Web inspection and repair machine with web indexer device

• US 5,727,748 A
• Filed: 09/04/1996
• Issued: 03/17/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 09/04/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mark Andy Incorporated (MAI Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Arpeco Engineering Ltd. (MAI Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Prittie, Allan R.
• Primary Examiner(s): DARLING, JOHN PATRICK
• Application Number:
  US08/707,722
• Time in Patent Office: 559 Days
• Field of Search: 242/538.2, 242/552, 226/118, 226/119
• US Class Current: 242/538.2
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 18/085 for non-continuous winding
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 18/145 Reel-to-reel type web winding and unwinding mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 20/34 with rollers
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2301/4148 slitting
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2511/52 Defective operating conditions

Abstract

A device for the inspection and repair of a roll of web material includes an unwind mandrel, a rewind mandrel, an inspection area and a splice area. A flaw in the web is detected at the inspection area, whereupon the web is braked to a halt. Where the splice area is adjacent to or coincident with the inspection area, the flawed portion of the web can pass well beyond the splice area before the web comes to a halt. Provided herein is a web-indexer device that includes a reciprocating indexer shuttle having idler rolls mounted thereon, with further idler rolls mounted to the machine such that the web material can be between them in a substantially boustrophedonic configuration. Control is provided to allow the operator who has caused the web to be braked to a halt upon detecting a flaw, to move the indexer frame so as to retrieve a portion of the web so as to bring the flaw back to the splicing station for repair, without having to reverse the rotational direction of the unwind mandrel or the rewind mandrel.

Claims

1. In a machine allowing inspection and repair of a roll of web material, the machine including:

a) an unwind mandrel,

b) a rewind mandrel,

c) an inspection area,

d) a splice area,

e) guide rolls for directing the web along a path from the unwind mandrel, past the inspection and splice areas in any sequence, to the rewind mandrel, and

f) first control means for causing the web to move past said inspection and splice areas, and to allow an operator to brake the web to a standstill upon the detection of a flaw in the web;

the improvement which comprises;

providing said machine with a web indexer device including;

g) an indexer shuttle mounted for back and forth movement with respect to the machine,

h) a first plurality of idler rolls mounted to said indexer shuttle,

i) a second plurality of idler rolls mounted to said machine, and so positioned with respect to the first plurality of idler rolls that web material can be strung therearound in substantially boustrophedonic configuration, and

j) second control means adapted, upon detection of a flaw at the inspection station, and upon braking of the web to a standstill, to move the indexer shuttle so as to return an identified portion of the web to the splicing station for repair, verification or any type of modification, without having to reverse the rotational direction of the unwind mandrel or the rewind mandrel.

2. The improvement claimed in claim 1, in which said first plurality of idler rolls includes a first sub-plurality and a second sub-plurality, and in which said second plurality of idler rolls includes a third sub-plurality and a fourth sub-plurality, said sub-pluralities being disposed such that web material can be strung boustrophedonically between the first and third sub-pluralities on one side of the splice area, and can be strong boustrophedonically between the first and third sub-pluralities on the other side of the splice area.

3. The improvement claimed in claim 2, in which each said sub-plurality includes at least two idler rolls.

4. A method of inspecting and repairing a roll of web material, for use with a machine which incorporates:

an unwind mandrel;

a rewind mandrel;

an inspection area;

a splice area;

guide rolls for directing the web material along a path from the unwind mandrel, past the inspection and splice areas in any sequence, to a rewind mandrel;

control means to cause the web material to move past said inspection and splice areas, and to allow the web to be braked to a standstill upon the detection of a feature being searched for along the web;

an indexer shuttle mounted for back and forth movement with respect to the machine;

a first plurality of idler rolls mounted to said indexer shuttle; and

a second plurality of idler rolls mounted to said machine, the method including the steps of;

a) stringing the web material around the first and second pluralities of idler rolls in substantially boustrophedonic configuration;

b) unwinding the roll of web material at the unwind mandrel, while rewinding the web material at the rewind mandrel, whereby the web material moves past the inspection and splice areas;

c) inspecting the web material at the inspection area in order to detect a feature being searched for;

d) when such a feature is detected, using the control means to brake the web material to a standstill;

e) moving the indexer shuttle in the direction which will reposition the feature containing portion of the web material at the splicing station without reversing the rotation of either mandrel; and

f) repairing the web material.

5. The method claimed in claim 4, in which said first plurality of idler rolls includes a first sub-plurality and a second sub-plurality and said second plurality of idler rolls includes a third sub-plurality and a fourth sub-plurality, the web material being strung boustrophedonically between the first and third sub-pluralities on one side of the indexer shuttle, and being strung boustrophedonically between the first and third sub-pluralities on the other side of the indexer shuttle.

6. The method claimed in claim 5, in which each said sub-plurality includes at least two idler rolls.