Web tension control device

Claim 2

A web tension control device comprising: a support structure; an actuatable web driver having a continuously rotatable friction roller mounted on said support structure and a pressure roller pivotable against said friction roller for pressing a passing web effectively thereagainst; a web drive control pivotally mounted on said support structure and supporting said pressure roller, said control having a lever extending therefrom to effectively contact a web being fed thereby to pivot said pressure roller toward or away from said friction roller in response to a respective increase or decrease in web tension; and a pair of limit plates mounted on said support structure parallel to but spaced apart from said friction roller and also having an arm extending from said web driver control between said plates, whereby the angular displacement of said control is limited.

Claim 3

A web tension control device as defined by claim 1 wherein said arm operatively extends past said limit plates, whereby provision is made for manual actuation of said web driver.

Claim 4

A web tension control device as defined by claim 2 and additionally having a pair of magnets, each disposed on a respective one of said limit plates for magnetically biasing said web driver in either one of two positions, said arm being formed of a magnetically attractable material.

Claim 5

A web tension control device as defined by claim 3 wherein said lever is formed of a resilient material, whereby it will be permitted to flex in response to variations in web tension.

Claim 6

A web tension control device as defined by claim 4 and additionally having a weight secured to the extended end of said lever, whereby force is provided for transferring said web driver from one to the other of its two magnetically biased positions in response to a sufficient decrease in web tension.

Claim 7

A web feeding device comprising: a support structure; V-shaped plate mounted on said support structure to form a receptacle for receiving and peripherally supporting a web supply roll; a web feeder mounted on said support structure spaced apart from said receptacle; an actuatable web driver disposed effectively between said receptacle and said web feeder and having a continuously rotatable friction roller mounted on said support structure and a pressure roller pivotable against said friction roller to press a passing web effectively thereagainst; and a web driver control pivotally mounted on said support structure and supporting said pressure roller, said control having a lever extending therefrom to effectively contact a web being fed thereby to pivot said pressure roller toward or away from said friction roller in response to a respective increase or decrease in web tension.

Claim 8

A web feeding device comprising: a support structure; V-shaped plate mounted on said support structure to form a receptacle for receiving and peripherally supporting a web supply roll; a web feeder mounted on said support structure spaced apart from said receptacle; an actuatable web driver disposed effectively between said receptacle and said web feeder and having a continuously rotatable friction roller mounted on said support structure and a pressure roller pivotable against said friction roller to press a passing web effectively thereagainst; and a web driver control pivotally mounted on said support structure and supporting said pressure roller, said control having a lever extending therefrom to effectively contact a web being fed thereby to pivot said pressure roller toward or away from said friction roller in response to a respective increase or decrease in web tension.

Claim 9

A web feeding device as defined by claim 6 and additionally having a web guide mounted on said support structure and forming a pathway from said actuatable web driver to said web feeder, whereby a web manually inserted into said driver will be directed to said feeder.

Claim 10

A web feeding device as defined by claim 7 wherein said friction roller is peripherally recessed in said web guide.

Claim 11

A web feeding device as defined by claim 8 wherein said web driver control is slidable along its pivotal axis, whereby webs of different dimensions may be effectively accommodated.