Web tensiometer

Claim 2

A tensiometer for providing an indication of a tension in a web comprising two spaced frame members, a roll located between said frame members and having a surface over which the web moves, said roll having a force exerted on the surface thereof by a tension in the web, shaft means for supporting said roll, said shaft means projecting from the opposite ends of said roll, a bracket secured to one of said frame members, a support member attached to said bracket and extending in a direction transverse to said shaft means and lying in a plane which extends through the longitudinal axis of said roll, said support member being operatively connected to said shaft means to support said shaft means and strained by a force resulting from a tension in the web, and strain-sensing means located on said support member for sensing the strain of said support member and providing an indication of a tension in the web.

Claim 3

A tensiometer according to claim 1 wherein said bracket has a portion thereof extending substantially parallel to said shaft means in spaced relation thereto with said support member being attached to said portion of said bracket.

Claim 4

A tensiometer according to claim 1 wherein said support member extends into an opening in a portion of said shaft means, and said tensiometer further comprises shaft-supporting means in spaced relation to said shaft and adapted to engage and support said shaft means upon failure of said support member.

Claim 5

A tensiometer according to claim 1, further comprising a second bracket secured to the other of said frame members, a second support member attached to said second bracket extending in a direction transverse to said shaft means and lying in a plane which extends through the longitudinal axis of said roll, said second support member being operatively connected to said shaft means and strained by a force resulting from a tension in the web, and strain-sensing means located on said second support member for sensing the strain of said second support member and providing an indication of a tension in the web.

Claim 6

A tensiometer according to claim 4, wherein said first and second support members extend from said shaft means in a common lateral direction.

Claim 7

A tensiometer according to claim 4, wherein said first and second support members extend from said shaft means in laterally opposite directions with respect to each other.

Claim 8

A tensiometer according to claim 4, wherein said first and second support members each extend transversely from said shaft means in laterally opposite directions.

Claim 9

A tensiometer for providing an indication of a tension in a web comprising frame means, a longitudinally extending member having a force exerted on a surface thereof by a tension in the web, a lateral support membEr secured to said frame means and connected with an end of said member, said lateral support member extending generally transverse to said end of said member and providing the sole support for said end of said member, said lateral support member being strained by a force resulting from a tension in the web, strain-sensing means located on said lateral support member and having an electrical impedance responsive to the strain of said support member, and a bridge circuit including said strain-sensing means and responding to the strain sensed by the sensing means located on said lateral support member for providing a signal indicative of a tension in the web.

Claim 10

A tensiometer for providing an indication of a tension in a web comprising frame means, a longitudinally extending member having a force exerted on a surface thereof by a tension in the web, a lateral support membEr secured to said frame means and connected with an end of said member, said lateral support member extending generally transverse to said end of said member and providing the sole support for said end of said member, said lateral support member being strained by a force resulting from a tension in the web, strain-sensing means located on said lateral support member and having an electrical impedance responsive to the strain of said support member, and a bridge circuit including said strain-sensing means and responding to the strain sensed by the sensing means located on said lateral support member for providing a signal indicative of a tension in the web.

Claim 11

A tensiometer according to claim 8, further comprising a second lateral support member secured to said frame means and extending laterally to the other end of said member, said second lateral support member being connected with said member and strained by a force resulting from a tension in the web, and strain-sensing means located on said second lateral support for providing a signal indicative of a tension in the web.

Claim 12

A tensiometer according to claim 9, wherein said ends of said member comprise shaft means for supporting said member and said first and second lateral support members extend from said shaft means in a common lateral direction.

Claim 13

A tensiometer according to claim 9, wherein said ends of said member comprise shaft means for supporting said member and said first and second lateral support members extend from said shaft means in laterally opposite directions with respect to each other.

Claim 14

A tensiometer according to claim 9, wherein said ends of said member comprise shaft means for supporting said member and said first and second lateral support members each extend from said shaft means in laterally opposite directions.

Claim 15

A tensiometer according to claim 8, wherein said frame means comprises two spaced frame members, said member being located between said frame members, a bracket secured to one of said frame members, and said support member being attached to said bracket.

Claim 16

A tensiometer according to claim 13 wherein said bracket has a portion thereof extending parallel to said member, and said support member is attached to said portion of said bracket.

Claim 17

A tensiometer according to claim 13, further comprising a second bracket secured to the other of said frame members, and a second support member attached to said bracket and connected with said member.

Claim 18

A tensiometer for measuring a tension in a web comprising frame means, a longitudinally extending member having a surface adapted to have a force exerted thereon by a tension in the web, a first lateral support member secured to said frame means and connected with an end of said member, a second lateral support member secured to said frame means and connected with the other end of said member, said first lateral support member having a section thereof which extends from said member in one lateral direction with respect to the longitudinal axis thereof and said second lateral support member having a section which extends from said member in an opposite lateral direction with respect to the longitudinal axis thereof, said sections of said first and second lateral support members being deflected and strained by a force resulting from the tension in the web, said section of said first and second lateral support members having opposite surface portions which undergo tension and compression respectively upon deflection, strain-sensing means located on the opposite surface portions respectively of said sections of said first and second lateral support members, said strain-sensing means having an electrical impedance responsive to the tension and compression respectively of said surface portions, and bridge circuit means including said strain-sensing means for providing a signal indicative of a tension in the web.

Claim 19

A tensiometer for measuring a tension in a web comprising frame means, a longitudinally extending member having a surface adapted to have a force exerted thereon by a tension in the web, a first lateral support member secured to said frame means and connected with an end of said member, a second lateral support member secured to said frame means and connected with the other end of said member, said first lateral support member having a section thereof which extends from said member in one lateral direction with respect to the longitudinal axis thereof and said second lateral support member having a section which extends from said member in an opposite lateral direction with respect to the longitudinal axis thereof, said sections of said first and second lateral support members being deflected and strained by a force resulting from the tension in the web, said section of said first and second lateral support members having opposite surface portions which undergo tension and compression respectively upon deflection, strain-sensing means located on the opposite surface portions respectively of said sections of said first and second lateral support members, said strain-sensing means having an electrical impedance responsive to the tension and compression respectively of said surface portions, and bridge circuit means including said strain-sensing means for providing a signal indicative of a tension in the web.

Claim 20

A tensiometer according to claim 16 wherein said strain-sensing means located on the opposite surface portions of said first lateral support member are connected into a first bridge circuit to provide a first signal indicative of a tension in the web, and said strain-sensing means located on the opposite surface portions of said second lateral support member are connected into a second bridge circuit to provide a second signal indicative of a tension in the web.

Claim 21

A tensiometer according to claim 16 wherein said bridge circuit means includes a single bridge circuit having two pairs of opposite bridge arms with said strain-sensing means responsive to tension being connected as one pair of opposite bridge arms and with said strain-sensing means responsive to compression being connected as the other pair of opposite bridge arms.

Claim 22

A tensiometer according to claim 18 wherein said second lateral support member has an opposite section which extends from said member in a laterally opposite direction with respect to the longitudinal axis thereof, said opposite section of said second lateral support member being deflected and strained by a force resulting from a tension in the web and having opposite surface portions which undergo tension and compression respectively upon deflection, strain-sensing means having an electrical impedance responsive to strain and being located on the opposite surface portions of said opposite section of said second lateral support member and said bridge circuit means including a second bridge circuit for providing a signal indicative of a tension in the web in response to the deflection of said second lateral support member, said second bridge circuit having two pairs of opposite bridge arms with said strain-sensing means responsive to tension being connected as one pair of opposite bridge arms and said strain-sensing means responsive to compression being connected to the other pair of opposite bridge arms.

Claim 23

A tensiometer according to claim 16 wherein said first lateral support member has an opposite section which extends from said member in a laterally opposite direction with respect to the longitudinal axis thereof, said section of said first lateral support member being deflected and strained by a force resulting from a tension in the web and having opposite surface portions which undergo tension and compression respectively upon deflection, strain and being located on the opposite surface portions of said opposite section of said first lateral support member, and said bridge circuit means including a first bridge circuit for providing a signal indicative of a tension in the web in response to the deflection of said first lateral support member, said bridge circuit having two pairs of opposite bridge arms with said strain-sensing means responsive to tension being connected as one pair of opposite bridge arms and with said strain-sensing means responsive to compression being connected as the other pair of opposite bridge arms.

Claim 24

A tensiometer for measuring a tension in a web comprising frame means, a longitudinally extending member having a surface adapted to have a force exerted thereon by a tension in the web, a first lateral support member secured to said frame means and connected with an end of said member, a second lateral support member secured to said frame means and connected with the other end of said member, said first and second lateral support members extending generally transverse to said member and providing the sole support for said member, said first and second lateral support members each having sections thereof which extend from said member in laterally opposite directions with respect to the longitudinal axis thereof, said sections of said first and second lateral support members being deflected and strained by the force resulting from a tension in the web, said first and second sections of said first and second lateral support members each having opposite surface portions which undergo tension and compression respectively upon deflection, first, second, third and fourth strain-sensing means having an eleCtrical impedance responsive to strain, said first and fourth strain-sensing means being located on said sections respectively of said first lateral support member and said second and third strain-sensing means being located on said sections respectively of said second lateral support member, said first and second strain-sensing means being located on surface portions which undergo tension and said third and fourth sensing means being located on surface portions which undergo compression, said first and third strain-sensing means being located respectively on said sections of said first and second lateral support members which extend from said member in one lateral direction and said fourth and second strain-sensing means being located respectively on said sections of said first and second lateral support members which extend from said member in the opposite lateral direction, a bridge circuit for providing a signal indicative of a tension in the web, said bridge circuit having two pairs of opposite bridge arms with said first and second strain-sensing means being connected as one pair of opposite bridge arms and said third and fourth strain-sensing means being connected as the other pair of opposite bridge arms, said bridge circuit having a pair of terminals for connection to a source of electrical power with one of said input terminals being connected between said first and fourth strain-sensing means and with the other of said input terminals being connected between said second and third strain-sensing means.

Claim 25

A tensiometer for measuring a tension in a web comprising frame means, a longitudinally extending member having a surface adapted to have a force exerted thereon by a tension in the web, a first lateral support member secured to said frame means and connected with an end of said member, a second lateral support member secured to said frame means and connected with the other end of said member, said first and second lateral support members extending generally transverse to said member and providing the sole support for said member, said first and second lateral support members each having sections thereof which extend from said member in laterally opposite directions with respect to the longitudinal axis thereof, said sections of said first and second lateral support members being deflected and strained by the force resulting from a tension in the web, said first and second sections of said first and second lateral support members each having opposite surface portions which undergo tension and compression respectively upon deflection, first, second, third and fourth strain-sensing means having an eleCtrical impedance responsive to strain, said first and fourth strain-sensing means being located on said sections respectively of said first lateral support member and said second and third strain-sensing means being located on said sections respectively of said second lateral support member, said first and second strain-sensing means being located on surface portions which undergo tension and said third and fourth sensing means being located on surface portions which undergo compression, said first and third strain-sensing means being located respectively on said sections of said first and second lateral support members which extend from said member in one lateral direction and said fourth and second strain-sensing means being located respectively on said sections of said first and second lateral support members which extend from said member in the opposite lateral direction, a bridge circuit for providing a signal indicative of a tension in the web, said bridge circuit having two pairs of opposite bridge arms with said first and second strain-sensing means being connected as one pair of opposite bridge arms and said third and fourth strain-sensing means being connected as the other pair of opposite bridge arms, said bridge circuit having a pair of terminals for connection to a source of electrical power with one of said input terminals being connected between said first and fourth strain-sensing means and with the other of said input terminals being connected between said second and third strain-sensing means.

Claim 26

A tensiometer for measuring a tension in a web comprising frame means, a longitudinally extending member with a surface over which the web moves, said member having exerted thereon a load force resulting from a tension in the web and a torque force resulting from the movement of the web, support means secured to said frame means and connected to said member, said support means extending generally transverse to said member and providing the sole support for said member, said support means being strained by the load force and the torque force exerted on said member and strain means for providing a signal indicating said load force in response to the strain in said member comprising means for modifying said signal to compensate for errors induced due to the torque force, said means responsive to the strain of said support means including means for preventing the torque force from influencing said signal which is indicative of the load force.

Claim 27

A tensiometer for measuring a tension in a web comprising frame means, a longitudinally extending member with a surface over which the web moves, said member having exerted thereon a load force resulting from a tension in the web and a torque force resulting from the movement of the web, support means secured to said frame means and connected to said member, said support means extending generally transverse to said member and providing the sole support for said member, said support means being strained by the load force and the torque force exerted on said member and strain means for providing a signal indicating said load force in response to the strain in said member comprising means for modifying said signal to compensate for errors induced due to the torque force, said means responsive to the strain of said support means including means for preventing the torque force from influencing said signal which is indicative of the load force.