US3610493A

US3610493A - Traveling web aligning apparatus

Info

Publication number: US3610493A
Authority: US
Inventors: Charles E Brocklehurst
Original assignee: Riegel Textile Corp
Current assignee: MOUNT VERNON MILLS Inc A CORP OF
Priority date: 1969-12-30
Filing date: 1969-12-30
Publication date: 1971-10-05
Anticipated expiration: 1988-10-05

Abstract

An apparatus for aligning one longitudinal side edge of a thickened portion of a traveling web having both thickened and thinned portions along a substantially constant line of travel. The apparatus comprises a sensing head means for sensing a deviation in the line of travel of one longitudinal side edge of the thickened portion and a switch means for constantly actuating guide means responsive thereto for constantly laterally shifting the traveling web to compensate for the deviations in the line of travel of the one longitudinal side edge of the thickened portion from the desired substantially constant line of travel.

Description

United States Patent Charles E. Brocklehurst Augusta, Ga.

[21] Appl, No. 889,089

[22] Filed Dec. 30, 1969 [45] Patented Oct. 5, 1971 [73] Assignee Riegel Textile Corporation Ware Shoals, S.C.

[72] Inventor [54] TRAVELING WEB ALIGNING APPARATUS Primary ExaminerAllen N. Knowles Att0rneyParrott, Bell, Seltzer, Park & Gibson ABSTRACT: An apparatus for aligning one longitudinal side edge of a thickened portion of a traveling web having both thickened and thinned portions along a substantially constant line of travel. The apparatus comprises a sensing head means 12 Claims, 3 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S.Cl 226/17, 112/63, 112/130, 112/203, 83/367 [51] Int. Cl B65h 25/26 [50] Field otSearch 226/23, 17, 18,19,45;112/124,129,130;83/367;200/61.13; 242/57.1

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,484,473 10/1949 Staege 226/23 X 2,803,205 8/1957 Solow 112/130 X PATENTEU on Si n 3,610,493

INVEr-JTOR. CHARLES E. BROCKLEHURST oi ME M ATTORNEYS TRAVELING WEB ALIGNING APPARATUS This invention relates to an apparatus for aligning one longitudinal side edge of a thickened portion of a traveling web having both thickened and thinned portions along a substantially constant line of travel.

ln the manufacture of various products, an elongate web having both thickened and thinned portions is often formed as an intermediate product on which it is necessary to carry out some further operations on which longitudinal side edge of the thickened portion such as severing or trimming away the thinned portion and thereafter stitching or binding the cut edge or any part thereof.

For instance, in the weaving of fabric or web on a shuttleless loom, an unwoven fringe or thinned portion is formed by the ends of the filling yarns left along at least one longitudinal side edge of the woven or thickened portion. In order to have a commercially acceptable product it is usually necessary that the thinned portion or fringe be severed or trimmed from the thickened portion. In addition, it is usually desirable that the remaining cut edge be bound such as by stitching, to prevent unraveling of the woven web during subsequent handling.

While many shuttleless looms include various cutting mechanisms operatively associated therewith for severing the unwoven fringe or thinned portion from the woven or thickened portion during weaving, it is often preferred that the trimming and binding be carried out substantially simultaneously to minimize the time and handling of the woven web and thus, minimize the likelihood of unraveling thereof.

Heretofore, it has been very difficult to sever or trim the thinned portion adjacent the one longitudinal side edge'of the thickened portion and properly bind the remaining cut edge throughout the length thereof due to the inability to advance the one longitudinal side edge of the thickened portion along a substantially constant line of travel in a predetermined relation to conventional severing and binding mechanisms. This inability has been primarily due to problems encountered in advancing the woven web over a uniform path of travel and variations in the width of the web.

It is an object of this invention to take advantage of the difference in thickness of the various portions of a traveling web having a thickened and thinned portion and provide an apparatus for aligning one longitudinal side edge of the thickened portion along a substantially constant line of travel.

By this invention the above object is accomplished by providing a sensing head means disposed adjacent the one longitudinal side edge of the thickened portion of the traveling web for sensing a deviation in the line of travel of the one longitudinal side edge in a first direction laterally of and in the plane'of the traveling web from the constant line of travel. Switch means is operatively associated with the sensing head means and has an open position and closed position and is in one of the positions when the sensing head means is sensing a deviation of the one longitudinal side edge in the first direction from the constant line of travel and being in the other position at all other times. Guide means are responsive to the switch means when in either of the positions for constantly laterally shifting the traveling web to compensate for deviations of the one longitudinal side edge of the thickened portion in either direction from the substantially constant line of travel.

Preferably, the sensing head means is adapted to be engaged by the one longitudinal side edge of the thickened portion and be moved under the influence thereof upon deviation of the one longitudinal side edge of the thickened portion in the first direction from the constant line for changing the position of the switch means. The switch means is preferably of the normally open type and is disposed outwardly of the sensing head means from the plane of the traveling web and includes an actuating plunger extending therefrom toward the sensing head means in the path of movement of the sensing head means away from the plane of the traveling web and for actuation by the sending head means upon sensing a deviation of the one longitudinal side edge of the thickened portion in the first direction from the constant line of travel.

The guide means preferably includes a pair of cooperating guide nip rolls through which the web is advanced and reciprocating means operatively associated therewith and responsive to the switch means for laterally shifting the nip rolls parallel to the plane of the travelling web to maintain the one longitudinal side edge of the thickened portion advancing along the substantially constant line of travel.

Some of the objects of the invention having been stated, other objects will appear as the description proceeds, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which FIG. 1 is a perspective, schematic view of an apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective, schematic view with portions broken away looking in the direction of arrow 2 in FIG. 1 and including means schematically illustrated for aligning the one longitudinal side edge of the thickened portion of the advancing web; and

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along the line 33 of FIG. 2.

[t is to be understood that while this invention will be hereinafter described specifically in terms of a fabric or web woven on a shuttleless loom and having a woven or thickened portion and a fringe or thinned portion extending along one longitudinal side edge of the woven portion, that the apparatus of this invention and the operation thereof is equally applicable to any type of web irrespective of whether the web has thickened and thinner portions.

- Referring more specifically to the drawings wherein like reference characters indicate like parts, there is shown in FIG. 1 an apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention and generally indicated at 10.

As illustrated, an elongate web 12 having a woven or thickened portion 13 and a transversely extending fringe or thinned portion 14 disposed along one longitudinal side edge of the thickened portion 13 is drawn from a supply roll l5 that is journaled at opposite ends for rotation in vertical support members 16, only one of which is shown, and which are adapted to support the supply roll 15 parallel with a horizontal surface such as that of the floor ofa building. From the supply roll 15 the elongate web 12 is led along a substantially predetermined longitudinal path of travel under idler roll 17 upwardly over idler roll 18 and downwardly between a pair of cooperating

guide nip rolls

20 and 21. From the

guide nip rolls

20 and 21 the elongate web 12 passes around another idler roll 23 and then between a pair of cooperating driven

nip feed rolls

24 and 25 to a driven takeup roll 26.

Idler rolls 17, 18 and 23 are journaled at opposite ends for rotation and are supported parallel with supply roll 15 between spaced-apart vertical support members 30. Similarly, the pair of

guide nip rolls

20 and 21 are journaled at opposite ends for rotation and are supported parallel with supply roll 15 between spaced-apart vertical support members 30. The

guide nip rolls

20 and 21 are also mounted for movement parallel to the plane of the traveling web 12 by suitable means for laterally shifting the traveling web 12 and will be hereinafter move fully described.

The pair of cooperating

nip feed rolls

24 and 25 are journaled at opposite ends for rotation and are supported parallel with supply roll 15 between spaced-apart vertical support members 31. The lower feed roll 25 has a drive mechanism, generally indicated at 35, drivingly connected thereto for driving rotation thereof. The driving mechanism 35 comprises a motor 36 having an output drive shaft 37 with a pulley 38 mounted thereon. An endless drivebclt 39 is disposed around pulley 38 and also passes around a pulley 40 which is mounted on extension shaft 41 of lower feed roll 25 for driving rotation thereof. Thus,

nip feed rolls

24 and 25 cooperate to draw the elongate web 12 from supply roll 15 and advance it along substantially predetermined longitudinal path of travel through the apparatus 10.

The take up roll 26 is journaled at opposite ends for rotation and is supported parallel to supply roll 15 between spacedapart support members 42. Takeup roll 26' is driven in synchronism with

feed rolls

24 and 25 to takeup the traveling web 12 by the same motor 36 that drives feed roll 25. A pulley 43 mounted on drive shaft 37 has a drivebelt 44 disposed therearound and drivingly connected to a pulley 45 which is mounted on takeup roll 26. Thus, the web 12 is advanced from supply roll along a substantially predetermined longitudinal path of travel to takeup roll 26.

It will readily be apparent that the apparatus as heretofore described while advancing the elongate web 12 along a substantially predetermined longitudinal path of travel does not insure that the longitudinal side edge of the thickened portion 13 having the thinned portion 14 extending longitudinally therealong is traveling along a substantially constant line of travel since the web 12 may move laterally of and in the plane of traveling web to deviate the longitudinal side edge from the constant line of travel or variations in the width of the elongate web 12 may deviate the longitudinal side edge from the constant line of travel.

Thus, in accordance with the present invention, the present apparatus 10 includes sensing head means, generally indicated at 50 mounted between the pair of cooperating guide nip rolls and 21 and idler roll 23 adjacent the path of travel of the one longitudinal side edge of the thickened portion 13 of the traveling web 12 and is supported from one of the vertical support members 30 by any suitable means such as support bracket 51. The sensing head means 50 is constructed and mounted so as to sense a deviation of the one longitudinal side edge of the thickened portion 13 of the traveling web 12 in a first direction, which as illustrated in the drawings may be to the left laterally of and in the plane of the raveling web 12, from a constant line of travel.

More particularly, the sensing head means 50 comprises an elongate planar shoe plate 52 disposed on one side of the traveling web 12 adjacent the one longitudinal side edge of the thickened portion 13 which is carried by support bracket 51 and extending longitudinally of the traveling web 12 for engaging and riding on an elongate portion of the traveling web 12. The shoe plate 52 includes a projection or edge feeler 53 extending longitudinally thereof adjacent one side of the shoe plate 52 with the inner edge 54 thereof disposed in alignment with the desired constant line of travel of the longitudinal side edge of the thickened portion 13 and which extends inwardly from planar shoe plate 52 toward the traveling web 12 a distance at least beyond the thickened portion 13, but no further than the thinned portion 14, as best illustrated in FIG. 3. The sensing head means 50 further include a pair of

spacedapart supporting plates

54 and 55 carried by shoe plate 52 and which extend away from the plane of the advancing web 12 substantially perpendicular thereto and between which a pin 56 extends.

The sensing head means 50 is supported by an arm 57 which extends outwardly from support bracket 51 parallel to the plane of the traveling web 12 in spaced relation therefrom and includes a sleeve 58 rotatably mounted on the end of arm 57 remote from bracket 51. A coil spring 59 is concentrically mounted on arm 57 between bracket 51 and sleeve 58 for biasing sleeve 58 in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 2. Sleeve 58 is connected by a connecting link 60 to a sleeve 61 which is concentrically disposed on pin 56 for rotation thereon. Thus, the sensing head means 50 is biased toward the plane of the traveling web 12 for maintaining the planar show plate 52 in engagement with an riding upon the traveling web 12.

Upon deviation of the one longitudinal side edge of the thickened portion 13 of the traveling web 12 in the first direction, that is to the left as viewed in the various figures, from the desired constant line of travel, the thickened portion 13 will engage the projection or edge feeler 53. The sensing head means 50 will be moved perpendicularly away from the plane of the traveling web 12 under the influence of the thickened portion 13 through the pivoting connections just described.

As best illustrated in H6. 3, link 60 has an elongate rod such as a bolt 65 adjustably mounted therethrough by nuts 66 which extends substantially perpendicular to the plane of the traveling web 12 so that upon deviation of the one longitudinal side edge of the thickened portion 13 of' the traveling web 12 in the first direction, the free end of bolt 65 will likewise be moved perpendicularly away from the plane of the traveling web 12. It will be apparent from the foregoing description that thin sections that this sections within the thickened portion 13 of the web 12 will not cause the sensing head means 50 to move since the shoe plate 52 rides on an elongate portion of the thickened portion 13 to bridge these sections as illustrated in FIG. 2. Similarly, due to the elongate nature of the projection or edge feeler 53 which engages an elongate portion of the one longitudinal side edge of the thickened portion 13 upon deviation thereof from the constant line, unevenness in the one longitudinal side edge will have no affect upon moving the sensing head 50.

To prevent deflection of the advancing web 12 by the sensing head means 50, a web supporting member 70 including a substantially planar supporting surface 71 is disposed on the opposite side of the plane of the traveling web 12 in opposed relation to shoe plate 52 for supporting the traveling web 12. The web supporting member 70 additionally includes a projection 72 disposed on the first direction side of the constant line and extending parallel with the edge feeler 53 of the sensing head means 50 in substantial alignment with the desired constant line of travel of the longitudinal side of the thickened portion 13.

The projection 72 extends outwardly from the planar supporting surface 71 toward the plane of the traveling web 12 in cooperating relationship with projection or edge feeler 53 a distance beyond the thickened portion 13 of the traveling web 12 but less than the thinned portion 14. Thus, it can be seen that upon deviation of the longitudinal side edge of the thickened portion 13 in the first direction, the edge feeler 53 will be engaged by the longitudinal side edge of the thickened portion 13 and be moved perpendicularly away from the plane of the traveling web 12 a distance substantially equal to the difference in thickness between the thickened portion 13 and the thinned portion 14 of the traveling web 12.

Switch means, generally indicated at 80, is operatively associated with the sensing head means 50. The switch means has an open position and closed position and is preferably of the normally open type and includes an actuating plunger 81 which is adapted to be actuated upon sensing head, means 50 sensing a deviation of the one longitudinal side edge of the thickened portion 13 in the first direction from the desired constant line of travel. More particularly, the switch means 80 includes a switch housing 82 which is supported by brace 83 from support bracket 51 outwardly of the plane of the traveling web 12 beyond the sensing head means 50 with the actuating plunger 81 extending therefrom toward the sensing head means 50 in the path of movement thereof. An actuating leaf 84 is pivotally connected as at 85 to the upper end of the switch housing 82 and extends downwardly from the pivot point 85 and rests on the free end of actuating plunger 81. The bolt 65 carried by link 60 of the sensing head means 50 is adjusted such that upon deviation of the one longitudinal side edge of the thickened portion 13 in the first direction from the constant line of travel, sensing head 50 will be moved under the influence of the one longitudinal side edge to cause the end of bolt 65 to engage actuating leaf 84 and actuate plunger 81 to close normally open switch means 80.

Guide means is 'provided which is responsive to the switch means 80 for constantly shifting the traveling web 12 laterally of and in the plane of the traveling web 12 to compensate for any deviations of the one longitudinal side edge of the thickened portion 13 in either direction from the desired substantially constant line of travel. The guide means, as discussed above, includes the pair of cooperating guide nip

rolls

20 and 21 and reciprocating means operatively associated therewith which is responsive to switch means 80 for laterally shifting the guide nip rolls and 21 and the traveling web 12 passing therebetween a corresponding amount to maintain the one longitudinal side edge of the thickened portion 13 along the substantially constant line of travel.

The pair of cooperating guide nip

rolls

20 and 21 are mounted for lateral movement parallel to the plane of the traveling web 12 through suitable connections. More particularly, both of

rolls

20 and 21 are journaled at opposite ends in plates 91, only one of which is shown. The plates 91 are mounted by suitable bearings in trackways, not shown, in plate supports 92 for sliding movement laterally thereof in a direction parallel to the plane of the traveling web 12. Plate supports 92 are carried by vertical support members 30 through links 93, only one of which is shown, with the plate supports 92 being preferably disposed with the trackways, not shown, converging downwardly so that when the

rolls

20 and 21 are laterally moved they will move in an arcuate path to facilitate a corresponding lateral movement of the traveling web 12 and prevent slippage thereof between rolls 21 and 22.

The reciprocating means, FIG. 2, comprises a double-acting, fluid-operated piston and cylinder assembly, generally indicated at 95, which includes a reciprocating piston 96 and a double-acting fluid-operated cylinder 97 mounted stationary by suitable support structure (not shown) adjacent to and in alignment with guide nip

rolls

20 and 21 with the reciprocating piston 96 having the free end thereof suitably connected to one of the plates 91, FIG. 2, for laterally shifting guide nip

rolls

20 and 21 and the traveling web 12 laterally of and in the plane of the traveling web 12. The out or forward stroke of piston 96 laterally shifts the traveling web 12 in the first direction and the in or return stroke of piston 96 laterally shifts the traveling web 12 in the opposite direction.

The actuation of the double-acting, fluid-operated piston and cylinder assembly 95 is controlled by fluid control means which is responsive to switch means 80. More particularly, the fluid control means comprises a solenoid actuated control valve, generally indicated at 100, which includes a valve 101 and solenoid 102 for control thereof. As illustrated, FIG. 2, solenoid 102 is connected to a power circuit in series with switch means 80 so that when switch means 80 is open the core 101a of valve 101 and stem 102a of solenoid 102 are spring biased to the right by spring 103 such that the valve 101 supplies fluid under pressure from pressure source 105 through valve 101 and conduit 106 to the double-acting, fluidoperated cylinder 97 for driving the piston outwardly thereof to laterally shift the traveling web 12 in the first direction. When the switch means 80 is closed by the one longitudinal side edge of the thickened portion 13 deviating in the first direction from the constant line of travel, the circuit to the solenoid is completed and the stem 102a thereof will be shifted to the left, FIG. 2, to override biasing spring 103 so that fluid under pressure will be supplied from pressure source 105 through valve 101 and conduit 107 to the double-acting, fluid-operated cylinder 97 to drive the piston 96 inwardly thereof to laterally shift the traveling web 12 in a direction opposite to that of the first direction. Thus, it will be apparent that the traveling web 12 is constantly being shifted laterally of and in the plane of the traveling web 12 to maintain the one longitudinal side edge of the thickened portion 13 advancing substantially along the constant line of travel.

For severing or removing the fringe or thinned portion 14 from the traveling web 12, severing means, generally indicated at 110, are disposed in substantial alignment with the one longitudinal side edge of the thickened portion 13 of the traveling web 12 after the web passes through the pair of cooperating guide nip

rolls

20 and 21 for severing the fringe or thinned portion 14 therefrom. The severing means 110 may comprise a pair of cooperating rotary cutters 111 and 112 which are driven by interconnecting gears 113 and 114 with one of the gears 113 being driven by a pulley 115 and belt 116 disposed therearound and around a pulley 117 which is mounted on the drive shaft of a motor 120. The cooperating rotary cutters 11 1 and 112 are aligned with the constant line and accordingly,

cut or trim the thinned portion 14 from the elongate traveling web 12 closely adjacent the one longitudinal edge of the thickened portion 13.

Following the cutting or trimming of the thinned portion 14 from the elongate traveling web 12, the web 12 passes to stitching means, generally indicated at 130, which is disposed in alignment with the one longitudinal side edge of the thickened portion 14 of elongate traveling web 12 for binding the cut edge as by hemstitching. The stitching means 130 comprises a conventional sewing machine having a pulley 131 operatively associated therewith about which a drivebelt 132 is disposed and which additionally passes around a pulley 133 mounted on the drive shaft of motor which also drives the cooperating rotary cutters 111 and 112.

Thus, it can be seen that as the elongate traveling web 12 passes along the substantially predetermined longitudinal path of travel between supply roll 15 and take up roll 26, the one longitudinal side edge of the thickened portion 13 follows a substantially constant line of travel. With the pair of cooperating rotary cutters 111 and 112 and stitching means aligned with the one longitudinal side edge of the thickened portion 13, the thinned portion 14 or any part thereof will be trimmed. from the thickened portion 13 and the cut edge stitched by the stitching means 130.

In the drawings and specification there has been set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention, and although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation:

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for aligning one longitudinal side edge of a thickened portion of a traveling web having both thickened and thinned portions along a substantially constant line of travel, said apparatus comprising the combination of,

sensing head means disposed adjacent the one longitudinal side edge of the thickened portion of the traveling web for sensing a deviation in the line of travel of the one longitudinal side edge in a first direction laterally of and in the plane of the traveling web from the constant line of travel, said sensing head means comprising an elongate planar shoe plate mounted closely adjacent one side of the thickened portion of the traveling web with the longitudinal axis thereof parallel with the plane of the traveling web for movement substantially perpendicular to the plane of the traveling web for engaging and riding on the thickened portion thereof, and an edge feeler carried by said shoe plate for engaging the one longitudinal side edge of the thickened portion of the traveling web upon deviation thereof in said first direction from the constant line or travel and for moving along with said shoe plate perpendicularly away from the traveling web under the influence of the thickened portion,

switch means operatively associated with said sensing head means for actuation thereby and having an open position and a closed position, said switch means being in one of said positions when said sensing head means senses a deviation of the side edge in said first direction and being in said other position at all other times, and

guide means responsive to said means when in said one position for laterally shifting the traveling web to compensate for the deviation from the constant line of travel and responsive to said switch means when in said other position for laterally shifting the traveling web in an opposite direction, whereby said guide means is constantly moving in either of the opposite directions to continually compensate for deviations of the one longitudinal side edge of the thickened portion in either direction from the desired substantially constant line of travel.

2. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said edge feeler comprises an elongate projection on said shoe plate extending longitudinally thereof and extending inwardly toward the plane of the traveling web at least beyond the thickened portion but no further than the thinned portion.

3. An apparatus, set forth in claim 2, including a web supporting member disposed on the other side of the traveling web in opposed relation with said shoe plate and in supporting relation to the thickened portion of the traveling web for preventing deflection of the traveling web from its plane of movement by said planar shoe plate.

4. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 3, wherein said web supporting member includes an elongate projection extending inwardly therefrom in opposed cooperating relation with said edge feeler so that said edge feeler and shoe plate will be moved perpendicularly away from the plane of the traveling web a distance substantially equal to the difference in thickness of the thickened and thinned portions of the traveling web upon deviation of the one longitudinal side edge of the thickened portion from the constant line of travel in said first direction.

5. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said switch means is of the normally open type and is disposed outwardly of the sensing head from the plane of the traveling web and includes an actuating plunger extending therefrom toward the sensing head in the path of movement of said sensing head away from the plane of the traveling web and for actuation by said sensing head upon said sensing head sensing a deviation of the one longitudinal side edge of the thickened portion in said first direction from the constant line of travel.

6. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said guide means comprises a pair of cooperating guide nip rolls through which the web is advanced, and

reciprocating means operatively associated with said pair of nip rolls and responsive to said switch means for laterally shifting said nip rolls parallel to the plane of the traveling web to maintain the one longitudinal side edge of the thickened portion advancing along the substantially constant line of travel.

7. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 6, wherein said reciprocating means comprises a double-acting, fluid-operated piston and cylinder assembly operatively connected to said nip rolls, and

fluid control means responsive to said switch means for actuating said piston and cylinder assembly for laterally shifting said nip rolls.

8. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 1, including web severing means spaced from said sensing head and positioned in substantial alignment with the substantially constant line of travel for severing the web along the one longitudinal side edge of the thickened portion after the traveling web passes said sensing head.

9. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 8, wherein said severing means comprises a pair of cooperating rotary cutters, and wherein said apparatus further includes stitching means spaced from said cooperating rotary cutters in substantial alignment with the constant line of travel for stitching the one longitudinal side edge of the thickened portion of the traveling web after the traveling web passes said cooperating rotary cutters.

10. An apparatus for aligning one longitudinal side edge of a thickened portion of a traveling web having both thickened and thinned portions along a substantially constant line of travel, said apparatus comprising the combination of,

a sensing head means disposed adjacent the one longitudinal side edge of the thickened portion of the traveling web for sensing a deviation in the line of travel of tine one longitudinal side edge of the thickened portion in a first direction laterally of and in the plane of the traveling web from the constant line of travel, said sensing head means comprising an elongate planar shoe plate mounted closely adjacent one side of the thickened portion of the advancing web with the longitudinal axis thereof parallel with the plane of the traveling web for movement substantially perpendicular to the plane of the traveling web for enga ing and riding on the thickened ortion thereof, and an e ge feeler carried by said shoe p ate for engaging the one longitudinal side edge of the thickened portion of the traveling web upon deviation thereof in said first direction from the constant line of travel for moving along with said shoe plate perpendicularly way from the traveling web under the influence of the one longitudinal side edge of the thickened portion,

a web supporting member disposed on the other side of the traveling web in opposed relation with said shoe plate and in supporting relation to the thickened portion of the traveling web for preventing deflection of the traveling web from its planar movement by said planar shoe plate,

switch means operatively associated with said sensing head means for actuation thereby and having an open position and a closed position, said switch means being in one of said positions when said sensing head means senses a deviation of the one longitudinal side edge in said first direction and being in said other position at all other times, and

guide means responsive to said switch means when in said one position for laterally shifting the traveling web to compensate for the deviation from the constant line of travel and responsive to said switch means when in said other position for laterally shifting the traveling web in an opposite direction whereby said guide means is constantly moving in either of the opposite directions to continually compensate for deviations of the one longitudinal side edge of the thickened portion in either direction from the desired substantially constant line of travel.

11. An apparatus as set forth in claim 10, wherein said guide means comprises a pair of cooperating guide nip rolls between which the web is advanced, and

12. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 11, further includin web severing means spaced from said sensing head and positioned in substantial alignment with the substantially constant line of travel for severing the web along the one longitudinal side edge of the thickened portion after the traveling web passes said sensing head means, and

stitching means spaced from said web severing means in alignment with the constant line of travel for stitching the one longitudinal side edge of the thickened portion of the traveling web after traveling web passes said web severing means.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3, 10, 493 Dated October 5, 1971 I Charles E. Brocklehurst It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 1, line 9, delete "which" and insert therefor -one-;

line 73, delete "sending" and insert -sensing--; Column 2, line 72, after "along", insert -a; Column 3,

line 32, "raveling" should be --traveling-; line 48, "include" should be --includes; line 65, "an" should be and-; Column 4, line 9, after "sections", delete -that this sections";

line 12, after "these, insert -thin--; line 29, after "side", insert edge; Column 6, line 51, "or" should be -of-;

line 61, after first instance of said", insert -switch--; Column 7, line 1, "s' should be as; Column 8, line 1, "tine" should be -the--;

line 60, after the Word "after", insert --the-.

Signed and sealed this l th day of April 1972.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR. ROBERT GOTTSCHALK Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents ORM F'O-1050 (10-69) USCOMM-DC BO376-P69 Ki U 5 GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: I959 0-366-33!

Claims

1. An apparatus for aligning one longitudinal side edge of a thickened portion of a traveling web having both thickened and thinned portions along a substantially constant line of travel, said apparatus comprising the combination of, sensing head means disposed adjacent the one longitudinal side edge of the thickened portion of the traveling web for sensing a deviation in the line of travel of the one longitudinal side edge in a first direction laterally of and in the plane of the traveling web from the constant line of travel, said sensing head means comprising an elongate planar shoe plate mounted closely adjacent one side of the thickened portion of the traveling web with the longitudinal axis thereof parallel with the plane of the traveling web for movement substantially perpendicular to the plane of the traveling web for engaging and riding on the thickened portion thereof, and an edge feeler carried by said shoe plate for engaging the one longitudinal side edge of the thickened portion of the traveling web upon deviation thereof in said first direction from the constant line or travel and for moving along with said shoe plate perpendicularly away from the traveling web under the influence of the thickened portion, switch means operatively associated with said sensing head means for actuation thereby and having an open position and a closed position, said switch means being in one of said positions when said sensing head means senses a deviation of the side edge in said first direction and being in said other position at all other times, and guide means responsive to said means when in said one position for laterally shifting the traveling web to compensate for the deviation from the constant line of travel and responsive to said switch means when in said other position for laterally shifting the traveling web in an opposite direction, whereby said guide means is constantly moving in either of the opposite directions to continually compensate for deviations of the one longitudinal side edge of the thickened portion in either direction from the desired substantially constant line of travel.

3. An apparatus, s set forth in claim 2, including a web supporting member disposed on the other side of the traveling web in opposed relation with said shoe plate and in supporting relation to the thickened portion of the traveling web for preventing deflection of the traveling web from its plane of movement by said planar shoe plate.

6. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said guide means comprises a pair of cooperating guide nip rolls through which the web is advanced, and reciprocating means operatively associated with said pair of nip rolls and responsive to said switch means for laterally shifting said nip rolls parallel to the plane of the traveling web to maintain the one longitudinal side edge of the thickened portion advancing along the substantially constant line of travel.

7. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 6, wherein said reciprocating means comprises a double-acting, fluid-operated piston and cylinder assembly operatively connected to said nip rolls, and fluid control means responsive to said switch means for actuating said piston and cylinder assembly for laterally shifting said nip rolls.

10. An apparatus for aligning one longitudinal side edge of a thickened portion of a traveling web having both thickened and thinned portions along a substantially constant line of travel, said apparatus comprising the combination of, a sensing head means disposed adjacent the one longitudinal side edge of the thickened portion of the traveling web for sensing a deviation in the line of travel of tine one longitudinal side edge of the thickened portion in a first direction laterally of and in the plane of the traveling web from the constant line of travel, said sensing head means comprising an elongate planar shoe plate mounted closely adjacent one side of the thickened portion of the advancing web with the longitudinal axis thereof parallel with the plane of the traveling web for movement substantially perpendicular to the plane of the traveling web for engaging and riding on the thickened portion thereof, and an edge feeler carried by said shoe plate for engaging the one longitudinal side edge of the thickened portion of the traveling web upon deviation thereof in said first direction from the constant line of travel for moving along with said shoe plate perpendicularly way from the traveling web under the influence of the one longitudinal side edge of the thickened portion, a web supporting member disposed on the other side of the traveling web in opposed relation with said shoe plate and in supporting relation to the thickened portion of the traveling web for preventing deflection of the traveling web from its planar movement by said planar shoe plate, switch means operatively associated with said sensing head means for actuation thereby and having an open position and a closed position, said switch means being in one of said positions when said sensing head means senses a deviation of the one longitudinal side edge in said first direction and being in said other position at all other times, and guide means responsive to said switch means when in said one position for laterally shifting the traveling web to compensate for the deviation from the constant line of travel and responsive to said switch means when in said other position for laterally shifting the traveling web in an opposite direction whereby said guide means is constantly moving in either of the opposite directions to continually compensate for deviations of the one longitudinal side edge of the thickened portion in either direction from the desired substantially constant line of travel.

11. An apparatus as set forth in claim 10, wherein said guide means comprises a pair of cooperating guide nip rolls between which the web is advanced, and reciprocating means operatively associated with said pair of nip rolls and responsive to said switch means for laterally shifting said nip rolls parallel to the plane of the traveling web to maintain the one longitudinal side edge of the thickened portion advancing along the substantially constant line of travel.

12. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 11, further including web severing means spaced from said sensing head and positioned in substantial alignment with the substantially constant line of travel for severing the web along the one longitudinal side edge of the thickened portion after the traveling web passes said sensing head means, and stitching means spaced from said web severing means in alignment with the constant line of travel for stitching the one longitudinal side edge of the thickened portion of the traveling web after traveling web passes said web severing means.