Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
21463~
1955/OA989
GUIDING ROLLER FOR WEB MATERIAL, IN PARTICIILAR,
FOR PAPER PRODUCTION AND FINISHING MACHlNES
Field of the Ill~e.~lion -
This invention relates generally to a guiding roller for web material and more
15 particularly, to a guiding roller for paper production and r"~ g m~rllin~s having a middle
and two outer roller tubes, the adjacent ends of which are supported by a common roller
bearing on a fixed roller axle; the free ends of the outer roller tubes are supported by roller
bearings on radially adjustable bearillg el~mPnt.C. The common roller bearing of the adjacent
ends has a thermal in.qll~ting material positioned between the roller bearing and the roller
20 tube.
Back~round of the I~ t;~
Guiding rollers of this type are known, for example as shown in DE-PS 21 08
702 and DE-PS 21 02 818, and are also used as width adjusting rollers and "kinked rollers"
25 because the outer roller shells can be angled with respect to the middle tube by displacing the
roller bearings. This type of guiding roller can be used to correct deformations caused by
the bending of the roller axle.
Spherical roller bearings are provided on both ends of the middle and outer
rollers to accommodate the angled positions that occur during the corrective process.
30 However, spherical roller bearings are expensive and, because of the relatively large roller
tube diameter, are also over-dimensioned. Furthermore, since two spherical roller bearings
are placed between the middle and outer roller tubes, these bearings are not heavily loaded
21~6391
and often operate in a range in which a danger of slippage exists, which leads
to the
destruction of the spherical roller bearings and smearing during operation. In
addition, the
spherical roller bearings generate a large amount of heat that is tldn~r~lled t
o the web
material in these regions and the quality of the web material is thus tlimini~h
~d
An improvement to the guiding roller is known from US-PS 39 61 737, wh
ich
discloses that the adjacent ends of the roller tubes can be supported by means
of a link joint
consi~lhlg of a flexible ring and a bridging element that grips under both the
link joint and
a roller bearing on the roller axle. In operation, the roller tubes can be supp
orted on collars
that are mounted in a rotatable manner so that the flexible ring is contimlo~lsly coll.~,..,ssed
10 and released. However, a high level of heat develops in conjunction with this action and is
..~r~,l.ed to the web material, thus fl~m~ging the web material.
Another illlL~lov~ ent is known from DE-OS 33 11 095, which discloses a
width adjusling roller, the individual roller tubes of which are each supported in the middle
on the roller axle by a roller bearing. The adjacent ends of the roller tubes are col~necled to
15 each other by a flexible ring which operates as a link joint and enables the roller tubes to be
driven along with each other in a rotating manner. However, a high level of heat develops
in the roller bearings which is lldn~..cd to the web material.
~ ~ qry of the ~ Allion
Accoldillgly, it is an object of the invention to provide an improved guiding
roller in which an e~cessiv~ly high generation of heat can be avoided.
In carrying out the above and other objects of the invention, adjacent ends of
the roller tubes are joined together so that they are driven along with each other in a rotating
and articulated manner by means of a bridging element that grips under the roller ends. The
adjacent ends have a common roller bearing and a thermal in~ ting material is placed
between the roller bearing and the roller tube.
The adjacent ends of the roller tubes are linked together by a bridging element;thus a common roller bearing mounting is sufficient for operation. Since the ends are joined
to each other in an articulated manner, an angled position does not require support by the
roller bearing. As a result, simpler roller bearings can be utilized. In particular, extremely
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small, low-friction roller bearings, such as deep groove ball bearings, can be used which also
generate minimal heat. In most cases, it is sufficient to provide only one such roller bearing
for both of the adjacent ends. A thermal in~ tin~ material largely prevents a flow of heat :;
to the roller tubes which can damage the web material.
In a preferred embodiment, the bridging element is supported on the common
roller bearing mounting and is connected with each of the adjacent ends by an articulated joint
device. The roller bearing mounting is thus loaded by the roller tube through the
intrrmP~ tP pl~rçmrnt of the bridging element. In conjunction with this, the bridging
element can take on a coaxial position with respect to the roller axle because the two adjacent
ends of the roller tubes are cc,m e~ d to the bridging element in an articulated manner.
It is a further object of the present invention that the articulated devices arepositioned on both sides of a common roller bearing. Thus, it is possible to utilize only one ~ ~-
roller bearing.
In an alternative embodiment, the articulated joint devices are placed between
two common roller bearings. The bridging element is coaxial to the roller axle because of
the spacing between tbe two roller bearings.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide the bridging element .
attached in a fixed manner to one of the adjacent ends of the roller tubes. An artir,ul~tPd joint
device is placed between the bridging element and the other roller end. A COInmon roller
20 bearing acts upon only one of the adjacent ends. Because of the articulated joint connection
between the bridging element and the roller tube, a single roller bearing is sl-fflri~nt for both
of the adjacent roller ends. ~;
Preferably, the common roller bearing acts upon the end of the~middle roller
tube. Typically, the middle roller tube is greater in length than the two outer roller tubes;
25thus the axial spacing of the bearings is evening (l;~l, ;hul~(l
As stated, simple deep groove ball bearings can be used advantageously as the
roller bearings. These bearings operate with especially low friction and can be kept relatively
narrow. If neces~ , the deep groove ball bearings can be used in adjacent pairs.It is a further object of the present invention to provide an artir~ tPd joint
30device colllplising a flexible ring. A flexible ring deforms under the effect of the angled
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position and can thus be used as a joint articulation.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an articulated joint
device comprising a rubber-metal bushing. Such bushings are commercially available and
easy to handle. When the bushings are installed using a press fit, they simultaneously
S function as a rotating coupling.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an articulated devicecomprising a hard O-ring and a profile ring that is supported radially on the O-ring. In this
case, the O-ring acts in conju~ ion with the profile ring to forrn a smooth-running
articulation. The O-ring and possibly the profile ring can also serve as thermal insulation in
10 this configuration.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an articulated
connection co~ ing a spherical bearing.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an articulated joint
connection comprising a thermal in.c~ ting m~tP.ri~l In this way, the heat ~ne.aled in the
15 roller bearings is isolated from the roller tubes without any additional ~e1PmPnt~ In particular,
a flexible ring, which is preferably made of a material with a poor coPfflriPnt of thermal
conductivity, can be used as therrnal insulation.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a carrier that engages
with the other element which is attached at the bridging element or at the roller tube for the
20 purpose of driving the one roller tube in a rotating manner. With such a rotating drive, no
torsion forces are ll,l.ls..~illed through the articulated joint device.
Brief Des~ tiGn of the Drawin~s
~IG. 1 is a longitllrlin~l section through a guiding roller having a region A
25 which is improved in accoldailce with the present invention.
FIG. 2 is the preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention.
FIGS. 3-6 are alternate embodiments in accordance with the present invention.
Detailed Description of the Illve.llion
Referring to FIG. 1, a guiding roller has a middle roller tube 1 and two outer
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21~63~
roller tubes 2, 3. The roller tubes 2, 3 are penetrated by a roller axle 4, which is supported
at its ends by bearing brackets 5, 6 and secured against turning by locking elements 7, 8.
The middle roller tube 1 is supported at its ends on the roller axle 4 by spherical roller
bearings 9, 10. The outer roller tubes 2, 3 are supported on the roller axle 4 at their ends
S adjacent the middle roller tube 1 by spherical roller bearings 11, 12a, and at their free ends
by spherical roller bearings 12, 13 on bearing elements 14, lS, which can be displaced
radially by adjusting mechanisms 16. In place of the radial adjustment mech~ni~m 16, an
eccentric bearing element can also be utilized.
By means of the adjusting me-~.h~ni~m 1~, the outer spherical roller bearings
10 12, 13 can be adjusted such that the outer roller tubes 2, 3 are angled with respect to the
middle roller tube 1, thus co~ ing the angling of the outer roller tubes 2, 3 caused by the
bending of the roller axle 4 during operation. The roller bearings are cle~i~ned as spherical
roller bearings 9-13 to allow the angled positions to be created while the roller tubes are
rotating.
Referring to FIG. 2, reference numbers are increased by 100 for cc,llG~onding
parts. In this embodiment, the ends of both of the roller tubes 101, 102 are supported on the
roller axle 104 by a common roller bearing 109, which is preferably a deep groove ball
bearing. A bridging element 117, which consists of two parts 119, 120, are joined to each
other by bolts 118. The bridging element 117 is joined to the adjacent ends of the roller
20 tubes 101, 102 by an articulated joint device 121, 122 positioned at each of the adjacent ends.
Each of the articulated joint devices 121, 122 has a flexible ring 123, 124 and is configured
as a rubber-metal bushing.
An angled position between the roller tubes 101, 102 is provided by the
flexible rings 123, 124. The bridging element 117 retains its position concellllic to the roller
25 axle 104. As a result, the roller bearing 109 is loaded only in the radial direction. The heat
that is g~neldled cannot easily be tld.lsr~lred to the roller tubes 101, 102 because the material
of the flexible rings 123, 124 serves as thermal insulation. Thus, unlike the prior art, an
excessively high gclleldlioll of heat from the roller bearing is elimin~t~d and a higher quality
web material is produced.
21~639 ~
Referring to FIG.3, reference numbers are increased by 200 for corresponding
parts. In this embodiment, the bridging element 217 consists of parts 219, 220 and is
supported by two roller bearings 209, 211, which form a common roller bearing mounting,
preferably a simple deep groove ball bearing. The two articulated joint devices 221, 222 are
located between the two roller bearings 209, 211 and function in the same manner as the two
articulated joint devices of FIG. 2.
Referring to FIG. 4, reference numbers are increased by 300 for corresponding
parts. In this embodiment, the ends of the middle roller tube 301 are directly supported on
the roller axle 304 by a roller bearing 309, which is preferably a deep groove ball bearing
but with a thermal in~nl~ting material 332 placed in-between. A bridging element 317 is
rigidly fastened to the adjacent ends of the outer roller tube 302 by bolts 325. An articulated
joint device 321 is positioned between the bridging element 317 and the end of the middle
roller tube 301 and preferably colllplises a spherical bearing with an inner bearing shell 326
and an outer bearing shell 327a. A carrier 327 is positioned adjacent the bridging element
317 and engages a collc~olldillg recess 328 in the middle roller tube 301 to couple the two
roller tubes 301, 302 during rotation.
Referring to FIG. 5, l~r~ ce numbers are increased by 400 for coll~ ding
parts. This embodiment is di~lhl~;uisllable from FIG. 4 in that the spherical bearing 321 is
replaced by a rubber-metal bushing 421 with a flexible ring 423.
Referring to FIG. 6, lcr~l~nce numbers are increased by 500 for corresponding
parts. In this embodiment, the articu1ated joint device 521 is a combination of a hard O-ring
523, which is inserted into a groove 529 in the inner side of the middle roller tube 501, and
a profile ring 530 that engages the groove 5:29 and lies against the cylilldlical cilculllrclcliLial
surface 531 of the bridging element 517.
It is possible to deviate from the forms of implen~Pnt~tion shown without
deviating from the intent of the invention. For example, the roller bearings 309, 409, 509
can also be placed on the outer roller tube 302, 402, 502, while the bridging elen~lont~ 317,
417, 517 are attached to the middle roller tube 301, 401, 501. In addition, the spherical
bearing 321 (FIG. 4) can be used in place of the flexible rings 123, 124, 223, 224 in FIGS.
30 2 and 3.
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