Means for aligning calender rolls

Sept. 15, 1936. h. r. williams 2,054,530

MEANS FOR ALIGNING CALENDER ROLLS Filed April 1, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 1

<img file="US2054530A_D0001.tif" />

INVENTOR

Harr/sonft W/H/ams

<img file="US2054530A_D0002.tif" />

ATTORNEYS

Sept. 15, 1936. _H. r. williams 2,054,530

MEANS FOR ALIGNING CALENDER ROLLS

Filed April 1, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2

<img file="US2054530A_D0003.tif" />

<img file="US2054530A_D0004.tif" />

ATTORNEYS

Patented Sept. 15, 1936

2,054,530

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE

2,054,530 MEANS FOR ALIGNING CALENDER ROLLS Harrison R. Williams, New York, N. Y. Application April 1, 1930, Serial No. 440,702 7 Claims. (Cl. 33—182)

This invention relates to the aligning of rolls tc run in surface contact with each other and more particularly to the alignment of the rolls of a stack such, for example, as that of a calen5 der for use in finishing a web of paper.

Where rolls are pressed together it is desirable to have them in close alignment for, if they are in skew relation with respect to each other there will not be a line of contact between them and 10 any article such as a web of material will not be subjected to uniform pressure throughout its width. Heretofore, no suitable means has been developed for determining whether such rolls are in alignment.

An important object of the present invention is to provide novel means for use in the alignment with respect to each other of rolls which are pressed together. Another object is to provide means for determining the degree of devia20 tion from such alignment.

The basic idea back of this invention is to provide for the establishment of what may be called a base or reference line or plane so that the distances therefrom of opposite ends of a 25 ^rolJ will determine whether or not the roll is properly aligned with respect to a standard direction. This base for reference may be established by using the bottom roll of a stack to establish a vertical base plane at a fixed distance 30 from the axis of such roll. The distances of opposite ends of an upper roll from such vertical base plane can then be measured and if they are different the upper roll is not in proper alignment with reference to the lower roll.

Other objects and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In drawings forming part of the present specification:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary end view of a stack 40 with one end of the frame removed and with one embodiment of the present invention applied thereto;

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the passage of a web of paper through a stack of 45 rolls;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary top plan view, in section, on a larger scale, taken along the line 3—3 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 4 is a top plan view on a larger scale, of 50 the upper cross member of the aligning device, the upright being shown in cross section.

The objects of the invention can in general be attained by use of a device including an upright, a member adjustable along said upright 55 and designed to engage the lower or driving roll of a stack at the side thereof, a cross member adjustable along said upright and designed to rest on a higher roll of the stack and thereby support the whole device with the lower adjustable member in engagement with the lower roll, 5 adjusting means carried by said upright in position to engage the side of such upper roll and serving to adjust said upright to vertical position, a micrometer gage adjacent said adjusting means and operable by engagement with 10 such upper roll, and means to vary the position of said micrometer gage with reference to the upright to obtain a zero reading.

After applying the aligning device at one end , of the stack and adjusting the same as above 15 stated, the device may be shifted to the other end of the stack and the upright again adjusted to vertical position. The plus or minus reading of the micrometer gage will then indicate in suitable linear units variations in alignment be- ₂q tween the two ends of the roll being tested with reference to the driving roll. The alignment of the upper roll may then be corrected in any suitable manner as by the use of shims between the body portions of the slidable end bearings of the ₂s upper roll and the edge portions of such bearings which engage guides carried by the end frames of the stack.

Referring to Fig. 2 of the drawings, I indicates the lower or 'driving roll of a stack which ₃₀also includes a plurality of rolls 2, each supported by the next lower roll and driven frictionally therefrom; and 3 indicates a web of paper which is introduced beneath the upper roll 2 and passes back and forth around the rolls 2 until it reaches ₃g the driving roll i where it is discharged from the stack.

As illustrated in Fig. 1, the driving roll I is provided at its ends with shaft sections 4 which are mounted in bearings of which the lower members 40 are parts of the end frames 5 of the stack, and the rolls 2 are provided at their ends with shaft sections 6 which are mounted in bearings 7 slidable on upright guides 8 carried on the adjacent faces of posts 9 forming parts of the end frames 45 5. In order that rolls 2 may be aligned with reference to the driving roll I when found to be out of alignment therewith, the grooved edge portions of the bearings 7 which fit over the guides 8 are formed as separate members 10 so that ad- 50 justment of the rolls with reference to the guides may be made by the insertion or removal of shims to vary the positions of the members 10 with reference to the corresponding bearings or bearing blocks 7. The members 10 may be attached 55

2,064,530 to the bearing blocks 7 in any suitable manner as by the use of screws 11 passing through the members IQ to one side of the grooves therein and threaded into the bearing blocks proper.

In machines in which articles, such as sheets or webs, are pressed by passing them between presser rolls, it is important to have line contact between adjacent rolls. Obviously such line contact will not be obtained if the rolls are in skew 10 relation or out of alignment with respect to each other. The present invention provides for testing the alignment of rollers and for measuring deviation from such alignment so that rolls which are out of alignment may be brought into align13 ment.

The illustrated embodiment of the invention includes a member or bar 12 which, when in use, is in an upright position and may therefore be referred to as an upright. Slidably mounted on 20 the bar 12 is a member 13 having an inner end which is designed to engage the lower roll I at its side and at the level of the axis of the roll. Preferably the roll engaging end of said member 13 is broad in the direction of the axis of the lower 25 roll so sidewise rocking of the testing device is prevented. Preferably the main body of the member 13 is provided at one side with a recess to receive the bar 12 and the bar is held in the recess by a plate 14 secured in position by suit,30 able means such as screws 14α. Mounted in the outer end of said recess is a presser plate 15 held in the recess by lugs 16 at the ends thereof and arranged to be pressed against the outer edge of the bar or upright 12 by means of a thumb screw 35 17 threaded through the outer end of the member 13. The reason for having the member 13 adjustable along the upright 12 will be brought out hereinafter.

To support the alignment testing device, use is made of a cross member or bar 18 forming part ¹ thereof and arranged to rest on the upper side of the roll whose alignment with respect to the driving roll I is to be tested. The cross member 18 is also mounted on the bar or member 12 so 45 that it can be adjusted therealong and to this end the member 18 is provided with a suitable recess to receive the member or upright 12 Which is held in the recess in any suitable manner as by means of a plate 19 and screws 20. To secure 50 the cross member in adjusted position along the ' upright 12, provision may be made of suitable means such as a presser plate 21 at the outer edge of the upright and held in the recess by lugs 22, and a thumb screw 23 threaded through 55 the outer end of the bar 18 for engagement with such plate.

In order to have a suitable base or base line to measure from at opposite ends of the stack, the upright 12 should be adjusted to the same 00 position with reference to the lower roll I at - both ends of the stack before the difference between the distances of the upright member is determined. Preferably the upright 12 is adjusted to a vertical position by means of an ad05 justing screw or rod 24 designed to engage the roll whose alignment is to be tested. The screw 24 is perpendicular to the upright 12 and is threaded through a bracket 25 secured to the upright 12 at one side thereof. For convenience 70 of operation the screw is provided at its outer • - end with a knurled head 26. In order to determine when the upright is in vertical position, use may be made of any suitable means such as a surveyor’s level 27 mounted on the cross member 75 18 by which the device is supported. Mounted on the opposite side of the bar 12 from the bracket 25 is a bracket 28 (Fig. 3) in which is mounted a bar 29 parallel to the screw 24 and held in adjusted position in said bracket 28 by means of a thumb screw 30. Secured to the inner end of the 5 bar 29 is a micrometer gage 31 of a type to give both plus and minus readings and operated to give such readings by means of a plunger 32.

In installing the rolls of a calender stack, the bottom or driving roll I is installed in its fixed 10 bearings, the next roll 2 is installed, and after the two rolls have been run for a few minutes, say four or five minutes, the alignment of the upper of the two rolls with reference to the lower is tested. In order to use the testing instrument of 15 the present invention, the cross member 18 is adjusted along the upright 12 until the distance between its lower edge and the axis of the screw 24 is substantially the same as the radius of the roll 2 whose alignment is to be tested, and the 20 screw 23 is then tightened to maintain this adjustment. To facilitate the adjustment just referred to, the upright 12 may be provided with suitable graduations 33 which may be observed through a sight opening 34 in the plate 19. The 25 member 13 for engagement with the lower roll should also be adjusted to a position such that the distance from the axis of the screw to the medial horizontal plane through its contact end is substantially equal to the sum of the radii of the 30 two rolls.

After such adjustments have been made and the instrument located at one end of the stack with the cross member ί 8 resting on the upper of the two rolls, the member 13 against the lower :35 roll I, and the screw 24 in engagement with the upper of the two rolls; the screw 24 is operated to bring the upright 12 to vertical position as indicated by bringing the bubble of the level to central position determined by the positions of the ends of the bubble at equal distances on op- ‘ posite sides of the zero graduation of a suitable scale. The thumb screw 30 is then loosened and the bar 29 is adjusted longitudinally until the micrometer gage 31 has a zero reading. Then _4gthe instrument is shifted to the other end of the '·“ stack and adjusted by means of the screw 24 until the upright 12 is vertical. The plus or minus reading of the micrometer gage 31 corresponding to any deviation of alignment will give suf- _goficient information to enable the alignment to be adjusted by use of shims or in any suitable manner.

Obviously another roll may be aligned with reference to the upper roll shown in Fig. 1 or _ggwith respect to the lower roll after suitable adjustment of the members 13 and 18 along the upright. By continuing the operation in this way each roll installed may be aligned with respect to the rolls beneath the same. ₀θ

While I have illustrated and described in detail one embodiment of my invention, it is to be understoood that changes may be made therein. I do not, therefore, desire to limit myself to the specific construction illustrated but intend to 05 cover my invention broadly in whatever form its principles may be utilized.