ADJUSTABLE GUIDE FOR MOVING WEBS OR FABRICS

Abstract: The object of the invention is an adjustable guide (10) for a moving web or fabric, comprising a bearing housing (11) and therein a centric bearing space (14) of the bearing housing (11) wherein a bearing, advantageously a spherical bearing, can be installed for the end journal of a guide roll, and said guide (10) comprising bellows (17,18) on either side of the frame (13) of said bearing housing , the bearing housing (11) being movable, for positioning the end of the web guide roll, with the aid of pressurized fluid introduced in said bellows. The guide (10) comprises within the bellows (17,18) in the fluid space (31,32) a first bearing lug (33; 40) in fixed position relative to the fixed frame (21) and thereon a pivot point (34; 41) and a second bearing lug (35; 38) in fixed position relative to the movable bearing housing (11) and thereon a pivot point (36; 39). Between said pivot points (34,35; 39,41) has been disposed a turnable arm (37; 42).

Description: The present invention concerns an adjustable guide for moving webs or fabrics. Heretofore, an apparatus arrangement has been used in controlling the lateral positioning of a moving web, wherein one end of the guide roll has been movable so that the bearing is guided laterally in horizontal direction for implementing displacement of the roll relative to the direction of travel of the web. Lateral guide bearings of moving webs are known in prior art in which both ends of the bearing housing comprise a bellows structure in which can be introduced fluid pressure in order to displace the bearing housing in desired direction (see for instance US-A-4655378). In apparatus designs of prior art said guide has been disposed to move horizontally on separate guide rails. A number of different bearing designs implementing horizontal movement are known in the art, but a major drawback of said bearings representing the state of art is that they tend to accumulate dirt, as the bearing means are open and unprotected.This is a great detriment particularly in the paper industry. The object of the invention is a guide for moving webs or fabrics which presents a compact, enclosed construction. Also an object of the invention is a guide comprising bellows associated with the bearing housing which are quickly replaceable by changing one complete package. The general object of the invention is also an apparatus design which is able to operate in any position, also upside down, and which thus may equally be used as a vertical guide. The guide of the invention is mainly characterized in that the guide comprises, within the bellows in the fluid space, a first bearing lug fixedly positioned relative to the fixed frame and thereon a pivot point, and a second bearing lug in fixed position relative to the movable bearing housing and thereon a pivot point, and that a curved arm has been fitted between said pivot points. The present invention teaches the forming of a guide construction of entirely novel type comprising a compact bellows structure which is replaceable as a unit, and therewithin suspension structures for a bearing housing, which consist of a bearing point located in a fixed position relative to the fixed frame and of a bearing point fixed relative to the movable bearing housing, between these a pivoted arm has been disposed to be turnable. On either side of the bearing housing bellows of mutually identical structure have been disposed. Merely the location of the pivot points may be different on the bellows. The invention is described, in the following, referring to certain advantageous embodiments of the invention, presented in the figures of the drawings attached hereto, yet to which the invention is not meant to be exclusively confined. In Fig. 1 are presented guides according to the invention, installed on the ends of the roll shaft. Here, the guide serves as a horizontal guide of the roll. In Fig. 2 is presented the guide of the invention in elevational view. In Fig. 3 the guide of the invention is presented, viewed in the direction of the arrow K₁ in Fig. 1. In Fig. 4 the bellows structure, dismountable as a unit, is shown in elevational view, the lugs and suspension shaft inside the bellows being indicated with interrupted lines. In Fig. 5 is presented the section I-I, as taken from Fig. 4 and viewed in the direction of the arrows. In Fig. 1, a paper machine line is depicted, viewed from above. The direction of travel of the web W has been indicated with arrows L₁. The guide of the invention has been disposed on both ends of the guide roll C of the paper web W. The guide 10 of the invention comprises, as shown in Fig. 2, a bearing housing 11 for the web guide roll. The bearing housing 11 comprises a bearing housing cover 12, which is detachably connectable to the frame of the bearing housing, advantageously with screw means (not depicted). Between the frame 13 of the bearing housing and the cover 12 of the bearing housing is defined a centric bearing space 14 of the bearing housing, in which can be mounted the bearing, advantageously a spherical bearing, for the end journal of the guide roll. The guide of the invention comprises bellows on either side of the vertical central axis Y of the guide 10: a first bellows 17 and a second bellows 18. The guide 10 comprises, within the bearing housing 13, first bellows fixing means 15, for the first bellows 17, and second bellows fixing means 16 for the second bellows 18. The first bellows 17 is a unitary component, structurally comprising a first bellows section 17a and a second bellows section 17b. Similarly, the second bellows, on the other side of the central axis Y of the guide 10, comprises the first bellows section 18a and the second bellows section 18b of the second bellows 18. The bellows 17 and 18 consist advantageously of a resilient, elastic material. The first bellows 17 comprises, bounding on the resilient bellows section, and fixing the bellows section, a first fixing flange 19a₁ and a second fixing flange 19a₂. The first fixing flange 19a₁ attaches to the bellows section 17a, and the second fixing flange 19a₂ attaches to the bellows section 17b. Similarly, the second bellows 18 comprises a first fixing flange 20a₁, which attaches to the bellows section 18a, and a second fixing flange 20a₂, which attaches to the bellows section 18b. Associated with the flange 19a₂ is a smaller diameter fixing member 19b₁, which further attaches to the vertical frame section 21b of the frame 21, e.g. by screw means (not depicted). Similarly, the fixing flange 19a₂ comprises, associated with it, a smaller diameter fixing member 19b₂, which is further detachably attachable to the frame 13 of the bearing housing, to its fixing section 15, advantageously likewise with similar screw means. Similar fixing members 20b₁ and 20b₂ are provided on the bellows component 18 for attaching the bellows 18 both to the bearing housing, to its frame 13, and to the vertical frame section 21c of the fixed frame 21. As taught by the invention, the first bellows 17 as well as the second bellows 18 have similar structural parts, and the bellows 17 and 18 are detachable for the duration of maintenance work from the frame section 13 and from the vertical frame section 21b and 21c of the fixed frame section 21. Therefore the bellows 17 and 18 together with the bearing means therein can be detached as a unit for the duration of maintenance work and replacement bellows can immediately be installed in their place, whereby web shut-downs are avoided. It is also essential that the bellows 17 and 18 have equivalent structural components. As a result there are few different frame components, whereby the production costs will be lower. As depicted in Figs 2 and 3, the guide 10 comprises a fixed frame 21, which comprises a horizontal frame section 21a and vertical frame sections 21b and 21c. The first bellows 17 attaches to the first vertical frame section 21b and the second bellows 18, to the second vertical frame section 21c. As further depicted with interrupted lines in Fig. 2, the first bellows 17 comprises a fluid space 31 therewithin, into which a pressurized fluid can be introduced for moving the bearing housing 11 horizontally. The second bearing housing 18 similarly comprises a fluid space 32, into which pressurized fluid, or vacuum, can be introduced for moving the bearing housing 11 in desired direction. For moving the bearing housing 11 horizontally, the fluid pressure, advantageously that of compressed air or of a hydraulic liquid, can be introduced into the pressurized fluid spaces 31 and/or 32 either of one bellows, 17 or 18, or of both bellows 17 and 18. The guide 10 comprises a first position measuring means 32, consisting substantially, as depicted in Fig. 2, of a horizontal rod component 23 which has been turnably pivoted with a bearing 24 to the frame 13 of the bearing housing 11. The position measuring means 22 further comprises a second rod 26, pivoted with the aid of a bearing 25 to the horizontal rod component 23. The vertical rod 26 is further connected to an angular position measuring means 27, this being for instance a potentiometer, which indicates the angular position of the rod 26 and, by this means, the position in horizontal direction of the bearing housing 11. The position information concerning the bearing housing can in this way be further transmitted to guide position remote control apparatus. The guide 10 further comprises a second detector means 28 registering the position of the bearing housing 11, consisting of a position pointer 29 fixed on the fixed frame 21 and of a scale 30 mounted on the frame 13 of the bearing housing 11 and moving along with the frame 13. At the pointer 29, the position of the bearing housing 11 is readable on the scale 30. Within the first bellows 17 and the second bellows 18 are provided suspension means for the bearing housing 11, and they are equivalent as to their structural components in both bellows 17 and 18. As depicted in Fig. 2, the first bellows 17 contains a first bearing lug 33, located inside the first bellows 17, in its pressurized fluid space 31, this lug further attaching fixedly to the flange 19a₁. Similarly, a guide arm 37 has been placed within the pressurized fluid space 31, this arm connecting at one end with the pivot point of the first bearing lug 33, i.e., with the bearing 34, and at the other end with the pivot point 35 of the second bearing lug which is fixedly attached to the second flange 19a₂, i.e., with the bearing 36. The arm 37 is thus turnably pivoted at both ends relative to the lugs 33 and 35. The second bellows 18 similarly contains equivalent structural components. Within the fluid space 32 inside the bellows 18 has been provided a first lug 38 fixedly connected to the flange 20a₂ and a second lug 40, fixedly connected to the flange 20a₁. The first lug 38 comprises a pivot point, or bearing point, 39 for turnably pivoting the arm 42, and similarly the second bearing lug 40 comprises a pivot point, or bearing point, 41 for turnably pivoting the other end of the arm 42. In the embodiment of the invention depicted in Figs 2 and 3, the pivot point 34 of the first lug 33 of the first bellows 17 is located above the longitudinal central axis X of the apparatus, and the pivot point 36 of the second lug 35 is correspondingly located below the central axis X. In this embodiment of the invention the pivot point 39 of the first lug 38 of the second bellows 18 is located above the central axis X, and the pivot point 41 of the second lug 40 is correspondingly located below the central axis X. Therefore, as depicted in Fig. 2, when the bearing housing 11 is moved out from its central axis Y in one direction or the other, the movable pivot point 36 on the bearing lug 35 in the pressurized fluid space 31 of the first bellows 17 will rise upward, and correspondingly the movable pivot point 39 on the bearing lug 38 in the pressurized fluid space 32 of the second bellows 18 will descend, and thus the centre of the journal pin of the roll in the bearing housing 11 will remain in unchanged horizontal position. If the first bellows 17 is disposed in such position that the fixed lug 33 with its pivot point 34 lies below the central axis X and correspondingly the movable lug 35 with its movable pivot point 36 lies above the central axis X, that is if the bellows 17 is inverted, and if the apparatus arrangement regarding the bellows 18 is otherwise as in Fig. 2, the horizontal displacement of the roll centre will follow a convex path. In the centered position of the guide 10, when the arms 37 and 42 are positioned with their central axes vertical, the centre-point of the journal pin is positioned at the topmost point of the convex path, and then position of the journal pin centre descends on movement of the bearing housing 11 in either direction from the centre position. Also conceivable is an embodiment of the invention in which the suspension means inside the first bellows 17 are in the position depicted in Fig. 2 and the positioning of the suspension means of the bellows 18 is inverted so that the lug 38 attaching to the bearing housing 11, to its frame 13, together with its pivot point 39 lies below the central axis X and correspondingly the lug 40 in fixed position relative to the frame 21, together with its pivot point 41, is located above the central axis. In that case the path of the roll shaft centre will be concave. When the arms 37 and 42 are vertically positioned, the centre of the roll shaft is in its lowest position, and displacement of the bearing housing 11 in either direction with the aid of fluid pressure supplied to either or both bellows 17 and/or 18 causes the location of the centre of the roll's axis of rotation to rise upward. When no fluid pressure is applied to either one of the bellows 17 and 18, the weight of the roll urges the bearing housing 11 into centered position; thus this design is self-centering. In Fig. 4 is depicted the bellows design of Fig. 2, on larger scale. The figure shows the first bellows 17. The structural design is fully identical for the bellows 18, except that the location of the pivot points may be different depending on the position of the bellows, as has been described above. The entire bellows structure 17 is detachable as a unit for maintenance work, and the bellows structure 17 comprises a first bellows section 17a and a second bellows section 17b. Inside the bellows is provided a pressurized fluid space 31, into which pressurized fluid can be introduced through either or both flanges 19a₁ and/or 19a₂. With the first bellows section 17a connects the flange 19a₁. It is further connected with the fixing component 19b₁. The other half of the bellows is similar in construction. It comprises the bellows section 17b₂, which connects with the flange 19a₂. The flange 19a₂ further comprises the fixing component 19b₁. By devising the fixing components 19b₁ and 19b₂ and the mating coupling components (15, 21b) connected with these to be similar, the bellows structure is enabled to be turned, in accordance with the intended use, so that the position relative to each other of the pivot points 36 and 34 can be changed with reference to the central axis X. To the flange 19a₁ attaches fixedly a first bearing lug 33, comprising a pivot 34. To the flange 19a₂ attaches fixedly a second bearing lug 35, which comprises the pivot 36. On the pivot 34 has turnably been pivoted an arm 37, and the other end of the arm 37 has turnably been pivoted on the pivot 36. The bellows structure 17a, 17b proper, surrounding the pressurized fluid space 31, consists of elastic, yielding material, advantageously of continuous material. In Fig. 3 is shown the section I-I from Fig. 4. The arm 37 comprises the arm section 37a proper and a sleeve part 37b on its end.The arm 37 has been placed between the first lug half 33a and second lug half of the lug 33. The pivot 34 comprises a bearing axle 34a having at one end an axle section 34c, which comprises threads 34c₁, and at the other end is provided an axle section 34b, which comprises a cotter pin hole 34b₁. The axle (34a, 34b, 34c) has been carried through the lug sections 33a and 33b and fixed with a cotter pin 34g relative to said lug portions. A nut 34d has been screwed on the thread 34c₁ of the axle. Inside the sleeve 37b of the arm, bearing means 34e₁ and 34e₂ have been provided. These bearing means are advantageously conical roller bearings, whereby accurate and play-free rotation is obtained. The arm 37 turns relative to the axle 34a, carried by the bearings 34e₁ and 34e₂. The sleeve part 37b of the arm 37 furthermore carries a grease nipple 34f, through which said bearing means 34e₁ and 34e₂ can be provided with lubricant.

Claims: 1. An adjustable guide (10) for a moving web or fabric, comprising a bearing housing (11) and therein a centric bearing space (14) of the bearing housing (11) wherein a bearing, advantageously a spherical bearing, can be installed for the end journal of a guide roll, and said guide (10) comprising bellows (17, 18) on either side of the frame (13) of said bearing housing, the bearing housing (11) being movable relatively to a fixed frame (21), for positioning the end of the web guide roll, with the aid of pressurized fluid introduced in said bellows, characterized in that the guide (10) comprises within the bellows (17, 18) in the fluid space (31, 32) a first bearing lug (33; 40) in fixed position relative to the fixed frame (21) and thereon a pivot point (34; 41) and a second bearing lug (35; 38) in fixed position relative to the movable bearing housing (11) and thereon a pivot point (36; 39), and that between said pivot points (34, 35; 39, 41) has been disposed a turnable arm (37; 42). 2. Guide according to claim 1, characterized in that the pivot point (34) which is fixed relative to the frame (21) of the bellows (17), when the guide (10) is in centered position, lies above the central axis (X) of the guide and, correspondingly, the movable pivot point (36) of the bellows (17) lies below the central axis (X) of the guide, and that the pivot point (41) which is fixed relative to the frame (21) of the second bellows (18) lies below the central axis (X) of the guide (10) and that the movable pivot point (39) lies above the central axis (X). 3. Guide according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the bellows (17, 18) comprises fixing members (19b₁, 19b₂; 20b₁, 20b₂) which are mutually similar and enable the bellows to be placed between the bearing housing (11) and the fixed frame (21) in inverted position as well. 4. Guide according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the turnable arm (37) comprises an arm section (37a) and on its end a sleeve section (37b), inside which have been provided bearing means (34e₁ and 34e₂), advantageously conical roller bearings, the arm (37) having been pivoted to turn about a bearing axle (34a) disposed between the lug halves (33a and 33b). 5. Guide according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that between the fixed frame (21) and the frame (13) of the bearing housing has been disposed a rod (23) which is at one end pivoted to the frame (13) of the bearing housing (11) with a bearing (24) and at its other end to a turnable arm (26) with a bearing (25), the arm (26) turning when the position of the frame (13) changes, said angular change being observed with the aid of an angular position measuring means (27), for transmitting information concerning the position of the bearing housing (11) to position control apparatus of the guide means (10).

Inventors: PAJULA, JUHANI
Applicants: VALMET PAPER MACHINERY INC.
Application year: 1988
Main classification: B65H23
IPC codes: B65H23