US3847319A

US3847319A - Method and apparatus for grouping and handling a plurality of webs

Info

Publication number: US3847319A
Application number: US00428937A
Authority: US
Inventors: K Brandon; T Perconti
Original assignee: Eastman Kodak Co
Current assignee: Eastman Kodak Co
Priority date: 1973-12-27
Filing date: 1973-12-27
Publication date: 1974-11-12
Anticipated expiration: 1991-11-12

Abstract

A method and apparatus for grouping narrow slit webs of a wide web and for moving such grouped webs along separate web paths from a web slitter to a work station. In operation, a slit web is engaged between two opposed movable supports bearing a plurality of spaced conical spools. The supports are so relatively aligned that the spools of one support may enter into the spaces between the spools on the other support. By further aligning the supports with respect to the slit webs, a spool on the first support is operable to guide a slit web into a space between two adjacent spools on the second support, and a spool on the second support similarly guides another slit web into a spool space on the first support. A slit web is held within a spool space by a wedging action applied between the spools that define such space. In this manner, each support is operable to grip and hold a plurality of slit webs for movement in a grouped relationship to a work station.

Description

United States Patent [1 1 Brandon et al.

[111 3,847,319 [4 1 Nov. 112, 197d [22] Filed:

[ METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR GROUPING AND HANDLING A PLURALIT OF WlElBS [75] Inventors: Kenneth 1 Brandon, Webster;

Thomas .11. lPereonti, Rochester, both of NY.

[73] Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company,

Rochester, NY.

Dec. 27, 1973 21 Appl. No.: 428,937

[52] US. (ll 226/4, 226/53, 226/91, 226/109 [51] llnt. Cl D65h 23/30 [58] Field oli Search 226/53, 91, 92, 109, 110, 226/4; 83/102, 107, 154

Primary Examiner-Lloyd L. King Assistant E.\'aminerRandolph A. Reese Attorney, Agent, or Firm-K. D. Fosnaught [57] ABSTRACT A method and apparatus for grouping narrow slit webs of a wide web and for moving such grouped webs along separate web paths from a web slitter to a work station. In operation, a slit web is engaged between two opposed movable supports bearing a plurality of spaced conical spools. The supports are so relatively aligned that the spools of one support may enter into the spaces between the spools on the other. support. By further aligning the supports with respect to the slit webs, a spool on the first support is operable to guide a slit web into a space between two adjacent spools on the second support, and a spool on the second support similarly guides another slit web into a spool space on the first support.

A slit web is held within a spool space by a wedging action applied between the spools that define such space. In this manner, each support is operable to grip and hold a plurality of slit webs for movement in a grouped relationship to a work station.

9 Claims, 12 Drawing Figures $847319 PATENTEDHUVIZ I874 sum 1 0f 3 FIG 3 Sim ME 3 9847 METHOD AND APPARATUMFOR GROUPING AND HANDLING A PLURAlLllTY OF WEBS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to web handling and, more particularly, to methods and apparatus for grouping and retaining in grouped relation a plurality of narrow slit webs for movement between work stations. More specifically, the web handling method and apparatus of this invention is particularly adapted for use with web slitting and rewinding devices adapted to handle various types of thin resilient strips of flexible web material.

2. Description of the Prior Art core-mounting apparatus. To provide space for such operation, adjacent slit webs are commonly separated before being wound upon the cores. It is well known to separate the slit webs into at least two web paths, that terminate at the rewind cores. Typically, the work station at which the winding cores are positioned is spaced away from the unslit web and the slitting apparatus to allow the operator convenient and safe access to the winding apparatus. This is particularly necessary if the slitter is adjustable for slitting the web into narrow slit webs of desired width. In this situation, the operator must have access to the winding apparatus to change quickly the winding cores. Also, the winding cores must be positioned so as to allow sufficient room for the winding thereon of long webs which, when wound, produce rolls of relatively large diameter. Moreover, where the operator is expected to remove the wound slit webs from the rewind shafts and make ready the re wind shafts for the next group of slit webs, it is imperative to provide enough space for the operator to work in safety. These considerations dictate the relative spacing of the rewind cores away from the unslit web.

and the slitter knives.

Periodically, during operation of a slitting machine, the operator must manually present the leading edge of a slit web to a Winding core. Typically, this occurs when the machine is initially startedup. The operator then gradually advances the newly cut slit webs out of the slitter and onto the floor between the slitter and the winding apparatus, manually lays out and arranges the newly cut slit webs for winding, and one byone presents the leading edges of the newly cut slit webs to the winding cores. Thenthe machine is restarted and wind ing proceeds.

I This activity can become unduly burdensome for the operator, particularly if the slit webs are extremely narrow and numerous. The rethread operation can become quite time consuming, especially if the slitting is done under adverse conditions. In slitting sensitized photographic film, for example, the slitting room is kept in extremely weak light or, frequently, in total darkness. It is not hard to visualize the difficulty involved in handling a large number of extremely narrow strips under these conditions. Nonetheless, the conventional approach is still to individually and by hand sort out, and present the slit webs to the winding cores. The disadvantages of such an approach are obvious.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION To facilitate the displacing and moving of a plurality of slit webs from a single web path at a web supply along discrete web paths to a web takeup, the invention provides for l) a method of grouping a large number of flexible resilient slit webs and moving these groups along differing web paths from a web supply to a web takeup whereon the slit webs are presented to winding cores, (2) a web handling apparatus including first and second movable supports with special retaining elements thereon for separating a large number of slit webs into two distinct groups, such supports being adapted to engageand hold, respectively, first and second groups of slit webs for movement along separate web paths extending from the wide web in the vicinity of the slitter to the winding apparatus.

Cast in the environment of a system for slitting a wide web, say of photographic film, into a number of very narrow slit webs of predetermined .widths, the invention facilitates the sorting out and winding of such narrower webs into individual rolls at a web takeup. The invention is particularly adapted for use in a system which normally requires the manual steps of separating and arranging large numbers of very narrow slit webs for rewinding; moving the slit webs into position for rewinding; and then manually presenting these very narrow slit webs to the rewind cores at the web takeup for rewinding into rolls. This invention is of particular value in a system for slitting a sensitized wide web, wherein light either may not strike the web or, under prescribed conditions, only minimal amounts of light of a certain character may be exposed to the web.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to facilitate the separation of a large number of very narrow slit webs into smaller groups and to move the leading ends of each group of slitwebs along respective web paths to a working position at the web takeup.

Another object is the provision of apparatus for quickly and efficiently moving a large number of very narrow slit webs from a position adjacent to a set of slitter knives to a position near a plurality of winding cores.

Another object is the provision of apparatus which sorts a large number of very narrow slit webs into groups in order to enable the operator to fasten the slit webs to corresponding-groupsof winding cores. 7

Another object is the provision of apparatus for grouping and holding a large numberof slit webs, moving such groups of slit webs along separate web paths, and presenting the slit webs at the termination of each web path for winding on a plurality of respective rewind cores mounted on rewind shafts.

Another object isthe'provision of apparatus to assist the slit ter operator as mentioned hereinbefore, but especially under slitting conditions of adverse light or no light at all. I

The invention, and its objects and advantages, will become more apparent in the detailed description of the preferred embodiments presented below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the invention presented below, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, wherein the same reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a view taken along line 5 of FIG. 4 and depicting a slitting system and web handling apparatus wherein a plurality of flexible slit webs are being guided into position between the opposed supports of the invention;

FIG. 2'is a partial view of the apparatus of FIG. 1, showing the supports separated after having been brought together and into contact with the slit webs;

FIG. 3 is a partial view of the apparatus of FIG. 1, showing the supports moved from the web supply to the web takeup;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the apparatus of FIGS. 1 through 3 with segments of the web and of the web winding apparatus broken away;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of a portion of the web handling apparatus of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a partial perspective view of the arrangement of FIG. 2 showing the supports retaining the slit webs;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the two supports of the invention in a partially mated position;

FIG. 8 is a verticalsection on line 8-8 of FIG. 12;

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Because slitters and winding mechanisms are well known, the present description will be directed in particular to elements forming part of, or cooperating more directly with, the present invention. Slitter and winding elements not specifically shown or described are understood to take various forms well known to those skilled in the art.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 4, a wide web It) is unreeled from a supply roll 12 andconveyed past a configuration of slitter knives generally designated as M. While there is no special form of slitter I4 necessary to practice the invention, the invention may be adapted to accommodate web slitting operations performed at predetermined uniform intervals of various widths across the width of web 10. For this purpose, the slitters 14 may be a plurality of rotary cutting wheels 13 mounted on and axially positionable along a drive shaft 16 which is rotatably mounted in a pair of supporting plates 115 and I7 and driven by suitable means P. For illustrative purposes, only six slit webs l8, 19, 20, 21, 22, and 23, which may be of any selected width, are shown in FIG. 4.

In FIG. 1, the leading ends of the slit webs are shown disposed between an upper support 28 and a lower support 30. Upper support 28 is mounted by suitable linkage 36, 36' for rotation about pivot points 32 and 34 in plates and 17. Upper support 28 carries an associated pressure bar 40 (which is partially broken away in FIG. 4) so that when the slitter operator applies a downward pressure upon bar 40, motion is imparted to the upper support 28, which travels an arcuate distance (see FIG. 2) around pivot points 32 and 34 until upper support 28 contacts the lower support 30. The lower support 30 is mounted adjacent the terminal end of a web-supporting shelf 42 located between

plates

15 and 17. Lower support 30 may desirably be recessed sufficiently with respect to the shelf 42 (see FIG. 5) to allow the leading edges of the slit webs to pass slightly above lower support 30 without stubbing or catching on such support.

Upper support 28 carries a plurality of frusto-conical spools 66. Such spools are so mounted that the spaces between the bottom surfaces of adjacent ones of spools 66 are slightly narrower than the widths of the slit webs to be operated upon. Similarly-spaced spools 65 are mounted on lower support 30 and in registry with the spool spaces of upper support 28. The unique features of

spools

65 and 66 and their operation will be'discussed in more detail hereinafter.

Sets of parallel guide rails are provided in which the supports may be placed for conveyance to the web winding station. Upper

support guide rails

46 and 48 are pivotable about

points

54 and 56 between a raised, inoperative position (see FIGS. 1, 2, and 4) and a lowered, or operating, position (FIG. 3).

Guide rails

46 and 48 are positionable by suitable linkages generally designated as 62 and 64, respectively, in combination with drive means P. A pair of lower support guide rails (of which only rail 50 is shown) are also provided. Such lower rails are similar in construction and operation to

upper rails

46 and 48 and are pivotably mounted for movement between operative (FIG. 3) and inoperative (FIG. 2) positions by means such as linkage 55.

In typical web threadup procedure, the slit webs are slowly and carefully run through slitter 14 (in a process hereinafter referred to as jogging) until they rest on shelf 42 in side by side relationship and disposed between the lower support 30 and the upper support 28 (see FIG. 1).

FIG. 2 illustrates (in phantom) the movement of the upper support 28 into cooperative relationship with lower support 30 after the slit webs have been jogged into position. By the co-action of spool sets 65 and 66, alternate slit webs are engaged and retained upon the respective supports, that is to say: even-numbered slit webs (18, 2t) etc) are engaged by support 28, and odd-numbered webs (I9, 21 etc) by support 36.

After the slit webs have been engaged by their

respective supports

28 and 30, support 28 is pivoted upward into its raised position (FIG. 2) in preparation for conveyance of the webs to the web winding station. Such station may advantageously comprise a plurality of web winding cores arranged, in a manner known in the art, in two groups, or rewind banks. The cores 7] of the upper rewind bank are suitably mounted in axially spaced relation so as to be individually aligned with the respective slit webs associated with the upper support 28. The cores '73 of the lower bank are aligned with the slit webs of the lower support 36 and are, accordingly, axially offset with respect to cores 71, as shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 3 illustrates upper support 28 and its retained web strips after such support has been moved along a first web path toward theupper rewind bank 71l. Upper support 28 is guided along such web path by

guide rails

46 and 48, which have been swung into their operative position by means hereinbefore described.

Similarly, lower support 30 with its associated retained webs is shown (FIG. 3) moved along a second web path toward the lower rewind bank 73. Lower support 30 is constrained to travel along the second web path by the lower support guide rails which have been raised to their operative position. In each case, rollers 82 (see FIG. 5) at opposite edges of

supports

28 and 30 ride on their associated guide rails to convey the supports therealong under gravitational influence. When supports 28 and 30 are moved to the ends of their respective web paths, the even-numbered slit webs are positioned at the upper winding bank, .and the oddnumbered slit webs at the lower winding bank 73. The slit webs may then be manually released from the

supports

28 and 30 and transferred to their associated winding cores. Thereafter, supports 28 and 30 may be removed from the guide rails and stored until needed again. Alternatively, they may be returned to the positions shown in FIG. 1, or they may remain in .the positions shown in FIG. 3.

If the supports are not to remain in the FIG. 3 positions,

upper guide rails

46 and 48 are raised and lower guide rails are lowered to their respective inoperative positions shown in FIG. ll. Slitter 14 then commences slitting wide web from supply roll 12 for direct winding onto the rewind cores.

The structure and: functioning of

spools

65 and 66 are shown in FIGS. 6 through 11. FIG. 6 shows, in perspective, supports 28 and 30 in retaining relationship with their associated slit web groups. FIG. 7 shows a detail of the upper support 28 partially mating with lower support 30 prior to the webs being positively engaged by the supports. In the positionillustrated, spools 66 on support 28 are beginning to mate into the spool spaces between spools 65 on support '30, thereby tending to force the odd-numbered webs into engagement between spools 65. Simultaneously, the individual spools 65 on support 36 are commencing to force corresponding even-numbered slit webs into the spaces between adjacent spools 66 on the opposing support 28.

For purposes of gripping the slit webs, each

spool

65 and 66 has a protruding land 84 which can best be seen in FIG. 10. It will be noted that the distance (the spool space) between the bases of the lands of adjacent spools 66 is (see FIG. l2) less than the width of the slit web (when in a flat, unflexed condition) to be accommodated by the space. The same dimensional relationship exists between two adjacent spools 65 and an associated odd-numbered. slit web. In each instance, however, a spool space is wider (see FIG. 12) than the distance across the truncated end of the spool with which it mates. As a result, complete mating of the

supports

28 and 30 causes the slit webs to so flex as to become wedged under the lands 84 as shown in FIG. 9. Resiliency of the webs in cooperation with the protruding lands 64 prevent the slit webs from regaining their original position and serves to hold them flexed and in place after supports 28 and 30are separated and thereafter while the supports 28 and 30' are moved along the guide rails. Thereupon the slit webs can be manually .snapped out of their wedged positions by a slitter operator and presented to the winding cores 7E and 73.

' the space between

adjacent spools

65 or 66 which space is less than the lateral width of the slit web itself when in a flat, unflexed configuration. Typically, the slit webs possess sufficient resilient energy to return to their original unflexed condition upon cessation of the lands 84 so that the slit webs remain tightly in place between the spools. Ordinarily, the distance between spools and the precise location andsize'of the lands are related to the width, thickness, elasticity, and springiness of the slit web material and may be appropriately adjusted in accordance with such characteristics of the web's. For example, apparatus of the invention is adapted for use with web materials, such as photographic films, which are capable of generally recovering their size and shape after at least a minimal cross sectional bending deformation. Particularly in the case of upper support 28, the weight of the web is also a consideration so that gravity will not alone overcome the constraining forces mentioned herein.

In a preferred embodiment of the inventionshown in FIG. 8, support 28 (and, similarly, support 30) is formed into a channel shape with longitudinal parallel side walls 27 and a base wall 29. Spools 66 are fastened to base 29 and disposed between walls 27. Accordingly,

an engaged slit web 18 is caused to pass over one side wall 27, down toward wall 29 and under land 84, thence up and over the opposite side wall 27. The longitudinal bending of the slit web in. the above-described manner in combination with the lateral web flexing caused by the web being wedged between adjacent spools results in the web being curved'about two axes thatare generally perpendicular to each other, thereby imparting a generally spherical curvature to the web in the area of its engagement by the support. Such compound bending has been found to enhance the grasping effect of the support to provide more reliable web retention.

To facilitate the handling of the edgemost slit webs, or selvedge ill, FIG. 7 (and FIG. Illl) shows a piercing member 86 on support 36. Positioned opposite member'66 is a receiving block 66 on support 28 with a receptacle cavity 90 therein. Piercing member 86 is positioned relative to cavity 96 such that when support 28 is fully mated with support 36, the piercing member 86 enters cavity 90. If, as in FIG. 7, a selvedge ill of wide web 10 is located between piercing member 86 and cavity 90, then when support 28 is mated with support 30 the piercing member 86 will penetrate and pass through selvedge 11; Due to the barbed surface 92 of piercing member 86 shown in the enlarged view in FIG. ill, the selvedge II will be retained under the barbs 92 when support 28 is separated from support 30. The selvedge ll can then be retained along with

slit webs

21 and 23 to pass along the web path to rewind bank 73.

The invention has been described in detail with particular reference to a preferred embodiment thereof, but it will be understood that variations and modifications can be effected within the spirit and scope of the invention.

We claim:

1. A web handling apparatus for separating a plurality of flexible, resilient slit webs into discrete groups for movement along separate web paths, said webs extending generally parallel to one another and lying generally in a common plane, said apparatus comprising:

a. first and second opposed support members located transverse to said webs on opposite sides thereof;

b. means for providing relative movement of said support members so that said members are brought together at the plane of said webs;

c. said first support including retaining means for engaging and holding a first group of said webs. when said support members are brought together; and

d. said second support including retaining means for engaging and holding a second group of said webs when said support members are brought together, said second group of webs being distinct from said first group of webs.

2. A web handling apparatus as claimed in claim I,

which further comprises:

guiding means on each of said supporting members for urging the webs against the opposite supporting member, such that the webs are held by the retaining means of that supporting member.

3. A web handling apparatus as claimed in claim 2 in which the guiding means comprises a plurality of projections secured to said supporting members, the projections being spaced apart along said supporting members such that the projections on said first supporting member will guide said second group of said webs into the spaces between projections on said second member and conversely, the projections on said second member will guide said first group of said webs into the spaces between projections on said first member.

4. A web handling apparatus as claimed in' claim 3 in which the projections further comprises projections of a tapered, conical shape.

5. A web handling apparatus as claimed in claim 4 in which said retaining means comprises a ridge located on each of a plurality of said projections for holding a said web so that the edge of that web is wedged under the ridge.

6. A web handling apparatus as claimed in claim 5, in which said retaining means further comprises a plurality of piercing members for penetrating the surfaces of selected ones of said webs, each of said piercing members having a barbed surface located on each of a plurality of said projections to restrain removal of said web from said piercing member.

7. A web handling apparatus as claimed in claim 6, in which each of said supporting members comprises a bar having a longitudinal channel therein, said retaining means comprising means positioned inside said channel.

8. A web handling apparatus as claimed in claim 7, which further comprises a means for moving said first opposed support member with said first group of webs along a first web path and said second opposed support member with said second group of webs along a second web path.

9. A method of separating a plurality of fiexble resilient webs into first and second groups and moving these groups along two web paths from a web supply wherein the webs are positioned parallel to one another in substantially a single planar web path to a web takeup wherein webs are positioned in two displaced preselected web positions lying substantially in two planar web paths, said webs being held on first and second opposed support members bearing opposed retaining projections for holding said webs, which method comprises the steps of:

a. guiding the leading sections of the webs from the web supply along the single web path between th first and second support members;

b. bringing thesupport members into contact with the webs therebetween;

c. mating together the opposed retaining projections on first and second support members;

d. retaining the first group of webs on the first support member and the second group of webs on the second support member;

e. displacing first support member from second support member; and

f. moving the first and second support members along the two web paths from the' web supply to the web takeup-

Claims

1. A web handling apparatus for separating a plurality of flexible, resilient slit webs into discrete groups for movement along separate web paths, said webs extending generally parallel to one another and lying generally in a common plane, said apparatus comprising: a. first and second opposed support members located transverse to said webs on opposite sides thereof; b. means for providing relative movement of said support members so that said members are brought together at the plane of said webs; c. said first support including retaining means for engaging and holding a first group of said webs when said support members are brought together; and d. said second support including retaining means for engaging and holding a second group of said webs when said support members are brought together, said second group of webs being distinct from said first group of webs.

2. A web handling apparatus as claimed in claim 1, which further comprises: guiding means on each of said supporting members for urging the webs against the opposite supporting member, such that the webs are held by the retaining means of that supporting member.

4. A web handling apparatus as claimed in claim 3 in which the projections further comprises projections of a tapered, conical shape.

9. A method of separating a plurality of flexble resilient webs into first and second groups and moving these groups along two web paths from a web supply wherein the webs are positioned parallel to one another in substantially a single planar web path to a web takeup wherein webs are positioned in two displaced preselected web positions lying substantially in two planar web paths, said webs being held on first and second opposed support members bearing opposed retaining projections for holding said webs, which method comprises the steps of: a. guiding the leading sections of the webs from the web supply along the single web path between the first and second support members; b. bringing the support members into contact with the webs therebetween; c. mating together the opposed retaining projections on first and second support members; d. retaining the first group of webs on the first support member and the second group of webs on the second support member; e. displacing first support member from second support member; and f. moving the first and second support members along the two web paths from the web supply to the web takeup.