Decurling apparatus

Claim 2

Apparatus for decurling a continuously advancing web comprising: a. a web path through said apparatus to be followed by a continuously supplied web of thin sheet material; b. a first fixed position station along said web path near the entry thereof into said apparatus; c. a second fixed position station along said web path near the exit thereof from said apparatus; d. a pair of elongated, substantially parallel, relatively spaced decurling members disposed along, transversely of and oppositely adjacent said web path between said first and second position stations; e. decurling member adjustment means for advancing said decurling members along an adjustment path substantially, parallel to a plane including the longitudinal axes of said decurling members, said adjustment path also being substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axes, advancement in one direction from a neutral position being effective to produce engagement between one of said decurling members and one surface of said web to deflect said web path in a first direction and impart to such web one modification of its curl tendency and advancement from said neutral position in the other direction being effective to produce engagement between the other decurling member and the other surface of such web to deflect the web path in a second direction and impart to such web another modification of its curl tendency; and f. web path compensation means movably disposed along said web path between said first and second position stations and interconnected to the movement of said decurling members in a manner such that the linear distance along said web path between said first and second position stations remains a substantially constant quantity.

Claim 3

Apparatus according the claim 1 whErein said web path compensation means comprises: a. a compensating roller; b. means movably supporting said compensating roller adjacent said decurling members so that such web may be drawn thereover subsequent to passage of such web between said decurling members; and c. means linking said supporting means with said adjustment means.

Claim 4

Apparatus according to claim 2 further comprising cam means associated with said adjustment means and engageable with said linking means for controlling movement of said roller means as said decurling members are advanced.

Claim 5

Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said decurling members comprise a pair of cylindrical rollers rotatably mounted in spaced, substantially parallel relationship, said rollers having a diameter substantially smaller than the diameter of said compensating roller.

Claim 6

Apparatus for decurling a continuously advancing web comprising: a. a pair of cylindrical decurling rollers mounted in spaced relationship and with their longitudinal axes substantially parallel to form a passage therebetween for such web; b. means for advancing said decurling rollers along a path substantially parallel to a line passing through the longitudinal axes of said decurling rollers perpendicularly thereof, advancement in one direction from a neutral position being effective to produce engagement between one of said decurling rollers and one surface of said web to deflect the web path in a first direction and impart to such web one modification of its curl tendency and advancement from said neutral position in the other direction being effective to produce engagement between the other decurling roller and the other surface of such web to deflect the web path in a second direction and impart to such web another modification of its curl tendency; c. a compensating roller; d. means movably supporting said compensating roller adjacent said decurling rollers so that such web may be drawn thereover subsequent to passage of such web between said decurling rollers; e. cam means associated with said advancing means for controlling movement of said compensating roller as said decurling rollers are advanced; and f. means linking said supporting means with said advancing means, said linking means including a cam follower engageable with said cam means for imparting movement to said compensating roller in response to advancement of said decurling rollers, said movement of said compensating roller producing a change in web path geometry which compensates for change in web path geometry resulting from advancement of said decurling rollers to avoid change in web path length during advancement of said decurling members.

Claim 7

Apparatus for decurling a continuously advancing web comprising: a. a pair of cylindrical decurling rollers mounted in spaced relationship and with their longitudinal axes substantially parallel to form a passage therebetween for such web; b. means for advancing said decurling rollers along a path substantially parallel to a line passing through the longitudinal axes of said decurling rollers perpendicularly thereof, advancement in one direction from a neutral position being effective to produce engagement between one of said decurling rollers and one surface of said web to deflect the web path in a first direction and impart to such web one modification of its curl tendency and advancement from said neutral position in the other direction being effective to produce engagement between the other decurling roller and the other surface of such web to deflect the web path in a second direction and impart to such web another modification of its curl tendency; c. a compensating roller; d. means movably supporting said compensating roller adjacent said decurling rollers so that such web may be drawn thereover subsequent to passage of such web between said decurling rollers; e. cam means associated with said advancing means for controlling movement of said compensating roller as said decurling rollers are advanced; and f. means linking said supporting means with said advancing means, said linking means including a cam follower engageable with said cam means for imparting movement to said compensating roller in response to advancement of said decurling rollers, said movement of said compensating roller producing a change in web path geometry which compensates for change in web path geometry resulting from advancement of said decurling rollers to avoid change in web path length during advancement of said decurling members.

Claim 8

Decurling apparatus for use with means for advancing a web between a pair of predetermined loci comprising: a. an elongated decurling member between said loci adjacent such web for imparting curl tendency to such web; b. means movably mounting said decurling member for advancing said decurling member into engagement with such web to controllably produce change in the path geometry of such web, the magnitude of the curl tendency imparted to such web by said decurling member being a function of web path geometry; c. compensating roller means; d. means movably mounting said compensating roller means between said loci adjacent the path of such web to provide an adjustable support for such web; and e. cam means linking said means movably mounting said decurling member and said means movably mounting said compensating roller means for producing predetermined movement of said compensating roller means in response to movement of said decurling member to influence web path geometry in a manner which maintains the web path length between said loci constant.

Claim 9

Decurling apparatus for use with means for advancing a web between a pair of predetermined loci comprising: a. an elongated decurling member between said loci adjacent such web for imparting curl tendency to such web; b. means movably mounting said decurling member for advancing said decurling member into engagement with such web to controllably produce change in the path geometry of such web, the magnitude of the curl tendency imparted to such web by said decurling member being a function of web path geometry; c. compensating roller means; d. means movably mounting said compensating roller means between said loci adjacent the path of such web to provide an adjustable support for such web; and e. cam means linking said means movably mounting said decurling member and said means movably mounting said compensating roller means for producing predetermined movement of said compensating roller means in response to movement of said decurling member to influence web path geometry in a manner which maintains the web path length between said loci constant.

Claim 10

Decurling apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said decurling member comprises a roller having a diameter which is small relative to the diameter of said compensating roller.

Claim 11

Decurling apparatus according to claim 6 further comprising a second elongated decurling member spaced from the first said decurling member and disposed substantially parallel thereto to provide a passage for such web between said decurling members.

Claim 12

Decurling apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said first decurling member is advanceable from a neutral position into engagement with one surface of such web for controllably producing change in the path geometrty of such web and said second decurling member is advanceable from a neutral position into engagement with the other surface of such web for controllably producing change in the path geometry of such web.

Claim 13

Decurling apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said cam means comprises a cam surface associated with said means movably mounting said decurling member and a cooperating cam follower extending from said means movably mounting said compensating roller means.