Convertible buffers for web presses

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9469095-B2
Application number	US-201514817889-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 4, 2015
Priority date	Mar 11, 2011
Publication date	Oct 18, 2016
Grant date	Oct 18, 2016

Abstract

In one example, a web press includes a web press station ( 610 ) and a convertible buffer ( 600 ) near the web press station, the convertible buffer being configured to convert to a platform ( 630 ) for accessing the web press station. A method for performing web press maintenance is also disclosed.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A web press comprising:
a web press station; and
a convertible buffer near the web press station, the convertible buffer being configured to convert between an operating configuration and a non-operating configuration in which a standing platform is deployed for accessing the web press station, the convertible buffer comprising a first set of idlers and a second set of idlers that are spaced apart in the operating configuration and brought together in the non-operating configuration; and
wherein the first set of idlers and the second set of idlers of the convertible buffer, in the operating configuration, alter a substrate path length to coordinate web speed during operation of the web press with an adjacent machine, when installed.

2. The web press of claim 1 , in which the standing platform comprises a series of spaced apart apertures through which a web passes during operation of the web press, the apertures being covered in the non-operating configuration to deploy the standing platform.

3. The web press of claim 1 , in which the standing platform comprises a floor plate to provide a standing surface for a technician to access the web press station.

4. The we press of claim 1 , in which the first set of idlers is a stationary set of idlers on the first side of a floor plate and the moveable idlers are configured to move through the floor plate from a second side of the floor plate to the first side of the floor plate.

5. The web press of claim 4 , further comprising idler covers the idler covers being disposed above the movable idlers such that in the non-operating configuration the idler covers fit into apertures in the floor plate.

6. The web press of claim 1 , in which the movable idlers are configured to move linearly toward the first set of idlers in the non-operating configuration to expose a floor plate.

7. The web press of claim 1 , in which the buffer, in the operating configuration, dynamically adjusts the web path length to control for different web speeds in adjacent machines.

8. The web press of claim 1 , in which the non-operating configuration comprises an unobstructed walkway from one side of the web press to an opposite side of the web press.

9. A buffer for a web press, comprising;
a first set of idlers and a second set of idlers; and
a standing platform comprising a floor plate,
wherein the buffer being convertible between an operating configuration in which spacing among the idlers is altered to change a web path length and the standing platform is not deployed and a non-operating configuration in which the standing platform is deployed for accessing an adjacent web press station,
in which the buffer, when in the operating condition, coordinates different web speeds by dynamically adjusting a length of a substrate path within the buffer, and in which the stand platform comprises a floor plate, the first set of idlers being disposed beneath the floor plate.

10. The buffer of claim 9 , wherein the first set of idlers and the second set of idlers being brought together in the non-operating configuration to deploy the standing platform.

11. The buffer of claim 10 , wherein the second set of idlers are configured to move through the floor plate.

12. The buffer of claim 10 , in which the second set of idlers is linearly and horizontally translated toward the first set of idlers to expose a fixed standing platform.

13. The buffer of claim 9 , in which the buffer is directly adjacent to and interposed between two web press stations, the non-operating configuration being configured to provide access to sides of the two web press stations adjoining the buffer.

14. A method for performing web press maintenance comprising:
converting a buffer of a web press from an operating configuration to a non-operating configuration with a deployed standing platform that comprises a floor plate, the buffer being directly adjacent to and interposed between two web press stations of the web press; and
standing on the standing platform to access sides of the two web press stations for maintenance, in which the buffer alters a substrate path length to coordinate web speeds between the adjacent web press stations during operation of the web press in the operating configuration, in which the buffer occupies all the area between two adjacent machines, and in which the standing platform provides access to the sides of the two web press stations in the non-operating configuration
wherein the buffer comprises a first set of idlers and a second set of idlers that are brought together in the non-operating configuration to deploy the standing platform.

15. The web press of claim 2 , in which a path of a substrate through the non-operating configuration of the convertible buffer facilitates threading of the substrate.

16. The web press of claim 15 , in which the path of the substrate through the non-operating buffer is straight.

17. The buffer of claim 9 , in which an idler is cantilevered.

18. The method of claim 14 , in which the buffer converts between the operating configuration and the non-operating configuration by translating a plurality of idlers.

19. The method of claim 14 , in which the buffer in the non-operating condition allows adjacent units of a web press to continue to perform all functions other than the dynamic compensation for differences in web speed normally performed by the buffer.

Assignees

• Hewlett Packard Development Co Lp
• Hewlett Packard Indigo Bv

Inventors

• Peleg Eyal
• Kent Itzik
• Ruhm Benji
• Elias Erez

Classifications

• B41F13/025

  Registering devices · CPC title

• B41F13/0024 Primary

  Frames · CPC title

• B41F3/54 Primary

  Impression cylinders; Supports therefor · CPC title

• B41F13/012

  Taking-up backlash {(devices for taking-up backlash in general F16H55/00, e.g. F16H55/18)} · CPC title