Abstract:
A cylindrical shaft has a plurality of radially disposed slots extending longitudinally thereof and opening at the outer surface of the shaft. A radially movable mechanism is disposed within each of the slots. Each mechanism is moved outwardly by an expandable tube. One of the slots opens at a side face of the shaft to provide a side opening through which a track can be inserted into and removed from the slot. Springs bias the track radially inwardly. The track includes an open end through which a support can be inserted into and removed from the track. A two piece retainer retains the track and support in operative position. A plurality of core stops are carried by the support and can be either adjustable longitudinally of the support or fixed to the support. The core stops engage side edges of tubular supports disposed around the shaft for spacing the tubular supports for a winding operation. One support with a particular spacing of core stops can be replaced by another support with a different spacing of core stops very quickly to minimize downtime of the shaft. In a modification, the support is of less length than the associated slot, and an adjusting lug is movably supported at opposite ends of the support. Screws are provided for locking the adjusting lugs and the support in adjusted position.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/233,167, filed Jan. 19, 1999, now abandoned, which claims the benefit of the filing date of U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 60/103,547, filed Oct. 8, 1998, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to an expanding shaft, and more particularly to an expanding shaft of the type which carries tubular supports on which strips of plastic, aluminum or paper films are wound or from which the strips are unwound. 
     More specifically, the invention represents an improvement over the construction as shown, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,597,134 and 5,746,386, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     Expanding shafts are typically used when slitting a wide web of material into discrete widths and rewinding it on cores which may be made of cardboard, plastic or metal and the like. The shaft carries core stops adapted to engage the side edges of the cores to properly space the cores in the correct position for rewinding. The two patents mentioned above provide mobile means mounted for radial movement within slots in the expanding shaft. Core stops are adjustably mounted for axial movement longitudinally of at least one of the mobile means to vary the spacing of the core stops longitudinally of the shaft as desired. Locking means is provided for locking the core stops in position axially of the mobile means and the shaft. 
     With the arrangement as shown in the two patents, the longitudinal position of the core stops relative to the shaft can be adjusted while the shaft is mounted on a slitter-rewinder machine. However, it takes a significant amount of labor and down time of the machine while such changes are made. 
     Therefore, there has been a need to provide a construction wherein the slit widths on a slitter-rewinder machine can be changed in a minimum amount of time. Rather than adjusting the core stops to a new width on the machine, operators have replaced the old mobile means and the core stops mounted thereon with a new mobile means which has a predetermined new spacing of the core stops thereon. The old mobile means may be replaced by a new mobile means in a minimum amount of time. The spacing on the new mobile means can be set by a machine operator while the old mobile means is in operation so that when the old mobile means is replaced by the new mobile means, down time of the machine is minimized. 
     Each mobile means is normally biased by springs radially inwardly of the shaft so that each mobile means is retracted into the shaft when the associated thrusting means is deactivated. The springs act between the shaft and the mobile means. When the mobile means and the core stops carried thereon are removed from the shaft, the springs are difficult to handle and are often lost. It therefore is a principal object of the invention to provide an arrangement whereby at least a portion of a mobile means on which core stops are mounted may be removed and replaced while the retracting springs remain in place within the shaft and are not subjected to any longitudinal forces during such removal and replacement. 
     A further problem arises in the prior art. When there is a slight change in web position, it is desirable to provide means for axially adjusting the support means and the core stops supported thereby while the support means is mounted in operative position within a slot in the expanding shaft. This has not been possible with prior art constructions. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention employs a unique construction wherein the mobile means which supports the core stops comprises a track means and a support means. The track means is disposed within the usual slot in the expanding shaft, and the retracting springs act between the shaft and the track means to bias the track means radially inwardly. The track means is slidable into and out of the associated slot in the shaft, but normally remains in place within the slot when the support means carrying the core stops is replaced. 
     The support means is slidably disposed within the track means and can be readily inserted into or removed from the track means. Retainer means is provided for retaining the track means and the support means in position longitudinally of the shaft. 
     The retainer means includes a first retainer portion which retains the track means in position, and a screw is provided for fixing this first retainer portion in position longitudinally of the shaft. The retainer means includes a second retainer portion which retains the support means in position, and a screw is provided for fixing the second retainer portion in position longitudinally of the first retainer portion. The first retainer portion also serves to clamp an open end portion of the thrusting means together to provide an air tight seal thereat so that the thrusting means can be inflated with air when desired. 
     With the present invention, the second portion of the retainer means can be quickly removed, whereupon the support means carrying the core stops can be slid out of the track means and replaced by a new support means having different spacing between the core stops thereof. The second retainer portion can then be replaced to hold the new support means in position on the shaft. This can be rapidly accomplished. 
     If certain slit widths are regularly used, the core stops can remain in the same longitudinal position and dedicated support means having the core stops adjusted to the required spacing may be repeatedly used with the machine as required. A number of dedicated support means may be kept on hand so that it is not necessary to change the positions of the core stops in subsequent operations. The core stops can be readily manually adjusted in the illustrated embodiment to provide maximum flexibility of use of the device. However, where a dedicated support means with predetermined spacing is required, the core stops may be fixed to the support means as by welding, thereby eliminating the necessity of providing the construction which permits the core stops to be moved longitudinally with respect to the associated support means and locked in adjusted position. 
     The invention also includes a modification which provides adjusting means for adjusting the axial position of the support means within an associated slot in the expanding shaft. The length of the support means is less than the length of the associated slot. A pair of adjustment lugs are slidably mounted in opposite ends of the support means and include means for locking the adjustment lugs in position. The adjustment lugs can project axially outwardly of the opposite ends of the support means different distances for adjusting the axial position of the support means while securely holding the support means in adjusted position. 
     While the adjusting means described in the preceding paragraph is disclosed as being employed in a construction wherein the support means is slidably disposed within a track means, the adjusting means can also be employed in an expanding shaft wherein no track means is utilized and wherein the support means is slidably disposed within one of the slots of the expanding shaft for axial movement relative to the shaft. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a shaft according to the invention showing certain components partially removed from the shaft and certain other components in an exploded view arrangement; 
     FIG. 2 is a top view of the shaft shown in FIG. 1 with the components in assembled position; 
     FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line  3 — 3  of FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line  4 — 4  of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of the upper portion of FIG. 4; 
     FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 showing the components in a different position; 
     FIG. 7 is an exploded view showing a support means, a core stop and a locking means; 
     FIG. 8 is an exploded view showing the details of construction of the retainer means of the invention; 
     FIG. 9 is a broken away top view of a modification of the invention; 
     FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken along line  10 — 10  of FIG. 9; 
     FIG. 11 is a top perspective exploded view showing one end of a support means and one adjusting lug; and 
     FIG. 12 is a top view showing the adjusting lug of FIG. 11 in one operative position thereof. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, there is shown in FIGS. 1-4 an expanding shaft  10  having a longitudinal axis A—A and a cylindrical outer surface  12 . The shaft includes opposite end faces  14  and  16  which are disposed adjacent reduced portions  18  and  20  which terminate in opposite ends  22  and  24  of the shaft respectively. As seen in FIG. 4, four radially disposed and longitudinally extending slots  30 ,  32 ,  34  and  36  are provided in shaft  10 , each of these slots being of substantially T-shaped cross-sectional configuration and opening at the outer surface of the shaft. Slots  30  and  34  are similar to one another, and slots  32  and  36  are similar to one another. The number and spacing of the slots may be varied, and as shown, slots  32  and  36  open through the outer surface of the shaft short of the opposite end faces thereof as seen in FIG. 1, wherein slot  32  is visible. Slots  30  and  34  open at the side face  14  of the shaft to provide a side opening for a purpose hereinafter discussed. Slot  34  has not been illustrated as opening at side face  14  in FIG. 1 for the sake of clarity. 
     Referring again to FIG. 4, thrusting means  30 ′,  32 ′,  34 ′ and  36 ′ are disposed in the bottom of slots  30 ,  32 ,  34  and  36  respectively, each thrusting means comprising tubes which receive air pressure therein in a well-known manner to expand and force mobile means in the slots radially outwardly of the shaft. The mobile means  40  and  42  each have a generally T-shaped cross-section so that outward movement thereof is limited by the slots within which they are disposed. Conventional spring means  40 ′ and  42 ′ are provided for normally biasing mobile means  40  and  42  respectively in a radially inward direction. The outer surfaces of mobile means  40  and  42  are formed of a suitable friction material so that they are adapted to engage the inner surface of tubular supports disposed around the shaft when the associated thrusting means are activated so that the tubular supports are rotated with the shaft. The construction and operation of mobile means  40  and  42  are well-known. 
     The mobile means disposed within slots  30  and  34  are similar in construction, and description of the upper mobile means as seen in FIG. 4 is equally applicable to the lower opposite mobile means. Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, the mobile means in slot  30  includes track means  50  and support means  52  which is slidably supported by the track means. FIG. 5 illustrates the mobile means in retracted position, and FIG. 6 shows the mobile means in expanded position. Each of components  50  and  52  has a particular cross-sectional configuration as explained hereinafter, the components being elongated and having a length extending between opposite ends L and L′ thereof as seen in FIG.  2 . 
     As seen in FIG. 7, support means  52  comprises an extrusion or machined part which may be formed of metal, plastic, fiber or some composite material. Support means  52  defines a bottom wall  54  and a pair of integral upwardly extending side walls  56  and  58  which join with inwardly extending flanges  60  and  62  respectively. The support means supports a plurality of similar core stops  64  each of which includes a cylindrical portion  66  adapted to engage a side edge of a tubular support surrounding the shaft. It is apparent that the portion of the stops  64  may also be elliptical or generally rectangular with rounded corners. Portion  66  joins with a base portion  68  of generally rectangular configuration, a threaded hole  70  being formed through portions  66  and  68 . When it is desired to lock the core stop in position on the support means, a threaded screw  71  is threaded downwardly through hole  70  to engage bottom wall  54  of the support means and force the core stop upwardly into the locked position as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. 
     As seen in FIG. 6, track means  50  includes a bottom wall  72  which joins with a lower pair of side walls  74  and  76  which in turn join with a pair of inwardly extending walls  78  and  80 , which further join with a pair of upper side walls  82  and  84 . The portions of the bottom wall  54  of the support means which extend laterally outwardly of the side walls  56  and  58  of the support means engage the upper surface of bottom wall  72  of the track means and the undersurfaces of the walls  78  and  80  of the track means, while the outer surfaces of walls  56  and  58  of the support means engage the inner surfaces of walls  82  and  84  of the track means. The outer surfaces of walls  74  and  76  engage the lower side walls  90  and  92  of slot  30 , while the outer surfaces of walls  82  and  84  engage the upper side walls  94  and  96  of slot  30 . While slight clearances have been illustrated between various interengaging surfaces, it will be understood that these various surfaces have a slidable fit with one another which permits relative longitudinal movement of the track means with respect to the shaft and which further permits relative longitudinal movement of the support means with respect to the track means, while securely retaining the track means and the support means in position when the shaft is in use. 
     A pair of conventional wave springs  100  and  102  are provided on opposite sides of the track means. Alternatively, coil or leaf springs may be used instead of wave springs. Spring  100  is disposed between the undersurface  104  of slot  30  and the upper surface of wall  78 , while spring  102  is disposed between the undersurface  106  of slot  30  and the upper surface of wall  80 . It is apparent that these springs normally bias the track means radially inwardly of the shaft, which also the carries the support means radially inwardly, so that the entire mobile means within slot  30  is thereby biased inwardly. This arrangement enables the support means to be removed from the track means and the shaft as hereinafter explained while leaving the track means and springs  100  and  102  in the position shown in FIG. 6 wherein thrusting means  30 ′ is inflated and the wave springs  100  and  102  have been flattened. 
     As seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, retainer means for retaining the track means and the support means in operative mounted position on the shaft includes a retainer member  110  which is disposed within a suitable recess formed in the shaft and spaced from the adjacent side face  16  of the shaft. Retainer member  110  is held in the operative position shown by a flat head screw  112  which extends through a hole formed in the member  110  and is threaded into a threaded hole formed in the shaft. Retainer member  110  has a flat side face  114  formed thereon which engages the end surfaces of both the track means and the support means. 
     As seen in FIGS. 3 and 8, the retainer means also includes a first portion  120  and a second portion  122  for engaging the opposite ends of the track means and the support means respectively. First portion  120  is received within a suitable recess formed in the shaft and includes a flat top surface  124 . A through hole  126  passes through portion  120 , and a separate threaded hole  128  is also formed therethrough. Portion  120  includes a thick part  130 , a part  132  of reduced thickness, and a part  134  of still further reduced thickness. A depending shoulder  136  is formed between parts  132  and  134  and extends across the entire width of retainer portion  120 . The second retainer portion  122  has the same plan configuration as portion  120  and has a through hole  140  formed therethrough for receiving a flat head screw  142 . 
     Referring to FIG. 3, the shaft has the usual passage  150  formed therein for receiving air under pressure for operating the thrusting means  30 ′, a conventional fitting  152  being mounted at the end of the passage. The remaining thrusting means also receive air under pressure in the ususal manner. Thrusting means  30 ′ comprises a flexible tube of conventional material which has an open end  154 . Retainer portion  120  is shown as fixed to the shaft by a cap screw  160 ; and when so fixed, the shoulder clamps the open end portion of the thrusting means together to provide an air tight seal thereat. 
     A protective means  164  in the form of an elongated strip of suitable material such as plastic is disposed between the bottom of slot  30  and the undersurface of part  130  of retainer portion  120  as well as the undersurface of thrusting means  30 ′. The strip continues around the opposite end of the thrusting means, between the top surface of the thrusting means and the undersurface of the track means, and thence between the upper surface of the thrusting means and the undersurface of retainer part  134  of retainer portion  120 . Strip  164  is finally clamped in place by shoulder  136 . Strip  164  prevents excessive wear on the thrusting means. The protective strip need not be positioned between the undersurface of the thrusting means and the bottom of slot  30 , but may be disposed only between the top surface of the thrusting means and the undersurface of the track means. In the latter case, the opposite ends of the protective strip will be clamped in position by shoulder  136  and retainer member  110 . 
     Retainer portion  122  is fixed to retainer portion  120  by screw  142  which extends through hole  140  of portion  122  and is threaded into threaded hole  128  of portion  120 . When in the assembled position shown in FIG. 3, the end face  170  of retainer portion  120  engages the adjacent end surface of track means  50 , and the end surface  172  of retainer portion  122  engages the adjacent end surface of support means  52 , although slight clearances have been shown. It is evident that the retainer means retains the track means and the support means in position longitudinally of the shaft. 
     When it is desired to replace the support means and the core stops supported thereby, thrusting means  30 ′ is activated, and retainer portion  122  is removed by unscrewing screw  142  as shown in FIG.  1 . Support means  52  is shown as being partially removed from the track means and the shaft in this figure, the support means sliding outwardly through the opening of slot  30  at side surface  14  of the shaft. Once the support means has been completely removed, a new support means with preadjusted core stops mounted thereon can be quickly slid through the side opening of slot  30  and into the open end of the track means. Retainer portion  122  can then be placed back on retainer portion  120  and fixed in position by screw  142 . 
     If it is desired to remove the track means from slot  30 , retainer portion  120  must be removed by unscrewing screw  160 , whereupon track means  50  can be slid out of slot  30  through the opening in side face  14  of the shaft. A track means can then be inserted into the slot and retained in position by fixing retainer portion  120  in operative position by means of screw  160 . 
     Referring now to FIGS. 9-12, a modified form of the invention is illustrated wherein the shaft is of the same construction as described previously, and similar parts have been given the same reference characters. 
     In this modification, the support means  52 ′ is of the same construction as support means  52  except that the length of support means  52 ′ is less than that of  52 . Whereas support means  52  has opposite ends L and L′ which define a given length as seen in FIG. 2, support means  52 ′ has opposite ends L 1  and L 2  which define a length less than that of support means  52 . The right-hand end L 2  of support means  52 ′ contacts the face  114  of retainer member  110  in the position shown, while the left-hand end L 1  of support means  52 ′ is spaced a distance X from the face  172  of retainer portion  122 . 
     A plurality of core stops  64  having cylindrical portions  66  operate in the same manner as previously described. Referring to FIGS. 11 and 12, an adjusting lug  180  is slidably mounted within end L 1  of support means  52 ′ and includes a base portion  182  and an integral threaded portion  184  sized to provide adequate thread length for the screw. A threaded hole  186  is formed through portions  182  and  184 . A threaded screw  188  can be threaded downwardly through hole  186  to engage the bottom wall  54 ′ of the support means to force adjusting lug  180  upwardly into locked position where it engages the undersurfaces of flanges  60 ′ and  62 ′ of support means  52 ′. 
     As seen in FIG. 11, base portion  182  of adjusting lug  180  has an end face  190 , and a line Z—Z comprises a tangent which passes through a point on the outer surface of cylindrical portion  184  which is nearest to end face  190 . The distance from end face  190  to line Z—Z is the same as the distance X shown in FIG.  9 . Support means  52 ′ is shown in solid lines in FIG. 11, and the broken lines indicate a portion of the support means that has been removed. This removed portion has a length of ½X as illustrated. A similar portion having a length of ½X has also been removed from the opposite end of the support means. Therefore, the support means has been reduced in length from that shown in FIG. 2 by the distance X. As shown in FIG. 12, adjusting lug  180  is locked in position with the base portion  182  extending outwardly of the support means so that face  190  thereof is in spaced a distance of ½X from end L 1  of the support means. 
     As seen in FIG. 9, another identical adjusting lug  180 ′ is slidably supported at the opposite end L 2  of the support means in a position reversed from that of adjusting lug  180 . The end face  190 ′ of lug  180 ′ is flush with the end L 2  of the support means and is in contact with the face  114  of retainer member  110 . In this position of the support means, adjusting lug  180  has the end face  190  thereof in contact with the face  172  of retainer portion  122 . The screws associated with adjusting lugs  180  and  180 ′ have been screwed downwardly to lock the support means in the position shown in FIG. 9 which represents the limit of adjusting movement of the support means to the right within the associated slot of the shaft. 
     If it is desired to adjust the support means to the left as seen in FIG. 9, the screws of both adjusting lugs are loosened, and the support means is moved to the left to a new position, whereupon the screws are again screwed downwardly to lock the adjusting lugs in position. In any adjusted position, the end faces of the adjusting lugs  180  and  180 ′ will be in contact with the face  172  of retainer portion  122  and face  114  of retainer member  110  respectively. Therefore, as support means  52 ′ is adjusted to the left from the position shown in FIG. 9, end face  190  of adjusting lug  180  will move toward end L 1  of the support means, and end face  190 ′ of adjusting lug  180 ′ will move away from end L 2  of the support means. 
     When the support means is centered axially within the associated slot of the expanding shaft, the end faces of each of the adjusting lugs will be spaced a distance of ½X outwardly of the adjacent end of the support means. 
     With this construction, support means  52 ′ can be adjusted to any position axially of the shaft between the position shown in FIG. 9 and a position wherein the support means is disposed with its end L 1  in contact with face  172  of retainer portion  122 . This adjustment can be carried out very efficiently by changing the positions of the adjusting lugs relative to the support means. 
     The invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment. Obviously, various modifications, alternatives and other embodiments will occur to others upon reading and understanding this specification. It is our intention to include all such modifications, alternatives and other embodiments insofar as they come within the scope of the appended claims or equivalents thereof.