Winding – tensioning – or guiding – Coil holder or support – Mounted coil holder or spindle
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-17
2001-07-24
Nguyen, John Q. (Department: 3653)
Winding, tensioning, or guiding
Coil holder or support
Mounted coil holder or spindle
C242S596700, C269S218000, C269S270000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06264134
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates generally to an apparatus and method for centering a spool or similar object. More particularly, the invention concerns an apparatus for centering a film spool or similar object for receiving an incoming web that minimizes film spool to web misalignment that generally occurs during spooling.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A considerable variety of methods and apparatus have been developed over the years for winding and packaging strips of web material. For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 2,940,232 discloses such an apparatus for use with photographic film in which strips of web are wound onto photographic spools. Typically, such apparatus locates cooperating spool quills either from the inboard or the outboard flange on the spool from the corresponding film edge. The accumulation of the tolerances is from one end which can result in a misalignment of the film centerline and the spool centerline. This misalignment causes all the tolerances to add up on one side only.
While progress has been made in reducing the misalignment between the spool and web during spooling, there is clearly a need for continuous improvement as production speeds continue to escalate. For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 5,105,535 discloses a centering mechanism for a film spool wherein the spool engaging members are accurately moved toward or away from one another by a single crank member. This mechanism uses a crank drive to move the quill to a fixed position, but one quill is driven to the fixed location and the other quill is spring loaded to account for the variability in spool size.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,105,172 provides for a centering mechanism wherein opposite mandrels are equally positioned toward one another by a hydraulically actuated toggle means. The two piece mandrels come to the same position each time because the mandrels are of a fixed length. In short the mandrels in this device stop on each other. Furthermore, this patent is not concerned with size differences of the spool. The toggle described in this patent is used to engage the mandrels only.
Further, U.S. Pat. No. 5,060,878 discloses a centering means wherein a motor drives a single spindle for moving a pair of roll engaging arms toward or away from one another. This device will chuck up a roll of any size, but it has a cylinder to move the whole assembly to position the edge of the roll relative to the machine. Thus, its purpose is not to maintain a constant centerline regardless of variations in tolerances of the film spool.
Moreover, U.S. Pat. No. 4,676,449 discloses a centering mechanism wherein a pair of proximity switches are used to determine inaccurate positioning of a pair of loom holders and thereafter adjusts one or both for proper centering. This reference teaches the use of sensors to measure the spool flanges and inputs the signals from the sensors to a controller that drives the spool flanges on center.
While automatic packaging apparatus and methods of the types just discussed have achieved a measure of acceptance and success over the years, a need has continued to persist for an apparatus and method for centering an object, such as a film spool, for receiving an incoming web to reduce the misalignment between the web and the spool and thereby reduce web shrinkage. Particularly when using spools having various core lengths, centering the spool with the incoming web to prevent misalignment provides an opportunity to achieve further needed improvement and greater efficiency in the spooling process.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus that can center a film spool or similar object especially for receiving an incoming web.
Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus that minimizes film strip to film spool misalignment during spooling.
Still another object of the invention is to provide a method for centering a film spool or similar object to minimize spool to web misalignment during spooling.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus that will repeatedly center a film spool regardless of variations in the core lengths.
It is a feature of the invention that a pair of aligned object support means move toward and away from each other by a drive means for supporting either end portion of the film spool or object such that the central portion of the film spool or object is equidistant from stop members in the object support members.
To accomplish these and other objects of the invention, there is provided, an apparatus for centering objects, such objects having an elongated core of various lengths, a first end portion, a second end portion opposite said first end portion, and a central portion midway between the first and second end portions. According to the invention, the apparatus has a frame having an inboard end and an outboard end opposite said inboard end. First and second object support means are arranged in alignment with one another on the frame. First object support means is arranged on the inboard end for Supporting the first end portion of the object and the second object support means is arranged on the outboard end for supporting the second end portion of the object. Each of the first and second object support means has a first and second fixed stop member, respectively, arranged for restricting axial movement of a respective end portion of the object supported therein. Means associated with the first and second object support means is provided for enabling translational movement of the first and second object support means toward and away from one another. Translational movement of the first and second object support means towards each other causes the object to be alignably supported with its central portion equidistant from the first and second fixed stop members of the first and second object support means, respectively.
In another aspect of the invention, a method is provided for centering objects for receiving a web, such objects having an elongated core of various lengths, a first end portion, a second end portion opposite the first end portion, and a central portion midway between the first and second end portions. Included is the step of providing a pair of opposing object support members for supporting an end portion of the object. The object support members have shoulder portions for restricting axial movement of either of the end portions. Also provided is a step of providing means for enabling translational movement of the opposing object support members toward and away from each other. It is important that the object support members are aligned with one another during this process. Further, the step of moving the opposing object support members toward one another is provided for supporting the end portions of the object. Still further, the object is supported by the object support members such that the object is positioned with its central portion midway between the shoulder portion. As a result, the object is centered for receiving an incoming web.
Accordingly, it is an important advantageous effect of the present invention that the film spool or similar object supported by the object support means or quills will always be centered with the incoming web or film strip to be wound about the spool regardless of dimension of the elongated core. Further, it is another advantage of the present invention that bias centering hubs arranged in the quills locate the center of rotation of the spool on an axis passing through the aligned object support means. Yet another important advantage of the present invention is that if a film spool is improperly positioned between the quills during the engagement of the quills about the film spool, a spring biasing the spool will prevent an overload condition of the first drive means.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2662698 (1953-12-01), Littell
patent: 5535955 (1996-07-01), Enger et al.
Castrignano Frank
De Munck William R.
Reinke Stephen M.
Bailey, Sr. Clyde E.
Eastman Kodak Company
Nguyen John Q.
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