US2060822A - Web-feeding and web-operating control means - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 17, 1936. A. NOVICK WEB FEEDING AND WEB OPERATING CONTROL MEANS Filed Aug. 2, 1954 6 Sheets-Sheet l 1 N V EN T0 R: Abra/7am Nov/ck.

ATTORNEYS.

Nov. 17, 1936. A. NOVICK WEB FEEDING AND WEB OPERATING CONTROL MEANS Filed Aug. 2, 1954 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR, Abra/7am NOV/CK.

A TTORNEYS.

Nov. 17, 1936. APNOVICK WEB FEEDING AND WEB OPERATING CONTROL MEANS Filed Aug. 2, 1934 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. Abra/1am Nor/ck. BY M A TTORNEYS.

Nov. 17, 1936. A. NOVICK WEB FEEDING AND WEB OPERATING CONTROL MEANS Filed Aug. 2, 1934 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. Abra/7am NOV/CK A TTORNEYS.

Nov. 17, 1936. A. NOVICK WEB FEEDING AND WEB OPERATING CONTROL MEANS Filed Aug. 2, 1934 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 K. 1C 1 W m M Q mm %m m A j A o A QM m a Rbm 5.: E x Q vl! m i lo a; F... Q 4 n \HHHM NHL) W, HK W NT v 9 ml Q4 19 M Nov. 17, 1936. A. NOVICK WEB FEEDING AND WEB OPERATING CONTROL MEANS Filed Aug. 2, 1954 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVEN TOR. Abra/74m Nov/ck.

ATTORNEYS.

Patented Nov. 17, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WEB-FEEDING AND WEB-OPERATING CONTROL MEANS Application August 2, 1934, Serial No. 738,096

3 Claims.

This invention relates to web-feeding and weboperating control means.

One feature of the invention consists in the provision of variable-speed means manually adjustable to establish a substantially synchronous relation between the rate of movement of means for feeding a web and the rate of movement of instrumentalities operating thereon, under the condition of normal longitudinal spacing of successive sections of the web.

Another feature consists in driving either such feeding means or such operating instrumentalities at constant speed.

A further feature consists in the provision of means for automatically and correctively varying said initially established relationship in order to compensate for discrepancies in the spacing of the successive sections of the web.

A still further feature consists in employing a characteristic of the web and means actuated by either the web-feeding means or the operating instrumentalities for automatically controlling said relationship-varying means.

Other features and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear.

The invention will best be understood by reference to the accompanying drawings wherein are shown three present preferred embodiments thereof, each of which is applied, for purpose of illustration, to the automatic control of the rate at which a web of paper, bearing successive longitudinally-spaced imprints or the like, is fed through a machine to web-cutting rolls which sever the web into separate sheets.

Like reference characters indicate like parts throughout the drawings.

Fig. 1 is a plan view, partly in section and partly in elevation, of a variable-speed transmission, automatic change-speed mechanism, and webfeeding and web-cutting mechanisms, comprising a portion of one embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a transverse section on the line 2-2 of Fig. I, viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Fig. 3 shows schematically the web-feeding and web-cutting mechanism of Fig. l, a Web adapted to be fed and cut by said mechanism, and certain electrical translating devices and an electrical wiring system for automatically controlling the operation of the change-speed mechanism of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a plan view, partly in section and partly in elevation, of the web-feeding and web-cutting mechanism shown in Fig. 1', and of modified forms of automatic change-speed mechanism and actuating means therefor.

Fig. 5 shows schematically certain electrical translating devices and an electrical wiring system for controlling the automatic change-speed mechanism of the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Fig. l.

arrows.

Fig. 8 shows schematically certain electrical translating devices and an electrical wiring system for controlling the automatic change-speed mechanism of the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 6 and '7.

In many connections it is desirable to apply a succession of identical imprints, for example, to a continuous web of paper, of indefinite length, rather than to apply such imprints separately to individual sheets. In some such cases, the web, after being so prepared, is thereafter fed through other machinery which may operate thereon to cut it into separate sheets, to convert it into envelopes or bags, etc. Such preliminary preparation of a web may consist in impregnating it with transparentizing substance to produce a succession of longitudinally-spaced and identical transparencies, in order that the web may be thereafter converted into window-envelopes or window-bags; or in the imprinting thereon of a succession of longitudinally-spaced and identical legends, such as a return notice for an envelope, or advertising matter for an envelope or bag.

In the present application the web is illustrated and described as having been imprinted preparatory to feeding it through a machine operating to automatically sever the successive sections into separate sheets which may be fed to other instrumentalities by which it is subjected to further treatment.

The diiliculty has heretofore been experienced. in subjecting such a prepared web to further automatic operations, that the spaced transparencies or imprints fail to register with the instrumentalities, such as cutting dies, gummers .and

folders, which operate on the web in its passage through the second machine. One reason for this failure of registration is that paper shrinks and stretches under varying atmospheric conditions. Another reason is that there is always more or less slippage between the web and the friction rolls which initially feed it through the machine by which it is transparentized or imprinted. Thus, the spacing between the transparencies or imprints is never precisely what it theoretically should be in order to insure registration of such transparencies or imprints-with the instrumentalities operating on the web in the second feeding thereof. Any such discrepancy, no matter how slight it may be as to an individual section, will, if persisting through'a large number of sections, be cumulative in its effect of producing a failure of registration. For instance, if the error in spacing be as little as one one-thousandth of an inch in each section, the transparency or imprint on the thousandth sheet, envelope or bag, will have relatively shifted a full inch.

The present invention provides means for overcoming this difficulty in the subsequent feeding of a prepared web through such automatic machinery. This result is effected by placing the second feeding of the Web under control of two co-operative agencies, one of which is associated with the web itself, and the other which is actuated by the instrumentality which is to operate on the web.

Referring to the drawings: In Fig. 1 is shown a variable-speed transmission, of conventional type, which is indicated generally by the reference numeral I. This transmission is contained in a housing 2. A shaft 3, having its bearings in the walls of the housing, is driven by a motor or other source of power (not shown) Keyed to this shaft 3, but longitudinally movable thereon, are two oppositely-disposed cone-face pulleys, 4 and 5, which, through a belt 6, drive two identical pulleys, l and 8, similarly keyed to and longitudinally movable on a shaft 9. The edges of-belt 6 are preferably beveled to conform to the face angle of the pulleys' Shaft'9, like shaft 3, has its bearings inthe walls of housing 2.

Each of the four pulleys has an annularlygrooved hub Illa. Engaging the groove of each hub is a shifting pin, such as If]. Two of these pins are carried by a shifting lever II, having a fulcrum l2, and operating to move pulleys 5 and I along their respective shafts. The other two pins are carried by a shifting lever 13, having a fulcrum I4, and operating similarly to move pulleys 4 and 8 along their respective shafts.

Also bearing in the walls of housing 2 is a shaft l5, provided with a hand-wheel l6. One end of this shaft is provided with a right-hand screwthread and the other end with a left-hand screw thread. The left-hand thread actuates a nut I! to feed it in one or other direction along the shaft l5; and the right-hand thread similarly actuates a nut l8, to simultaneously feed it along the shaft I5 in a direction opposite that of nut l1. These nuts are provided with pins which engage slots in the ends of shifting levers l3 and II, respectively.

Rotation of hand-wheel IS in a clockwise direction causes the long arms of levers II and I3 and driving pulleys 4 and 5, to approach each other; and simultaneously causes the short arms,

of said levers and driven pulleys 1 and 8 to recede from each other. Belt 6 is thus forced higher on the cone faces of driving pulleys 4 and 5, and correspondingly lower on the cone faces of driven mission can thus be initially adjusted with nicety.

Mounted 'on the outer endof shaft 9 is a sprocket wheel I9, carrying a sprocket chain 20, which drives another sprocket 2|, this latter sprocket being mounted on the end of a tubular shaft 22. This tubular shaft has its bearings in a frame 23. Attached to this shaft in any suitable manner, as by a set-screw, is a low-speed driving gear 24, which meshes with and drives gear member 25 of a ball-clutch, designated generally by the reference numeral 26, and shown in greater detail in Fig. 2. This gear member 25 is rotatable in one direction on a shaft 29. The co-acting clutch member 21 is attached in any suitable manner, as by a .pin 28, to this shaft 29, which shaft has its bearings in frame 23. Ball clutch 26 operates in a well-known manner, i. e., the driving effort of low-speed gear 24 is transmitted to shaft 29 through gear member 25 and through clutch balls such as 30, co-acting with the inner wall of said gear member 25 and with clutch member 21; and, when shaft 29 is rotating at a speed higher than that of the gear 25 the clutch member 21 overruns said gear 25.

Also attached to tubular shaft 22 in any suitable manner, as by set-screws, are two collars, 3i and 32. Also attached to said shaft by a pin 33 is a normal-speed friction-clutch disk, 34. Pin

33 passes through slots formed in the wall of shaft 22, and is movable along said shaft and rotatable thereby, Normal-speed clutch disk 34 is adapted to frictionally engage and rotate a co-acting friction clutch member 35, attached to which is a normal-speed driving gear 36. The combined clutch member 35 and normal-speed driving gear 36are rotatable on shaft 22. When clutch, disk 34 is thrown into frictional driving-engagement with co-acting clutch member 35, the rotative movement of shaft 22 is transmitted by normalspeed driving gear 36 to gear member 31 of a ball-clutch, designated generally by the reference numeral38, and structurally and operatively similar to the hereinbefore described ball-clutch 26. The co-acting clutch member 39 of ballclutch 38 is attached in any suitalfie manner, as by a pin 40, to shaft 29. Also attached to shaft 29 in any suitable manner, as by a set-screw, is a collar 41 which retains ball-clutch38 in longitudinal position on said shaft. r

Also attached to tubular shaft 22, as by a pin 42, is a highspeed friction-clutch disk 43, structurally and operatively identical with normalspeed friction-clutch disk 34.- This high-speed clutch disk is adapted to frictionally engage and rotate a co-acting clutch member 44, attached to which is a high-speed driving gear 45. The combined clutch member 44 and high-speed driving gear 45 are rotatable on shaft 22, and are maintained in longitudinal position thereon by a col- 5| against'pin 33 of normal-speed friction-clutch disk 34-the opposite end of said spring being restraine'dby abutment with a set-screw 52, seated in the end of the bore of said shaft.

tain the normal-speed friction-clutch disk 34 out of driving engagement with its co-acting frictionclutch member 35 during such times as said disk is not forcibly held in such driving engagement. High-speed clutch disk 43 is provided with a similar plunger 53, impelled by a like spring 54, which is retained by a set-screw 55.

A normal-speed clutch-shifter, designated generally by the reference numeral 56, operates to force normal-speed clutch disk 34 into frictional driving engagement with its co-acting clutch member 36. This clutch-shifter is in the form of a bell-crank lever 51, fulcrumed at 58, and having a yoke portion at its inner end. The upper arm of this yoke portion is shown as broken away at 59. Each yoke arm carries a disk-engaging pin and roller, indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1. The other arm of bell-crank lever 51 is connected by a link 60 to the armature 6| of a normal-speed electro-magnet, 62. Energization of this magnet 62 causes it to attract its armature 6|, thus moving bell-crank lever 51 on its fulcrum 58, and forcing,,normal-speed clutch disk 34 into frictional driving engagement with its co-acting clutch member 35.

A similar clutch-shifter, designated generally by the reference numeral 63, and controlled by a high-speed electro-magnet 64 operates in a like manner to force high-speed clutch disk 43 into frictional driving engagement with its co-acting clutch member 44. The similar parts are designated by the same reference numerals as those of the clutch shifter 56 except that they bear the superscript a.

When normal-speed electro-magnet 62 is deenergized, spring 5| and plunger 50 maintain normal-speed friction-clutch disk 34 out of driving engagement with its co-acting friction-clutch member 35. Similarly, when high-speed electromagnet 64 is de-energized, spring 54 and plunger 53 maintain high-speed friction-clutch disk 43 out of driving engagement with its co-acting friction-clutch member 44. When the tubular shaft 22' is rotating and both normal-speed electro-magnet 62 and high-speed electro-magnet 64 are de-energized, shaft 29 is rotated by lowspeed gear 24, through ball-clutch 26. Under this condition, normal-speed gear 36 and high-speed gear 'rotate idly on tubular shaft 22.

When normal-speed electro-magnet 62 is energiz'ed, shaft 29 is rotated at normal speed through normal-speed driving gear 36 and ball clutch 38. Under this condition, ball-clutch 26 and highspeed driving gear 45 rotate idly on their respective shafts.

When high-speed electro-magnet 64 only is energized, shaft 29 is rotated at maximum speed through high-speed driving gear 45 and gear 48. Under this condition, ball-clutch gears 25 and 31 rotate idly on shaft 29, and normal-speed driving gear 36 is idle on tubular shaft 22.

Under normal operating conditions, normalspeed electro-magnet 62 remains energized, normal-speed clutch disk 34 remains in driving frictional engagement with its co -acting clutch member 35, and shaft 29 is rotated at normal speed through the drive of normal-speed gear 36 to normal-speed ball-clutch 38.

The manner in which electro- magnets 62 and 64 are energized and de-energized to produce The 1 spring-impelled plunger 58 thus operates to mainhigh-speed, normal-speed and low-speed rotation of shaft 29 is hereinafter explained.

Mounted on an outer end of shaft 29 is a sprocket 65, carrying a sprocket chain 66, which drives another sprocket 61, mounted on a shaft 68 (Figs. 1 and 3). Attached to this shaft 68 is a driving web-feeding roll 69. Mounted on the opposite end of this shaft 68 is a spur gear 10, which meshes with and drives another spur gear 1|, mounted on a shaft 12, carrying two driven web-feeding rolls 13 and 14. Shafts 68 and 12 have their bearings in frame 23.

Also having their bearings in this frame are shafts 15 and 16. Shaft 15 carries at one end a sprocket 11, driven through a sprocket chain 18 by a synchronous motor or other constantspeed source of power (not shown). Mounted on the opposite end of shaft 15 is a spur gear 19, which meshes with and drives another spur gear 86, mounted on the end of shaft 16. Shaft 15 carries web-cutting roll 8|, and shaft 16 carries a coacting web-cutting roll 82. Mounted in each of these rolls is a knife such as 83 (Figs. 1 and 3) and 84 (Fig. 3). The cooperative relationship of these rolls and knives is clearly shown in Fig. 3.

Referring to Fig. 3: A web, designated generally by the reference numeral 85, is adapted to be fed, in the direction indicated by the arrow thereon by feeding the rolls 69, 13 and 14, to the web-cutting rolls 8| and 82, in order that it may be severed into separate sheets by the knives 83 and 84, which sheets may be formed into envelopes, bags or the like. Web 85 is presumed to have been previously treated in any desired manner, as by imprinting thereon a succession of identical longi tudinally-spaced legends, or by impregnating it with a transparentizing substance to form therein a succession of windows. Such imprints or windows are indicated by the reference characters 86, 86a and 86b.

The desideratum is that each separate sheet shall be cut from the web along an imaginary line, such as 81, 81a. and 8117, i. e., at definite distances from the imprints or windows such as 86, 86a and 861). However, because of the shrinking or stretching of the web, and of the slippage between it and the friction rolls by which it was fed during the imprinting or transparentizing operation, as hereinbefore pointed out, the spacing between any two imprints or windows, such as 86 and 86a, may not be exactly the same as that between any other two imprints or windows, such as 88a and 86b. Moreover, the actual spacing will, in no event, exactly correspond with that for which the normal feeding rate was initially established. As also hereinbefore stated, a variation in the length of the web or in the spacing of the imprints or windows, or a discrepancy between the actual spacing and that for which the normal speed was initially established, will, if persisting,

' correcting this cumulating error, the imprints or windows may be so displaced relatively to the longitudinal margins of the respective sheets on which they appear as to render many sheets worthless for the purpose of conversion into envelopes, bags, or the like.

The present invention provides means for automatically effecting such corrections. In general,

this result is attained by automatically and correctively varying the rate at which the web is fed to the web-cutting rolls, in accordance with spacing variations or discrepancies such as have been described.

Preliminarily the web 85 is threaded through the feed rolls 69, I3 and I4, and into the web-cutting rolls 8| and 82 (Fig. 3). The motor or other source of power which drives shaft 3 of the variable-speed transmission I (Fig. 1), and the motor which drives the web-cutting rolls (Figs. 1 and 3), are then started. After a few sheets have been cut from the web, the motors are stopped and the sheets are inspected to determine whether or not the imprints or windows are uniformly located on the respective sheets. If it appears that there is a progressive shifting of the imprint or window longitudinally of the sheet, the hand-wheel I8 of the variable-speed transmission I (Fig. 1) is rotated in one or other direction to increase or decrease the normal feeding rate of the web, as may be necessary, in order that said normal feeding rate may be brought into as close approximation as possible to the spacing between the imprints or windows, and to the constant rate of rotation of web-cutting rolls 8| and 82 (Figs. 1 and 3). The motors are again started, a few more sheets are cut, the motors are stopped, and the inspection is repeated. Eventually the variable-speed transmission will have been so adjusted as to give a normal feeding rate of the web which closely approaches the optimumthereby reducing to minimum the frequency with which corrective changes in feeding rate require to be automatically effected. The machine is then started on the work of actually severing the web into separate sheets.

However, regardless of the nicety with which the normal speed may be manually adjusted, some discrepancy will always exist as between the actual feeding rate and the theoretically-correct feeding rate of the web. The effect of this discrepancy upon the location of the imprints or windows being cumulative, as hereinbefore pointed out, it will ultimately become necessary to automatically correct the feeding rate.

In order that this automatic correction may be eifected,,there are imprinted on the web, at the time the windows on major imprints such as 88, 88a and 88b are formed thereon, a succession of small, opaque areas such as 88, 88a, and 88b, comprising what may be conveniently termed masking spots. These spots are located at a fixed distance from the imprints or windows borne by their respective sections of the web. In the operation of feeding the web by rolls 69, I3 and I4 (Fig. 3), these masking spots successively pass over a housing 89, which contains a lens 90, mounted between an aperture in the top of the housing and a lamp 9I. Energizing current is delivered to the lamp by lines 92 and 93, from mains 94 and 95.

Fixedly supported above the aperture in the housing 89 is a light-responsive device 96,,having the characteristic of generating a current impulse upon the occurrence of a change in intensity of illumination to which it is exposed. Such devices may be purchased in the open market.

One terminal of this light-responsive device is electrically connected by a line 91 to a common line 98. One end of this common line is electrically connected to a brush 99, contacting with a rotating low-speed timer, designated generally by the reference numeral I00. This low-speed timer is comprised of a body and segment II of insulating material, and a segment I02 of conducting material, integral with the insulating material.

The other end of the common line 88 is electrically connected to a similar brush I03, contact-,

ing with a rotating high-speed timer, designated generally by the reference numeral I04. This high-speed timer is also comprised of a body and segmenti05 of insulating material, and a segment I88 of conducting material, integral with the insulating material.

The other terminal of the light-responsive device 98 is electrically connected by line I01 to one input terminal of a low-speed amplifier I08, which has the characteristic that, when its input circuit is subjected to a current impulse, it delivers to its output circuit a current of increased amplitude and of a duration which may be adjusted in accordance with requirements. Such devices may also be purchased in the open.

market.

The last mentioned terminal of light-responsive device 96 is also electrically connected by lines I01 and I09 to one input terminal of a high-speed amplifier IIO, identical in all respects with lowspeed amplifier I08.

The other input terminal of low-speed amplifier I08 is connected by line III to low-speed timer I04; and the other input terminal of highspeed amplifier H is similarly connected by line II2 to high-speed timer I00.

Timers I 00 and I04 are attached to'a shaft I I3, carrying a sprocket wheel I I4, to which driving power is delivered by a sprocket-chain II5, running over a sprocket I I6, mounted on the end of web-cutting roll shaft I8. Said sprockets and sprocket chain are shown diagrammatically. It is contemplated that the rate of rotation of timers I00 and I04 shall be the same as that of webcutting rolls 8| and 82.

Electrically connected to one terminal of the output circuit of low-speed amplifier I08 is a line III, leading to one terminal of the winding of a low-speed relay H8. The other terminal of said relay winding is connected by line II9 to the other terminal of the output circuit of said lowspeed amplifier.

Similarly connected to one terminal of the output circuit of high-speed amplifier H0 is a line I20, leading to one terminal of the winding of a high-speed relay I2I, identical with the wind ing of low-speed relay H8. The other terminal of said latter relay winding is connected by line I22 to the other terminal of the output circuit of said high-speed amplifier.

Low-speed relay I I8 is provided with an armature I23, having a spring I24. When this relay is de-energized, the spring I24 holds said armature in a position wherein it closes the following circuit: From main 94, through line I25, common line I28, winding of normal-speed electromagnet 82, line I21, contact I3I, armature I23, and line I32 to main 95. The closing of said circuit energizes said normal-speed electromagnet 82.

When low-speed relay H8 is energized, the pull of spring I24 is overpowered, the circuit which includes the winding of normal-speed electro-magnet 82 is opened between the armature I23 and the contact I3I, and said magnet is de-energized, thus permitting the clutch element 34 to be disengaged from the co-acting element 35 by the action of the spring i and the driving of the shaft 29 is then effected by the slow speed gears 24 and 25 and clutch 28.

High-speed relay I2I is provided with a similar armature I33, having a similar spring I34. When this high-speed relay is energized to pull up the armature I33 which closed the following circuit: From main 94, through line I25, common line I26, winding of high-speed electromagnet 64, line I35, contact I36, armature I33, line I30, and line I32 to main 95. I'he closing of said latter circuit energizes said high-speed magnet 64. Thus the friction clutch 43, 44 is rendered effective to drive the shaft 29 at high speed. At this time the driven element 21 and 39 of the slow speed clutch 26 and normal speed clutch 38 are overrunning their respective driving elements or gears 25 and 31.

In the manner hereinbefore pointed out in describing the mode of operation of the automatic change-speed mechanism of Fig. l, the energization of normal-speed electro-magnet 62 results in shaft 29 ancl'web-feeding rolls 69, I3 and I4 being driven at normal speed, producing, therefore, a corresponding rate of feed of web 85 (Fig. 3).

In the manner also hereinbefore pointed out,

theenergization of high-speed electro-magnet 64 results in said shaft 29 and said web-feeding rolls being driven at high speed, producing, therefore, a corresponding rate of feed of said web.

When both normal-speed electro-magnet 62 and high-speed electro-magnet 64 are de-energized, said shaft and web-feeding rolls are driven at low speed, with a corresponding rate of feed of the web.

The rotation and relative positions of the timers I and I04, with reference to the rotation of Web-cutting roll shaft I6, and with reference to the normal feeding rate of the web (empirically established in the manner hereinbefore described, to approximate the imprint or window-spacing requirements of the web) are .suchthat, while masking spots such as 88, 88a and 88b are passing between the lamp 9| and the light-responsive device 96, the segment of insulation I05 of lowspeed timer I04 is normally in contact with brush I03, and the segment of insulation IOI of highspeed timer I00 is normally in contact with brush 99. Thus, although the masking of the light rays from said lamp and the consequent variation in intensity of illumination to which said light-responsive device is subjected cause it to generate an electrical impulse, this impulse cannot be transmitted to either of the amplifiers I08 or IIO, because the circuits leading thereto are open between the timers and their respective brushes. Conditions in the circuits controlled by said amplifiers therefore normally remain unchanged. The circuit which includes the winding of normal-speed electro-magnet 62 (Figs. 1 and 3) remains closed by the action of armature spring I24 and armature I23, and by the action of spring I34. and switch member I28. The rate of feed of web 85 therefore continues to be normal so long as the aforesaid coincidence, in point of time, continues between the relative positions of said timers and brushes and the successive conjunctions of the masking spots with the rays of light from lamp 9I.

Assuming, now, that web 85 has become damp and has stretched, or that, for some other reason, the spacing between the successive masking spots has become slightly greater than the spacing for which the variable-speed transmission I (Fig. 1) was initially adjusted: If no automatic correction of the web-feeding rate be effected, the web-cutting rolls 8| and 82 (rotating at constant speed) will successively cut sheets which are too short relative to the spacing of the web sections, the cutting lines progressively moving to the right of the imaginary and theoretically-correct cutting lines, such as 81, 81a and 81b (Fig. 3), thus relatively displacing the imprints or windows on the sheets.

If it be assumed that the converse condition obtains, i. e., that the web has dried out and shrunken since it was imprinted, the sheets will be cut too long relative to the spacing of the web sections, and the imprints or windows will be relatively displaced in the opposite direction. I

With the control means provided by the present invention such discrepancies in spacing of the imprints orwindows are automatically compensated for in the following manner: Under the condition of a stretched web and, consequently, increased distance between the masking spots, the normal feeding rate of the web is less than the required feeding rate. As a result, the masking spots successively arrive too late at the position where they intercept the light rays emanating from the lamp 9I (Fig. 3). During this prolonged period of web traverse, high-speed timer I00 (driven at constant speed by web-cutting roll shaft 16) will have rotated to a position where its insulated segment IOI has passed out of contact with brush 99, and its conductor segment I02 has passed into contact with said brush. The circuit between the light-responsive device 96 and the high-speed amplifier I I0 is thus closed at the time when the change in intensity of illumination of said light-responsive device has caused it to generate an electrical impulse. Thereupon, high-speed relay I2I- is energized from the output circuit of high-speed amplifier IIO, resulting in the de-energization of normal speed electro-magnet 62, the energization of high-speed electro-magnet 64, and the shifting of the friction clutches from normal rate of web feed to high rate thereofall in the manner hereinbefore described.

The resulting increase in web-feeding rate quickly compensates for the effect of cumulated error in spacing of the controlling masking spots. When this object has been attained, the masking spots will be succesively brought into conjunction with lamp 9| and light-responsive device 96 in substantial synchronism with the rotation of timer shaft I I3, so that insulated segment I0| of high-speed timer I00 will be in contact with the brush 99, and insulated segment I05 of lowspeed timer I04 will be in contact with brush I03, during such periods of conjunction. The circuit between high-speed amplifier H0 and light-responsive device 96 will therefore be open during-the periods when said light-responsive device is generating its current impulses; highspeed relay l2l will be de-energized, and its armature spring I34 will open the circuit which includes the winding of high-speed electromagnet 64. The web-feeding rate will thereupon be restored to normal, in the manner hereinbefore explained.

Under the condition of a shrunken web and, consequently, decreased spacing between the masking spots, the normal feeding rate of the web is greater than the required feeding rate. As a result, the masking spotsarrive too soon at the position where they intercept the light rays emanating from the lamp 9| (Fig. 3). When a masking spot does reach this position of conjunction, conductor segment I06 of low-speed timer I04 will still be in contact with brush I03-thereby closing the circuit between the light-responsive device and low-speed ampl'ifier I08, at the time when the change in intensity of illumination of said light-responsive device has caused it to generate a current impulse. Thereupon, low-speed relay I I8 is energized from the output circuit of low-speed amplifier I08; relay armature I23 is attracted; the circuit which includes the winding of normal-speed electromagnet 62 is opened between contact I3I and relay armature I23 to de-energize electro-magnet 62; and, because neither electro-magne t 62 nor electro-magnet 64 is energized, the rate of webfeeding decreases from normal to low, the drive then being from lowspeed gear 24 (Fig. 1) through ball-clutch 26, shaft 29, sprocket 65, sprocket chain 66, and sprocket 61, to webfeeding rolls 69, 13 and 14. This low-speed feeding rate will persist until the cumulated error arising from abnormally short spacing between the masking spots has been compensated for, or until the portion of the web wherein abnormallyshort spacing between the spots exists has been fed through the machine and another portion is presented wherein the spacing is normal.

When this result has been attained, low-speed timer I04 will, in point of time, have overtaken the slowly-moving web, its insulated segment I05 will contact with brush I03, the circuit between light-responsive device 96 and low-speed amplifier I 08 will be open at the times when said lightresponsive device generates current impulses; low-speed relay II 8 will be de-energized; armature spring I24 will bring armature I23 against contact I3I; the circuit which includes the winding of normal-speed electro-magnet 62 will be closed; said magnet will be energized; and the normal rate of web feeding will be resumed through clutch 38.

The above described speed-changing mechanism forms a very efficient device by which the speed of the shaft 29 may be changed without breaking the driving connection with the drive shaft 22. In Fig. 4 is shown a modified form of the automatic change-speed mechanism, positive jawclutches being here employed in lieu of the friction clutches of Fig. 1. A different type of clutchshifter also is here employed.

Attached to normal-speed driving gear 36 is a driven jaw-clutch member 35a, this combined gear and clutch being rotatable on tubular shaft 22. Cooperative with Jaw-clutch member 35a to drive the same and its attached gear 36 is a jaw-clutch member 34a, attached to shaft 22 by a pin 33 which projects through, and is slidable in, slots formed in the wall of said shaft. When these jaw-clutch members are engaged, the drive of tubular shaft 22 is transmitted through normal-speed gear 36 to normal-speed'gear 38, which is attached by a pin 40 to shaft 29.

Attached to high-speed driving gear 45 is a jaw-clutch member 44a, this combined gear and clutch also being rotatable on tubular shaft 22. Cooperative with jaw-clutch member 44a to drive the same and its attached gear 45 is a jaw-clutch member 43a, attached to shaft 22 by a pin 42, which projects through, and is slidable in, slots formed in the wall of said shaft. When these latter jaw-clutch members are engaged, the drive of tubular shaft 22 is transmitted through highspeed gear 45 to high-speed gear 48, which is attached by a pin 49 to shaft 29.

In this embodiment of the invention. the clutchshifter comprises a double-arm bell-crank lever having a yoked end, rather than two single-arm bell-crank levers each with a yoked end, as in the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Fig. 1. This double-arm lever, indicated generally by the reference numeral I31, has a fulcrum at I39. The upper arm of the yoke portion thereof is shown at I40 as broken away. Arm I4I of the lever portion is provided with a link I42, which connects it to armature I43 of a normal-speed electro-magnet I44. The other arm I38 of the lever portion is provided with a similar link I45. which connects it to armature I46 of a highspeed electro-magnet I41.

As in the automatic change-speed mechanism shown in Fig. 1, a spring 5I impels a plunger 50 to maintain normal-speed driving clutch member 34a out of engagement with driven clutch member 35a at all times except when said members are forcibly held in engagement. Spring 54 and plunger 53 operate in like manner with reference to high-speed driving clutch member 43a and its co-acting driven clutch member 44a.

When normal-speed electro-magnet I44 is energized, normal speed is imparted to shaft 29; and when high-speed electro-magnet I41 is energized, high speed is imparted to said shaft. When neither of said electro-magnets is energized, the drive is from gear 24 through gear 25 and ball-clutch 26 to shaft, 29, imparting low speed to said shaft.

Referring now to Fig. 5, which shows schematically certain electrical translating devices and an electrical wiring system for controlling the operation of the automatic change-speed mechanism illustrated in Fig. 4; As in the case of the electrical system shown in Fig. 3, when the circuit between light-responsive device 96 and lowspeed amplifier I08 is closed through low-speed timer I04, at a time when a masking spot is in conjunction with lamp 9I and said light-responsive device 96, current from the output circuit of said low-speed amplifier I08 energizes low-speed relay I I8, thus opening (between armature I23 and contact I3I) the following circuit: Main 95, through line I25, common line I26, winding of normal-sped electro-magnet I44, line I48, contact I3I, armature I23, line I49, contact I29, armature I33, and line I50 to main 94. The

. consequent de-energization of normal-speed electro-magnet I44 disengages normal-speed driving clutch member 34a from normal-speed driven clutch member 35a (Fig. 4), and causes shaft 29 to be driven by low-speed gear 24.

Also as in the case of the electrical system shown in Fig. 3, when the circuit between lightresponsive device 96 and high-speed amplifier H0 is closed through high-speed timer I00, at a time when a masking spot is in conjunction with lamp 9| and said light-responsive device, current from the output circuit of said low-speed amplifier I I0 energizes high-speed relay I 2I opening (between armature I33 and contact I29) the circuit which includes the winding of normal-speed electro-magnet I44, thereby de-energizing said magnet; and immediately thereafter closing the following circuit: Main 95, line I25, common line I26, winding of high-speed relay I41, line I5I, contact I36, armature I33, and line I50 to main 94 thereby energizing high-speed electro-magnet I41, causing it to attract its armature I46, and to throw high-speeddriving clutch member 43a into engagement with high-speed driven clutch member 44a, thus increasing the speed of shaft 29 from normal speed to high speed.

The corrective effects resulting from these automatic changes in feeding rate of the web have been hereinbefore explained in considering Figs. 1, 2, and 3.

In Figs. 6 and 7 is shown a further modified form of automatic change-speed mechanism, positive jaw-clutches being here employed as in the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 4, but said clutches being mounted on driven shaft 29, rather than on driving shaft 22a. A further modified type of clutch-shifter also is here employed.

In this embodiment of the invention, low-speed driving gear 24, normal-speed driving gear 36a,

and high-speed driving gear 45a are all attached,

as by pins, to driving shaft 22a;

Attached to driven shaft 29. as by pin 28, is one member 21 of a ball-clutch, designated generally by reference numeral 26. A housing .I52 encases this clutch member and its co-acting balls, such as 39 (Fig. 1). This housing is attached, as by rivets, to low-speed gear 25. The mode of operation of this ball-clutch is identical with that of ball-clutch 26, illustrated in Figs. 1 and 4, and hereinbefore described in considering Figs. 1 and 2.

Rotatably mounted on shaft 29 is a normalspeed gear I53, having a normal-speed clutch member I54 attached thereto. Also rotatably mounted on said shaft 29 is a high-speed gear I55, having a high-speed clutch member I55 attached thereto. A collar I6I is attached to shaft 29 to prevent longitudinal movement to the right (Fig. '7) of said last-mentioned combined gear and clutch. Also attached to shaft 29 by means of a key I58 is a spacing collar I51, contacting with the opposing faces of clutch members I54 and I56. Longitudina ly movable along this spacing collar but rotatable therewith through a spline engaging said key I58 is a double-face jaw-clutch member I59, adapted to engage alternatively normal-speed clutch member I54 or high-speed clutch member I56. This double-face jaw-clutch member is provided with an annular groove, engaging which are two shifting rollers I66, carried by pins mounted on the yoke arms of a shifting lever I62. This shifting lever is fulcrumed at I63. Slidably mounted in supports I64 are stops I65, provided with adjusting nuts I66 and springs I61. The purpose of these stops is to restore shifting lever I62 and double-face jaw-clutch member I59 to neutral position when said double-face jaw-clutch member is disengaged from both normal-speed clutch member I54 and high-speed clutch member I56. Lever I62 also serves as an armature for normal-- speed electro-magnet I68 and high-speed electromagnet I69.

When neither normal-speed electro-magnet I68 nor high-speed electro-magnet I69 is energized, double-face jaw-clutch member I59 is held in neutral position, and shaft 29 is driven at low speed through gear 24, gear 25 and the ball-clutch associated with said gear 25.

When normal-speed electro-magnet I68 is energized, it attracts lever I62 as an armature, double-face jaw-clutch member I59 is forced into engagement with its co-acting normal-speed clutch member I54 (attached to normal-speed gear I53); and shaft I29 is driven at normal speed through gear 36a, gear I53, clutch member I54, double-face jaw-clutch member I59, and key I58.

When high-speed electro-magnet I69 is energized, it attracts lever I62 as an armature, doubleface jaw-clutch member I59 engages its co-acting high-speed clutch member I56 (attached to highspeed gear I55); and shaft 29 is driven at high speed through gear 45a, gear I55, clutch member I56, double-face jaw-clutch member I59. and key I58.

Referring now to Fig. 8, which shows schematically certain electrical translating devices and an electrical wiring system for controlling the operation of the automatic change-speed mechanism illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7; when, as a result of conditions hereinbefore described in considering the electrical systems of Figs. 3 and 5, current flows between light-responsive device 96 and low-speed amplifier I98, low-speed relay H8 is energized, attracts its armature I23, and opens (between said armature and contact I3I) the circuit which includes the winding of normalspeed electro-magnet I68, whereupon doubleface jaw-clutch member I59 Figs. 6 and 1') is forced by the then compressed spring I61 out of engagement with normal-speed clutch member I54 and into neutral position. Shaft 29 is thereupon driven at low speed through gear 24, gear 25, and the ball-clutch associated with the latter gear.

When, as a result of conditions also hereinbefore described, current flows from light-responsive device 96 to high-speed amplifier IID, highspeed relay IZI is energized andattracts its armature I33 and the normal-speed switch member I28, which is hinged to said armature. The movement of this armature and switch member results first in opening (between said switch member and contact I29) the circuit which includes the winding of normal-speed electro-inagnet I68; and, immediately thereafter, in closing (between armature I33 and contact I36) the circuit which includes the winding of hi-specd electro-magnet I69. This de-energization of normal-speed electro-magnet I68 and energization of high-speed electro-magnet I69 causes the latter magnet to attract clutch-shifting lever I62 as an armature, whereupon double-face jaw-clutch member I59 (Figs. 6 and '7) engages its co-acting high-speed clutch member I56. Shaft 29 is then driven at high speed through gears 45a and I55, double-face jaw-clutch member I59, and key I58.

It is to be understood that other devices and expedients than the variable-speed transmission shown in Figs. 1 and 6 may be employed for ini tially establishing the normal feeding rate of the web. For example, the speed of the motor which drives the feed-rolls may be adjusted, as by means of a rheostat.

It is further to be understood that the showing of masking spots, such as 88, 88a and 88b (Fig. 3) is merely illustrative, and that other means associated with the web may be employed for contributing to the automatic control of the feeding rate. For example, a band of opaque ink may be imprinted near the margin of the Web, and this band may be periodically interrupted to leave small and relatively transparent spots in lieu of the opaque masking spot shown in Fig. 3. As a further alternative, notches may be cut in the margin of the web. In either case, the same effect will be produced of successively varying the intensity of illumination to which the. light-responsive device 96 is subjected; and the respective electrical systems and mechanisms controlled by said light-responsive device and its co-acting timers will operate in accordance with the descriptions thereof which have been hereinbefore set forth.

In lieu of the lamp 9| and the light-responsive device 96 for cooperating with the web characteristics, there may be employed, in connection with a marginally-notched web, an electrical conductor in the form of a roller, contacting alternately with a marginal web portion and a cooperative conductor. When a notch passes between the roller conductor and its cooperative conductor, a circuit is closed which includes timers I and H14. With such an arrangement, amplifiers I08 and I I 0 may be dispensed with, the current in this case flowing through the timers directly to relays, such as H8 and I2! (Figs, 3, 5, and 8). The corrective effects resulting from lack of synchronism between the rotation of the timers and the conjunction of the notches with the roller conductor and its cooperative conductor will be the same as those set forth in describing the operation of the electrical systems shown in the drawings.

It is further to be understood that the web-feeding rolls may be driven at constant speed; and that the web-cutting rolls and/or other instrumentalities which operate on the web may be driven through the variab e-speed transmission I (Figs. 1 and 6), and throu automatic changespeed mechanisms such as are shown in Figs. 1 and 4. In employing this construction, the variable-speed transmission I is to be manually adjusted to establish a normal rate of operation of such instrumentalities, and such rate is to be automatically corrected in the manner hereinbefore described with reference to the rate of rotation of the web-feeding rolls.

Without departing from the principles of the invention, it may be incorporated in still other and different forms and embodiments.

I claim:

1. In combination, mechanism for feeding a web, mechanism for operating on the same, means responsive to longitudinally-spaced characteristics borne by the web for controlling the relation between the speed of said feeding means and the speed of said operating means, said means comprising, a variable speed drive for one of said mechanisms, said variable speed drive comprising three driving couples, each operative independently of the others for providing a selected speed relation between said feeding mechanism and operating mechanism, and means for selecting one or another of these couples, said means being governed by the spacing of said characteristic marks.

2. In combination, mechanism for feeding a web, mechanism responsive to longitudinallyspaced characteristics borne by the web for controlling the relation between the speed of said feeding means and the speed of said operating means, said means comprising, a. variable speed drive for one of said mecha isms, said variable speed drive comprising thr e driving couples, each operative independently of the others for providing a selected speed relation between said feeding mechanism and operating mechanism, means whereby one of said couples may be substituted for another in said variable speed connections without interrupting the continuity of driving connection between said feeding means and operating means, and means for selecting one or another of these couples, said means being governed by the spacing of said characteristic marks.

3. In combination, mechanism for feeding a web, mechanism for operating on the same, means responsive to longitudinally-spaced characteristics borne by the web for controlling the relation between the speed of said feeding means and the speed of said operating means, said means comprising a variable speed drive for one of said mechanisms, said drive having the characteristic of varying the speed in fixed steps each step having driving means operative independently of that of the others and means for selecting one or another of these steps, said means being governed by the spacing of the characteristic marks.

ABRAHAM NOVICK.

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