Abstract: A microprocessor-controlled web guidance system which automatically implements and maintains a proper lateral web alignment of a continuous web in a web printing press. A steering mechanism is provided which is controlled by a microprocessor system which utilizes infrared radiation for edge detection wherein multiple sensors are driven by means of stepper motors driving on a flexible linear cogged belt system. The system includes novel functions, and diagnostic and maintenance modes which may be programmed by the operator. A plurality of control panels are provided to enable the operator to select and program desired functions and to access desired modes. Self calibration and testing of the steering mechanism and the edge sensors is also provided.

Abstract: A guide apparatus for guiding a strip of material along a predetermined strip travel path and for centering the strip relative to the central axis of the travel path includes a pair of lever arms and a pair of strip engaging members spaced from one another and mounted on each of the lever arms. The lever arms are each supported for pivotal movement about a respective pivot axis centrally located between the rollers and are positioned relative to the strip travel path with the pivot axis of each lever arm extending in a direction perpendicular to a strip guiding surface and intersecting the central axis of the strip travel path. In addition, the lever arms are biased toward a pivoted position in which the strip engaging members mounted on the lever arms are adapted to engage a strip traveling along the strip travel path and center the strip relative to the central axis of the travel path.

Abstract: A roll for guidance of web type material, such as paper or cardboard, has a shell that features a multitude of bores. The roll is coordinated with a device for subjecting the roll interior to suction. To hold the web on the roll at standstill, part of these bores can be subjected to suction. In the operation of the roll, air trapped between the web and the roll shell can enter the roll also through the remaining bores and escape in the roll area that is not looped by the web.

Abstract: The web-motion controller comprises a guide frame (4) with two guide rollers (2.1, 2.2). The lateral deviation of the web 91) downstream of the second guide roller (2,.2) is monitored by a position sensor (8), whose output signal is converted into control commands for a servomotor (7) turning the guide frame (4). In the guide frame (4), between the guide rollers (2.1, 2.2) a braking roller (11) is provided which is wrapped and entrained by the web and has a braking device (12). A force-measuring drum (14) finding out the web traction after the braking roller (11) in the travel direction of the web serves for producing measured-value signals, which control the braking device (12) via a control unit (13) with a selected value setting (19).

Abstract: The crank assembly of the advancing apparatus is eccentrically supported in an intermediate shaft. This intermediate shaft is in turn supported in an oscillating slide. Accordingly, the oscillating movement of the slide is superimposed over such of the driving pivot of the crank assembly. The intermediate shaft includes a cam disk. Due to the cam disk the intermediate shaft oscillates in operation and causes in turn the oscillating movement of the slide, which oscillating movement proceeds oppositely to the oscillating movement of the driving pivot. The sum of these two movements in the zones of the end positions thereof is accordingly zero. Accordingly, the driving pivot is at rest over a prolonged time span. Due to this prolonged rest period between individual feeding steps, elastical deformations of working structures and of the workpiece being worked upon, can attenuate and fade out prior to the working proper, and at the same time the length of the advancing is not subjected to a change.

Abstract: To supply an arriving and delivered portion of a traveling web (1, 21, 31, 41, 81, 91, 101) to have the same side-orientation as the delivered portion, the web is passed about a first turning bar (2), then looped about a first deflection roller (3), and spanning the arriving portion of the web, about a second deflection roller (4) to be then turned again, selectively, by a second turning bar (5). Other web paths are possible, omitting the second deflection roller (4). Rather than using a single second deflection roller, smaller roller elements (FIG. 11: 16, 17) can be used, the second deflection roller, or the elements having effective diameters which are larger than the diameter of the first deflection roller.

Abstract: A pair of arms is hingedly connected to a rocker. These arms support the pressing bar. At their opposite ends the arms are pivotably mounted such to the casing of the appratus that in one position thereof the axis of rotation of the lower feeding roller coincides with the pivot axis of the pivotal point of the arms at the casing. By this design it is no longer necessary to adjust the apparatus for the intermittent feeding of a web-shaped workpiece by utilizing auxiliary structures to various respective thicknesses of the web being fed.

Abstract: The drive assembly for a form feeding tractor has a flexible endless belt comprising an endless band member of synthetic resin with a generrally planar outer surface and metallic drive pins spaced about its circumference. The band member has a series of spaced apart drive sections each with a plurality of drive teeth extending transversely thereof on its inner surface, and the metallic drive pins are disposed in the spaces between the drive sections. The pins have a base section which extends through the band member with a circumferential groove intermediate its length and into which the band member extends, and the band member has platform portions on its inner surface which extend about the base portions on the pins.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for adjusting the azimuth position of a capstan in a magnetic-tape apparatus relative to a reference plane, comprising a bearing plate which supports a capstan bearing through which the capstan extends. The capstan bearing or a part of this bearing is connected to the bearing plate by at least three single or multiple U-shaped supporting strips of a sheet material, which strips engage and are equidistantly spaced around the capstan bearing, the U-shapes extending in the plane of the supporting strips.

Abstract: In an arrangement for the temporary storage of a yarn between a splicing device and a continuously yarn-delivering delivery device, a ring-shaped depositing chamber is provided, which chamber can be rotated around a shaft which is directed transversely to the yarn-conveying direction, the bottom of this depositing chamber being air-permeable and connected to a suction device.

Abstract: A wire feed apparatus for a wire cut electric discharge machining apparatus, capable of moving a wire conveyor belt from an automatic wire extension position to a non-wire-transfer shunt position at the time of electric discharge machining, thereby preventing wear of the belts and reducing variation in the wire feed speed. The apparatus includes first and second conveyor belts selectively operated in accordance with predetermined conditions for wire feeding. At the time of automatic wire extension, an air cylinder of a wire feed mechanism is driven to move the second conveyor belt from a non-wire-transfer shunt position to the automatic wire extension position using a parallel link mechanism. The second conveyor belt is pressed against the first conveyor belt at the automatic wire extension position.

Abstract: The invention provides an improved web guidance mechanism in which the location of a web is detected and any deviation from a desired path is corrected without causing damage to the web material, for example a filter cloth. The improved mechanism includes two tracker units 10 having a pair of rollers 12, 14 defining a nip for an edge margin of a web. The lower roller 14 is acted on by an inflatable actuator 28 in the form of bellows and operative to raise or lower the roller 14 with respect to the upper roller 12. This is achieved by pivotally mounting a bracket 16, which carries the roller 14, and attaching thereto a bar 24 which rests via a contact plate 26 on the actuator 28. The actuator 28 is controlled by a sensor positioned adjacent to an edge of the web and operative to detect the presence or absence of the edge of the web on its desired path. In a preferred embodiment the sensor controls a pneumatic valve operable to inflate or deflate the actuator 28.

Abstract: A device for the feeding or advancement of an edgeperforated paper web (1) in a dot-matrix printer or the like includes a pair of drive belts (3) transversely spaced apart proximate opposite transverse edges of the web, each belt carrying on its upper surface (6) a series of pins (7) for releasable engagement with the edge-disposed web perforations (11). To provide an increase in friction between the paper web (1) and the drive belts (3) during transport of the web, and thereby assure enhanced accuracy and precision in operatively advancing the web, a plurality of upstanding or outwardly-protruding projections (17, 17a, 17b, 17c) are defined on the upper belt surface (6). These projections are located at least in the flat sections (16) of the belt between adjacently or successively-disposed ones of the pins (7) and, in another form of the invention, additionally at and coincident with the locations of the pins (7) which interrupt the transversely-oriented projections.

Abstract: A tape guide having improved durability and excellent tape tracking characteristics. In one aspect, the present invention concerns a tape guide that comprises a durable, polymeric, resiliently expandable, substantially cylindrical sleeve. An outer tape guiding surface on said sleeve is concave for biasing a magnetic recording tape toward a centered position on the outer tape guiding surface. An inner surface on the sleeve defines a central bore that is smaller in size than the tape guide post. The central bore, though, is of a sufficient size such that the tape guide can be resiliently expanded to fit over a tape guide post with a resilient, gripping effect. A thickened wall portion is circumferentially positioned on the inner surface in a centered position between the top end and the bottom end of the sleeve. In a preferred embodiment, the sleeve has two opposing slot edges that define a slot along the axial direction of the sleeve. The slot edges are biased towards each other.

Abstract: An intermittent web transport apparatus in a printing machine guides the web between two processing positions and through an intermediate festoon. Web alignment deviations from a nominal value are corrected by rotation of a pivotable frame that is positioned downstream of the festoon. A correction roller before the festoon effects a shifting of the web prior to its entry into the festoon.

Abstract: Feeders for transporting materials in strip, sheet, or filament form include an adjustable stop mechanism for setting the clearance between feed rolls. The stop mechanism allows the rolls to be moved apart to release the material form the rolls. In one embodiment, the stop mechanism includes a spring, the force of which is overcome to allow release of the rolls. The stop mechanism includes an eccentric mounting for precisely setting clearance between feed rolls. In another embodiment, a pair of articulated levers are provided, a first of which carries an adjustment screw bearing against the second lever. A cam engages the second level to cause the rolls to move to a material-releasing position. The cam can be driven by the drive system of machine on which the feeder is mounted so that the material can be released in relation to machine operation.

Abstract: Methods for identifying textile supports are disclosed, including providing a reference element at a fixed location relative to the longitudinal axis of the textile support, adjusting the reference element to establish a predetermined location for the textile support, and identifying the textile support by determining the location of the reference element with respect to a fixed location relative to the longitudinal axis of the textile support. Apparatus for identifying textile supports are also disclosed, including a fixed sensor at a fixed location spaced from a textile support along its longitudinal axis and a movable reference element at a fixed location relative to the longitudinal axis of the textile support and movable with respect to the fixed sensor so that the textile support can be identified by determining the location of the movable reference element with respect to the fixed sensor.

Abstract: A method is described for introducing one or more optical fibre members (1) into a tubular passageway (2). The method involves passing a current of fluid, preferably air, into and through a venturi (6) the downstream side of which communicates with the passageway (2). The optical fibre member (1) is introduced into the venturi (6) via a hypodermic tube (7) and then into the passageway (2). Apparatus for carrying out the method are described.

Abstract: A cutting plant for cutting blanks out of a starting strip comprises a cutting deck, which has a top surface to which a vacuum is applied, a cutting carriage, which is movable over the top surface and is provided with a cutting tool that is adjustable to cut to a defined depth. The plant also comprises a dispenser rotatably mounting a supply roll of the starting strip to be dispensed onto the top surface and a take-up device rotatably mounting a take-up roll. To permit an efficient cutting operation, the dispenser comprises a brake for braking the starting strip between the supply roll and the cutting deck and the take-up device has a drive for intermittently driving the take-up roll under the control of a measuring device for measuring the length of processed material which is to be taken up.

Abstract: The driving gear meshes with the gear on the web of a planetary gear. This planetary gear includes an arrestable sun wheel. The output sun wheel is rigidly connected to the drive shaft. It extends through a sleeve section of the web. A longitudinally displaceable shifting sleeve is located on the sleeve section, which shifting sleeve has a plurality of control disks. These control disks control via a roller the rocking movement of the upper feeding roller. Accordingly, the period of the rocking movement can be selected depending on a respective selected control disk. If the sun wheel is unlocked, the shifting sleeve may be moved such that it engages directly the drive shaft such that by properly selecting the number of teeth it is possible to choose between a rotational speed transmission relation of 1:2 and 1:1.