EP0716996B1 - Method and device for preparing and opening of a reel - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a method and a device for preparation and opening of a reel made of a strip of material flexible wound in superimposed turns and having an upper turn the free end of which is fixed to the turn which is directly below it, the said coil being arranged on a support axis and having two parallel sides. The method and the device according to the invention are particularly applicable well to relatively narrow coils, that is to say delivering a strip having a maximum width of the order of a few centimeters.

Numerous patents describe different processes and devices in which it is necessary to open a coil consisting in particular of a strip of paper or other material intended to feed a machine of manufacture, in particular patents EP-B-0.318.427, EP-B-0.331.634 and EP-B-0.475.886. These patents generally provide that a cutting blade, arranged perpendicular to the direction of unwinding of the strip of paper is applied to the upper coil of the coil in order to cut it. The cutting blade being pressed on the upper coil with a certain force and / or sinking into the coil from a certain distance, generally several strip turns are cut simultaneously, without this number of turns can be controlled. Through these systems, it often happens that the turn directly below the last cut turn is started by the blade, thus creating a weak point leading to a subsequent rupture of the strip at this point. Such a break requires a stop of the machine where a loss of productivity. In some cases, the upper coil turn is covered with a protective strip, made of a material which may be different of that constituting the coil. By upper turn of the coil is meant in the following description, this possible protective strip as well as the or the first turns of the coil. The portion of the second turn on which is glued the free end of the upper turn should generally be eliminated; for this we must be able to have auxiliary means allowing this elimination, which makes it possible to require cutting only one single turn, anywhere in it except near the bonding point.

• soit d'écarter la spire supérieure d'une bobine de la spire immédiatement inférieure, et ce, d'une part, selon une génératrice longitudinale de la bobine et, d'autre part, jusqu'à amener ladite spire supérieure en contact avec un élément de coupe qui s'étend selon la génératrice (DE-A-42 12 095);
• soit d'écarter localement la spire supérieure d'une bobine de la spire immédiatement inférieure, et ce, d'une part, en engageant localement sous la spire à découper un organe plat en vis à vis duquel s'étend un organe coupant et, d'autre part, en déplaçant simultanément l'organe d'écartement et l'organe de coupe selon une génératrice de la bobine (WO 93/1004, DE-A-39 18 552, EP-A-0.952.845, DE-A-32 15 355).

To avoid contact of a cutting tool with the turns of a coil that one does not wish to cut or damage, it is known:

• either to separate the upper turn of a coil from the immediately lower turn, on the one hand, along a longitudinal generatrix of the coil and, on the other hand, until bringing said upper turn into contact with a cutting element which extends along the generator (DE-A-42 12 095);
• either to locally remove the upper turn from a coil of the immediately lower turn, and this, on the one hand, by locally engaging under the turn to cut a flat member opposite which extends a cutting member and, on the other hand, by simultaneously moving the spacer and the cutting member along a generator of the spool (WO 93/1004, DE-A-39 18 552, EP-A-0.952.845, DE- A-32 15 355).

However, the device of document DE-A-42 12 095 can be used on large width coils, i.e. coils with a turn upper provides enough space to allow the use of a medium suction (in order to obtain the isolation of the coil which must finally be cut after spacing).

• n'est pas affectée par la faible largeur de la bobine,
• permette d'écarter une ou plusieurs spires (réglage possible),
• autorise éventuellement plusieurs opérations de coupe sans altérer la bobine (tel que cela est indiqué dans l'entrée en matière de la demande).

The problem posed to a person skilled in the art who seeks to apply the technique of document DE-A-42 12 095 to narrow coils is therefore to find a means whose spacing function:

• is not affected by the narrow width of the spool,
• allows one or more turns to be removed (adjustment possible),
• possibly authorizes several cutting operations without altering the spool (as indicated in the introduction to the request).

It turns out that none of the documents, WO 93/1004, DE-A-39 18 552, EP 0.952.845, DE-A-32 15 355 mentioned above does not allow these results to be obtained because, in particular, the spacing operation and the cutting operation are carried out substantially simultaneously.

An object of the invention is therefore to propose a method of preparation and opening of a reel, not meeting the disadvantages means of the prior art and making it possible to ensure that the turn located directly below the last cut turn is absolutely intact, this even if the upper turns of the coil are wound so pretty tight.

Another object of the invention is to propose a device for preparation and opening of a coil keeping the coil located intact directly below the last whorl cut and not meeting the disadvantages of the devices of the prior art, this even if the turns upper parts of the spool are wound fairly tightly.

Yet another object of the invention is to propose a device for preparation and opening of a reel that can be associated with a machine supplying the paper tape necessary for a machine for making cigarettes, including for the manufacture or installation of filters.

These aims are achieved by a process meeting the characteristics of claims 1 to 10 as well as by a device having the Features mentioned in claims 11 to 22. One use particular of the device according to the invention is mentioned in claim 23.

la figure 1 représente une vue partielle frontale d'une machine permettant de raccorder deux bandes de papier,

les figures 2A, 2B, 2C et 2D représentent des vues latérales du dispositif de préparation et de coupe selon diverses étapes du procédé, les figures 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D et 3E représentent des vues de face des éléments principaux du dispositif précédent selon diverses étapes du procédé,

les figures 4A et 4B représentent deux vues d'un détail du dispositif précédent, et

la figure 5 représente un dispositif complémentaire au précédent.

The invention is described below with reference to the appended drawing comprising the figures where:

FIG. 1 represents a partial front view of a machine allowing two strips of paper to be connected,

Figures 2A, 2B, 2C and 2D show side views of the preparation and cutting device according to various stages of the process, Figures 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D and 3E show front views of the main elements of the previous device according to various process steps,

FIGS. 4A and 4B represent two views of a detail of the previous device, and

FIG. 5 represents a device complementary to the previous one.

The following description corresponds to a particular application of the method and device according to the invention, to a cigarette manufacturing line. In this case, the strip of flexible material is a strip of paper of which will be taken from the wrapping sheets of the cigarette rod. Those skilled in the art will be able to adapt the method and the device described to other uses, especially in the manufacture or installation of cigarette filters or in ribbons of other materials.

Figure 1 shows a front view of a machine 1 supplying a cigarette machine (not shown) of a strip of paper and allowing the connection of two strips of paper. Means 2 for feeding paper include in particular a first axis 20 for unwinding a strip of paper 21 in use, which is directed by a set of idler rollers to the cigarette machine. These means further include a second axis 22 for storing and preparing a reel 23 of paper full. When the reel delivering the strip 21 is almost empty, this situation being detected by detectors or probes not shown, means for preparing and opening the coil 23 are activated, these means being in particular made up of a swinging arm 10 at the free end of which is disposed a device 3 for preparing and opening the coil 23, said device being described in detail below. The swingarm 10 can take two positions, a standby position, shown in broken lines, and a position work, shown in solid lines, where the device 3 is in action. As will be seen later, the device 3, after having opened the coil 23, is able to grasp the last cut turn 24; by activating the swing arm 10, this turn 24, shown in broken lines, is taken by the device 3 which returns to the rest position. Subsequently, a device 11, known in the art and not part of the invention moves along a slide 12 to grip the cut coil 24 and take it so that part of the way of the strip 21, this new strip, represented in 24A, follows a parallel and close path of the strip 21. A joining device, shown diagrammatically at 13, which can for example be of the type described in patent EP-B-0.662.437, can then be actuated to join the strip 24A with the strip 21. In the above, only the device referenced in 10 and 3 is part of the invention, the rest of the machine 1 has been briefly described above in order to to be aware of the context in which the device can operate according to the invention. In particular the characteristics of the feeding machine 1 paper mentioned here are only for example, the preparation device and reel opening being able to operate on other types of machines.

Figures 2, A, B, C and D show the device for preparation and section 3 mentioned above seen from the side during four successive stages of the process, while Figures 3, A, B, C and D show some of the same device seen from the front while FIG. 3E shows it during a fifth step.

By preparation is meant any operation carried out on the reel 23 before cutting the upper turn 24 of said coil. As one can see in particular in FIG. 2A and as mentioned previously, the device 3 is mounted at the end of the swing arm 10. It consists in particular of a first cylinder 30 whose body is fixed to the swing arm 10 and whose rod 30A is connected to a first support 31 on one face of which the end is fixed of a flat blade 32. By comparing FIGS. 2A and 2B, it can be seen that by actuating the cylinder 30, it is possible to position the flat blade 32 according to either advanced position as in FIG. 2A, i.e. a retracted position as in Figure 2B. In the retracted position, the free end of the blade 32 is set back of the front side of the paper reel 23, while in the advanced position it projects beyond the other face of the coil 23. The device 3 further comprises a second cylinder 33, the body of which is also fixed to the swinging arm 10 and whose rod 33A is connected to a second support 34 on which is fixed a cutting blade 35. By comparing FIGS. 2A and 2D, it can be seen that by actuating the jack 33, it is possible to advance or retract the end respectively cutting 35A of the blade 35 over the entire width of the coil 23 and to impose it thus a back and forth movement. The device 3 further comprises a third support 36 rigidly fixed to the swinging arm 10, this third support being extended by a support tongue 37. The third support 36 also carries an L-shaped clamping support 38 and swivels about an axis perpendicular to L, the branch of the support 38 oriented towards the coil 23 carrying a clamping plate 38A while the branch 38B can be actuated by a lever 31A secured to the first support 31. By observing FIGS. 3, we see that the flat blade 32 is thin but relatively wide; directly above of this blade we find the clamping support 38 and the clamping plate 38A, as well as the cutting blade 35. The support tongue 37 is slightly offset from the flat blade 32, being disposed on the other side of the clamping plate 38A as the cutting blade 35. The distance between the face lower support 37A of the support tab 37 and the upper face of the flat blade 32 is a few tenths of a mm, depending on the thickness of the paper or strip material and the number of turns to grab and cut. Preferably known adjustment means can be used to adjust this distance to cut at least one turn. Means not shown may be provided to angularly position the coil 23 on its axis, so that the cutting of the upper coil 24 takes place in a place relatively far from where the said upper turn is glued on the turn which follows it, respectively not in a place in the immediate vicinity from this bonding point; it is thus possible to minimize the length of paper to be removed. This angular positioning can be obtained either by the machine operator, either by automatic means. Since the tip front of the flat blade 32 is intended to be inserted between two turns of the coil 23, this tip has a shape adapted to this function.

The operation of the device 3 can now be described. When the swing arm 10 is actuated by a rotary actuator (not shown) to press the device 3 against the coil 23, in the embodiment described here the cylinder 30 is actuated to advance the flat blade 32; advance of the support 31 causes the lowering of the clamping plate 38A by the action of the lever 31A on the portion 38A of the support 38. The clamping plate 38A comes slightly in contact with the upper face of the flat blade 32 in order to prevent it from sagging. The swing arm is actuated until the underside of the flat blade 32 comes into contact with a portion of the upper turn 24 of the coil 23; when this contact is established, the movement of displacement of the swingarm 10 stops. Given the width of the flat blade 32, the contact between the device 3 and the upper turn 24 is very gentle and does not risk no damaging or marking this turn, whatever the quality of the material disposed on the coil 23, the pressure force depending essentially on a adjustable residual pressure in the rotary actuator actuating the swinging arm 10. This first step of the method is shown in FIGS. 2A and 3A. During the next step shown in Figures 2B and 3B, the actuator 30 is actuated so to withdraw the blade 32 backwards; the device 3, no longer being pressed on the upper turn 24, then continues a very slight movement towards the coil 23 until the lower support face 37A of the support tab 37 in turn comes into contact with the upper turn 24. Like the lever 31A is released from the support 38, the clamping plate 38A rests freely on coil 24, without pressure. Then, and as seen in Figures 2C and 3C, the flat blade 32 is again advanced; given the slight movement of the device 3 towards the coil 23 that we had in the previous step, the plane of the blade plate 32 is located just below one or more of the upper turns 24 of the coil 23. The flat blade 32 is therefore introduced, through the side of the coil, below of this upper turn (s) and thus crosses the entire thickness of the coil 23. In view of the advance of the flat blade 32, the clamping plate 38A is pressed again against said blade, thus tightly tightening the turn (s) 24 sockets between the upper face of the flat blade 32 and the lower face of the clamping plate 38A. Figures 2D and 3D show the cutting operation, the cylinder 33 being actuated to drive the cutting blade 35 to cut the or the coils 24 disposed above the flat blade 32. As can be seen in the Figures 4A and 4B, the flat blade 32 may have a groove 32A disposed parallel to its longitudinal axis and corresponding to the trace made by the portion sharp 35A of the cutting blade 35 on the flat blade 32. This groove 32A allows guidance of the sharpened portion 35A, preventing it from deviating of its straight path during the back-and-forth movement causing the chopped off. Since this flat blade acts as a protective screen, the turns of the coil 23 arranged directly below the flat blade 32 cannot be started by the sharpened portion 35A of the cutting blade 35. According to the quality of the material and the number of turns to cut, the movement back and forth of the cutting blade 35 can be repeated one or more times. For the next step shown in FIG. 3E, the cutting blade 35 is removed, the flat blade 32 remaining advanced, thereby enclosing the coil (s) 24 with the clamping plate 38A. The swinging arm 10 is again actuated in order to move the device 3 away from the coil 23, the latter then being rotated by the traction exerted on the upper turn (s) 24 or else by a auxiliary means not shown; the cut end of the strip is taken to be treated as explained above with reference to FIG. 1. In if several turns have been cut, only the last one remains attached to the coil 23; the cut segments of the turns greater than the last are eliminated by known means.

The cylinders 30 and 33 are preferably double-acting cylinders, pneumatic or hydraulic, although other means of actuating the flat blade 32 and cutting blade 35 can be envisaged. We notice further in FIG. 2A that the cutting blade 35 is fixed to the support 34 by screw means 35B for quickly changing the blade 35 when it is worn out as well as adjusting its position relative to the flat blade 32.

An important point of the process is to be able to position exactly the flat blade 32 so that it can then easily be slid under the upper turn 24 of the coil 23. In the embodiment of the device described above, this positioning is carried out in two stages, approach of the device 3 when the flat blade 32 is advanced, then removal of this blade 32 for pressing the support tab 37 on the upper turn 24. Other means can be provided to reach this stage of the process, if the space available on the device allows, the support tongue 37 may have sufficient width to be brought directly into contact with the coil upper 24 during movement of the swinging arm 10, feeler means separate from swing arm 10 or detectors can also be provided to determine the position in which the swing arm 10 should stop.

During the various stages of the process described, except the last, the coil 23 generally remains stationary, with no rotational movement around its axis. However, during the step of introducing the flat blade 32, and in order to facilitate this introduction between the turns of the coil, it can be animated a slow rotational movement, preferably in the opposite direction to that of its normal course, so that during this rotational movement the blade plate 32 tends to be pushed up by the spiral winding coil turns.

In the case where the turns of the coil 23 are tightened so as to it is difficult to introduce the flat blade 32 into it, it is possible to loosen slightly the upper turns before the device 3 is brought against the upper turn 24, as shown in FIG. 5. For this, the device may further comprise a radial support device 39 comprising at its near end of the coil a caster 39A. The support device 39 is independent of the device 3 and is placed upstream of it relative to the normal direction of unwinding of the coil 23. Before the device 3 enters in contact with the upper turn 24, the support device 39 is pressed with a certain pressure, radially with respect to the coil 23 by means of a pneumatic or hydraulic actuator not shown, the pressure being transmitted to the upper turns via the roller 39A. Doing then rotate the coil 23 in the opposite direction to that of its unwinding normal, i.e. that indicated by the arrow in Figure 5, we obtain a loosening or a relaxation of the upper turns 24, which will facilitate later the introduction of the flat blade 32.

Thus, by the method and the device according to the invention, which are easily adaptable on a cigarette manufacturing line, we are sure to obtain a clean cut of the upper turn of the full reel, without the turn directly below it is not damaged. The device described is relatively simple in design, requiring few means of control or activation, which makes it particularly reliable and inexpensive.

As previously mentioned the method and the device described also allow the preparation and opening of a reel of another material only paper; those skilled in the art will be able to adapt some of the means described here for this other use. Likewise the preferred form of execution described of the invention represents only one possible embodiment, variants of one or other of the elements described that can be envisaged by a person skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims (23)

1. Method for preparing and opening a roll (23) made up of a supple material wound in superimposed turns and having a top turn (24), the free end of which is fixed to the turn which is directly beneath it, the said roll being disposed on a support shaft (22) and comprising two parallel sides,
      this method itself comprising at least two distinct steps including, on the one hand, a first step consisting in separating at least one turn to be cut from a lower turn, and this over the entire width of the roll, and, on the other hand, a second step consisting in cutting at least the separated turn,
      characterised in that:

   to separate at least one turn to be cut from a lower turn, a flat blade (32) is inserted between two successive turns from the side of the roll, over the entire width of the said roll in such a way that at least one turn (24) remains disposed over the flat blade (32),

   for cutting the turn or turns (24) disposed over the flat blade, one proceeds with the cut after insertion of the said flat blade.
2. Method according to claim 1, characterised in that a movement of approach of a device (3) for preparing and opening the roll involving the said flat blade (32) is activated before the insertion of the said flat blade, the said approach movement stopping when a pressing surface of the said device enters into contact with the upper turn (24) of the roll (23).
3. Method according to claim 2, characterised in that the angular position of the roll (23) on its support shaft (22) is adjusted in such a way that the said device (3) for preparing and opening the roll comes to press on the upper turn (24) at a place remote from the place where the free end of the upper turn is fixed on the turn which is directly below it.
4. Method according to one of the claims 2 or 3, characterised in that the said pressing surface is made up of the lower surface of the said flat blade (32) disposed in advanced position, the said flat blade then being retracted in such a way that another pressing surface (37A) of the said device comes into contact with the said upper turn (24).
5. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that after insertion of the flat blade (32), the opening of the roll can be activated by activating a cutting blade (35) in a reciprocating movement, severing only the turn or turns (24) disposed over the flat blade (32), the said flat blade serving as a protective shield for the lower turns.
6. Method according to claim 5, characterised in that a clamping of the cut turn or turns (24) is activated at the time of the cutting operation, the said clamping being then maintained when a removal of the device (3) with respect to the roll (23) is activated, in such a way that the free end of the upper turn (24) of the roll is taken for a subsequent operation of joining the said free end (24A) onto another strip of supple material (21).
7. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the roll (23) is motionless during the approach movement of the device (3), during the pressing of the said device on the upper turn (24), during the insertion of the flat blade (32) under the upper turn or turns (24), during the cutting and the clamping of the said upper turns.
8. Method according to one of the claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the roll (23) is driven by a movement of rotation at reduced speed during the insertion of the flat blade (32).
9. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that a radial pressure is applied on a portion of the upper turn (24) before the pressing surface of the device (3) for preparing and opening the roll enters into contact with the said upper layer, the roll (23) being then driven by a movement of rotation at reduced speed at the time of this operation in order to slacken the upper layer or layers (24).
10. Method according to one of the claims 8 or 9, characterised in that the said movement of rotation takes place in the direction opposite to that of normal unwinding of the roll.
11. Device for preparing and opening a roll (23) made up of a supple material wound in superimposed turns and having a top turn (24), the free end of which is fixed to the turn which is directly beneath it, the said roll being disposed on a support shaft (22) and comprising two parallel sides,
    characterised in that it comprises:

    displacement means (10) able to position the said device in contact with the said upper layer,

    a flat blade (32) fixed to a support (31),

    means (30, 30A) of displacement of the said support, respectively of the said blade being provided for to dispose the flat blade either in advanced position, or in retracted position, pressing means made up of a pressing tongue (37) comprising a pressing surface (37A) directed toward a portion of surface of the said upper layer,

    cutting means made up of a cutting blade (35) able to displace itself in a reciprocating movement over the entire width of the roll (23), independently of the flat blade (32), the depth of cut being limited by the flat blade (32) serving as a protective shield for the lower turns, and

    clamping means (38A) able to clamp the said cut turn (24) between the said means and the said flat blade.
12. Device according to claim 11, characterised in that the lower surface of the said flat blade (32) in extended position is able to serve as pressing surface at the time of making contact between the device and the upper turn (24) of the roll (23).
13. Device according to one of the claims 11 or 12, characterised in that the distance between the pressing surface (37A) of the pressing tongue (37) and the upper surface of the flat blade (32) is adjustable, the said pressing surface (37A) being offset with respect to the said upper surface of the flat blade.
14. Device according to claim 13, characterised in that the said distance between the pressing surface (37A) of the pressing tongue (37) and the upper surface of the flat blade (32) is equivalent to at least the thickness of one turn of the strip of supple material constituting the roll (23).
15. Device according to one of the claims 11 to 14, characterised in that the means allowing the displacement of the flat blade (32) and/or of the cutting blade (35) are made up of pneumatic or hydraulic cylinders (30, 33).
16. Device according to one of the claims 11 to 15, characterised in that it further comprises guide means (32A) for the cutting blade (35).
17. Device according to claim 16, characterised in that the guide means for the cutting blade (35) are made up of a longitudinal groove (32A) made on the upper surface of the flat blade (32).
18. Device according to claim 11, characterised in that the clamping means (38A) are actuated at the time of displacement of the flat blade (32).
19. Device according to one of the claims 11 to 18, characterised in that it further comprises a pressing means able to apply a radial pressure on a portion of the upper turn (24) the said pressing means being disposed upstream from the flat blade (32) in the direction of unwinding of the turns.
20. Device according to one of the claims 11 to 19, characterised in that it further comprises means allowing the roll (23) to be kept motionless, or to be set in rotation about its support axis (22), at a low speed.
21. Device according to claim 20, characterised in that the said means of setting the roll in rotation are able to make it pivot in the direction opposite to the direction of unwinding of the roll in order to slacken the upper turn or turns (24).
22. Device according to one of the claims 11 to 21, characterised in that it is associated with a device for joining (13) two strips (21, 24A) of supple material.
23. Use of a device according to one of the claims 11 to 22 in a line for manufacture of cigarettes or for manufacture or placement of cigarette filters.

Images