New Pinch Point Free Shaft Locking System for Unwind and Rewind Stations


Introducing Shaft-Lok® a new safely operated shaft holder system for unwind and rewind rolls. Unlike conventional safety chucks, Shaft-Lok® has no pinch points.

According to Jeff Damour, CAC Engineering Manager, the pinch point free design offers a level of worker safety unequalled by any other shaft locking system.

Shaft-Lok® opens only in the up position and allows a safe, easy unload operation. Shaft-Lok® is available in several models able to handle loads and weights up to 5,000 lbs. and operate flawlessly at low to high speeds. All models automatically lock to hold rotating shafts and feature all steel, extra heavy-duty construction, including heavy duty ball bearings.

Shaft-Lok® features replaceable cradles and inserts which are available for square, diamond, triangle, 1/2 round and custom shaped shafts and shaft ends. The system is available in foot or flange mount designs. Skew and lateral adjustment assemblies are also available.

"Our ability to custom engineer most of our products, including Shaft-Lok® allows us to offer the exceptionally safe and reliable system for virtually any unwind or rewind system. We can combine a standard Shaft-Lok® with CAC brakes for a total unwind solution, or offer custom designs to match any brake, clutch or drive a customer selects," Damour said.

CAC offers rapid deliveries for standard units. According to Damour, Shaft-Lok® systems are competitively priced.

Founded in 1974, Converter Accessory Corporation designs, engineers and manufactures web handling equipment for converters of paper, film, foil, nonwovens and textiles. Engineered solutions include high quality, cost effective equipment from the simplest aluminum core cone to the most sophisticated unwind/rewind system. CAC is represented by knowledgeable sales engineers and provides extensive consultation and post sales support.

CAC Idler Options Now Include Winertia™

CAC is now offering idler rolls featuring patented Winertia ™ engineered profile aluminum tubing specifically designed and engineered for idlers used in the converting industry.

CAC idler rolls are available with standard outside diameters of 3”, 4”, 5”, 6” and 8”. Special diameters are also available. Face widths are available up to 140”. Standard roll finish is 30 Ra. Various roll coatings/coverings are available in rubber, Teflon, plasma, anodize, chrome, and nickel. Grooved roll face is also available in many standard and custom machined profiles.

CAC idlers are supplied with low friction bearings, improving web handling by maximizing web traction with the idler roll face. They are available in both dead shaft (center shaft fixed) and live shaft (journals rotate with roll face) construction. Rolls are dynamically balanced to minimize vibration. Roll faces are machined to maximize concentricity. Optional mounting blocks and bearings are available for both types.

Materials available for idler roll construction are steel, aluminum, stainless steel and Winertia™. According to Jeff Damour, CAC engineering manager, Winertia™ engineered profile aluminum tubing for idlers offers customers performance superior to that of any other idlers employing aluminum tubing. Benefits include lower weight, which translates to 10-30% less rotational inertia and momentum, improving web traction with the idler roll face, which improves web handling and behavior, Winertia™ also allows us to better position support bearings or supply dual bearing supports to minimize roll face deflection. Unique 3D balancing contributes to better roll performance. The result is faster, smoother operation that cannot be achieved with conventional aluminum tubing.

Damour said, “When we combine CAC engineering know how with the proven performance of Winertia™ tubing, the result is a reasonably priced idler that offers unequalled performance. Our customers expect us to be experts on web handling and alert to new technologies that offer the best possible performance.”