Tensioning Apparatus

The subject invention relates to the coupling together of two or more springs in series and more particularly to the coupling of such springs in connection with the take-up and supply reels of a web system.

In the prior art, negator springs have been used to supply the differential motion between supply and take-up reels of a capstan driven web system. Since the number of turns such springs provide is limited, it has been necessary to couple such springs together in order to increase the number of spring turns available to provide sufficient tension for long tape lengths. In the prior art, such springs have been coupled together by means of gearing, belts or chains. However, these prior art techniques prove disadvantageous because the added complexity of gears, belts or chains results in decreased reliability and increased cost and weight of the web system. Since such web systems are typically used in space applications, reliability, cost and weight are highly important factors.

An object of this invention is to provide a means for serially coupling springs without the use of gears, belts or chains.

Another object of this invention is to provide a means for creating web tension in a capstan driven reel system wherein negator springs are serially coupled together without the use of gears, belts or chains.

Another object of this invention is to provide improved means for creating web tension in a capstan driven reel system which is capable of smoothing surge changes in tape tension to avoid "looping" when subjected to rapid changes in tape speed.

It is another object of the invention to provide a simplified method for increasing the tape storing capacity of a capstan driven reel system.

These objects and the general purpose of this invention are accomplished as follows. Each of at least one pair of torsional springs is attached at one end to an orbital spring storage drum. The other end of each spring in a pair is attached to wind on a different one of two reel hubs. When relative rotation in one direction occurs between the different reel hubs, the springs wind up on the reel hubs. Rotation in the opposite direction causes the springs to wind up on the storage drums. By thusly coupling two springs in series, the available turns for winding the web on the reels is doubled. By adding additional springs, web tension is increased.

The single FIGURE of the drawing is an isometric view of a web transport apparatus illustrating the spring coupling of this invention.

A web system incorporating the preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the drawing. The web apparatus includes a supply reel 11 and a take-up reel 13. Each reel 11, 13 has a hub 17, 18 and rotates freely on a central shaft 15. The reel hubs 17, 18 are disposed inwardly, facing each other. A capstan 19 draws tape 20 off a supply reel 11 around a guide roller 21. In order to maintain tension on the tape 20 and drive the supply reel 11, a spring coupling apparatus 23 embodying the preferred embodiment of the invention is located between the hubs 17, 18 of the supply and take-up reels 11, 13.

This coupling apparatus 23 employs a coupling arm 25 rotatably carried intermediate its ends on central shaft 15 through bearing 28. This bearing 28 permits the coupling arm 25 to rotate freely with respect to the central shaft 15. One end of the coupling arm 25 mounts a pair of spring storage shafts 27, 29 while the other end of the coupling arm 25 mounts a second pair of spring storage shafts 31, 33.

Each of the four storage shafts 27, 29, 31, 33 carries a drum 50, 51, 52, 53 on which one end of a negator spring 35, 37, 39, 41 is attached thereto. Drums 50, 51, 52 and 53 are free to rotate on its shaft. Thus, negator springs 35, 37 are mounted about the hub 17 of supply reel 11, and negator 41, 39 are mounted about the hub 18 of the take-up reel 13. Negator springs 35, 41 make up one spring pair and negator springs 37, 39 make up the other spring pair in spring coupling apparatus 23 representing the preferred embodiment. The free ends of negator springs 35, 37 are attached to the hub of the supply reel 11 such that relative motion of the hub 17 with respect to the storage shafts 27, 31 in an unwind (supply) direction causes the springs 35, 37 to wind onto the hub 17. Negator springs 41, 39 are similarly attached to the hub 18 of the take-up reel 13 such that motion of the take-up reel 13 in a take-up direction relative to the spring storage shafts 29, 33 causes the springs 39, 41 to wind onto hub 18. As well known in the art, negator springs are springs designed to apply a constant spring force or tension as they wind or unwind.

As thus connected, the coupling apparatus 23 operates to provide the requisite differential motion of the tape reels as tape is wound from one reel to another and effectively doubles the available turns for winding the tape web on the reels. The use of two pairs of springs 35, 41 and 37, 39 effectively doubles the torque applied to the reel hubs 17, 18. Initially the take-up reel 13 must rotate at a higher velocity than the supply reel 11. This differential motion is provided while maintaining essentially constant tape tension as springs 39, 41 unwind from the take-up reel hub 18 while springs 35, 37 unwind from the supply reel hub 17. As the tape diameter on each reel nears equality, the unwinding of the springs 35, 37, 39, 41 slows. At the center of the tape, there is no winding of any of the springs 35, 37, 39, 41. Past the center of the tape, the supply reel 11 begins to rotate faster than the take-up reel. When this occurs, springs 35, 37, 39, 41 rewind onto reel hubs 17, 18. When the tape direction is reversed, the same process occurs in the reverse direction as the springs unwind from their respective storage drums 50, 51, 52, 53.

By mounting spring storage drums 50, 51, 52, 53 on arm 25 through shafts 27, 29, 31, 33 and allowing the arm to rotate freely about central shaft 15, springs 35, 41 and 37, 39 constitute two pairs of series coupled springs wherein the two springs in a pair share the differential motion of the reels to double the available spring turns for winding the web on the reels, thus increasing the tape storage capacity of the web system. By using two pairs of springs rather than only one pair, web tension is doubled.

An additional benefit flowing from the series coupling of the negator springs through arm 25 is that the web system will, due to inertia effects, maintain a more constant tape tension in the presence of tape speed variations than will a conventional system where the spring or springs are directly coupled between reels.

As may be apparent, numerous modifications are possible in the just described preferred embodiment without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. For example, two or more springs may be employed in combinations other than the two series pairs shown, and the spacing between the assembly of parts along central shaft 15, as well as the physical dimensions and relative proportions of the parts themselves, may be changed to meet particular design requirements. Therefore, it is to be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described above.