Abstract: A dynamic tension control system is described herein for driving linear material off a roll in a controlled manner. The dynamic tension control system may include a frame, a shaft for holding a roll of linear material, a motor for driving the shaft, and a dancer tensioning control system for controlling the motor. The dancer tensioning control system may include an actuator assembly through which the linear material passes and a proximity sensor for detecting whether the actuator assembly is proximate to the proximity sensor. When the linear material is pulled from the roll, tension is created in the linear material, which lifts the actuator assembly away from the proximity sensor. The dynamic tension control system may be configured to command, based on detecting that the actuator assembly is not proximate to the proximity sensor, the motor to drive the shaft to unwind linear material from the roll.

Abstract: A conveying apparatus according to an embodiment includes: a feeding-out member movable along a shaft member extending in a first direction and rotatable in a medium conveyance direction; a conveyance member configured to convey the medium from the feeding-out member along a medium conveyance route; a load applying member that applies a load in a direction opposed to the medium conveyance direction; a guide member placed at one end portion of the medium conveyance route in the first direction, and configured to restrict movement of the medium in the first direction; and an inclination member inclined with respect to the first direction and in contact with the medium between the feeding-out member and the conveyance member in the medium conveyance route, thereby making a conveyed distance of the medium shorter at a first side near the guide member than at a second side far from the guide member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus, including: a sheet cassette; an image former; a fixer; a discharge tray; a conveyor configured to convey a sheet along a conveyance passage; a return conveyor configured to convey the sheet from a branch position between the fixer and the discharge tray to a merge position between the sheet cassette and the image former along a return passage which is branched from the conveyance passage at the branch position, passes below the sheet cassette, and merges with the conveyance passage at the merge position; a switchback roller disposed between the branch position and the discharge tray in the conveyance passage and configured to convey the sheet to the discharge tray when it rotates forwardly and to the return passage when it rotates backwardly; and an intermediate conveyance roller disposed in the return passage at a height level intermediate between the fixer and the sheet cassette.

Abstract: The present disclosure is a tension control device which includes a pressing member configured to press an object in a noncontact manner by spraying a gas onto the object to which tension is applied, an actuator configured to vary a position of the pressing member, a pressure sensor configured to detect pressure of the gas, a gap sensor configured to detect a floating amount of the object from the pressing member, and a control unit configured to control the actuator based on a detected value of the pressure sensor and a detected value of the gap sensor.

Abstract: An accumulating apparatus (4) has an upper arm (51) in which a plurality of upper rollers (511) are arranged, and a lower arm (52) in which a plurality of lower rollers (521) are arranged. An upper gear (61) is fixed to the upper arm and a lower gear (62) is fixed to the lower arm. The upper gear is engaged with the lower gear so that the upper arm and the lower arm are simultaneously moved in opposite directions with respect to a vertical direction. Therefore, when moving the lower arm in the vertical direction, influence of the weight of the lower arm is canceled by the weight of the upper arm, and a force to move the lower arm upward can be reduced. As the result, an air cylinder (63) for changing a distance between the upper arm and the lower arm can be downsized.

Abstract: A festoon assembly, system or arrangement includes at least one festoon roll having first and second opposite sides movably mounted to a respective support member. A linear bearing having an opening at least partially receiving therein a respective support member is arranged on at least one of the first and second sides. This Abstract is not intended to define the invention disclosed in the specification, nor intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way.

Abstract: A printed sheet handling system and method for use with lazy-portrait narrow-end to narrow-end (LPEE) formatted pages web printed pages to produce document sets includes: a printer to print LPEE formatted paired document pages on a continuous web; a slitter that divides the LPEE formatted printed web into two streams of sheets; collecting each stream in separate rolls of continuous sheets; withdrawing the stream of continuous sheets from a top of one roll, rotating the second roll 180°, and withdrawing the stream of continuous sheets from a bottom of the second roll; transferring each of the unwound streams of continuous sheets to a cutter that cuts each stream into individual pages; and collating the individual pages into correctly aligned and page number-sequenced document sets.

Abstract: A web processing assembly including first, second and third fixed spaced apart pairs of nip rollers moving the web respectively at a first, second and third speeds, the first and third speeds being constant and similar, the second speed being variable with a mean speed similar to the first and third speeds, a first idler roller engaging the web between the first and second pair of rollers and a second idler roller engaging the web between the second and third pair of rollers, each idler roller maintaining the web in constant tension by moving along a restrained path perpendicular to its axis to compensate for a difference between the variable second speed and the respective one of the constant first and third speeds. A method for processing a web and system for conveying a web are also disclosed.

Abstract: A web tensioning device utilizes a dancer arm which can be positioned by a controlled servo motor. In a preferred embodiment, the controller for the servo motor receives an input signal based on the acceleration (positive or negative) of the dancer arm and implements a torque component necessary to maintain predetermined web tension, for example, an applied torque component that changes the position of the dancer arm. The controller may also receive additional input signals indicative of the acceleration of the web itself.

Abstract: A controller for controlling the running tension of paper web for rotary press includes a paper feed unit (1) and a printing unit (2) provided with a printing cylinder (21) rotating according to an operation speed command. An in-feed roller (4) is provided in a running path of paper web (W) from a paper roll (11) of the paper feed unit (1) to the printing cylinder (21). A dancer roller device (5) detects a displacement amount of a dancer roller (51) relative to a reference position of the dancer roller (51) and absorbs variations of the running tension of the paper web (W) by the displacement. A tension control processing unit (S1) performs signal generation processing to optimize the peripheral speed of the in-feed roller (4) with respect to the peripheral speed of the printing cylinder (21) based on the displacement amount of the dancer roller (51) and the operation speed command.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling the strain of a web material supplied to a machine by adjusting a tension force applied to the web material. An operator defines a target web strain via an input device. A speed sensor senses the speed of the web material supplied to the machine at a first position and a second position and generates a speed signal representative of the difference. A tension sensor senses a tension force applied to the web prior to the first position and after the first position and generates a tension signal representative of the difference. A control system calculates web strain as a function of the tension signal and speed signal, and compares the calculated strain with the target web strain and generates a speed control signal as a function of the comparison. The feed device is responsive to the speed control signal for adjusting a speed differential of the web to adjust tension force applied to the web.

Abstract: A cabinet is provided downstream of a high speed laser printer, and provides an environmentally controllable environment for a web that must be “moisturized” before being fed to a downstream device for further processing. A single web loop is gravity biased as well as acted on by a constant force spring to accommodate abrupt speed changes in the web. The depth of the web loop is of sufficient height to accommodate reversals in web direction necessitated by the laser printer.

Abstract: For use in a web-handling apparatus, a cylinder module accumulates and de-accumulates web in a controlled manner. A frame supports first and second parallel main cylinders. The first cylinder rotates continuously, while the second cylinder operates in a non-uniform manner. A third main cylinder remains parallel with the first and second axes while moving perpendicular to those axes. The web passes around the first cylinder through the first nip, thence to and around the periphery of the third cylinder, thence to and partially around the periphery of the second cylinder and through the second nip. The web spans from the third cylinder are substantially parallel. An endless belt associated with each end of the third cylinder ensures that the third cylinder occupies an axis location and a rotational position which substantially control the web stress as the web passes through the cylinders.

Abstract: A dancer roll device has a support assembly that supports a roll. A ball screw is rotatably mounted on the support assembly. A weight member is mounted on the ball screw by a nut member that is threaded over the ball screw. When the ball screw is rotated about its own axis by a motor, the nut member and the weight member are displaced along the ball screw, thereby displacing the center of gravity of the support assembly. The moment applied to the roll is changed, thus changing the tension that is applied to a wide web or a narrow web via the roll.

Abstract: For use in a web-handling apparatus, a cylinder module accumulates and de-accumulates web in a controlled manner. A frame supports first and second parallel main cylinders. The first cylinder rotates continuously, while the second cylinder operates in a non-uniform manner. A third main cylinder remains parallel with the first and second axes while moving perpendicular to those axes. The web passes around the first cylinder through the first nip, thence to and around the periphery of the third cylinder, thence to and partially around the periphery of the second cylinder and through the second nip. The web spans from the third cylinder are substantially parallel. An endless belt associated with each end of the third cylinder ensures that the third cylinder occupies an axis location and a rotational position which substantially control the web stress as the web passes through the cylinders.

Abstract: For use in a web-handling apparatus, a cylinder module accumulates and de-accumulates web in a controlled manner. A frame supports first and second parallel main cylinders. The first cylinder rotates continuously, while the second cylinder operates in a non-uniform manner. A third main cylinder remains parallel with the first and second axes while moving perpendicular to those axes. The web passes around the first cylinder through the first nip, thence to and around the periphery of the third cylinder, thence to and partially around the periphery of the second cylinder and through the second nip. The web spans from the third cylinder are substantially parallel. An endless belt associated with each end of the third cylinder ensures that the third cylinder occupies an axis location and a rotational position which substantially control the web stress as the web passes through the cylinders.

Abstract: Apparatus for reducing peak tensions and tearing in perforated sheet (40) being drawn along a flow path from a stack (S) into a finishing machine (F) is comprised of a drag unit (22), for retarding motion of the sheet; an assist unit (20) for urging the sheet along the flow path; and, a dancer unit (24) for changing the length of the flow path. The assist unit comprises a pair of constant speed rollers (42, 44) supported by mounting blocks (40). The orientation of the assist unit is changed by rotating the mounting blocks. The roller (30) of the dancer unit is spring biased against the sheet.

Abstract: A method of cutting a magnetic recording medium comprising the steps of conveying a web by rollers to guide the web to a cutting blade; and cutting the web by the cutting blade in the lengthwise direction of the web so that magnetic recording mediums are formed, wherein a dynamic unbalance of at least a roller immediately before the cutting blade is made to be 20 g or smaller, and the roller guides the web to the cutting blade.

Abstract: A storage device for receiving and giving off a photographic band material. The storage device can be used for the buffering of photographic material and/or as indication or control element, and includes an inlet and an outlet for the photographic material band. A weight member pushes onto the photographic band material between the inlet and the outlet for the tensioning thereof, the height of which is changed during changing of the stored band length by interaction between the band tension and its inherent weight. A change in height of the weight member is coupled with a rotation of a driven member of a direction dependent coupling, the drive member of which is rotated in a free wheeling direction. A detector detects a locking condition of the direction dependent coupling, which occurs during free fall of the weight member, and a controller controls the transport of the band based on the detection.