Abstract The invention relates to filament tension regulation apparatus useful to regulate the tension in a moving filament such as during the winding or unwinding or a web or threadlike filament. The invention relates further to a web guide roller assembly for assisting in the movement of a web relative to a roll of the web material such as a splicing roll apparatus useful in web unwinding or a lay-on roll apparatus for use in web winding. The invention further relates to web unwinding apparatus, to web winding apparatus, and to web winding and unwinding apparatus involving combinations of the splicing roll apparatus, the lay-on roll apparatus, and web tension regulating apparatus. The filament tension regulation apparatus comprises a roller mounted for rotation in members disposed at the ends of the roller, the members being supported by pivot arms extending upwardly and downwardly of the member. The arms are of equal length and the roller is centrally located on the member between the pivot areas such that the roller is capable of horizontal motion supported by the pivot arms. The moving filament engages the roller in such a way that horizontal force is applied to the roller in a direction in opposition to a desired pre-determined horizontal force. Changes in filament tension relative to the pre-determined horizontal force cause horizontal motion of the roller and this motion is utilized to adjust tension to a desired value such as by changing filament speed. The web guiding roll apparatus comprises a pair of rollers mounted for rotation and pivotally supported by pivot arms as in the case of the filament tension regulating device. The rollers, however, are located at points symmetrical about a point midway between the pivot arms and thus will undergo pivoting motion. The arms are of equal length and the rollers are preferably of equal mass whereby the device is easily moved into and out of engagement with a web roll for splicing during unwinding or for forming a nip during winding.
Apparatus for regulating the tension of a moving filament comprising: a roller having its roller axis positioned transverse to the direction of motion of a moving filament such that the moving filament applies a horizontal force against the roller in a first horizontal direction substantially normal to the roller axis due to tension in the moving filament; a pair of roller support members rotatably supporting each end of said roller; a first pivot arm pivotally supporting each roller support member pivotally secured to said roller support member at a first pivot point and to a fixed support at a point higher than said first pivot point; a second pivot arm pivotally supporting each roller support member pivotally secured to said roller support member at a second pivot point and to a fixed support at a point lower than said second pivot point; said first and second pivot arms being of equal effective length and guiding said roller support member for motion in a vertical plane transverse to said roller axis; said roller being mounted for rotation on said roller support members with the roller axis located at a point midway of a line through the first and second pivot points whereby said roller is moveable in a horizontal path substantially normal to the roller axis; and means for applying a pre-determined force against the roller substantially normal to the roller axis in a second horizontal direction opposite to said first direction to oppose the force on said roller due to moving web tension whereby the roller moves in said horizontal path in response to web tension relative to said pre-determined opposing force.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
272 words
Apparatus for regulating the tension of a moving filament comprising: a roller having its roller axis positioned transverse to the direction of motion of a moving filament such that the moving filament applies a horizontal force against the roller in a first horizontal direction substantially normal to the roller axis due to tension in the moving filament; a pair of roller support members rotatably supporting each end of said roller; a first pivot arm pivotally supporting each roller support member pivotally secured to said roller support member at a first pivot point and to a fixed support at a point higher than said first pivot point; a second pivot arm pivotally supporting each roller support member pivotally secured to said roller support member at a second pivot point and to a fixed support at a point lower than said second pivot point; said first and second pivot arms being of equal effective length and guiding said roller support member for motion in a vertical plane transverse to said roller axis; said roller being mounted for rotation on said roller support members with the roller axis located at a point midway of a line through the first and second pivot points whereby said roller is moveable in a horizontal path substantially normal to the roller axis; and means for applying a pre-determined force against the roller substantially normal to the roller axis in a second horizontal direction opposite to said first direction to oppose the force on said roller due to moving web tension whereby the roller moves in said horizontal path in response to web tension relative to said pre-determined opposing force.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
Filament tension regulating apparatus according to claim 1 further including means to detect the horizontal position of said roller.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
48 words
Filament tension regulating apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said roller position detecting means comprises means for detecting said roller position relative to a reference point, said apparatus further comprising means to move said roller horizontally to said reference point from a position displaced from said reference point.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
Filament tension regulating apparatus according to claim 1 further including means for changing filament tension in response to changes in the horizontal position of said roller.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
43 words
Filament tension regulating apparatus according to claim 1 further including: means for moving a web in engagement with said roller relative to a roll of web material; and means responsive to the position of said roller to adjust the tension of the web.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
Web tension regulating apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said web tension adjUsting means comprises means for controlling web speed.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
Web tension regulating apparatus according to claim 5 further including means for adjusting the pre-determined horizontal force applied to said roller.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
Web tension regulating apparatus according to claim 5 further including means to guide the moving web to wrap said web around said roller approximately 180*.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
Web tension regulating apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said web roll is a take up roll on which the web is wound.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
Web tension regulating apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said web roll is a supply roll from which said web is unwound.