US 5,651,511 A · Roll support and feed apparatus

Abstract

A machine for feeding rolls of web material to a utilization device that is adapted to draw the web material into the utilization device. The roll machine includes a frame carrying a carriage that supports a pair of arms having respective chucks that are adapted to move toward and away from each other for engaging and disengaging with the core of a roll that is being supported and fed. An overhead drive arrangement is used for driving the periphery of the roll in combination with a torque roller for maintaining tension in the web. A gravity loop of the material has its position sensed for control of the roll drive means in a manner to match the rate of use by the utilization device. The drive arrangement may also include a motor that directly drives the roll core. The chucks driving the roll core may further be adaptable to variably support various roll core diameters and may include structures for positively gripping the core.

Claims17

Dependent claims

An apparatus for supporting and manipulating a web transferred between a roll having a support core and a utilization device, the apparatus comprising:

a frame having a base that includes base legs each having a first end and a second end and an upright supporting portion that extends upwardly adjacent a first end of the base legs and that rotatably engages the roll core shaft so that the roll is positioned substantially over the base legs;
a roll drive movably mounted on the upright supporting portion and engaging the roll to rotatably drive the roll;
a guide structure located on the upright supporting portion that guides the web between the roll and the utilization device;
a torque roller that engages the web between the roll and the utilization device to provide a tension to a portion of the web so that an adjacent portion is maintained in a loop of the web;
a contact-free sensor that senses a size of the loop, free of substantial contact with the loop, the sensor being constructed and arranged to sense a presence and an absence of the web adjacent a predetermined location;
and
a controller, operatively connected to the sensor, that controls a driving of the roll drive based upon a sensed size of the loop so that a desired approximate size of the loop is maintained.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Roll support and feed apparatus

Life of this patent

Roll support and feed apparatus

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims17