Compliant system with fin

Abstract

A roller system for conveying a web includes a center roller for rotation about a longitudinal axis of the center roller, and a set of fins, arranged around the longitudinal axis each fin having two opposed lateral portions, wherein each lateral portion of each fin is movable such that a first distance between one lateral portion and the longitudinal axis is less or higher than a second distance between the opposed lateral portion and the longitudinal axis.

1 . A roller system for conveying a web comprising:
 a center roller for rotation about a longitudinal axis of the center roller, and   a set of fins, arranged around the longitudinal axis each fin having two opposed lateral portions,   wherein each lateral portion of each fin is movable such that a first distance between one lateral portion and the longitudinal axis is less or higher than a second distance between the opposed lateral portion and the longitudinal axis.   
     
     
         2 . The roller system according to  claim 1 , wherein each fin of the set of fins comprising an outer surface for supporting the web, the outer surface delimiting a first lateral portion of the fin and a second lateral portion of the fin separated from the first lateral portion by a plane orthogonal to the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         3 . The roller system according to  claim 2 , wherein each fin being movable relative to the longitudinal axis between at least two positions:
 a first position wherein a first distance between the first lateral portion and the longitudinal axis is less than a second distance between the second lateral portion and the longitudinal axis, and   a second position wherein the second distance is less than the first distance.   
     
     
         4 . The roller system according to  claim 3 , the fin being arranged to move from the first position to the second position, under the effect of a total force exerted by the web is higher on the second lateral portion of the surface. 
     
     
         5 . The roller system according to  claim 3 , wherein the first lateral portion and/or the second lateral portion of each fin is designed to bend between the first position to the second position. 
     
     
         6 . The roller system according to  claim 4 , wherein each fin is mechanically connected to the center roller by a mechanical link and each fin is configured to tilt around the mechanical link to move from the first position to the second or the third position. 
     
     
         7 . The roller system according to  claim 6 , wherein the mechanical link comprises a pivot connection. 
     
     
         8 . The roller system according to  claim 7 , wherein the pivot connection is an axial pivot connection between the fin and the center roller. 
     
     
         9 . The roller system according to  claim 7 , wherein the mechanical link between a fin and the center roller comprises a junction comprising at least one tapered portion. 
     
     
         10 . The roller system according to  claim 9 , wherein the junction between the center roller and the fin comprises:
 a thin central portion;   a first tapered portion having a thickness decreasing from the fin to the thin central portion, and   a second tapered portion having a thickness decreasing from the center roller to the thin central portion.   
     
     
         11 . The roller system according to  claim 9 , wherein, in the first position or in the second position, a second axis perpendicular to the outer surface and passing through the mechanical connection is tilted with respect to the longitudinal axis by an angle strictly inferior to 90°. 
     
     
         12 . The roller system according to  claim 3 , wherein each fin is movable relative to the longitudinal axis between at least the first position, the second position, and a third position wherein the profile of the outer surface is symmetric with respect to the plane. 
     
     
         13 . The roller system according to  claim 2 , wherein the profile of the outer surface of the fin comprises a concave profile. 
     
     
         14 . The roller system according to  claim 2 , wherein the profile of the outer surface of the fin comprises a convex profile. 
     
     
         15 . A system for conveying a web comprising:
 a support element having a first face, and   at least one fin, arranged on the first face and having two opposed lateral portions characterized each lateral portion of the fin is movable such a first distance between said lateral portion and the first face is less or higher than a second distance between the opposed lateral portion and the first face.   
     
     
         16 . The system according to  claim 15 , the at least one fin being movable between three positions:
 a first position, wherein the profile of the outer surface is symmetric with respect to the first face;   a second position wherein a first distance between the first lateral portion and the first face is less than a second distance between the second lateral portion and the first face;   a third position wherein the second distance is less than the first distance between.   
     
     
         17 . The system according to  claim 16 , the fin being arranged to move from the first position to the second position or the third position, under the effect of a total force exerted by the web is higher on respectively the first lateral portion or the second lateral portion of the surface. 
     
     
         18 . A conveyor system comprising a plurality of rollers to transport a web along a predefined path and at least one roller system according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         19 . A conveyor system comprising a plurality of rollers to transport a web along a predefined path and a system according to  claim 15 . 
     
     
         20 . A method for conveying a web, comprising providing conveyor system according to  claim 18  and a web, wherein the roller system is used to move the web along its predefined path and to automatically correct web misalignment.