Method and apparatus for web flutter containment, and application to web splicing

摘要

A wall is provided on one side of a web of paper or the like traveling along a predefined path, and an airstream is produced between the wall and the traveling web approximately in the direction of web travel. A transverse static pressure gradient is established across the airstream, causing the stream to flow close to the wall surface. This phenomenon is called as the Coanda effect. A partial vacuum created in the airstream causes the web to deflect from its normal path and to be drawn to the wall surface under sufficient pressure to be kept from fluttering. This method of web flutter control is applied to the splicing of webs, as from one roll to another in a web-fed rotary printing press. The web being unwound from the old roll has been susceptible to fluttering while being spliced to the new roll, such web fluttering being eliminable by providing a wall member along the web path and producing an airstream between the web and the wall member.