Improvements in Machinery for Trimming, Slitting, and Winding Paper and similar Materials for Printing and other Purposes.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Dec., 1892-Accepted, 11th Feb., 1893
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machinery for Trimming, Slitting, and Winding
Paper and similar Materials for Printing and other Purposes.
I, JAMES TAYLOR, Manager to Masson, Scott & Co. Limited, Engineers and
Millwrights, of York Place, New Wandsworth, Surrey, do hereby declare the
nature of the said invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to
be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to certain improvements in or applicable to machinery for
trimming, slitting and winding paper and similar materials (hereinafter referred to
as "the web") for printing and other purposes.
The invention comprises improved combinations of mechanism for straightening
and equalizing the tension of the web ;-for facilitating the application and
adjustment of the slitting knives up to and from their work and the introduction of
the web through such part of the machine ;-for effecting a cleaner slitting of the
web, regulating the penetration of the slitting knives, and preventing the carrying
blocks thereof from tearing the web;-for causing in the improved mauner herein-
after described, the spindle of the reel or reels of re-reeled web to be so guided
mechanically as that the periphery of such reel or reels shall, from the beginning
to the end of the reeling operation, be kept in the desired relation to the periphery
of the reeling drum and to the slitting knives and to prevent sagging or bellying
of the spindle and irregular winding of the reels ;-for regulating the frictional
contact between such reel or reels and the reeler-drum so as to render such contact
more uniform and ensure uniformity in the re-reeling ;-for enabling the slitting
and reel supporting devices and their respective attachments and means of actuation
to be, altogether, speedily set in any preferred relation to the reeler-drum as most
suitable to the particular grade of web to be operated on ;-for enabling a fully
wound reel or series of reels to be removed and an empty spindle placed in position
for reeling without necessitating the stoppage of the machine, and for obtaining
other incidental advantages.
On the accompanying drawings :-
Fig. 1, represents, in front elevation, a cutting, slitting and reeling machine
adapted with the present improvements, and Fig. 2, represents the same in plan
view.
3, represent the roll of web 4, which it is desired to trim or to trim and slit and
to re-reel, as at 5.
As represented on the drawings, the spindle 6, of such roll is adjustably mounted
on the side frames 7, each end of the spindle being mounted in a guided open-
topped slide 8, which can be adjusted by a hand-screw 9, engaging with a head-
stock 10. Uniformity in the let-off from the roll 3, is ensured by a brake-
arrangement in which a pulley 11, supported by the adjacent frame 7, at the back
side of the machine (vide Fig. 2) is borne on by opposite brake blocks 12, the
frictional contact of which is ensured and regulated by an adjustable tension
spring 13, operating on pivoted levers 14, supporting the brake-blocks, the brake
being located below the roll-spindle 6, and the braking effect being transmitted by
gearing 36. I, however, do not specially claim such arrangement of devices for
regulating the let-off from the roll 3, nor limit the application of the present
improvements to machines fitted with such arrangement.
The take-up of the web 4, from the roll 3, is effected by the reeler-drum 15, in
re-reeling the trimmed or trimmed and slit web. The web, between the roll and
the recler-drum, is straightened and kept taut by a drag being kept on it by its
being caused to traverse a W-like path, vide Fig. 1, adjustable straightening
rolls 16, driven at a slower speed than that of the paper being disposed at the

page_text: lower angles of such path, and a roller 17, occupying a fixed position and being
driven by its frictional contact with the web and operating the counting apparatus
being situated at the apex of such path..
Each end of the spindle 18, of each roll 16, is mounted in an internally screwed
carrier 19, which is horizontally adjustable on an extension 20, from an internally
screwed carrier 21, which is vertically adjustable in a bracket 22, depending from
and bolted to the underside of the adjacent frame 7. The horizontal adjustment of
each carrier 19, and the adjacent end of the spindle of the roll 16, is effected by
turning a hand-screw 23, supported by the extension 20, and engaging with the
carrier, and the vertical adjustment of each pair of carriers 21, 19, and the adjacent
end of the spindle of the roll 16, is effected by turning a hand screw 24, supported
by the bracket 22, and engaging with the carrier 21. The rolls 16, are driven, in
the same direction as but at a slower rate than the web 4, from the reeler-drum
shaft 25, by pulleys 26, 27, (respectively fast on the shaft 25, and on a shaft 28,
supported by bearings 29, bolted to the adjacent frame 7, intermediate of the
rolls 16.) a connecting belt 30, and gearing 31, 32, the latter being respectively
fast on the shaft 28, and on the spindles of the rolls 16.
By the relatively slower speed of rotation of the rolls 16, than that of the
traverse of the web, a drag is exerted on the web which is very effectual in taking
out all creases and straightening the same. By the described means of adjustment
of the straightening rolls any irregularities in the thickness of the opposite edge
parts of the web and consequent slackness of the web can be readily allowed for
And taken up.
Counting apparatus of any suitable construction is located at 33, and is driven by
gearing 34, from the spindle 35, of the roller 17.
Intermediate of the counting roller and of the second straightening roll 16, the
rough edges of the web are trimmed.
As represented on the drawings, the trimming of the edges of the web is effected
by opposing cylindrical knives 37, of an ordinary formation, the same being
arranged on opposite shafts 38, supported in bearings 39, bolted to the frames 7, and
the knives are driven at a greater surface speed than that of the traverse of the
web, from the reeler drum shaft 25, by pulleys 40, 41, (respectively fast on the
shaft 25, and on the shafts 38, and a connecting-belt 42. I do not, however,
specially clain such arrangement of means for trimming the edge of the web nor
limit the application of the present improvements to machines fitted with such
arrangement.
The devices remaining to be described are so arranged and mounted as to be
capable of being adjusted, all together, as may be desired in any preferred relation
to the reeler-drum, so as to accommodate such devices as best suitable to the
particular grade of web to be dealt with.
To this end, the machine frames 7, at the front and back ends of the reeler-
drum 15, are made of a sectoral formation concentric with and preferably of the
same radius as the drum vide Fig. 1.
The sectoral portion of each side frame 7, is preferably made of an section, so
as to be adapted to carry a flanged sectoral bracket 43, of coincident radius, the
pair of such brackets being adapted to carry the said devices remaining to be
described, and being capable of being bolted in any position (within the useful
limits) around such frames 7, provision for such adjustment being afforded by
sectoral slots 44, made in the side flanges of the brackets and by bolts 45, projecting
from the frames 7, and set nuts 46, or by other equivalent means.
To the top side of each bracket 43, is bolted, as at 47, part 48, of a peculiarly
formed recler-arm 48, 49, which part thereof is thus caused to occupy a fixed
position in relation to the bracket.
The brackets are formed with opposite bosses 50, which support a transverse
spindle 51, on which, at each side of the machine, there is keyed the remaining
parts 49, of the reeler-arm 48, 49, which part forms a continuation of the part 48,
when the parts are in the positions represented in full lines in Fig. 1, and can be set

page_text: back in relation thereto as and for the purpose hereinafter referred to as indicated
in dotted lines in Fig. 1.
For this purpose there is keyed on the back end of the spindle 51, a worm
wheel 52, which engages with a worm 53, carried by a bracket 54, which is bolted
to the bracket 43, and also carries a bevil wheel 55, keyed to the worm and a
spindle 56; on which are two loose clutch pinions 57, (engaging with the wheel 55,)
a keyed clutch 58, and a keyed pulley 59, which is driven by a belt 60, from a
pulley 61, keyed on the shaft 25. The clutch 58, can be caused to engage with
either of the clutch pinions 57, by means of a hand-lever 62.
Both parts 48, 49, of the reeler-arm are faced with bearing strips 63, of such a
peculiar formation as to be adapted to support the spindle 64, carrying the reel or
reels 5, in all positions as it rises consequent on the continual increase of diameter
of the reel or reels, so that the periphery of the latter will be caused to maintain
the desired relation to the recler-drum and also to the slitting knives if the web is
being slit, and so that bellying or sagging of the spindle 64, and of the reel or
reels thereon will be prevented. Each such face-plate 63, projects beyond each
side of its supporting reeler-arm (ride Fig. 2,) and is fitted with a sliding boss or
carrier 65, adapted to carry the adjacent end of the spindle and to rise therewith
and guide the same in manner aforesaid.
When the reel or reels 5, is or are wound to the desired diameter, the opposite
carriers 65, can be clamped to the respective face-plates 63, of the parts 49, of the
reeler-arms by set-screw's 66, so as to secure the spindle 64. at each end, whereupon,
by placing the clutch 58, in connection with the appropriate clutch pinion 57, by
means of the hand-lever 62, the reeler-arms 49, may be turned back so as to carry
the spindle 64, and all it supports over to a position (ride the dotted lines Fig. 1)
where the same can be conveniently removed. When the reel or reels being thus
carried over are clear of the parts 48, of the reeler-arms, an empty spindle 64, (as
indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1,) with its guiding carriers 65, may be immediately
placed in position relatively to the parts 48, of the reeler-arms; so that the
operation of the machine may be rendered practically continuous.
One side of each carrier 65, is made with eyes 67, through which is passed a
detachable cord 68, which is knotted or equivalently adapted between the eyes 67,
so as to be capable of engaging with either thereof. The cord is continued both
upwards and downwards and is guided by suitably arranged pulleys 69, (respectively
supported by the brackets 43, and reeler-arms 49,) and provided at each depending
end with a plate 70, adapted to carry cheese-weights 71, the whole of which latter
are placed on the downward length of cord at the starting of the reeling operation
so as to obtain the requisite frictional contact between the reel or recls 5, and the
reeler-drum 15. As the reel or reels increases or increase in diameter and weight
the cheese-weights are gradually shifted to the other end of the cord until, towards
the end of the reeling, all thereof are supported thereby so as to be effective in
preventing the reel or reels from bearing with all its or their weight on the reeler
drum.
The spindle 72, carrying the slitting knives 73, is supported, at each side of the
machine, by an arm 74, loosely mounted on the shaft 25, between the reeler-drum
and the adjacent frame 7, concentrically with both. Each arm 74, (ride Fig. 1,) is
fitted with an adjustable screw 75, which bears on an eccentric 76, fast on a cross
shaft 77, (not shown in Fig. 2), which can be turned by a hand lever 78, engaging
with a slotted sector 79, and secured by a set screw 80, so that, by operating the
hand-lever, the arms 74, supporting both ends of the knife-spindle 72, will be
equally actuated, and by such means the slitting knives 73, can be very readily
set-up to the web to effect the slitting thereof or can be set-back to facilitate the
insertion of a new web or of a new spindle 64, or for any other purpose.
The knife-spindle 72, at its back end, projects through an opening 81, in the
adjacent bracket 43, and is driven from the shaft 25 by pulleys 82, 83, and a .con-
necting belt 84, the slitting knives being driven at many (preferably about five)
times the circumferential speed of the web upon which they operate. The

page_text: knives 73, are mounted between supporting blocks 85, which are bolted together, as
at 86, the blocks being prevented from bearing against or tearing the web, and the
penetration of the knives being regulated, and evenness of the cut being assured,
by sleeves 87, which are mounted loosely on the knife-spindle between the adjacent
knife blocks and piuned collars 91, and are of a diameter intermediate of that of
the blocks and of the knives, so that they are adapted to turn with the reels at the
surface speed thereof and allow of the knives revolving at the desired increased
speed.
The whole of such lastly described mechanism being, as aforesaid, carried by
the said brackets 43, adapted to the sectoral side frames 7, is adapted, to be set
about the axis of the reeler-drum in any desired relation thereto, without altering
the relation of the various parts to each other, which is a facility of great
importance in such machines in enabling the apparatus to be readily adjusted as
most suitable to the particular grade of web to be operated on, the peculiarly
formed faced reeler-arms being adapted to keep the reels, in all diameters thereof,
in the desired relation to the periphery of the reeler-drum and to the slitting
knives.
88, and 89, represent fast and loose pulleys on the shaft 25, the back end of which
is supported by a standard 90, vide Fig. 2.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The hereinbefore described improvements in or applicable to machinery for
trimming, slitting and winding or reeling paper and similar materials for printing
and other purposes.
2. Straightening and equalizing the tension of the web between the roll and the
reel or reels by causing it to traverse a W-like path and by subjecting it to a
retarding drag by adjustable straightening rolls.
3. The combination of means, consisting of the parts 16, to 32, hereinbefore
described, for straightening and equalizing the tension of the web between the roll
and the reel or reels.
4. The combination of the rolls 16, with the means described, consisting of the
parts 18 to 24, for adjusting the ends of the rolls independently of each other and
in a horizontal or vertical direction as required.
5. Enabling the slitting and reel-supporting devices and their respective attach-
ments and means of actuation to be, all together, speedily set in any preferred
relation to the reeler drum as most suitable to the particular grade of web to be
operated on substantially in the manner hereinbefore described.
6. The formation of the side frames of the machine of a sectoral formation
concentric with the reeler drum, and adapted to support carriers of the slitting and
reel supporting devices and their respective attachments and means of actuation in
any preferred relation thereto, substantially as hereinbefore described.
7. The combination with the sectoral side frames of the machine formed con-
centric with the reeler-drum and adapted as referred to in the next previous claim,
of sectoral adjustable brackets of coincident radius with such frames and adapted
to carry the slitting and reel-supporting devices and their respective attachments
and means of actuation and to enable the same to be adjusted, all together, and
set in any desired relation to the reeler drum, substantially as hereinbefore
described.
8. In combination, the sectoral frames 7, the sectoral brackets 43, means of
securing the same in any desired position relatively to the reeler-drum and the
frames 7, the fixed peculiarly-faced reeler-arms 48, the adjustable peculiarly-faced
reeler-arms 49, means of setting back and returning the reeler-arms 49, the
carriers 65, of the reel-spindle 64, means of clamping the same to the reeler-
arms 49, the adjustable weighting appliances 67, to 71, the arms 74, carrying the
spindle of the slitting knives, means of setting the slitting knives up to their work

page_text: and withdrawing them into inoperative position, and means of actuating the slitting
knives, substantially as hereinbefore described.
9. The combination of the means described, consisting of the parts 72, to 80, for
facilitating the application and adjustment of the slitting knives up to and from
their work.
10. The combination of the means described, consisting of the parts 73, 85,
to 87, and 91, for effecting a cleaner slitting of the web, regulating the penetration
of the slitting knives and preventing the carrying blocks thereof from tearing
the web.
11. The combination of the means described, consisting of the parts 48, 49, 63,
and 65, for guiding the spindle of the reel or reels in manner aforesaid.
12. The combination of the means described, consisting of the parts 48, 49, 63,
to 65, and 67, to 71, for regulating the frictional contact between the reel or reels
and the reeler-drum as aforesaid.
13. The combination, for the purpose referred to in the next preceding claim, of
guided carriers 65, and of the parts 67, to 71.
14. The combination of the means described, consisting of the parts 43, and 47,
to 66, for enabling a fully wound reel or reels to be removed and an empty spindle
placed in position as aforesaid.
15. The improved machine hereinbefore described with reference to the accom-...
panying drawing.
Dated this 17th day of December 1892.
DAY, DAVIES & HUNT,
321, High Holborn, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant..