EP1697244A1

EP1697244A1 - Automatic removal device for changing roll in machines for the production of rolls of paper or similar

Info

Publication number: EP1697244A1
Application number: EP04819740A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Fabio Perini
Original assignee: Focus Srl
Current assignee: Focus Srl
Priority date: 2003-12-01
Filing date: 2004-11-25
Publication date: 2006-09-06
Also published as: US20060032966A1; ITFI20030302A1; US7128289B2; WO2005054102A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for changing roll in a machine for the production of a light material in the form of a strip of the type comprising means of rolling the material on a core or tubular bar and means for provision of an empty rod on changing a roll. The device is characterised in comprising a surface (80), for defining a channel (85) in cooperation with the surface of an empty rod (51), in which a jet of air is run, as produced by several nozzles (9).

Description

AUTOMATIC COLLECTION DEVICE FOR COIL CHANGING IN MACHINES FOR THE PRODUCTION OF PAPER REELS AND THE LIKE DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to an automatic sampling device for changing the reel in machines for the production of reels of paper and other light materials in strip form. It is known that machines for the production of crepe paper, smooth paper and other light materials in the form of a strip, such as non-woven fabric, include a device, commonly called “winder”, which makes it possible to form reels of material with a predetermined diameter and comprising a central tubular core, normally called a “rod” or “core”, on which the material is wound up during the formation phase of each coil. Said reel consists essentially of a motorized cylinder with a horizontal axis. The winding of the material during the formation of the coil is guaranteed by keeping it in contact with the surface of said cylinder: the axis of rotation of the coil, that is to say of the respective rod, is parallel to the axis of rotation of the winding cylinder. To allow continuous contact between the winding cylinder and the reel in formation, that is to say "growing", the rod of the latter is attached to corresponding supports mounted horizontally movable on a support structure facing the area material feed. At the end of a reel, the latter is removed and replaced by a bare rod previously rotated around its own longitudinal axis so that the peripheral speed of each surface point thereof is equal to the speed material feed. For this purpose, the bare rod is supported by two arms which are located at the two ends of the winding cylinder and can be moved from and to the area immediately downstream of said cylinder. When changing the reel, said arms bring the rod from a position located above the take-up roller into a position of surface contact therewith and the bare rod is rotated. When the material begins to wind on the rod thus positioned, said arms bring the latter into the position previously occupied by the barely finished spool, which is far from its position, and the strip of paper tears as it begins to wind on the new rod. At the time of reel change, there may be the absence of winding of the strip on the bare rod, which may cause the production of the reel to be interrupted in order to repeat the start of winding operation and causing serious economic damage to the loss of production; in addition, the reel change operation is highly dependent on the skill of the attendant operator.

The main object of the present invention is to remedy the aforementioned drawback, that is to say to optimize and facilitate the change operation. This result has been achieved, in accordance with the present invention, by adopting the idea of producing a device having the characteristics described in claim 1. Other characteristics of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims. Thanks to the invention, it proves possible to control with much greater precision the path followed by the strip in the reel change phase, also making it possible to increase the production speed and without the need to submit this operation to the supervision of particularly expert or qualified personnel. In addition, a device according to the present invention is relatively simple to manufacture, economical and reliable even after a long period of exercise.

These advantages and characteristics of the present invention as well as others will be better understood by a person skilled in the art from the description below and with the aid of the appended drawings, provided as a practical exemplification of the invention, but to not to be considered in a limiting sense, in which: FIG. 1 represents a schematic side view by transparency of a device according to the invention, in the rest or waiting position; 2 shows a schematic side view by transparency of the device of Figure 1 in the coil change phase, - Figure 3 shows an enlarged detail of the device of Figure 2; Figure 4 is a partial rear view, that is to say with certain components not visible, of the device of Figure

1; FIG. 5 represents a schematic side view by transparency of the device in object, in the position of end of reel change; Figure 6 shows the same machine as Figure 2, but with a brake for slowing the coil (5). Reduced to its essential structure and with reference to the figures of the accompanying drawings, a device according to the present invention can be used in the context of a machine for the production of coils of light material in the form of a strip, such as for example crepe or smooth paper. or fabric not woven, of the type comprising a motorized winding cylinder (1) mounted, with the horizontal axis, on a corresponding fixed structure (2) with which are also associated several supports or carriages (3) controlled by respective means (4) of displacement from and to the cylinder (1); said carriages (3) being intended to support a reel (5) in formation or "growth". The latter consists of a strip (6) of the preselected material which is wound around a respective rod (50) disposed on said supports (3) free to rotate about its longitudinal axis which is parallel to that of the cylinder (1 ). In the example of FIG. 1, the means (4) for moving the supports (3) comprise a chain closed in a ring on several respective toothed rings (40) and chain to which the supports (3) are integral in correspondence with the respective base portions (30), that is to say in correspondence with the respective portions (30) opposite those (having a cradle shape with support rollers) for hooking the rods (51). On each side of the cylinder (1) is provided an arm (7) for supporting a bare rod (51), that is to say a rod on which to form a new coil. Said arms (7) are articulated on the fixed structure (2), so as to be rotatable about the axis of the take-up cylinder (1), and are controlled by corresponding actuators (71) - to allow movement between a position substantially vertical waiting or resting (as in Figure 1) with a bare rod (51) above the cylinder (1), an inclined position

(as in FIG. 2) in correspondence of which the bare rod (51) comes into contact with the cylinder (1) and begins the phase of changing the coil, and a substantially horizontal position (as in FIG. 5), in which the longitudinal axes of the cylinder (1) and the rod (51) are substantially in the same horizontal plane (HP). Contact between the cylinder (1) and the bare rod (51) causes the latter to rotate about its longitudinal axis. This rotation is used to start, as indicated below, the winding of the strip on the rod (51) when changing the reel. It is understood that the system for rotating the bare rod (51) can be of any suitable type. Said actuators (71) are connected by their respective casings to the structure (2) and by their rods to the arms (7).

To the arms (7), which will be called hereinafter "primary arms", are connected two other arms (70), hereinafter called "secondary arms". More particularly, each of the two secondary arms (70) is articulated to a corresponding primary arm (7) and has a profiled front part shaped like a cradle to receive the axis of the rod (51). In addition, each secondary arm (70) is slaved to an actuator (72) to control its rotation about the axis of the articulation (700) connecting with the respective primary arm (7). Said articulation (700) connects the upper part of each primary arm (7) with the dorsal part of the respective secondary arm (70). Each actuator (72) is connected, on one side, to the corresponding primary arm (7) and, on the other side, to the corresponding secondary arm (70), so as to be interposed between the two.

In practice, when the actuators (71) control the rotation of the primary arms (7) around the axis of the cylinder (1), the actuators (72) gradually control the rotation of the secondary arms (70), so that the trajectory followed by each point of the longitudinal axis of the rod (51), in the transition from the position of Figure 1 to the position of Figure 5, an arc of a spiral. Of this way, during the reel change, the growth of the new reel around the rod (51) is authorized and, simultaneously, the contact between the cylinder (1) and the strip being wound on the rod (51) is maintained. Advantageously, in accordance with the present invention, said arms (7, 70) are associated with a superstructure (8) with a surface (80) which delimits, in cooperation with the surface of a bare rod (51) brought by these same arms ( 7, 70), a channel (85) (in the example, a variable section channel) along which persists an air jet produced by a battery of nozzles (9) integral with this same superstructure (8). The channel in question and therefore the superstructure (8) extend over the entire area concerned by the presence of the rod. In particular, with reference to the exemplary embodiment shown in the figures of the accompanying drawings, the said surface (80) is shaped appropriately to also laterally close the channel (85) and an upper section dudi ^'t to channel is turned towards the coil formation zone (5), the air jet produced by the nozzles (9) being oriented in the opposite direction to lick the belly from the surface (80). In this way, there is a vacuum in the space above the bare rod

(51).

Advantageously, said superstructure (8) is articulated on the two primary arms (7), with an articulation (77) whose axis is parallel to the axis of the winding cylinder (1). In addition, the object superstructure is controlled by two actuators (73) to and from the take-up cylinder (1). Each of the two actuators (73) is connected, on one side, to a dorsal appendage (78) of a corresponding primary arm (7) and, on the other side, to an appendage (79) corresponding to the superstructure ( 8). In position (H) of figure 1, the superstructure (8) is raised, that is to say distant from the cylinder (1), so that the cradle of each secondary arm (70) is accessible and that a rod (51) can be positioned there. In the position (K) of this same figure 1, the superstructure (8) is lowered, that is to say in the appropriate position to delimit the above-mentioned channel (85). Still with reference to the embodiment shown in the figures of the appended drawings, said surface (80) constitutes a lower wall of said superstructure (8), the head (81) of which is provided with an elastic and flexible appendage (82 ) which extends over a length of predetermined value towards the rod (51) situated below and is positioned in correspondence with the front section of the aforementioned channel (85). When the reel is changed, the appendix (82), coming into contact with the reel in formation, contributes to closing the channel (85) subsequently and guiding the strip towards the bare rod. Said appendage (82) is advantageously connected to the head (81) of the superstructure (8) by means of an elastic seal (83) and has a blade (84) corresponding to one side directed towards the rod (51) , that is to say internal to the channel (85).

Given the flexibility of the appendage (82) and the elasticity of the connection (83), the latter, when the device is in the position of FIG. 2 and the coil (5) has a diameter such that it interferes with it, bends, resting and adapting to the surface of the spool (5), without damaging the wound material, and spontaneously returns to its initial configuration when contact with the spool (5) ceases. Depending on the diameter of the latter, the appendix will come into contact with it at different points, but will adapt to its diameter by virtue of its own flexibility. Said appendix (82) can be used as feeler to manage the stop of rotation of the superstructure (8) in the passage from said position (H) to said position (K). This passage is controlled, in the initial phase, by the operator who controls the machine and is automatically interrupted when the appendage (82) comes into contact with the coil (5): this contact determines the flexion of the appendage (82 ) towards the rod (51) and, consequently, the pressure of a microswitch (800) positioned, for example, on the head (81), in a position below the seal (83). The impact of the appendage (82) on the surface of the coil (5) will be appropriately mitigated by the elasticity of the link (83).

The device also advantageously comprises a second battery of nozzles (100) disposed integrally with the structure (2), in the space between the cylinder (1) and the area occupied by the coil (5), in position at below the path followed by the strip (6). In other words, the nozzles of the second battery (100) are positioned on the opposite side to the nozzles belonging to the first battery (9) relative to the path of the material (6) in the space between the cylinder (1) and the coil (5). The nozzles of the second battery (100) are intended to produce a corresponding compressed air jet on the belly of the material (6), downstream of the winding cylinder (1) as described later and better below.

As illustrated in FIG. 6, the device in question can also be provided with a brake (500) to cause, on command, the slowing down of the coil (5) during the change phase. For example, said brake (500) can be of the shoe type, with the shoes (550) intended to act on the two ends of the rod (50) and supported by respective supports (555) movable horizontally like the supports (3) of the coil (5) and, like these, connected to the lateral casings (200) of the structure (2).

For example, each of the aforementioned supports (3) may be provided on the internal side of the respective side casing (200) of the structure (2), the supports (555) of the brake (500) being on the external sides of the side casings, c that is to say independent of the supports (3). This makes it possible to adjust their position as a function of the diameter of the coil (5) and, therefore, as a function of the position of the rod (50). The operation of the device during the reel change, that is to say when the reel (5) has reached the desired dimensions, is as follows.

The reel supports (5) are moved to move the reel away from the take-up cylinder (1), as indicated by the arrow "F" in Figure 3, and the arms (7) are pivoted as indicated by the arrow "G" so as to bring the rod (51) into contact with the cylinder (1). On this occasion, the superstructure (8) is brought from the above-mentioned position (H) to the working position (K). Under the effect of the peripheral speed difference of the coil (5), slowed down by the braking system (500) which is activated when the coil (5) detaches from the cylinder (1), and the production speed, that is to say material supply (6), a loop of free material is formed in the space between the finished coil (5) and the cylinder (1). Simultaneously, the nozzles of the second battery (100) produce an air jet which inflates under the strip of paper (6) by directing it towards the superstructure (8). And, under the effect of the depression generated by the jet produced by the nozzles (9), the material is sucked towards the channel (85), that is to say in the space between the surface (80) and the rod (51). The cutting system (84), intercepting the material pushed towards the channel (85), makes a cut which interrupts the material itself. At this point, the material is interrupted, which is why one end follows the coil (5) finished in the removal phase, while the other end is pushed, by the current produced by the nozzles (9), to the inside the channel (85) and follows the profile of the surface (80) which directs it towards the point of contact between the rod (51) in rotation and the cylinder (1), in the jargon called "nip", and so s 'then wraps around the same rod (51). In this way, the reel change is carried out, since the finished reel (5) is in the removal phase and a new reel begins to form on the rod (51). As the finished coil (5) moves away, while the downward rotation of the primary arms (7), controlled by the actuators (71), continues, there is rotation of the secondary arms ( 70), controlled by the actuators (72), so that the trajectory of each point on the axis of the rod (51) corresponds to an arc of spiral, in order to compensate for the progressive increase in the diameter of the coil which begins to form on the rod (51). At the end of the rotation of the arms (7, 70), the two ends of the rod (51) come to bear on the roller cradles of a support (3) which has been brought in the meantime by the belts ( 4), in the receiving position as shown in FIG. 5. Once this phase is completed, the arms (7, 70) and the superstructure (8) are brought back to the initial position of FIG. 1. If the action of the blade (84) was insufficient to cause the interruption of the material (6) or if it was decided not to associate a blade with the appendix (84), the interruption of the material (6) would still occur . Indeed, in both cases, the material which runs through the channel (85) would in any case get stuck in the "nip" and therefore would wind up on the rod (51) causing said interruption.

The movements and commands of the various elements can be managed automatically by means of a programmable electronic central unit, of the type known for industrial automation technicians and, therefore, not described in detail.

Claims

1. Device for changing the reel in a machine for the production of reels of light material in the form of a strip of the type comprising means for winding the material on a tubular core or rod and means for feeding a bare rod on the occasion of the reel change, device characterized in that it comprises a surface (80) making it possible to delimit, in cooperation with the surface of a bare rod (51), a channel (85) in which is directed a air jet produced by several nozzles (9).

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that said channel (85) is a variable section channel.

3. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that said surface (80) is part of a superstructure (8) associated with several arms (7, 70) for supporting said bare rod (51).

4. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said surface (80) is movable between a position (H) for waiting or rest and a position (K) for work.

5. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises an elastic and flexible appendage (82) corresponding to a front section or inlet of said channel (85).

6. Device according to claim 5, characterized in that said appendage (82) is elastically connected to said superstructure (8).

7. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a battery of nozzles (100) intended to direct a jet of compressed air towards the belly of the material (6) downstream of said winding cylinder (1).

8. Device according to any one of claims above, characterized in that it comprises means for cutting the material (6) when changing the reel.

9. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a braking system (500) intended to slow down a coil (5) concerned by the change operation.

10. Device according to claim 9, characterized in that said braking system (500) acts on the axis (50) of said coil (5).

11. Device according to claims 9 and 10, characterized in that said braking system is movable horizontally to adjust its position as a function of the diameter of said coil (5), that is to say as a function of the position of the respective rod (50).