Phase adjusting gearboxes regain popularity
Vogel phase shifting gearboxes provide mechanical adjustment to the phase angle of two rotating shafts. Adjustment can be made intermittently or continuously leading to widespread use for print registration, wrapping on packaging machinery and tensioning in paper making plants.
Whilst many of these applications have transferred to servo technology in recent years, the use of phase shifting gearboxes is once again gaining ground as customers recognise the value of mechanical simplicity and low cost.
Phase shifting gearboxes are a variation on a planetary design where the outer ring can be rotated. It is turned by a shaft with worm gear connection to the ring. Thus rotation of the worm shaft superimposes a motion between the planetary input and output shafts, adding or subtracting a phase angle. Typically one turn of the worm shaft puts an increment of 3º on the output shaft.
