Device helps nip the time needed to adjust rollers

A new handheld device called the DigiNip may be able to help film processors and converters more quickly adjust and align rollers. According to its manufacturer, the new equipment also is easy to use, and is cleaner and more reliable than traditional methods of measurement such as inking rollers and carbon paper.

Sensors between the rollers provide immediate feedback.

DigiNip, supplied by Sensor Products Inc. (Madison, NJ), is marketed to processors and convertors running small coating, laminating, printing, and production rollers. It helps users to measure spot nip (the contact point between rollers) at any section of a web- or sheet-fed process. When the unit's two durable sensor elements are placed between two contacting rollers that are subjected to pressure, nip width readings are immediately displayed on the device. Real-time roller adjustments for parallelism can then be made quickly and conveniently while the sensors are in the nip.

The unit includes the handheld device, two sensor elements, cables, AA batteries, and a water-resistant carrying case. It can be purchased online.—[email protected]