Abstract: A curved roll with a longitudinally-curved axle which supports roll sections or spools by way of roller bearings seated on the axle has a flexible torque coupling between adjacent spools. Each coupling flexes to accommodate the curvature of the roll and both seals lubricant within the roll from leakage and seals dirt and other external contaminants from the roll interior. Each coupling employs a tubular coupling element which mechanically seats at each axial end within a circumferential channel internally recessing the spool end. Axially-extending members on each spool engage the coupling element for ensuring positive torque tranfer between the adjacent spools.

Abstract: A curved roll having spools rotatable about an axle on bearings lubricates the bearings with an annular body of liquid lubricant formed on the interior of the spools as they rotate. A pair of scoops located at opposite ends of the axle and facing in opposite rotational directions recirculate lubricant from the annulus through a flow path exterior to the roll and which includes a filter, a flow control device, pressure and flow gauges and a valve for adding and draining the lubricant from the system. The lubricant in the annulus is distributed uniformly along the roll by level control scoops that are each positioned in a compartment defined by an adjacent pair of bearings, the axle and the spools. Excess liquid in one compartment is skimmed by the associated up-take scoop and directed to lubricant reservoir; whereas in a compartment having insufficient lubricant, an oppositely directed drain scoop receives oil from the reservoir.

Abstract: This invention provides an apparatus for removing wrinkles in a thin flexible moving web such as paper or textiles. The web is passed over a bar curved to effect a shear force on the web and/or a tensile force on the web in a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement of the web. The bar is oscillated resonantly or nonresonantly with one component of the oscillation being in a direction normal to the web surface so that its intermittent contact with the web causes any wrinkles therein to collapse. Gas, under super-atmospheric pressure can be passed through ports in the bar surface and into contact with the web to assist in collapsing wrinkles. SPREFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONSThis application is a continuation-in-part of Application Ser. No. 521,179, filed Nov. 6, 1974, now abandoned, which is a continuation-in-part of now-abandoned Ser. No. 436,838, filed Jan. 28, 1974, which in turn is a continuation-in-part of now-abandoned Ser. No. 331,199, filed Feb. 9, 1973 .