Patent Application
20180127232
The present invention is generally directed to a telescoping web handling member which can be adjusted to facilitate processing webs of varying dimensions.
Manufacturing lines for making absorbent articles, such as diapers and adult incontinence products, are typically complex and require significant capital expenditure to develop. In view of this, manufacturers are continually evaluating approaches for imparting flexibility into the manufacturing lines to enable different products to be made on a single line with minimal changeover downtime when switching from the making of one product to another product. Downtime is generally needed to adjust unit operations, settings, equipment, and the like associated with different product sizes and/or configurations.
One item that can change when different absorbent articles are manufactured is the width of component webs (nonwovens, films, laminates, and the like). There can be numerous idler and/or driven rolls employed in a manufacturing line to help manage the position, tension, or other properties of a web. Different width rolls can be used for managing different web widths, but the economics of buying/making multiple rolls and storing the same, and the time and effort to change out rolls to make different products, is generally undesirable. A traditional telescoping roll could be employed in a manufacturing line to permit adjustability, but such traditional telescoping rolls comprise uni-directional diameter steps or changes in sections of the telescoping roll. Web materials in contact with such a roll will tend to “walk” to one side of the roll. Moreover, telescoping rolls with uni-directional diameter changes can induce drag on web materials and/or create additional instability and unwanted wrinkles in the web materials.
What is needed is a web handling member (e.g., a roll) that can be adjusted to manage different web widths, but that comprises similar desirable properties to that of fixed web handling members.
The present invention is generally directed to telescoping web handling members which can be adjusted to facilitate processing webs of varying dimensions. In accordance with one embodiment, there has now been provided a telescoping web handling member comprising a first section comprising a first outer web contacting surface, a second section comprising a second outer web contacting surface, and a third section disposed between the first section and the second section and comprising a third outer web contacting surface. At least two of the first section, the second section, and the third section are slidably engaged with one another. And at least two of the first outer web contacting surface, the second outer web contacting surface, and the third outer web contacting surface are on a same plane.
In accordance with another embodiment, there has now been provided a telescoping web handling member comprising a first section, a second section, and a third section disposed between the first section and the second section. At least two of the first section, the second section, and the third section are slidably engaged with one another. There are multiple outer diameter changes between the sections that are both symmetric and centered among the first section, the second section, and the third section.
In accordance with yet another embodiment, there has now been provided a telescoping web handling member comprising a first section, a second section, and a third section disposed between the first section and the second section. The third section comprises a different effective outer diameter from that of the first second and the second section. The third section is slidably engaged with the first section, and rigidly fixed to the second section.
The following detailed description of specific embodiments of the present invention can be best understood when read in conjunction with the drawings enclosed herewith.
The embodiments set forth in the drawings are illustrative in nature and not intended to be limiting of the invention defined by the claims. Moreover, individual features of the drawings and invention will be more fully apparent and understood in view of the detailed description.
The following text sets forth a broad description of numerous different embodiments of the present invention. The description is to be construed as exemplary only and does not describe every possible embodiment since describing every possible embodiment would be impractical, if not impossible. And it will be understood that any feature, characteristic, component, composition, ingredient, product, step or methodology described herein can be deleted, combined with or substituted for, in whole or part, any other feature, characteristic, component, composition, ingredient, product, step or methodology described herein. Numerous alternative embodiments could be implemented, using either current technology or technology developed after the filing date of this patent, which would still fall within the scope of the claims. All publications and patents cited herein are incorporated herein by reference.
It should also be understood that, unless a term is expressly defined in this specification using the sentence “As used herein, the term ‘______’ is hereby defined to mean . . . ” or a similar sentence, there is no intent to limit the meaning of that term, either expressly or by implication, beyond its plain or ordinary meaning, and such term should not be interpreted to be limited in scope based on any statement made in any section of this patent (other than the language of the claims). No term is intended to be essential to the present invention unless so stated. To the extent that any term recited in the claims at the end of this patent is referred to in this patent in a manner consistent with a single meaning, that is done for sake of clarity only so as to not confuse the reader, and it is not intended that such a claim term be limited, by implication or otherwise, to that single meaning. Finally, unless a claim element is defined by reciting the word “means” and a function without the recital of any structure, it is not intended that the scope of any claim element be interpreted based on the application of 35 U.S.C. §112, sixth paragraph.
The present invention is generally directed to telescoping web handling members which can be adjusted to facilitate processing webs of varying dimensions. The web handling members can be stationary, rotate, oscillate, be in the form of an idler roll, be in the form of a driven roll, have a circular cross-sectional geometry, and/or have a non-circular cross sectional geometry, for example. The web handling members can be an independent structure or be associated with another manufacturing component. By way of example only, an exemplary web handling member will be described below as an associated component to a web folding apparatus 10 shown in
Folding apparatus 10 includes a pair of opposing folding boards 12, and an adjacent web handling member that is in the form of an exemplary telescoping idler roll 22. The telescoping idler roll 22 can support a full width of the web. Additional features of telescoping idler roll 22 is shown in
Telescoping idler roll 22 includes three sections: first section 30, second section 33, and third section 36 disposed intermediate first section 30 and second section 33 when idler roll 22 is in an extended configuration. Web handling members of the present invention will typically have at least three sections. While telescoping idler roll 22 is shown with just three sections, variations including four sections, five sections, and more are contemplated herein.
Each of first section 30, second section 33, and third section 36 comprises an outer web contacting surface 31, 34, and 37, respectively. As can be seen in
Each of first section 30, second section 33, and third section 36 also comprises an outer diameter 32, 35, and 38, respectively. The outer diameter changes among the sections permit a section to be slidably engaged with an adjacent section—the telescoping nature of at least some of the idler roll sections enable the overall length 24 (see
Referring again to
It can also be advantageous to manage the length of the stepped portion. For example, the length 50 of the exposed portion of third section 36. In some arrangements, the stepped portion length 50 can range from about 1 mm to about 500 mm, and from about 10 mm to about 350 mm.
In exemplary idler roll 22, outer diameter change 40 is the same (symmetric) as outer diameter change 42. Furthermore, the diameter changes 40, 42 in exemplary idler roll 22 are centered among first section 30, second section 33, and third section 36. In alternative arrangements, outer diameter changes may be off-centered among the plurality of sections. And multiple outer diameter changes can be different where there is end-to-end symmetry along the length of the web handling member. For example, the web handling member may have five sections with two different diameter or step changes among the five sections.
As shown in
In some arrangements, less than all of the adjacent sections are slidably engaged with one another. For example, and as shown in
The sections of the telescoping web handling member can have similar or varying properties and/or configurations. For example, the sections can be made out of different material, wherein one of the sections comprises metallic materials and another of the sections comprises plastic or polymeric materials. In one arrangement, first section 30 and second section 33 are made out of aluminum, while section 36 is made out of plastic. In another example, the sections can be made of out of the same material, wherein each of the sections comprise metallic materials or each of the sections comprise plastic or polymeric materials. In one arrangement, the first section 30, the second section 33, and section 36 may be made out of aluminum. In yet another arrangement, for example, the first section 30, the second section 33, and section 36 may be made out of steel. The materials may be selected based on durability, strength, weight considerations, and the properties of the material that is to interact with the telescoping web handling member. Further, the various sections can also exhibit different levels of solidness and hollowness. For example, third section 36 can be substantially solid, while first section 30 and second section 33 are hollow (or comprise both hollow and solid sections). The connectivity approach of the sections of exemplary idler 22 shown in
One or more of the sections of the telescoping web handling member can employ a surface coating material. Coating materials can be used for a variety of purposes, including, for example, improved wear properties, controlling coefficient of friction, and complying with regulations such as those issued by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/419,572 filed on Nov. 9, 2016, the entirety of which is incorporated by reference herein.
The dimensions and values disclosed herein are not to be understood as being strictly limited to the exact numerical values recited. Instead, unless otherwise specified, each such dimension is intended to mean both the recited value and a functionally equivalent range surrounding that value. For example, a dimension disclosed as “40 mm” is intended to mean “about 40 mm.”
Every document cited herein, including any cross referenced or related patent or application and any patent application or patent to which this application claims priority or benefit thereof, is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety unless expressly excluded or otherwise limited. The citation of any document is not an admission that it is prior art with respect to any invention disclosed or claimed herein or that it alone, or in any combination with any other reference or references, teaches, suggests or discloses any such invention. Further, to the extent that any meaning or definition of a term in this document conflicts with any meaning or definition of the same term in a document incorporated by reference, the meaning or definition assigned to that term in this document shall govern.
While particular embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described, it would be obvious to those skilled in the art that various other changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is therefore intended to cover in the appended claims all such changes and modifications that are within the scope of this invention.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62419572 | Nov 2016 | US |
