This invention relates generally to apparatus for crimping a sheet of material between first and second rollers, and to a method of aligning first and second rollers for crimping a sheet of material therebetween.

Rollers are used for processing in a wide variety of industries. For example, rollers are used in a crimping process in the tobacco industry. In such a process, a sheet of material S (for example in the form of a tobacco cast leaf band or a sheet of polylactic acid (PLA)) is passed between first and second crimper rollers 2’, 3’ of a crimping apparatus T (as shown in Figure 1 ). The crimper rollers 2’, 3’ each have a first end 2a’ 3a’, a second end 2b’, 3b’ with a longitudinal axis A’, B’ extending therebetween. The rollers 2’, 3’are each driven to contra-rotate, that is the first roller 2’ rotates in a first direction and the second roller 3’ in a second, opposite direction (as indicated by the arrows in Figure 1 ).

Typically, each of the crimper rollers 2’, 3’ has a pattern formed on its circumferential working surface. The patterns are configured to cooperate with one another, in use. For example, a pattern of grooves on the circumferential working surface of the first crimper roller 2’ may be configured to cooperate with a pattern of ridges on the circumferential working surface of the second crimper roller 3’. In use, the first and second crimper rollers 2’, 3’ are arranged such that the pattern on one cooperates with the pattern on the other, to thereby crimp the sheet of material S passed therebetween.

If the patterns on the circumferential working surfaces of the crimper rollers 2’, 3’ (or, indeed, cooperating rollers for any type of processing) are misaligned with respect to one another the generated pattern on a sheet of material S passed between the rollers 2’, 3’ for processing may be sub-optimally formed or may not be formed at all. On crimper rollers 2’, 3’ for use in the tobacco industry, the patterns, e.g. the plural grooves and ridges, on the respective circumferential working surfaces are typically formed by features on a micron scale. Meanwhile, the sheet of material S may be relatively thin. Accordingly, relative alignment of the first and second crimper rollers 2’, 3’, and hence of the patterns on their circumferential working surfaces, must be very precise in order to satisfactorily process a sheet of material S therebetween.

It may be necessary to move one or both of the crimper rollers 2’, 3’ prior to passing a sheet of material S through the crimping apparatus T for processing. For example, the thickness of the sheet of material S may be different from the thickness of a previously processed sheet of material S, thereby necessitating a different spacing between the circumferential working surfaces of the first and second crimper rollers 2’, 3’. Furthermore, one or both of the crimper rollers 2’, 3’ may need to be repaired or replaced, for example due to wear of the pattern on one or both of the crimper rollers 2’, 3’ through use, over time. Where the features of the patterns on the circumferential working surfaces are of a very small scale (e.g. less than 200pm), such as with crimper rollers 2’, 3’ for use in the tobacco industry, the effect of wear on the patterns results in relatively more rapid failure of the rollers 2’, 3’ to adequately process a sheet of material S passed therebetween. Accordingly, it may be necessary to relatively reposition the first and second crimper rollers 2’ 3’ relatively frequently.

Positioning or repositioning the first and second crimper rollers 2’, 3’ may entail moving one or both rollers 2’, 3’, measuring distances between the rollers 2’, 3’ to determine their alignment, and then moving one or both rollers 2’, 3’ again to further alter their relative positioning based upon the measured distances. This process of measurement and movement must typically be repeated multiple times in order to arrive at an acceptable degree of alignment between the first and second crimper rollers 2’, 3’. Accordingly, ensuring acceptable accuracy of alignment between the first and second crimper rollers 2’, 3’, when relatively positioning or repositioning them, is time consuming and may well prove difficult to achieve in practice. During this positioning or repositioning the crimping apparatus T is off-line and, consequently, unable to process sheets of material S. Hence, operation of the crimping apparatus T is made relatively more expensive due to the downtime required for such positioning or repositioning of the first and second crimper rollers 2’, 3’.

GB1276933 describes a method and apparatus for making filtering material for tobacco products, the method comprising passing a paper web through a moistening station to wet it and then through a grooving and stretching unit in which the paper web is stretched. The grooving and stretching unit comprises three vertically-aligned rolls and stretching is affected in the nip between successive rolls. The position of the shaft of rotation of the lowermost roll may be adjusted relative to the axis of rotation of the adjacent roll. The adjustment is effected by two jointly driven spindles carrying the shaft of the lowermost roll so that, in the event of the position of the shaft of the lowermost roll being adjusted the shaft remains accurately in parallel with the axle of rotation of the second roll.

US3466358 describes a method and apparatus for making filtering material for cigarettes. The method comprises moistening a paper web in a moistening device and then grooving and stretching the paper web by passing it through the nip between upper and intermediate rollers and then the nip between the intermediate roller and a lower roller. The upper and intermediate rollers are adjusted to have a specific distance of intermesh of flat lands of each roller in grooves of each roller. The intermediate and lower rollers are also described as being adjusted to have a specific distance of intermesh. No method of such adjustment is described.

It would be desirable to provide an apparatus for crimping a sheet of material between first and second rollers in which relative positioning or repositioning of the first and second rollers is made relatively more rapid and/or less complex whilst ensuring an acceptable degree of accuracy of relative alignment of the first and second rollers. It would be desirable to provide an apparatus for crimping a sheet of material between first and second rollers in which the apparatus allows the first and second rollers to be relatively positioned or repositioned with relatively more accurate alignment than is possible with prior art apparatus. It would be desirable to provide a method of aligning first and second rollers for crimping a sheet of material therebetween, where the method provides relatively more accurate alignment of the first and second rollers than prior art methods.

According to an aspect of the invention there is provided apparatus for crimping a sheet of material, the apparatus comprising a pair of rollers for crimping a sheet of material passed therebetween, each of the first roller and the second roller having a respective first end and second end and a longitudinal axis extending between the first and second ends, the second roller being movable relative to the first roller in a moving direction orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the first roller, the first end and the second end of the second roller being independently movable in the moving direction, the apparatus comprising an adjustment mechanism operable upon only the first end of the second roller to modify the angle between the longitudinal axes.

Advantageously, the adjustment mechanism allows, the angle between the longitudinal axes of the first and second rollers to be modified such that required or desired relative alignment of the first and second rollers can be achieved more rapidly and accurately than is possible with prior art techniques. Movement of only the first end of the second roller in the moving direction provides movement thereof in a single plane of motion (containing the moving direction). Accordingly, there are relatively fewer moving parts than using prior art techniques and the moving part (the first end of the second roller) moves in a single plane of motion only, thereby allowing greater control over its positioning with respect to the first roller.

As will be appreciated, the movement of the first end of the second roller can be used to ensure the longitudinal axes of the first and second rollers are parallel. Advantageously, ensuring that the longitudinal axes of the first and second rollers are parallel ensures that the respective working surfaces of the rollers (and any patterning thereon) are correctly aligned. Accordingly, processing (e.g. crimping) of a material (e.g. tobacco cast leaf band or a sheet of PLA) between the correctly aligned first and second rollers may be achieved more accurately, more rapidly and/or with relatively greater coordination of the rollers. Furthermore, the distance between the respective working surfaces of the first and second rollers can be adjusted relatively more accurately and rapidly than is the case using prior art techniques. Accordingly, the apparatus may be adjusted to allow processing of different thicknesses of material (e.g. tobacco cast leaf band or sheet of PLA) more rapidly and/or accurately. Moreover, wear of the respective working surfaces (and of any patterning thereon) of the first and second roller against one another, which may occur when the rollers are partially misaligned and are contra-rotated, may be at least partially mitigated. Accordingly, the first and/or second roller may have a relatively enhanced useful lifetime which may reduce the frequency of repair and replacement of one or each roller and hence the downtime of the apparatus. In this way, the operating expense of the apparatus may be relatively reduced.

As used herein, the term‘moving direction orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the first roller’ means that at least a vector component of the movement is in a plane orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the first roller and that movement in the ‘moving direction orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the first roller’ relates to at least a vector component of the movement being in a plane orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the first roller.

As used herein, the term‘crimping’ relates to processing a sheet of material in order to form a crimped sheet of material comprising plural corrugations or ridges and grooves. When using a pair of rollers for crimping the processing comprises passing the sheet of material between the pair of rollers and forming the corrugations or ridges and grooves in or of the crimped sheet.

As used herein, the term‘roller’ relates to a generally cylindrical body, extending from a first end to a second end, and having a circumferential working surface. The circumferential working surface is generally parallel to the longitudinal axis extending between the first and second ends of the roller.

As used herein, the phrase‘longitudinal axis’ relates to an axis extending along the roller and about which the roller can be rotated, in use.

As used herein, the phrase‘adjustment mechanism’ relates to a mechanism for adjusting the position of the first end of the second roller relative to the first roller, and thereby adjusting the angle between the longitudinal axes of the first and second rollers.

As used herein, the phrase‘angle between the longitudinal axes’ relates to the angle by which the longitudinal axis of the second roller extends relative to a line parallel to the longitudinal axis of the first roller. In some embodiments, the adjustment mechanism may comprise a drive body. The first end of the second roller may be fixed to the drive body for rotation. The drive body may be movable in the moving direction. The adjustment mechanism may comprise a shaft. The shaft may be mounted to the drive body. The shaft may have a first end and a second end and a longitudinal axis extending therebetween. The longitudinal axis of the shaft may be parallel to that of the second roller. The second end of the shaft may be fixedly secured to the second end of the second roller. The shaft may be mounted to the drive body, for example above the second roller. The shaft may be mounted further from the first roller than is the second roller, for example as measured in a direction parallel to the moving direction. The longitudinal axis of the shaft may be spaced by a greater distance from the longitudinal axis of the first roller than is the longitudinal axis of the second roller, for example as measured in a direction parallel to the moving direction. The shaft may be mounted above the second roller in an over-centre position.

In some embodiments, the adjustment mechanism may comprise an arm having a first end and a second end. The first end of the arm may be operably engaged with the second roller. The second end of the arm may be mounted for rotation about an axis of rotation. Rotation of the second end of the arm about the axis of rotation may cause the second roller to move, for example in the moving direction. The second end of the arm may be displaced or spaced from the axis of rotation. The first end of the arm may operably engage the drive body (where provided). The first end of the arm may operably engage the shaft (where provided).

Advantageously, displacing the second end of the arm from the axis of rotation allows for more accurate and rapid respective alignment of the first and second rollers. When the second end of the arm rotates about the axis of rotation, in use, the first end of the arm is caused to translate, in the moving direction. However, the second end of the arm necessarily travels in an arcuate path, whilst the first end of the arm travels in a linear path. For a given distance travelled by the second end of the arm about the axis of rotation the first end of the arm (and the first end of the first shaft to which it is mounted) will therefore be caused to travel by a relatively lesser distance. Accordingly, movement of the first end of the arm is finely controlled by movement of the second end of the arm. Therefore, the first end of the first shaft (and the first end of the second roller to which it is fixedly connected by way of the drive body) is movable, in use, in a relatively more controlled and controllable manner by use of the adjustment mechanism.

In some embodiments, the adjustment mechanism may comprise a motor, for example to move the first end of the second roller. The motor may be operable to cause the second end of the arm to rotate. The adjustment mechanism may comprise a second shaft. The second shaft may have a first end and a second end and a longitudinal axis extending therebetween. The second end of the arm (where provided) may be mounted or connected to the second shaft. The second shaft may be mounted for rotation about the axis of rotation. The longitudinal axis of the second shaft may be parallel to the axis of rotation. The longitudinal axis of the second shaft may be displaced or spaced from the axis of rotation. The longitudinal axis of the second shaft may be parallel to that of the first roller.

Advantageously, displacing the longitudinal axis of the second shaft from the axis of rotation allows for more accurate and rapid respective alignment of the first and second rollers. When the second shaft rotates about the axis of rotation, in use, the second end of the arm is caused to rotate therewith, whilst the first end of the arm is thereby caused to translate, in the moving direction. However, the longitudinal axis of the second shaft (and hence the second end of the arm) necessarily travels in an arcuate path, whilst the first end of the arm travels in a linear path. For a given distance travelled by the second end of the arm about the axis of rotation the first end of the arm (and the first end of the first shaft to which it is mounted) will therefore be caused to travel by a relatively lesser distance. Accordingly, movement of the first end of the arm is finely controlled by movement of the second end of the arm. Therefore, the first end of the first shaft (and the first end of the second roller to which it is fixedly connected by way of the drive body) is movable, in use, in a relatively more controlled and controllable manner by use of the adjustment mechanism.

In some embodiments, the adjustment mechanism may comprise a manual adjustment mechanism, e.g. which may be operable to manually adjust the adjustment mechanism and/or to manually adjust the position of the first end of the second roller with respect to the first roller. The manual adjustment mechanism may comprise fixing means or fixing(s).

Where the adjustment mechanism comprises an axis of rotation and a second shaft the fixing means or fixing may be fixed or fixable (e.g. releasably fixed or fixable) to at least partially restrict or prevent manual adjustment of the relative orientation of the longitudinal axis of the second shaft with respect to the axis of rotation. The fixing means or fixing may be releasable or removable to allow manual adjustment of the relative orientation of the longitudinal axis of the second shaft with respect to the axis of rotation. In some embodiments, when the fixing means or fixing(s) is/are removed or released the first end of the second roller may be manually moved in the moving direction. When the fixing means or fixing(s) is/are secured or fixed in place the first end of the second roller may be at least partially prevented from being manually moved in the moving direction In some embodiments, the axis of rotation may comprise a rotation body having distinct first and second parts. The motor (where provided) may be arranged to drive the rotation body to rotate, e.g. about the axis of rotation. The first end of the second shaft may be mounted to the first part of the rotation body. The fixing means or fixing may be configured to fix the first part to the second part, e.g. to at least partially restrict rotation of the first part relative to the second part. The first part may comprise one or more arcuate slots though its thickness. The fixing means or fixing may be operable to secure or attach the first part to the second part through the, some or each of the one or more arcuate slots. Tightening of the fixing means or fixing(s) may prevent or at least partially restrict relative rotation of the first part and second part of the rotation body. Release or removal of the fixing means orfixing(s) may allow relative rotation of the first part and second part of the rotation body.

According to an aspect of the invention there is provided a method of aligning first and second rollers for crimping a sheet of material therebetween, the method comprising: a) providing first and second rollers, each having a first and second end and a longitudinal axis extending between the first and second ends;

b) fixing the second end of the second roller; and

c) moving the first end of the second roller relative to the first roller in a moving direction orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the first roller, by operating an adjustment mechanism operable upon only the first end of the second roller, to modify the angle between the longitudinal axes of the first and second rollers.

In some embodiments, operating the adjustment mechanism may comprise causing a drive body to move in the moving direction, for example where the first end of the second roller may be fixedly mounted to the drive body for rotation. In some embodiments, operating the adjustment mechanism may comprise causing the second end of an arm to rotate about an axis of rotation, for example such that the first end of the arm, which may be operably engaged with the second roller, moves the first end of the second roller in the moving direction.

The method may comprise a step d) of moving the second end of the second roller relative to the first roller in the moving direction. Step d) may occur prior to step b).

According to an aspect of the invention there is provided a pair of rollers for patterning a sheet of material passing therebetween, each of the first roller and the second roller having a respective first end and second end and a longitudinal axis extending between the first and second ends, the first roller and the second roller being movable towards and away from one another in a moving direction orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the first roller, the first end and the second end of the second roller being independently movable in the moving direction, and further comprising an adjustment mechanism operable upon only the first end of the second roller to ensure the longitudinal axis of the first roller is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the second roller.

According to an aspect of the invention there is provided a pair of rollers for patterning a sheet of material passing therebetween, each of the first roller and the second roller having a respective first end and second end and a longitudinal axis extending between the first and second ends, the first roller and the second roller being movable towards and away from one another in a moving direction orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the first roller, the first end and the second end of the second roller being independently movable in the moving direction, and further comprising an adjustment mechanism wherein the adjustment mechanism comprises an arm having a first end and a second end operably engaged with the first end of the second roller, wherein rotation of the first end of the arm causes a movement of the first end of the roller in the moving direction.

All scientific and technical terms used herein have meanings commonly used in the art unless otherwise specified. The definitions provided herein are to facilitate understanding of certain terms used frequently herein.

Throughout the description and claims of this specification, the words“comprise” and“comprising” and variations of them mean“including but not limited to”, and they are not intended to (and do not) exclude other moieties, additives, components, integers or steps. Throughout the description and claims of this specification, the singular encompasses the plural, and vice versa, unless the context otherwise requires. In particular, where the indefinite article is used, the specification is to be understood as contemplating plurality as well as singularity, unless the context requires otherwise.

For the avoidance of doubt, any of the features described herein apply equally to any aspect of the invention. Within the scope of this application it is expressly envisaged that the various aspects, embodiments, examples and alternatives set out in the preceding paragraphs, in the claims and/or in the following description and drawings, and in particular the individual features thereof, may be taken independently or in any combination. Features described in connection with one aspect or embodiment of the invention are applicable to all aspects or embodiments, unless such features are incompatible.

The invention will now be further described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a pair of prior art rollers crimping a sheet of material; Figure 2 is a schematic perspective view of an apparatus for crimping a sheet of material according to an embodiment of the invention;

Figure 3 is an illustration of a three-dimensional space showing a relative orientation of the longitudinal axes of the pair of crimper rollers shown in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is an illustration of a two-dimensional space showing the relative orientation of the longitudinal axes shown in Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a simplified end view showing relative movement of the longitudinal axes of the first and second shafts, in use;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of an apparatus for crimping a sheet of material according to an embodiment of the invention; and

Figure 7 is a perspective view of the apparatus for crimping a sheet of material shown in Figure 6.

Referring now to Figure 2, there is shown an apparatus 1 for crimping a sheet of material according to an embodiment of the invention. The apparatus 1 comprises first and second crimper rollers 2, 3, first and second shafts 4, 5, a drive body 6, an arm 7, a rotation member 8 and a fixed body 9. The first and second shafts 4, 5, drive body 6, arm 7 and rotation member 8 together comprise an adjustment mechanism M.

The first and second crimper rollers 2, 3 each comprise a first end 2a, 3a and a second end 2b, 3b, between which a longitudinal axis A, B extends. Each of the first and second crimper rollers 2, 3 comprise a circumferential working surface which may bear a pattern for patterning a sheet material passing therebetween. The longitudinal axis A of the first crimper roller 2 intersects with the first end 2a thereof at an end point E1 and intersects with the second end 2b of the first crimper roller 2 at an end point E2. The longitudinal axis B of the second crimper roller 3 intersects with the first end 3a thereof at an end point F1 and intersects with the second end 3b of the second crimper roller 3 at an end point F2.

The first end 2a of the first crimper roller 2 is mounted for rotation to the fixed body 9. The fixed body 9 is a plate formed from metal, in this embodiment. The second end 2b of the first crimper roller 2 is mounted for rotation to a second fixed body (not shown), which is fixedly connected to the fixed body 9. In this way, the first and second ends 2a, 2b of the first crimper roller 2 are fixed for rotation, relative to the fixed body 9.

The first end 3a of the second crimper roller 3 is mounted for rotation to the drive body 6. The drive body 6 comprises a plate formed from metal, in this embodiment. The second end 3b of the second crimper roller 3 is mounted for rotation to a movable body (not shown). The drive body 6 (and hence the first end 3a of the second crimper roller 3 mounted thereto) is movable toward and away from the fixed body 9 (and hence movable toward and away from the first end 2a of the first crimper roller 2 mounted thereto) in the x-axis direction. The movable body (and hence the second end 3b of the second crimper roller 3 mounted thereto) is also movable toward and away from the second fixed body (and hence movable toward and away from the second end 2b of the first crimper roller 2 mounted thereto) in the x-axis direction. The x-axis direction comprises a moving direction.

The first shaft 4 comprises a first end 4a and a second end (not shown) with a longitudinal axis C extending therebetween. The first end 4a of the first shaft 4 is fixedly mounted to the drive body 6 at a location above (in the z-axis) the second crimper roller 3. The second end of the first shaft 4 is also fixedly mounted to the movable body, at a location above the second crimper roller 3. In an embodiment, the first shaft 4 is mounted to the drive body 6 and movable body, such that the longitudinal axis C of the first shaft 4 is spaced from the longitudinal axis A of the first crimper roller 2 by a greater distance than the longitudinal axis B of the second crimper roller 3, measured in the x-axis direction. In this way, the first shaft 4 is mounted to the drive body 6 in an over-centre location relative to the second roller 3.

The rotation member 8 is mounted to the fixed body 9 for rotation. The rotation member 8 comprises an axis of rotation D which is parallel to the longitudinal axis A of the first crimper roller 2. A motor (not shown) is arranged to drive, in use, rotation of the rotation member 8 relative to the fixed body 9.

The second shaft 5 comprises a first end 5a and a second end (not shown) with a longitudinal axis E extending therebetween. The first end 5a of the second shaft 5 is mounted to the rotation member 8 such that the longitudinal axis E of the second shaft 5 is parallel with but is spaced from the axis of rotation D of the rotation member 8.

The arm 7 comprises a first end 7a and a second end 7b. The arm 7 is formed from a rigid material, for example metal. The first end 7a of the arm 7 comprises a loop which is mounted to and encircles the first shaft 4 at the first shaft’s 4 first end 4a. The second end 7b of the arm 7 comprises a second loop which is mounted to and encircles the second shaft 5 at the first end 5a thereof. In this way, the first and second shafts 4, 5 are operably connected to one another at their first ends 4a, 5a.

When the first and second crimper rolls 2, 3 need to be relatively positioned or repositioned (for example due to altering the thickness of a sheet of material S to be processed between them) the crimper rollers 2, 3 are relatively aligned by:

1 ) fixing the location of the first and second ends 2a, 2b (and hence end points E2 and E1 ) of the first crimper roller 2 relative to the fixed body 9; 2) moving the second end 3b of the second crimper roller 3 (end hence end point F1 ) in the x-axis direction until the distance between E1 and F1 is at a desired value (thereby ensuring that the distance between the circumferential working surfaces adjacent the second ends 2b, 3b of the first and second crimper rollers 2, 3 is at a desired spacing);

3) fixing the position of the second end 3b (and hence end point F1 ) of the second crimper roller 3 relative to the first crimper roller 2 and the fixed body 9;

4) moving the first end 3a (and hence end point F2) of the second crimper roller 3 in the x-axis direction until the distance between E2 and F2 is at the desired value (thereby ensuring that the distance between the circumferential working surfaces adjacent the first ends 2a, 3a of the first and second crimper rollers 2, 3 is at the desired spacing); and

5) fixing the position of the first end 3a (and hence end point F2) of the second crimper roller 3 relative to the first crimper roller 2 and the fixed body 9.

A respective orientation of the longitudinal axis A of the first crimper roller 2 and the longitudinal axis B of the second crimper roller 3, prior to undertaking stage 4), may be more clearly understood with reference to Figures 3 and 4. The end points E1 , E2 of the first crimper roller 2 are fixed for rotation relative to the fixed body 9. End point F2 of the longitudinal axis B of the second crimper roller 3 is fixed relative to the fixed body 9 and hence relative to end point E2 of the first crimper roller 2. The end point F1 (and hence the first end 3a) of the second crimper roller 3 is individually movable toward or away from the longitudinal axis A of the first crimper roller 2 in the movement direction, orthogonal to the longitudinal axis A of the first crimper roller 2 (e.g. movable in the x-axis direction). In this relative orientation the longitudinal axis B of the second crimper roller 3 is at an angle a relative to line P (which is parallel to the longitudinal axis A of the first crimper roller 2). Accordingly, angle a defines an angle between the longitudinal axes A, B of the first and second crimper rollers 2, 3.

Stage 4) comprises operating the adjustment mechanism M to move the first end 3a of the second crimper roller 3 in the movement direction. The motor is actuated to rotate (see arrow H in Figure 5) the rotation member 8 relative to the fixed body 9, thereby causing rotation of the second shaft 5 about the axis of rotation D. The longitudinal axis E of the second shaft 5 thereby rotates in an arc about the axis of rotation D of the rotatable member 8, moving from a first position Ei to a second position E ₂ . Accordingly, the longitudinal axis C of the first shaft 4 is caused to translate in the x-axis direction (see arrow J in Figure 5) relative to the longitudinal axis A of the first crimper roller 2, from a first position C1 to a second position C2. The distance di by which the longitudinal axis C of the first shaft 4 translates is less than the distance d ₂ by which the longitudinal axis E of the second shaft rotates. The second end 7b of the arm 7 is caused to move with the second shaft 5, and to thereby rotate about the axis of rotation D. The first end 7a of the arm 7 is connected to the first end 7b and is thereby caused to translate in the moving direction (either pushed or pulled). The first end 4a of the first shaft 4 is thereby caused, by movement of the first end 7a of the arm 7, to move in the moving direction. As explained earlier, the first end 4a of the first shaft 4 and the first end 3a of the second crimper roller 3 are both fixedly mounted for rotation to the drive body 6. Accordingly, movement of the first end 4a of the first shaft 4 in the moving direction causes the first end 3a of the second roller 3 to also move in the moving direction.

In this way, the end point F1 of the first end 3a of the second crimper roller 3 is moved relative to the end point E1 of the first end 2a of the first crimper roller 2, in the moving direction (the x-axis direction). The angle a between the longitudinal axes A, B of the first and second crimper rollers 2, 3 is thereby modified. The distance (measured in the x-axis direction) between the end points E1 , F1 of the first ends 2a, 3a of the first and second crimper rollers 2, 3 may be adjusted to be the same distance (measured in the x-axis direction) as that between the end points E2, F2 at the second ends 2b, 3b of the first and second crimper rollers 2, 3. When the distance (measured in the x-axis direction) between end points E1 , F1 is the same as the distance between end points E2, F2 (measured in the x-axis direction) the longitudinal axes A, B of the first and second crimper rollers 2, 3 are in parallel alignment and the angle a between the longitudinal axes A, B will be zero. Accordingly, in this way, the circumferential working surfaces of the first and second crimper rollers 2, 3 can be drawn into parallel alignment.

Referring now to Figures 6 and 7, there is shown a crimping apparatus 1 1 according to a further embodiment of the invention in which like features to those described above in respect of the crimping apparatus 1 shown in Figure 2 are denoted by like features preceded by a T, which will not be described further herein. The crimping apparatus 1 1 shown in Figures 5 and 6 differs from that shown in Figure 2 in that the adjustment mechanism 1 M comprises a manual adjustment mechanism MM.

The rotation member 18 comprises a main body 180 attached to a rotatable face plate 181. The first end 15a of the second shaft 15 is mounted to face plate 181. The manual adjustment mechanism MM comprises plural arcuate slots 182 through the thickness of the face plate 181 , adjacent the periphery thereof. Fixings 183, which are bolts 183 in this embodiment, are engaged through each of the arcuate slots 182. Each of the fixings 183 has a proximal end 183a, which projects through an arcuate slot 182, and a distal end (not shown) which is or can be fixed with respect to the fixed body 19. When the fixings 183 are removed or untightened the face plate 181 can be rotated relative to the main body 180 of the rotation member 18.

Accordingly, the relative orientation of the longitudinal axis E of the second shaft 15 and the axis of rotation D of the rotation member 18 can be manually adjusted. The first end 13a of the second roller 13 can thereby be moved manually in the moving direction via the connection of the arm 17 to the first end 14a of the first shaft 14 and the first shaft 14 to the second roller 13 (as described in greater detail above).

When the orientation of the longitudinal axis E of the second shaft 15 and the axis of rotation D of the rotation member 18 are close to a desired orientation (e.g. the first end 13a of the second roller 13 is close to its desired location relative to the first roller 12) the fixings 183 are tightened. Tightening of the fixings 183 causes them to engage the face plate 181 and to thereby at least partially restrain the face plate 181 from rotating with respect to the main body 180 of the rotation member 18 due to friction thereagainst.

The adjustment mechanism 1 M may then be operated by use of the motor (not shown), as described above in respect of the apparatus 1 shown in Figure 2, in order to more accurately modify the angle a between the longitudinal axes A, B of the first and second crimper rollers 12, 13.

It will be appreciated that although the first end 3a of the second crimper roller 3 is described as being moved in a first direction in the moving direction (see Figure 5 and associated description) the movement may be in the opposite direction, additionally or alternatively.

While a first shaft is described, this is not essential to the invention. While a second shaft 5, 15 is described, this is not essential to the invention. While an arm is described, this is not essential to the invention. While the first and second ends of the arm are described as comprising loops, this is not essential to the invention. While a rotation member is described, this is not essential to the invention.

It will also be appreciated by those skilled in the art that any number of combinations of the aforementioned features and/or those shown in the appended drawings provide clear advantages over the prior art and are therefore within the scope of the invention described herein.

The schematic drawings are not necessarily to scale and are presented for purposes of illustration and not limitation. The drawings depict one or more aspects described in this disclosure. However, it will be understood that other aspects not depicted in the drawings fall within the scope of this disclosure.