Q&A: Collecting Process Tension Data Over Time

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DFE 30th Anniversary

Slitter-Rewinders Benefit from
Segmented Tension Rolls 

For converters performing inline slitting and winding of film and other extensible materials, gauge band variations across the substrate in the cross-machine direction add a dimension of process variability that can make close control of tension on the resulting web strands critical. Even when differential winding shafts are used, uniform winding tension is required to achieve roll-to-roll consistency of the finished rolls

Dover Flexo Electronics, Inc (DFE), a manufacturer of tension measurement and control components and systems, has successfully been addressing issues of wound web consistency for slitting converters with specially designed idler rolls that provide individual tension sensing on separate segments across the roll face. The design concept for measuring tension on individual roll segments on a single idler roll shaft was a natural extension of Dover Flexo’s popular Tension Roll® transducer which is a dead-shaft idler roller containing an integrated pair of tension sensors at each roll end.

Dual or multiple-segment tension transducer rolls bring several benefits to converters using them in slitter\ rewind applications:

• Better overall winding control with tension control on individual web strands.
• Fewer possible web thread-up configurations versus multiple tension-sensing rolls
  keeps the winding application cleaner and simpler.
• Fewer tension-sensing idler rolls and less space are required to achieve good multi-
  strand tension control.

Wide web film printers and flexible packaging converters seeking to validate the quality of rolled films from their suppliers also use the multi-segmented tension transducers rolls at the point of initial quality inspection prior to processing their purchased film rolls.

Download other Application Notes (pdf) on Segmented Tension Transducer Rolls from DFE:

Segmented Tension Rolls as Quality Testers (pdf)

Divide & Measure: Solutions for Multi-Strand Tension Measurement (pdf)