Abstract: An apparatus for forming a wound roll of discrete overlapping sheets of web from a supply of continuous web. The web preferably is passed around a nip roller that steers the web onto the surface of a take-up core. A knife assembly including a knife blade extended from a knife holder is driven by a traversing mechanism across the width of the web to cut the wound web on the core into discrete sheets, the extended height of the knife blade being preferably the exact thickness of the web. In transverse cutting by the knife of the web wound on the take-up core, the knife holder travels on the outer surface of the web, thus assuring that the knife blade extends just to the outer surface of the next inner convolution of web, thereby cutting the continuous web into sheets without damaging previously wound web convolutions.

Abstract: A web-chopping and sheet-winding apparatus comprising an unwinder for unwinding a supply roll of continuous flexible web which may be adhesive on at least one side. A knife roller including at least one fixed transverse knife blade extending from the surface is in nipped relationship with an anvil roller, the height of the knife blade being greater than the thickness of the web. The anvil and knife roller spacing is such that the knife blade extends just to the surface of the anvil roller, thereby chopping the continuous web into sheets as the anvil and knife rollers turn synchronously with the web passing therebetween. A tape core roller in nipped relationship receives the chopped sheets sequentially, the leading edge of each sheet being lifted from the anvil roller by any of a plurality of novel means.

Abstract: A system for cleaning particles from a moving web by engagement with contact cleaning rollers, wherein the web may be moved selectively out of contact with the cleaning rollers to prevent damage to the web surface, such as adherance, stripping, or ferrotyping, resulting from stationary contact with the cleaning rollers. The system includes contact cleaning roller assembly disposed adjacent to and transverse of the web path. Preferably, such assembly includes a rotatable turret supporting a plurality of rotatable contact cleaning rollers, preferably three rollers positioned equilaterally. The turret is positioned relative to the basic web path such that, in a non-operative mode, the web is not in contact with the cleaning rollers, the web path bypassing the cleaning rollers. Thus, during periods of maintenance or other downtime, the web first surface is protected from being damaged by stationary contact with the cleaning rollers.

Abstract: A system for conveying sheets of thin substrate having low sheet stiffness while controlling and limiting the angle of wrap of the substrate on the roller, and a sheet cleaning apparatus employing the wrap-limiting system. A substrate conveyance roller is provided with a plurality of circumferential grooves spaced along the roller. Into each groove is disposed a substrate guide in near-tangential relationship with the surface of the roller at the point on the roller where stripping of the substrate from the roller surface is desired. In a preferred embodiment of a wrap-limiting system in accordance with the invention, one or more substrate guides are provided which extend through the grooves both upstream and downstream of the roller along the substrate conveyance path. The points at which the guide enters and leaves the groove define and limit the wrap angle assumable by the substrate on the roller.

Abstract: A contact cleaning roller (CCR) system includes a shell having an electrostatically active outer surface and being supported by a close-fitting rotatable shaft. The shaft within the shell is provided with a cam groove extending from a first axial location to a second axial location disposed 180.degree. from the first axial location, and then back to the first axial location. A cam follower attached to the inner surface of the shell rides in the cam groove, causing the shell to oscillate axially of the shaft at a frequency of oscillation which is the numerical difference between the rotational frequencies of the shell and shaft. In a preferred embodiment, the CCR shell is nipped against a backing roller, which may be an idle roller or a driven roller, the web passing therebetween in contact with the working surfaces of both rollers.

Abstract: A roller cleaning system includes a pad disposable against a roller for cleaning the surface of the roller when the roller is rotated. The pad is supported in a frame which may be stationary or mounted for translation so that the pad may traverse a length of the roller while cleaning the roller surface. The pad may be further provided with an actuator for urging a portion of the pad against the roller at an additional force. The frame has a first portion disposed at a fixed distance from the surface of the roller and a second portion carrying the cleaning pad, the second portion being pivotable from the first portion about an axis parallel to the axis of the roller. Means are included for measuring torque exerted on the pivot, which torque is indicative of frictional drag on the cleaning pad. In a preferred embodiment, a piezo-electric strain gauge disposed between the frame portions is connected in a feedback loop with a controller and the pad actuator.

Abstract: A cleaning system for removing contaminants from the surface of a roller. A stationary cleaning pad is forced at a first urging force against a roller to be cleaned, and the roller is driven in rubbing contact with the pad. Preferably, the pad is supplied continuously with a cleaning liquid. An actuator disposed against a portion of the back of the pad urges that portion against the roller at a second, greater urging force to accelerate the rate of cleaning. A control loop between the roller motor drive and the actuator responds to a signal from the drive indicative of the magnitude of frictional resistance between the roller and the pad and increases or decreases the second force furnished by the actuator to provide a predetermined constant frictional resistance during cleaning. If flow of cleaning liquid to the pad is lost, friction can build up quickly and the roller surface can become damaged.