US3113709A - Guide mechanism for a web - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 10, 1963 D. CHAMPLIN ETAL GUIDE MECHANISM FOR A WEB 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 13, 1961 IN V EN TOR Dec. 10, 1963 D. l.. cHAMPLlN ETAL 3,113,709

GUIDE MECHANISM FoRA WEB 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 13, 1961 I5 A 10 l5 David I. Cha lin Jolmcpo Ll'ylc IN VEN TORS www mRNBYS United States Patent 3,113,709 GUIDE MECHANHSM FR A WEB David L. Champlin and .lohn S. Pollock, Rochester, N.Y., assignors to Eastman Kodak Company, Rochester, N.Y., a corporation of New Jersey Filed Apr. 13, 1961, Ser. No. 102,848 ,16 Claims. (C1. 226-199) This invention relates generally to guide mechanisms, and more specically to an adjustable guide mechanism for a web or the like.

The adjustable guide mechanism of this invention has been specifically designed for a printer for keeping the printing paper properly centered with the optical center line of the printing machine. Although this guide mechanism is particularly adapted for use in a printer, its adaptation to other uses is within the inventive concept.

One of the primary objects of the present invention is to provide an improved adjustable guide mechanism engageable with one edge of a web for guiding same.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved adjustable guide mechanism of simple design and construct-ion, thoroughly reliable and efficient in operation, and economical to manufacture.

A more specic object of this invention is to provide an improved guide mechanism having laterally spacedapart axially adjustable side guides between which the web is guided.

An additional object of this invention is to provide an adjustable guide mechanism for a roll of material in which the rotation of the roll aids in maintaining the guide mechanism in its operative position.

A more specific object of this invention is to provide an improved guide mechanism having axially spaced side guides, each of which is axially movable to one of a plurality of positions and releasably held in the selected position for adjustably varying the distance between the side guides for accommodating rolls of a web material of varying widths.

Objects and advantages other than those set forth above will be apparent from the following description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation view showing the upper end of a photographic printer in which a preferred embodiment of this invention is embodied;

FlG. 2 is an enlarged side elevation View of one of the guide brackets of FIG. 1 looking at it from line 2-2g FIG. 3 is an enlarged View in section of the guide mechanism taken substantially along line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective View or" the guide mechanism with the cover plate removed therefrom; and

FIG. 5 is a front elevation view of the cover plate of the guide mechanism.

As shown in the drawings, a preferred embodiment of this invention is embodied in a photographic printer 6, only a portion of which is shown, for keeping a web of photographic paper 7 centered with the optical center line of printer 6. In printers of this type, the photographic paper used may vary in width, say from 31/2 inches to 5 inches Since the optical center line of printer 6 -is xed, it is readily apparent that any guide mechanism for the paper in this specific application must include axially spaced-apart guide members adapted to be axially moved toward or away from one another into engagement with the edges of the paper. Although the guide mechanism of this invention is particularly suited for guiding a web of photographic paper 7 through a printer 6, its adaptation to other uses is within the inventive concept.

As seen in FIG. 1, the printer 6 is provided with sup- 'the take-up or supply magazine.

3,113,709 Patented Dec. 10, 1963 ICC ply andtake-up magazines S, 9, respectively for rotatably supporting rolls, not shown, of photographic paper 7. Each magazine 8, 9, comprises a base plate 12 secured to a frame 13 of printer 6 as seen best in FIG. 3. The

Vbase plate 12 has a cylindrical projection or spindle 14 for supporting one end of a core 5 upon which the paper 7 is wound or unwound, depending upon Whether it is A box-like housing 10 of magazine 9, and a pair of diametrically opposed arcuate axially extending guide brackets 15 are secured to base 12. Each bracket 15 has axially spaced stepped slots 16 in one end thereof as seen best in FIG. 2, and a groove 2? cut therein intermediate its ends forming stepped slots 17 identical to the previously mentioned slots 16. An elongated side guide 18 is provided having an opening 19 through which the spindle 14 extends and a pair of projections 21 at each end receivable by a selected pair of slots 16, 17. Each end of flange 118 further has a tab 22 to -whichone end of a spring 23 is secured, the opposite end of spring 23 being secured to a tab 24 on guide bracket 15 for turning side guide 1S about spindle 14 and urging projections 21 into selected slots 16, 17 for releasably holding ange 13 in a selected axial position with respect to the axis of spindle 14.

A cover plate 25for magazine 9, as best seen in FIGS. 3 and 5, is releasably secured to housing 10 by spring clamps 26, seen in FIG. 4. The cover plate 25 further has a cylindrical spindle 27 secured thereto coaxial with spindle 14 and adapted to support the opposite end of core 5. The cover plate 25 is further provided with a pair of guide brackets 15 identical to guide brackets 15, and a side guide 18' identical to guide 18. All parts of brackets 15' and guide 18 that are identical to brackets 15 and guide 18 are indicated by the same numerals primed.

Although each guide bracket 15, 15', of which bracket 15 as shown in FIG. 2 is representative, is shown with a pair of slots 16, 17 in each axial position, any number of slots can be used. By having the slots 16, 17 arranged in a stepped fashion, substantially constant tension on spring 23 is assured, and the linger portions 28, 29 of bracket 15 intermediate slots 16, 17 act as stop members to facilitate rapid adjustable movement of side guide 18 axially outwardly from a reference center line A-A as seen in FIG. 3 to the next position.

In operation, the operator moves side guide 1S in a clockwise direction as seen in FIG. 1, withdrawing projections 21 from slots 16, 17. As soon as projections 21 are moved clear of adjacent ngers, 28, 29, guide 1S is urged axially outwardly to the right in FIG. 2 until it engages the next lingers 28, 29. The operator then merely releases side guide 18 permitting spring 23 to urge projections 21 into the next succeeding slots 16, 17. In order to keep the paper properly centered with respect to the reference line A-A, the other side guide 18 must also be moved outwardly in a similar manner to the next succeeding slots in bracket 15.

The invention has been described in detail with particular reference to a preferred embodiment thereof, but it will be understood that variations and modications can be elfected Within the spirit and scope of the invention as described hereinabove and as dened in the appended said spindle through a range of adjustment, said edge guide further having projections extending radially of said spindle and co-operating with said slots for positioning said edge guide in a selected position of adjustment; and means for retaining said edge guide in said selected position.

2. A laterally adjustable edge guide arrangement for sheets, webs and the like, comprising a spindle, a guide member mounted on said spindle for lateral movement along said spindle through a range of adjustments, a iixed bracket member extending axially of said spindle and radially spaced therefrom, and further having a plurality of slots therein spaced apart in the direction of said adjustable movement, means on said guide member engageable with selected ones of said slots to hold the guide member at diferent positions in said range of adjustments, and means for retaining said means in such engagement.

3. The invention as deiined in claim 2 wherein said last named means comprises resilient means engaging said guide member, said slots being so positioned and dimensioned as to maintain substantially constant tension on said resilient means regardless of the position of adjustment of said guide member.

4. The invention as defined in claim 2 wherein said slots are defined by stepped walls to facilitate rapid movement of said slot engaging means from one slot to the next.

5. In an adjustable guide mechanism for guiding the edges of a web or the like transported therethrough, the combination comprising: a pair of spaced apart, coaxial spindles; a pair of spaced apart fixed brackets disposed on opposite sides of each spindle and extending axially of said spindle and radially spaced therefrom, each pair of brackets having a plurality of slots spaced axially of said spindle; an edge guide mounted on each spindle for movement angnlarly and axially of said spindle, each guide having portions thereof extending radially of said spindle and selectively engageable with said slots in a re` spective one of said pair of brackets for positioning said flange in a position to guide one edge of said web; and means for releasably holding each flange in such engagement.

6. The invention according to claim 5 wherein said means comprises a spring interposed between each bracket and one end of each guide.

7. The invention according to claim 5 wherein each of said brackets is arcuately shaped.

8. The invention according to claim 5 wherein said portions of each guide comprise at least one projection on a peripheral edge thereof.

9. The invention according to claim S wherein said slots are provided in pairs in each bracket, the bottoms of the slots of each pair being angularly spaced apart, and said portions of each guide comprise spaced apart projections formed on diametrically opposed edge portions thereof and co-operable with the pairs of slots in a respective one of said brackets.

l0. The invention according to claim 5 wherein each of said brackets is arcuately shaped; said portions of each guide comprises a pair of diametrically opposed lips formed thereon and said means comprises a spring interposed between each bracket and one side of each ange.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,127,772 Horn et al. Aug. 23, 1938 2,174,194 Nemnich Sept. 26, 1939 2,334,952 Perbal Nov. 23, 1943 2,905,408 Frate et al. Sept. 22, 1959

Claims (1)

1. 2. A LATERALLY ADJUSTABLE EDGE GUIDE ARRANGEMENT FOR SHEETS, WEBS AND THE LIKE, COMPRISING A SPINDLE, A GUIDE MEMBER MOUNTED ON SAID SPINDLE FOR LATERAL MOVEMENT ALONG SAID SPINDLE THROUGH A RANGE OF ADJUSTMENTS, A FIXED BRACKET MEMBER EXTENDING AXIALLY OF SAID SPINDLE AND RADIALLY SPACED THEREFROM, AND FURTHER HAVING A PLURALITY OF SLOTS THEREIN SPACED APART IN THE DIRECTION OF SAID ADJUSTABLE MOVEMENT, MEANS ON SAID GUIDE MEMBER ENGAGEABLE WITH SELECTED ONES OF SAID SLOTS TO HOLD THE GUIDE MEMBER AT DIFFERENT POSITIONS IN SAID RANGE OF ADJUSTMENTS, AND MEANS FOR RETAINING SAID MEANS IN SUCH ENGAGEMENT.

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