Active center pivot device for controlling sheet tension and method of using same
AssigneeKimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
InventorsDouglas N. Duehring, Mark G. Dollevoet, Jason M. Rudolph
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A device for controlling web tension is disclosed. The device includes a carriage in which a first guide roller is spaced from a second guide roller by a frame. The carriage or frame pivots about a pivot location. A moving web is threaded through the carriage in a serpentine path. Rotation of the carriage or frame causes web displacement. When tension disturbances occur in the moving web, the device rotates for accumulating or releasing the web material and thereby dampening tension variations downstream. The pivot dancer device can be placed in a communication with a controller for open loop control or closed loop feedback control.
Claims9
A device for controlling tension in a sheet being fed to a process comprising:
- a first guide roll spaced from a second guide roll, the first and second guide rolls being held in a coplanar relationship by a first frame, the first frame being pivotally attached to a second frame at a pivot location between the first and second guide rolls;
- and
- a torque supplying device that supplies a controllable amount of torque to the first frame at the pivot location, the torque supplying device comprising a motor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.