Apparatus for winding strip material
AssigneeGould Inc.
InventorFrank P. Zaffarano
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus is disclosed for winding a strip of thin material such as paper. The apparatus is particularly suited for use with variable speed printer-plotter machines which discharge paper over a wide range of speeds. Such machines require that the tension applied to the paper by the paper take-up mechanism be minimized or maintained within pre-selected limits so that printing-plotting quality is maintained. To this end, the apparatus permits the paper to fall in a free loop between two points of support and includes a sensor which monitors the condition of the loop and actuates a take-up motor when the loop achieves a predetermined magnitude.
Claims9
Apparatus for winding a continuous strip of material such as paper as said strip is intermittently or continuously fed from an adjacent station, said apparatus comprising:
- a mandrel made up of a thin-walled resilient cylinder;
- means for rotating said mandrel to wind said strip, said rotating means comprising a pair of conically shaped hubs, one disposed at each end of said mandrel in position to be inserted therein, whereby said resilient cylinder expands as said conically shaped hubs are inserted therein, said hubs each comprising a cylindrical portion over which said resilient mandrel slides after expanding over said conical portions, one of said cylindrical portions being longer than the other, whereby said mandrel remains supported on said one portion when said other portion has been withdrawn from said mandrel;
- means for supporting said strip at two spaced locations upstream of said mandrel, whereby a free loop profile is assumed by said strip;
- means for adjusting the lateral position of said strip as it approaches said mandrel;
- and
- means positioned to coact with said strip between said two spaced locations for actuating said means for rotating in response to the magnitude of the portion of said strip between said two spaced locations.
Apparatus for winding a continuous strip of material such as paper as said strip is intermittently or continuously fed from an adjacent station, comprising:
- a mandrel about which said strip is to be wound;
- means for rotating said mandrel to wind said strip;
- means for supporting said strip at two spaced locations upstream of said mandrel, whereby a free loop profile is assumed thereby;
- laterally adjustable paper guide means extending outwardly beneath said mandrel for confining lateral movement of said strip as it is wound on said mandrel, said guide means comprising cradle means for supporting said mandrel when said mandrel is disengaged from said rotating means;
- and
- means positioned to coact with said strip between said two spaced locations for actuating said means for rotating in response to the magnitude of the portion of said strip between said two spaced locations.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.