GOEPPINGEN, Germany—Since its introduction at the end of 2004, the Mink web spreader roller has significantly increased its market presence as a reliable and competitively priced alternative to traditional banana, grooved rubber or slatted rollers for smoothing webs, according to the company. Machine builders as well as end-users are relying more and more on the proven technology and application experience offered by Mink.
The Mink web spreader roller produces wrinkle-free spreading right to the very edge of the web without marking or creases. The rollers are free running, require virtually no maintenance and are long lasting. Installation in critical areas of existing production lines can be achieved without problems or additional costs, according to the company.
The action of eliminating wrinkles is accomplished by having bundles of bristle inserts around a roller circumference angled outward from the center of the roller. When the web contacts the bristles, the web tension causes a slight outward bending of the bundles. This amounts to tenths of a millimeter per bundle, resulting in a gentle and smooth spreading effect.
The turning motion of the Mink web spreader roller ensures continuous spreading. By using individual bristles, the contact area is minimal, thus avoiding marking and enabling applications where coated webs are involved.
Contact angles ranging from 2 degrees to 180 degrees are possible, and rollers are delivered ready to fit. The same contact angle is applied to the entire width of the web, giving an equal spreading effect right up to the edge. Film thicknesses from 8µ and web widths of 6 meters and beyond can be achieved. Dynamic balancing is used for high-speed applications.
Through the bowing of the bristles, a softening effect occurs and web tension peaks can be reduced, leading to a more stable web path. Many materials including film, non-woven, textile, rubber and paper webs can all be reliably spread and smoothed.
To support a wide range of applications, different bristle types are available. For multi-slitting applications, a version with unique two-directional angles of bristles is available for slit width separation. Integrated static removal can be offered as well as options for high temperatures up to 160 degrees.
The latest addition to the range is the BSW-PP and BSW6012 for tight spaces, where a consistent and damage-free result during coating is achieved. Both BSW types are ideal for web widths up to one meter.
All Mink web spreader rollers can be used as idler rollers with a spreading effect.
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