US3123316A

US3123316A - Speed matching device for flying splicer

Info

Publication number: US3123316A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1964-03-03
Anticipated expiration: 1981-03-03

Description

March 3, 1964 HQRNBQSTEL, JR 3,123,316

SPEED MATCHING DEVICE FOR FLYING SPLICER Filed April 16, 1962 E Z? L nu Puzxz '1 a INVENTOR. Zfaya flarvziasielb A TTORNE YS United States Patent 3,123,316 SPEED MATCHING DEVICE FUR FLYING SPLICER Lloyd Hornlrostel, .lr., Beloit, Wis., assignor to Beloit Corporation, Beloit, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Filed Apr. 16, 1962, Ser. No. 187,571 Claims. (Cl. 242--58.4)

The present invention relates to improvements in mechanisms for measuring the surface speed of rotating rolls of different sizes in paper machines, and more particularly to a machine which forms a flying splice for continuous unwinding by splicing the lead end of a fresh roll to the web from an expiring unwinding roll without stopping the unwinding operation.

In splicing machines it is essential that an equal surface speed be obtained between the surface of the fresh roll and the moving unwinding web so that a reliable splice can be formed. In a paper Winding machine, very high speeds of travel of the unwinding web are utilized as the web is fed away from the unwinding parent roll to a paper receiving location such as to be slit and rewound on smaller rolls. The unwinding web is paid off the parent roll until the roll is nearly empty. The lead end of a fresh roll is then spliced to the moving web for continuous, uninterrupted unwinding operation. The flying splice is accomplished by providing an adhesive lead end on the web on the fresh roll and when the moving unwinding web is pressed against the surface of the fresh roll, the adhesive lead end automatically forms a splice to break from the fresh roll and follow the travelling web.

It is necessary that the flying splice be reliably made, and if the lead end of the web from the fresh roll becomes detached at high speeds of web travel, the machine will become jammed and disastrous results often occur which can damage the machine and prove dangerous to operating personnel. An essential factor in forming a reliable flying splice is the obtaining of accurately equal surface speeds between the travelling web surface and the surface of the fresh roll.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved device for measuring the circumferential speed of successive rolls of varying diameters reducing the inconveniences and difficulties encountered in devices of the types heretofore used for measuring the surface speed of rolls.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved speed measuring device for measuring the surface speed of successive rolls of different diameters in a paper machine which is supported on the machine and avoids the necessity of providing markings on the roll circumference.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved device which accurately measures the linear speed of the circumference of a roll automatically taking into account its diameter, and providing an output of surface speed which permits varying the speed of the roll until it equals the surface speed of a travelling web in order to form a safe and secure flying splice.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a device for measuring the surface speed of rotating rolls in a paper machine which is rapidly positionable as a function of the diameter of the roll, and which measures the time duration between the edges of a radial sector of a rotating disc which revolves with the roll.

Other objects, advantages and features will become more apparent with the teachings of the principles of the invention in connection with the disclosure of the preferred embodiments in the specification, claims and drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a vertical sectional view shown largely 3,1233% Patented Mar. 3, 1964 ice in schematic arrangement of one end of a roll and 'a speed measuring mechanism in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmental vertical sectional view taken substantially along line 11-11 of FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 3 is a schematic illustration, with portions omitted for clarity, of a splicing mechanism operating in accordance with the present invention.

As shown on the drawings:

As shown in FIGURES 1 and 3, a wound paper roll 10 having an outer circumferential surface 11 and wound on a core 12 is supported prior to unwinding. The hollow core 12 is supported on a core shaft or core support which is removably supported at its ends by a drive shaft 13. The roll may be supported in various ways and usually is carried on a core support which is removably attached to support shafts at its ends which are carried in bearings, with the core support being removable from the shafts, and being carried into position by an overhead crane. The core support may have stub shafts at its ends to be directly supported in bearings with a drive shaft connectable to the core shaft. In a present preferred arrangement it is contemplated that the shaft 13 will be permanently mounted in support bearings 14 and will carry a disc 27 permanently on the shaft 13 to be used with successive paper rolls. The disc 27 could be applied to individual rolls, but for reasons which will become more apparent a single disc mounted on the machine will advantageously operat as part of the speed measuring combination for accurately measuring the speed of successive rolls which may be of difierent diameters. The accurate measurement of speed is used to obtain a periph eral speed of the outer surface 11 of the roll which is the same as the speed of a travelling web W for splicing the lead end of paper wound on the roll 10 to the surface of the web W.

Speed of the roll 10 is varied by a drive 15 which may include a variable speed motor with braking mechanism and these are controlled by the operator until the speed of the roll surface is the same as the linear speed of the travelling web W.

On the outer surface 11 of the roll 10, FIGURE 3, the lead end of the paper on the roll carries an adhesive 16 and is lightly tacked to the roll so that it will break loose when the adhesive attaches to the web surface. The travelling web W is carried on guide rolls i17 and 18, and the flying splice is performed by a splice roll 19 which at the proper time is pushed radially toward the roll 10 by a fluid pressure cylinder 20. Various arrangements may be employed for this operation as will be appreciated by those versed in the art, and the structural details need not be shown. There may be, for example, a piston within the cylinder 20 loaded by fluid pressure built up behind it, and the piston rod may be latched in the position shown, with the latch released at the time the splice is to be made. As soon as the splice is made a knife 21 immediately cuts the web W so that the run then pays off the new roll 10.

Suitable means are provided for measuring the linear speed of travel of the Web W such as by a tachometer 23 which is labelled as tachometer B. This will provide a reading indicative of the linear speed of the web, and a device which is known as a rotopulser may be employed connected to the end of the guide roll 17. A tachometer 22 provides a reading of the linear speed of the outer surface of the roll 10 and this tachometer is labelled as tachometer A. .While it is contemplated that the

tachorneters

22 and 23 will give visual readings so that the operator can manually increase or decrease the speed of rotation of the roll 10 until the exact desired surface speed is reached, this may also be done automatically such as by feeding the outputs of the tachometers to an electrical comparing device, and the comparing device feeds the signal to an amplifier which is used to control the variable speed drive electrically until the two tachometer outputs are the same. The tachometer signals for such electrical comparison may be in the form of a signal which varies in amplitude with speed or varies in frequency with speed, and electrical comparing devices for controlling the speed of the roll and obtaining uniform speed output signals will be known to those versed in the art and need not be further described in detail.

For obtaining a signal which manifests the speed of operation of the surface of the roll 10, a pulse producing means is provided which measures the arcuate length of a segment of the disc 27 in terms of the time required for the segment to pass a pulse measuring device. For this purpose a light sensitive cell 24 is provided which produces a pulse as

radial slots

25 and 26, FTGURE 2, pass the light sensitive receiver 24. The pulse which is measured is the pulse generated by the solid portion 27a, with its beginning marked by the radial slot 25 and its end marked by the radial slot 26. The time required for this pulse is measured by a pulse counter 28 which is of a construction commercially available and known to those versed in the art and need not be described in detail. The output of the pulse counter 23 is fed to the tachometer 22 for a visual reading by the operator.

A light source for the light sensitive receiver 24 is provided by a light 29, and the receiver 24.- is positioned behind an opening 30 which is kept clear of obstacles by a flow of air supplied by a line 31.

In accordance with the invention the pulse measuring means in the form of the receiver 24 is positioned at a radial position which is related to the diameter of the roll. That is, for each roll the receiver 24 is positioned in a radial location which is a function of the roll diameter. The arcuate length which is measured of the segment 27a of the disc 27 will change in length in direc proportion to the change in length of the circumference of the roll 1& as the diameter of the roll changes, and therefore an output signal is produced which is a direct indication of the speed of rotation of the rol. To accommodate rolls of different sizes a disc 27 is provided of a diameter larger than the largest roll to be accommodated, and the lengths of the

slots

25 and 26 are such that the outer surfaces 11 of all rolls to be handled will fall within the limits of the slot ends.

The pulse measuring means or receiver 24 is mounted on a radially movable carrier 33. The carrier has a U-shaped bracket with an arm 34- axially outwardly of the disc 27 supporting the receiver 24. An arm 35 is axially inwardly of the disc and supports the light source 27 and also supports a roll surface sensor which controls the position of the carrier 33 for a reading.

The carrier is supported on a piston rod 36 having a piston slidable in a cylinder 37 provided with a controlled air supply 3711 at its lower end. The piston rod also has a lock 38 which may take various forms and for simplicity may be assumed to employ an air actuated piston within a cylinder which moves against the piston rod 36 to lock it. For this purpose an air supply is directed to the lock 38 controlled by an electrical valve 39 from an air pressure source 4%. The valve 39' is opened to actuate the lock by a switch 41 having leads 42 which connect to similar leads on the valve 39. When the valve is deenergized by opening the switch 41, the lock will be vented to release the carrier 33.

For loading a fresh roll into the machine on the shaft 13, the carrier is moved upwardly to its outermost radial position and held in that position by the lock 33 while a fresh roll is brought into place.

The carrier 33 is then brought radially inwardly by releasing the shaft 36 and relieving air from the lower end of the cylinder 37. A sensor paddle 44a will then engage the outer surface #11 of the roll lit. The paddle is carried on a plunger rod 44 having a plunger piston 43 secured thereto slidable in a cylinder 46. When the carrier is moved inwardly, the lower end of the cylinder 46 is vented through a line 45 connected to its lower end, so that the plunger piston 43 will be in its lowermost position 43a. When the paddle 44a engages the outer surface 11 of the roll, the plunger 44 is moved upwardly and its upper end engages the switch 41. As soon as this occurs the lock 38 is actuated to hold the carrier in this position. This radial position will then be the location at which the signal is read, and the position 'will have been selected as a function of the diameter of the roll 10.

To move the paddle 43 away from the roll surface, air is admitted through a line 45 beneath the plunger piston 43 to raise it up to the dotted line position 4%, and this permits the roll 1 h to turn freely.

The plunger rod 44 can also be utilized to operate the switch 4 1 and lock the carrier at its upper radially outermost position while the machine is being loaded with a fresh roll, by admitting air through a line '45 beneath the plunger piston '43. The carrier is raised to its retracted position for such loading by admitting air through a line 37a beneath the piston within the cylinder 37, and this air pressure will normally be adequate to hold the carrier out of the way, and the lock 33 may be utilized as a safety measure.

In summary, a roll it? is loaded into the unwinding machine, and the carrier 33 is moved inwar ly until the paddle 43 engages the outer surface 11 of the roll to actuate the switch 41 in order to operate the lock 33, which establishes the reading position for the receiver 24. The roll is then brought up to speed by the variable speed drive 15, FIGURE 3, and the speed is controlled by comparing the reading of the tachometer 22 which indicates roll surface speed with the reading of the tachometer 23 which indicates Web surface speed. When the two speeds are equal, a flying splice is made by moving the splice roll 19 against the web to force it against the outer surface of the roll 10.

Thus it will be seen that I have provided an improved speed measuring device for a flying splice machine which meets the objectives, advantages and features above set forth. The device avoids the necessity of preparing the roll, and the disc 27 serves for rolls of different diameters without any preparation of the roll or machine.

While a preferred form of pulse producing means is illustrated, it will be recognized that other pulse producing arrangements may be employed such as utilizing radial magnetic lines with a magnetic sensing head for a receiver. lso, a pair of slots with a solid portion therebetween is advantageous in providing a short pulse, and the radial lines are preferably 15 apart in some instances a radial sector shaped slot or opening could be employed. Also in some instances a single slot could be used with the time duration measured between passage of the slot but the instant arrangement is substantially preferred in obtaining accuracy of readings and providing a device which is easily manufactured and used.

The drawings and specification present a detailed disclosure of the preferred embodiments of the invention, and it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific forms disclosed, but covers all modifications, changes and alternative constructions and methods falling within the scope of the principles taught by the invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. A mechanism for determining the surface speed of rotating rolls of different diameters in a paper machine having means for rotating the rolls comprising,

a support mounting a roll for rotation about its axis,

a rotatable member rotating with the roll,

and means for measuring the time duration for a circumferential length of a radial sector of the member to pass a speed measuring location having a predetermined radial position located radially as a function of the diameter of the roll.

2. A mechanism for measuring the linear surface speed of rotating rolls of difierent sizes in a paper machine having means for rotating the rolls comprising,

first and second pulse producing elements extending radially from the axis of the roll and rotatable with the roll,

pulse signal means for generating a signal as said elements pass in rotation,

and means for positioning said signal means as a function of the diameter of the roll.

3. In a mechanism for splicing the lead end of a web on a roll having adhesive attaching means on said end to a moving Web surface by forcing the web surface in splicing contact with the lead end or" the web with a splicing mechanism, the combination comprising,

a support for carrying the roll,

means for varying the speed of rotation of the roll,

a rotatable member rotating with the roll,

and means for measuring the time duration for a circumferential length of a radial sector of the memher to pass a speed measuring location having a predetermined radial position located radially as a function of the roll diameter, so that the speed of the roll can be changed to match the speed of a travelling Web for operating the splicing mechanism when the roll speed equals the web speed.

4. A mechanism for determining the surface speed of rotating rolls of different diameters in a paper machine having means for rotating the rolls comprising,

a rotatable disc rotatable with the roll,

first and second radially extending slots in the roll defining a sector therebetween,

a light sensor for being actuated with the passage of said slots,

means for positioning said sensor at a radial position which varies corresponding to the diameter of the roll,

and means for measuring the time duration between actuations of said sensor.

5. A mechanism for splicing the lead end of a web on a roll having adhesive attaching means on said end to a moving Web surface by a splicer comprising,

a support for carrying the roll,

a rotatable disc mounted on the support for rotation with the roll having circumferentially spaced radial slots therein,

a light sensitive pulse receiver positioned adjacent said slots,

a light source positioned on the opposite side of said disc relative to the pulse receiver,

a pulse counter connected to the pulse receiver for measuring the length of time between the rotational passage of said slots and providing a first signal indicative of surface speed of the roll,

a carrier for said pulse receiver and light source mount ed for radial reciprocation relative to the roll,

means for moving said carrier radially,

a lock for holding said carrier in a radial position,

a sensor member movably carried on said carrier between a roll surface engaging position and a retracted position,

an air cylinder connected to said sensor member for moving it between said positions,

a lock operating switch operated to engage the lock and hold the carrier when the sensor member engages the roll surface,

and means for measuring the speed of travel of the Web and providing a second signal which may be compared with said first signal,

whereby the travelling web may be moved against the Web end by the splicer when the speed of the roll is equal to the speed of the travelling web.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,904,571 Tomlin Apr. 18, 1933 2,194,140 Doyle et al Mar. 19, 1940 2,212,812 Horton Aug. 27, 1940 2,386,344 Roesen Oct. 9, 1945 2,536,153 Bishop Jan. 2, 1951 2,596,189 Wieking May 13, 1952 2,617,606 Whatmore Nov. 11, 1952 2,621,865 Wieking Dec. 16, 1952 2,899,143 Crosfield et a1. Aug. 11, 1959 2,998,205 Francik Aug. 29, 1961 3,025,013 Harding et al. Mar. 13, 1962 3,042,332 Astley July 3, 1962

Claims

1. A MECHANISM FOR DETERMINING THE SURFACE SPEED OF ROTATING ROLLS OF DIFFERENT DIAMETERS IN A PAPER MACHINE HAVING MEANS FOR ROTATING THE ROLLS COMPRISING, A SUPPORT MOUNTING A ROLL FOR ROTATION ABOUT ITS AXIS, A ROTATABLE MEMBER ROTATING WITH THE ROLL, AND MEANS FOR MEASURING THE TIME DURATION FOR A CIRCUMFERENTIAL LENGTH OF A RADIAL SECTOR OF THE MEMBER TO PASS A SPEED MEASURING LOCATION HAVING A PREDETERMINED RADIAL POSITION LOCATED RADIALLY AS A FUNCTION OF THE DIAMETER OF THE ROLL.