US3608796A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Web-supporting device
Assignee: Eastman Kodak Co
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Filing: 1969-11-03
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Granted: 1971-09-28
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Expires: 1989-11-03
Abstract
Abstract A supporting roller across which a flexible web moves is rotatably mounted at its midpoint on a longitudinal shaft and is pivotally movable with respect to said shaft. Three orthogonal axes pass through the midpoint. The first axis is the longitudinal aXis of the roller; the roller is adjustably positionable about the second axis; and the third axis is a gimbal axis about which the roller is free to rotate. In order to restrain the roller for these movements one end of the roller is provided with a roller bearing which is connected by flexures to an annulus extending around the shaft. In one embodiment the annulus is connected by a flexure arm to a lug which is longitudinally adjustable along a support post extending perpendicular from the shaft. Also, the post is adjustably positionable about the shaft so that the direction of the gimbal axis can be changed. In another embodiment a spring bracket biases the flexure member along its axis, the amount of the movement thereof being limited by a setscrew.
Inventors
- 👤 John E Morse
- 👤 Richard A Marsh
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 22:10
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65H; B65H23/00; B65H23/02; G; G03; G03B; G03B1/00; G03B1/42; B65H2404/00; B65H2404/10; B65H2404/15; B65H2404/152; B65H2404/1521; B65H2404/15212
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
141 words
A web-tracking device for transporting a web between upstream and downstream constraints and having first, second and third orthogonal axes, said web being adapted to come into engagement with said tracking device along an upstream approach direction, said device comprising: means defining a fixed longitudinal axis; a roller for supporting a web, said roller having two ends and a midpoint and being rotatably supported solely at said midpoint for rotation about said fixed axis, said orthogonal axes extending through said midpoint, wherein said first orthogonal axis is said roller axis and is normally coincident with said fixed axis; and means for constraining said roller for free pivotal movement about said third orthogonal axis as a gimbal axis and for adjustment of said roller axis about said second orthogonal axis so that said roller axis is substantially perpendicular to said approach direction.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
141 words
A web-tracking device for transporting a web between upstream and downstream constraints and having first, second and third orthogonal axes, said web being adapted to come into engagement with said tracking device along an upstream approach direction, said device comprising: means defining a fixed longitudinal axis; a roller for supporting a web, said roller having two ends and a midpoint and being rotatably supported solely at said midpoint for rotation about said fixed axis, said orthogonal axes extending through said midpoint, wherein said first orthogonal axis is said roller axis and is normally coincident with said fixed axis; and means for constraining said roller for free pivotal movement about said third orthogonal axis as a gimbal axis and for adjustment of said roller axis about said second orthogonal axis so that said roller axis is substantially perpendicular to said approach direction.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
A web-tracking device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said constraining means includes: means connected to one end of said roller adjustably movable in a direction perpendicular to said fixed axis to adjustably position said roller about said second orthogonal axis.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
163 words
A web-tracking device for transporting a web between upstream and downstream constraints and having first, second and third orthogonal axes, said web being adapted to come into engagement with said handling device along an upstream approach direction, said device comprising: a fixed shaft having a longitudinal axis; a roller for supporting a web, said roller having first and second ends and a midpoint through which said orthogonal axes extend, said first orthogonal axis being said roller axis; mounting means concentrically arranged with respect to said midpoint as the sole means for rotatably mounting said roller on said shaft so that said roller axis is free to pivot in all directions about said midpoint, being unsupported at said first and second ends; first adjustable positioning means for adjustably fixing the position of said roller axis about said second orthogonal axis so that said roller axis is substantially perpendicular to said upstream approach direction without restraining movement of said roller about said third orthogonal axis.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
163 words
A web-tracking device for transporting a web between upstream and downstream constraints and having first, second and third orthogonal axes, said web being adapted to come into engagement with said handling device along an upstream approach direction, said device comprising: a fixed shaft having a longitudinal axis; a roller for supporting a web, said roller having first and second ends and a midpoint through which said orthogonal axes extend, said first orthogonal axis being said roller axis; mounting means concentrically arranged with respect to said midpoint as the sole means for rotatably mounting said roller on said shaft so that said roller axis is free to pivot in all directions about said midpoint, being unsupported at said first and second ends; first adjustable positioning means for adjustably fixing the position of said roller axis about said second orthogonal axis so that said roller axis is substantially perpendicular to said upstream approach direction without restraining movement of said roller about said third orthogonal axis.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
A web-tracking device as claimed in claim 3, further including: second adjustable positioning means for adjustably positioning said orthogonal axes about said longitudinal axis.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
46 words
A web-tracking device as claimed in claim 3, wherein said first adjustable positioning means includes: a bearing rotatably attached to said first end of said roller; means connected to said bearing for adjustably locating said one end of said roller transversely with respect to said shaft.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
A web-tracking device as claimed in claim 5, further including: counterbalance means on said second end of said roller to counterbalance said bearing.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
58 words
A web-tracking device as claimed in claim 5, wherein said adjustable locating means includes: an annulus extending around said shaft and connected to said bearing; an arm, having a longitudinal axis, extending from said annulus; means biasing said arm along said longitudinal axis thereof; and means limiting the movement of said arm in response to said biasing means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
65 words
A web-tracking device as claimed in claim 5, wherein said locating means includes: an annulus extending around said shaft and connected to said bearing: a support post spaced from said annulus and extending perpendicularly from said shaft; an arm extending from said annulus; adjustment means on said post connected to said arm for positioning said one end of said roller with respect to said shaft.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
A web-tracking device as claimed in claim 8, further including: adjustable clamp means for adjustably connecting said post about said shaft.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
A web-tracking device as claimed in claim 8, further including: first means pivotally connecting said annulus to said bearing; and second means pivotally connecting said arm to said adjustment means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
A web-tracking device as claimed in claim 10 wherein said first and second means are flexure members.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2655251A
Cited
US3149497A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-09-27 | 1975-03-29 | 1975-09-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-09-27 | 1979-03-29 | 1979-09-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-09-27 | 1983-03-29 | 1983-09-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |