Web guide apparatus

Claim 3

An apparatus for guiding a moving web in accordance with claim 1 wherein said operating means includes means responsive to the web position sensing means for effecting endwise shifting and tilting movement of said exit roller relative to said exit roller mounting base in a direction to correct deviation of the web from the preselected path of web travel, and means operative when the endwise shifting and lateral tilting movement of the exit roller relaTive to the exit roller mounting base exceeds a preselected value for effecting pivotal movement of said entrance roller and said exit roller mounting base in a direction to correct deviation of the web from the preselected path of web travel.

Claim 4

An apparatus for guiding webs in accordance with claim 2 wherein said last-mentioned means includes means operatively connecting said entrance roller mounting means and said exit roller mounting base to substantially equalize pivotal movement of said entrance roller and said exit roller mounting base about their respective first and second pivot axes.

Claim 5

An apparatus for guiding webs in accordance with claim 1 wherein said operating means includes a first power means responsive to the web position sensing means for effecting endwise shifting and tilting movement of the exit roller relative to said exit roller mounting base in a direction to correct deviation of the web from the preselected path of web travel, a second sensing means for sensing movement of said exit roller relative to said exit roller mounting base, and a second power means responsive to said second sensing means for effecting pivotal movement of said entrance roller mounting means and said exit roller mounting base respectively about said first and second pivot axes in a direction to correct deviation of the web from the preselected path of web travel.

Claim 6

An apparatus for guiding webs in accordance with claim 4 wherein said second sensing means is arranged to operate said second power means only after the exit roller has moved a preselected distance relative to said exit roller mounting base.

Claim 7

An apparatus for guiding webs according to claim 5 wherein said second power means includes means interconnecting said entrance roller mounting means and said exit roller mounting base to effect substantially equal pivotal movement thereof about said first and second pivot axes.

Claim 8

An apparatus for guiding webs according to claim 5 wherein said web position sensing means is arranged to sense the position of the web at a location in advance of said exit web guide roller, and means mounting said web position sensing means on said exit roller mounting base for movement therewith.

Claim 9

An apparatus for guiding webs according to claim 1 including an intermediate web guide roller located intermediate the entrance and exit web guide rollers, and intermediate roller mounting means supporting the intermediate roller for axial rotation and mounted for pivotal movement about a third axis adjacent said intermediate roller and generally paralleling said first axis.

Claim 10

A web guide apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said first and second pivot axes are located approximately midway of the ends of said entrance and exit web guide rollers respectively.

Claim 13

An apparatus for guiding a moving web according to claim 10 wherein said last-mentioned means includes a reversible power operated means for effecting pivotal movement of said entrance web guide roller about said first pivot axis, means for sensing endwise shifting and lateral tilting movement of said exit web guide roller about said instantaneous center, and lost-motion means operation when the endwise shifting and lateral tilting of the exit roller exceeds a preselected value for reversibly operating said power operated means in a direction to correct deviation of the web from the desired path of web travel.

Claim 14

In a web guide system including an entrance web guide roller and an exit web guide roller and wherein a moving web enters the entrance web guide roller and exits from exit web guide roller in entering and exiting spans which respectively extend transverse to a plane through the entrance and exit web guide rollers, the improvement comprising entrance roller mounting means supporting said entrance roller for axial rotation and mounting said entrance roller for pivotal movement about a first pivot axis transverse to the axis of rotation of the entrance roller and extending generally in the direction of the entering web span, an exit roller mounting base mounted for pivotal movement about a second pivot axis transverse to the axis of rotation of the exit roller and extending generally in the direction of the exiting web span, said entrance roller being movable about said first pivot axis from a normal position generally perpendicular to a plane through said first and second pivot axes, means interconnecting said entrance roller mounting means and said exit roller mounting base to effect substantially equal angular movement thereof about the respective first and second pivot axes, exit roller mounting means mounting the exit roller on said exit roller mounting base for combined endwise shifting and lateral tilting movement relative to said base from a centered position about an instantaneous center transverse to a plane through the axes of the entrance and exit web guide rollers and spaced from the exit web guide roller in a direction toward the entrance web guide roller, said exit web guide roller in said centered position thereof extending generally perpendicular to a plane through said first and second pivot axes when said entrance web guide roller is in its normal position, web position sensing means for sensing the position of the web, power operated means responsive to said web position sensing means for reversibly moving said exit web guide roller relative to said exit roller mounting base from said centered position thereof in a direction to correct deviation of the web from the desired path of web travel, and entrance roller operating means for pivoting said entrance web guide roller from said normal position thereof in a direction to correct deviation of the web from said preselected path of web travel.

Claim 15

In a web guide system including an entrance web guide roller and an exit web guide roller and wherein a moving web enters the entrance web guide roller and exits from exit web guide roller in entering and exiting spans which respectively extend transverse to a plane through the entrance and exit web guide rollers, the improvement comprising entrance roller mounting means supporting said entrance roller for axial rotation and mounting said entrance roller for pivotal movement about a first pivot axis transverse to the axis of rotation of the entrance roller and extending generally in the direction of the entering web span, an exit roller mounting base mounted for pivotal movement about a second pivot axis transverse to the axis of rotation of the exit roller and extending generally in the direction of the exiting web span, said entrance roller being movable about said first pivot axis from a normal position generally perpendicular to a plane through said first and second pivot axes, means interconnecting said entrance roller mounting means and said exit roller mounting base to effect substantially equal angular movement thereof about the respective first and second pivot axes, exit roller mounting means mounting the exit roller on said exit roller mounting base for combined endwise shifting and lateral tilting movement relative to said base from a centered position about an instantaneous center transverse to a plane through the axes of the entrance and exit web guide rollers and spaced from the exit web guide roller in a direction toward the entrance web guide roller, said exit web guide roller in said centered position thereof extending generally perpendicular to a plane through said first and second pivot axes when said entrance web guide roller is in its normal position, web position sensing means for sensing the position of the web, power operated means responsive to said web position sensing means for reversibly moving said exit web guide roller relative to said exit roller mounting base from said centered position thereof in a direction to correct deviation of the web from the desired path of web travel, and entrance roller operating means for pivoting said entrance web guide roller from said normal position thereof in a direction to correct deviation of the web from said preselected path of web travel.

Claim 16

A web guide system according to claim 12 wherein said entrance roller operating means includes means responsive to movement of said exit roller relative to said exit roller mounting base for effecting pivotal movement of said entrance guide roller about said first pivot axis.

Claim 17

A web guide apparatus according to claim 16 wherein said web position sensing means is positioned to sense the web at a location in advance of said exit web guide roller and said web position sensing means is mounted on said exit roller mounting base.

Claim 18

A web guide system according to claim 12 wherein said entrance roller operating means includes means for sensing movement of said exit roller relative to said exit roller mounting base, and means controlled by said last-mentioned means for effecting pivotal movemEnt of said entrance roller about said first pivot axis when the movement of said exit roller from its centered position exceeds a preselected value.

Claim 19

A web guide system according to claim 12 wherein said entrance roller operating means includes a second power operated means operatively connected to said entrance roller mounting means for reversibly moving the same about said first pivot axis from said normal position thereof, a second sensing means for sensing movement of the exit roller relative to said exit roller mounting base, and means operative when the movement of the exit roller from its centered position exceeds a preselected value for actuating said second power operated means to tilt the entrance roller in a direction to correct deviation of the web from said preselected path of web travel.

Claim 20

A web guide apparatus according to claim 16 wherein said first and second pivot axes are located approximately medially between the ends of said entrance and exit web guide rollers.

Claim 21

A web guide system according to claim 12 wherein said entrance roller operating means includes means for sensing movement of said exit roller relative to said exit roller mounting base, and means controlled by said last-mentioned sensing means for effecting pivotal movement of said entrance roller about said first pivot axis.

Claim 22

A web guide apparatus according to claim 16 including an intermediate web guide roller, means mounting said intermediate roller for pivotal movement about a third axis generally paralleling said first and second axes and at a location to engage the web intermediate said entrance and exit web guide rollers, and means for moving said intermediate web guide roller about a third axis to maintain the same generally parallel to said entrance roller.