US3567148A - Constant tension paper supply mechanism - Google Patents

Abstract

A paper supply mechanism especially adapted for supplying pressure sensitive adhesive backed label material, which supply mechanism includes a constant tension means comprising a selfadjusting brake which compensates for loss of paper roll mass, and a tension indicating means.

Description

United States Patent Gerald J. Ottavan Ridgefield, NJ. Appl. No. 736,768

[72] Inventor [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 5/1932 Armbrecht...................

' 3,398;914 8/1968 Cunningham Primary Examiner-Nathan L. Mintz Attorney-Hubbell, Cohen and Stiefel [22] Filed June 13,1968 [45] Patented Mar. 2, 1971 [73] Assignee Allamatic Corporation Clifi'side Park, NJ.

[54] CONSTANT TENSION PAPER SUPPLY MECHANISM ABSTRACT: A paper supply mechanism especially adapted for supplying pressure sensitive adhesive backed label material, which supply mechanism includes a constant tension means comprising a self-adjusting brake which compensates for loss of paper roll mass, and a tension indicating means.

3 2 N46 N771 2-H 4 2M2 .ma W: F m: g m: .m m: w m: I D WWW 3 m m w m "S 1L0 h W d C 5mm 6 UIF 1]] 2 0 555 [[l PATENTED MAR 219m SHEET 1 SF 2 INVENTOR GERALD J. OT TAVAN ATTORNEYS.

] WE \TEUHAR 2 1971 SHEET 2 BF 2 INVENTOR GERALD J. OTTAVAN ATTORNEYS.

CONSTANT TENSION PAPER SUPPLY MECHANISM BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention I The present invention relates to a paper supply mechanism, and especially to a paper supply mechanism for feeding pressure sensitive adhesive backed material to a label printing machine.

' 2. Description of the Prior Art Paper supply mechanisms for printing presses are well known. However, there has been difficulty encountered in the past in regulating the paper supply mechanisms to maintain constant tension on the paper, and such 'mechanisms rarely provide for means for indicating the value of tension.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The improved paper supply mechanism of the present invention includes a self-adjusting brake which maintains substantially constant tension on the paper being fed by the mechanism by reducing the braking force on the paper concomitantly with the reduction in the inertia of the paper reel from which the paper is supplied. The paper supply mechanism further includes a simplified convenient means for indicating the degree of tension on the paper.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the tension supply mechanism of the present invention in combination with a printing head for printing labels on the paper stock;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the constant tension paper feed; and

FIG. 3 is an end elevational view thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EM- BODIMENTS Referring now to the drawings in detail, the constant tension supply mechanism of the present invention is generally designated by thereference numeral 12. As shown herein, thesupply mechanism 12 is for paper, here shown aslabel paper 14 of the pressure sensitive adhesive backed type. Theconstant tension mechanism 12 finds its preferred utility in a label printing machine or press which includes aprinting head 16 of any desired construction. Also included are means 28 for advancing thepaper stock 14 in a step-by-step motion. As here shown there are two means 28 interposed between thefeed mechanism 12 and theprinting head 16.

Each of thepaper feed devices 28 may be powered off a common shaft if desired. The supply mechanisms include a feed or power roller 116 which rotates intermittently in response to an intermittent input means not shown. The axis of the power roller extends transversely of the direction of movement of thepaper 14 and of aframe 62 which forms the basic support for the entire mechanism. Also secured to theframe 62 are a pair ofupstanding supports 118 which supports are U-shaped in elevational view. Slidably mounted betweenlegs 120 and 122 of U-shapedsupport 118 is abearing block 123 on which is rotatably mounted an idler orpressure roller shaft 124. Extending across the tops 'of thelegs 120 and 122 and secured thereto is abar 126 having a threadedaperture 128 extending vertically therethrough. Threadedly mounted in the threadedaperture 128 is a manuallyadjustable screw 130 the bottom of which is in engagement with thebearing block 123. Mounted on the idler roller shafts are a pair of idler orpressure disc 132 of substantially identical diameter to the drive roller 116. The amount of pressure applied by thepressure discs 132 to the drive rollers 116 is adjustable by rotation of theadjustment screws 130 which move theidler shaft 124 vertically to move theidler discs 132 into tighter or less tight engagement.

With the structure of thesupply mechanism 28 as described, it will be obvious that each time power roller 116 rotates, each of thedrive mechanism 28 will operate to advancepaper 14 sandwiched between the drive rollers 116 of the pressure discs 132 a predetermined amount which is adjustable by adjustment of the amount of rotation of drive roller 1 16. As indicated each of thepaper feeding devices 28 is substantially identical in construction. However, there is one minor difference, namely the proportioning the parts. Specifically, the power rollers 116 of each of thesupply mechanisms 28 are increasingly larger as the feeding device is located more remotely from thepaper supply mechanism 12. This assures that the paper is always under slight tension as it moves away from thesupply mechanism 12.

Thesupply mechanism 12 is primarily mounted on a horizontally extendingcantilevered beam 144 that is secured to thebase 62 of machine 10. Secured to the upper surface 146 or ofbeam 144 is abearing block 148 in which is pivotally or rotatably mounted ashaft 150 to which is fixed a U-shaped member or'lever 152 that carries between itsarms 154 and 156 a brake drum orroller 158. Fixed to U-shapedmember 152 as by welding or suitable securing elements is a horizontally extendingcounterbalance arm 160 on which is disposed acounterbalance 162 which may be moved longitudinally of thecounterbalance arm 160 and then releasably secured in a preferred position as by asetscrew 164. Also fixed to U-shaped member 152 as by welding or by suitable securing elements is anupstanding arm 166. Pivotally mounted at the upper end of theupstanding arm 166 is a bellcrank shapedmember 167 the horizontal portion of which is aroller 168. Threadedly secured to thevertical portion 169 ofmember 167 is athumb screw 171 which is adjustably threadedly secured to theupstanding arm 166. The horizontal positioning ofroller 168 may be adjusted by operating thethumb screw 171 whereby to insure that there will be no side or lateral movement of thepaper 14 as it moves off the reel and into the remainder of the machine 10. In addition, themember 167 and its associated parts play an important role in maintaining tension on the paper as it comes off the reel as will be described hereinafter. Cantilevered outwardly of thearm 154 of U-shapedmember 152 is a rotatable shaft on which is mounted a spool comprising ahub 172, afirst side disc 174 and a removable second side disc- 176, the roll ofpaper 178 being disposed on thespool 172 between theside discs 174 and 176. Connected by abracket 178 tocantilever 144 is abrake member 180, preferably made of wood although other friction material may be employed, which brake member is provided with an arcuate braking surface 182 complementary to thebrake drum 158 for reception thereof.

With the described brake, the amount of braking force applied between thebrake drum 158 and the brake member 182 is a function of the weight of the reel ofpaper 178 and of the weight of thecounterweight 162 and the position of the counterweight on thelever 160, Accordingly, by adjusting the position of thecounterweight 162 onlever 160 at the outset of a run, the amount of tension on the paper can be established, as this will be a function of the braking force on thebraking drum 158, and of the inertia of thepaper reel 178. It will be seen that as paper is consumed from thereel 178, the amount of inertia of the reel will decrease. Concomitantly, the amount of braking force, which is dependent upon the weight of the reel, will also decrease and it has been found that these decreases tend to offset one another thereby to maintain a constant tension on thepaper 14. In addition, it will be seen that if there is undue tension on thepaper as it moves off thereel 178, this tension will tend to act in a horizontal direction on theroller 168 whereby to pivot thearm 166 clockwise as its viewed in FIG. 5. This pivotal movement ofarm 166 will tend to release the brake 158-180 whereby to reduce the tension on the paper in order to maintain a substantially constant tension thereon.

Mounted oncantilever 144 by a rotatable pin 184 is alever 186 having a pair ofrollers 188 and 190 on its free ends. Also secured to the rotatable pin 184 is a crank W2 the free end of which is secured to atension spring 194 which is anchored at its other end to a fixed anchor 196 that is secured to thecantilever 144. Thus thespring 194 tends to rotate thecrank 192 and hence thelever 186 in a counterclockwise direction. It will be seen that the tension on thepaper 14 as it passes aboutrollers 188 and 190 will tend to rotate thelever 186 in a clockwise direction. By adjusting the tension ofspring 194 as well as from braking force betweenbrake drum 158 and brake 182, thelever 186 can be positioned substantially vertically. The substantially vertical positioning oflever 186 thereafter will indicate that the appropriate amount of tension is applied topaper 14.

In use, areel 178 oflabel paper 14 is positioned on the spool 182 and is held there as by the affixing of theremovable side plate 176. The paper is then lifted off the reel to cause the reel to rotate either clockwise or counterclockwise, (thesupply mechanism 12 works just as well irrespective of the direction of removal of the paper 14) and thence overroller 168 and aboutroller 188 androller 190, and then to an upward directional guide means comprising aroller 198 and two pairs of rollers 200 and 202 which are secured between a pair ofbrackets 204 fixed to theframe 62, and thence in tangential contact with aguide roller 206 and finally into thefirst feed mechanism 28 as described above. As the feed mechanism operates to advancepaper 14 the paper will be stripped off thereel 172 and advance along the described path moving in the direction of theprinter head 16.

While I have herein shown and described the preferred form of the present invention and have suggested modifications therein, other changes and modifications may be made rather than within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. A constant tension feed mechanism comprising:

a. a support;

b. a lever pivotally mounted on said support at a fulcrum;

c. spindle means for rotatably mounting a reel of elongated material on one side of said lever;

d. brake means including a circular member rotatable with said spindle means and a stationary member having a surface in frictional engagement with the periphery of said circular member; and

e. counterbalance means connected to said lever and tending to rotate said lever in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation resulting from the weight of said spindle means.

2. The feed mechanism of claim 1, wherein said circular member is a brake drum fixed to said spindle, and said stationary member is a brake shoe and said surface thereof is complementary to the periphery of said brake drum.

3. The feed mechanism of claim 2, wherein said counterbalance means is a weight adjustably positionable on said lever on the other side of said fulcrum.

4. The feed mechanism of claim 3, further comprising a vertically extending lever pivotally mounted on said support, a pair of roller means, one of said pair of roller means mounted on said vertically extending lever on each side of the pivot thereof, and spring means for biasing said vertically extending lever to pivot in a direction that moves said upper roller means away from said spindle means.

5. The feed mechanism of claim 3, further comprising an arm secured to said lever and extending away therefrom, and a horizontal roller mounted on said arm.

6. The feed mechanism of claim 5, further comprising a vertically extending lever pivotally mounted on said support, a pair of roller means, one of said pair of roller means mounted on said vertically extending lever on each side of the pivot thereof, and spring means for biasing said vertically extending lever to pivot in a direction that moves said upper roller means away from said spindle means.

Claims (6)

1. A constant tension feed mechanism comprising: a. a support; b. a lever pivotally mounted on said support at a fulcrum; c. spindle means for rotatably mounting a reel of elongated material on one side of said lever; d. brake means including a circular member rotatable with said spindle means and a stationary member having a surface in frictional engagement with the periphery of said circular member; and e. counterbalance means connected to said lever and tending to rotate said lever in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation resulting from the weight of said spindle means.

2. The feed mechanism of claim 1, wherein said circular member is a brake drum fixed to said spindle, and said stationary member is a brake shoe and said surface thereof is complementary to the periphery of said brake drum.

3. The feed mechanism of claim 2, wherein said counterbalance means is a weight adjustably positionable on said lever on the other side of said fulcrum.

4. The feed mechanism of claim 3, further comprising a vertically extending lever pivotally mounted on said support, a pair of roller means, one of said pair of roller means mounted on said vertically extending lever on each side of the pivot thereof, and spring means for biasing said vertically extending lever to pivot in a direction that moves said upper roller means away from said spindle means.

5. The feed mechanism of claim 3, further comprising an arm secured to said lever and extending away therefrom, and a horizontal roller mounted on said arm.

6. The feed mechanism of claim 5, further comprising a vertically extending lever pivotally mounted on said support, a pair of roller means, one of said pair of roller means mounted on said vertically extending lever on each side of the pivot thereof, and spring means for biasing said vertically extending lever to pivot in a direction that moves said upper roller means away from said spindle means.

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