Web conveyance method and apparatus using same

• US 9,845,216 B2
• Filed: 09/24/2010
• Issued: 12/19/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Newhouse, Kevin B., Tait, Bruce E., Clark, John C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dondero, William E
• Application Number:
  US13/498,058
• Publication Number:
  US 20120241549A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,643 Days
• Field of Search: 2426154
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2404/114 Built-up elements
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 27/00 Special constructions, e.g. surface features, of feed or guide rollers for webs rollers in general F16C13/00
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2701/1752 Polymer film

Abstract

A method for conveying a web using an engagement cover (10) comprising resilient looped pile (16) engagement surface. Also, web conveying roller (12) having an engagement cover thereon.

Claims

1. A method for conveying a web comprising:

(a) providing a web material wherein said web is an optical grade film selected from the group consisting of polyester, copolyesters, and combinations thereof;

(b) providing at least one roller having an engagement cover comprising a resilient looped pile engagement surface wherein said engagement surface is a knit fabric comprising a woven base layer having first and second faces and a resilient looped pile protruding from said first face, and wherein said looped pile has a loop height of from about 0.4 to about 0.8 mm, one loop per stitch, and at least 25 stitches per inch, and comprises fibers having a denier of between about 100 and about 500;

(c) configuring said web material into passing configuration; and

(d) passing said web through engaging contact with said engagement surface.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said engagement surface is on a removable sleeve on said roller.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said sleeve is a knitted fabric comprising a ground layer and a looped pile.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said looped pile comprises a fibrous material selected from the group consisting of poly(tetrafluoroethylene), aramid, polyester, polypropylene, nylon, or a combinations thereof.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said roller has two or more engagement covers mounted in concentric arrangement thereon.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said looped pile has a loop height of from about 0.5 to about 0.7 mm.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said looped pile has a one loop thread per stitch.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said web material is provided in roll form and configuring said web material into passing configuration comprises unrolling said web material.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein said web material is extruded or cast in line to be configured into said passing configuration without having been wound into roll form.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein said web material is provided in sheet form.

11. The method of claim 1 comprising passing said web around two or more rollers.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein two or more of said rollers have an engagement cover thereon.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein two or more of said rollers each have multiple engagement covers thereon.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein said loop pile has a coefficient of friction from about 0.25 to about 2.0 with said web material.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein the web is passed through engaging contact with said engagement surface at a speed of 100 feet/minute or more.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein the web is passed through engaging contact with said engagement surface at a speed of 150 feet/minute or more.

17. An apparatus, the apparatus comprising a web wherein the web is an optical film selected from the group consisting of polyester, copolyesters, and combinations thereof, and a roller comprising a core and a resilient looped pile engagement cover comprising a resilient looped pile engagement surface wherein said engagement surface is a knit fabric comprising a woven base layer having first and second faces and a resilient looped pile protruding from said first face, and wherein said looped pile has a loop height of from about 0.4 to about 0.8 mm, one loop per stitch, and at least 25 stitches per inch, and comprises fibers having a denier of between about 100 and about 500.