Patent ID: 8852068
Filing Date: 2014-10-07
Classification: B65H,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A folding roll apparatus comprising: a non-rotatable inner tube extending along a longitudinal axis and a rotatable outer tube disposed about the inner tube for rotation about the longitudinal axis with the inner and outer tubes defining an elongated annular space between the inner and outer tubes including a longitudinally elongated vacuum transfer zone at a predetermined relative angular positioning of the outer tube with respect to the inner tube; and a vacuum valving arrangement disposed in the elongated annular space between the inner and outer tubes; the inner tube defining an elongated vacuum plenum therewithin extending along the longitudinal axis beneath the elongated vacuum transfer zone, with the inner tube having at least one vacuum port disposed therein providing fluid communication between the vacuum transfer zone and the vacuum plenum; the outer tube including a plurality of vacuum ports distributed along the longitudinal axis on an outer surface of the outer tube and connected in fluid communication with the annular space between the inner and outer tubes; the vacuum valving arrangement being configured for providing angularly controlled transfer of vacuum from the vacuum plenum inside of the inner tube to the vacuum ports distributed longitudinally along the outer surface of the outer tube, and also being configured for providing distributed bearing support of one of the outer tube and the inner tube on the other of the outer tube and the inner tube at a plurality of locations along the longitudinally elongated vacuum transfer zone.