Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling the position and power of electrodes in an electric-discharge texturing (EDT) machine for texturing a roll includes an actuator for moving an electrode away from and towards a roll to be textured to maintain a desired spacing between the electrode and the roll. The actuator is controlled with a different gain depending upon whether the electrode is to be moved towards or away from the roll. A power source applies a voltage to the electrode for promoting a spark between the electrode and the roll to remove particles from the roll. The power source is controlled to apply the voltage to the electrode until a spark is initiated and then maintains the voltage for a selected time duration after spark initiation to provide a spark having the selected time duration. The power source is further controlled such that voltages applied to a plurality of electrodes are sequenced in a selected fashion.

Abstract: Apparatus (10,10') for electric-discharge texturing of a round surface (12) of a roll (14) includes a bank of electrode positioners (32) mounted on a carriage supported housing (30) in axial rows (34) and circumferential columns (36) with the axial rows diverging from a central axis A of roll rotation and with the axial rows symmetrically located on opposite sides of an adjustment axis B along which the electrode positioners are moved by the housing. The adjustment axis B of the housing (30) is inclined upwardly away from the central axis A. The electrode positioners (32) can be provided in an odd number or an even number of axial rows (34) and, in either case, the circumferential columns (36) of the electrode positioners (32) are slightly axially inclined along the central axis A.

Abstract: An electrode positioner (24) for electric-discharge texturing apparatus (10) includes an elongated connector (62) located externally of an elongated housing (32) and extending between a servo head (40) on a slide (38) mounted by the housing and moved by a servo actuator (58). The elongated connector (62) has an internal passage (64) for carrying dielectric fluid to the servo head (40) and also has an electrical connection (60) to the servo head and an electrical connection (70) to an electrical power supply (72) to supply electrical power to an electrode supported by an electrode holder (42) on the servo head. The elongated connector (62) includes an elongated metallic tube (82) whose interior defines the passage (64) that carries the dielectric fluid and which itself carries the electrical power between the electrical connection (60) to the servo head (40) and the electrical connection (70) to the electrical power supply (72).