Vacuum timing device and method for producing the same

• US 6,488,194 B1
• Filed: 08/30/2000
• Issued: 12/03/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: C.G. Bretting Manufacturing Co., Inc., Michael Best & Friedrich LLP
• Original Assignee: C.G. Bretting Manufacturing Co., Inc.
• Inventors: Couturier, Dennis P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mansen, Michael R.
• Application Number:
  US09/650,887
• Time in Patent Office: 825 Days
• Field of Search: 226/95, 271/112, 271/276
• US Class Current: 226/95
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 20/12 by suction roller
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2404/1362 vacuum
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2406/332 Details on suction openings
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2406/3612 involving a shoe in sliding contact with flanges of a rotating element
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 27/00 Special constructions, e.g. surface features, of feed or guide rollers for webs rollers in general F16C13/00

Abstract

A vacuum timing device for applying a vacuum on a roll includes a roll with an axis of rotation, a surface, and a surface longitudinal axis oriented in a direction substantially parallel to the axis of rotation. The device also includes at least one vacuum line running along at least a portion of the length of the roll. The device also includes a plurality of apertures defined in a surface of the roll and in fluid communication with the vacuum line. In order to alleviate angular delay of vacuum propagation, the plurality of apertures is arranged in a line that is skewed with respect to the surface longitudinal axis. Preferably, the plurality of apertures is arranged in a line that is skewed away from the direction of rotation of the roll, thereby substantially eliminating the angular propagation delay as the vacuum roll operates.

Claims

1. A vacuum roll assembly comprising:

a roll having

an axis of rotation;

a surface; and

a surface longitudinal axis oriented in a direction substantially parallel to the axis of rotation;

a vacuum inlet;

a vacuum line in fluid communication with the vacuum inlet and running along the roll;

a vacuum member coupled to the roll and movable with respect to the surface longitudinal axis; and

a plurality of apertures defined in the vacuum member, in fluid communication with the vacuum line, and arranged in a line that is skewed with respect to the surface longitudinal axis.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the roll has a direction of rotation and wherein the vacuum member is skewed away from the direction of rotation.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the fluid communication between the vacuum inlet and the plurality of apertures is further provided by a rotary vacuum valve.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the vacuum line is defined at least in part by an elongated chamber in fluid communication with each of the plurality of apertures.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the vacuum line is defined at least in part by a plurality of openings, each of the plurality of openings being in fluid communication with a respective aperture.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the vacuum member is pivotable with respect to the surface longitudinal axis.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the vacuum member is flexible and wraps around the roll when pivoted with respect to the surface longitudinal axis.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the vacuum member is pivoted manually.

9. The apparatus of claim 6, the apparatus further comprising a positioning device coupled to the vacuum member and a control coupled to the positioning device, wherein the vacuum member is pivoted automatically responsive to roll speed by the positioning device under control of the control.

10. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the roll includes two opposing ends and the vacuum member pivots substantially about one of the opposing ends.

11. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the roll includes a center portion and the vacuum member pivots substantially about the center portion.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the vacuum inlet is a first vacuum inlet, the vacuum line is a first vacuum line, the vacuum member is a first vacuum member, the plurality of holes is a first plurality of holes and the line is a first line, the apparatus further comprising:

a second vacuum inlet;

a second vacuum line in fluid communication with the second vacuum inlet and running along the roll;

a second vacuum member coupled to the roll; and

a second plurality of apertures defined in the second vacuum member, in fluid communication with the second vacuum line, and arranged in a second line skewed with respect to the surface longitudinal axis.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the roll has a direction of rotation and wherein the second line is skewed away from the direction of rotation.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the fluid communication between the second vacuum inlet and the second plurality of apertures is further provided by a rotary vacuum valve.

15. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the second vacuum line is defined at least in part by a plurality of openings, each of the plurality of openings being in fluid communication with a respective aperture of the second plurality of apertures.

16. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the second vacuum line is defined at least in part by a plurality of openings, each of the plurality of openings being in fluid communication with a respective aperture of the second plurality of apertures.

17. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the first and second vacuum members are movable with respect to the surface longitudinal axis.

18. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the first and second vacuum members are pivotable with respect to the surface longitudinal axis.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the first and second vacuum members are flexible and wrap around the roll when pivoted with respect to the surface longitudinal axis.

20. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the first and second vacuum members are pivoted manually.

21. The method of claim 18, the apparatus further comprising a first positioning device coupled to the first vacuum member and a first control coupled to the first positioning device, and a second positioning device coupled to the second vacuum member and a second control coupled to the second positioning device, wherein the first and second vacuum members are pivoted automatically responsive to roll speed by the first and second positioning devices, respectively, under control of the control.

22. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the roll includes two opposing ends, the first vacuum member pivots substantially about one end and the second vacuum member pivots substantially about the opposite end.

23. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein each of the first and second vacuum members are pivotable about their centers.

24. A method of producing a vacuum roll having an axis of rotation, a surface, and a surface longitudinal axis oriented in a direction substantially parallel to the axis of rotation, the method comprising the steps of:

forming a first aperture in a vacuum member;

forming a second aperture in the vacuum member;

forming a vacuum line in the vacuum roll to establish fluid communication between the first and second apertures;

coupling the vacuum member to the roll, the first and second apertures defining endpoints of a line that is skewed with respect to the surface longitudinal axis; and

pivoting the vacuum member with respect to the surface longitudinal axis.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the roll has a direction of rotation and wherein the line is skewed away from the direction of rotation.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein the vacuum member is skewed with respect to the surface longitudinal axis.

27. The method of claim 24, wherein the roll has a direction of rotation and wherein the vacuum member is skewed away from the direction of rotation.

28. The method of claim 24, wherein the line is a first line, the method further comprising the step of:

forming a third aperture in the vacuum member, the third aperture being in fluid communication with the first and second apertures via the vacuum line, the second and third apertures defining endpoints of a second line that is skewed with respect to the first line and the surface longitudinal axis.

29. The method of claim 24, wherein the step of pivoting the vacuum member includes wrapping the vacuum member around the roll.

30. The method of claim 24, wherein the step of pivoting is completed manually.

31. The method of claim 24, wherein the step of pivoting is completed automatically, and comprises:

controlling a position of the vacuum member with a positioning device coupled to a control; and

automatically changing the position of the vacuum member with the control and positioning device responsive to roll speed change.

32. A vacuum roll assembly comprising:

a roll having

an axis of rotation;

a surface; and

a surface longitudinal axis oriented in a direction substantially parallel to the axis of rotation;

a vacuum inlet;

a vacuum line in fluid communication with the vacuum inlet and running along the roll;

a vacuum member coupled to the roll; and

a plurality of apertures defined in the vacuum member, in fluid communication with the vacuum line, and arranged in a line that is skewed with respect to the surface longitudinal axis, the plurality of apertures positioned with respect to the vacuum line to exert vacuum force only along a line skewed with respect to the surface longitudinal axis.

33. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the roll has a direction of rotation and wherein the vacuum member is skewed away from the direction of rotation.

34. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the fluid communication between the vacuum inlet and the plurality of apertures is further provided by a rotary vacuum valve.

35. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the vacuum line is defined at least in part by an elongated chamber in fluid communication with each of the plurality of apertures.

36. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the vacuum line is defined at least in part by a plurality of openings, each of the plurality of openings being in fluid communication with a respective aperture.

37. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the vacuum inlet is a first vacuum inlet, the vacuum line is a first vacuum line, the vacuum member is a first vacuum member, the plurality of apertures is a first plurality of apertures and the line is a first line, the apparatus further comprising:

a second vacuum inlet;

a second vacuum line in fluid communication with the second vacuum inlet and running along the roll;

a second vacuum member coupled to the roll; and

a second plurality of apertures defined in the second vacuum member, in fluid communication with the second vacuum line, and arranged in a second line skewed with respect to the surface longitudinal axis.

38. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the roll has a direction of rotation and wherein the second line is skewed away from the direction of rotation.

39. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the fluid communication between the second vacuum inlet and the second plurality of apertures is further provided by a rotary vacuum valve.

40. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the second vacuum line is defined at least in part by an elongated chamber in fluid communication with each of the second plurality of apertures.

41. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the second vacuum line is defined at least in part by a plurality of openings, each of the plurality of openings being in fluid communication with a respective aperture of the second plurality of apertures.

42. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the first and second vacuum members are movable with respect to the surface longitudinal axis.

43. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the first and second vacuum members are pivotable with respect to the surface longitudinal axis.

44. The apparatus of claim 43, wherein the first and second vacuum members are flexible and wrap around the roll when pivoted with respect to the surface longitudinal axis.

45. The apparatus of claim 43, wherein the first and second vacuum members are pivoted manually.

46. The apparatus of claim 43, wherein the first and second vacuum members are pivoted automatically responsive to roll speed.

47. The apparatus of claim 43, wherein the roll includes two opposing ends, the first vacuum member pivots substantially about one end and the second vacuum member pivots substantially about the opposite end.

48. The apparatus of claim 43, wherein each of the first and second vacuum members are pivotable about their centers.

49. A method of producing a vacuum roll having an axis of rotation, a surface, and a surface longitudinal axis oriented in a direction substantially parallel to the axis of rotation, the method comprising the steps of:

forming a first aperture in a vacuum member;

forming a second aperture in the vacuum member;

forming a vacuum line in the vacuum roll to establish fluid communication between the first and second apertures; and

coupling the vacuum member to the roll, the first and second apertures defining endpoints of a line that is skewed with respect to the surface longitudinal axis, the first and second apertures positioned with respect to the vacuum line to exert vacuum force only along the line that is skewed with respect to the surface longitudinal axis.

50. The method of claim 49, wherein the roll has a direction of rotation and wherein the line is skewed away from the direction of rotation.

51. The method of claim 49, wherein the vacuum member is skewed with respect to the surface longitudinal axis.

52. The method of claim 49, wherein the roll has a direction of rotation and wherein the vacuum member is skewed away from the direction of rotation.

53. The method of claim 49, wherein the line is a first line, the method further comprising the step of:

forming a third aperture in the vacuum member, the third aperture being in fluid communication with the first and second apertures via the vacuum line, the second and third apertures defining endpoints of a second line that is skewed with respect to the first line and the surface longitudinal axis.