Winding – tensioning – or guiding – Material guide or guard – Fluid suspension
Reexamination Certificate
2000-06-06
2001-07-10
Mansen, Michael R. (Department: 3653)
Winding, tensioning, or guiding
Material guide or guard
Fluid suspension
C226S023000, C034S466000, C242S365600, C242S615210
Reexamination Certificate
active
06257520
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a noncontact web transporting apparatus, and more particularly to a noncontact web transporting apparatus that transports a web along helical routes without coming into contact with the web while reducing a bias and a snaking of the web to stabilize the transportation of the web.
2. Description of Related Art
A noncontact transporting apparatus transports a web along helical routes without coming into contact with the web, and it comprises at least two cylindrical air chambers that support the web that is running along the helical routes through air films and direction changing rollers that the web
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enters and leaves the helical routes from and for as disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 48-44151.
It is important to stably transport the web along the helical routes. Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 61-2676 and Japanese Patent Provisional Publication No. 6-144663 disclose noncontact transporting apparatuses in which direction changing rollers can incline and the position of the running web is determined and the direction changing rollers are inclined so that the web is always positioned in the middle to stably transport the web.
In the noncontact transporting apparatuses disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 61-2676 and Japanese Patent Provisional Publication No. 6-144663 , however, the direction changing rollers are always inclined, and thus it shakes the web and causes a snaking of the web.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the foregoing, it is an object of the present invention to provide a noncontact web transporting apparatus that reduces a snaking and a bias of a web to stably transport the web.
To achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention is directed to a noncontact web transporting apparatus, comprising: at least two cylindrical air chambers which support a web running along helical routes through air films without coming into contact with the web by jetting air from jets formed in peripheries of the at least two cylindrical air chambers, the at least two cylindrical air chambers being substantially arranged parallel; direction changing air chambers which support the web through air films by jetting air from jets formed in peripheries of the direction changing air chambers to change running directions of the web when the web enters and leaves the helical routes of the at least two cylindrical air chambers, the direction changing air chambers being arranged in rows at both ends of the at least two cylindrical air chambers; a tension determining device which determines tensions at both edges of the web before the web enters the helical routes of the at least two cylindrical air chambers, the tension determining device being arranged above the at least two cylindrical air chambers; and an inclining device which inclines the direction changing air chambers according to determination results of the tension determining device.
According to the present invention, the tension determining device provided above the cylindrical air chambers determines the tensions at both edges of the web before the web enters the helical routes of the cylindrical air chambers. Then, the inclining device inclines the direction changing air chambers by the predetermined angle according to the determination results. The angle of inclination of the direction changing air chambers is kept while the web runs. Therefore, a snaking and a bias of the web are reduced, and the web can run stably.
To achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention is directed to a noncontact web transporting apparatus, comprising: at least two cylindrical air chambers which support a web running along helical routes through air films without coming into contact with the web by jetting air from jets formed in peripheries of the at least two cylindrical air chambers, the at least two cylindrical air chambers being substantially arranged parallel; direction changing air chambers which support the web through air films by jetting air from jets formed in peripheries of the direction changing air chambers to change running directions of the web when the web enters and leaves the helical routes of the at least two cylindrical air chambers, the direction changing air chambers being arranged in rows at both ends of the at least two cylindrical air chambers, each of the rows having three direction changing air chambers; a tension determining device which determines tensions at both edges of the web before the web enters the helical routes of the at least two cylindrical air chambers, the tension determining device being arranged above the at least two cylindrical air chambers; and an inclining device which inclines a middle direction changing air chamber in each of the rows of the three direction changing air chambers according to determination results of the tension determining device.
According to the present invention, the tension determining device provided above the cylindrical air chambers determines the tensions at both edges of the web before the web enters the helical routes of the cylindrical air chambers. Then, the inclining device inclines the middle direction changing air chambers by the predetermined angle according to the determination results. The angle of inclination of the direction changing air chambers is kept while the web runs. Therefore, a snaking and a bias of the web are reduced, and the web can run stably.
The cylindrical air chambers are preferably enclosed by partitions separately, and L/A is preferably within the range between 0.1 and 2.0, where A is a cross-sectional area of spaces enclosed by the partitions and L is a length of the cylindrical air chambers.
According to the present invention, the temperature and the humidity of the air for drying the web can be easily controlled by enclosing the cylindrical air chambers with the partitions. If L/A is high, the spaces are large, and thus the apparatus cost is high and the space efficiently is low. Meanwhile, if L/A is high, the flow speed of return air is high and it causes a bias and a snaking of the web. L/A is preferably within the range between 0.1 and 2.0 and is more preferably within the range between 0.2 and 1.5.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1630713 (1927-05-01), Meyer
patent: 2659225 (1953-11-01), Ewing
patent: 3626603 (1971-12-01), Breyer
patent: 3912144 (1975-10-01), Arseneault et al.
patent: 4506841 (1985-03-01), Hood
patent: 5520317 (1996-05-01), Eckert et al.
patent: 6105899 (2000-08-01), Harris
patent: 48-44151 (1973-12-01), None
patent: 61-2676 (1986-01-01), None
patent: 6-144663 (1994-05-01), None
Fujii Photo Co., Ltd.
Mansen Michael R.
Sughrue Mion Zinn Macpeak & Seas, PLLC
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