US3397848A - Web reeling and tensioning apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 20, 1968 HASKIN, JR ET AL 3,397,848

WEB REELING AND TENSIONING APPARATUS INVENTOR 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 V :1 i v Filed Dec.

LAWRENCE H. HASKIN,JR. GEORGE W. KESLER ATTORNEY Aug. 20, 1968 L, H, HASKIN, JR, ET AL 3,397,848

WEB REELING AND TENSIONING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 6, 1966 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS.

co LAWRENCE H. HASKINJR. GEORGE W. KESLER FIG. 2

Aug. 20, 1968 L. H. HASKIN, JR, ET AL 3,397,848

WEB REELING AND TENSIONING APPARATUS Filed Dec.

1968 L. H. HASKIN, JR, ET AL 3,397,848

WEB REELING AND TENSIONING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 6, 1966 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIG. 4

i I INVENTORS. LAWRENCE H. HASKIN, JR. GEORGE W. KESLER 5 BY L 96441 ATTORNEYS.

Aug. 20, 1968 H. HASKIN, JR., ET AL 3,397,848

WEB REELING AND TENSIONING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 6, 1966 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG. 6

INVENTORS. LAWRENCE H. HASKIN, JR. GEORGE W. KESLER ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,397,848 WEB REELING AND TENSIONING APPARATUS Lawrence H. Haskin, Jr., and George W. Kesler, Richmond, Va., assignors to The Inta-Roto Machine Company, Inc., Richmond, Va., a corporation of Virginia Filed Dec. 6, 1966, Ser. No. 599,632 6 Claims. (Cl. 242-562) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A machine for winding Web material upon a mandrel. A fluid operated pressure roller is used to press the web material against the mandrel and an arrangement of idler rolls is used to prevent web tension and especially fluctuations in web tension from affecting the pressure applied by the pressure roller.

Background of the invention (1) Field of the inventi0n.-This invention relates generally to machinery employed in the cutting, winding and reeling of rolled material originally in web form. The function of the machine is essentially that of movement of the web in a predetermined path followed by the cutting of the Web in a slitting operation, and subsequent rewinding of the slit portions. The web may comprise paper or any material of generally similar handling characteristics.

(2) Brief description of the inventi0n.It has heretofore been recognized as desirable in the construction of web slitting machines to supply pressure roller means for exerting a predetermined pressure on the web as it is rewound so that uniform density of the rewound material may be obtained. Especially, it is desirable that fluctuations in web tension do not affect the pressure applied by the pressure roller. Various expedients have been proposed to meet this objective, often employing gravity responsive devices, spring means, and other mechanical devices which are not of sufiiciently dependable operation to suit the intended purpose. It is therefore a basic objective of the present invention to provide an improved winding machine in which the pressure exerted on the web as it is wound is free from influence by web tension or fluctuations thereof.

This invention is directed to a machine whose purpose is to slit and rewind a continuous, moving web of paper or similar material. The hardness or density of the rewound roll of material is controlled by the contact pressure exerted by a movable pressure roll acting on the rewound roll, and the machine employs an arrangement of rolls including a movable dancer roll which render the contact pressure independent of the tension in the web, The pressure exerted by the pressure roll is, then, relatively large since it supplies the entire contact pressure. Because of this, even though fluctuation in force may occur which would alter the contact pressure, they will be relatively small in comparison to the pressure exerted by the pressure roll, and hence of insignificant eifect.

Brief description of the drawings FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a web handling and slitting machine constructed and assembled in accordance with the teachings of this invention;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the apparatus partially broken away;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view on the line 3-3 of FIGURE 2, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged, foreshortened sectional ice view, taken substantially on the line 44 of FIGURE 3, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 5 is another enlarged detail sectional view, here taken on the line 55 of FIGURE 3, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 6 is a still further cross sectional view showing details of construction; and

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged, detail cross sectional view on the line 7-7 of FIGURE 2, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Description of the preferred embodiment In FIGURE 1, it will be observed that the machinery 10 of the present invention comprises a supporting standard assembly 12 of stationary form having side frame elements 14 each including a top 16 and having a raised step portion 18 at one end. Frame design is optional insofar as the base and connecting structure for the sides is concerned. For purposes of reference hereinafter, the frame has an input end 20 and a finish or rewind end 21. At the input end 20 an idler roller 22 of substantially cylindrical form is rotatably mounted on the horizontal shaft 24 which, as seen in FIGURE 2, extends between and is supported by the sides 14. Web material W, such as paper, plastic, foil, or the like, is introduced under the idler roller 22 at the input end of the machine, thus entering the device in a linear, uniform path of travel. It will be understood that the web is delivered under tension. For example, the web may be delivered from a supply roll upon which a conventional unwind brake acts to maintain tension in the web.

The machinery 10 hereof has, as a further major structural component thereof, a movable frame generally identified in the drawing by reference numeral 26. The frame 26 carries the slitting devices of the assembly, and is composed of two opposing side frame members 28 mounted in substantially vertical alignment with the sides 14 of the main frame. Referring to FIGURE 6, it will be seen that cutting bar elements 30 and 32 of substantially cylindrical form are carried on shafts 34, 36, respectively, which are journalled between the side frame members 28. The last named shafts are interconnected by two toothed gear wheels 38, 4% Which function to insure joint rotation of the shafts at uniform rates. A blade member 42 is carried on the element 30 and is in constant engagement with a coacting blade contact wheel 44 mounted on the element 32. The present disclosure, basically for purposes of avoidance of unnecessary detail, shows one such blade assembly, but it is to be expressly understood that any number of such assemblies may be spaced across the elements. Stability of the coacting slitting elements 42, 44 is essential, and to meet this necessity, the contact wheel 44 rides on a roller 46 mounted in a roller bracket 48. The bracket 48 is secured by a clamp assembly 50 on a fixed structural member 52 extended between the frame sides. Suitable cross members 88 further connect and space the frame sides from one another. The requisite stability of the blade member 42 is achieved through the expedient of collars 54 mounted on a laterally movable shaft 56 one end 58 of which has a lateral adjustment wheel 60 connected on a fixed arm 62. The collars have forwardly facing openings 64 closed by pivoted toggle trunnions 66 and the element 30 rides in bearings 68 Within the openings. Hand knobs 70 are employed in the connection of the trunnions 66. A catch 72 is pivotally mounted on the side frame for locking an adjacent handle 74. A locking pin arrangement 76 having a lever 78 for movement of a pin 80 thereof is shown in FIGURE 7. Thus, inadvertent movement of the knife lever is prevented.

Referring to FIGURE 3, it will there be seen that a 3 pair of idler rollers 82 and 84 are positioned on opposite sides of the slitting means for support of the web.

FIGURE 3 also illustrates that a specific path of travel for the web is provided. The incoming direction of the Web is first received by the dancer roll 128 whose mounting will be subsequently described. Then, the direction of the web is again reversed by the forward idler roller 86 positioned at the front of the movable frame. The web then passes over the aforementioned rollers 82 and 84 and ultimately passes over the pressure roller 90 to issue from the movable frame in a vertically downward direction for interception by and upon the core or mandrel 106.

The net effect of this arrangement is to relieve the movable frame from any influence due to tension in the web W. Considering the pressure roller 90, since the tensional web issues vertically downwardly therefrom and since this is at right angles to the horizontal direction of movement of the movable frame, no horizontal component is imparted to the movable frame at this point. Considering the roller 86, it will be seen that the total tension force T in the web will be exerted on the roller 86 to impart this force T to the movable frame tending to move it to the left in FIG. 3. However, as will be seen hereinafter, the dancer roll 128 imparts an opposing force T on the movable frame so that the net efiect of the web tension is one of cancellation.

Thus, the sole responsibility for urging the pressure roll 90 against the rewound material rests upon hydraulic or fluid pressure mechanism hereinafter described and the contact pressure is independent of web tension or fluctuation therein.

The cylindrical pressure roller 90 is secured rotatably on an axle means 92 mounted in opposing brackets 94. The brackets 94 further support a bow roller 96 over which the web extends as shown in FIGURE 3. The brackets are of adjustable 'angularity, screw shaft adjustment assemblies 98 with operating handles 100 being supplied, and the brackets further have a longitudinal adjustment means 102 shown in FIGURE 1.

Supported between the stepped portions 18 of the main frame sides 14 is the rewind mandrel 104 for rewinding of the slit web material, the mandrel being mounted for rotation with and to be driven by a shaft 106. A releasable bearing bracket 108 holds the ends of the shaft which is rotated and driven in any selected manner thus to furnish the primary power source for the device.

The essential purpose of the present invention is to control the hardness or density of the material on the mandrel 104. To this end, the frame 26 is movably mounted on the stationary frame 12 on elongated carriage shafts 110 which extend along each of the main frame sides between supports 112. The shafts, intermediate their ends, rest on hearing blocks 114 and extend through bearings 116 in the movable frame. An accordian fold boot 118 of rubber or other flexible material encases each exposed end of the shaft to protect it from foreign objects.

A rack gear 120 with teeth extended downwardly is mounted on the inner side of the frame sides 28, and an upwardly facing lower rack 122 is secured on each of the main frame sides 14. The gears are alignable in pairs and a gear wheel 124 is operatively engaged between each upper and lower rack as best shown in FIGURES 3 and 4. The gear wheels 124 have an axial rod 126 therebetween on which is supported the dancer roll 128 about which the web W is extended. In FIGURE 4 it will be seen that plates 130 are secured to the upper rack gears 120 and are slotted at 132 to receive the rod 126 allowing the dancer roll to move with respect to the upper movable frame 26 as well as with respect to the frame 12. As a consequence of the gear and rack arrangement shown, the dancer roll will move with the upper frame 26 but at half its speed and distance so that variations in web tension will not be induced by virtue of movement of the movable frame. Fluid pressure means comprising cylinders 134 with extensible arms 136 are anchored on the stationary frame and connected to the movable frame to urge-the frame-26 toward the rewind roll to maintain pressure against the rewind roll.

The purpose of this invention is to create a stable force condition by cancelling the force T exerted by the web on the movable frame 26 as was previously described. The web W is stretched by tension T and because of its 180 wrap around the dancer roll 128, it exertsaforce toward the right on the roll shaft 126' 'equal to 2T."The roll shaft 126 is retained by the gears 124 ateach end, each gear engaging a lower rack 122 fixed to" the primary frame 12 and an upper rack diametrically opposite rack 122 and fixed to the movable frame 126.

The reaction to, the force 2T is one-half (or IT) at the point of engagement between gears 124 and racks 122 and one half at the point of engagement between gears 124 and racks 120. The force 1T exerted by the gears'124 against the racks 120, and in turn against the movable frame 126 toward the right, cancelling the previously described force T exerted against the movable frame 126 toward the left by the web W, thereby successfully precluding any resultant horizontal force on the movable frame 126 because of the web tension T.

The tension regulating means is disclosed as incorporated in a slitting apparatus but, obviously it is usefully applicable in any web winding equipment.

What is claimed is:

1. A web winding mechanism for a web of indefinite length comprising, in combination,

a stationary frame having a winding mandrel rotatably mounted thereon, and means for driving said winding mandrel,

a movable frame mounted on said stationary frame for rectilinear movement toward and away from said winding mandrel, a pressure roll rotatably mounted on said movable frame about an axis parallel to that of the winding mandrel and positioned to engage web material wound on said winding mandrel so that the web material in issuing from said pressure roll is directed normal to the path of said rectilinear movement of the movable frame,

means for urging said movable frame along its path to contact the pressure roll against material wound on said mandrel,

an idler roll mounted on said movable frame in spaced parallel relation to said pressure roll and about which the direction of web material is reversed to effect a gross force on the movable frame, due to tension in the web material, which is in the direction along said rectilinear path of movement to move said movable frame and the pressure roll toward said mandrel,

and means mounted on said stationary frame and connected to said movable frame and over which the direction of the web material is reversed to cancel the aforesaid gross force acting on the movable frame.

2. The web winding mechanism according to claim 1 wherein the last mentioned means comprises a dancer roll having a pinion engaged with a pair of racks, one rack being fixed to the stationary frame and the other rack being fixed to the movable frame.

3. A machine for handling a web of indefinite length comprising,

a stationary frame having a winding mandrel rotatably supported thereon, means for driving said winding mandrel, and guide means for receiving a Web below the level of said winding mandrel and along an entrance path generally parallel to the axis of rotation of said winding mandrel, I

a movable frame mounted on said stationary frame for movement along a path above and generally parallel to said entrance path for movement toward and away from said winding mandrel,

a pressure roll rotatably mounted on said movable frame about an axis parallel to said winding mandrel, the axes of said winding mandrel and said pressure roll being contained within a common plane parallel to said path of movement of the movable frame,

an idler roll rotatably mounted on said movable frame 5 in spaced parallel relation to said pressure roll,

a dancer roll carried by both said stationary and movable frame for movement relative thereto as said movable frame is moved, said dancer roll being positioned to receive the web thereover and reverse the direction thereof relative to said entrance path in passing from the dancer roll to the idler roll and to again reverse direction in passing over the idler roll to the pressure roll,

and means for urging the movable frame along its path 15 toward said winding mandrel.

4. The machine according to claim 3 wherein said dancer roll is provided with a pinion, said pinion being engaged with a pair of racks, one on said stationary frame and the other on said movable frame.

5. The mechanism according to claim 1 including web slitting means mounted on said movable frame.

6. The mechanism according to claim 3 including web slitting means mounted on said movable frame.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 5/1963 Roder 24267.1

7/ 1967 Rockstrom et al 242-65

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