to an annular flange |85 formed on the hub 98 of the yoke member placement web roll B.

I adjacent the outer portion of the pocket 01. The end of the inwardly directed hub |03 cf the plate |04, it will be noted, is seated 'against the shoulder 99 of the element 94 thus conning the latter in the pocket 91 in the position shown unitil the plate |04 is removed.

Referring to Figure 1, it will be seen that the worm gear is engaged with a worm |01 secured on a shaft |08 to which a gear |09 is fastened, the latter being operatively connected to a motor (not shown) so that when the latter is actuated the worm gear 04 fastened to the spindle block 'I6 will rotate causing the roll carrier D or rather the yoke members Il, I5 thereof to turn for swinging the web rolls A and B in the desired positions.

By further inspection of Figure 1, -it will beV noted that the tension device E which is supported on the bracket |I| fastened on or formed integrally with the upright I2 together with an Vassembly shown at the right-hand side of Figure 1 including shaft 89 will move or reciprocate in the direction of the axis of the said shaft 89 for the purpose of obtainingthe proper adjustment of the roll of paper to provide the ccrrect or desired margins on the newspaper or magazine being printed. The tension device E which is described and illustrated in thepending application Serial No. 505,551, filed Dec. th, 1930, as alluded to above, serves to provide regulating means for a web roll controlling mechanism that will act to vary the braking action as the web roll decreases in size.

Assuming for example that A and B are exhaustingor expiring' and replacement web rolls respectively and that 4it is desired to substitute the web of roll A by the web of roll B without 'interruption to provide what is called a flying paster" or web join, and further assuming that the web of roll A is traveling to a printing machine, the rotation of the said roll A will cause the rotation of the spindles and sleeves 2l andv 31 at the left and right-hand sides of the web roll A in the direction of the arrows as shown. in Figures 1, 5, and 6 and consequently revolve the spindle 3l and the annular member 5I keyed thereo, thereby binding or jamming the rollers 53 between the inner surface of the sleeve 3| and the surface of the pocket 52. This coaction of the spindle 31 of the running roll with the sleeve 3| will cause the revolution of the latter and consequently the rotation of the sprocket 60 on the collar 0l forming a part of the plate 02 fastened to the sleeve 3|. The sprocket 68 'is connected by a chain |18 or other suitable means to the sprocket 9E of the sprocket element 94, the other sprocket 96 of which is connected by a second chain ||9 'to the'. sprocket 08 on the collar 61 fastened to the spindle 3B of the re- I'he spindle assembly supporting the web roll B is practically identical with the spindle assembly supporting A, but in the case of the web roll B it is to be noted that the sprocket 6B thereof, while the web of the exhausting roll A, is traveling to the printing machine, is Anow turning the sleeve II which will over-run the spindle which occurs as the rollers 53cm the pocket 52 press against and push back the small plunger assemblies when the sleeve 3| rotates with the driving sprocket 68. No movement therefore, will be communicated to the web roll B and consequently the tension device E will function solely to regulate the tension of4 the web of the roll A. When, however, the re- 5 placement web roll B has been bodily swung by the web roll carrier D which includes the worm and gears connected to the motor (not shown) on the shaft |08, to the desired position preparatory to making a flying paster, and its periphery 10 has been engaged in the usual manner by power driven means (not shown) to equalize its peripheral speed with that of the exhausting web roll A, it will be observed that when theweb of the latter has been joined to the web of the replacement roll B'and separated from the stub of the exhausting roll'A, thesleeve 3| will be operatively connected or bound to the spindle 31, in the manner described above. A resistance to the rotation of the replacement web roll B will now :o take place in the manner described above in connection with web roll A. Under al1 circumstances the tension deviceE through the intermediary of the shaft 89, the clutch and core-engaging assemblies 28 and associated parts will function to 2.3 automatically regulate or brake the web roll being used, no tension being communicated to the web of the replacement web roll B during the transfer process until the substitution of one web for another has actually been made and the stub 210 of the exhausting roll A has been separated from the portion of the web of roll A now spliced to the web of roll B. Also it is to he noted that the device will function automatically to apply tension to the web of the smaller of a pair of web 11.3 rolls mounted on a support during the process of the substitution above-described. and until such substitution has actually been made since the angular speed of the core of the smaller roll will increase as the said smaller roll decreases 40 in diameter and will invariably be greater than the angular speed of the core of the replacement web roll up to and including the time when the web of the expiring web roll-has been severed v from its stub.

As shown in Figures l and 2, the yoke members H and l5 may be slid or adjusted on the twin shafts I8, andi! by loosening the screws 20 on the hubs I6, I1 in order to accommodate web rolls of various widths as indicated on dotted lines.

In'addition to the automatic regulation and transfer of the braking action applied to the core of the expiring web roll to that of the replacement web roll, it is to be noted that by the use of twin shafts I8, and placing same in spaced re- 55 lation between and adjacent the web rolls A and Bv it is possible' to arrange the web rolls so that their peripheries are quite close, or separated just best illustrated in Fig. 'I where it will be observed that by placing the twin supporting shafts be- .tween the exhausting and replacement rolls and removed .from the vertical line joining their respective axes, it is possible to bring the said rolls into a super-posed position with their adjacent peripheries separated by a narrow space just suiilcient to allow clearance for the tension trans# mitting shaft I9. It will be observed that the twin shafts or axial supports 8, I9 are arranged between the pair of web rolls and positioned within parallel planes common to the peripheries of the web rolls. Stabilization and stiffening of the immediate supporting structure of the web rolls by the use of the twin shafts and associated parts are also desirable concomitants of the present design and construction.

In Figures 3 and 4 I have illustrated a modified form of the invention which makes use of two pairs of the or er-running clutch and core-engaging assemblies, secured in casings 21, practically similar to those described above. The present embodiment of the invention employs a countershaft |24 hereinafter mentioned and arranged at one side and in the same plane with a shaft |25 which has yoke members |25, |21 slidably and adjustably secured thereon by set screws |28 threadedly engaged in the hub |29 of the said yoke members |26, |21. Such parts of the modified form of the invention as are practically the same as those described in detail above will only be referred to in the present form by indicating their actual connection to other details of the mechanism for coaction with same.

By'inspection of Figure 3 it will be seen the shaft |25 on which the hub |29 of yoke members |26, |21 are secured, is rotatably mounted in journal bearings or heads |30, |3| formed on or secured to supporting pedestals |32, |33. On the journal bearing |30 a tension member E of the type described above is fastened, -an operative driving connection between the device E and the shaft |24 being obtained by a chain |34 and a pair of coacting sprockets |35, |36 connected to same, as clearly indicated in Figure 3. Fast with the sprocket |36 is a gear |31 rotatably mounted on the shaft |25 and meshing with a gear |38 fastened on the countershaft |24, the latter being heid inspaced relation to the former by bearing hangers |39, |40 which are preferably spliced as by the key or spline |4| to the shaft |25 and thus will rock or swing about the latter as an axis when the said shaft |25 is turned by the worm gear 84 which engages the worm |01 on the shaft |08 having a connection t0 a driving motor (not shown) of the same general type as the mechanism shown in Figure 1 and described above. To the right-hand end of the shaft |25 a hub |42, which may be a part of the worm wheel 84, is fastened. When the pedestal |33 and connected assembly including the motor ||2 are slid on the base plate ||3 as described above in connection with the details shown at the lower right-hand side of Figure 1, thehub of the bearing hanger |40 andthe hub |42 between which the hub |3| of the pedestal |33 is con fined, will serve to convey the shaft |25 in an axial direction,- thus permitting the withdrawal of the particular spindle from the core of one of the web rolls after one or both of the set screws |28 have been turned to permit the adjacent hub or hubs |29 of the yoke member |26 or |21 to be slid on the shaft |25 thereby allowing the exhausted web roll H to be taken off and replaced.

As best shown in Figure 4 the hubs |29 of both yoke members |26, |21 of the modified form of the invention are secured to bearing collars |43, |44 by screw bolts |45, the collars |43, |44 supporting the counter-shaft |24 in spaced relation to the shaft |25. Secured or keyed to shaft |24-- |53, |54 respectively fastened in the spindles 2T of the lower web core engaging members, while the sprockets |49 and |50 are connected by chains |52 to sprockets |55 and |55 on the upper spindles 21 of the web core engaging members,

- shaft |24 which is connected by gears |31, |38

to tension device E vwhose automatic regulating or braking action has been alluded to above.

The countershaft |24 is mounted in journal bearings |51, |58 secured to or formed integrally with hangers |39, |40 and is secured against axial or longitudinal displacement during operation by a collar |59 fastened to one end thereof and engaged against the journal bearing |58, and by the washer |6| which is pressed by the gear |38 against the 'journal bearing |51, the gear |38 being held to the shaft |24 by a screw |52 threaded in the reduced end of the said shaft |24.

The operation of the modified form of the invention shown in Figures 3 and 4 in large measure parallels the operation of that shown in Figures 1 and 2 since the same type of over-running clutch and core engaging assemblies are used. In the present instance, however, instead of the twin shafts I8 and I9 of Figures 1 and 2, the yoke members |26, |21 are adjustably secured on the shaft |25 which is rotated on its axis and shifted laterally when desired by the assembly illustrated at the lower right-hand side of Figure 3, which is similar to that shown in Figure 1.

In the present instance, assuming the lower' or exhausting web roll H to be revolving, tension or regulating braking action will be communicated thereto by the tension device E through the intermediary of the countershaft |24, the sprockets |48, |53, |54, |5| and chains|52, while the over-running clutches in the casings 21 of the upper portions of the yoke member |23, |21 will idle untilthe upper web roll J is rotated at a speed sufficient to revolve the sleeves 3| supportling same atan angular speed greater than that of the spindles 31, as set forth above. By the arrangement of the two pair of over-running clutch and core engaging assemblies 20 and the countershaft |24, tension or braking action from the tension device E may be distributed equally and automatically to the spindles of the web rolls H and J, thereby achieving a very uniform or stabilizing action on the one or both web rolls H and J which has been found to substantially lessen vibration in addition to which the danger or possibility of tearing or rupturing the core of the web roll 'when starting up is greatly minimized as the force necessary for overcoming the inertia of the web roll is now distributed at two points or both ends of the said web roll. The tension device E which ln itself forms the subject matter of the pending application, Serial No. 505,551 mentioned above, functions to apply variable braking action consecutively on the cores of the web rolls as these decrease in diameter while being fed to a printing machine and coacts with the present mechanism to tension or regulate the web of the roll in use and then to automatically transfer its tensioning or regulating action to the web of the replenishing web roll at-the proper time.

I am aware that the invention may be embodied in other speciilc forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof, and I therefore desire the present embodiment to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, reference being had to the appended claims rather than to the foregoing description to indicate the scope of the invention. y

What I claim is:

1. In web supply mechanism of the character described, in combination, a web roll support having a. carrier member provided with means for rotatingly supporting an exhausting web roll and a spare web roll, a tension devicesecured to said mechanism for automatically applying tension consecutively to a web of each of said web rolls, said member being supported on means positioned between the exhausting and spare web rolls and within parallel planes tangent to the peripheries of said web rolls, whereby a substantial saving of space is effected in mechanism of the kind described.

2. In a web roll supply mechanism including in combination, a web roll support, means mounted on the support and adapted to rotatably support a -plurality of web rolls, a tension device for applying a tension automatically and consecutively to a web of each of said plurality of web rolls in turn, and other means connected to the said support permitting the arrangement of the plurality of web rolls in adjacent positions to effect a substantial saving of space in mechanism of the kind described, said other means including a pair of shafts arranged between the web rolls and within parallel planes common to their peripheries.

3. A method of automatically transferring tension applied to an expiring web roll while rotating, to a replacement web roll which consists in revolvably mounting said expiring and replacement web rolls upon separate means secured to a support having a pair of interconnected power-transmltting instrumentalities, each of said power-transmitting instrumentalities being connected to separate tensioning means and to said' expiring and replacement web rolls, then causing the revolution of the replacement web roll, as a web of said rotating expiring web roll is being fed to a printing machine after arranging said power-transmitting instrumentalities so that tension' will be applied to the expiring web roll but not to the replacement web roll, then revolving said replacement web roll so that the powertransmitting instrumentalities connected to same .rotates faster than the power-transmitting instrumentalities connected to said expiring web roll whereby the tension being applied to the expiring web roll is Aautomatically transferred therefrom to the replacement web roll.

j 4. In web supply mechanism for a printing machine, of the character described including a rotatable 4web roll support having a plurality of means for rotatably supporting a plurality of web rolls thereon, a tension device secured to said mechanism, and other means operatively connecting said plurality of means with said tension device when said web rolls are unwinding;V each of said rst-mentioned means including a plurality of' clutches operative to join the tension device selectively to the plurality of means, one

at a time only when the adjacent web roll begins to unwind.

5. A device for automatically transferring braking action from one revolving web roll to tion to the operation of a printing machine to which said device is operativelyconnected which 'cured to said support, and 'other means including a plurality of over-running clutches automatically connectible to said tensioning means and to said first-mentioned plurality of means, for applying tension to said web rolls individually as each of the web rolls is fed to said printing machine to replace another of the web rolls approaching exhaustion. 6. In web roll supply mechanism for a printing machine including a web roll carrier including means adapted to rotatably support a plurality of web rolls, one of said web rolls having a web feedingto said printing machine, an individual over-running clutch for each of said plurality of means, a web tensioning vinstrumentality secured to said mechanism and connectible with the said clutches, and adapted to apply a variable tension to the said feeding web while simultaneously permitting by means of said clutches, rotation of another of said web rolls until the said feeding web has been operatively joined to a webof the last-mentioned roll.

7. In web supply mechanism for a printing machine of the character described including a web roll carrier, a plurality of means for rotatvably supporting a plurality of web rolls on said clutches and transferring said tension automatically from a feeding web roll approaching exhaustion to a fresh web roll.

8. A device for automatically transferring tension from a traveling web of an exhausting web roll to a web of a spare web roll without interrupcomprises in combination a tensioning instrumentality, a. web roll support having a pair of means for rotatably supporting an exhausting web roll and a spare web roll, a clutch connected to each of said vpair of means and to said tensioning instrumentality, said clutch beingfree running in one direction but adapted to resist by means of said tensioning instrumentality the rotation of said exhausting web roll while unwinding until the angular speed of the means supporting the spare web roll exceeds the angular speed of the means supporting the exhausting web roll and then operating to apply braking action to said spare web roll. y

9. In web supply mechanism including a web roll carrier, a pair of means secured on said carrier and arranged in opposed relation thereon for rotatably supporting a pair of web rolls, a pair of shafts joining said means, said shafts 65 being-arranged between the web rolls and within parallel planes tangent to the peripheries of the said web rolls, a third shaft positioned between the pair of web rolls and the first-mentioned pair of shafts, said third shaft being operatively connected to each of said means, a tension device secured to the third shaft, and a common axial support for permitting the rotation of the pair of means, the pair of web rolls and all of said shafts as a unit.

10. In a support for two web rolls which are successively advanced to feeding position, a pair of shafts arranged in spaced relation, a pair of members adjustably mounted on said shafts for rotatably supporting the said web rolls, and means pivotally arranged on said support whereby the said shafts, web rolls and means may be rotated as a unit.

' rotating at the higher speed will be connected the braking device.

12. In a support for two web rolls which are f successively advanced to feeding position, a braking device adapted to resist rotation of either of the rolls, and means including an over-running clutch whereby the roll which is rotating at the higher speed will be connected to the braking device.

13. In a web supply mechanism including spaced pedestals, a web roll carrier rotatably supported by the pedestals, the web roll carrier including spaced parallel shafts, web roll supporting arms carried by the spaced shafts, and trunnion members rigidly secured to thepar'allel shafts and journaled on the pedestals.

14. In a web supply mechanism including spaced pedestals, a web roll carrier rotatably supported by the pedestals, the web roll carrier including spaced parallel shafts, web roll supporting arms slidably supported by the parallel shafts,` and trunnion members rigidly secured to the parallel shafts and journaled on the pedestals to permit rotation of the web roll carrier.

l5. In a web supply mechanism including spaced pedestals, a web roll carrier rotatably supported by the pedestals, the web roll carrier including spaced parallel shafts, roll supporting arms, a hub formed on each web roll supporting arm and having spaced apertures formed therein for the reception of the said shafts thereby slidably mounting the web roll supporting arms on the said shafts, and trunnion members rigidly secured to the said shafts and journaled in the pedestals to permit the rotation of the web roll carrier.

16.-In a web roll supply mechanism having axial supports for rotatably supporting web rolls, an overrunning clutch operably connected to each axial support, a braking device, means for operably connecting the braking device to the overrunning clutches, the clutches' being constructed and arranged so that while one of the clutches is imparting a braking action to its axial support and web roll the other is idling relative v to its axial support and web roll.

17. In combination with a printing machine,

vmeans for rotatably supporting a plurality of web rolls, overrunning clutches operably connected to vthe web rolls, a braking device operably connected to the overrunning clutches, the" clutches being constructed and arranged to automatically transfer braking action from one of the web rolls to the other as one web roll is substituted for another.

18. In. combination with a printing machine,

means for rotatably supporting a plurality of web rolls, overrunning clutches operably connected to the web rolls, a braking device, means for operably connecting the braking device to the overrunning clutches, the said clutches being constructed and arranged to impart braking action to the running web roll and to idle relative to the reserve web roll, and to automatically transfer braking action from one of the web rolls to another as one we roll is substituted for another.

19. In combination with a printing machine, means for rotatably supporting a plurality of web rolls, an overrunning clutch operably connected to each web roll, a common braking device, means for operably connecting the said braking device l', to each overrunning clutch, the said clutches and connecting means being constructed and arranged to impart braking action to the running web roll and to automatically transfer braking action from one of the web rolls to another as one is substituted for another.

20. In combination with a printing machine, means for rotatably supporting a plurality of web rolls, an overrunning clutch operably connected with each web roll, a shaft, means for operably 25 connecting each overrunning clutch with the shaft, a braking device operably connected with the shaft, the overrunning clutches and connecting means being constructed and arranged to impart braking action to the running web roll and 30 to automatically transfer braking action from one of the web rolls to another as one is substituted for another.

21. A method of feeding webs to a running printing machine, which consists in revolvably 35 mounting a plurality of web rolls on a rotatable support, automatically applying uniform tension to the web of the running roll without operably engaging its web, rotating the support to move the reserve roll to a position to substitute for the exhausting running roll, securing the web of the exhausting running roll to the reserve roll thereby making it the new running roll, and automatically transferring the tension from the exhausted roll to the new running roll.

22. Web controlling mechanism including in combination a movable support for a web roll rotatably mounted by its shaft, a brake operating on the roll shaft mounted on a stationary support, and means for connecting said web roll to said brake to control the rotation of the roll.

23. Web controlling mechanism including in combination a movable support for a plurality of web rolls rotatably mounted by their shafts whereby web rolls may be successively brought into active or feeding position, a brake operating on any of the roll shafts mounted in a fixed position and connections between said brake and web rolls whereby the brake controls the rotation of the active web roll.

' 24. Web controlling mechanism including in combination a rotatable support for rotatably supporting a plurality of web rolls, a brake for said web rolls mounted on the axis of rotation of said support and means for connecting said brake to any of the web rolls.

25. Web controlling mechanism including in combination a rotatable# support for rotatably supporting a plurality of web rolls, a brake for said web mils mounted centrally of said web rolls, 7o and gearing connecting said brake with any one of said web rolls.

26. Web controlling mechanism including in combination a pair of rotatable arms between 'which are rotatably mounted a plurality of web 75 rolls to be successively moved into web feeding position, a brake mounted coaxially with said arms and chains driven by said rolls and connecting said brake with any of the web rolls.'

27. Web controlling mechanism including in combination a pair of rotatable arms between which-.are rotatably mounted a plurality vof web rolls to be` successively moved into web feeding position, brake mechanism, a stationary support at afdistance from said rotatable arms and on which said brake mechanism is mounted and means for operatively connecting said brake mechanism with any one of said web rolls.

28'. Web controlling mechanism including 11 combination a pair of rotatable arms between which are rotatably mounted a plurality of web rolls to be successively moved into web feeding position, brake mechanism, a stationary support at one side of the web rolls and on winch the brake mechanism is mounted,- a sprocket coaxial with said arms, a chain connecting said sprocket and brake and other chains individually driven by said web rolls and connecting said sprocket and web rolls.

29. A web tensioning means including in cornbination means for rotatably supporting a plurality of web rolls, a brake, gearing connecting the brake mechanism with each web roll, said gearing including one-way clutches whereby the brake is driven only by the fastest moving web roll.

' JOHN R. 'roMLIN.

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