With Means To Retard Material Movement (e.g., "tensioner") Patents (Class 226/195)
  • Patent number: 12049374
    Abstract: A sheet supplying apparatus, which is capable of winding a sheet tightly, includes a driving unit configured to cause a roll including a wound consecutive sheet to rotate in a first direction for feeding the sheet or a second direction opposite to the first direction, a sensor that detects a leading end portion of the sheet separated from an outer circumferential surface of the roll, and a contact body that presses the outer circumferential surface. Before the sheet is fed, in a state in which the contact body presses the outer circumferential surface, the driving unit causes the roll to continuously rotate in the second direction until a detection cycle of the leading end portion by the sensor is less than a predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2024
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomohiro Suzuki, Masashi Kamada, Masato Eiyama, Yuki Igarashi, Masashi Negishi, Ryoya Shinjo, Ryo Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 11738568
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a printer includes an input interface and a processor. The input interface inputs a distance signal output from a distance sensor opposite to a rotating surface of a roll around which a sheet material is wound in a roll shape. The processor detects an amount of change in a distance from the distance sensor to the rotating surface of the roll based on a plurality of distance signals input at different timings, detects a vibration convergence state of the roll from the amount of change in the distance, and detects a diameter of the roll based on the distance signal input in the vibration convergence state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Satoshi Yuruzume
  • Patent number: 11577927
    Abstract: A sheet supplying apparatus, which is capable of winding a sheet tightly, includes a driving unit configured to cause a roll including a wound consecutive sheet to rotate in a first direction for feeding the sheet or a second direction opposite to the first direction, a sensor that detects a leading end portion of the sheet separated from an outer circumferential surface of the roll, and a contact body that presses the outer circumferential surface. Before the sheet is fed, in a state in which the contact body presses the outer circumferential surface, the driving unit causes the roll to continuously rotate in the second direction until a detection cycle of the leading end portion by the sensor is less than a predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomohiro Suzuki, Masashi Kamada, Masato Eiyama, Yuki Igarashi, Masashi Negishi, Ryoya Shinjo, Ryo Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 11413893
    Abstract: A bidirectional ribbon supply system for a printer includes: a shaft supported by a frame of the printer, the shaft to rotate about an axis; a pulley affixed to the shaft; and a bias member coupled between the frame and the pulley to apply a force to the pulley in either of a first or second direction responsive to rotation of the pulley in the other of the first or second direction, wherein rotation of a spindle supported on the shaft in the first direction dispenses inside-coated ribbon toward a printhead, and rotation of the spindle in the second direction dispenses outside-coated ribbon toward the printhead.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: Zebra Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Daniel P. Lanigan
  • Patent number: 10395687
    Abstract: A determination is made whether read/write is enabled within the tape drive storage unit. In response to determining that read/write is enabled, a determination is made whether a temperature within the tape drive storage unit exceeds a threshold value. In response to determining that the temperature within the tape drive storage unit exceeds the threshold value, a determination is made of a direction of travel of a tape media within the tape drive storage unit. In response to determining that the direction of travel is a forward direction, a first cooling device is powered on. The first cooling device lowers the temperature of a first guide roller and the tape media coming off a first tape storage reel prior to the tape media passing by a read/write head within the tape drive storage unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Nhan X. Bui, Kevin B. Judd, Randy C. Inch, Mark A. Lantz, David H. F. Harper
  • Patent number: 10332554
    Abstract: A determination is made whether read/write is enabled within the tape drive storage unit. In response to determining that read/write is enabled, a determination is made whether an absolute value of a channel offset exceeds a threshold value. In response to determining that the absolute value of the channel offset exceeds a threshold value, a direction of travel of the tape media is determined. In response to determining that the direction of travel of the tape media is a forward direction, a determination is made whether the channel offset is positive. In response to determining that the channel offset is positive, a first cooling device within the tape drive storage unit is powered on. The first cooling device lowers the temperature of a first guide roller and the tape media coming off a first tape storage reel prior to the media passing by a read/write head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Nhan X. Bui, Kevin B. Judd, Randy C. Inch, Mark A. Lantz, David H. F. Harper
  • Patent number: 10280026
    Abstract: An arrangement for controlling longitudinal forces acting on a web of packaging material being wound from a first reel to a second reel, said arrangement comprising a first roller having a first rotational axis and a second roller having a second rotational axis, wherein the first rotational axis is fixed while the second rotational axis is movable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: TETRA LAVAL HOLDINGS & FINANCE S.A.
    Inventors: Thomas Pettersson, Ingvar Andersson, Peter Öhman
  • Patent number: 10265719
    Abstract: An improved system for applying a coating to a sheet is disclosed. The system allows precise control of the actuation of the valves and movement of the nozzle to create a plurality of coating profiles. The system includes a controller, which is used to actuate the valves to begin and terminate the flow of material onto the sheet through a nozzle. In addition, the controller may move the nozzle from its operative position to an inoperative position away from the sheet. In some embodiments, a fluid displacement mechanism is used. The controller is also able to coat the opposite side of the sheet. Registration of the coating can be programmed to be in exact alignment, or advanced or delayed by a specific amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: Durr MEGTEC, LLC
    Inventors: Eric Maki, George Glenn, Kim Anderson
  • Patent number: 10227152
    Abstract: A method, apparatus and program product monitor a wrap force during a wrap cycle to dynamically control the dispense rate of a packaging material dispenser to meet a desired containment force to be applied to a load. A conversion may be performed between wrap force and containment force for the monitored wrap force or a containment force parameter to facilitate the performance of a comparison between the monitored wrap force and a containment force parameter associated with the desired containment force to be applied to the load. A wrap force parameter may also be dynamically adjusted, and in some instances, the dynamic adjustment may be responsive to monitored wrap force, and may be used to meet a load containment force requirement for a load. In other instances, the dynamic adjustment may be responsive to monitored packaging material breaks to reduce the occurrence of packaging material breaks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: Lantech.com, LLC
    Inventors: Patrick R. Lancaster, III, Michael P. Mitchell, Richard L. Johnson, Jeremy D. McCray
  • Patent number: 10189665
    Abstract: An unwinder of reels of web material wound around winding spindles (A), includes a unwinding station (13) with at least one unwinding member (23) to rotate a reel (B) that is located in the unwinding station and feed the web material toward a delivery path (E). Lifting members (51, 53) are provided to lift a spindle of a first exhausted reel from the unwinding station (13), in a removal position (PR). An insertion member (7; 33) is further provided to insert a second reel into the unwinding station (13). A pressing member (61) is arranged to press the web material coming from the first reel in removal position (PR) against the second reel in the unwinding station (13).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: A.CELLI NONWOVENS S.P.A.
    Inventor: Giuseppe Acciari
  • Patent number: 10005635
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and a device for producing a roll (18) made of a material web (5) of flexible material which is guided via a contact roller (19) of a winder and is wound in the said winder to form a roll (18), wherein the contact roller (19) maintains contact with the roll (18) during winding and the wrap angle (?) of the material web (5) passing over the contact roller (19), as the former is progressively wound, is maintained throughout at a variable reference value predetermined for each winding. In this way the wrap angle (?) for the winding can be adapted to the respective composition of the material web (5), which improves the quality of the winding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignees: Swiss Winding Inventing AG, Windmöller & Hölscher KG
    Inventors: Carlos Martinez, Rolf Kammann, Carl Jones
  • Patent number: 9988861
    Abstract: A riser data logging system can be installed on the riser top to provide real time information of the riser, instead of or in addition to relying on sensors installed on a tensioner. The riser recoil detection system can thus be made independent of any motion of the vessel. This logging system can feedback the riser top acceleration, velocity, position, and the wire-line tensions into a controller. By comparing the acceleration difference between the riser top and the vessel body, the controller can provide more reliable and faster detection of events occurring on a vessel, potentially detecting the condition within one second. If the acceleration exceeds a certain limit, the electrical tensioners are able to reduce the wire-line tension nearly instantaneously, providing a much more effective anti-recoil control that conventional hydro-pneumatic tensioners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: Transocean Sedco Forex Ventures Limited
    Inventors: Yin Wu, Edward Peter Kenneth Bourgeau
  • Patent number: 9902563
    Abstract: A conveyor is provided with a supply roll, a corrective holding part and an additional holding part. The supply roll rotatably supports a belt-shaped cell material for an electrode or a separator. The corrective holding part conveys and holds the cell material fed out from the supply roll while bending a first side surface of the cell material that lies against an outer peripheral side of the supply roll into a concave shape. The additional holding part conveys and holds the cell material while bending a second side surface of the cell material into a concave shape. The holding parts include a curved contact surfaces that contact opposite side surface of the cell material. The curved contact surface of the corrective holding part has a radius of curvature that is less than a radius of curvature of the curved contact surface of the additional holding part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignees: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., Automotive Energy Service Corporation
    Inventors: Takeshi Iwata, Yasufumi Okazaki, Keisuke Uekusa, Osamu Tanimoto
  • Patent number: 9828702
    Abstract: A method and a device for opening a fiber bundle, capable of performing a fluctuating operation, at a high speed, of pushing a part of a conveyed fiber bundle by a contact member into a stress state and then separating the contact member from the fiber bundle so as to temporarily relax the fiber bundle, and also capable of reducing damage to the fiber bundle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignees: FUKUI PREFECTURAL GOVERNMENT, HOKUSHIN CO., LTD
    Inventors: Kazumasa Kawabe, Shigeru Tomoda, Kenshiro Koizumi
  • Patent number: 9790047
    Abstract: A textile feed for a stepped operation digital textile printer, comprises a textile feeding mechanism, and a tension storage mechanism. The textile feeding mechanism feeds the textile in a forward direction onto the printer, but is at the same time mechanically connected to a tension storage mechanism which is tensioned by the forward feeding. At the end of the feed step, the tension storage mechanism releases respectively stored tension to cause the feed mechanism to briefly reverse feed, thereby to pull the textile taut and take up any slack caused by the feeding step. The textile is thus kept taut, to allow effective digital printing by the printer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: Kornit Digital Technologies Ltd.
    Inventor: Ohad Snir
  • Patent number: 9625670
    Abstract: A cable, and method and system for deploying the cable are described. The cable includes a jacket having a plurality of outer grooves formed on its outer surface. The cable can be deployed by blowing it through a microduct using a jetting apparatus. The outer grooves allow the cable to be deployed over extended distance by allow improved airflow between the first and second ends of the microduct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc.
    Inventors: David Z. Chen, Christina M. Colasanto, Patrick B. Anderson, Christopher D. Levendos
  • Publication number: 20150122866
    Abstract: An automatic traction control system expands and deploys compact tightly wound precut paper with die cut slits. The system has an axle with a smaller diameter than the diameter of a tube over which a precut paper package is wound, providing friction free rotation. The precut paper roll rests against a spongy device at one end. The other end rubs against an adjustable cylinder assembly, providing friction that prevents paper spill and misalignment. The axle of the paper handling mechanism is set at an angle to the grab direction of an edge of the precut paper, expanding the grabbed edge and the ungrabbed edge. Grabbing is effected by a belt and two rollers applying precise controlled vertical loading obtained by a slidable and rotatable plate having the weight of a motor, gearbox and pulleys. Due to the angle set, the precut paper stretches expanding the precut paper to three dimensional shape.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2013
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Inventors: David M. Kuchar, Matthew J. Kuchar
  • Patent number: 8955731
    Abstract: In a multiple endless belt type band sheet coiling tension applying apparatus in which a coiling tension is applied to slit band sheets a by a frictional force generated by slippage between belt pressing surfaces 4a, 5a and internal belt surfaces 1a of endless belts 1, a friction plate 8 made of a thin metallic sheet having heat conductivity equal to or better than that of the belt pressing units 4a, 5a is detachably installed on a front surface of each of the belt pressing units 4a, 5a.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Japan Development Consultants, Inc.
    Inventor: Yoshito Hashikawa
  • Patent number: 8939338
    Abstract: An automatically-adjusting tensioning mechanism for use in a roll-fed web media transport system, the tensioning mechanism adding tension to the web media, comprising a bracket assembly being adapted to freely pivot around a pivot axis, and first and second tensioning shoe having curved surfaces attached to the bracket assembly. The web media feeds through the tensioning mechanism in an S-shaped media path where the web media is wrapped around the first and second tensioning shoes. The pivot angle of the bracket assembly automatically adjusts in response to differences in a coefficient of friction between the web media and the tensioning shoes such that the tension in the web media has a reduced level of variability relative to configurations where the bracket assembly is held in a fixed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Nathan J Turner, Christopher M. Muir, Thomas Niertit, Randy Eugene Armbruster
  • Publication number: 20150001271
    Abstract: A low-maintenance system for producing articles formed of web components is disclosed. The system may include a continuous supply of a web material; a conveyor system operative to move the web material along a machine direction, and a component having a contact surface with which the web material engages in sliding contact as the material travels along the machine direction, wherein the component via the sliding contact supports the web material, guides the web, or alters the path of the web material, the contact surface comprising aluminum magnesium boride.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2014
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Inventor: Don Randell Greer
  • Patent number: 8887636
    Abstract: A printing material web processing machine, in particular a web-fed rotary offset press, has at least one press cylinder for printing the web, a dryer disposed downstream of the press cylinder, which guides the web along a path, and at least a first pull roll disposed downstream of the dryer to convey the web along the path with a given tensile stress. The web processing machine further has a first apparatus disposed downstream of the press cylinder and upstream of the dryer for separating the web from the press cylinder, and a second apparatus for driving the first pull roll, which drives the first pull roll at a rotational speed that is reduced as compared with the rotational speed of the press cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Goss Contiweb B.V.
    Inventor: Clemens Johannes Maria De Vroome
  • Publication number: 20130206808
    Abstract: A method for register correction in a web processing machine includes leading a product web through at least one delay section and processing the product web by a first processing device. An actuating command is applied to the first processing device to position the product web at an intended position during a web tension change. The actuating command is determined from an actuating command leading to the web tension change and at least one delay term. The at least one delay term delays the action of the actuating command leading to the web tension change on the actuating command for the first processing device by a delay time needed by the product web to pass through the at least one delay section before the first processing device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2013
    Publication date: August 15, 2013
    Applicant: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Robert Bosch GmbH
  • Publication number: 20130194368
    Abstract: A media transport method includes applying a nominal tension to a media extending between and in contact with a media drive roller of a drive roller assembly and a media output roller of an output roller assembly by the media output roller. The media transport method also includes advancing the media toward and away from a media support member disposed between the media drive roller and the media output roller and in contact with the media by the media drive roller. The media transport method also includes determining whether the media drive roller is in a rotating state within a predetermined time period after being in a non-rotating state by a restart period determination module and a kinematic condition exists corresponding to a non-synchronized state between rotation of the media drive roller and the media output roller by a kinetic condition determination module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2012
    Publication date: August 1, 2013
    Inventors: Raimon Castells, Daniel Gutiérrez Garcia, Xavier Domingo Reguant
  • Publication number: 20130112728
    Abstract: A method for protecting a unit for converting a web substrate to limit a jam of the substrate (3) inside the unit (2), the unit converting the substrate when the unit is stopped, in a packaging production machine: the steps of: detecting at the outlet of the unit that the converted web does not come out; stopping a motor of an infeed arrangement to prevent the substrate from entering the unit; stopping a motor of a feathering drive; and simultaneously stopping the machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2011
    Publication date: May 9, 2013
    Inventor: Philippe Clement
  • Publication number: 20130068814
    Abstract: A control unit allows a rotational position of a tension generating roller to be changed depending on a width of a web at time of the beginning of conveyance of the web, controls a motor according to a detection signal of a second sensor such that a tension guide maintains its position within a predetermined range during conveyance of the web, causes position data at time of keeping the same value of the position data of the motor for a predetermined period to be stored, calculates an initial operational position of the tension generating roller using the position data and a predetermined correction coefficient, and sets the calculated initial operational position as an initial operational position of the tension generating roller at time of the beginning of next conveyance of web.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Publication date: March 21, 2013
    Inventors: Kohji KUWANA, Masahiro MIZUNO
  • Publication number: 20120298033
    Abstract: A pinch valve assembly includes a valve body having a slot which is configured to allow a web of substrate material to pass therethrough. The valve body has a sealing surface which includes a first curved portion with a first radius of curvature. A dynamic seal element is configured to engage the valve body and includes a second curved portion having a second radius of curvature which is larger than the first radius of curvature. An actuator is operable to selectively bias the dynamic seal element into and out of engagement with the valve body so that when it is biased into engagement with the valve body the web of substrate material is engaged between the sealing surfaces of the dynamic seal element and the valve body. Also disclosed are deposition systems which include these pinch valves.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2012
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Applicant: United Solar Ovonic LLC
    Inventor: Mark Lycette
  • Patent number: 8137016
    Abstract: A method of tensioning multiple webs of print media for a web printer is presented. The method comprises the steps of: feeding each print media web through a print media feeding path of the web printer; and attaching one or more tensioning weights to each print media web so as to impart a tension in each print media web. The total weight value of the one or more tensioning weights attached to each web of print media is substantially the same so that the tension imparted in each print media web is substantially equal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Igor Dobkin, Yuval Dim
  • Patent number: 8131483
    Abstract: A yarn entanglement strength tester includes first and second rolls that apply incrementally increasing elongation levels on a yarn in order to remove entanglements from the yarn. The yarn entanglement strength tester also includes a third roll, where the second and third rolls apply a constant tension on the yarn which enables optimum diameter measurements of the yarn by a camera. The camera captures images of diameters of the yarn after each of the incrementally increasing elongation levels is applied to the yarn. The yarn entanglement strength tester further includes a computing device that controls operation of the camera and the first, second, and third rolls, and determines an entanglement strength of the yarn based on the captured images of the diameters of the yarn after each of the incrementally increasing elongation levels is applied to the yarn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Testing Machines, Inc.
    Inventors: Dean A. Ross, Filiz Avsar, Kendall W. Gordon, Steven Leary
  • Publication number: 20110309125
    Abstract: A dispensing mechanism that deploys a roll of web material having slit cuts and expands it into a web with a cellular structure. This is accomplished by mounting the roll of unexpanded web material on an axle that is positioned at a first angle to a guide wheel assembly. That first angle is not perpendicular to the direction of deployment. The material moves through the guide wheel assembly longitudinally in such a way that tension is applied at a second angle to the direction of deployment. This diagonal tension causes the web material to expand and form cells. Single axle as well as multi-axle systems are disclosed. In this way, a plurality of rolls of web material may be deployed and expanded as a single unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2011
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Inventors: Matthew J. Kuchar, David M. Kuchar
  • Publication number: 20110252989
    Abstract: A method for automatic axis correction in a processing machine for processing a product web, wherein the product web is subdividable into at least two web tension sections, a web tension section being delimited by two clamping points formed as transport or processing devices. An axis deviation of at least one clamping point formed as a processing device is determined. The at least one clamping point is then opened, the axis thereof is automatically corrected on the basis of the axis deviation determined and the clamping point is closed after the axis correction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2009
    Publication date: October 20, 2011
    Applicant: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Stephan Schultz, Holger Schnabel
  • Patent number: 7913944
    Abstract: A cable brake system for deployments of cable comprising: a frame configured to be mounted on a ship; a repeater supporting track mounted longitudinally to the frame, the supporting track being configured for slidingly supporting a plurality of repeaters; a spool positioned exterior to the frame, the spool having the cable wrapped therearound and being capable of supplying the cable to an interior of the frame; at least one planar surface on an interior of the frame, the planar surface being positioned approximately parallel to the repeater supporting track; and a plurality of brake sub-assemblies being supported by the planar surface in a manner so as to establish a serpentine path for the cable and to impart variable frictional resistance to the cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Tammy Lombardi, Jeff GilChrist, Aaron Bratten, Lynn Collins, Steve Whiteside, Frank Gonzales, Kristin Smith
  • Publication number: 20100252604
    Abstract: A pinch valve includes a valve body having a slot which is configured to allow a web of substrate material to pass therethrough. The valve body has a sealing surface which includes a first curved portion with a first radius of curvature. A dynamic seal element is configured to engage the valve body and includes a second curved portion having a second radius of curvature which is larger than the first radius of curvature. An actuator is operable to selectively bias the dynamic seal element into and out of engagement with the valve body so that when it is biased into engagement with the valve body the web of substrate material is engaged between the sealing surfaces of the dynamic seal element and the valve body. Also disclosed is a processing system which includes the pinch valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2009
    Publication date: October 7, 2010
    Applicant: United Solar Ovonic LLC
    Inventor: Mark Lycette
  • Publication number: 20100181360
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling web tension in a web printing press having a plurality of sets of deformable nip rollers, each set driven by a separate driver, the web passing sequentially through each set of deformable nip rollers and forming a web segment therebetween. The driver of a downstream set of deformable nip rollers is adjusted to set the tension of a first web segment and a controller adjusts a first characteristic of the driver of the upstream set of deformable nip rollers to maintain the tension of a second web segment constant. Alternatively, a sensor measures a second characteristic of the second web segment and the controller adjusts the first characteristic of the driver of the upstream set of deformable nip rollers based on the measurement from the sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2009
    Publication date: July 22, 2010
    Applicant: GOSS INTERNATIONAL AMERICAS, INC.
    Inventors: Daniel Matthew Perdue, Douglas Joseph Dawley, Michael Raymond Rancourt
  • Patent number: 7686053
    Abstract: A cord tensioning mechanism for a tire cord applicator head includes a closed loop timing belt extending between spaced apart pulleys and a tension adjustment pulley pressuring the cord laterally against the timing belt sufficiently to place the cord into a desired tension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventors: Andres Ignacio Delgado, Jean-Claude Girard
  • Publication number: 20090308904
    Abstract: A wire feed system for a wire bonding machine is provided. The wire feed system includes (1) a wire supply, and (2) an air guide for receiving a length of wire from the wire supply. The air guide has an air inlet for receiving a pressurized fluid. The wire feed system is configured to apply a variable tension to the length of wire received by the air guide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2006
    Publication date: December 17, 2009
    Applicant: KULICKE AND SOFFA INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventors: Wei Qin, Edward T. Laurent
  • Publication number: 20090134193
    Abstract: An arrangement for handling a paper, cardboard, tissue or other fibrous-material web in a machine for producing and/or finishing the same, includes an endlessly circulating belt of high flexural rigidity which wraps around a rotatably mounted control roller with an angle of wrap, wherein at least one end of the control roller is displaceably mounted along an adjusting zone for setting the belt tension. The arrangement of the present invention provides an improved running of the belt and the lateral stress of the belt is minimized by the angle of wrap lying between 90° and 180° and the adjusting direction of the control roller lying approximately perpendicular to the bisector of the angle of wrap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2008
    Publication date: May 28, 2009
    Inventors: Anton Pirko, Martin Egger, Christoph Haase
  • Publication number: 20090120990
    Abstract: For adjusting the web tension of a processing machine for processing a continuous material, in particular a shaftless printing press, the continuous material is subdivided into at least two web-tension sections, with one web-tension section being limited by two clamping points; the web tension is adjusted in the at least two web-tension sections when the continuous material comes to a standstill.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2008
    Publication date: May 14, 2009
    Inventors: Holger Schnabel, Stephan Schultze
  • Publication number: 20090108045
    Abstract: A redemption ticket dispenser is disclosed having a ticket path defined by a series of interchangeable rollers to accommodate different width tickets, the dispenser having a pair of pinch rollers disposed at the mouth of the dispenser to pull tickets through the dispenser and out of an arcade game. The pinch rollers are mounted on a pivoting arm that is held in place by a removable tensioning member. With the tensioning member removed, the pivoting arm can be rotated out of the ticket path to allow ticket jams to be cleared without removing the dispenser from its housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2007
    Publication date: April 30, 2009
    Inventor: Stephen Shoemaker, JR.
  • Publication number: 20090057364
    Abstract: A sheet material tensioning apparatus includes frame members interconnected one with another to define a closed contour. The apparatus applies tension to sheet material by imposing a separation between frame members to expand the closed contour. Beneficially, the sheet material tensioning apparatus includes an edge-bridging mechanism, such as a spline, to span the gap between the separated frame members. The edge-bridging mechanism maintains the continuity of the edge supporting the sheet material. The sheet material apparatus may include a crossbar assembly to add rigidity to long frame members, while maintaining planar alignment even under considerable compression.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2007
    Publication date: March 5, 2009
    Inventor: Horacio Ocampo
  • Publication number: 20090039130
    Abstract: A method for axial correction in a processing machine (100), which has at least two driven transport axles (110, 115) for transporting and processing a product web (101), at least one non-driven or driven processing axle (111, 112, 113, 114), and at least one additional non-driven axle (102, 121, 122, 123, 124), wherein the product web (101) is divisible into at least one web-tensioning segment; a web-tensioning segment is delimited by two clamping points (110-115) embodied in the form of driven transport or processing axles; and during a rotation speed change of a clamping point (110-115) delimiting a web-tensioning segment, a pilot control of this clamping point (110-115) delimiting the web-tensioning segment and/or of a processing axle (111-114) situated in this web-tensioning segment is carried out, taking into account a moment of inertia of a non-driven axle (102, 121-124) situated in this web-tensioning section, and a corresponding processing machine (100).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2008
    Publication date: February 12, 2009
    Inventors: Stephan Schultze, Holger Schnabel
  • Publication number: 20080283567
    Abstract: A printing apparatus, an associated method, and computer program of designing a floating roller in a tensioning system adapted to supply a web of material from a web supply to a processing machine, or to send out a web of material from a processing machine such as printing device to another processing machine such as finishing device, comprises inputting an external radius of the floating roller, a measure of elasticity of the material, a thickness of the material, a width of the material, and angles at which the material contacts the floating roller; and adjusting a mass of the floating roller and a rotational inertia of the floating roller such that the floating roller maintains a constant tension on the web of material as the material is passing through the tensioning system based on the following equation: M 2 ? ( 1 - T _ a ? ? 3 Ebw ) ? sin 2 ? ( ? / 2 ) ? J 2 R 2 2 wherein M2 is the mass of the floating roller, J2 is the rotational inertia of the floating roller,
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2007
    Publication date: November 20, 2008
    Inventor: Ming Yang
  • Publication number: 20080264995
    Abstract: A method of buffering and controlling the tension of a print substrate moving through a web press comprises: supporting a loop of print substrate on a movable roller, wherein translational movement of the roller is controlled by a motor; and controlling the motor to achieve a sequence of roller movements arranged to control tension of the substrate during a sequence of variations in substrate velocity during a printing cycle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2007
    Publication date: October 30, 2008
    Inventors: Nissim Henn, Yoram Hart
  • Patent number: 7222571
    Abstract: The present invention describes an assembly to control fan-out on a multi-color offset printing press. The assembly includes an arm that pushes the paper into proper alignment before the printing of a succeeding color. The assembly may be fitted to existing presses and may be adjusted to accommodate papers of various widths and moisture content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2007
    Inventor: Bradley Susen
  • Patent number: 7104189
    Abstract: A twine restrictor is disclosed having the advantages of simplicity and reliability. The twine restrictor is generally formed from solid or hollow stock. It is left free floating while being restrained sufficiently to avoid loss. Twine is passed over a substantially horizontal surface of a twine arm assembly and the twine restrictor is simply placed on the twine, providing a force up to a value equal to its weight on the twine. The twine restrictor is unaffixed and no springs are required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2006
    Assignee: Vermeer Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Jerry E. Bandstra
  • Patent number: 7044416
    Abstract: An apparatus for tensioning strips of metal as the metal strips are rewound comprises a board having a top surface defining a groove and a tray having opposed side portions and opposed end portions and disposed in the groove. Each of the side portions of the tray has an upturned flange. A hook pad having a plurality of upwardly extending hooks is disposed in the tray between the flanges. The hook pad and tray are removably fastened the to the board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2006
    Inventor: Gonzalo Salvador
  • Patent number: 7021510
    Abstract: A high force traction apparatus which operates along the cable linear axis with no cable bending. The cable is encircled with links from several looping chain drives. The links have a concave friction surface to match the cable radius. Rollers apply pressure to multiple links thereby providing a high normal force on the cable. The staggered and synchronized links keep the high squeeze force evenly distributed. This allows the traction apparatus to impose a pulling force that approaches the cable tensile limit without cable damage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Inventor: David Irwin Ellingson
  • Patent number: 6964392
    Abstract: A tensioner for use in a coil slitting line includes segmented resistance surfaces with a plurality of actuators for urging the resistance surfaces against the slit strips to cause a different tension to be imparted to different strips.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2005
    Inventor: Douglas S. Matsunaga
  • Patent number: 6869004
    Abstract: The fiber feed assembly includes one or more dampening bars arranged between a fiber source and an intake assembly that guides the fiber into an elongated feed tube through which the fiber is transferred for additional processing. The spacing and orientation of the dampening bar(s) relative to both the fiber source and the intake assembly may adjusted to control the fiber tension and remove fiber loops before the fiber enters the feed tube to reduce fiber breakage and machine downtime.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2005
    Assignee: Neptco JV LLC
    Inventors: James R. Priest, Frederick R. Vees, Christopher S. Garrett, David V. Stotler
  • Patent number: 6843038
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for controlling the tension of one continuous material (e.g., plastic zipper) with attachments or formed features (e.g., sliders or formed slider end stops) as it is fed to a sealing station, where it is joined to and later pulled by another continuous material (e.g., packaging film). The tension control scheme can be applied in cases wherein the packaging film advances a single package length per advancement as well as cases wherein the packaging film advances a distance equal to multiple package lengths per advancement. A tension control zone is created between a pair of nip rollers disposed in zipper processing equipment and a zipper sealing station inside a thermoforming packaging machine by applying a predetermined torque to one of the nip rollers using a torque control device. The zipper processing equipment may comprise a zipper shaping station and a slider insertion station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2005
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Lewis Albert Haws
  • Patent number: 6810812
    Abstract: The tension of a web in a rotary printing press is regulated during passage of the web between at least first and second cylinders of at least one printing group. The two cylinders are driven using at least one drive mechanism. A distance between the two cylinders is varied to influence the web tension before, between and after the printing groups.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2004
    Assignee: Koenig & Bauer Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Michael Heinz Fischer