US3095634A - Roller for surfacing purposes - Google Patents

Description

July 2, 1963 A. T. WILLIAMS ETAL 3,095,634

ROLLER FOR SURFACING PURPOSES Filed Oct. 9. 1961 INVENTORS Willis D. Smifh Hrfhur T Williams United States Patent 3,095,634 ROLLER FOR SURFACING PURPOSES Arthur T. Williams and Willis D. Smith, Camas, Wash; said Smith assignor to Charles R. Tidland Filed Oct. 9, 1961, Ser. No. 143,945 2 Claims. (Cl. 29-113) This invention relates to rollers, and more particularly to rollers useful for surfacing purposes. By surfacing it is intended to refer to operations in general where the surface of a sheet or like material is processed by passing the sheet over the roller. Included within the term, therefore, are printing operations Where the surfacing produced is through the addition of a pattern of ink or other medium to a surface. As another example, the roller contemplated may be employed in the embossing operation, where a pattern in relief is formed on the surface of a sheet.

A general object of the invention is to provide an improved construction for a surfacing roller, featuring novel means for changing the outer surface thereof, whereby variations in the surfacing effects produced by the roller may readily be made.

Another general object is to provide such a surfacing roller, that is relatively simply constructed, and because of this economical to manufacture and use.

The roller, because of the ease with which the type of surfacing effects produced thereby may be changed, lends itself for use in surfacing operations where material being surfaced is processed by sending it in twodifferent passes over the roller, with a different surfacing efiect imparted to the material in each pass. The result is a final surfacing effect that is a combination of the surfacing eifects produced by each pass. In a small operation, where machinery is limited, one roller thus can do what otherwise would require two.

More specifically, this invention features a roller for surfacing purposes, that comprises a substantially cylindrical section, with such cylindrical section including means for expanding the diameter thereof, and surrounding the cylindrical section and held tightly thereon with the section expanded, a thin-walled, perforate sheath, such as a mesh sheath, which is made rigid by the cylindrical section expanded inside it. The sheath is constructed so that solid portions thereof bounding the perforations therein, that is the wire strands where the sheath comprises a mesh material, have a configuration corresponding to the surfacing effect desired. As a result, and in an embossing operation, for example, the shape of the solid portions is produced in intaglio on the surface treated, and raised areas appear where the perforations of the sheath passed over the surface. In a printing operation, of course, .the solid portions of the sheath are shaped similarly to the pattern of the ink design that it is desired to make on a surface.

The roller has particular utility as an embossing roller, and a feature and object of the invention is the provisi'on of a flexible covering forming the outside of the cylindrical section. The flexible covering contemplated is smooth and preferably nonperforate, and is made preferably of an elastomeric material. Thus, with the sheath contemplated surrounding the outside of the section, it is portions of the smooth-surfaced covering that are exposed beneath the perfonations of the sheath. These exposed portions contact the surface being treated and smooth it, in those areas of the embossed design that appear as raised.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a novel roller for surfacing purposes having a cylindrical section as described, where the cylindrical section is constructed so that expansion thereof is produced by ICC fluid-operated means, more specifically air pressure means. Also a feature and object of the invention is a novel construction where means is provided for limiting expansion of the cylindrical section to a predetermined amount, thus to prevent overstressiug of the flexible covering in the cylindrical section and sheath. The invention further contemplates, in such a surfacing roller, a backing for the flexible covering that is operable to impart to the outside of the covering a substantially cylindrical shape, on expansion of the section within it.

Other features and objects of the invention will become apparent, 'as-the following description is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates a roller constructed according to an embodiment of the invention, with parts of the roller broken away and the roller shown in cross section, to illustrate details of interior construction;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view, taken generally along the line 2-2 in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 illustrates a modified form of sheath that may be included around the outside of the surfacing roller.

Referring now to the drawings, and first of all with particular reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, a surfacing roller is indicated generally at 10. The surfacing roller comprises a rigid, substantially cylindrical core 12, plural, rigid and elongated leaves 14 spaced circumferentially about the core portion and extending approximately the length thereof, and mounted about the outside of the leaves a continuous, flexible covering 16. Core 12, leaves 14, and covering 16 together make up what is referred to herein as a cylindrical section, the diameter of which is expandable, as will be described. Detachably mounted about the outside of covering 16 is what is referred to herein as a thin-walled and perforate sheath or sheathing means, such being generally indicated at 18.

Core 12 comprises a rigid, cylindrical tube portion 20, which in the usual instance may be metal. Secured to the ends of tube portion 20, as by screws 22, are members 24, 26, each including a journal portion 28. The journal portions provide a means for rotatably mounting the roller during its use.

Within the interior of tube portion 20 is an elongated pneumatic tube or hose 30. The hose ordinarily may be made of rubber, a synthetic, or other like material. The ends of hose 36 are adjacent the ends of tube portion 20, and each is closed as by a cap 32 and a plug 34. The plug is drawn within the cap, whereby the end of the hose is clamped tightly, as by a nut 36 screwed onto a threaded stem portion 38 integral with the plug. A sleeve 40 extends about cap 32 at each end of the hose, and functions to center the end of the hose within tube portion 20.

Means is provided for inflating and deflating pneumatic hose 30. Thus, in the embodiment illustrated, a passage 42 is provided in one of the plugs 34, with the passage extending axially out through stem portion 38. A hollow pipe 44 with an interior connecting with passage 42 is secured to stem portion 38. The end of pipe 44 may be provided with a suitable valve 46, to enable opening and closing of the end of the pipe.

Positioned in the space bounded on the inside by the outside of hose 30 and on the outside by the inside of tube portion 20 are series of inner leaves 50. These are positioned side by side, and are distributed circumferentially about the perimeter of hose 30. Each extends substantially the length of the hose, and has an arcuate profile viewed in cross section, as shown in FIG. 2. Upon inflation of pneumatic hose 30, the hose expands radially outwardly, and operates to thrust these inner leaves in a radial direction outwardly against the inside of tube portion 20.

Leaves 14 already described are circumferentially distributed about the outside of tube portion 20. One is provided for each of the inner leaves, and is aligned therewith, but positioned radially outwardly therefrom. The outer leaves extend substantially the length of the pneumatic hose, and have an arcuate profile viewed in cross section.

Corresponding pairs of inner and outer leaves are interconnected by connectors 54. Plural connectors are provided along the length of each corresponding pair of leaves. In the embodiment illustrated, each connector comprises a rivet member 56, and a spacer 58. The spacers encircle the rivet members, and space a pair of connected leaves a given distance apart, such distance being somewhat greater than the width of the wall of tube portion 20. The rivets function to prevent separation of the leaves in a connected pair of leaves. The various connectors extend through accommodating bores 60 provided in the wall of tube portion 20. The inner and outer leaves and hose described constitute means in the construction for expanding the diameter of the cylindrical section. Inner leaves 50 constitute means limiting outward extension of the leaves around the out-. side of the cylindrical section.

As already mentioned, forming the outside of the cylindrical section is a continuous, flexible covering 16". It is contemplated that ordinarily this covering be of a stretchable, elastomeric material such as rubber or similar synthetic material. The covering is preferably nonperforate, and its outer surface is smooth. With hose 30 inflated, the inner leaves are thrust radially outwardly to bear against the inside of tube portion 20, and the outer leaves connected to the inner leaves are moved radially outwardly against the inside of the flexible covering with the covering stretching to accommodate the extension. Due to the expanse of the outer leaves, the covering is well supported throughout the inner circumferences thereof. Further, the support rendered the covering by the outer leaves is one that is substantially cylindrical in profile, which results in the profile of the covering being cylindrical with the cylindrical section extended.

By making the covering of an elastic and resilient material, the covering causes the various leaves automatically to withdraw on deflation of pneumatic hose 30.

Sheathing means 18, in the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, comprises a sleeve of mesh material having transverse and longitudinal threads or strands 66 therein. The strands may be of wire, or other material, depending upon the application of the roller. The sheathing means off the cylindrical section is comparatively flexible. It has a diameter enabling it easily to he slipped on, over the outside of smooth-surfaced covering 16, with the latter in a contracted condition, and upon expansion of hose 30, covering 16 expands tightly against the inside of the sheathing means, with it then becoming cylindrically shaped and made rigid.

If the roller described is used an embossing operation, for instance, and a continuous roll of paper is run thereover with pressure applied between the roller and paper, the pattern of the mesh is imparted to the paper, with the strands of the mesh forming a like pattern on the surface of the paper. If the roller were used in a printing operation, the strands of the mesh may have ink applied thereto, and the roller can be employed to print a like pattern on a piece of paper.

Referring to FIG. 3, here portions of a modified form of sheathing means is illustrated. In this instance, the sheathing means comprises a wire mesh, but strands 68 therein are differently positioned, and as a consequence a different pattern is produced on use of the sheathing means. As should be obvious from the description, any number of types of designs are possible,

and regardless of the design, removal of a specific sheath or sheathing means and replacement by another is an easy matter.

Summarizing some of the features of the construction just described, the surfacing roller contemplated may be changed readily to accommodate variations in the type of pattern produced thereby. The change is easily accomplished, on deflating hose 30 Within the roller, which has the effect of loosening the sheath about the outside of the roller. The sheathes themselves are economically produced, and when not in use are light, and easily stored. The covering extending about the out side of the cylindrical section is substantially cylindrical, both with the roller section contracted and extended, leaves 14 within the cylindrical section provide a rigid backing for the covering. With the cover made of flexible, elastic material, the covering can be relied upon to produce contraction of the cylindrical section on deflation of the hose. Movement of the leaves in the cylindrical section is limited, thus to prevent excessive stressing of the covering about the outside of the roller, and the sheath that in operative position is mounted on the outside of the covering.

We claim:

1. A roller for surfacing purposes comprising a substantially cylindrical hollow core, elongated rigid segments extending axially along and spaced circumferentially about said core and forming substantially a cylinder with said cylinder concentrically disposed about said core, anchoring means disposed along the length of each segment secured to the segment and extending into said core, said anchoring means accommodating radial play in each segment, a flexible covering encircling the segments, thin-walled flexible sheathing means detachably mounted about said covering, said sheathing means along its length being uniformly stressed upon radially outward movement of said segments, and pressure-fluid inflated means mounted within said core and operatively bearing upon said anchoring means to produce radially outward movement of said segments upon inflation with pressure fluid.

2. A roller for surfacing purposes comprising a substantially cylindrical hollow core, elongated rigid segments extending axially along and spaced circumferentially about said core and forming substantially a cylinder with said cylinder concentrically disposed about said core, anchoring means disposed along the length of each segment secured to the segment and extending into said core, said anchoring means defining for the segment an extended position for the segment relative to said core, an elastic covering encircling the segments and urging them radially inwardly, thin-walled flexible sheathing means detachably mounted upon said covering, said sheathing means along its length being uniformly stressed upon radially outward movement of said segments, said sheathing means having solid portions extending about perforations therein with said solid portions shaped to conform to the surfacing produced by the roller, said covering having a continuous and smooth outer surface providing a backing for said sheathing means, and pressure-fluid inflated means mounted within said core and operatively bearing upon said anchoring means to produce radially outward movement of said segments upon inflation with pressure fluid.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,058,749 Holder Apr. 15, 1917 1,428,760 Cuish Sept. 12, 1922 2,430,598 Barsam Nov. 11, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTS 223,970 Great Britain Oct. 27, 1924

Claims (1)

1. A ROLLER FOR SURFACING PURPOSES COMPRISING A SUBSTANTIALLY CYLINDRICAL HOLLOW CORE, ELONGATED RIGID SEGMENTS EXTENDING AXIALLY ALONG AND SPACED CIRCUMFERENTIALLY ABOUT SAID CORE AND FORMING SUBSTANTIALLY A CYLINDER WITH SAID CYLINDER CONCENTRICALLY DISPOSED ABOUT SAID CORE, ANCHORING MEANS DISPOSED ALONG THE LENGTH OF EACH SEGMENT SECURED TO THE SEGMENT AND EXTENDING INTO SAID CORE, SAID ANCHORING MEANS ACCOMMODATING RADIAL PLAY IN EACH SEGMENT, A FLEXIBLE COVERING ENCIRCLING THE SEGMENTS, THIN-WALLED FLEXIBLE SHEATHING MEANS DETACHABLY MOUNTED ABOUT SAID COVERING, SAID SHEATHING MEANS ALONG ITS LENGTH BEING UNIFORMLY STRESSED UPON RADIALLY OUTWARD MOVEMENT OF SAID SEGMENTS, AND PRESSURE-FLUID INFLATED MEANS MOUNTED WITHIN SAID CORE AND OPERATIVELY BEARING UPON SAID ANCHORING MEANS TO PRODUCE RADIALLY OUTWARD MOVEMENT OF SAID SEGMENTS UPON INFLATION WITH PRESSURE FLUID.

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