EP0795504B1 - Continuous unwinder for bobbins with at least one means for simultaneously unwinding of two bobbins in twin or co-axial arrangement - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to the field of unwinding machines continuous material in strips, from reels, to feed, in particular, in particular continuously, printing machines, cutters, laminators or other shaping machines, and has for object a continuous unrolling machine comprising at least one means of unwinding of two coils twinned or coaxial simultaneously. Such a machine is defined in the preamble to the claim 1 (FR-A-2 413 304).

The continuity of the operation of the unwinding of the bands, when a coil comes to an end, is ensured by a connection in full operation of the finishing strip on the new strip, by means of a cutting device and connection on the fly, said connection being made end to end or with recovery.

Known unwinding machines generally allow the unwinding of large width coils, mounted through their mandrel on centering heads of spool arms mounted so swivel on rotating supports and lockable in the service position on said rotary supports, and are therefore hardly suitable for unwinding of narrow spools and, in particular, not of unwinding at least two spools of small width, simultaneously.

To this end, it has been proposed to provide existing machines with a intermediate spool arm, provided with centering heads intended to cooperate with the mandrels of two coils and mounted on a central shaft for rotation of side spool arms supports. This intermediate spool holder arm is mounted on the central shaft with the possibility of sliding for its positioning for receiving the coils or for its lateral retraction in when not in use and its centering heads extend at a distance from the axis of the central shaft equal to that of the centering heads of the spool arms lateral, in pivoted and locked service position of the latter.

Such an embodiment allows the simultaneous unwinding of two strips to from two separate coils and the lateral retraction of the support arm intermediate, in its rest position. However, the spool holder arm intermediate is rigid and therefore does not allow its heads to move away from centering with respect to the central shaft, so that a ground pickup of the coils does not cannot be performed. Indeed, the coils must be brought with their mandrel in front of the centering heads of the lateral spool arms and of the arm intermediate by means of a lifting handling device to be able to be seized by introduction of said heads into the mandrels.

In such a use case, the cut and the connection between strip finishing and new strip are made by means of the cutting device and connection provided for normal use of the machine. It follows that if coils of different diameters must be unrolled simultaneously, the strips of these can no longer be cut and connected on the fly, but this requires stopping the machine and cutting and connecting manual.

In addition, the pivoting side spool arms of the machines have limitations with regard to lifting or gripping heavy load floor in the form of very high capacity coils, in particular relatively to their rigidity.

The object of the present invention is to overcome these drawbacks by proposing a machine to unroll allowing a simultaneous unrolling of two reels as well as their grip on the ground directly, without specific lifting means. In addition, cutting and connecting the finishing strips with the new ones tapes must be made possible separately, even when using coils of different diameter.

According to the invention, the unrolling machine allowing a simultaneous unwinding of two reels, which essentially consists of a chassis, on which two parallel plates or discs are rotated between them and connected by means of support shafts and reel arm guides lateral support and reel drive and a reel arm intermediate for the simultaneous unwinding of two twin or coaxial coils, said chassis being further provided with a cutting and connecting device between finishing strips and new reels, is characterized in that the arm middle reel holder in two parts hinged together and is retractable in the no position use and in that the cutting and connecting device between bands and new bobbins includes individual application means of two finishing strips, independently of each other, on two new twin or coaxial coils and application of a single wide strip on a single new spool, as well as cutting and connection of two bands individually and independently or one wide strip.

la figure 1 est une vue en élévation latérale et en coupe d'une machine à dérouler conforme à l'invention ;

la figure 2 est une vue en élévation latérale, à plus grande échelle, du dispositif de coupe et de raccordement entre bande finissante et nouvelle bobine ;

la figure 3 est une vue en plan du dispositif de coupe et de raccordement ;

la figure 4 est une vue en élévation latérale du bras de porte-bobine intermédiaire de deux bobines jumelées ou coaxiales ;

la figure 5 est un vue en élévation frontale de la machine à dérouler en position de prise au sol de deux bobines jumelées ou coaxiales, et

la figure 6 est une vue analogue à celle de la figure 5 représentant la machine en position de prise au sol d'une seule bobine, le bras porte-bobine intermédiaire étant escamoté.

The invention will be better understood from the description below, which relates to a preferred embodiment, given by way of nonlimiting example, and explained with reference to the appended schematic drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view in section of an unwinding machine according to the invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view, on a larger scale, of the cutting device and connection between the finishing strip and new reel;

Figure 3 is a plan view of the cutting and connecting device;

Figure 4 is a side elevational view of the intermediate spool carrier arm of two twin or coaxial spools;

FIG. 5 is a front elevation view of the machine for unwinding in the position of taking on the ground of two twin or coaxial coils, and

Figure 6 is a view similar to that of Figure 5 showing the machine in the gripping position of the ground with a single coil, the intermediate coil carrier arm being retracted.

Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings shows a machine to unroll in continuous allowing simultaneous unwinding of two reels 1, which is essentially constituted by a frame 2, on which two are guided in rotation plates or discs 3 parallel to each other and connected by means of shafts 4 and 5 of support and guide of side reel arms 6 for support and drive reels 1 and an intermediate reel arm 7 for simultaneous unwinding two twin or coaxial coils 1, said chassis 2 being further provided with a device 8 for cutting and connecting between finishing and new strips coils. This device 8 is pivotally mounted on the chassis 2 by means lateral support arms 9 and pivots 10, said arms 9 being each actuated by a jack 11.

According to the invention, the intermediate spool-holder arm 7 is articulated and retractable in the non-use position and the cutting device 8 and of connection between finishing strips and new coils includes means 12 for individual application of two finishing strips, independently one from the other, on two new twin or coaxial coils 1 and 13 application of a single wide strip on a new single reel, as well as means 14 for cutting and connecting two strips individually and independently or from a single wide strip.

The means 12 for individual application of two finishing strips, independently of each other, on two new twin coils or coaxial 1 and 13 applying a single wide strip on a new single coil are mounted symmetrically, as shown more particularly Figures 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings, in a set of rotary support 15 guided between the lateral support arms 9 by means of hubs 16 and actuated in rotation by a device 17, an indexing means 18 maintaining the rotary support assembly 15 in its service positions. This rotary support assembly 15 is constituted by two flanges 15 ', integral each of a hub 16 and interconnected by a pair of 15 '' crosspieces arranged symmetrically with respect to the hubs 16 for guiding in rotation of said support rotary 15 on the lateral support arms 9.

According to a characteristic of the invention, the device 17 actuation in rotation consists of at least one actuator provided on its rod piston of a rack 19 cooperating with a pinion 20 provided on the hub 16 corresponding, said cylinder being mounted by its yoke on the lateral support arm 9 corresponding (Figures 2 and 3). This rotary actuation device 17 can also be constituted in the form of a geared motor assembly, a jack rotary or the like connected directly to the hub 16 and mounted on the support arm side 9 corresponding.

The indexing means 18 is preferably produced in the form of a latch mounted on the internal face of at least one of the lateral support arms 9 and cooperating with holes 21 of corresponding section provided in the flange 15 ' corresponding to the rotary support assembly 15. This indexing means 18 preferably comprises two diametrically opposite holes 21 on the flange 15 '. Thus, it is possible to obtain two locking positions of the support 15 corresponding to the service positions of the means 12 for individual application of two finishing strips, independently of each other, on two new twin or coaxial coils 1 and 13 applying a single large strip width on a single new spool. It follows that it is sufficient actuate the device 17 to bring, by means of the support 15, the means 12 individual application of two finishing strips, independently of one of the other, on two new twin or coaxial coils 1 or 13 for application of a single wide strip on a single new reel, in position on duty.

The means 12 for individual application of two finishing strips, independently of each other, on two new twin coils or coaxial 1, is shown more particularly in Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings and consists of two cylinders 22 each mounted at the end of two levers pivoting 23 connected together, at the end opposite to the cylinders 22, by via a sleeve 24 for pivotally guiding on a shaft 25 secured at its ends to the flanges 15 ′ of the rotary support assembly 15 and by at least one means 26 for pivotally actuating each cylinder 22 individually, acting on at least one lever 23 of each pair of levers pivoting 23. Thus, each cylinder 22 can be operated independently for applying the corresponding tape for the operation of connection, in synchronism with the cutting and connecting means 14 corresponding. In the representation of Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings, the means 12 for individual application of two finishing strips are in position on duty.

The means 13 for applying a single wide strip over a single new coil, also shown in Figure 3 of the drawings attached, is in the form of a single cylinder 27 guided between the ends two levers 28, pivotally mounted on a shaft 29, secured at its ends flanges 15 ', by means of a sleeve 30 connecting said levers 28 to one another at their end opposite to that carrying the single cylinder 27, a means 31 pivoting actuation of the single cylinder 27 acting on at least one swivel lever 28 (figure 3). This means 13 allows, in its service position, a application of a very wide strip on a single reel in order to the connection operation.

The means 26 and 31, respectively for pivoting actuation of each cylinder 22 individually and of pivoting actuation of the single cylinder 27, are advantageously in the form of jacks, the rod of which piston is articulated on the corresponding lever 23 or 28, eccentrically by relative to the corresponding pivoting guide shaft 25 or 29, and the clevis is mounted on a 15 '' cross member of the rotary support 15. The 15 '' cross member taken in consideration for each cylinder is advantageously that located on the side of the rotary support 15 opposite to that carrying the pivoting shaft 25 or 29 or lever 23 or 28 corresponding (Figures 2 and 3).

In known manner, the individual cylinders 22 and single 27 are connected, via pulley and belt drive or the like, each with a corresponding launch engine 22 'and 27'. These motors of launch are intended to give the corresponding cylinders 22 and 27 a speed tangential equal to the linear speed of the ending bands, for a connection on the fly in continuous operation.

The means 14 for cutting and connecting two strips individually and independently or from a single wide strip are essentially constituted by two transverse knives 32 mounted at pivoting on a transverse shaft 33, the ends of which are fixed on the arms lateral support 9, pivoting on the chassis 2, and by an actuator pivot 34 of each knife 32 individually (Figure 3). Knives 32 preferably extend each over half of the maximum bandwidth can be unwound and are each mounted on the transverse shaft 33 of pivoting via arms 35, including those located on the side of the lateral supports 9 are each connected to a pivoting actuator independent 34 in the form of a jack or the like, the opposite arms 35 being adjacent, as well as the inner edges of the knives 32.

In order to be able to make a perfectly synchronized cut of a wide strip by simultaneous use of the two knives transverse 32, the cutting and connecting means 14 are provided with a device 36 for locking said transverse knives 32 in alignment. This device 36 is advantageously constituted in the form of a lock actuated by a jack mounted on one of the adjacent arms 35, said lock cooperating in position service with a correspondingly shaped recess on the other adjacent arm.

Such an arrangement of the knives 32 allows, in the position of interlock, to cut a single wide strip, while the triggering of the device 36 allows individual operation of each knife 32 by means of the corresponding actuator 34.

The intermediate spool arm 7, which is shown more particularly in Figure 4 of the accompanying drawings, is constituted by an element 37 for guiding on the shafts 4 and 5 for supporting and guiding the spool arms side 6 for supporting and driving coils 1 and by a pivoting lever 38, articulated on said guide element 37 by one of its ends and having, on either side of its free end, two centering heads 39 for insertion into spool cores.

Guide element 37 on the support and guide shafts 4 and 5 side reel arms 6 for supporting and driving coils 1 is provided with a locking means 40, respectively in the support position of spools of small width and in the retracted position of the pivoting lever 38 (Figure 4). To this end, the locking means 40 is constituted by a jack, mounted on the element 37 for guiding on the shafts 4 and 5 for supporting and guiding the arms lateral coil holders 6 and whose piston rod cooperates, in its two positions service, with correspondingly shaped recesses 41 provided in the lever pivoting 38, the retracted and coil support positions being defined by a two-position pivoting stop 42, actuated by a jack 42 ', of the element guide 37 cooperating with a fixed stop 43 of the pivoting lever 38 (Figure 4).

Thus, for the simultaneous taking on the ground of two coils 1, the means lock 40 is released so that the swivel lever 38 can swing freely during rotation of the plates or discs 3 also bringing the arms side reel holder 6 for supporting and driving coils 1 in said grip position. During the subsequent lifting operation, the lever 38 pivots parallel to the two side spool arms 6 and, at the end of lifting stroke, it is locked in the coil support position by through the locking means 40 cooperating with the recess corresponding 41 of lever 38 (Figure 4).

For the retraction of the lever 38, the pivoting of the latter is continued, after pivoting of the pivoting stop 42 by means of its jack actuation 42 ', so as to free the passage of the fixed stop 43, by example by tilting to the right of said stop 42 (Figure 4).

According to another characteristic of the invention and as shown Figures 1, 2 and 4 to 6 of the accompanying drawings, the side spool arms 6 of support and drive coils 1 and the reel arm intermediate 7 are mounted directly on one, 4, support shafts and guide, through their guide element 6 'and 37, and are connected to the other support and guide shaft 5 by means of an articulated mobile assembly 44 by a pin 45 on the corresponding end of said guide element 6 ' and 37, a threaded shaft 46, secured at its ends to the plates or discs parallel 3, being guided, in addition, in said guide element 6 'and 37 and cooperating with a motorized nut 47 for the maneuvers of moving the arms 6 and 7.

Thanks to this constitution of the arms 6 and 7, it is possible to obtain a very high rigidity of said arms 6 and 7 and, thus, to be able to perform the lifting very heavy loads, which is impossible with existing devices nowadays.

In accordance with another characteristic of the invention, the nut motorized 47 for the movement of movement of the arm 7 is equipped with a device synchronization of its movement, in its retracted position, with the displacement of the side reel arm against which it is retracted. Such device can, for example, be in the form of a closed electrical contact or open by said arm 7 in its retracted position and controlling the actuation a motorized nut engagement synchronization relay, during a displacement of the corresponding arm 6. Such a retracted position is shown in Figure 6 of the accompanying drawings. For the individual operation of arm 7, the effect of the synchronization device can be canceled manually. Arm 7 is then moved into its service position by means of its motorized nut 47, for example for the engagement of one of its centering heads 39 in the mandrel a spool of small width, before the installation of the corresponding lateral arm (figure 5).

Thanks to the invention, it is therefore possible to make a unwind allowing unwinding of two coaxial or twin coils simultaneously and adaptable to the unwinding of a single reel by simple actuation of the support 15.

In addition, the side 6 and intermediate 7 spool arms allow the coils to be taken directly on the ground, the arms 6 having, moreover, rigidity such that they are capable of lifting the heaviest loads.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiment described and shown in the accompanying drawings. Modifications are still possible, in particular from the point of view of the constitution of the various elements or by substitution of technical equivalents, without departing from the scope of protection of the invention.

Claims (19)

1. Unwinder for the simultaneous, continuous unwinding of two twin or coaxial reels (1) essentially consisting of a framework (2) on which are rotatably guided two mutually parallel plates or discs (3) connected by means of shafts (4 and 5) for supporting and guiding lateral reel-holding arms (6) supporting and driving reels (1) and an intermediate reel-holding arm (7) for the simultaneous unwinding of two twin or coaxial reels (1), said framework (2) also being equipped with a device (8) for cutting and for splicing between finishing webs and new reels, characterized in that the intermediate reel-holding arm (7) is in two mutually articulated parts (37, 38) and is retractable in the position of non-use and in that the device (8) for cutting and for splicing between finishing webs and new reels comprises means (12) for individual application of two finishing webs independently of one another on two new twin or coaxial reels (1) and for application (13) of a single web of great width on a new single reel (1), as well as means (14) for cutting and for splicing of two webs individually and independently or of a single web of great width.
2. Machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the means (12) for individual application of two finishing webs, independently of one another, on two new twin or coaxial reels (1) and for application (13) of a single web of great width on a new single reel are mounted symmetrically in a rotating support unit (15) guided between the lateral support arms (9) by means of hubs (16) and set into rotation by a device (17), an indexing means (18) holding the rotating support unit (15) in its operating positions.
3. Machine according to claim 2, characterized in that the rotating support unit (15) consists of two end-plates (15') each integral with a hub (16) and connected to one another by a pair of cross bars (15'') arranged symmetrically relative to the hubs (16) for guiding said rotating support (15) in rotation on the lateral support arms (9).
4. Machine according to claim 2, characterized in that the device (17) for setting into rotation consists of at least one jack equipped, on its piston rod, with a rack (19) cooperating with a pinion (20) provided on the corresponding hub (16), said jack being mounted by its cover on the corresponding lateral support arm (9).
5. Machine according to claim 2, characterized in that the device (17) for setting into rotation is made up in the form of a reduction motor unit, a rotating jack or the like connected directly to the hub (16) and mounted on the corresponding lateral support arm (9).
6. Machine according to claim 2, characterized in that the indexing means (18) is produced in the form of a bolt mounted on the internal face of at least one of the lateral support arms (9) and cooperating with holes (21) of corresponding section provided in the corresponding end-plate (15') of the rotating support unit (15).
7. Machine according to claim 6, characterized in that the indexing means (18) comprises two holes (21) diametrically opposed on the end-plate (15').
8. Machine according to any one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the means (12) for individual application of two finishing webs, independently of one another, on two new twin or coaxial reels (1) consists of two cylinders (22) each mounted at the end of two interconnected pivoting levers (23) at the end remote from the cylinders (22) by means of a sleeve (24) for pivotal guidance on a shaft (25) integral at its ends with end-plates (15') of the rotating support unit (15) and of at least one means (26) for pivotal actuation of each cylinder (22) individually, acting on at least one lever (23) of each pair of pivoting levers (23).
9. Machine according to any one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the means (13) for application of a single web of great width on a new single reel has the form of a single cylinder (27) guided between the ends of two levers (28) pivotally mounted on a shaft (29) integral at its ends with the end-plates (15') by means of a sleeve (30) connecting said levers (28) to one another at their end remote from that carrying the single cylinder (27), a means (31) for pivotal actuation of the single cylinder (27) acting on at least one pivoting lever (28).
10. Machine according to any one of claims 8 and 9, characterized in that the means (26 and 31) respectively for pivotal actuation of each cylinder (22) individually and for pivotal actuation of the single cylinder (27) are in the form of jacks of which the piston rod is articulated to the corresponding lever (23 or 28) eccentrically relative to the corresponding shaft for pivotal guidance (25 or 29) and of which the cover is mounted on a cross bar (15'') of the rotating support (15).
11. Machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the means (14) for cutting and for splicing of two webs individually and independently or of a single web of great width essentially consist of two transverse blades (32) pivotally mounted on a transverse shaft (33), the ends of which are fixed on the lateral support arms (9) for pivoting on the chassis (2) and of a pivot actuator (34) for each blade (32) individually.
12. Machine according to claim 11, characterized in that the blades (32) each extend over half of the maximum width of web which can be unwound and are each mounted on the transverse pivot shaft (33) by means of arms (35), those located on the side of the lateral support arms (9) each being connected to an independent pivot actuator (34) in the form of a jack or the like, the opposing arms (35) being adjacent, similarly to the internal edges of the blades (32).
13. Machine according to any one of claims 11 and 12, characterized in that the cutting and splicing means (14) are provided with a device (36) for locking said transverse blades (32) in alignment.
14. Machine according to claim 13, characterized in that the device (36) for locking the transverse blades (32) is made up in the form of a bolt actuated by a jack mounted on one of the adjacent arms (35), said lock cooperating in the operating position with a recess of corresponding shape in the other adjacent arm.
15. Machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the intermediate reel-holding arm (7) consists of a guide element (37) on the shafts (4 and 5) for supporting and guiding the lateral reel-holding arms (6) supporting and driving reels (1) and of a pivoting lever (38) articulated to said guide element (37) by one of its ends and having, on either side of its free end, two centring heads (39) for insertion in reel tubes.
16. Machine according to claim 15, characterized in that the guide element (37) on the shafts (4 and 5) for supporting and guiding the lateral reel-holding arms (6) supporting and driving reels (1) is provided with a locking means (40) respectively in the position for supporting reels of small width and in the retracted position of the pivoting lever (38).
17. Machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the locking means (40) consists of a jack mounted on the guide element (37) on the shafts (4 and 5) for supporting and guiding the lateral reel-holding arms (6) and of which the piston rod cooperates, in its two operating positions, with recesses of corresponding shape (41) provided in the pivoting lever (38), the retracted and reel-supporting positions being defined by a pivoting stop with two positions (42) actuated by a jack (42') of the guide element (37) cooperating with a fixed stop (43) of the pivoting lever (38).
18. Machine according to any one of claims 1 and 15, characterized in that the lateral reel-holding arms (6) supporting and guiding reels (1) as well as the intermediate reel-holding arm (7) are mounted directly on one (4) of the supporting and guiding shafts by means of their guide element (6' and 37) and are connected to the other supporting and guiding shaft (5) by means of a moving system (44) articulated by a spindle (45) on the corresponding end of said guide element (6' and 37), a screw-threaded shaft (46) connected at its ends with parallel plates or discs (3) also being guided in said guide element (6' and 37) and cooperating with a motorized nut (47) for the displacements of the reel-holding arms (6 and 7).
19. Machine according to claim 18, characterized in that the motorized nut (47) for displacing the intermediate reel-holding arm (7) is equipped with a device for synchronizing its displacement in its retracted position with the displacement of the lateral reel-holding arm against which it is retracted.

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