U.S. patent number 3,851,811 [Application Number 05/387,782] was granted by the patent office on 1974-12-03 for apparatus for guiding the edges of webs in photographic copying apparatus or the like.
This patent grant is currently assigned to AGFA-Gevaert Aktiengesellschaft. Invention is credited to James Turner.
United States Patent |
3,851,811 |
Turner |
December 3, 1974 |
APPARATUS FOR GUIDING THE EDGES OF WEBS IN PHOTOGRAPHIC COPYING
APPARATUS OR THE LIKE
Abstract
Apparatus for guiding the edges of webs having different widths
in photographic copying machines has a roller provided with two
sets of circumferential grooves and two groups of plate-like guide
members which are pivotable about a common axis by means of cams
provided on a camshaft so that they extend into or are withdrawn
from the corresponding grooves of the roller. By moving a pair of
guide members (one guide member of each pair belongs to one group
and the other guide member of each pair belong to the other group)
into the respective grooves, the operator provides for a web of
given width a path wherein the edges of the web of such width are
contacted by the respective guide members and are properly guided
during transport past the exposure station of the copying machine
or past another station where the web must be guided with a high
degree of accuracy against lateral movement.
Inventors: |
Turner; James (London,
EN) |
Assignee: |
AGFA-Gevaert Aktiengesellschaft
(Leverkusen, DT)
|
Family
ID: |
5856066 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/387,782 |
Filed: |
August 10, 1973 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
|
|
|
|
|
Sep 12, 1972 [DT] |
|
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22446293 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
242/615.2 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G03B
1/44 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
G03B
1/44 (20060101); G03B 1/00 (20060101); B65h
023/28 () |
Field of
Search: |
;226/199,79 ;242/76
;271/239,253-255 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Schacher; Richard A.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Striker; Michael S.
Claims
What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters
Patent is set forth in the appended claims:
1. In an apparatus for guiding the edges of elongated webs having
different widths, particularly for guiding the edges of webs which
constitute carriers for layers of photosensitive material and are
moved lengthwise in a photographic copying apparatus, a combination
comprising a plurality of pairs of guide members, the guide members
of each of said pairs being movable between an inoperative position
and an operative position in which latter position the guide
members of the respective pair are spaced apart a predetermined
distance equal to or approximating one of said different widths and
in which latter position the guide members of the respective pair
define a path for and flank the edges of a web of corresponding
width; and actuating means for moving selected pairs of guide
members between said operative and inoperative positions.
2. A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein all of said movable
guide members are pivotable between the respective operative and
inoperative positions about a common pivot axis normal to the
respective path.
3. A combination as defined in claim 2, wherein said actuating
means comprises a cam for each of said guide members and means for
moving said cams to thereby move the respective pairs of guide
members between said operative and inoperative positions.
4. A combination as defined in claim 3, wherein said means for
moving said cams comprises a single camshaft for all of said
cams.
5. A combination as defined in claim 1, further comprising a
roller-shaped guide element for webs of different widths, said
guide element having a peripheral surface provided with recesses,
one for each of said guide members and each guide member having a
portion extending into the respective recess in the operative
position thereof.
6. A combination as defined in claim 5, further comprising a
roller-shaped presser member adjacent to said guide element and
defining therewith a passage through which the webs of different
widths pass while the edges of such webs are guided by the
respective pairs of guide members.
7. A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said movable guide
members are pivotable between said operative and inoperative
positions thereof about a common pivot axis and said actuating
means comprises a rotary camshaft and a plurality of cams mounted
on said camshaft, one for each of said guide members, said camshaft
being indexible to a plurality of angular positions in each of
which a different pair of said cams maintains the respective guide
members in the operative position thereof.
8. A combination as defined in claim 7, wherein said actuating
means further comprises indexing means for moving said camshaft
between said plurality of angular positions.
9. A combination as defined in claim 7, further comprising torque
transmitting means receiving motion from said camshaft and arranged
to rotate the camshaft for at least one additional apparatus in
synchronism with rotation of said first mentioned camshaft.
10. A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said actuating
means is operative to simultaneously maintain all of said guide
members in the operative positions thereof.
11. A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein both guide members
of each of said pairs are movable simultaneously between operative
and inoperative positions.
12. A combination as defined in claim 11, further comprising a pair
of auxiliary guide members defining a path whose width exceeds the
greatest of said predetermined distances.
13. A combination as defined in claim 12, further comprising means
for movably securing said first mentioned guide members to said
auxiliary guide members so that said first mentioned guide members
are disposed between said auxiliary guide members.
14. In an apparatus for guiding the edges of elongated webs having
different widths, particularly for guiding the edges of webs which
constitute carriers for layers of photosensitive material and are
moved lengthwise in a photographic copying apparatus, a combination
comprising a plurality of pairs of guide members, at least one
guide member of each of said pairs being movable between an
inoperative position and an operative position in which latter
position the guide members of the respective pair are spaced apart
a predetermined distance equal to or approximating one of said
different widths and in which latter position the guide members of
the respective pair define a path for and flank the edges of a web
of corresponding width; actuating means for moving said movable
guide members between said operative and inoperative positions; a
roller-shaped guide element for webs of different widths, said
guide element having a peripheral surface provided with recesses,
one for each of said movable guide members and each movable guide
member having a portion extending into the respective recess in the
operative position thereof; and a roller-shaped presser member
adjacent to said guide element and defining therewith a passage
through which the webs of different widths pass while the edges of
such webs are guided by the respective pairs of guide members, said
movable guide members being pivotable about the axis of said
presser member.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to apparatus for guiding the edges of
webs or strips in photographic apparatus or the like, and more
particularly to improvements in apparatus which can be used to
properly guide the edges of webs having different widths. Such webs
are often used as carriers of layers of photosensitive material in
photographic roll copying machines which make differently
dimensioned prints from exposed and developed originals.
It is already known to guide the edges of webs having different
widths by resorting to an apparatus wherein two guide members are
movable sideways to increase or reduce the distance therebetween
and wherein the guide members are further pivotable so as to enter
into or to be moved out of selected grooves of a guide roller. In
this way, the guide members can be moved to positions in which they
can properly guide the edges of webs having different widths. A
drawback of such apparatus is that each change in setup takes up
too much time because the guide members must be pivoted as well as
moved sideways whenever a web having a first width is replaced or
followed by a web having a different second width. Furthermore, the
apparatus must be provided with rather complex devices for
arresting the guide members in selected positions at a desired
distance from each other.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved
apparatus which can be used to guide the edges of webs having
different widths and which can be rapidly and conveniently
converted by unskilled or semiskilled operators so that it can
properly guide the edges of a fresh web which follows a web of
different width.
Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus which
can properly guide any practical number of webs having different
widths and which can be coupled with one or more similar apparatus
so that a change in setup of one apparatus automatically results in
a similar adjustment of each other apparatus.
A further object of the invention is to provide the apparatus with
novel and improved guide members for the edges of webs having
different widths and with novel and improved actuating means for
such guide members.
An additional object of the invention is to provide a simple,
compact, inexpensive and rugged apparatus which can be installed in
existing photographic printing or like machines to constitute a
superior substitute for conventional web guiding apparatus.
The invention is embodied in an apparatus for guiding the edges or
marginal portions of webs having different widths, particularly for
guiding the edges of webs which constitute carriers for layers of
photosensitive material and are moved lengthwise (normally in
stepwise fashion) in a photographic copying machine. The apparatus
comprises a plurality of pairs of guide members which preferably
resemble thin plates or panels made of sheet metal or the like. At
least one guide member of each pair is movable (for example,
pivotable) between an inoperative position and an operative
position in which the guide members of the respective pair are
spaced apart a predetermined distance equal to or approximating one
of the aforementioned different widths and in which the guide
members of the respective pair define a portion of a path for and
flank the edges of a web of corresponding width. The apparatus
further comprises a system of cams or other suitable actuating
means for moving the movable guide members between operative and
inoperative positions.
In accordance with a presently preferred embodiment of the
invention, the guide members of each pair are movable
simultaneously between operative and inoperative positions. This
insures that the center line of a preceding web coincides with the
center line of the next-following web even if the width of the
next-following web differs from the width of the preceding web.
Furthermore, such construction simplifies the task of the operator
during a change of setup.
The novel features which are considered as characteristic of the
invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The
improved web guiding apparatus itself, however, both as to its
construction and its mode of operation, together with additional
features and advantages thereof, will be best understood upon
perusal of the following detailed description of certain specific
embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawing.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view of a web guiding apparatus
which embodies the invention and is capable of guiding webs having
four different widths, the section being taken along the line I-I
of FIG. 2, as seen in the direction of arrows; and
FIG. 2 is a plan view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The web guiding apparatus of FIGS. 1 and 2 comprises a rotary
roller-shaped guide element 2 for a web 1 of selected width which
web may constitute a flexible carrier for a layer of photosensitive
material and is assumed to be transported lengthwise in a
photographic roll copying machine of known design. As a rule, a
substantial length of a web having a predetermined width is stored
in a photographic copying machine in the form of a roll and the web
is withdrawn from the roll in stepwise fashion so that it is at a
standstill when a portion of the photosensitive layer thereon is
exposed to light which has passed through an original. The web
portion with exposed photosensitive material thereon is collected
by a takeup reel. The apparatus which embodies the roller 2 is
assumed to be installed in the region of a gate or window
surrounding that portion of the layer of photosensitive material
which is being exposed to light. In such region the web 1 must be
guided with a high degree of accuracy to thereby insure that the
exposed portions of the photosensitive layer are located exactly
midway between the two edges. A photographic roll copying machine
can be provided with two or more apparatus which are installed
therein for the purpose of properly guiding the edges of a web 1
during transport from the supply roll to the takeup reel.
Problems arise when a web having a first width is followed by a web
having a different (greater or lesser) second width. It is then
necessary to adjust each web guiding apparatus in such a way that
it can properly guide the freshly introduced web, especially in the
region of the gate or window, i.e., at the exposure station. The
change in setup must be achieved within a short interval of time,
and the thus adjusted apparatus must be capable of guiding the
fresh web with the same degree of accuracy as the preceding web of
different width.
The roller 2 can constitute an idler roller which is rotatable with
or about the axis of a shaft 102. The periphery of the roller 2 is
provided with two groups or sets of narrow circumferential recesses
or grooves, and each such group may comprise two, three or more
grooves. In the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, the roller 2 is
provided with a first set of three grooves 2a, 2b, 2c adjacent to
one axial end thereof and with a group of three grooves 2A, 2B, 2C
adjacent to the other axial end. The distance between the grooves
2a, 2A equals or approximates the width of a narrower web or strip
which is to be processed in the photographic copying machine, the
distance between the grooves 2b, 2B equals or approximates the
width of a somewhat wider web, and the distance between the grooves
2c, 2C equals or approximates the width of a web whose width
exceeds the distance between the grooves 2b, 2B. The grooves 2a-2A,
2b-2B and 2c-2C are respectively mirror symmetrical to each other
with reference to a plane which is normal to the axis of the shaft
102 and is located midway between the axial ends of the roller 2.
Thus, the distance between the grooves 2c, 2b, 2a and the upper end
of the roller 2, as viewed in FIG. 2, respectively equals the
distance between the grooves 2C, 2B, 2A and the lower axial end of
the roller 2.
The roller 2 is mounted adjacent to a presser roller 30 which is
rotatable with or about the fixed axis of a shaft 3 and defines
with the central portion of the roller 2 (between the grooves 2a,
2A) a narrow passage 130 through which a web of any selected width
must pass from the respective supply roll toward the takeup
reel.
The end portions of the shaft 3 for the presser roller 30 are
mounted in two stationary plate-like frame members 4, 5 which are
adjacent to the respective axial ends of the roller 2 and can
further serve as supports for the shaft 102. Those portions of the
shaft 3 which extend between the roller 30 and the frame members 4,
5 carry sleeve-like distancing elements 6 which separate from each
other groups of plate-like movable guide members made of sheet
metal or the like. One group includes three guide members 7a, 7b,
7c and the other group includes three guide members 7A, 7B, 7C. The
distances between the guide members 7a-7A, 7b-7B, 7c-7C
respectively equal or approximate the distances between the grooves
2a-2A, 2b-2B, 2c-2C. The guide members 7a-7c, and/or 7A-7C are
pivotable about the axis of the shaft 3 between inoperative
positions in which their left-hand portions or arms are raised
above and are thus spaced apart from the periphery of the roller 2,
and operative positions in which their left-hand portions or arms
extend in part into the similarly reference grooves of the roller
2. For example, when the guide members 7a, 7A assume their
operative positions, they extend into the grooves 2a, 2A and are
ready to engage the respective edges of a narrow web 1 which is
being advanced to move lengthwise through the passage 130 and along
the upper portion of the peripheral surface of the roller 2, or in
the opposite direction.
When the guide members 7b, 7B are pivoted to their operative
positions, they extend into the grooves 2b, 2B and are ready to
engage the respective edges of a wider web. Analogously, by moving
the guide members 7c, 7C to their operative positions, the
apparatus is ready to properly center a still wider web 1. The
arrangement is preferably such that all of the guide members 7a-7c,
7A-7C can be moved simultaneously to their inoperative positions
whereby the apparatus is ready to guide a web of maximum width,
namely, a web whose width equals or approximates the distance
between the frame members 4, 5 which then constitute two auxiliary
guide members adapted to engage the respective edges of a web of
maximum width.
The distancing elements 6 are preferably rotatable on the shaft 3
for the presser roller 30 and guide members 7a-7c and 7A-7C. The
left-hand arms of the guide members 7a-7c and 7A-7C are preferably
heavier than their right-hand arms so that, in the absence of an
obstruction in the path of pivotal movement of the right-hand arm,
each guide member tends to assume its operative position under the
action of gravity. It is also possible to provide helical springs
or other suitable resilient elements which permanently bias the
movable guide members 7a-7c and 7A-7C to their operative positions.
The axial length of the presser roller 30 is selected in such a way
that this roller cannot interfere with pivotal movements of the
guide members. As shown in FIG. 2, the pressure roller 30 is spaced
apart from and is located midway between the innermost guide
members 7a, 7A.
The actuating means for moving the guide members 7a-7c and 7A-7C
between their operative and inoperative positions (and more
particularly for moving selected pairs of guide members 7a-7A,
7b-7B, 7c-7C to their inoperative positions) comprises an idexible
camshaft 8 which carries six cams 9a-9c, 9A-9C, one for each of the
guide members 7a-7c, 7A-7C. Each cam resembles a disk having a flat
109 and the flats 109 of the cams 9a-9A, 9b-9B, 9c-9C are
respectively aligned with each other so that, when two aligned
flats 109 assume the angular positions shown in FIG. 1 by solid
lines, the respective movable guide members (9c, 9C) are permitted
to assume their operative positions by gravity. The camshaft 8 is
assumed to be indexible between four different angular positions
including a first angular position in which the guide members 7a,
7A are allowed to assume their operative positions, a second
angular position in which the guide members 7b, 7B are free to
assume their operative positions, a third angular position in which
the guide members 7c, 7C are free to assume their operative
positions, and a fourth angular position in which all of the guide
members 7a-7c, and 7A-7C assume their inoperative positions so that
the auxiliary guide members or frame members 4, 5 can guide the
edges of a web having a maximum width.
The means for indexing the camshaft 8 comprises a handwheel 10
which can be rotated by hand and is preferably provided with a
pointer (not shown) movable along a suitable scale or dial provided
with graduations indicating the four different angular positions of
the camshaft. If desired, the camshaft 8 can be indexed
automatically, for example, by means of a motion transmitting
mechanism which detects the width of a freshly inserted supply of
convoluted web. The camshaft 8 is rotatably mounted in the frame
members 4, 5 so that its axis extends in parallelism with the axes
of the shafts 102 and 3.
FIG. 2 further shows a sprocket wheel 11 which is fixed to one end
of the camshaft 8 and can drive an endless chain 12 serving to
transmit torque to one or more additional camshafts (not shown)
forming part of additional apparatus for guiding webs of different
widths. Thus, by properly selecting the angular position of the
camshift 8 by means of the handwheel 10, an operator can
simultaneously properly select the angular position(s) of one or
more additional camshafts so that each of two or more apparatus is
properly adjusted in response to manipulation of the handwheel 10.
The chain 12 is preferably tensioned by a spring-biased sprocket
wheel (not shown). It is clear that the means for transmitting
torque from the camshaft 8 to one or more additional camshafts may
comprise a toothed pulley and a toothed belt, a train of mating
gears or any other device which is capable of indexing the
additional camshaft or camshafts in exact synchronism with the
illustrated camshaft 8.
The number of pairs of movable guide members may be increased or
reduced, depending on the number of webs of different widths which
are to be processed in the machine which embodies the improved web
guiding apparatus. It is also within the purview of the invention
to omit the guide members 7a-7c or 7A-7C and to use only the guide
members 7A-7C or 7a-7c in combination with auxiliary guide members
4 and 5. For example, the members 4, 5 may be used to guide the
edges of a web of maximum width; the members 7c, 5 can be used to
guide the edges of a slightly narrower web; the members 7b, 5 can
be used to guide a still narrower web; and the members 7b, 5 can be
used to guide the edges of a slightly narrower web; and the members
7a, 5 can be used to guide a narrowest web. The camshaft then
carries only three cams, namely, the cams 9a, 9b and 9c. The
arrangement with pairs of movable guide members is preferred at
this time because each web having a width less than the distance
between the frame members 4, 5 is caused to move midway between the
axial ends of the roller 2.
The operation is as follows:
When a roll of web 1 having a given width is installed in the
photographic copying machine, the handwheel 10 is rotated to index
the camshaft 8 so that the corresponding cams (e.g., the cams 9c,
9C) allow the associated guide members (7c, 7C) to assume their
operative positions under the action of gravity (the left-hand arms
of the guide members 7c, 7C then respectively extend into the
grooves 2c, 2C of the roller 2). The leader of the web 1 is
thereupon introduced into the passage 130 and between the guide
members 7c, 7C which engage the respective edges of the web and
hold it against appreciable lateral movement. The convex peripheral
surfaces of the other cams (9a, 9b, 9A, 9B) then engage the
right-hand arms of the respective guide members 7a, 7b, 7A, 7B and
prevent such guide members from leaving their inoperative
positions.
The indexing of the camshaft 8 by way of the handwheel 10 results
in indexing of the camshaft or camshafts which receive torque from
the sprocket wheel 11 and chain 12. Thus, an adjustment of the
illustrated web guiding apparatus automatically entails a similar
adjustment of each additional web guiding apparatus which is
operatively connected with the camshaft 8. This reduces the length
of intervals which are needed for adjustment of the web guiding
apparatus and also reduces the likelihood of improper adjustment
because the attendant must pay attention only once, i.e., while
changing the angular position of the handwheel 10.
It is clear that the improved apparatus is susceptible of many
additional modifications without departing from the spirit of the
invention. For example, the actuating means can be designed in such
a way that the movable guide members are reciprocable (rather than
pivotable) between their operative and inoperative positions. This
can be achieved by installing each movable guide member in suitable
ways and by employing springs which bias the guide members against
the respective cams. When the camshaft is indexed, selected pairs
of the guide members move lengthwise from inoperative to operative
positions while the remaining movable guide members remain in or
are caused to assume their inoperative positions. Furthermore, the
roller 2 can be omitted and the left-hand arm of each movable guide
member 7a-7c, 7A-7C can be provided with a wedge-like or otherwise
configurated end portion adapted to enter a suitable recess in a
flat guide element which replaces the roller 2. It is equally
possible to construct each movable guide member in the form of a
one-armed lever and to place the camshaft 8 with the cams thereon
at a level above the roller 2, as viewed in FIG. 1. The actuating
means then further comprises springs which bias the guide members
against the respective cams.
Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the
gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current
knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without
omitting features which fairly constitute essential characteristics
of the generic and specific aspects of my contribution to the art
and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be
comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the
claims.
* * * * *