System and method for transporting and clamping flexible film structures
AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation
InventorsEdward Frank Helinski, Donald Wesley Henderson, David Erle Houser
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Abstract
One or more porous air film rolls are used, in a system to support a flexible web during movement of the web, and selectively provide either compliant or rigid clamping of the web while performing processing operations on the web at a work station. The present invention is particularly suitable for punching holes on-the-fly, in both "X" and "Y" directions, in a flexible polyamide film. Up to a four-fold increase in punch tool productivity is provided by the present invention.
Claims20
A system for transporting a flexible film structure along a pathway extending in a preselected direction and selectively clamping said film structure at a preselected position along said pathway designated for processing of said film structure, comprising:
- a workstation adapted to perform processing operations on said film structure, said workstation being controllably movable in a direction of at least one of parallel to said pathway and perpendicular to said pathway, and having first and second sides spaced apart from each other in a direction extending along said pathway;
- a support and clamping system including a means of resiliently clamping the film structure, said clamping system providing:
- a. an initial clamp position of said film structure;
- b. compliant movement of the film structure when said film structure is acted upon by forces imparted by the workstation;
- c. a means of restoring the film structure to the said initial clamp position when said forces imparted by the workstation are removed.
A device for rigid clamping and low friction transport of a film, said device comprised of a cylindrical air bearing and a film translation system, said film translation system providing a wrap of the film around a portion of a circumference of the air bearing, wherein when gas flows through the air bearing said air bearing provides for low friction transport of the film across the air bearing surface and wherein when no gas flows through the air bearing, the film is pulled against the air bearing surface by tension provided by the film translation system, thus frictionally locking or clamping the film and retarding further movement or translation of the film.
A device for compliantly and resiliently clamping a film, comprised of a pressurized cylindrical air bearing supporting the film on an air cushion and a film tensioning and clamping system, said tensioning and clamping system providing for:
- a. a wrap of the film around a portion of a circumference of the air bearing;
- b. tension in the film;
- c. rigid clamping of the film at positions on opposite sides of said air bearing;
- said air bearing and air cushion providing for compliant and resilient movement of the film on opposite sides of the air bearing in response to perturbations in film tension.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.