Eastman-kodak Company

Corning Incorporated

Xerox Corporation

Kevin A Cole

Sharon A Guzman

Daniel R May

Sean Matthew Garner

Gary Edward Merz

W Charles Kasiske, Jr

Richard Henry Weachock

Scott W Tang

Roger Gaylord Leighton

Chester Hann Huei Chang

John J Zeller

Chester H H Chang

Larry Thomas Shafer

A web-guiding system for guiding a web of media travelling from upstream to downstream along a transport path in an in-track direction, including a web-guiding structure and a vacuum system. The web-guiding structure includes an exterior surface having a pattern of recesses formed into the exterior surface, wherein the web of media travels past the web-guiding structure with a first side of the web of media contacting at least some non-recessed portions of the exterior surface of the web-guiding structure. The vacuum system is positioned such that the web of media passes between the web-guiding structure and the vacuum system, the vacuum system being adapted to provide a vacuum force to pull the second side of the web of media toward the vacuum system, thereby lifting portions of the web of media overlying the recesses away from the exterior surface of the web-guiding structure.

Negative pressure web wrinkle reduction system

A web-guiding system for guiding a web of media travelling from upstream to downstream along a transport path in an in-track direction, including a web-guiding structure and an air source. The web-guiding structure includes an exterior surface having a pattern of recesses formed into the exterior surface, wherein the web of media travels past the web-guiding structure with a first side of the web of media contacting at least some non-recessed portions of the exterior surface of the web-guiding structure. The air source provides an air flow between the first side of the web of media and the exterior surface of the web-guiding structure thereby providing a lifting force to lift portions of the web of media overlying the recesses away from the exterior surface of the web-guiding structure.

Positive pressure web wrinkle reduction system

A system and method for printing on a continuous web of imaging material in an inkjet printing machine having a turnbar reverser to reverse the direction of the web for duplex printing. The turnbar reverser includes at least one turnbar having a predetermined pattern of apertures formed in a surface of the turnbar. The optimized apertures direct a flow of air provided by a blower to provide an air flow to float the web above the surface of the turnbar, allow for higher operating tensions, and reduce acoustic noise generation.

Flow optimization for compact turnbar reversers

A non-contact dancer mechanism for conveying a web of brittle material includes a guide rail and a variable position web support plenum adjustably positioned on the guide rail. The variable position web support plenum may include an arcuate outer surface with a plurality of fluid vents for emitting a fluid to support the web of brittle material over and spaced apart from the arcuate outer surface thereby preventing mechanical contact and damage to the web of brittle material. A support plenum counterbalance may be mechanically coupled to the variable position web support plenum, wherein the support plenum counterbalance supports at least a portion of the weight of the variable position web support plenum on the guide rail. Apparatuses incorporating the non-contact dancer mechanism and methods for using the non-contact dancer mechanism for handling continuous webs of brittle material are also disclosed.

Non-contact dancer mechanisms, web isolation apparatuses and methods for using the same

A multiple durometer pressure roller for winding a web of deformable material onto a core, particularly for reducing air entrainment in the wound roll. The pressure roller includes a rigid cylindrical shaft, a resilient central sleeve supported by the shaft, and two end sleeves supported at each end of the resilient sleeve. The end sleeves have a lower durometer than the resilient sleeve. In a preferred embodiment, the end sleeves and the resilient sleeve are covered by an outer cover having a higher durometer.

Multiple durometer pressure roller

A surface winder having an undercut drive roller. An apparatus for winding web material onto a core includes a driven pressure roller having a first end portion, a second end portion, and a central portion intermediate the first and second end portions. When the pressure roller is driven against the core, a first and second nip is formed between the first and second end portions, respectively, and the core. The central portion is undercut so as to space the central portion from the web material being wound onto the core.

Surface winder undercut drive roller apparatus and method

An apparatus for producing single-sided knurls on a web or substrate without heat. The apparatus includes a conventional knurling wheel and a knurling wheel having its points ground down. A nip is formed by these two wheels and an edge of the web is passed through the nip. The resulting knurl has raised features on only one side of the web. The knurls are thinner than conventional two sided knurls and minimize fluting to the web.

Growing community of inventors

Ontario, NY, United States of America

Kevin A Cole