EP2623279A1

EP2623279A1 - Improved apparatus for cutting paper logs into a plurality of rolls

Info

Publication number: EP2623279A1
Application number: EP13154086.6A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Giovanni Gambini
Original assignee: Gambini International SA
Current assignee: Gambini International SA
Priority date: 2012-02-06
Filing date: 2013-02-05
Publication date: 2013-08-07
Anticipated expiration: 2033-02-05
Also published as: RS55512B1; ES2605793T3; ITMI20120155A1; EP2623279B1

Abstract

Apparatus (10) for cutting paper logs (11) into a plurality of rolls (12) comprising at least an input longitudinal channel (13) of said log (11) and at least an output channel (14) of said rolls (12), said channels (13, 14) defining circular housings (16) for stably receiving said log (11) and said rolls (12) and being among them arranged in succession and separated at a cutting device (17) of said log (11) into said rolls (12), said channels (13, 14) comprising mobile walls (15) so as to selectively vary the diameter of said circular housings (16) between a maximum diameter and a minimum diameter to guarantee the stable receiving of logs (11) and rolls (12) of various dimensions, being provided at least an upper frame (100) for closing said housings (16) mobile between a first position in which said walls (15) and said at least an upper frame (100) are distanced and a second position wherein said walls (15) and said at least an upper frame (100) are at least partially in contact, wherein there is a primary actuator (26) for moving said walls (15) and at least a secondary actuator (101) independent from said primary actuator (26) for moving said at least an upper frame (100).

Description

The present invention refers to an apparatus for cutting paper logs into a plurality of rolls.
The apparatus object of the present invention is used in the industrial field of machines intended for making rolls, like for example toilet paper, kitchen paper and/or similar.
In particular, the apparatus of the present invention fits among the devices intended for cutting long rolls of band-shaped material, known in the field as and hereafter referred to by the term "log", into a plurality of rolls of predetermined length corresponding to the end product to be manufactured.
In general, machines of this type that are currently known comprise at least one input longitudinal channel of a log and at least one output channel of the rolls deriving from the cutting of such a log.
The aforementioned channels, which define a circular seat equipped with the diameter corresponding to the log and to the rolls to be worked, are arranged in succession with one another and are separated by a cutting device, for example a vertical blade.
In such machines, therefore, the log is moved forward between the two channels arranged in succession and, at the passage between such channels, it is cut into rolls of predetermined length.
During the cutting operations it is necessary to ensure that the log is kept stably constrained to the machine in order to prevent cutting errors and consequent sizing errors of the finished rolls.
For this purpose, usually, the seats defined by the channels are sized expressly as a function of the diameter of the logs to be cut.
However, such embodiments have the big drawback of only allowing logs of the same size to be cut.
In such machines, indeed, as the dimensions of the logs vary it is necessary to block the machine and proceed to manually replace the channels with others having suitable dimension for the new logs fed.
WO02/49814 describes an apparatus for cutting paper logs into a plurality of rolls according to the preamble of claim 1.
In particular WO02/49814 provides circular housings for receiving the logs that comprise mobile side walls to selectively vary the diameter of the housings themselves between a maximum diameter and a minimum diameter.
Each side wall comprises an upper mobile portion and a lower mobile portion.
The lower mobile portion is connected through pins on one side to a support structure and on the other side to an intermediate portion of the upper mobile portion. The upper mobile portion comprises a free upper end and a base end connected in a rotary fashion to a cam.
Such a cam is made up of a cursor mobile in an inclined slot between a first position corresponding to the maximum diameter of the circular housings and a second position corresponding to the minimum diameter of the circular housings.
The movement and the clamping of the side walls of the housings around the logs is controlled by a particular type of actuator that acts above the housings on the free ends of the mobile walls.
As can be seen from figure 1 of WO02/49814 a sort of cover element is provided, arranged above the housings in a vertically mobile manner.
Such a cover element performs the dual function of closing the top of the housings as well as of actuator of the movement of the side walls of the housings. Disadvantageously according to WO02/49814 it is thus not possible to move the side walls of the housings without forcibly clamping the cover element against the walls themselves and vertically compressing the logs.
In other words, according to WO02/49814 in order to exert a given lateral containment force on the walls of the housings, it is also necessary to generate a corresponding vertical compression force on the log. However, it would be helpful to be able to move the lateral walls independently from the upper cover and to be able to exert a high lateral containment force also with a minimal vertical compression force only for the purposes of upper containment of the logs.
Furthermore, it would be even more helpful to be able to exert different compression or vertical containment forces even for the same lateral containment force. Moreover, the presence of a cover as described in WO02, i.e. of the type pressed against the housings, has the further drawback of interfering with the forward movement of the logs during insertion into the housings.
Indeed, the advancing logs could knock against the cover.
The purpose of the present invention is to make an apparatus for cutting paper logs into a plurality of rolls that is an alternative to the known embodiments of the type described in WO02/49814 and capable of solving the aforementioned drawbacks of the prior art in an extremely simple, cost-effective and particularly functional manner.
Another purpose is to make an apparatus for cutting paper logs into a plurality of rolls that is capable of working logs of various sizes without requiring the apparatus to be blocked and the manual intervention of a worker and without the risk of deforming the log.
A further purpose is to make an apparatus for cutting paper logs into a plurality of rolls in which the upper closing element of the housings and the walls of the housings can be actuated independently and in which it is possible to exert different compression or vertical containment forces for the same lateral containment force and vice-versa.
These purposes according to the present invention are accomplished by making an apparatus for cutting paper logs into a plurality of rolls as outlined in claim 1. Further characteristics of the invention are highlighted by the dependent claims.
The characteristics and advantages of an apparatus for cutting paper logs into a plurality of rolls according to the present invention will become clearer from the following description, given as an example and not for limiting purposes, referring to the attached schematic drawings, in which:

figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of an apparatus for cutting paper logs into a plurality of rolls according to the present invention;
figure 2 is a front top view of the apparatus of figure 1 during the cutting of a small-sized log;

figure 3 is a front top view of the apparatus of figure 1 during the cutting of a larger-sized log than the log shown in figure 2;
figure 4 is a top side view of the apparatus of figure 1 in which a bladed cutting device of the logs is schematically shown;
figure 5 is an enlarged view of the apparatus of figure 1;
figure 6 shows a detail of the apparatus of figure 5;
figure 7 is a schematic perspective view of an apparatus of figure 1 during the cutting of a log;
figure 8 is a perspective view of the apparatus of figure 1 equipped with upper closing frames of the housings of the logs according to the present invention; and
figures 9-12 are schematic top views that show how the upper frame of figure 8 works together with the housings of the logs with the same different diameters of the logs.

With reference to the figures, an example embodiment of an apparatus for cutting paper logs 11 into a plurality of rolls 12 according to the present invention is shown with 10.
Such an apparatus 10 comprises at least one input longitudinal channel 13 of a log 11 and at least one output channel 14 of the finished rolls 12.
In the embodiments shown there are four parallel channels, but it is possible to provide any number of channels according to the requirements.
The channels 13, 14 are arranged in succession to one another, they are separated by a cutting device 17, for example with a blade, and they define substantially circular housings 16 having dimensions such as to stably receive the log 11 and the rolls 12.
Like the machines currently known, there are means 18 for moving the logs 11 and the rolls 12 along the relative channels 13, 14 upstream and downstream of the blade 17.
In particular, according to the invention, the channels 13, 14 comprise mobile walls 15 so as to selectively vary the diameter of the circular housings 16 to ensure the stable receiving of logs 11 and rolls 12 of various dimensions.
According to the preferred embodiment shown in the figures, each of the walls 15 comprises an upper mobile portion for gripping 20 and a lower mobile portion for supporting 21 the logs 11 and rolls 12.
In particular, the lower mobile portion for supporting 21 the logs 11 and the rolls 12 is connected through pins 22, 23 on one side to a support structure and on the other side to an intermediate portion of the upper mobile portion for gripping 20.
At the same time, the upper mobile portion for gripping 20, generally shaped like a C, comprises a free upper end 24 and a base end rotatably connected to a cursor 25 mobile in an inclined slot 28 formed in the fixed structure.
In particular, such a cursor 25 is moved by a primary actuator 26, to control the movement of the walls 15.
Therefore, the cursor 25 is mobile between a first end of the slot, which corresponds to the maximum diameter of the circular housings 16, and a second end that corresponds to the minimum diameter of the circular housings 16.
The primary actuator 26 is configured so as to engage the upper mobile portion for gripping 20 at the base end without generating any vertical compression force of the log towards the base of the apparatus. Advantageously the primary actuator 26 directly engages the cursor 25 to move it in the inclined slot 28. According to the example shown, the primary actuator 26 comprises at least one pusher element 40 acting against the cursor 25 where such a pusher 40 is of the type translating along a direction F parallel to the supporting plane 41 of the apparatus 10.
The pusher element 40 comprises a rod element perpendicular to the supporting plane 41 of the apparatus 10 and is equipped with a first end constrained to a screw 45 for moving forward the pusher 40 itself and a second free end 42 coupled with the cursor 25.
In order to allow the cursor 25 to move both horizontally forced by the pusher 40, and vertically forced by the inclined slot 28, the second free end 42 of the pusher element 40 comprises a vertical forked housing 27, or open slot, for containing the cursor 25. In the example embodiment shown in the figures, the inclined slot 28 has an inclined path so that, through the effect of the translation of the cursor 25 moved by the primary actuator 26, both the cursor 25 and the upper mobile portion for gripping 20 and the lower mobile portion for supporting 21 are moved upwards. According to two alternative embodiments, the movements of the walls 15 of each housing 16 can be synchronised with each other automatically or controlled independently.
In particular, all of the pushers 40 acting on an analogous side of the housings 16 can be controlled each other in a synchronised manner by means of knobs 43, 44 laterally protruding from the apparatus 10.
In other words, by acting on one knob 43 all of the right-hand walls 15 of the housings 16 will be moved and with the knob 44 the left-hand walls 15 will be moved.
In this case, the screw element 45 extends along the entire apparatus and supports all of the pushers 40 acting on an analogous side of the housings 16. Furthermore, through suitable transmissions, the pushers 40 acting on one side of the housings 16 can be synchronised with those acting on the other side.
In this case, by acting on a single knob both of the walls 15 of the housings 16 will be moved in a synchronised manner.
According to some of the possible embodiments, a wall 15' of a pair defining a housing 16 can have a longer development than the remaining wall 15.
As shown in figure 8, the apparatus of the present invention also comprises at least one upper frame 100 for closing the housings 16.
Such an at least one upper frame 100 is mobile in translation along the direction F1 perpendicular to the supporting plane of the machine between a first position in which the walls 15 of the housings 16 and the upper frame 100 are distanced to allow the free forward movement of the logs, and a second position in which the walls 15 and the upper frame 100 are in contact or in close-together position to define a housing for stably containing the logs both at the side and on top.
According to the invention the apparatus comprises at least one secondary actuator 101 for moving the upper frame 100 that is independent from the primary actuator 26 for moving the walls 15.
In this way it is advantageously possible to exert a high lateral containment force even with a minimal vertical compression force, substantially just for the purposes of the upper containment of the logs. Furthermore, according to the invention it is thus possible to exert different compression or vertical containment forces for the same lateral containment force and vice-versa.
It should be emphasised that even in the condition with the upper frame 100 raised, the logs can move forward without danger of interference with the upper frame and they are in any case stably contained in the housings 16 since the walls 15 are controlled to clamp in a suitable manner independently from the frame 100.
Such flexibility makes it possible to safely work all types of diameters of the logs as shown in figures 9-12.
As can be seen in figure 8 it is possible to provide a first upper frame 100 associated with the at least one output channel 14 of the rolls 12 and a second upper frame 102 associated with the at least one input longitudinal channel 13 of the logs 11, where the first and the second upper frame 100, 102 are respectively controlled by a first secondary actuator 101 and by a second secondary actuator 103.
Advantageously, in the case in which such first and second secondary actuator 101, 103 are independent from each other it is possible to exert a different upper containment force on the logs to be cut with respect to the rolls already formed.
Indeed, it is preferable to clamp the logs more, which indeed must be cut, with respect to the rolls that must only be contained stably.
As shown, such stable containment is achieved by means of circular housings 104 associated with the frames 100, 102 and facing the housings 16.
It is totally easy to understand how the apparatus for cutting paper logs into a plurality of rolls object of the invention operates.
The logs 11 of any size are fed into the channel 13 upstream of the cutting blade 17.
According to the diameter of the log, the actuators 16 are activated, which, by acting on the cursor 25, take care of moving the walls 15 of the channel 13 itself. Through the effect of the geometry of the portions 20 21 that make the walls 15 and of the pins 22 23, as the position of the cursor along the relative slot 28 varies, the diameter of the housing 16 in which the log 11 lies is increased or decreased as desired.
Of course, such adjustments are also carried out for the channel 14 downstream of the blade 17.
Furthermore, the apparatus of the present invention comprises at least one upper frame 100 for closing the housings 16 mobile in translation along the direction F1 perpendicular to the supporting plane of the machine where the secondary actuator 101 for moving the upper frame 100 is independent from the primary actuator 26 for moving the walls 15.
In this way, during the feeding of the logs in the channels, the upper frame is raised and the housings are clamped independently on the logs themselves that thus advance stably.
Once the correct position of the logs has been reached, in the condition with the walls 15 already clamped, the upper frame 100 is commanded to descend, which closes the top of the housings 16 creating the condition for correct cutting of the logs.
Since the commands of the walls 15 and the commands of the frame 100 are independent from one another, a high lateral containment force can also correspond to a minimal upper compression force aimed only at containing the logs.
Where it is provided for a first upper frame 100 associated with the at least one output channel 14 of the rolls 12 and a second upper frame 102 associated with the at least one input longitudinal channel 13 of the logs 11, it is possible to exert a greater containment force on the logs to be cut and a lower one on the rolls already formed.
It has thus been seen that an apparatus for cutting paper logs into a plurality of rolls according to the present invention achieves the purposes highlighted earlier.
Indeed, the apparatus for cutting paper logs into a plurality of rolls according to the present invention offers an alternative solution to the machines currently known and it is able to precisely cut logs of various sizes without requiring either the blocking of the apparatus, or the manual intervention of a worker.
In particular, when feeding the logs the walls are already clamped but it is not provided any upper closing element on the housings that, indeed, intervenes independently from the movement of the walls with the logs already positioned.
The apparatus for cutting paper logs into a plurality of rolls of the present invention thus conceived can undergo numerous modifications and variants, all of which are covered by the same inventive concept; moreover, all of the details can be replaced by technically equivalent elements. In practice, the materials used, as well as their sizes, can be of any type according to the technical requirements.

Claims

Apparatus (10) for cutting paper logs (11) into a plurality of rolls (12) comprising at least an input longitudinal channel (13) of said log (11) and at least an output channel (14) of said rolls (12), said channels (13, 14) defining circular housings (16) for stably receiving said log (11) and said rolls (12) and being among them arranged in succession and separated at a cutting device (17) of said log (11) into said rolls (12), said channels (13, 14) comprising mobile walls (15) so as to selectively vary the diameter of said circular housings (16) between a maximum diameter and a minimum diameter in order to guarantee the stable receiving of logs (11) and rolls (12) of various dimensions, being provided at least an upper frame (100) for closing said housings (16) mobile between a first position wherein said walls (15) and said at least an upper frame (100) are distanced and a second position wherein said walls (15) and said at least an upper frame (100) are at least partially in contact, the apparatus being characterized in that it comprises a primary actuator (26) for moving said walls (15) and at least a secondary actuator (101) independent from said primary actuator (26) for moving said at least an upper frame (100).
Apparatus (10) according to claim 1 characterized in that it comprises a first upper frame (100) associated with said at least an output channel (14) of said rolls (12) and a second upper frame (102) associated with said at least an input longitudinal channel (13) of said log (11), said first and second upper frames (100) being respectively actuated by a first secondary actuator (101) and by a second secondary actuator (103).
Apparatus (10) according to claim 2 characterized in that said first and second secondary actuators (101, 103) are independent from each other.
Apparatus (10) according to any preceding claims characterized in that said upper frame (100) comprises circulars housings (104) facing said housings (16).
Apparatus (10) according to any preceding claims characterized in that each of said walls (15) comprising an upper mobile portion for gripping (20) and a lower mobile portion for supporting (21) said logs (11) and rolls (12), said lower mobile portion for supporting (21) said logs (11) and rolls (12) being connected through pins (22, 23) on one side to a structure for supporting said apparatus (10) and on another side to an intermediate portion of said upper mobile gripping portion (20), said upper mobile gripping portion (20) comprising an upper free end (24) and a base end connected in a rotatable manner to a cursor (25) mobile in an inclined slot (28) obtained in said structure between a first position which corresponds to said maximum diameter of said circular housings (16) and a second position which corresponds to said minimum diameter of said circular housings (16), said primary actuator (26) engaging said upper mobile gripping portion (20) at said base end.
Apparatus (10) according to claim 5 characterized in that said primary actuator (26) directly engages said cursor (25) to move it in said inclined slot (28).
Apparatus (10) according to claim 6 characterized in that said primary actuator (26) comprises at least a pusher element (40) acting against said cursor (25), said pusher (40) being of the translating type along a direction (F) parallel to the supporting plane (41) of said apparatus (10) between a first position wherein it constrains said cursor (25) to a first end of said slot (28) and a second position wherein it constrains said cursor (25) to a second end of said slot (28).
Apparatus (10) according to claim 7 characterized in that said pusher element (40) comprises a rod element orthogonal to the supporting plane (41) of said apparatus (10) provided with a first end constrained to a screw (41) parallel to the supporting plane (41) of said apparatus (10) for moving forward said pusher (40) and a second free end (42) coupled with said cursor (25).
Apparatus (10) according to claim 8 characterized in that said second free end (42) of said pusher element (40) comprises a fork or open vertical slot portion (27) for containing and sliding said cursor (25).
Apparatus (10) according to claim 9 characterized in that it comprises a plurality of circular housings (16) mutually parallel and a plurality of pusher elements (40) acting against said walls (15), all pushers (40) being independent from each other.
Apparatus (10) according to claim 10 characterized in that it comprises a plurality of circular housings (16) mutually parallel and a plurality of pusher elements (40) acting against said walls (15), all pushers (40) acting on an analogous side of said housings (16) being among them actuated in a synchronized manner through knobs (43, 44) laterally protruding from said apparatus (10).
Apparatus (10) according to any preceding claims characterized in that the pushers (40) acting on a side of said housings (16) are synchronized with the pushers acting on the other side of said housings (16).
Apparatus (10) according to any preceding claims characterized in that a wall (15') of a pair of said walls (15) defining said housing (16) has a development greater than the remaining wall (15).
Method for clamping housings (16) for cutting logs into rolls, said housings (16) being made of mobile walls (15) for the lateral and lower containing and at least a mobile frame (100) for the upper containing, said method comprising the independent steps of:
- moving said walls (15) for laterally containing said logs;

- moving said at least an upper frame (100) for upper containing said logs.