Information
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Patent Grant
-
6526621
-
Patent Number
6,526,621
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Date Filed
Friday, February 9, 200123 years ago
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Date Issued
Tuesday, March 4, 200321 years ago
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Inventors
-
-
Examiners
Agents
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 015 308
- 015 2565
- 015 3091
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International Classifications
-
Abstract
A positioning frame supports a rotating buff roll within a vacuum plenum at a desired location adjacent a moving web of material. The apparatus has a drive arm with a jackshaft and a support arm each pivoted off bases which may be clamped to a single cross machine direction shaft. The motor drive may also be positioned at a variety of orientations. Three parallel axes of adjustment are defined by the positioning frame granting the installer of the apparatus great latitude in positioning the buff assembly near the web to be cleaned. Two web cleaning apparatuses may be installed on opposite sides of an open span of web, or a first apparatus may be engaged against the web where it turns around a roll, and a second apparatus may be engaged against the web where it turns around a downstream roll.
Description
CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
Not applicable
STATEMENT AS TO RIGHTS TO INVENTIONS MADE UNDER FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
Not applicable.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to apparatus for cleaning webs of material in general, and in particular to apparatus which is readily positioned on pre-existing machinery.
There are many installations of machinery which treat raw web stock, such as by printing, trimming, folding, etc. in many cases, the stock paper, plastic or other material may come from the place of manufacture with a quantity of dust or particular matter associated therewith. Although of small size, this material can contribute, over time, to a degradation of printing or other treating performance. It has been found that, by positioning a rotating buff in proximity to the moving web, and drawing away the air which passes over the buff through a vacuum hood, marked reduction in contamination of the machinery can be obtained. However, in most cases web cleaning apparatus is not provided as standard equipment by machinery manufacturers. As result, volume to receive retrofitted web cleaning apparatus is not always available where desired within the machinery.
In my previous U.S. Pat. No. 6,178,589, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein, I disclosed a web cleaning apparatus which was readily positionable within the arch of a conventional web printing press. This apparatus permitted opposed web buff cleaning assemblies to be positioned temporarily within the arch above the slot in the printing press floor. This provided one effective approach to utilizing the restricted space available in pre-existing machinery for installation of web cleaning buff assemblies. Nevertheless, there are a wide variety of press and web machinery each with its own particular configuration and arrangement of rolls and web treating equipment. Depending on a particular site's requirements, the size, number, and arrangement of web cleaning buff assemblies may vary.
What is needed is a buff assembly which may be readily positioned on preexisting machinery in a wide variety of positions with minimal modification to the machinery.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The web cleaning apparatus of this invention has a positioning frame which supports a rotating buff roll within a vacuum plenum at a desired location adjacent a moving web of material. The apparatus has a drive arm with a jackshaft and a support arm each pivoted off bases which may be clamped to a single cross machine direction shaft. The motor drive may also be positioned at a variety of orientations. Three parallel axes of adjustment are defined by the positioning frame granting the installer of the apparatus great latitude in positioning the buff assembly near the web to be cleaned. Two web cleaning apparatuses may be installed on opposite sides of an open span of web, or a first apparatus may be engaged against the web where it turns around a roll, and a second apparatus may be engaged against the web where it turns around a downstream roll.
It is a feature of this invention to provide a web cleaning apparatus which is easily installed on a pre-existing machine having restricted available volume.
It is another feature of this invention to provide a web cleaning apparatus which may be installed in segments without the use of rigging equipment.
It is also a feature of this invention to provide a web cleaning apparatus which is readily adjustable in the field to modify the position of a rotating buff.
It is an additional feature of this invention to provide a web cleaning apparatus which secures readily to a single cross shaft. Further objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1
is an exploded isometric view of the web cleaning apparatus of this invention.
FIG. 2
is a side elevational view of the apparatus of
FIG. 1
, with alternative positions indicated in phantom view.
FIG. 3
is a top plan view of the apparatus of
FIG. 1
, partially broken away in section.
FIG. 4
is a schematic view of an installation of a pair of apparatus of
FIG. 1
installed at an open span of web.
FIG. 5
is a schematic view of an installation of a pair of apparatus of
FIG. 1
when installed spaced from one another in engagement with the web as it travels over spaced rolls.
FIG. 6
is an exploded isometric view of the drive arm assembly of the apparatus of FIG.
1
.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring more particularly to
FIGS. 1-6
, wherein like numbers refer to similar parts, a positionable web cleaning apparatus
20
is shown in FIG.
1
. The apparatus
20
supports a buff assembly
22
in proximity to a web for the cleaning of one surface thereof. The buff assembly
22
is supported on a positioning frame
24
which securely supports the buff assembly during operation. As discussed in more detail below, two similar web cleaning apparatus
20
are installed on a pre-existing web processing machine, such as a web offset press used in printing newspapers. Typically, one apparatus
20
is provided for each of the two surfaces of the web to be cleaned. The apparatus
20
supports from a single cross machine direction support shaft
25
: the buff assembly, a motor drive
26
, and the drivetrain
28
which connects the motor drive to the buff assembly. The positioning frame
24
provides for adjustment of the elements of the frame about three parallel pivot axes in a fashion that accommodates the wide variety of machines to which the apparatus
20
may need to be mounted. Furthermore, the apparatus
20
is readily broken down into smaller components which may be then be easily installed one after the other as sub-assemblies upon the support shaft
25
.
The buff assembly
22
has a conventional cleaning buff roll
30
which is received within a sheet metal hood or plenum
32
. A conduit, not shown, is connected to a rear opening
34
in the plenum
32
and communicates with a source of vacuum, not shown. The buff roll
30
may be composed of buffing disks, typically cloth material which is frayed to form a soft outer surface which is then worn in against a moving web. To effectively clean the web, the interaction between the rotating buff roll
30
must be uniformly established with the boundary layer of air which attaches to a moving web. This boundary layer may be only a small fraction of an inch thick. In general, the buff roll
30
does not touch the moving web which is being cleaned that is spaced from the web by the boundary layer. Particles dislodged from the web become entrained in the boundary layer which then travels with the buff and is drawn off by the vacuum applied to the rear opening
34
of the plenum
32
.
The buff roll
30
is supported on a buff shaft
36
with bearings
38
on each end which are engaged within two-part screw clamps
40
. A buff coupling sprocket
41
is secured to one end of the buff shaft
36
. The clamps
40
are secured to an attachment cross bar
42
which extends parallel to the buff shaft
36
. The attachment cross bar
42
is connected to the plenum
32
and fixes the plenum in the appropriate relation to the buff roll
30
. Fastening and positioning screws
44
extend from the attachment cross bar
42
away from the buff roll
30
. One screw
44
is located on each end of the attachment cross bar
42
and has about one-half inch of exposed shank for being received within the open slots of a bracket
46
extending from a support arm
48
and on the opposite side, another bracket
50
extending from a drive arm
52
.
As shown in
FIG. 3
, the support arm bracket
46
has a platform
54
which extends outwardly from a split ring collar
56
. The platform
54
has a short slot
58
which receives one of the buff attachment cross bar positioning screws
44
. The drive arm bracket
50
also has a platform
60
which extends toward the support arm bracket platform
54
. The drive arm bracket platform
60
has a longer slot
62
which receives the other of the two buff attachment cross bar positioning screws
44
. The longer slot
62
is defined between a first finger
64
and a longer second finger
66
. The fingers
64
,
66
may be attached with screws such that, if optimal for a particular installation, the order of the fingers may be reversed.
To mount the buff assembly
22
to the brackets
46
,
50
, the attachment cross bar positioning screw
44
farthest from the buff sprocket
41
is slid into the support arm bracket slot
58
. With the inserted positioning screw
44
still loose, the weight of the buff assembly may be primarily carried by the support arm bracket
46
while the attachment cross bar is pivoted about an axis defined by the positioning screw
44
to bring the other positioning screw into engagement with the longer second finger
66
of the drive arm bracket
50
. Once the sprocket side positioning screw
44
is aligned within the drive arm bracket slot
62
, the entire buff assembly
22
is slid towards the drive arm to bring the buff coupling sprocket
41
into engagement with a drive shaft coupling extending from the drive arm
52
, and the screws are tightened to secure the attachment cross bar to the brackets. The shaft coupling may be any misalignment tolerant coupling, such as the Series “M” Flexible Shaft Drive Couplings manufactured by Guardian Industries, Inc. of Michigan City, Ind. The coupling employs steel double crowned tooth sprocket hubs as the buff sprocket
41
and the drive sprocket
68
, and a nylon internal splined sleeve
70
, which connects the two steel hubs, and is tolerant of a certain amount of misalignment between the drive sprocket and the buff sprocket. These couplings are described at http://www.guardiancouplings.com/gd98.htm. and are available from Guardian Industries, Inc. 3201 Ohio Street PO Box 478 Michigan City, Ind. 46361.
The drive sprocket
68
is connected by the drivetrain
28
to the motor drive
26
, which may be a conventional electric motor, or may be a pneumatic or hydraulic motor where appropriate. The drive arm assembly
74
is comprised of all the components which are supported on a drive arm base
76
which is releasably and pivotably connected to the cylindrical support shaft
25
. As shown in
FIG. 1
, the drive arm base
76
is secured to the support shaft
25
by two screw clamps
78
. By loosening the screw clamps
78
, the drive arm base
76
, and the entire drive arm assembly may be pivoted about the support shaft
25
which defines a first cross machine direction pivot axis for the apparatus
20
.
The drive arm base
76
has two plates
80
which extend upwardly from the screw clamps
78
and which have aligned through holes
184
which provide clearance for the passage therethrough of a first pulley shaft
82
. The base plates
80
are connected together with spacer blocks
186
to define a space therebetween which receives a pivot arm
84
as shown in FIG.
2
. The pivot arm
84
has a split ring clamp
86
with a downwardly extending link
88
which is pivotably connected to an actuator
90
which is pinned for rotation between the two base plates
80
. The pivot arm may be as shown, or may be made symmetrical to permit the direction of the actuator to be reversed if required by a particular installation. The actuator
90
may be a pneumatic, hydraulic, or other linear actuator, and preferably is double acting. The pivot arm split ring clamp
86
is releasably clamped to the tube portion
188
of a flange collar
92
which extends through the through holes in the base plates
80
and which is fixed to the drive arm
52
on the outside of the exterior base plate
80
. The flange collar
92
and two sets of bearings form a bearing assembly. As shown in
FIG. 6
, the flange collar
92
has a pair of coaxial bearings
190
through which the first pulley shaft
82
extends for free rotation. A first pulley
94
is fixed to the first pulley shaft
82
exterior of the flange
96
of the flange collar
92
. The first pulley shaft
82
extends inwardly from the first pulley
94
through the flange collar
92
, through the two parallel base plates
80
to an interior pulley
98
fixed to the end of the first pulley shaft. The interior end of the tube portion
188
of the flange collar
92
is threaded and receives thereon a threaded clamp collar
100
, which, as shown in
FIG. 3
, is positioned adjacent the interior base plate
80
.
As shown in
FIG. 2
, the motor
26
is secured by fasteners to a motor belt housing
108
. The motor belt housing
108
has a motor side plate
110
connected to a far side plate
112
by screw fasteners
116
which extend through spacers
114
. As shown in
FIG. 3
, the motor belt housing
108
is fixed to one of the base plates
80
, by the fasteners
116
which extend through several rings
192
having bolt holes and then through spacers
114
to a threaded connection with the base plate
80
. The motor belt housing may be provided with a series of curved slots to receive the attachment fasteners to permit the housing to be attached at a variety of angles. The motor side plate
110
and the far side plate
112
are preferably provided with a circular array of fastener holes encircling the first pulley shaft
82
through which multiple fasteners
116
may extend. By selecting the appropriate sets of fastener holes, the orientation of the motor belt housing
108
and the connected motor
26
may be adjusted with respect to the base
76
. Thus, the motor belt housing
108
, although shown as extending rearwardly from the drive arm base
76
, could extend upwardly or at some other angle. The motor belt housing is provided with a guard, not shown, such as a tensioned woven strap which wraps around connected fasteners to encircle and close off access to the interior of the belt housing
108
.
The motor
26
, as shown in
FIG. 2
, engages a flexible timing belt
120
which is also looped around the interior pulley
98
. Rotation of the motor sprocket
118
drives the belt
120
, which in turn rotates the first pulley shaft
82
and the first pulley
94
which projects beyond the drive arm
52
. The first pulley shaft
82
defines a second cross machine direction axis of rotation for the apparatus
20
. It will be noted that the flange collar
92
, which is fixed to the drive arm
52
is coaxial with the first pulley shaft
82
and is mounted to the drive arm base
76
in a fashion to permit rotation of the drive arm about the second axis of rotation. Adjustment of a single adjustment screw
122
, shown in
FIG. 3
, on the pivot arm split ring clamp
86
, allows the flange collar
92
and attached drive arm
52
to be either clamped to the pivot arm
84
or be free to rotate with respect to the pivot arm. When clamped to the pivot arm
84
, the drive arm
52
is fixed with respect to the base. However, actuation of the actuator
90
will cause the drive arm
52
, and the buff assembly
22
which is attached thereto, to pivot about the first pulley shaft
82
, permitting the buff assembly to be pivoted out of engagement of the web being cleaned. During installation of the apparatus
20
, prior to clamping the flange collar
92
to the pivot arm
84
, the drive arm may be rotated to best position the buff assembly
22
.
As shown in
FIGS. 2 and 6
, the drive arm
52
is an aluminum plate which has an opening
194
at one end which receives the first pulley shaft, and an opening
124
at the other end which receives a second pulley shaft
126
. A second pulley
128
is secured to the second pulley shaft
126
on the same side of the drive arm
52
as the first pulley
94
. A second flange collar
130
, similar to the flange collar
92
, extends through the opening
124
and has a bearing
196
which receives the second pulley shaft
126
therethrough. The opening
124
is an oblong slot having a height which is slightly greater than the diameter of the tube portion
132
of the second flange collar
130
. The width of the opening
124
is longer than its height. Two adjustment screws
134
extend into the opening
124
along the long axis and engage against the tube portion
132
of the second flange collar
130
. The flange
136
of the second flange collar
130
has a pin
138
which extends into a pin hole
198
in the drive arm
52
adjacent the opening
124
. The second flange collar
130
pivots on the pin
138
when the adjustment screws
134
are adjusted. By this means, the distance between the first pulley
94
and the second pulley
128
is adjusted to apply the desired level of tension to a looped timing belt
140
which extends between the first pulley and the second pulley.
The tube portion
132
of the second flange collar
130
extends through the opening
124
in the drive arm
52
and through the split ring clamp
86
of the drive arm bracket
50
. The end of the tube portion
132
is threaded to receive a threaded clamp collar
142
which secures the drive arm bracket
50
against the drive arm
52
. The drive sprocket
68
is secured to the second pulley shaft
126
at the end opposite the second pulley
128
. A cylindrical tube
144
is screwed to the threaded clamp collar
142
and extends along the second pulley shaft to surround the drive sprocket
68
and projects beyond the drive sprocket. The nylon internal splined sleeve
70
is received within the cylindrical tube
144
and is retained thereby in engagement with the drive sprocket
68
.
As shown in
FIG. 3
, the support arm
48
is spaced opposite the drive arm
52
with the buff assembly
22
engaged between the two arms. The support arm assembly
146
has adjustable pivotable connections similar to those of the drive arm assembly
74
to permit the position of the buff assembly
22
to be adjusted while maintaining the buff roll
30
in parallel relation to the web being cleaned. As an aid to maintaining identical angular positioning of the support arm
48
and the drive arm
52
, the two arms may be connected together by a cross shaft
148
. The cross shaft
148
is connected to the drive arm
52
by a screw clamp
150
which engages the cylindrical cross shaft with a right angle bracket
152
which projects from a midpoint of the drive arm
52
. The right angle bracket
152
allows the cross shaft
148
to be coaxial with the first pulley shaft
82
without engaging the drive base
76
directly. An opening, not shown, may be provided in the cross shaft
148
adjacent the drive arm
52
through which pneumatic hoses for the actuator
90
may be fed to bring all the hoses to a common side of the apparatus
20
.
The other end of the cross shaft
148
is received within a flange collar
154
which projects from the support arm base
156
. The flange collar
154
has a screw clamp
158
which engages against the cross shaft
148
and secures it to the flange collar. The flange collar
154
has a tube portion which extends through clearance openings in the two spaced base plates
160
of the support arm base
156
. As in the drive arm base
76
, a clearance is defined between the two support arm base plates
160
into which an actuator extends and is connected to the link of a pivot arm
162
which has an upper split ring clamp
164
which encircles the tube portion of the flange collar
154
and which is selectably secured to the flange collar. Both actuators can then be operated independently to pivot the buff assembly out of engagement with a web, for example for threading the machine, or for other maintenance work, and can then be accurately returned to the original position. The base plates are connected to the support shaft
25
by screw clamps
78
.
The tube of the flange collar
154
projects through the two base plates
160
and through a circular opening in the support arm
48
. An internally threaded split ring collar
166
engages with the flange collar
154
on the exterior of the support arm
48
. Unlike the drive arm
52
, the support arm
48
has portions defining a split ring
168
where it attaches to the flange collar
154
. By tightening an adjustment screw
170
the support arm is secured to the flange collar
154
at the desired orientation.
The far end of the support arm
48
is identical to the far end of the drive arm
52
in that it has an oblong through hole with two aligned adjustment screws for adjusting the centerline position of the cylindrical shank of a flanged knob
172
. The knob
172
projects beyond the support arm
48
and through the split ring collar
56
of the support arm bracket
46
, and is secured against axial movement by a threaded split ring collar
174
which engages with the threaded end of the knob
172
. Rotation of an adjustment screw
176
in the split ring collar
56
allows the support arm bracket
46
to be adjusted to the desired orientation.
The pivotable relationships between the buff assembly brackets and the arms; between the arms and the bases; between the bases and the support shaft; and between the drive bell housing and the base, provide a wide variety of possibilities for installation of the apparatus
20
within a pre-existing machine. The apparatus
20
may be configured by the installer to suit the exact requirements of the particular job. Without requiring specialized machining or parts, the apparatus
20
is expeditiously adjusted for ready mounting even in tight environments.
To summarize, the apparatus
20
has three parallel cross machine direction axes about which portions of the apparatus are pivotably mounted for fixed positioning at a selected orientation. A first axis is coaxial with the support shaft
25
and permits rotation of the entire apparatus
20
, and more particularly the support arm base
156
and the drive arm base
76
. A second axis is coaxial with the first pulley shaft
82
and the cross shaft
148
and permits rotation of the arm assemblies with respect to the bases
76
,
156
. This is also the axis about which the drive belt housing is adjustable to different orientations. In addition, the actuators
90
cause the arms to pivot about this axis to displace the buff assembly into on/off operational positions. A third axis is coaxial with the second pulley shaft
126
and the buff shaft
36
and permits adjustment of the buff assembly
22
including the vacuum plenum
32
. This is also the axis about which the buff roll
30
is driven.
In addition, it should be noted that generally the orientation of the parts may be adjusted without the need to completely remove fasteners.
Two examples of installations of the apparatus
20
are illustrated and
FIGS. 4 and 5
. To clean both surfaces of a traveling web
178
, two web cleaning apparatuses
20
must be installed on the web processing machinery. Furthermore, to be effective, the web must be restrained as it passes across the buff roll
30
to prevent fluttering and other unpredictable behavior. A first installation approach, shown in
FIG. 4
, opposes the two buff assemblies one on either side of the web
178
along an open span of web. All that is required to install each apparatus
20
is a fixed support shaft
25
. The support shaft
25
may be clamped to some portion of the machinery frame.
An alternative mounting approach is shown in
FIG. 5
, where a first web cleaning apparatus
20
engages the web
178
against a first roller
180
to clean a first surface of the web, while the second web cleaning apparatus
20
engages the web against a second roller
182
at a position spaced from the first roller to clean a second surface of the web. It may thus be seen that the web cleaning buff assemblies may be positioned in various orientations by different configurations of the apparatus
20
to take into account the particular volumes available in a particular machine. It should be noted that the schematic views of FIG.
4
and
FIG. 5
have omitted the frame and other common obstructions which will be encountered in an actual machinery installation.
It should be noted that a variety of mechanical equivalents may be substituted for the particular pivotable connections and drive linkages disclosed above. For example, although a drivetrain employing timing belts and pulleys has been discussed above, other drivetrains employing gears, friction wheels, fluid drives, or others could be used. Moreover, where the pivotable relations between parts have been disclosed as split rings or screw clamps, other selectably pivotable or rigid connections may be employed. In addition, in certain circumstances the cross tube may be omitted between the drive arm assembly and the support arm assembly. Furthermore, a mirror image apparatus may be constructed from the same parts where it is desirable to mount the drive arm assembly on the opposite side.
It is understood that the invention is not limited to the particular construction and arrangement of parts herein illustrated and described, but embraces such modified forms thereof as come within the scope of the following claims.
Claims
- 1. A web cleaning apparatus for attachment to support portions of a web processing machine, the web cleaning apparatus comprising:a support base pivotably mounted to the support portions for rotation about a first axis, for fixed positioning at a selected orientation with respect to a first angular position defined about the first axis; a support arm mounted to the support base for positionable rotation about a second axis, for fixed positioning at a selected orientation with respect to a second angular position defined about the second axis; a drive base pivotably mounted to the support portions for rotation about the first axis, for fixed positioning at a selected orientation with respect to the first angular position about the first axis; a drive arm pivotably mounted to the drive base for positionable rotation about the second axis, for fixed positioning at a selected orientation with respect to the second angular position about the second axis; a vacuum plenum mounted between the support arm and the drive arm, and rotatably positionable about a third axis; a web cleaning buff supported on a buff shaft and rotatable within the vacuum plenum; and a drive motor mounted to the drive base and connected to drive the buff shaft for rotation within the vacuum plenum, wherein the buff and the vacuum plenum are variably positioned with respect to the first axis first angular position to position the buff and the vacuum plenum in proximity to a web to be cleaned.
- 2. The web cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein a web travels through the web processing machine in a machine direction, and a cross machine direction is defined perpendicular to the machine direction, and wherein the first axis and the second axis extend in the cross machine direction, the apparatus further comprising:a first bracket extending from the drive arm toward the support arm, the first bracket being connected to the drive arm and being adjustable in orientation with respect to the drive arm while remaining connected to the drive arm, the first bracket having a platform which extends toward the support arm, the platform having portions defining a cross machine direction first slot; a drive shaft extending from the drive arm parallel to the first slot, the drive shaft being rotated by a connection to the drive motor; a second bracket extending from the support arm toward the drive arm, the second bracket being connected to the support arm and being adjustable in orientation with respect to the support arm while remaining connected to the support arm, the second bracket having a platform which extends toward the drive arm, the second bracket platform having portions defining a first finger, and a second longer finger spaced rearwardly of the first finger to define between the first finger and the second finger a second cross machine direction slot opening toward the first slot; an attachment cross bar to which the buff shaft is mounted; a first fastener extending from a first end of the attachment cross bar toward the first bracket platform; and a second fastener extending from a second end of the attachment cross bar toward the second bracket, wherein the second fastener is receivable within the second bracket second slot, such that the buff assembly is pivotable about the second fastener to bring the second fastener against the first bracket second finger, and wherein the buff shaft on the attachment cross bar is then slidable in the cross machine direction to engage the first fastener within the first slot, and bring the buff shaft into engagement with a drive coupler which extends between the buff shaft and the drive shaft.
- 3. The web cleaning apparatus of claim 1 further comprising;a pivot arm, pivotably connected at a first end to the drive base about an axis spaced from the second axis, wherein the pivot arm extends from the first end to the drive arm; and an actuator which engages the pivot arm, whereby actuation of the actuator acts to pivot the pivot arm about the second axis, to thereby selectively move the buff from a cleaning position to a spaced position.
- 4. The web cleaning apparatus of claim 3 wherein the pivot arm has a clamp which selectably secures the pivot arm to the drive arm.
- 5. The web cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the drive motor is connected to a housing which is connected by fasteners to the drive base, the housing having a circular array of fastener holes through which said fasteners extend, such that the angular orientation of the housing with respect to the base is adjustable by rotating the housing with respect to the base and inserting said fasteners at a desired position.
- 6. The web cleaning apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:a first pulley mounted on a first pulley shaft to the drive arm, the first pulley being driven by the drive motor; a flange collar having a tubular portion, and a radially protruding flange with a pin hole therein; a second pulley mounted on a second pulley shaft to the drive arm spaced from the first pulley shaft, the second pulley shaft extending rotatably through the flange collar; portions of the second arm defining an oblong slot which receives the flange collar, wherein the flange of the flange collar is pinned to the drive arm to permit the flange collar to pivot within the oblong slot about the pinned connection; adjustable screws extending into the oblong slot to engage against the tubular portion of the flange collar; and a belt which extends around the first pulley and the second pulley, wherein rotation of the adjustable screws adjusts the tension applied to the belt.
- 7. The web cleaning apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:a first pulley shaft extending along the second axis; a first pulley mounted to the first pulley shaft; a second pulley shaft extending along the third axis; a second pulley mounted to the second pulley shaft; and a belt extending between the first pulley and the second pulley, wherein the first pulley shaft is driven by the drive motor, and the second pulley shaft is connected to drive the buff shaft.
- 8. The web cleaning apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a cross tube which extends between the drive arm and the support arm approximately coaxial with the second axis, the cross tube being rotatable with the drive arm and the support arm such that both arms may be adjusted in orientation together with respect to the drive base and the support base.
- 9. A web cleaning apparatus for cleaning of a web traveling in a machine direction, a cross machine direction being defined perpendicular to the machine direction, the apparatus comprising:a support tube extending in the cross machine direction; a drive base extending radially outwardly from the support tube and rotatable about the support tube; a first clamp connected to the drive base to releasably clamp the drive base to the support tube; a drive arm having a first end which is pivotably connected to the drive base at a position spaced from the support tube, and having a second end spaced from the first end; a second clamp connected to the drive arm to selectably fix the drive arm to the drive base at a particular orientation with respect to the drive base; a first bracket rotatably connected to the second end of the drive arm; a third clamp connected to the first bracket to selectably fix the first bracket to the drive arm at a particular orientation with respect to the drive arm; a rotating buff assembly having a buff mounted to a buff shaft within a vacuum plenum, wherein the rotating buff assembly is releasably affixed to the first bracket; and a drive motor mounted to the drive base to drive the buff shaft.
- 10. The web cleaning apparatus of claim 9 further comprising:a first bracket extending from the drive arm toward the support arm, the first bracket being connected to the drive arm and being adjustable in orientation with respect to the drive arm while remaining connected to the drive arm, the first bracket having a platform which extends toward the support arm, the platform having portions defining a cross machine direction first slot; a drive shaft extending from the drive arm parallel to the first slot, the drive shaft being rotated by a connection to the drive motor; a second bracket extending from the support arm toward the drive arm, the second bracket being connected to the support arm and being adjustable in orientation with respect to the support arm while remaining connected to the support arm, the second bracket having a platform which extends toward the drive arm, the second bracket platform having portions defining a first finger, and a second longer finger spaced rearwardly of the first finger to define between the first finger and the second finger a second cross machine direction slot opening toward the first slot; an attachment cross bar to which the buff shaft is mounted; a first fastener extending from a first end of the attachment cross bar toward the first bracket platform; and a second fastener extending from a second end of the attachment cross bar toward the second bracket, wherein the second fastener is receivable within the second bracket second slot, such that the buff assembly is pivotable about the second fastener to bring the second fastener against the first bracket second finger, and wherein the buff shaft on the attachment cross bar is then slidable in the cross machine direction to engage the first fastener within the first slot, and bring the buff shaft into engagement with a drive coupler which extends between the buff shaft and the drive shaft.
- 11. The web cleaning apparatus of claim 9 further comprising;a pivot arm, pivotably connected at a first end to the drive base about an axis spaced from the second axis, wherein the pivot arm extends from the first end to the drive arm; and an actuator which engages the pivot arm, whereby actuation of the actuator acts to pivot the pivot arm about the second axis, to thereby selectively move the buff from a cleaning position to a spaced position.
- 12. The web cleaning apparatus of claim 11 wherein the pivot arm has a clamp which selectably secures the pivot arm to the drive arm.
- 13. The web cleaning apparatus of claim 9 wherein the drive motor is connected to a housing which is connected by fasteners to the drive base, the housing having a circular array of fastener holes through which said fasteners extend, such that the angular orientation of the housing with respect to the base is adjustable by rotating the housing with respect to the base and inserting said fasteners at a desired position.
- 14. The web cleaning apparatus of claim 9 further comprising:a first pulley mounted on a first pulley shaft to the drive arm, the first pulley being driven by the drive motor; a flange collar having a tubular portion, and a radially protruding flange with a pin hole therein; a second pulley mounted on a second pulley shaft to the drive arm spaced from the first pulley shaft, the second pulley shaft extending rotatably through the flange collar; portions of the second arm defining an oblong slot which receives the flange collar, wherein the flange of the flange collar is pinned to the drive arm to permit the flange collar to pivot within the oblong slot about the pinned connection; adjustable screws extending into the oblong slot to engage against the tubular portion of the flange collar; and a belt which extends around the first pulley and the second pulley, wherein rotation of the adjustable screws adjusts the tension applied to the belt.
- 15. The web cleaning apparatus of claim 9 further comprising:a first pulley shaft extending along the second axis; a first pulley mounted to the first pulley shaft; a second pulley shaft extending along the third axis; a second pulley mounted to the second pulley shaft; and a belt extending between the first pulley and the second pulley, wherein the first pulley shaft is driven by the drive motor, and the second pulley shaft is connected to drive the buff shaft.
- 16. The web cleaning apparatus of claim 9 further comprising a cross tube which extends between the drive arm and the support arm approximately coaxial with the second axis, the cross tube being rotatable with the drive arm and the support arm such that both arms may be adjusted in orientation together with respect to the drive base and the support base.
- 17. A web cleaning apparatus comprising:a first base for connection to a fixed location on a piece of machinery; a second base for connection to a fixed location on the piece of machinery at a location spaced in a first direction from the first base; a first arm connected to the first base, the first arm being adjustable in its orientation with respect to the first base while remaining connected to the first base; a second arm connected to the second base, the second arm being adjustable in its orientation with respect to the second base while remaining connected to the second base; a drive motor connected to the first arm; a first bracket extending from the first arm toward the second arm, the first bracket being connected to the first arm and being adjustable in orientation with respect to the first arm while remaining connected to the first arm, the first bracket having a platform which extends toward the second arm, the platform having portions defining a first slot which extends in the first direction; a drive shaft extending from the first arm parallel to the first slot; a drive train connecting the drive motor to the drive shaft; a second bracket extending from the second arm toward the first arm, the second bracket being connected to the second arm and being adjustable in orientation with respect to the second arm while remaining connected to the second arm, the second bracket having a platform which extends toward the first arm, the second bracket platform having portions defining a first finger, and a second longer finger spaced in a direction perpendicular to the first direction from the first finger to define between the first finger and the second finger a second first direction slot opening toward the first slot; a buff assembly having a rotatable buff roll with a buff shaft extending therefrom, and a vacuum plenum which receives portions of the buff roll, the buff assembly being mounted to an attachment cross bar which extends in the first direction; a first fastener extending from a first end of the attachment cross bar toward the first bracket platform; and a second fastener extending from a second end of the attachment cross bar toward the second bracket, wherein the second fastener is receivable within the second bracket second slot, such that the buff assembly is pivotable about the second fastener to bring the second fastener against the first bracket second finger, and wherein the buff assembly is then slidable in the first direction to engage the first fastener within the first slot, and bring the buff assembly shaft into engagement with a drive coupler which extends between the buff shaft and the drive shaft.
- 18. A web processing machine with web cleaning features comprising:a frame; a first roll mounted to the frame; a second roll mounted to the frame; a web extending from the first roll to the second roll, such that a first side of the web faces outwardly as the web travels over the first roll, and a second side of the web faces outwardly as the web travels over the second roll, the web advancing in a machine direction from the first roll to the second roll, which is positioned downstream of the first roll; a first cross shaft fixed with respect to the frame and extending in a cross machine direction perpendicular to the machine direction; a first web cleaning apparatus mounted to the first cross shaft; a second cross shaft fixed with respect to the frame and extending in the cross machine direction and positioned downstream of the first cross shaft; and a second web cleaning apparatus mounted to the second cross shaft, wherein both the first web cleaning apparatus and the second web cleaning apparatus have a base clamped to one of the first cross shaft and the second cross shaft, and a drive arm adjustably pivotably attached to the base, and a drive arm bracket adjustably pivotably connected to the drive arm, and a rotatable buff mounted to the drive arm bracket, and a motor positioned remotely from the bracket, but in driving engagement with the buff for rotation thereof, wherein the first web cleaning apparatus is configured to position its rotatable buff adjacent the first roll to clean the first side of the web, and the second rotatable buff is configured to position its rotatable buff adjacent the second roll to clean the second side of the web.
US Referenced Citations (10)