ACCATOR Webs to Printing and other Machines.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 14th June, 1887..
Specification Accepted, 19th Aug., 1887.
ACCATOR
Webs to Printing and other Machines.
I HENRY EDWARD NEWTON of the Office for Patents, 6 Bream's Buildings,
Chancery Lane in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to
he particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
The primary object of this invention is to provide a rolled web of paper (which,
is to constantly decrease in size as the web composing it is fed to a printing machine.
or other apparatus operating upon such web) with a delivering and controlling
mechanism, by the operation of which, the rolled wob shall be moved at a varying
surface speed corresponding to the varying speed of the machine operating upon it
during the gradual starting, the running at high speed, and the gradual stopping
of such machine. Another object to be attained by a modified construction is
an operation of the controlling and delivering mechanism, whereby said web shall
be driven at a surface speed suited to that of the machine operating upon it during
the starting and stopping of such machine, and which, when such machine reaches a
bigh or a running speed, will apply an appropriate controlling friction to said web.
In all machines in which a rolled web is fed by being unrolled, and especially
in such as operate at high speed, and thus, through their rapid consumption of
the web, require the roll of web to be of large size, and consequent weight, there
is great liability that the web will break or tear as the machine begins its movement,
for the reason, that no matter how slowly that movement is begun and increased, the
means for overcoming the inertia of the roll, being a thin paper web, is too frail to be
subjected to the strain imposed; and when the machine attains its high or running
speed, and the roll revolves with great rapidity, it has a tendency to gather speed and
feed off the web too rapidly, thus destroying the tension necessary to accomplish its

page_text: smooth and even feeding movement; and further, when the machine stops, the speed
attained by the roll will cause a quantity of the web to be unrolled, which web
is not carried into the machine, but forms a slack that requires to be taken up.
As a means for controlling the rotation of the rolled web, and therefore the speed
at which it is unrolled, and at the same time apply a proper tension to that portion of
the web extending from the roll to the devices operating upon it, a friction device
has been applied to the shaft of the rolled web, but practically this friction device
requires constant attention, and constant change, to secure the best results.
It may be also remarked that the application of a positive driving mechanism
to a rolled web (such, for instance, as that used in paper damping machines) is
impractical when used in connection with a web printing machine for the purpose of
feeding and controlling the movement of the rolled web, for the reason that the speed
of such driving mechanism, if in the least degree greater or less than that of the
printing machine, will result in feeding the web too fast or too slow, causing slack or
a breaking strain. This will be apparent when it is considered that the webs are of
great length, and that the impression cylinders of the printing machines are covered
with a yielding blanket subject to varying degrees of compression, to impart the
degree of impression suited to webs of different qualities, and results in making the
surface speed thereof a varying one, which cannot be compensated for in the positive
driving mechanism of the rolled web.
The present improvements not only avoid these defects, but provide automatic
means to accomplish a perfect feeding and controlling movement of the roll of web at
all times, whether the machine is stopping, starting, or running.
These improvements consist in a moving roller or belt arranged to travel in contact
with the roll, and bear upon or follow its periphery as it decreases in size, which
roller or belt is provided with a driver that runs the said belt at a speed appropriate
to that of the machine to which the web is being fed. It also consists in combining
with said roller or belt a means for disconnecting or throwing out of action its driving
means, so that the turning roll may become the driver, and thus have the friction of
the roller or belt applied to it.
It also includes a clutching mechanism operating by centrifugal force to cause the
roller or belt to be driven by the machine to which the web is being fed when said
machine runs slowly, and to be driven by the roll, and thus apply friction to it when
the said machine runs at a considerable speed.
Other features of the invention, including particular combinations and constructions,
are embraced herein; all of the same being fully hereinafter set forth and claimed.
To enable these improvements to be readily understood, it may first be stated that,
although no machine for operating upon the web itself is shown, it is to be understood
that the web is led to a machine which performs some operation upon it, and thus
consumes the web.
While there are many other machines to which this improved apparatus is applicable,
it is more practically suited to printing and like machines which are rotative in
character, and when running constantly, draw upon the web and cause it to feed
progressively onward.
As will readily be apparent, it becomes a difficult matter, when the rolled web is large
and heavy, for the machine operating upon the web (and which imparts to it a positive
draft) to overcome the inertia of said roll, and properly unwind the web at a speed
equal to the surface movement of the mechanism to which it is delivered, without
frequently tearing or breaking the web; and that in consequence of the high rate of
speed at which such machines run, it must follow that there will be a great tendency
for the heavy roll of web to gather speed, and thus give off or unwind its web
too rapidly, thus causing slack, which is injurious; and further, that when the machine
is to be stopped, there will also be a tendency in the heavy roll, due to its inertia, to
come to a state of rest more slowly than does the mechanism to which it is delivered,
thus acting to feed off a quantity of unused web, and produce a considerable slack,
which, whether taken up by turning the roll backward, or left unrolled, aids in
causing a tear or break upon rostarting the machine, for the reason that a free portion

page_text: shaft 50, to the shaft itself; thus a frictional clutch operating to set that shaft in
motion would accomplish the result, or any other devices, by which the driving gears
may control the motion of the shaft more or less positively, might be applied. In
the mechanism as here illustrated, however, a friction clutch operated by centrifugal
force is adopted as one of the best means for accomplishing this result. This clutch
is shown best in Figs. 3, 4 and 5, and consists of shoes 31 adapted to bear against the
inner periphery of the pulley 30, which shoes are pivotted at the ends of levers 32 that
are fulcrumed to arms 33 fast on the shaft 50. The levers 32 have weighted ends 34,
which are tied to said arms 33 by means of pivotted rods 35, which pass through
the weighted ends 34 of the levers, and are connected to said levers by means of a
spring 36 coiled about them to bear at one end upon the bottom of a recess in the
weighted ends 34, and at the other upon adjustable nuts screwed onto said rods.
Normally these springs have a power (which may be varied by turning said nuts)
that will hold the levers 32 in such a position as to apply the shoes 31 to the internal
periphery of the pulley 30 with a force sufficient to lock said pulley to the shaft 50,
and cause the same to partake of the movements of that shaft." When, however, the
shaft 50 rotates the pulley with a speed sufficient to cause centrifugal force to move
said levers in a direction opposite to the force applied by the springs, and thus
compress said springs, and move the levers sufficiently to withdraw the shoes from
contact with the periphery of the pulley, the pulley 30 will not be driven by the
shaft, though the parts of the clutch carried by the shaft will continue to rotate
therewith. When the pulley is clutched to the shaft 50, it will of course be moved
with the speed of the printing or other machine, and hence drive the belt 20 with a
like speed, and therefore move the rolled web with a like speed, the result of which
is that when the machine slowly starts, this controlling, delivering mechanism, having
a like motion, slowly unrolls the web, and positively feeds the same into the printing
or other machine with a speed equal to that of the said machine, and hence relieves
the web from any undue draft upon it, or from receiving any sudden jerk, which
would result if the printing or other machine were required to impart motion to the
roll through the web of paper, and thus overcome the inertia due to the weight of
the roll by a draft upon the web itself.
When, however, the speed of the pulley 30, and consequently that of the web, has
reached the running speed of the printing machine, and that speed is great enough to
release the clutch through the centrifugal action of the weighted arms 34, the
pulley 30 will no longer be driven directly from the printing machine, but must
thereafter be moved by the frictional contact of its belt 20 from the rolled web of
paper. From this it results that since the said rolled web, now propelled by the draft
upon itself, is caused to drive the belt 20, such belt will apply a certain amount of
friction thereto, and thus operate as a drag sufficient to produce a friction that will
impart to the web a proper tension to cause its even and regular delivery into the
printing machine. This friction, which is largely due to the weight of the
arms 70, 80, and pulley 40, may be regulated, as required, by constructing those
parts with an appropriate weight, or by providing one or both of said arms with a
sliding weight adjustable to fixed positions thereon.
When it is desired to stop the printing machine, at which time it is necessary as
before explained to prevent the rolled web from running so far as to unroll any more
of the web than is required by the printing or other machine, its belt will be
automatically converted into a controlling device, for the reason that the moment
the printing machine begins to slow down, and the shaft 50 rotates more slowly,
the centrifugal force acting upon the levers 32 will become modified, and the
springs 36 will draw the levers gradually to their normal position, consequently
re-applying the friction clutch to said pulley 30, which pulley thereupon taking up
the movement of the printing machine, will again positively control the rolled web
of paper, and slow it down until a stop is effected, thereby causing the rolled web
to come to a state of rest by a slowly decreasing rotation in concert with a like.
movement of the printing machine, thus preventing any undue strain being applied to
the web, and preventing the roll thereof from overfeeding, and thus producing slack,

page_text: By the operation of this automatic apparatus, the services of an operative to
attend upon a friction apparatus applied to the shaft of the rolled web is avoided.―
In machines now in use operating upon webs from two or more rolls of paper, not
only are the services of two operatives dispensed with, but the machine is provided
with means causing its various webs to be perfectly controlled and driven in unison,
and avoids the liability of either breaking or otherwise improperly moving through
the machine; a feature of great importance when we consider that a faulty operation
of one web necessitates a stoppage of the whole machine, and that as the webs are
increased in number, the liability of rupture or improper action is increased.
While in the drawings, as thus far referred to, the apparatus is shown as arranged
at the top of the rolled web, it is desirable, as a measure of cheapness of construction,
especially where the rolls are located at the top of the machine, and to enable the
rolled webs to be conveniently and quickly mounted in the machine, that the
apparatus be located at the side of the rolled web, and for this purpose there is
shown, in Figs. 6 and 7, an arrangement thereof suited to such position. The
construction of this controlling and delivering apparatus differs from that just
described only in the means for causing the vibrating frame to move and maintain
the belt 20 constantly in contact with the periphery of the rolled web. In the
former apparatus this is accomplished by its own gravity. In this modification it is
accomplished by means of a weight 300, the power of which is applied through a
lever 41 made fast upon a shaft 51 by a set screw, which shaft has an arm 47 that
is connected by a link 42 pivotted to a bar 43 that is attached to the rear of the
levers 70, 80. As is obvious, this weight 300 will constantly apply a power to said
arms, and through them cause the belt 20 to constantly follow the periphery of the
roll 200 as the latter decreases in size.
It may now be observed that this same structure can be applied to the apparatus
shown in Figs. 1 to 5, the only thing necessary being to apply the power of the
weight through a cord and pulley attachment connected with the lever 41, or by a
suitable arrangement of levers, and again, if it be desired that the frictional pressure
of the belt 20 shall be adjustable, that may be accomplished by varying the position
of the weight on the lever.
It will be apparent that the separation of the clutch from the driving pulley may
he regulated with respect to the speed of the machine, by adjusting the power
of the springs 36 on the rods 35, so that the velocity of the shaft 50) required to
withdraw the shoes 31 from the periphery of the pulley 30, may be predetermined
to suit the requirements of the machine operating upon the web.
It will further be observed that when the rolled web is large, and requires the
greatest friction, a larger part of the belt 20 hears upon its surface than is the case
when the roll is small and requires a less degree of friction, the size of the roll and
its frictional requirements being thus in a degree adjusted by its decreasing size.
This frictional pressure may, however, be a constantly changing quantity, if the
weight of the lever 41 is arranged to move more and more away from the fulcrum as
the roll decreases. It is, however, obvious that a simple friction may be constantly
applied between the shaft 50 and the belt pulley 30, without departing from the
features of this invention, the friction being such that under ordinary circumstances
it will be sufficient to control the movement of the web, but will allow the pulley to
slip before the difference in speed between the pulley and the printing machine will
cause a breaking strain upon the web. This may be accomplished in the device
illustrated, by securing the levers 32 in a fixed position so as to apply the proper
degree of friction between their shoes 31 and the pulley 30.
In Fig. 8 is illustrated a mode of connecting the weighted lever arms together,
so that when one moves, the other will also move. This arrangement prevents any
improper operation which might result from the action of gravity. This is accom-
plished by connecting the weighted end of one lever to the end of the other lever by
spring seated rods 35, whereby any movement of one lever will be transmitted to
the other.
If a laterally running clutch is arranged to slide on the shaft 50, it is obvious that

page_text: a single spring may be used in connection with two or more weighted toggle levers
having a hearing at one end against a collar on the shaft, and attached at the other
to the sliding part of the clutch, the spring acting to apply the clutch as before
explained, and the weighted levers to move outwardly by centrifugal force in the
manner of a governor, to cause the unclutching action.
Although the belt 20 is especially advantageous, for the reason that it will have
contact with a large portion of the periphery of the rolled web, it is obvious that the
belt 20 may be omitted, and the roller or cylinder 40 be made the element in contact
with said roll, as is shown in Figs. 9 and 10; in that case, any mode of gearing it
to the pulley 30 may be adopted, as, for instance, by a belt 80, extending from said
pulley over a similar pulley 81 secured on the end of the shaft carrying the roller 40,
as in Fig. 9, or by means of the gearing shown in Fig. 10, in which case the
pulleys 30 and 81 are substituted by gears 30 and 81" similarly mounted, and
connected by intermediates 82; mounted on the side of one of the arms 70, as will
be readily understood, and while an endless moving belt enters specifically as an
element in the claim, it is to be understood that in the sense in which it is used, it
is intended to be an equivalent for the roll herein described.
From the foregoing it will be seen that the essential characteristic of this invention
is the driving of a rolled web at a speed sufficiently less than that of the machine
which operates upon it, so that suitable tension is created, while the driving means is
not so positive as to cause a breaking strain upon the web.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is:-
1. In a web-controlling device, the combination with a travelling belt mounted so
as to rest frictionally upon a rolled web, to actuate said- web, and to control its
unwinding speed, of a driver and connections between it and the belt, substantially as
described, to drive the belt, or be driven thereby, as set forth.
2. The combination with an endless moving belt held continuously in contact with
a rolled web, of a pulley for driving the belt, and a friction clutch for connecting
said pulley with the shaft of the driver, constructed to operate by centrifugal force to
unclutch said pulley according to the speed attained, substantially as described.
3. The combination with the belt 20, hung in a moving frame, of a driving pulley,
as 30, driving shaft 50, a clutch interposed between said shaft and pulley, with or
without means for moving said swinging frame, and holding the belt in contact with
a rolled web, substantially as described.
4. The means substantially as herein shown and described for giving motion to,
and controlling the said motion of, a rolled web of paper for the purposes set forth.
5. In a device for controlling the unwinding of a rolled web of paper, the use of a
clutch constructed, arranged, and operating substantially as herein shown and
described
Dated th⑆- 12th day of Tu 1007