US 4,425,694 AGranted

Self-adjusting roller and method of use

AssigneeGlobe Rubber Works, Inc.

InventorRichard C. Somerville

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Abstract

A self-adjusting resilient roller, particularly for use with a feed roller, to provide for a self-adjusting system whereby the self-adjusting roller will conform to various thicknesses of sheet material between the self-adjusting roller and the feed roller without adjusting the position of the rollers, the self-adjusting roller formed of resilient material having a central axial pasageway for a shaft, and a plurality of smaller generally circular openings surrounding the central passageway and characterized further by a generally triangular opening toward the outer periphery of the self-adjusting roller and between each smaller circular opening, so as to provide a generally uniform wall thickness of resilient material surrounding each of the circular openings in the self-adjusting roller, whereby uniform resiliency under compression is imparted to the roller.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A self-adjusting resilient roller, which roller comprises a cylindrical roller formed of a resilient material and having a peripheral outer surface, the roller characterized by:

(a) a central axial passageway, which passageway is adapted to receive a shaft therein about which the roller may revolve;
(b) a plurality of generally smaller-sized spaced-apart and generally circular openings extending axially through the roller, and positioned generally uniformly about the central axial passageway;
and
(c) a plurality of generally uniformly shaped peripheral openings, the openings smaller than the circular openings and extending axially through the roller, each opening positioned toward the outer peripheral surface of the roller and between the adjacent circular openings, to provide, with the axial passageway, a generally uniform wall thickness of resilient material about the circular openings, thereby providing a self-adjusting resilient roller of substantially uniform resiliency, so that the roller will conform to various thicknesses of sheet material in contact with the roller, without substantial deformation of that portion of the roller out of contact with the sheet material.

1 more element

A self-adjusting resilient roller, which roller comprises a cylindrical roller formed of a resilient material having a Shore hardness from about 25A to 95A and having a peripheral outer surface, the roller characterized by:

(a) a central axial passageway, which passageway is adapted to receive a shaft therein about which the roller may revolve;
(b) a plurality of generally smaller-sized spaced-apart and generally circular openings extending axially through the roller, and positioned generally uniformly about the central axial passageway;
and
(c) a plurality of generally uniformly shaped peripheral openings between the adjacent circular openings and generally triangular in form, the openings smaller than the circular openings and extending axially through the roller, each opening positioned toward the outer peripheral surface of the roller and between the adjacent circular openings, to provide, with the axial passageway, a generally uniform wall thickness of resilient material about the circular openings, thereby providing a self-adjusting resilient roller of substantially uniform resiliency, so that the roller will conform to various thicknesses of sheet material in contact with the roller, without substantial deformation of that portion of the roller out of contact with the sheet material.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.