Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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"IMPROVED ROLL SUPPORT SPINDLE"
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to an improved roll support
seindle and has been devised particularly though not
solely for the ~upport of rolls of continuous material
during any process requiring rotation of the roll.
BACKGROUND ART
There are many situations whera it is desired to
support a roll of continuous sheet material ~uch as paper
or ~heet plastics material, either for dispensing of
material from the roll or for winding material onto the
roll. Such rolls commonly have hollow tubular core~
formed, for example, from cardboard or plastics or metal
tubing and are g~nerally ~upported for rotation on a
spindle in the apparatus concerned. The roll i~ ~upported
on the spindle in a number of di~ferent ways depending on
the application. For example, the spindle may be provided
with cones at either end thereof, one cone being fixed and
the other cone being axially movable to sueport the roll
between the cone~ in a wedqing action and centralise the
roll on the spindle. Other form6 o~ spindle have been
provided with a plurality of longitudinal slats having
studs protruding inwardly tharefrom through the wall of
the spindle to a central actuating device adapted to move
the slats outwardly and hence increase the circumference
of the ~pindle to lock a roll core thereon.
These known methods of mounting a roll onto a spindle
are either complex and therefore expensive to manufacture
and prone to breakdown in use, or are cumbersome and time
consuming to use, requiring considerable operator effort
and taking considerable process time.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to
provide an improved roll support spindle which will
obviate or minimise the foregoing di~advantages in a
simple yet effective manner, or which will at least
provide the public with a useful choice.
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Accordingly the invention consists in a roll support
spindle comprising a hollow tubular axle adapted to be rotatably
supported by suitable bearings, end plugs at or toward either end
of the axle forming a fluid-tight chamber therein, a plurality of
apertures in the tubular wall of the axle between the end plugs,
an elastomeric membrane cast in place over at least part of the
interior surface of the tubular wall covering and sealing the
apertures, and fluid supply means adapted to pressurize the
interior of the hollow tubular axle causing the elastomeric
membrane to bulge outwardly through the apertures.
Preferably the elastomeric membrane is formed by
rotational casting of an elastomeric material and covers the
entire surface of the interior wall of the hollow tubular axle
between the end plugs.
Preferably the elastomeric membrane fills the apertures
in the tubular wall, finishing substantially flush with the
exterior surface of the tubular axle when the interior of the
hollow tubular axle is not pressurized.
Notwithstanding any other forms that may fall within
its scope, one preferred form of the invention will now be
described by way of the example only with reference to the
accompanying drawings, in which:~
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal cross-section through a roll
support spindle according to the invention;
Fig. 2 is a transverse cross-section on the line B-B of
Fig. l;
Fig. 3 is a longitudinal cross-section of the spindle
shown in Fig. 1 with a roll core mounted thereon; and
Fig. 4 is a transverse cross-section on the line A-A of
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Fig. 3.
In the preferred form of the invention a short roll
support spindle adapted to be cantilevered from a single set of
bearings is constructed as follows, although it will be
appreciated that the spindle may be made of any desired length
and may be supported by bearings at either end thereof.
The roll support spindle comprises a hollow tubular
axle 1 in which is inserted end plugs 2 and 3. The end plugs
form a fluid-tight chamber 4 withln the hollow tubular axle. The
roll support spindle is adapted to be rotatably supported by
suitable bearings and is conveniently provided with a ~ournal 5
which may form an extension of the end plug 3. In the
alternative any other suitable form of bearing support may be
provided.
A plurality o$ apertures 6 are formed in the
circumferential wall of the hollow tubular axle, equispaced
around the circumference of the axle. The apertures may take any
suitable configuration such as the axially elongate, or circular
apertures shown in the accompanying drawings.
An elastomeric membrane is cast in place over at least
part of the interior surface of the tubular wall~ covering and
sealing the apertures 6. In the preferred form of the invention
the elastomeric membrane covers the entire surface of the
interior wall of the hollow tubular axle between the end plugs 2
and 3 and fills the apertures 6, finishing flush with the
exterior surface of the tubular axle as can be seen at 8. The
elastomeric membrane may be formed from any suitable material and
in the preferred form of the invention is formed by rotational
casting from polyurethane within the tubular axle.
The end plug 2 is provided with fluid supply means
adapted to pressurize the interior of the hollow tubular axle
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causlng the elastomerlc membrane 7 to bulge outwardly through the
apertures. In the preferred form of the
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invention t~e fluid supply mean~ compri~e~ an air supply
and r~lease valve 9 axially located in the end plug 2.
In u~e when it i~ desired to ~upport a roll of
material on the roll ~upport spindle according to the
invention, the roll core 10 (Fig. 3) is engaged over the
~indle until it i8 positionQd in the desired axial
location. Compressed air i~ then ~upplied under pressure
through the valve 9 into the interior chamber 4 causing
the elastomeric membrane 7 to bulge outwardly through the
aperture~ 6 as shown at 11. The~e bulges of elastomeric
material automatically centrali6e the roll core 10 on the
spindle and securely hold the roll core locked tightly in
place on the spindle ready for rotation.
Once the material has been exhau~ted from the roll
core, air eressure i~ released from the chamber 4 through
the valve 9 allowing the ela~tomeric membrane to return to
its normal po~ition flush with the outer surface of the
tubular axle 1 allowing the roll core 10 to be simply
removed ~rom the spindle.
In thi~ manner a roll support spindle is provided
which i~ ~imple and economical to manufacture, reliable in
u~e, and which enables an operator to quickly and simply
engage or remove a roll core from the spindle.
