Abstract: An actuator for a papermaking machine. The actuator is designed to function either as a slice lip or coatweight actuator or as a dilution actuator depending on the orientation of a cam disk in the actuator. The drive motor and position sensor in the actuator are in a side by side arrangement allowing for a single cover to enclose both the drive motor and the position sensor. The actuator has a manual adjustment which comes into engagement with the drive motor only when it is desired to manually adjust the actuator. The manual adjustment is designed so that it does not lock with the drive motor and requires only a moderate amount of force to be brought into engagement with the manual shaft. The actuator has a drive block connected to the speed reducer of the actuator. The drive block interfits with the cam disk in a manner to function as a spring loaded splined connection. This connection provides the necessary force to prevent rotary free play of the cam disk.

Abstract: A throttle valve is provided in each actuator of a calender roll controller with the throttle valve controlling an internal air orifice within each actuator to provide a substantially uniform air mass flow of either hot or cold air. Each throttle valve is controlled in response to the temperature of the air being delivered by the actuator such that a smaller orifice is provided for hot air than for cold air to provide substantially uniform air mass flow from each of the actuators and therefore substantially uniform air velocity to better control the temperatures of the longitudinal zones of a calender roll and better maintain boundaries between the zones. In addition to throttle valve control of the actuators, an air scoop concentric with a calender roll being controlled and spaced from the calender roll is provided to channel air from the actuators over the calender roll. The scoop comprises heat insulating material to prevent heat loss out the back of the scoop.

Abstract: A linear weight actuator includes a clamp assembly adjustably connecting the power screw to the output spindle. The assembly includes an integrally formed key, riding in a slot formed in the actuator housing, which obviates the need for a separate key element. A mounting plate is adjustably clamped to the actuator housing, by a threaded mounting nut, such that the plate may be conveniently rotated relative to the housing. A linear bearing disposed in the mounting nut provides lateral support for the output spindle at a point spaced from the clamp assembly. A clamping ring encircles a thinned segment of the power nut and urges it against the power screw to prevent backlash.

Abstract: A pneumatic stepper motor weight actuator captures the advantages of polymeric harmonic gears while occupying less space and eliminating the problems associated with air entrapment in the stator grooves. Air entrapment is eliminated by providing orificed air passages from the bottom of the longitudinal stator grooves to the center stator hole. Advantageously, the actuator includes a rigid gear comprising a toothed polymeric sleeve adhesively bonded inside a metal cup.

Abstract: An apparatus 10 is provided for supplying a high-velocity flow of temperature regulated air 5 to the calender roll 90 of a paper making machine. Ambient air 1 is received into the plenum chamber 20 and distributed therefrom through a longitudinally elongated conduit means 30 which has an inlet 32 opening directly into the plenum chamber 20 and an outlet opening 36 along the other end thereof and defining therebetween a flow passageway 34. The outlet opening 36 is adapted to direct the air flow passing through the flow passageway 34 along the calender roll 90 in counter direction to the rotation of the calender roll 90. A series of spiral wound heating element coils 40 are disposed within the conduit means 30 at longitudinally spaced intervals along the length thereof to heat the air to a desired temperature by selectively powering the heating element coils 40.

Abstract: A two-speed stepper actuator (10) for rotationally driving a power nut (24) to adjust a slice lip spindle (20) linearly. A clamp for power nut (24) includes a bushing plate (32) driven by drive solenoid (D) which is mounted for rotation relative to power nut (24). A lever (40) is pivotally mounted on the bushing plate (32) and includes an eccentric locking cam surface (50) shaped for selective clearance of nut (24) when in the center or number 2 position and clamping engagement of nut (24) when in the opposite extreme 1 and 3 positions. A first amount of rotation of the lever (40) about its pivotal mounting (48) on said bushing plate (32) engages and locks lever end cam surface (50) against nut (24) and a second and additional rotation of the lever (40) then drives the nut (24). Three position solenoids (L) and (D) drive the bushing plate (32) and lever (40) independently and at different speeds due to an accommodation by spring (36) on pusher rod (34) of solenoid (L).

Abstract: A two-speed stepper actuator unit for use in paper machine headbox slice lip control has a spindle 16 driven by a power nut 24. A lever clamp 32 has legs 34 and 36 selectively clamped together around nut 24 by means of a cam action locking plate 40 driven by solenoid 48. The longer leg 36 of clamp 32 has a cam follower which rotationally drives nut 24 through the lever 36 in response to the shape of a cam plate 50 which translates in the housing 12 on antifriction rollers 66 when drive solenoid 54 is actuated. The cam surface 60 guides the lever 36 in either of two speed modes depending on whether spring biased roller follower 52 is on cams surface portion 62 or 64.

Abstract: A paper machine headbox slice lip rotector system which permits limited incremental movement up or down by means of a pivoting lever arm 32 with lock bolt end portions 36 and 38 moving in adjacent protectors' adjustable keeper recesses 40. The recesses 40 are defined by stop nuts 42 on a threaded body fixed to the adjustable spindles 20. The lever arm 32 is pivotally mounted on the body for permitting up and down movement a distance which is the average of the distance defined by the keeper recesses 40 of the adjacent protectors. This prevents the prior art problem of a protector being "locked" between adjacent protectors.