초록 ▼

A web-handling machine frame, at least partially built from reconfigurable interconnected blocks having precision alignment points. From such blocks, modular equipment web-handling lines for web-handling operations can be constructed ad hoc with their shaft mounted web-contacting devices in tram wit

A web-handling machine frame, at least partially built from reconfigurable interconnected blocks having precision alignment points. From such blocks, modular equipment web-handling lines for web-handling operations can be constructed ad hoc with their shaft mounted web-contacting devices in tram without the need for separate alignment procedures.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A web-handling machine frame, comprising: at least two reconfigurable interconnected blocks, and each of the at least two reconfigurable interconnected blocks comprising at least three sides and two faces, andat least one bore within at least one of the faces,at least two sides of each of the at

1. A web-handling machine frame, comprising: at least two reconfigurable interconnected blocks, and each of the at least two reconfigurable interconnected blocks comprising at least three sides and two faces, andat least one bore within at least one of the faces,at least two sides of each of the at least two reconfigurable interconnected blocks having a precision alignment point,each of the precision alignment points comprising an aperture connecting each of the alignment points to the bore;and at least one shaft, wherein the at least one shaft is disposed within and releasably attached to a corresponding one of the precision alignment points of each of the at least two reconfigurable interconnected blocks, wherein the at least two reconfigurable interconnected blocks are separated by a gap or wherein the at least one shaft is separated from the corresponding one of the precision alignment points of each of the at least two reconfigurable interconnected blocks by a gap. 2. A web-handling machine frame according to claim 1 wherein the positioning of at least some of the precision alignment points is such that the axis of the at least one shaft disposed within the corresponding precision alignment points is at the vertexes of a regularly spaced grid, with the vertexes spaced a predetermined distance, or a multiple of that predetermined distance, apart. 3. The web-handling machine frame according to claim 2 wherein the predetermined distance is accurate to within ±50 microns. 4. A web-handling machine frame according to claim 1 wherein the at least one shaft comprises a first shaft and a second shaft, the second shaft being disposed within and releasably attached to one of the precision alignment points of each of the at least two reconfigurable interconnected blocks such that the first and second shafts are parallel to within 0.004 radian. 5. A web-handling machine frame according to claim 1 wherein the bore is a through bore extending from one face to the other face. 6. A web-handling machine frame according to claim 1 wherein the at least one shaft has a cross section selected from the group consisting of round, triangular, or square. 7. A web-handling machine frame according to claim 1 wherein the precision alignment points include a groove having a half-round or truncated half-round shape. 8. A web-handling machine frame according to claim 7 wherein the shapes of the faces are rectilinear, save for the grooves. 9. A web-handling machine frame according to claim 8 wherein the shapes of the faces are square, wherein each side has one of the precision alignment points, and further wherein each of the precision alignment points is centered with respect to each side. 10. A web-handling machine frame according to claim 1 wherein at least one of the at least one shaft has at least one threaded hole and wherein the at least one of at least one shaft is held into at least one of the precision alignment points by a bolt, a shaft of the bolt disposed within the at least one threaded hole wherein a head is disposed within the bore. 11. A web-handling machine frame according to claim 7 wherein the shape of each of the grooves is a truncated half-round, and wherein the at least one shaft has a round cross section with a radius equal to the radius of each of the grooves, so that the edges of the at least two reconfigurable interconnected blocks are separated by a gap. 12. A web-handling machine frame according to claim 7 wherein the shape of each of the grooves is half-round, and wherein the at least one shaft makes a sliding fit with a corresponding one of the grooves so that the edges of the at least two reconfigurable interconnected blocks are in contact. 13. A web-handling machine frame according to claim 1 comprising at least four interconnected blocks, and at least two shafts, wherein each of the at least two shafts also supports a rotatable web contacting device. 14. A web-handling machine frame according to claim 13 wherein the at least two shafts are parallel to within 0.0001 radian. 15. A web-handling machine frame according to claim 1 comprising between about 2 to 500 reconfigurable interconnected blocks. 16. A web-handling machine frame, comprising: at least two reconfigurable interconnected blocks wherein each of the at least two reconfigurable interconnected blocks has at least two precision alignment points; andat least two shaft-mounted web-contacting devices each having an axis of rotation, the at least two shaft-mounted web-contacting devices each comprising at least one shaft;wherein the at least one shaft of each of said web-contacting devices is positioned in one of the at least two precision alignment points of each of the at least two reconfigurable interconnected block, wherein each of the at least two reconfigurable interconnected blocks are separated by a gap or wherein the at least one shaft is separated from one of the at least two precision alignment points of each of the at least two reconfigurable interconnected blocks by a gap, and wherein the web-contacting devices are in tram and level to within 0.004 radian. 17. A web-handling machine frame according to claim 16 wherein the at least two reconfigurable interconnected blocks each have at least one face, and wherein the spacing of at least two of the precision alignment points in an x-y sense associated with one of the faces of one of the one of at least two reconfigurable interconnected blocks is a predetermined value. 18. The web-handling machine frame according to claim 17 wherein the predetermined value is accurate to within ±50 microns. 19. The web-handling machine frame according to claim 17 wherein the at least one face is square and the at least two precision alignment points are positioned along the side of the square. 20. The web-handling machine frame according to claim 17 wherein the at least one face is square and the at least two precision alignment points are positioned at the corners of the square. 21. A web-handling machine frame according to claim 16 wherein the at least two precision alignment points include a groove having a half-round or truncated half-round shape. 22. A web-handling machine frame according to claim 21 wherein the at least one shaft has a round cross section with a radius equal to the radius of the groove, so that the edges of the at least two reconfigurable interconnected blocks are separated by a gap. 23. A web-handling machine frame according to claim 16 comprising between about 2 to 500 reconfigurable interconnected blocks.