W. R. Grace Co.

Martin Automatic, Inc.

Larry E Curtin

John R Martin

Roger Cederholm

An inertia compensated festoon assembly useable to control the tension in a moving web that is subject to tension changes due to, among other things, frequent zero-speed splices of the web to a new web and that must run continuously, downstream from the assembly, at relatively high speed and under relatively constant, relatively low tensions. The assembly includes a first, inertia compensated multiple floating dancer roller festoon, in series with an isolation driven roller, and a second, inertia compensated single floating dancer roller festoon.

Inertia compensated festoon assembly

A contactless web turning guide comprises a guide member that extends across the web and curves arcuately along a direction in which the web moves. The web floats in proximity to the convex surface of the guide member on a film of air confined by means of elongated air nozzles around its periphery. A pair of elongated edge-jet outlets extends along each edge of the web, parallel to the web edges, from one to the other of said nozzles. One edge-jet outlet of each pair is spaced a small distance outwardly from its adjacent web edge, the other a small distance inwardly from that edge, and the two edge-jet outlets of each pair discharge air along said surface in the direction across the width of the web towards the other pair of edge-jet outlets. Such edge-jet outlets conserve energy required for pressure air generation while affording more stable web travel.

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Rockford, IL, United States of America

Larry E Curtin