CA2182044C

CA2182044C - Device and method for wrapping a roll of continuous web material

Info

Publication number: CA2182044C
Application number: CA002182044A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Jozef-Franc Zajec
Original assignee: Voith Sulzer Finishing GmbH
Current assignee: Voith Sulzer Finishing GmbH
Priority date: 1995-08-17
Filing date: 1996-07-25
Publication date: 2001-01-02
Anticipated expiration: 2016-07-25
Also published as: CA2182044A1; DE19530257A1; ATE189434T1; EP0759396B1; DE19530257C2; EP0759396A1; DE59604354D1; ES2143112T3

Abstract

A device for wrapping a roll of continuous web material includes a wrapping strip dispenser. A plurality of rolls are mounted within the dispenser. Each of the rolls has a wrapping strip thereon. At least one of the rolls is axially movable within the dispenser.
A method for wrapping a roll of continuous web material with a protective circumferential envelope includes feeding at least two wrapping strips from a roll so that the strips overlap along their longitudinal edges for a predetermined margin. Thereafter, the two wrapping strips are joined in their margin of overlap.

Description

DEVICE AND METHOD FOR WRAPPING
A ROLL OF CONTINUOUS WEB MATERIAL
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a device for wrapping a roll of continuous web (e.g., paper or fabric) material. More specifically, the present invention relates to a wrapping-strip dispenser system, which holds several rolls of wrap. The present invention also relates to a method for wrapping a roll of material so as to cover the roll with a protective envelope.

2. Discussion of the Related Art Rolls of continuous web material, which are typically produced in the paper industry in the form of rolls of paper, or in the textile industry in the form of rolls of fabric, are relatively large objects having a diameter and length greater than 0.5 m.
This type of roll of continuous web material may have a diameter of more than 2 m and a width (i.e., an axial length) of greater than 3.5 m. The roll is typically wrapped in several layers of a protective envelope to protect the roll from the environment during transportation and storage.

For example, European Reference EP 0 499 954 A1 discloses using a large number of rolls of wrap, with each roll being of different width. The different width rolls are necessary to wrap rolls of continuous web material having different widths.
After having enveRoped the roll of continuous web material, a portion of the strip of wrap protrudes axially beyond the axial end face of the roll and this axial protrusion is then folded over the axial end face. However, the wrapping strip must not protrude too far, otherwise the quality of the fold will be less than desirable. By the same token, the projecting length must not be too short, either, because if the length is too short, then the axial face of the roll might not be adequately wrapped. As a general rule, to ensure a wrapping of the roll with a sufficient quality, the wrap is preferably about 100 to 150 mm wider than the roll of material to be wrapped.
To ensure that the wrap has the preferred range of axial protrusion beyond the end faces of the roll, a large number of different width rolls have been used.
However, using a large number of rolls of wrap involves a considerable logistical effort and expense. A
corresponding number of different widths of wrap must be kept available. Also, the wrap dispenser system must b~~ able to provide for and accommodate the various rolls of wrap.
SUMMARY OF THE I:NVENT'ION
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to simplifying the wrapping of a roll of continuous web material.
In accorda:nee with one aspect of the present invention there is provided a device for wrapping a roll of continuous web material, the device comprising: a wrapping-material 2a dispenser, provided with a plurality of wrapping-material rolls, each having a wrapping-material strip, of which wrapping-material rolls at least one is axially displaceable; a bonding applicator, having means for bonding an axial overlap region of the wrapping-material strips;
and a cutter, for cutting rthe wrapping-material strips; wherein the cutter is disposed between the bonding applicator and the dispenser.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention there is provided an in-line method for wrapping a roll of continuous web material with a protective covering of wrapping-material, the method comprising the steps of: enveloping the roll of continuous web material with at least two strips of wrapping-material in continuous strips, such that the strips have an overlap region with each other along their longitudinal edges;
applying a bonding agent to the strips of wrapping-m;~terial at the overlap region; joining the strips in the overlap region; and cutting the wrapping-material when the roll of continuous web material is wrapped, wherein the strips are cut at an area that has not yet been glued.
The above object is. achieved by a device where at least one of the rolls of wrap is axially movable.
When one; of at least two rolls of wrap is movable, it is possible to let the strips of wrap dispensed off the two rolls overlap each other. The resulting protective envelope is comprised of several wrapping strips. The resulting envelope has a variable width. Moving one of the rolls of wrap in an axial direction permits the protective envelope to adapt its width to that of the individual roll of continuous web material to be wrapped.
In this manner, it is also possible to ensure that the composite sheet of wrap always protrudes axially from the roll of material to be wrapped by the desired projecting length, for example, in the range of 100 to 150 mm. For longer rolls of material, two rolls of wrap are moved farther apart axially, thereby producing a narrower overlap. For rolls of material that are smaller in width, the two rolls of wrap are moved closer together axially, thereby producing a wider overlap. The overlap of the wrapping strips will result in a minor increase in thickness of the wrapped roll of material. However, because only a few layers of wrap are used to envelope the roll of material, the fact that in some axial sections there are twice as many layers of protective wrap as in others is of no particular significance.
In a preferred embodiment, a gluing or bonding station is used to provide a bond between the two wrapping strips, at least in the area of the axial overlap between the two wrapping strips. Of course, in many cases a simple overlap of the strips of wrap is sufficient to assure a reliable packaging of the roll of material. This is especially true when the wrap envelops the roll of material tightly enough, which makes it essentially impossible for the wrapping strips to be pulled apart in an axial direction. But an additional reliability is obtained by gluing the wrapping strips together along the seam where they overlap. The resulting envelope is one composite sheet of wrap, which has the desired width precisely adapted to the roll of material to be wrapped. .
A cut-off blade is disposed between the bonding station and the rolls of wrap (i.e., the dispenser station). This arrangement assures that, even though the individual strips of wrap are joined together at the bonding station, the next roll of material to be wrapped, which may be of a different width, can have the position of the rolls of wrap adjusted to assure a precise adaption of the wraps to the next roll. Since the bonding station is positioned downstream from the cut-off blade, that blade severs the wrapping strips from their feed rolls at a point where they have not yet been glued together. Accordingly, after being cut, the wrapping strips can again be axially moved with respect to each other in response to the width of the next roll.
The bonding station preferably applies glue (or other bonding agent) proximate to the edge of at least one wrapping strip. It is not necessary to glue the strips together over the entire length of the overlap. What must nevertheless be assured is that, if the strips need to be glued at all, they are glued in the proper places. It is for that reason that the bonding station applies glue to the edge of at least one strip, which edge is in all cases within the area of overlap of the adjacent wrapping strips.
Preferably, the axially movable roll of wrap has an axial drive and an associated control device which is connected to a width gauge, which measures the width of the roll of continuous web material. Therefore, the wrapping of the rolls of material can be achieved automatically. The control device, which has the width of the individual wrapping strips input therein and can detect the width of the roll of material to be wrapped, computes the necessary axial overlap, and then sends a signal to the movable rolls of wrap so that they are moved axially by an appropriate distance. Thus, it is possible to always set the desired axially protruding length projection of the wrap even for rolls of materials that have different widths.

~1~~a4 The axially movable roll of wrap is preferably mounted on a movable slide that is equipped with an associated movable strip guide. As the roll of wrap moves in an axial direction, the strip guide moves with it and is thus always properly aligned with the roll of wrap, thereby minimizing the possibility of tearing the wrap.

5 The dispenser wrapping-strip station preferably holds several rolls of wrap of the same width, which simplifies supplying inventory because several rolls of wrap of the same width are easier to manage than a large number of rolls of different widths. To adapt the use of wraps having the same width to be used to envelope rolls of material having different widths is accomplished by the present invention by overlapping the individual wrapping strips.
The dispenser of wrapping-strips preferably also holds a roll of wrap of a smaller width, which is sized to envelope the smallest width among the rolls of material to be wrapped. The size of the smaller width wrap must be large enough to ensure a reliable folding of the axial length projection over the axial end face of the smallest width roll of material.
In another embodiment, the wrapping strips are pregummed. The pregumming can be a water-soluble, cold-setting glue or a heat-sealing adhesive that is preapplied to the wrap. If the wrapping strips are pregummed, the bonding station can be of a relatively simple design. For example, the bonding station can simply spray water or apply heat to join the overlapping wrapping strips together.
The wrapping strips preferably have a width less than or equal to 1.5 m.
Wrapping strips limited to this width are still relatively easy to handle. The wrap dispenser station is smaller and thus costs less and takes up less space than conventional dispenser stations. Also, the wrap tensioners are more easily controlled when the strip is not very wide.
The protective envelope is comprised of several strips of wrap which overlap along their mutually parallel longitudinal edges. By comprising the envelope of several strips, the width of the envelope can be continuously variably adapted to the width of the roll of material to be wrapped. Because the wrapping strips are joined together;
the final product is a cohesive protective envelope, which protects the roll of material from the environment (e.g., from moisture and the like).
The joining of the strips preferably occurs between an unwrapping of the wrapping strips off the feeder rolls and the wrapping of the wrapping strips about the roll of material. Alternatively, the joining can occur between the unwrapping from the feeder rolls and the placing of the wrap on the roll of material. Thus, the individual wrapping strips may remain wound on their respective feeder rolls independent from one another.
The width of the protective envelope is not determined until the actual packaging or wrapping process begins.
The wrapping strips are preferably bonded together where they overlap, vi~hich enhances the dependability of the packaging.
The overlap is preferably set at a width of at least 100 mm to ensure that, in spite of being a composite of several strips, the protective envelope is sturdy enough along its longitudinal axis to serve its intended purpose (i.e., to securely wrap the roll of continuous web material).
The rolls of material to be wrapped are grouped into different size categories based upon their width. A fixed, predetermined combination of wrapping strips is established 2~$~4~~:
for each category. A control device first selects the appropriate wrapping-strip combination as a function of the size category of the roll of material to be wrapped. The control device then determines the width of the combined, composite envelope by adjusting the axial overlap of the individual wrapping strips by causing at least one of the feeder rolls to move in the axial direction.
The roll of material is preferably wrapped in an axially symmetric manner to facilitate any further manipulation of the roll, especially the later removal of the wrap from the roll.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS:
The above and still further objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description of a specific embodiment thereof, especially when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals in the various figures are utilized to designate like components, and wherein:
Fig. 1 is a side view of a device for wrapping a roll of continuous web material according to the present invention;
Fig. 2 is a schematic top view of the device according to the present invention;
and Figs. 3a-3d show wrapping strips for rolls of material having different widths.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODEVIENT
Referring now to Fig. 1, a device 1 for wrapping a roll 2 of continuous web ~~.82fl~~

material is illustrated. An auxiliary device 3 (see Fig. 2), which in a preferred embodiment includes two mutually opposite, axially movable stanchions, moves the roll 2 into an axially centered position within device 1, as illustrated in phantom lines in Fig. 3.
The track length of the auxiliary device 3, as well as the width (i.e., axial length) of the roll 2 are known.
This information is fed to a controller 4. Of course, the width of the roll 2 could be measured outside of device 1, for example, with a conventionally known measuring device.
Alternatively, auxiliary device 3 may be used to measure the width of roll 2 in a manner known to those skilled in the art.
Device 1 includes a wrapping station 5, which has several carrier cylinders 6, at least one of which is connected to a drive system so that it may be rotatably driven. When the carrier cylinders 6 are rotatably driven by their respective drives, roll 2 is rotated by carrier cylinders 6.
A continuous strip of a protective envelope 7 is fed into the wrapping station.
Envelope 7 is placed on roll 2 with the aid of a pressure guide 8. As roll 2 rotates, the protective envelope 7 wraps around it. The axially protruding projections of envelope 7 can then be tucked down on the axial end faces of the roll 2 in a conventional manner either at the time of the wrapping process or later.
Device 1 includes a wrapping-strip dispenser station 9, which in the non-limiting illustrated embodiment holds four wrapping-strip rolls 10-13. Each wrapping-strip roll 10-13 includes a wrapping-strip guide 14-17, respectively.
Wrapping-strip rolls 10 and 13 are fixedly mounted on a support 18 so that they can not move in the axial direction. Wrapping-strip rolls 11 and 12 are movable in the axial direction as indicated by the double arrows 19, 20, respectively in Fig.
2. Wrapping-2~8~4~~

strip rolls 11 and 12 are each positioned on a slide 21, 22, respectively.
Each slide 21, 22 can move along track 23, 24, respectively. Each slide 21, 22 has a drive 25, 26, which in turn is connected to the controller 4. The drive system may include, for example, an electric, hydraulic or pneumatic motor.
Strip guides 15, 16 are attached to slides 21, 22, respectively. Thus, the strip guides 15, 16 travel with the slides 21, 22, respectively, in an axial direction.
Support 18 also includes a cutoff blade 27 and a bonding station 28. For the sake of clarity in the drawings, bonding station 28 is not shown in Fig. 2.
The cutoff blade 27, as viewed in the forward direction of movement of the protective envelope 7, is located between the strip guides 14-17 and the bonding station 28.
Wrapping strips 30-33 are pulled off the individual wrapping-strip rolls 10-13.
The wrapping strips 30-32 are preferably all of the same width and the width of wrapping strip 33 is smaller than the width of wrapping strips 30-32. In one exemplary embodiment strips 30-32 have a width of 1,400 mm, and wrapping strip 33 has a width of only 900 mm.
The operation of the device will now be explained with reference to Figs. 2 and 3a-3d.
The controller 4 has the width B of the roll 2 to be wrapped input therein. In the case of this example, five size categories are used, four of which are shown. The first category covers rolls of material having a width B of up to 700 mm (Fig. 3a).
The second category covers rolls of material having a width B of between 700 and 1,200 mm (Fig. 3b).
The third category covers material rolls having a width B of between 1,200 and 2,500 mm (Fig. 3c). The fourth category covers material rolls having a width of between 2,500 and 3,100 mm (Fig. 3d). The fifth category covers widths in excess of 3,100 mm and up to ~~~~o~~
-_. 10 about 3,600 mm.
Within the first category, the rolls of material are wrapped exclusively with wrapping strip 33, which by itself constitutes the protective envelope 7. The wrapping strip 33 is wrapped around the material roll 2 for a predetermined number of layers.
The axially projecting ends can be tucked down onto the axial end face of the roll 2 during the wrapping of that roll, or subsequently in a downstream station in a conventional manner.
Material rolls of the second category having a width of between 700 and 1,200 mm, are wrapped using wrapping strip 30. Up to this point, the device functions essentially like any other device within the existing state of the art.
However, once a material roll of the third category having a width of between 1,200 and 2,500 mm is to be wrapped, the two wrapping strips 31 and 32 off wrapping-strip rolls 11 and 12 are used. The controller 4, which has the width of the material roll 2 to be wrapped input therein, actuates the drives 25, 26 and moves the slides 21, 22 so that the two wrapping strips 31, 32 overlap each other by a margin P. The width of P is variable. It expands as the width B of the material roll 2 diminishes, and shrinks as the width B of the roll 2 increases. A minimum width of the overlap P of about 100 mm is required.
Additionally, the width of the overlap P is selected so that the desired axially protruding projection length of about 100 to 150 mm is obtained.
The wrapping strips 31, 32 pass through the bonding station 28 as they move from the wrapping-strip rolls 11, 12 to the material roll 2 to be wrapped. The bonding station 28 now bonds the two wrapping strips 31, 32 within their margin of overlap P, so that the protective envelope 7 is now composed of two wrapping strips 31, 32.
Because the cutoff blade 27, as viewed in the direction of movement of the wrapping strips 31, 32, is disposed upstream from the bonding station 28, after the wrapping strips have been cut, the two slides 21, 22 are once again free to move independently of one another in the axial directions 19, 20, respectively.
When the rolls of material 2 are wider yet (i.e., in the fourth category having a width of between 2,500 and 3,100 mm), the slides 21, 22 are moved even further to the outside. In this case, the wrapping strip 33 off wrapping-strip roll 13 is also used. Thus, there is a partial overlapping of wrapping strips 32, 33 and 31, 33. Wrapping strips 31, 32, and 33 define the protective envelope 7. If an even wider roll 2 is used, one can use wrapping strip 30 in lieu of wrapping strip 33. Thus, in the fifth category wrapping strips 30, 31 and 32 define the protective envelope.
The bonding station 28 bonds at least the axially extending inner edges of the wrapping strips 31, 32 or the two edges of wrapping strips 30, 33 to assure a dependable joint between the individual wrapping strips in the area in which they overlap.
Once the necessary number of layers of the protective envelope 7 have been wrapped around the material roll 2, the cutoff blade 27 is actuated. The remainder of the protective envelope 7 disposed between the cutoff blade 27 and the material roll 2 is wrapped around the roll. The wrapping process of the roll of material 2 is now complete. Any remaining processing such as, for example, attaching face covers or labels to the wrapped roll can be performed in a conventional manner.
The advantages of the device and method for wrapping a roll of continuous web material according to the present invention include that the entire system requires less space and is less costly to manufacture and use. The tensioners for the wrapping strips can be controlled more easily because narrower strips of wrapping are used.
Procurement and ~18~~4~:

inventorying of wrapping strips is simpler because only two strip widths are used. The wrapping-strip rolls are easier to handle because they have a smaller width and, therefore, weigh less. The entire system is relatively simple and can be upgraded without difficulty, for example, by adding automatic devices for attaching inner and outer face covers as well as labels. The system also permits the use of pregummed wrapping strips. For example, the strips of wrapping paper can be pregummed with a cold-setting glue or a hot-sealing adhesive.

Claims

1. A device for wrapping a roll of continuous web material, the device comprising:
a wrapping;-material dispenser, provided with a plurality of wrapping-material rolls, each having a wrapping-material strip, of which wrapping-material rolls at least one is axially displaceable;
a bonding applicator, having means for bonding an axial overlap region of the wrapping-material strips; and a cutter, for cutting the wrapping-material strips;
wherein the cutter is disposed between the bonding applicator and the dispenser.

2. A device as in claim 1, wherein the axial overlap region is proximate to an edge of at least one of said wrapping strips.

3. A device as in claim 1 or 2, wherein said at least one axially displaceable roll has an axial drive, the device further comprising a controller which adjusts the displaceable roll according to the width of the roll of continuous web material.

4. A device as in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the at least one axially displaceable roll is disposed on a movable slide, said movable slide having a strip guide fixedly connected thereto.

5. The device as in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein at least two of said wrapping strips have substantially the same width.

6. The device as in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein at least two of said wrapping strips have different widths.

7. The device of any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the bonding applicator is a glue applicator.

8. The device as in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein said wrapping strips are pregummed, and the bonding applicator is a water applicator.

9. The device as in any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein said wrapping strips have a maximum width of 1.5 m.

10. An in-line method for wrapping a roll of continuous web material with a protective covering of wrapping-material, the method comprising the steps of:
enveloping the roll of continuous web material with at least two strips of wrapping-material in continuous strips, such that the strips have an overlap region with each other along their longitudinal edges;
applying a bonding agent to the strips of wrapping-material at the overlap region;

joining the strips in the overlap region; and cutting the wrapping-material when the roll of continuous web material is wrapped, wherein the strips are cut at an area that has not yet been glued.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said at least two wrapping strips are each disposed about a roll in a dispenser station, and the joining step occurs between an unwrapping of the wrapping strips off the rolls in the dispenser station and the wrapping of the wrapping strips about the roll of continuous web material.

12. The method of claim 10 or 11, wherein the overlap region is at least 100 mm wide.

13. The method of claim 11 or 12, further comprising the step of categorizing the roll of continuous web material into one of a plurality of size categories based on the width of the roll.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of selecting a combination of wrapping strips based on the chosen size category for the roll of continuous web material.

15. The method as in claim 10, wherein the roll of continuous web material is wrapped axially symmetrically.