DEVICE FOR CORRECTING A DEFORMATION IN AT LEAST ONE MATERIAL WEB

Abstract

A device for correcting a deformation inside at least one material web in the machine direction of the at least one material web comprises at least one roller body seated rotatably about an axis of rotation for guiding the at least one material web, and at least one rigid shaft that is arranged in the interior of the roller body. The rigid shaft is divided in the direction of the axis of rotation axis into a first part and a second part, the first part and the second part each having at least one curvature. The first part and the second part are rotatable and/or pivotable independently of one another, so that the roller body can be adjusted between at least a first and a second external shape.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of the priority of German Patent Application 10 2010 019 602.9, filed May 5, 2010, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

The present disclosure relates to a device for correcting a deformation in at least one material web in the machine direction of the at least one material web.

In the manufacture or processing of a material web, deformations can appear inside the material web. A given type of deformation can be corrected with a corresponding device.

A first type of deformation can be a deformation perpendicular to the machine direction of the material web. For example, this can be a deformation of threads running along the machine direction or length of the material web, such as warp threads in woven materials. As an example, FIG. 1a shows a compression of the warp threads of a material web, and a subsequent correction by transversely stretching or rolling out the warp threads. For correction, a device for width-stretching or rolling out (or also for compression) can be used, i.e., a device for correcting a deformation perpendicular to the machine direction L.

A second, different type of deformation can be a deformation in the machine direction of the material web. For example, this can be a deformation of threads running perpendicular to the machine direction or along the width B of the material web, such as weft threads in woven materials. As an example, FIG. 1b shows an arc-shaped deformation of the weft threads of a material web, and a subsequent correction by straightening the weft threads. For correction of this, a device for correcting a deformation in the machine direction L is used, which can comprise a roller body with an arc-shaped external form, on which the material web is guided. A correction takes place because the material web must travel longer or shorter distances relative to its width while passing through the roller body. With such a device, however, only arc-shaped deformations in the longitudinal direction of the material web can be corrected.

SUMMARY

A device for correcting a deformation in at least one material web in the machine direction of the at least one material web comprises at least one roller body, seated rotatably about an axis of rotation, for guiding the at least one material web, and at least one rigid shaft that is arranged in the interior of the roller body. “Correction” is to be understood here as any type of modification of the deformation in the machine direction, for example correcting an undesired deformation, or providing a desired inner deformation of the material web.

The rigid shaft can be divided in the direction of the axis of rotation axis into a first part and a second part, the first part and the second part each having at least one curvature. The first part and the second part can be rotatable and/or pivotable independently of one another so that the roller body can be adjusted between at least a first and a second external shape. A rotation or pivoting of the first and/or second part can thus result in a shift in the external shape of the roller body. Thereby different types of deformations can be corrected, i.e. a deformation other than arc-shaped, the design of the device being simultaneously simple and robust.

Embodiments can comprise one or more of the following features.

By adjusting the roller body between the at least first and the second external shapes, the device can be adapted to a type of deformation, such as an S-shaped deformation or an arc-shaped deformation, inside the material web guided on the at least one roller body. The first external shape of the roller body can be suitable for correcting a first type of deformation inside the material web guided on the at least one roller body, and the second external shape for correcting a second type of deformation inside the material web guided on the at least one roller body. The first external shape can be substantially S-shaped, for example, if the first deformation is substantially S-shaped, i.e. there is an S-shaped deformation in the machine direction inside the material web. The second external shape can be substantially arc-shaped, for example, if the first deformation is substantially arc-shaped, i.e. there is an arc-shaped deformation in the machine direction inside the material web. By virtue of the fact that the first part and the second part are rotatable or pivotable independently of one another, the roller body can be adjusted easily from an arc-like external shape into an S-like external shape, and vice versa.

Substantially arc-like is to be understood as a shape that has a curved section such as a convex or concave bow shape in the direction of viewing. Substantially S-like is to be understood as a shape that has at least two curved sections in opposite directions, for example, two bow-shaped sections that are arranged relative to one another in such a manner that one is concave and the other convex in the direction of viewing.

The roller body can also be continuously adjustable between the first and the second external shapes. The roller body can be adjustable into at least a third external shape. For example, the first part and the second part can be rotated or pivoted independently relative to one another in such a manner that the roller body can be adjusted into at least a third external shape between the first and the second external shapes.

The device can further comprise at least a first drive and a second drive. The first part of the shaft can be rotated and/or pivoted by the first drive, and the second part of the shaft can be rotated and/or pivoted by the second drive. The first drive can be suitable for rotating and/or pivoting the first curved part of the shaft about the longitudinal axis of the first curved part, or about a point of rotation in which the first part of the shaft is seated in the device. The second drive can be suitable for rotating and/or pivoting the second curved part of the shaft about the longitudinal axis of the second curved part, or about a point of rotation in which the second part of the shaft is seated in the device.

The shaft can be arranged in the interior of the roller body in such a manner that the shaft is subdivided into the first part and the second part in the center of the roller body in the direction of the axis of rotation, i.e., symmetrically. The shaft can also be divided asymmetrically. The shaft can be rotatably and pivotably seated at its two ends by at least one bearing such as a ball bearing. The shaft is rigid, i.e., its shape is not changed under ordinary force exertion or in operation of the device.

The device can further comprise at least one support means that is mounted on the shaft. The at least one support means can be suitable for supporting or bearing the roller body. The support means can be an annular element arranged around the shaft. The roller body and the associated shaft, and optionally the at least one support means and/or the at least one bearing together form a roller that is rotatably seated about the axis of rotation.

The device can be suitable for guiding at least one material web on the roller body in such a manner that the at least one material web is deflected by an angle of at least 90°, particularly at least 120°, more particularly roughly 180° (e.g., 180°±5° or 180°±10°). A maximum correction can be achieved by a maximum guidance or contact surface of the material web on the roller body.

The roller body can comprise an elastic material such as rubber or plastic, or consist thereof. In that way, the roller body can assume the first and the second external shape in a simple and reliable manner.

The device can further comprise at least one camera such as a CCD camera. The signal from the camera, such as an image taken by the camera, can be converted, with the aid of an evaluation electronics unit for example, into a control signal for the position of the first and/or second parts of the shaft. The control signal can then be used to adjust the position of the first and/or second parts of the shaft, and thus the external shape of the roller body as well. The device can be configured in such a manner that a rotation or pivoting of the first and/or second parts that results in an adjustment of the external shape of the roller body can take place based on the signal acquired by the camera. Thus the deformation can be corrected based on the nature of the deformation detected by the camera.

The material web can comprise a woven material such as a textile material, or consist thereof. The material web can also comprise a knitted or knotted material, or consist thereof. The material web can also comprise a nonwoven material such as a fleece, or consist thereof. The deformation can be a deformation of weft threads of the material web, i.e. threads running perpendicular to the machine direction or width of the material web. The correction can then comprise a straightening of the weft threads. The deformation can also be a distortion of a pattern of the material web such as a visually identifiable pattern on the surface of the material web.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1a shows a correction of a deformation perpendicular to the machine direction of a material web;

FIG. 1b shows a correction of a deformation in the machine direction of a material web;

FIG. 2 shows a plan view from above onto a roller body with an S-like external shape, and a material web guided thereon;

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of a roller body with an S-like external shape, and a material web guided thereon;

FIG. 4 shows a cut-open, perspective view of one half of a roller body with an S-like external shape;

FIG. 5 shows a cut-open, perspective view of one half of a roller body with an arc-like external shape;

FIG. 6 shows a cut-open, perspective view of a roller body with an S-like external shape; and

FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of a system or device for correcting a deformation inside a material web in the machine direction of the material web.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 2 shows a plan view and FIG. 3 a corresponding perspective view of a roller body 2 with an S-like external shape, and a material web 1 guided thereon. This roller body 2 can be used in a device for correcting a deformation in the machine direction L, in order to correct an S-shaped deformation inside the material web 1 in the machine direction.

As is evident from FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the device for correcting a deformation of the material web 1 in the machine direction L of the material web 1 comprises the roller body 2 seated rotatably about an axis of rotation A for guiding the material web 1, and a rigid shaft 3 arranged in the interior of the roller body 2. The S-shaped deformation can be, for example, a deformation of threads running perpendicular to the machine direction or width B of the material web 1 such as weft threads in a woven material. The deformation can also be a distortion of a pattern of the material web 1 such as a visually identifiable pattern on the surface of the material web 1. The device for correcting the deformation in the machine direction can correct this deformation by guiding the material web 1 over the roller body 2 with an S-like external shape. A correction takes place because the material web 1 must travel longer or shorter distances relative to its width B while passing through the roller body 2. Thereby, for example, S-shaped weft threads can be initially straightened, i.e. corrected in such a manner that they run straight.

FIG. 3 shows that the device is suitable for guiding the material web 1 in such a manner on the roller body 2 that the material web 1 is deflected by an angle of 180°. A maximum correction of the distortion in the machine direction L can be achieved by this maximum guidance or contact surface of the material web 1 on the roller body 2. The material web 1 can comprise or be, among other things, a woven, knitted, knotted or nonwoven material, such as a textile material or a fleece.

FIG. 4 shows a cut-open, perspective view of one half of a roller body 2 with an S-like external shape; FIG. 5 shows a cut-open, perspective view of the half of the roller body 2 with an arc-like external shape. As is evident in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, the rigid shaft 3 is subdivided in the direction of the axis of rotation A or the width B of the material web into a first part 3a and a second part 3b. The first part 3a and the second part 3b each have a curvature. The first part 3a and the second part 3b are rotatable and/or pivotable independently of one another, so that the roller body 2 can be adjusted between a first, substantially S-like, external shape (FIG. 4) and a second, substantially arc-like, external shape (FIG. 5). A rotation or pivoting of the first part 3a and/or second part 3b thus results in an adjustment of the external shape of the roller body 2. Thus different types of deformations can be corrected, i.e., as shown here for the sake of example, an S-shaped deformation (FIG. 4), in addition to an arc-shaped deformation (FIG. 5). At the same time, the design of the device is simple and robust.

By adjustment of the roller body 2 between the first, substantially S-shaped, external shape and the second, substantially arc-like external shape, the device is adaptable to a type of deformation inside the material web 1 on the at least one roller body 2. The first, substantially S-like external shape of the roller body 2 (FIG. 4) is suited for correcting a first, substantially S-shaped type of deformation, and the second, substantially arc-like external shape of the roller body 2 (FIG. 5) is suitable for correcting a second, substantially arc-shaped type of deformation. By virtue of the fact that the first part 3a and the second part 3b are rotatable or pivotable independently of one another, the roller body 2 can be adjusted easily from the arc-like external shape into an S-like external shape, and vice versa.

The roller body 2 can also be continuously adjustable between the first and the second external shapes. The roller body 2 can be adjustable into at least a third external shape. For example, the first part 3a and the second part 3b can be rotated or pivoted independently relative to one another in such a manner that the roller body 2 can be adjusted into at least a third external shape or several different external shapes between the first and the second external shapes.

The roller body 2 comprises or is an elastic material such as rubber or plastic. In that way, the roller body 2 can assume the first and the second external shapes in a simple and reliable manner.

As shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, the shaft 3 is arranged in the interior of the roller body 2 in such a manner that the shaft 3 is subdivided into the first part 3a and the second part 3b in the center M of the roller body in the direction of the axis of rotation A, i.e., symmetrically. The shaft 3 is pivotably and rotatably seated at both ends by means of at least one bearing (not shown) in a first point of rotation 8a and a second point of rotation 8b. The shaft 3, or the first part 3a and the second part 3b of the shaft 3, is rigid, i.e., its shape is not changed under ordinary force exertion or in operation of the device.

The device further comprises at least a first drive 5 and a second drive 6. The first part 3a of the shaft 3 can be rotated and pivoted by the first drive 5 and the second part 3b of the shaft 3 can be rotated and pivoted by the second drive 6. The first drive 5 is suitable to rotate and pivot the first curved part 3a of the shaft 3 about the longitudinal axis of the first curved part 3a (shown in dashes along part 3a), or about the first point of rotation 8a, in which the first part 3a is seated in the device. The second drive 6 is suitable to rotate and pivot the second curved part 3b of the shaft 3 about the longitudinal axis of the second curved part 3b (shown in dashes along part 3b), or about the second point of rotation 8b, in which the second part 3b is seated in the device.

FIG. 6 shows a cut-open, perspective view of the roller body of FIG. 4 with an S-like external shape. As shown in FIG. 6, the device further comprises support means 4, which are mounted on the shaft 3. The support means 4 are suitable to support or bear the roller body 2. The support means 4 is an annular element arranged around the shaft 3. One respective support means 4 is arranged in the area of one end of the first or second part of the shaft 3, one respective support means 4 is arranged in the center area of the first or second part of the shaft 3, and one respective support means 4 is arranged in the area of the other end of the first or second part of the shaft 3. The device additionally has a guide means 7 that is suitable for guiding one end of the first part 3a and the second part 3b, respectively.

FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of a system or device for correcting a deformation inside a material web 1 in the machine direction of the material web, wherein the device comprises more than one roller body. The device of FIG. 7 comprises three substantially S-shaped roller bodies 2, which are arranged vertically one above the other inside the device. The material web 1 is guided in a snake-like manner—from the top to the bottom—over the three roller bodies, one after the other. The material web 1 is deflected by an angle of 180° on each of the three roller bodies 2. A maximum correction of an S-shaped deformation in the machine direction can be achieved by this maximum guidance or contact surface of the material web 1 on the roller bodies 2.

The device further comprises a frame 9 (only a part of the frame is shown in FIG. 7, and not the part facing it), on which the roller bodies 2 or their associated shafts 3 are rotatably and pivotably seated in the point of rotation 8a at one end and in the point of rotation 8b at the other end. The drives 5, 6 for each of the three shafts 3 or roller bodies 2 are arranged inside the frame 9. The first drive 5 is arranged in one part of the frame 9 in order to rotate and pivot the first part 3a of the shaft 3, and the second drive 6 is arranged in the other, opposite part of the frame 9 in order to rotate and pivot the second part 3b of the shaft 3. The device also comprises a guide roller 10, which is arranged in such a manner that the material web 1 is guided before it is run onto the roller bodies 2.

The device can further comprise at least one camera (not shown) such as a CCD camera, and an evaluation electronics unit. For example, several cameras arranged along the width B of the material web 1 can be used. The signal from the camera, or the image taken by the camera, can be converted with the aid of an evaluation electronics unit into a control signal for the position of the first part 3a and/or the second part 3b of the shaft 3. The control signal can then be used to adjust the position of the first part 3a and/or the second part 3b, and thus the external shape of the roller body 2 as well. The device is then configured in such a manner that the first part 3a and/or the second part 3b can be rotated or pivoted based on the signal acquired by the camera. Thus the deformation can be corrected based on the nature of the deformation detected by the camera.

Claims

1. A device for correcting a deformation inside at least one material web in the machine direction of the at least one material web, the device comprising:

at least one roller body rotatably seated about an axis of rotation for guiding the at least one material web, and

at least one rigid shaft that is arranged in the interior of the roller body,

wherein the rigid shaft is subdivided in the direction of the axis of rotation into a first part and a second part,

wherein the first part and the second part each have a curvature, and

wherein the first part and the second part are rotatable or pivotable independently of one another so that the roller body can be adjusted between at least a first and a second external shape.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein, by adjusting the roller body between the at least first and the second external form, the device is adaptable to a type of deformation inside the material web guided on the at least one roller body.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the first external shape of the roller body is suitable to correct a first type of deformation inside the material web guided on the at least one roller body, and

wherein the second external shape of the roller body is suitable to correct a second type of deformation inside the material web guided on the at least one roller body.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the first external shape is substantially S-shaped.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the second external shape is substantially arc-shaped.

6. The device according to claim 3, wherein the first type of deformation is substantially S-shaped.

7. The device according to claim 6, wherein the second type of deformation is substantially arc-shaped.

8. The device according to claim 1, further comprising at least a first drive and a second drive, wherein the first part of the shaft can be rotated and/or pivoted by the first drive, and wherein the second part of the shaft can be rotated and/or pivoted by the second drive.

9. The device according to claim 8, wherein the first drive is suitable to rotate and/or pivot the first curved part of the shaft about the longitudinal axis of the first curved part, and

wherein the second drive is suitable to rotate and/or pivot the second curved part of the shaft about the longitudinal axis of the second curved part.

10. The device according to claim 1, wherein the shaft is arranged in the interior of the roller body in such a manner that the shaft is subdivided in the direction of the axis of rotation in the center of the roller body.

11. The device according to claim 1, wherein the shaft is rotatably and pivotably seated at both ends.

12. The device according to claim 1, wherein the device is suitable to guide the at least one material web on the roller body in such a manner that the at least one material web is deflected by an angle of at least 90°, more particularly at least 120°, more particularly roughly 180°.

13. The device according to claim 1, wherein the roller body comprises an elastic material.

14. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a camera, wherein the device is configured in such a manner that the first part and/or the second part of the shaft can be pivoted or rotated based on the signal acquired by the camera.

15. The device according to claim 1, wherein the deformation is a deformation of weft threads of the material web or a distortion of a pattern of the material web.

16. The device according to claim 1, wherein the first part and the second part are rotatable and pivotable independently of one another so that the roller body can be adjusted between at least the first and the second external shape.