US3677499A

US3677499A - Apparatus for feeding strip material of different widths

Info

Publication number: US3677499A
Application number: US110915A
Authority: US
Inventors: Elmer O Wangerin
Original assignee: Eastman Kodak Co
Current assignee: Eastman Kodak Co
Priority date: 1971-01-29
Filing date: 1971-01-29
Publication date: 1972-07-18
Anticipated expiration: 1989-07-18
Also published as: FR2124759A6; DE2203823A1; GB1376371A

Abstract

Strip feeding apparatus of the kind in which a pair of opposed rollers successively flex toward each other opposed regions of the flange members of a rotating reel as those regions are respectively rotated past the rollers, includes a pair of flangeflexing rollers which are movable relative to each other to vary the distance therebetween and thereby provide flexing engagement selectively with reels of different flange member spacing.

Description

I United States Patent 51 Wangerin 1 July 18, 1972 APPARATUS FOR FEEDING STRIP R f r n s Cited MATERIAL OF DIFFERENT WIDTHS UNITED STATES PATENTS [72] Inventor: Elmer 0. Wangerin, Rochester, NY. 3,467,340 9/1969 Rosenburgh ..242/ I97 ,435 l 1971 W ..24 [73] Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company, Rochester, 3 556 angerm 2,210

Primary Examiner-George F. Mautz [22] Filed: Jan. 29, 1971 Attorney-W. H. J. Kline and John D. Husser ABS I RACT [21] Appl' (L915 Strip feeding apparatus of the kind in which a pair of opposed rollers successively flex toward each other opposed regions of 52] CL 242/210 242/192 242/195 the flange members of a rotating reel as those regions are 51] Int Cl Gubls/66 lb 15/32 respectively rotated past the rollers, includes a pair of flange- Field of Search I i I l 242/192, flexing rollers which are movable relative to each other to vary the distance therebetween and thereby provide flexing engagement selectively with reels of difierent flange member spacing.

14 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures Patented July 18, 1972 3,677,499

4 SheetsSheet. 1

FIG. 2

ELME WANGERIN VENTOR.

ATTORNEYS Patented July 18, 1972 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 3

ELMER O. WANGERIN INVENTOR.

8 A w %)%w ATTORNEYS Patented July 18, 1972 3,677,499

4 Sheets-Sheet 5 ELMER O. WANGERIN INVENTOR.

wa W1 mgf daw A TTORNEYS Patented July 18, 1972 3,677,499

4 Sheets-Sheet 4 ELMER O. WANGERIN INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS APPARATUS FOR FEEDING STRIP MATERIAL OF DIFFERENT WID'IHS CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION Reference is made to the commonly assigned copending U.S. Pat. application Ser. No. 730,523, entitled Film Thread ing Apparatus, filed in the name of Elmer O. Wangerin on May 20, 1968, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,556,435.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to the unwinding of strip material from a reel or other support for use at a predetermined location and, more particularly, to apparatus for supporting rolls of convoluted strip material of different widths and for feeding a leading strip portion from a roll so supported. Moreover, this invention relates to strip handling apparatus of the kind which transversely flexes successive regions of the outermost convolution of a roll of strip material to effect feeding of the leading strip end along a guide path from such roll and which is improved to handle strip material of different widths.

2. Description of the Prior Art Recently, magazine-reel units have been devised, such as disclosed in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 3,467,340, in which a strip bearing reel is rotatably mounted and retained within a protective magazine in a manner facilitating storage and feeding of strip material from the reel to a location outside the magazine for use. To effect such strip feeding, apparatus is disclosed in US. Pat. No. 3,467,340, whereby the reel is rotated in an unwinding direction within the magazine and a pair of opposed rollers successively flex toward each other opposed regions of the reel flanges as those regions are respectively rotated past the rollers. This localized flexing of the reel flanges, in turn, imparts a transverse pinching force to successive portions of the outermost convolution of strip material wound on the reel and, thereby, causes the outermost strip convolution to rotate with the reel. Moreover, this localized pinching of the outermost strip convolution bows it transversely, thereby causing the pinched strip portion to assume a longitudinally straight condition due to resistance of the strip material to be flexed simultaneously both along and transverse to its longitudinal axis. As the leading end of the strip is rotated past the location where the reel flanges are flexed by the rollers, the pinching of successive trailing portions of the outermost strip convolution thus causes the leading end to move tangentially outward from the strip roll and into contact with a generally annular strip guide surface of the magazine. Because successive portions of the outermost strip convolution are continuously held between successive opposed regions of the reel flanges, the leading strip end is moved with the rotated reel and along the strip guide surface. As the leading end of the strip is moved in contact with this guide surface, it is directed by such surface to an exit channel in the magazine and passes therethrough for use at a predetermined location.

Although the strip feeding apparatus disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,467,340 is quite reliable; it is, however, generally adapted to be used with strip material of a single predetermined width.

Much of the commercially available strip material stored on a reel including for example, information bearing films or tapes, is generally available in several different predetermined strip widths for any particular strip material. With this in mind, a strip feeding apparatus of the kind previously described has been recently devised for use with a plurality of strip bearing reels of respectively different flange member spacing. This last-mentioned strip feeding apparatus is disclosed in commonly assigned copending U.S. Pat. application Ser. No. 730,523 and achieves its versatility by means of a roller assembly on which is disposed several pairs of opposed rollercam surfaces. The cam surfaces comprising the individual pairs of such surfaces are spaced apart by different predetermined distances respectively corresponding to the different predetermined widths of strip material intended for use. Furthermore, the roller assembly is mounted so that each pair of roller-cam surfaces can be moved along a path substantially normal to the axis of rotation of a selected reel for flexing engagement of a cam surface pair, in the manner previously described, with the spaced flange members of a particular strip bearing reel to which such pair corresponds. While this strip feeding apparatus is adapted for use with strip material of different widths, it will be appreciated that the adaptability of such apparatus as to the number of different width strips that can be handled thereby is generally limited to the number of discrete pairs of cam surfaces disposed on the roller assembly. Accordingly, it can be seen that a need exists for strip handling apparatus of the kind which transversely flexes successive regions of the outermost convolution of a roll of strip material to effect feeding of the leading strip end along a guide path from the roll, and which is improved over such apparatus heretofore known to provide a greater versatility regarding the number of different width strips that can be handled thereby.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a novel and improved strip feeding apparatus of the kind previously described which is adapted for use with strip material of different widths.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved strip handling apparatus for supporting rolls of convoluted strip material of different widths and for separating a leading strip portion from a roll so supported.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide an improved strip handling apparatus for feeding strip material from a reel to a location spaced from the reel, such apparatus being adapted for use with reels whose respective flange members are spaced apart from one another by different distances so that each reel can support strip material of a corresponding different width.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a strip handling apparatus of the kind which transversely flexes successive regions of the outennost convolution of a roll of strip material to effect feeding of the leading strip end along a guide path from the roll and which is improved over such apparatus heretofore known to provide a greater versatility regarding the number of different width strips that can be handled thereby.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention a strip feeding apparatus, of the kind in which successive opposed regions of the flanges of a reel rotating in an unwinding direction are flexed toward each other to impart a transverse pinching force to successive portions of the outermost convolution of strip material wound on the reel, is provided with an improved structure adapted to perform the foregoing flange-flexing function upon several reels of respectively different flange spacing. This improved structure comprises a pair of opposed flange-flexing members movable relative to each other to vary the distance therebetween for engagement selectively with the differently spaced flanges of the various reels. Furthermore, the pair of flange-flexing members are biased for movement toward each other so that when such members are respectively engaged with the flanges of a rotated reel successive flange regions of the reel will be flexed toward each other to effect strip feeding.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The above-mentioned and other features and objects of the present invention and the manner of obtaining them will become more apparent by reference to the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment of such invention taken in consideration with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. I is a plan view of the improved strip feeding apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention illustrated in cooperation with a magazine-reel unit in which is wound, on the reel, a roll of strip material of a first width;

FIG. 2 is a partial front elevation view of the strip feeding apparatus and magazine-reel unit shown in FIG. 1, cross-sectioned along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1 and showing a novel roller assembly of the apparatus in a position to effect feeding of the leading strip end off the reel;

FIG. 3 is a partial front elevation view of the roller assembly depicted in FIG. 2, showing the position of such assembly upon initial contact with the reel;

FIG. 4 is a partial front elevation view of the roller assembly previously shown, though illustrated in cooperation with a reel whose flanges are spaced apart to support a roll of strip material of a second width which is narrower than the first strip width depicted in FIGS. 1-3 and showing the position of such assembly upon initial contact with the reel;

FIGS. 5 and 6 are partial front elevation views similar to FIG. 4 showing the roller assembly as it moves upon rotation of the reel from the initial position shown in FIG. 4 to the strip feeding position shown in FIG. 6; and

FIGS. 7 and 8 are partial front elevation views of the improved strip feeding apparatus according to a modified embodiment of the present invention illustrated in cooperation with a reel whose flanges are spaced apart to support a roll of strip material of a third width which is intermediate the first and second strip widths respectively depicted in FIGS. 1-3 and 4-6, showing a modified roller assembly as it moves upon rotation of the reel from the initial position shown in FIG. 7 to the strip feeding position shown in FIG. 8.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings and in particular to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown one embodiment of a strip feeding apparatus 10, certain features of which are more fully disclosed in commonly assigned copending U.S. Pat. application Ser. No. 730,523, entitled Film Threading Apparatus, filed in the name of Elmer O. Wangerin on May 20, 1968, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,556,435, and commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 3,528,628. Briefly stated, those features of the apparatus 10 which have heretofore been disclosed include a strip supply reel spindle 11 rotatably mounted on a stationary support plate 12 and a strip guide channel 13 defined by opposed wall members 14 and 15 and by idler roller 16.

A strip supply magazine-reel unit 17 adapted to be installed on the apparatus 10 in the manner shown by FIGS. 1 and 2, is generally similar to the corresponding magazine-reel unit disclosed in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 3,467,340. Such a unit 17 comprises a strip supply reel 18 of the standard type laterally enclosed by a magazine 19 provided with an internal rib 20 projecting inwardly from and spaced between the peripheral edges of the upper and

lower flange members

21 and 22 of the reel. A cylindrical strip guide surface 23 of the rib 20 laterally surrounds a roll of convoluted strip material 24 wound about the hub member 25 of the reel 18 between the

reel flanges

21 and 22. As shown in FIG. 1 this surface 23 surrounds the convoluted strip roll 24 except in the region of a strip exit throat 26, which extends through the magazine 19 to define the only passageway through which strip material can be fed from the reel 18.

When the magazine-reel unit 17 is installed on the strip feeding apparatus 10, the reel 18 is supported by the spindle 11 and is engaged by the spindle splines 27 so that rotation of the spindle is imparted to the reel. Furthermore, opposed support lugs 28 and 29 located on the support plate 12 receive a base portion 30 of the magazine 17 therebetween to maintain the magazine in a fixed position in which it is concentric with the reel 18 and in which the strip exit throat 26 is aligned with a corresponding end of the strip guide channel 13.

Departing now from those features of the strip feeding apparatus 10 which are disclosed in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 3,467,340 there is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a pair of 32. These members are located adjacent the installed magazine-reel unit 17 on a common axis of rotation parallel to the rotational axis of the spindle 11.

With reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, it can be seen that the pair of

rollers

33 and 34 of the idler assembly 32 are mounted for rotation about a shaft 35 and are resiliently biased to move along the same shaft toward each other and toward a shaft lug 36 (separating the rollers) by helical compression springs 37 and 38. The roller shaft 35 is supported by spaced

bars

39 and 40 which are pivotally connected to the stationary plate 12 by a connecting rod 41. Accordingly, the roller assembly 32 can be pivoted within the confines of a plate aperture 42 and can be likewise pivoted in a manner such that the upper and

lower rollers

33 and 34 are movable into and out of lateral engagement with the peripheral edges respectively of the upper and

lower reel flanges

21 and 22 of the installed magazine-reel unit 17. A helical tension spring 43 interconnecting the plate 12 and the roller assembly 32 resiliently biases the assembly for such pivotal movement toward the installed magazine-reel unit 17, but otherwise allows the roller assembly to be manually pivoted away from the installed magazine-reel unit to permit removal of the unit from the spindle 11.

Referring now to FIGS. 7 and 8, there is shown a roller assembly 44 which is a modification of the roller assembly 32 shown in FIGS. I6 and whose like parts are referenced by the same numerals as in the example of the roller assembly 32. The modified roller assembly 44 is generally distinguished from the previously described roller assembly 32 in that its lower roller member 45 is not movable along the roller shaft 35; but, instead, is rotatably mounted interjacent the shaft lug 36 and the support bar 40 which, in this instance, is located within a recess 46 in the stationary plate 12. However, it should be understood that the modified roller assembly 44 is mounted for pivotal movement about the rod 41 and is limited in such movement by the confines of plate recess 46 in much the same way as the roller assembly 32 is limited during pivotal movement thereof by the confines of plate aperture 42.

By comparing FIGS. 2-3 with FIGS. 4-6 and with FIGS. 7-8, and as explained more fully hereinafter in detail, it will be appreciated that the

roller assemblies

32 and 44 are equally adapted for use with several strip bearing reels whose respective flange members are spaced apart from one another by different distances so that each reel can support strip material of a corresponding different width. By way of illustration, in the magazine-reel unit 17 (FIGS. 1-3) the

flange members

21 and 22 of reel 18 are spaced apart from one another to support strip material 24 with a width of 35mm; whereas, in the magazine reel-unit 61 the

flange members

47 and 48 of reel 49 (FIGS. 4-6) are spaced apart from one another to support strip material 50 with an 8mm width, and in the magazine-reel unit 62 the

flange members

51 and 52 of reel 53 (FIGS. 7-8) are spaced apart from one another to support strip material 54 with a 16mm width. Of course in these illustrations the corresponding magazines 19 shown in FIGS. 1-3, 55 shown in FIGS. 4-6 and 56 shown in FIGS. 7-8 are substantially the same except for appropriate changes in size to accommodate the different width strips. Moreover, it should be noted that the

roller flange members

22, 48 and 52 respectively of the 35mm, 8mm and 16mm

strip bearing reels

18, 49 and 53 assume the same installed position on the spindle 11, which position is defined by a reel support collar 57 fixed to the spindle for rotation therewith.

The

magazines

19, 55 and 56 are each provided with a narrowed rib portion respectively shown as 58 in FIGS. l-3, 59in FIGS. 4-6 and 60 in FIGS. 7-8, which is laterally aligned with a corresponding pair of upper and lower reel flanges respectively shown as 21 and 22 in FIGS. 1-3, 47 and 48 in FIGS. 4-6 and 51 and and 52 in FIGS. 7-8. These narrowed rib portions are disposed on the magazines so that when a magazinereel unit is installed on the strip feeding apparatus 10 in the manner previously described such portion will be located adupper and

lower roller members

33 and 34 of a roller assembly jacent the pair of rollers of a roller assembly. As an illustration of the foregoing, it can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2 that the installed magazineyreel unit 17 is located with its narrowed rib portion 58 adjacent the

roller members

33 and 34 of roller assembly 32. Accordingly, the roller members of a roller as sembly can be moved past the narrowed magazine rib portion of an installed magazine-reel unit to contact opposed peripheral regions of the reel flanges of such unit.

Considering now the operation of the strip feeding apparatus as used with the 8mm strip bearing magazine-reel unit 61, it can be seen in FIG. 4 that the pair of

rollers

33 and 34 are provided with two opposed

conical surfaces

63 and 64 coaxial with the roller shaft 35 and divergent with respect to each other outwardly from the shaft. When the magazine-reel unit 61 is supported in its installed position on the spindle 11 by the reel support collar 57, the influence of spring 43 acting on the roller assembly 32 serves to position the assembly so that the conical surface 64 of the lower roller 34 (once moved past the narrowed magazine rib portion 59) is in flexing contact with the peripheral edge of the lower flange member 48 of the reel 49, see FIG. 4. Upon rotation of the 8mm strip bearing reel 49 by drive means comprising a suitable motor 65 connected to the spindle 11 through an appropriate gear unit 66, the continued force of spring 43 on the roller assembly 32 and the inclined relation of the inwardly beveled roller surface 64 with the lower reel flange 48 induces the lower roller 34 to be lowered along the roller shaft 35 (against the upward urging of spring 38) as the roller assembly moves toward the rotating reel, whereby successive portions of the lower reel flange 48 are flexed toward the upper reel flange 47 as those portions are respectively rotated past the roller assembly 32, see FIG. 5. Upon continued driving rotation of the reel 49, roller as sembly 32 is progressively moved by the force of spring 43 toward the reel so as to continually induce the lower roller 34 to be further lowered along the roller shaft 35 until opposed cylindrical lip surfaces 67 and 68 of the upper and

lower rollers

33 and 34 engage and, thereby, flex toward each other successive opposed peripheral regions of the

reel flanges

47 and 48, see FIG. 6. Here, it should be noted that the upper and lower flange members of reel 49 are flexed toward each other because of the combined urging of spring 43 on the roller assembly 32 and the opposed urging of

springs

37 and 38 on the upper and

lower rollers

33 and 34. Accordingly, if the reel 49 has been rotated in an unwinding direction by the motor 65 and gear unit 66, the flexing of successive opposed flange regions of the reel toward each other by the opposed

rollers

33 and 34 will, in turn, impart a transverse pinching force to suecessive portions of the outermost convolution of 8mm strip material 50 wound on the reel and, thereby, in the manner previously described and more fully disclosed in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 3,467,340, effect a separating movement of the leading strip end from the next inwardly succeeding convolution of strip material. Once separated, the leading strip end will be fed along the strip guide surface 23 of the magazine and, thence, successively through the strip exit throat 27 and the strip guide channel 13 to a predetermined location (not shown) at which the strip material 50 can be utilized for its intended position, see FIG. 1.

When the 35mm strip bearing magazine-reel unit 17 is installed on the strip feeding apparatus 10, the influence of spring 43 acting on the roller assembly 32 serves to position the assembly so that the opposed

conical surfaces

63 and 64 of the upper and lower rollers 33 and 34 (once moved past the narrow magazine portion 58) are laterally aligned and in flexing contact respectively with the upper and

lower flange members

21 and 22 of reel 18, see FIG. 3. Because the conical roller surfaces 63 and 64 are disposed in camming relation respectively with the

reel flanges

21 and 22, upon rotation of the 35mm strip bearing reel 18 in an unwinding direction generally designated by the arrow 69 in FIG. 1, the pair of

rollers

33 and 34 will continually move away from each other along the roller shaft 35 (against the opposed urging of springs 37 and 38) as the roller assembly 32 is progressively moved by the force of spring 43 toward the rotating reel. When the pair of

rollers

33 and 34 are spaced apart from each other as shown in FIG. 2, their respective cylindrical lip surfaces 67 and 68 engage and, thereby, flex toward one another successive opposed peripheral regions of the

reel flanges

21 and 22 so that the leading end of 35mm strip material 24 will be fed from the rotating reel as shown in FIG. 1 and fully described hereinbefore.

Referring now to the operation of the modified roller assembly 44 when used, for example, with the 16mm strip bearing magazine-reel unit 62. It can be seen from a comparison of FIGS. 7 and 8 that when the reel 53 is rotated on the spindle 11 the upper roller 33 will be raised along the roller shaft 35, as the roller assembly 44 is progressively moved by the force of spring 43 toward the rotating reel, until the cylindrical lip surface 67 of such roller engages the upper reel flange 51. whereupon, the upper and

lower rollers

33 and 45 flex successive opposed peripheral regions of the

reel flanges

51 and 52 toward each other as those regions are respectively rotated past the roller assembly 44. Accordingly, if the reel 53 has been rotated in an unwinding direction, the leading end of 16mm strip material 54 will be fed from the rotating reel as heretofore described in detail.

In the modified roller assembly 44 only the upper roller member 33 is mounted for movement along the roller shaft 35 (FIGS. 7-8); whereas, in the roller assembly 32 both of the

roller members

33 and 34 are mounted for movement along the roller shaft 35 (FIGS. 2-6). Thus, by comparing FIGS. 7, 3 and 4, it should be appreciated that both the upper and

lower roller members

33 and 45 of the modified roller assembly 44 are adapted to make initial contact respectively with the upper and lower reel flanges of an installed one of the 8mm, 16mm and 35mm strip bearing magazine-

reel units

61, 62 and 17 so that the upper roller member can be raised along the roller shaft in the manner previously described; whereas, for the same purpose, only the lower roller member 35 of the roller assembly 32 need make initial contact with the lower reel flange of an installed magazine-reel unit, as illustrated by the example shown in FIGS. 4-6. Consequently, the lower roller member 45 of the modified roller assembly 44 is shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 with a conical roller surface 64 considerably less steep than the conical surface 63 of upper roller member 33 of the same assembly, whereby both

roller members

33 and 45 can make initial contact respectively with the reel flanges of a magazine-reel unit installed on the strip feeding apparatus 10 regardless of the spacing between such flanges. However, it should be understood that other variations of the modified roller assembly 44 can be effected. For example, the modified roller assembly 44 might be adapted to flex only the

upper flanges

47, 51 and 21 of the

reels

49, 53 and 18, in whichcase the

lower reel flanges

48, 52 and 22 could be supported by a substantially flat (as opposed to conical) annular roller member (not shown) of the same assembly.

With respect to the previously described operational examples of the strip feeding apparatus 10 when used with the 8mm, 16mm and 35mm strip bearing magazine-

reel units

61, 62 and 17, it has been found that a preferable force for

opposed springs

37 and 38 is 13 ounces and a preferable force for spring 43 is 25 ounces when the opposed

conical surfaces

63 and 64 of the pair of

rollers

33 and 34 are inclined at an angle of 45 with respect to their base. However, it will be appreciated that these values are cited by way of illustration only and that other values can be determined within the scope of the present invention through routine experimentation by one having ordinary skill in the art.

It will now be appreciated by those having ordinary skill in the art that there has been described strip feeding apparatus of the kind which transversely flexes successive regions of the outermost convolution of a roll of strip material to effect feeding of the leading strip end along a guide path from the roll and which is improved over such apparatus heretofore known to provide a greater versatility regarding the number of different width strips that can be handled thereby.

The present invention has been described in considerable detail with particular reference to two embodiments thereof, but it will be understood that variations and modifications can be effected within the spirit and scope of such invention.

Iclaim:

1. For use with rolls of convoluted strip material of different widths, apparatus for feeding a leading end of the outermost strip convolution from such a roll, said apparatus comprising:

means for rotating such a convoluted strip roll in an unwinding direction;

means defining a strip feed path between a roll rotated by said rotating means and a predetermined location spaced from the rotated roll;

a pair of strip flexing members; and

means for disposing said pair of strip flexing members to transversely flex between said members, in turn, successive regions of the outermost strip convolution of a rotated roll as those regions are respectively moved past a predetermined location along the path of rotation of the rotated roll;

said disposing means including means for mounting at least one of said stn'p flexing members for movement toward and away from the other of said members to enable transverse flexing of different widths of strip material.

2. Strip feeding apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said disposing means further includes:

means for urging at least one of said strip flexing members toward the other of said members to transversely flex successive regions of the outermost strip convolutionof a rotated roll.

3. Strip handling apparatus for selectively supporting rolls of convoluted strip material of different widths and for separating a leading strip portion from a roll so supported, said apparatus comprising:

means for supporting such a convoluted strip roll for rotation about the roll axis;

means for rotating said supporting means and a roll supported thereby in an unwinding direction about the roll axis;

a pair of strip flexing members; and

means for disposing said pair of strip flexing members to transversely flex between said members, in turn, successive regions of the outermost strip convolution of a supported roll as the supported roll is rotated by said rotating means;

said disposing means including means for mounting said pair of strip flexing members so that at least one of said members is movable toward and away from the other of said members and means for urging at least one of said strip flexing members toward the other of said members.

4. Strip handling apparatus as recited in claim 3, wherein said disposing means further includes:

means for mounting said pair of strip flexing members for movement along a path laterally intersecting the outermost strip convolution of a supported roll; and

means for urging said pair of strip flexing members for movement along said intersecting path toward the outermost strip convolution of a supported roll.

5. Strip handling apparatus for alternatively supporting rolls of convoluted strip material of different widths and for feeding a leading strip portion from a roll so supported, said apparatus comprising:

means defining a strip feed path between a supported roll and a predetermined location spaced from the supported roll;

a pair of strip flexing members; and

means mounting said strip flexing members for rotation respectively about a common axis substantially parallel to the roll axis of a supported roll and further mounting said members for movement toward and away from each other along said rotation axis, said strip flexing members being so movable along said rotation axis between an idle position wherein at least one of said members is spaced from the outermost strip convolution of a supported roll and an operative position wherein said members are disposed to transversely flex therebetween a region of the outermost strip convolution of a supported roll;

said mounting means including means resiliently biasing said strip flexing members for movement along said rotation axis toward each other to transversely flex successive regions of the outermost strip convolution of a supported roll between said members when the same are disposed in said operative position and the supported roll is rotated by said rotating means.

6. Strip handling apparatus as recited in claim 5, wherein said pair of strip flexing members includes:

a pair of rollers; and

means respectively defining on said rollers two opposed conical surfaces coaxial with said rotation axis of said strip flexing members and divergent with respect to each other outwardly from said rotation axis.

7. Strip handling apparatus as recited in claim 5, further comprising:

means mounting said pair of strip flexing members for movement along a path laterally intersecting the outermost strip convolution of a supported roll, said intersecting path being located in a plane substantially perpendicular to a plane in which said rotation axis of said strip flexing members is located; and

means resiliently biasing said pair of strip flexing members for movement along said intersecting path toward the outermost strip convolution of a supported roll.

8. For use with rolls of convoluted strip material of different widths, apparatus for feeding a leading end of the outermost strip convolution from such a roll, said apparatus comprising:

a pair of strip flexing members; and

said disposing means including means for mounting at least one of said strip flexing members for movement toward and away from the other of said members along a first predetermined path substantially parallel to the roll axis of a supported roll and for mounting said pair of strip flexing members for movement along a second predetermined path laterally intersecting the outermost strip convolution of the supported roll.

9. Strip feeding apparatus as recited in claim 8, wherein said pair of strip flexing members includes:

a pair of rollers mounted for rotation respectively about a common axis coextensive with said first predetermined path; and

means respectively defining on said pair of rollers two 0pposed conical surfaces coaxial with said rotation axis and divergent with respect to each other outwardly from said rotation axis.

10. Strip feeding apparatus as recited in claim 8, wherein said disposing means further includes:

means for urging at least one of said strip flexing members along said first predetermined path toward the other of said members and for urging said pair of strip flexing members along said second predetermined path toward the outermost strip convolution of a supported roll.

11. For use with strip reels of the type each having a hub member and a pair of flange members concentrically disposed about a longitudinal axis of the hub member in spaced opposed relation, wherein the distance between the flange members of each such pair respectively differs, and wherein at least one flange member of each such pair is resiliently flexible toward the other flange member of the same pair, strip handling apparatus comprising:

means for rotating such a reel about the longitudinal axis of its hub member; means, engageable respectively with successive regions of at least one of the pair of flange members of such a reel as the reel is rotated by said rotating means, for flexing those regions of the one flange member so engaged toward the other of the pair of flange members of a rotated reel; and

means mounting said strip flexing means for movement along a predetermined path substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the hub member of a rotated reel for, thereby, engaging successive regions of at least one of the pair of flange members of a rotated reel.

12. For use with strip reels of different flange member spacing but each of which includes a hub member and a pair of resiliently flexible flange members concentrically disposed about a longitudinal axis of the hub member in uniformly spaced opposed relation, strip handling apparatus comprising:

means for rotating such a reel about the longitudinal axis of its hub member; a pair of rollers; and means for disposing said pair of rollers to sequentially flex between said rollers, successive opposed regions of the pair of flange members of such a reel as the reel is rotated by said rotating means; said disposing means including means for mounting at least one of said rollers for movement toward and away from the other of said rollers and means for urging at least one of said rollers toward the other of said rollers. 13. Strip handling apparatus as recited in claim 12, wherein said mounting means includes:

means for supporting said rollers for movement relative to each other along a predetermined path substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the hub member of a rotated reel and for rotation respectively about a common axis coextensive with said predetermined path. 14. Strip handling apparatus as recited in claim 13, wherein said disposing means further includes:

means for mounting said pair of rollers for movement along a path extending between the pair of flanges of a rotated reel; and means for urging said pair of rollers for movement along said extending path toward a rotated reel.

Claims

1. For use with rolls of convoluted strip material of different widths, apparatus for feeding a leading end of the outermost strip convolution from such a roll, said apparatus comprising: means for rotating such a convoluted strip roll in an unwinding direction; means defining a strip feed path between a roll rotated by said rotating means and a predetermined location spaced from the rotated roll; a pair of strip flexing members; and means for disposing said pair of strip flexing members to transversely flex between said members, in turn, successive regions of the outermost strip convolution of a rotated roll as those regions are respectively moved past a predetermined location along the path of rotation of the rotated roll; said disposing means including means for mounting at least one of said strip flexing members for movement toward and away from the other of said members to enable transverse flexing of different widths of strip material.

2. Strip feeding apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said disposing means further includes: means for urging at least one of said strip flexing members toward the other of said members to transversely flex successive regions of the outermost strip convolution of a rotated roll.

3. Strip handling Apparatus for selectively supporting rolls of convoluted strip material of different widths and for separating a leading strip portion from a roll so supported, said apparatus comprising: means for supporting such a convoluted strip roll for rotation about the roll axis; means for rotating said supporting means and a roll supported thereby in an unwinding direction about the roll axis; a pair of strip flexing members; and means for disposing said pair of strip flexing members to transversely flex between said members, in turn, successive regions of the outermost strip convolution of a supported roll as the supported roll is rotated by said rotating means; said disposing means including means for mounting said pair of strip flexing members so that at least one of said members is movable toward and away from the other of said members and means for urging at least one of said strip flexing members toward the other of said members.

4. Strip handling apparatus as recited in claim 3, wherein said disposing means further includes: means for mounting said pair of strip flexing members for movement along a path laterally intersecting the outermost strip convolution of a supported roll; and means for urging said pair of strip flexing members for movement along said intersecting path toward the outermost strip convolution of a supported roll.

5. Strip handling apparatus for alternatively supporting rolls of convoluted strip material of different widths and for feeding a leading strip portion from a roll so supported, said apparatus comprising: means for supporting such a convoluted strip roll for rotation about the roll axis; means for rotating said supporting means and a roll supported thereby in an unwinding direction about the roll axis; means defining a strip feed path between a supported roll and a predetermined location spaced from the supported roll; a pair of strip flexing members; and means mounting said strip flexing members for rotation respectively about a common axis substantially parallel to the roll axis of a supported roll and further mounting said members for movement toward and away from each other along said rotation axis, said strip flexing members being so movable along said rotation axis between an idle position wherein at least one of said members is spaced from the outermost strip convolution of a supported roll and an operative position wherein said members are disposed to transversely flex therebetween a region of the outermost strip convolution of a supported roll; said mounting means including means resiliently biasing said strip flexing members for movement along said rotation axis toward each other to transversely flex successive regions of the outermost strip convolution of a supported roll between said members when the same are disposed in said operative position and the supported roll is rotated by said rotating means.

6. Strip handling apparatus as recited in claim 5, wherein said pair of strip flexing members includes: a pair of rollers; and means respectively defining on said rollers two opposed conical surfaces coaxial with said rotation axis of said strip flexing members and divergent with respect to each other outwardly from said rotation axis.

7. Strip handling apparatus as recited in claim 5, further comprising: means mounting said pair of strip flexing members for movement along a path laterally intersecting the outermost strip convolution of a supported roll, said intersecting path being located in a plane substantially perpendicular to a plane in which said rotation axis of said strip flexing members is located; and means resiliently biasing said pair of strip flexing members for movement along said intersecting path toward the outermost strip convolution of a supported roll.

8. For use with rolls of convoluted strip material of different widths, apparatus for feeding a leading end of the outermost strip convolution from such a roll, said apparAtus comprising: means for supporting such a convoluted strip roll for rotation about the roll axis; means for rotating said supporting means and a roll supported thereby in an unwinding direction about the roll axis; means defining a strip feed path between a roll rotated by said rotating means and a predetermined location spaced from the rotated roll; a pair of strip flexing members; and means for disposing said pair of strip flexing members to transversely flex between said members, in turn, successive regions of the outermost strip convolution of a rotated roll as those regions are respectively moved past a predetermined location along the path of rotation of the rotated roll; said disposing means including means for mounting at least one of said strip flexing members for movement toward and away from the other of said members along a first predetermined path substantially parallel to the roll axis of a supported roll and for mounting said pair of strip flexing members for movement along a second predetermined path laterally intersecting the outermost strip convolution of the supported roll.

9. Strip feeding apparatus as recited in claim 8, wherein said pair of strip flexing members includes: a pair of rollers mounted for rotation respectively about a common axis coextensive with said first predetermined path; and means respectively defining on said pair of rollers two opposed conical surfaces coaxial with said rotation axis and divergent with respect to each other outwardly from said rotation axis.

10. Strip feeding apparatus as recited in claim 8, wherein said disposing means further includes: means for urging at least one of said strip flexing members along said first predetermined path toward the other of said members and for urging said pair of strip flexing members along said second predetermined path toward the outermost strip convolution of a supported roll.

11. For use with strip reels of the type each having a hub member and a pair of flange members concentrically disposed about a longitudinal axis of the hub member in spaced opposed relation, wherein the distance between the flange members of each such pair respectively differs, and wherein at least one flange member of each such pair is resiliently flexible toward the other flange member of the same pair, strip handling apparatus comprising: means for rotating such a reel about the longitudinal axis of its hub member; means, engageable respectively with successive regions of at least one of the pair of flange members of such a reel as the reel is rotated by said rotating means, for flexing those regions of the one flange member so engaged toward the other of the pair of flange members of a rotated reel; and means mounting said strip flexing means for movement along a predetermined path substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the hub member of a rotated reel for, thereby, engaging successive regions of at least one of the pair of flange members of a rotated reel.

12. For use with strip reels of different flange member spacing but each of which includes a hub member and a pair of resiliently flexible flange members concentrically disposed about a longitudinal axis of the hub member in uniformly spaced opposed relation, strip handling apparatus comprising: means for rotating such a reel about the longitudinal axis of its hub member; a pair of rollers; and means for disposing said pair of rollers to sequentially flex between said rollers, successive opposed regions of the pair of flange members of such a reel as the reel is rotated by said rotating means; said disposing means including means for mounting at least one of said rollers for movement toward and away from the other of said rollers and means for urging at least one of said rollers toward the other of said rollers.

13. Strip handling apparatus as recited in claim 12, wherein said mounting means includes: means for supporting said rollers for movEment relative to each other along a predetermined path substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the hub member of a rotated reel and for rotation respectively about a common axis coextensive with said predetermined path.

14. Strip handling apparatus as recited in claim 13, wherein said disposing means further includes: means for mounting said pair of rollers for movement along a path extending between the pair of flanges of a rotated reel; and means for urging said pair of rollers for movement along said extending path toward a rotated reel.