Butler Automatic, Inc.

Ronald A Bartell

George F Corcoran

Donald H Fuller

A web steering frame having parallel entering and exiting rollers is supported for pivotal movement on a stationary support frame in a web guide apparatus by a system of pivoted, linear bearings. Each bearing includes a bushing which is movable along a linear guide rod. The bushings are fixed near the rollers where any loads are transmitted to the support frame thereby minimizing steering frame racking. The guide rods are pivotally connected to the support frame. The bearings are oriented so that the direction of linear freedom of each is orthogonal to a line passing through the bearing pivot and the desired steering frame pivot. The linear bearings effectively constrain the steering frame to pivotal motion about the steering frame pivot. Their use gives rise to significant reductions in cost and complexity over conventional web guide apparatus using precision arcuate guides, links or flexures.

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Sudbury, MA, United States of America

Ronald A Bartell