US3118313A

US3118313A - Carroll

Info

Publication number: US3118313A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1964-01-21
Anticipated expiration: 1981-01-21

Description

Jan. 21, 1964 J. H. CARROLL TENSIONLESS WEB CONTROL FOR MULTIPLE ROLL DEVICES Filed NOV. 20, 1962 Fig.1.

8 e L 6 I.) /4 M 4 4 H n l w 6 6 HH IIH llIIlIl JNVENTOR. JOHN H. CARROLL BY PM W ATTORNEYS 3,118,313 TENSION LESS WEB CONTROL FUR MULTIPLE ROLL DEVICES John H. Carroll, 651 Trull Road, North Tewksbury, Mass. Filed Nov. 20, 1962, Ser. No. 238,841 3 Claims. (Cl. 74-23917) This invention relates to multi-roll devices for advancing a continuous web through a zig-zag course for treatment and especially to such devices wherein the treatment may cause uneven tension on the stretches of the web within the machine.

For example, in the field of drying textile webs, the web is usually threaded through a Vertical, or horizontal, assembly of staggered drying rolls, or cans, the rolls being internally heated by steam to dry, and sometimes to shrink or stretch the fabric. The rolls may each have a shaft sprocket and be driven by a single endless chain in which case variation in the surface speed of one or more individual rolls relative to the other rolls is not practical without stopping the machine and replacing one or more sprockets. Similarly, when V groove sheaves have been used on each roll driven by a single V belt variation in individual roll speed has not been easily accomplished without stopping the machine and replacing sheaves.

It is the principal object of this invention to provide a multi-roll apparatus of the V groove pulley and V belt type, in which each sheave of each roll can be individually adjusted as to pitch, while the apparatus is in motion so that precision settings can be made and maintained and a uniform treatment of the web achieved.

Another object of the invention is to provide a multiroll apparatus with variable pitch sheaves on each roll, so arranged that an operator can manually grip and slow down the rotating mechanism without hurting his fingers and then can adjust the pitch setting manually without the use of tools all while the apparatus is in motion.

A further object of the invention is to provide improved variable pitch V groove pulley means which permits control during motion but is of such simplicity and low cost as to permit its installation on each roll of a multi-roll drying, or similar, apparatus.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the claims, the description of the drawing and from the drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a typical multiroll device, such as a dryer, constructed in accordance with the invention, and

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary end elevation, in half section, of the improved motion control, variable pitch sheave of the invention.

As shown in the drawing, a typical multi-roll device 29, which may be a dryer for fabric, paper or the like, includes the frame 21 upon which bearings such as 22 are mounted for the shafts 23 of a plurality of rolls, or cans, such as 24, 2'5 and 26. It will be understood that such devices are well known for the purpose of advancing a continuous web 27 of fabric, through a Zigzag, circuitous course for treatment such as drying and the rolls may be horizontally arranged as shown or may be vertically arranged as in a'calendar stack. Conventionally, the shafts 23 are hollow, on the side not shown, and connected to a supply of steam or other treatment fluid.

The particular treatment forms no part of this invention except for the fact that often the web 27 is so treated in the machine that shrinkage or stretching may inadvertently or intentionally occur. In conventional machines, when it is desired to vary the speed of one United States Patent Patented Jan. 21, I954 or more rolls relative to the other rolls, it is either necessary to stop the machine and substitute parts, or a costly installation such as an individual motor, or drive, to each roll, is required to vary speed while the machine continues in motion.

To achieve the desired capability of inexpensive manual adjustment of the rolls, cans or cylinders and the tensionless control of the web 27, the apparatus of this invention includes a train of identical V groove sheaves, or pulleys, such as 28, 2% and 3%, each mounted on one of the shafts 23 for rotating the same and all aligned in the same plane on one side of the machine 2?). A single, endless V belt 31 is trained around all of the V groove sheaves, in a zig-zag stretch 31 conforming to the staggered lay-out of the rolls and conforming to the zig-zag course of the web 27 through the machine. The return stretch 33 of the belt 31 is trained around the V groove sheave 34 mounted on shaft 35 rotatable in bearings 36 and thence around

idler sheaves

37 and 38, and around sheave 86 of roll 4d.

The belt 31 rotates the sheaves, shafts and rolls by reason of suitable power drive means such as the drive sprocket 39 fixed to shaft 35 or by any other well known means.

Variable pitch means .1 is provided on each of the V groove sheaves such as 28, 29 and 3t} whereby the surface speed of any one, or all of the rolls can be individually varied While the rolls are in motion, without the use of tools and without causing injury to the hands of the operator. Each V groove sheave such as 23 includes an element 42 fixed to the shaft 23 and a corresponding element 43 rotatable with the shaft 23 but axially movable toward and away from element 42 by the thrust screw 34. The hub 45 of axially movable element 43 is provided with a rod, or pin, 6 passing through an axially elongated slot 47 in shaft 23 and the element 42 is fixed to shaft 23 by the key 53 and set screw 4% whereby element 43 may be moved axially for the length of slot 47 while both elements rotate with the shaft.

Slot 47 thus constitutes a stop which establishes a predetermined minimum pitch setting to prevent over extension of the sheave to the point where surface speed of the roll mi ht over stretch a fabric or excessive tension might damage the bearings of the roll and shaft. Maximum pitch occurs, of course, when

elements

42 and 43 meet each other. The

exterior races

56 and 51 of a pair of ball bearings 52 and 53 are fixed within a recess 54- in the terminal end of each shaft 23 and the

interior races

55 and 56 are fixed to a cylindrical block, or sleeve, 57 having an axial bore 58 threadedly receiving the thrust screw 44. A snap ring as is mounted in an annular groove 62 in shaft 23 to bear against a shoulder 63 in block 57, there being a cover disc 64 closing the recess 54. The terminal end 65 of thrust screw 44 engages the rod 46 so that as thrust screw 44 is turned clockwise within the block 57 the rod 46 and the movable element 43 are moved toward the fixed element 42 to increase the pitch of the sheave and there by slow the surface speed of the roll. Turning the screw 44 counterclockwise permits belt tension to decrease the pitch of the sheave by moving the element 43 and rod 46 away from the fixed element and thereby decreasing pitch to increase surface speed of the roll.

The motion control mechanism 66 of means 41 includes the relatively large diameter manual adjusting knob 67 fixed to the terminal end 68 of thrust screw 44 and having notches 69 therearound. When the rolls are in motion, the blocks 57, thrust screw 44 and notched adjusting knob 67 tend to rotate with the sheave such as 2%, because of friction transmitted by bearings 52 and 53. Any attempt to manually grasp the knob 67 might result in injury to the hand of the operator, be-

cause of the rough rim formed by the notches, or by other grip means such as a knurled or angular surface. A handwheel 71, of substantially greater diameter than that of lamb 6'7, and having a smooth, easily graspablc rim 72, is therefore mounted on an integral extension 73 of block '7, the extension 73 sing of reduced dieinctcr to form a shoulder 7%. i locking knob '75 is threaded on thrust screw -34 between the adjusting knob 67 and the handwh el 5'1 to lock tne handwheel against to end of block 57 and to l t' nrust screw at any desired Locking knob '75 has a knurled surface 76 and be apparent that while the roll is in motion the handwhecl and locking knob will be fixed to the block 57 and thrust set ,w ,4 to frictionally rotate as a unit due to bcarin friction.

The novel, ayially acjustable V groove sheaves such as 28, and are preferably adjustable from a fourteen inch bitch diameter to a twelve inch pitch diameter thus allowing a tension control range of approx ...atcly This expressed in inches of material of Web 27 to be dried on the eight drying cylinders, such as 2 and 26, each being tvventydhree inches in diameter is equal to approi' nalely eleven inches. This range of control can be accoris d between any two adjacent cylinders or can be distrih ted between all of the cylinders. It can be used to stretch, maintain normal tension or relieve virtually all tension on the web 27.

The total lineal a ial movement of e ement 43 relative to element 42, to change pitch from the maximum fourte n inches to the minimum twelve inches is about nine sixteenths inches.

In operation, when the web 27 is advancing along the zigzag course through machine 21), the smooth rim 7?. of the large diameter, rotating handv/neel 71, of any sheave desired to be adiusted, is grasped and slowed by one hand of the operator to permit the other hand to back oil? the locking knob '75. Still grasping the handwheel 71, the operator then turns the adiusting knob 67 clockwise or counter clockwise to increase or decrease the itch diameter of the sheave. Upon securing the desired setting the locking knob 75 is then tightened against the handwhcel '71 to hold the setting and the unit then released to continue its rotation. It is possible to entirely unthrcad the thrust screw 44 and remove it from the unit without disturbing the minimum pitch setting.

To avoid over-closing the sheave by excessive pressure on the adjusting knob 67, which might damage the bearings 52 and '53, the proper pressure can be determined by grasping the rim 72 of handwheel 71 to feel the rotary tension in the hand. if the tension felt is greater than that when the sheave was being adjusted,

excessive pressure is indicated and the locking knob 75 should be backed off slightly to relieve the pressure.

Automatic slack take-up means is provided in the form of a commercially available pneumatic belt tightener $1, operable on the V groove sheave 38. Means maintains a constant tension on the belt 31 and au tomatically takes up slack caused by the adjustment 0E any one, or all of the individual variable pitch sheaves such as 22, 25- or 3% all in a well known manner.

I claim: 1. In a machine having a plurality of rolls for advancing a continuous web in a zig-zag course to treat said web the combination of:

a train of single v groove drive sheaves, aligned along one side of said machine, each mounted on a shaft of one of said rolls for rotating the same;

a single, endless V belt, trained around all of said sheaves in said z'g-zag course and seated in the single V groove of each said sheave for rotating the same;

variable pitch means on each said single V groove sheave for individually varying the speed thereof while in motion, said means including a thrust screw terminating in a rough rimmed adjusting knob for manual adjustment of the pitch of said sheave and a smooth rimmed, enlarged, handwhecl axially spaced inwardly from, and rotatable with, said knob for manually slowing the rotary motion of said knob;

autom ic, slack take-up means, including an idler V groove sheave in said train of sheaves, for maintaining but tension when any one of the variable itch means of said V groove drive sheaves is adjusted in motion, and

power means connected to said train for powering the drive belt thereof.

2. A combination as specified in claim 1 wherein said variable pitch means includesa knurled locking knob, threaded on said thrust screw between said adjusting knob and sai hsndwheel for locking said means at a desired setting.

3. A combination as specified in claim 1 wherein said variable pitch means includes a stop for establishing a minimum pitch setting to prevent such stretching of said web as might cause damage to the bearings of said rolls.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,662,654 Abbott Mar. 13, 1923 2,219,856 Ncston Oct. 29, 1940 2,703,936 McClelland Mar. 15, 1955

Claims

1. IN A MACHINE HAVING A PLURALITY OF ROLLS FOR ADVANCING A CONTINUOUS WEB IN A ZIG-ZAG COURSE TO TREAT SAID WEB THE COMBINATION OF: A TRAIN OF SINGLE V GROOVE DRIVE SHEAVES, ALIGNED ALONG ONE SIDE OF SAID MACHINE, EACH MOUNTED ON A SHAFT OF ONE OF SAID ROLLS FOR ROTATING THE SAME; A SINGLE, ENDLESS V BELT, TRAINED AROUND ALL OF SAID SHEAVES IN SAID ZIG-ZAG COURSE AND SEATED IN THE SINGLE V GROOVE OF EACH SAID SHEAVE FOR ROTATING THE SAME; VARIABLE PITCH MEANS ON EACH SAID SINGLE V GROOVE SHEAVE FOR INDIVIDUALLY VARYING THE SPEED THEREOF WHILE IN MOTION, SAID MEANS INCLUDING A THRUST SCREW TERMINATING IN A ROUGH RIMMED ADJUSTING KNOB FOR MANUAL ADJUSTMENT OF THE PITCH OF SAID SHEAVE AND A SMOOTH RIMMED, ENLARGED, HANDWHEEL AXIALLY SPACED INWARDLY FROM, AND ROTATABLE WITH, SAID KNOB FOR MANUALLY SLOWING THE ROTARY MOTION OF SAID KNOB; AUTOMATIC, SLACK TAKE-UP MEANS, INCLUDING AN IDLER V GROOVE SHEAVE IN SAID TRAIN OF SHEAVES, FOR MAINTAINING BELT TENSION WHEN ANY ONE OF THE VARIABLE PITCH MEANS OF SAID V GROOVE DRIVE SHEAVES IS ADJUSTED IN MOTION, AND POWER MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID TRAIN FOR POWERING THE DRIVE BELT THEREOF.