Apparatus for adjusting the altitude of the chord of an expanding roll

Claim 1

An expanding roll construction, comprising: an elongated longitudinally curved central shaft whose radial deflection, with respect to an imaginary straight line corresponding to the longitudinal axis of a non-curved central shaft, increases from the ends thereof toward the longitudinal midpoint thereof; a plurality of discs eccentrically mounted on said central shaft for rotation with respect thereto, said discs being spaced apart lengthwise along said central shaft and having eccentricities which increase successively toward the longitudinal midpoint of said central shaft; a plurality of sleeves supported by said discs so that said sleeves can rotate with respect to said discs; a rubber roll covering said sleeves and integrated therewith to form a single rotatable unit; a plurality of tubular coupling members rotatably mounted on said central shaft and disposed between said discs and drivingly connected to said discs; journal means journaling said central shaft for rotation about said axis; releasable means for normally holding said central shaft against rotation in said journal means, said releasable means, when released, permitting rotation of said central shaft; and rotating means for rotating said coupling members and thereby said discs with respect to said central shaft, said rotating means being mounted on a portion of said central shaft outside of said roll.