EP3038962B1 - Device for automatically unwinding web-shaped materials and method for operating such a device - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a device for automatically unwinding web-shaped materials according to the preamble of claim 1, which is referred to below as an unwinder, and a method for operating such a device according to claim 11.

Such devices or unwinders are used, for example, in the production of web-shaped materials. The web of material is wound onto a winding core to form a master roll after a production plant. The parent roll has relatively large dimensions, for example a diameter of 2 m and more and a web width of more than 2 m.

The finished wound master rolls are first temporarily stored in a transfer area, which thus serves as a buffer. The parent role is then taken offline with help of an unwinder and, for example, assembled in a downstream cutting system according to customer requirements.

As a result of the offline operation of the cutting system with the device for automatic unwinding, that is to say the unwinder, the production system can run for a limited time at a higher production speed than the cutting system. The necessary exchange of the parent rolls in the unwinder results in downtimes. After removing the winding core of the unwound parent roll, one end of the material web of the new parent roll has to be guided through the unwinder to the downstream cutting system. This requires the intervention of at least one operator, involves a certain susceptibility to errors and leads to downtimes. Since the parent reel has to be replaced every few hours, these downtimes have a negative impact on the efficiency of the entire system.

The invention is now based on the object of providing a device and a method for efficient operation. In particular, downtimes when changing the parent roll should be minimized or even eliminated entirely.

According to the invention, this object is achieved by a device with the features of claim 1 or by a method with the features of claim 11. Advantageous refinements can be found in the subclaims.

In a device for automatically unwinding a web of material from a parent roll with an input arm and at least one first drive unit, wherein the parent roll can be rotatably mounted on the input arm with its winding core and a drive force can be introduced into the parent roll with the drive unit, it is provided according to the invention that the unwinder has an extraction arm to which at least one second drive unit is assigned for introducing a drive force into the master roll, the master roll being transferable from the input arm to the extraction arm during an unwinding process WO2013 / 098765 discloses such a device.

In such an unwinder, the master roll can be mounted both on the input arm and on the removal arm and can be actively unwound via the first or second drive unit. During the unwinding from the input arm, on which it is rotatably mounted at the beginning of the unwinding process, the master roll is initially only from the first drive unit set in rotation and then transferred to the extraction arm. The master roll is also rotatably mounted on the removal arm and can be further unwound there, the drive force required for rotation of the master roll being introduced by the second drive unit. The master roll can also be uninterrupted during the transfer from the input arm to the removal arm, for example by the first drive unit continuing to drive the master roll until the second drive unit takes over the drive task. The input arm and the removal arm are in particular pivotably mounted. While the master roll is being unwound on the removal arm and driven by the second drive unit, the input arm can already be pivoted and take up a new master roll that is prepared for unwinding. Accordingly, the unwinder according to the invention enables uninterrupted processing without having to be stopped for a change of the parent rolls. This increases the throughput and efficiency of the system.

In a further development, the device has a pressure roller that can be placed against a circumference of the parent roll mounted on the input arm, the web of material being guided away from the parent roll via the pressure roller and being able to be adapted when the parent roll is displaced and its axis of rotation is displaced. The pressure roller is pivotably mounted in particular on an arm and is arranged, for example, below the master roll.

The first drive unit on the input arm and / or the second drive unit on the removal arm is preferably designed as a winding shaft drive, in particular mounted on the end face. With the help of such a winding shaft drive, the winding core of the parent roll can be driven directly in the center. If necessary, provision can also be made for a winding shaft drive to be provided on each end face. This makes it possible to set the master roll in rotation without making contact with the material web and without loading the material web with a driving force.

Alternatively or additionally, it can be provided that the first drive unit on the input arm is designed as a first drive rocker and / or the second drive unit on the removal arm is designed as a second drive rocker. A drive rocker can be placed against a circumference of the parent roll by pivoting and can thus generate a driving force for rotation bring in the parent roll and thus for unwinding the web. Since the drive rocker is placed on the circumference of the parent roll, it is very easy in terms of control technology to keep a winding speed constant. The first drive rocker is arranged in particular above the master roll, the web of material being unwound downwards from the master roll.

The first drive rocker arm and / or the second drive rocker arm preferably has one or more belt drives. A belt drive can include one or more belts. A belt drive can be applied to the circumference of the parent roll over a relatively large area and thus bring about good power transmission. The material web can therefore also consist of relatively sensitive materials.

The first drive rocker can in particular be placed against the parent roll from above. A pivot point of the drive rocker can in particular lie above a movement path of the pivot point of the parent roll. The second drive rocker is then located below the first drive rocker, since it is only used when the diameter of the parent roll is reduced as a result of the unwinding. In this case, the second drive rocker is brought up to the master roll, in particular from the side or from above, when this is or has been transferred to the removal arm.

In a preferred development, the unwinder has a cutting device, which is designed in particular as a trimming knife with a counter-blow bar. With this cutting device, the web can be cut transversely to the direction of web travel, so that a remainder of the web can remain on the winding core that is otherwise unwound. For this purpose, the cutting device acts in particular between the removal arm or the master roll mounted on the removal arm and the pressure roller on the web of material. The cut of the material web can then be placed in areas that can be relatively easily fed to a reject. For example, it is thus avoided that such a cut lies within a ready-made roll.

The unwinder preferably has a roll storage stand, from which a newly provided master roll can be picked up by the removal arm. The new master roll is made available on the roll storage stand while the previous master roll is still being unwound. The new parent roll comes from the transfer area or the buffer, so that waiting for a new master roll is avoided, which would lead to an interruption of the unwinding process.

The device advantageously has a removal device with which the unwound winding core can be removed from the removal arm. The winding core does not have to be completely unwound, but can, for example, still have a few windings of the material web. The removal device can transport the winding core, for example, upwards or to the side of the removal arm.

The object is achieved by a method for operating a device for automatically unwinding a web of material from a parent roll, according to the invention, in that the web of material is unwound from the parent roll stored on the input arm down to a predeterminable minimum diameter, the parent roll then being transferred to the removal arm while the unwinding process is ongoing and is processed further there, with a new parent roll being picked up by the input arm. So there is a continuous operation of the unwinder. In this case, provision can optionally be made for the winding speed to be adjusted during the transfer from the input arm to the removal arm and / or when the winding process is started with a new master roll. Both when the parent roll is stored on the removal arm and on the input arm, the parent roll can be actively unwound, that is, it can be driven by at least one drive unit. This enables continuous unwinding in both positions.

To transfer the master roll, the input arm and the removal arm are preferably moved towards one another, in particular a drive via the first drive rocker takes place at least until the master roll is supported on the removal arm and is driven by the second drive unit. It can be provided that only the input arm is moved and the removal arm is kept immobile.

In a preferred development, one end of the web of material that is unwound from the parent roll mounted and in particular driven on the removal arm is spliced to a start of the new parent roll mounted and driven on the input arm, in particular the parent roll coming from the parent roll mounted on the removal arm The material web is pressed against the circumference of the new master roll with a pressure roller. The end of the web on the almost unwound parent roll is thus connected to the beginning or the outer winding layer of the material web on the new master roll. This process is simplified, for example, by using double-sided adhesive tape. In this case, a relatively large-area, firm connection takes place in that a corresponding contact pressure is applied with the aid of the pressure roller. It is therefore not necessary to thread a new beginning of a web of material; instead, continuous operation can take place. This also enables complete automation without the need for operator intervention. When the webs of material are pressed against one another with the aid of the pressure roller, due to the simultaneous driving of both master rolls, there is no relative speed and therefore no friction.

Features and advantages that are described in connection with the processor can be transferred to the method in an analogous manner. The same applies to features and advantages that are described in connection with the method.

Fig. 1 bis 9

eine Seitenansicht einer Vorrichtung zum automatischen Abwickeln einer Warenbahn in unterschiedlichen Zeitpunkten, während eines Abwickelvorgangs.

The invention is described in more detail below using a preferred exemplary embodiment in conjunction with the drawings. Show here:

Figures 1 to 9

a side view of a device for automatically unwinding a web of material at different times during an unwinding process.

In the figures, a device for automatically unwinding a web of material, that is to say an unwinder 1, is shown schematically in a side view, which has an input arm 2 on which a master roll 3 with a winding core 4 is rotatably mounted. A web of material, for example made of nonwoven material, is wound onto the winding core 4. The parent roll 3 is removed, for example, from a buffer or transfer area of a nonwoven production plant and transferred to the input arm 2. A roll storage stand 5 is provided for the transfer, on which a new master roll can be held in a waiting position until it is taken over by the input arm 2.

To generate the rotation of the master roll 3, a first drive unit 6, designed as a first drive rocker, is used, which is arranged above the master roll 3 or the input arm 2. The first drive rocker 6 has one or more belt drives 7 and is applied to a circumference of the parent roll 3 to produce a in To transmit circumferential directional force. The parent roll 3 is thus unwound, the web of material 8 being guided via a pressure roller 9 and a deflecting roller 10, for example, to a downstream cutting system or another processing system. In addition, provision can be made to provide a winding shaft drive as a center drive for driving the master roll 3, which is mounted on the input arm, for example, and acts directly on the winding core 4. However, this is not shown in the figures.

The pressure roller 9 is pivotably mounted on an arm 11 and, in particular, can be pressed against the circumference of the master roll 3. The input arm 2 is pivotably mounted, a movement path 12 of an axis of rotation of the master roll 3 being shown in dashed lines.

The unwinder 1 also has a removal arm 13 which is pivotably mounted. The master roll 3 can be transferred from the input arm 2 to the removal arm 13, which are pivoted towards one another for this purpose. The removal arm 13 is assigned a second drive unit 14, designed as a second drive rocker, which can then be placed against the circumference of the master roll 3 when the master roll 3 is mounted on the removal arm 13. Accordingly, it is possible to actively unwind the master roll continuously, regardless of whether it is mounted on the input arm 2 or on the removal arm 13. Like the first drive rocker 6, the second drive rocker 14 can also have one or more belt drives.

Schematically shown in Figure 1 an already unwound winding core 4 ', which is transported away from the unwinder 1 with a removal device (not shown).

In order to cut through the web of material, the unwinder 1 has a cutting device with a trimming knife 15 and a counter-blow bar 16. The web of material can thus be severed transversely to the direction of web travel when the master roll is mounted on the removal arm 13. The cut then takes place between the master roll 3 mounted on the removal arm 13 and the pressure roll 9.

Starting from Figure 1 the operational sequence of the handler is now described in more detail.

In Figure 1 there is a master roll 3 on the input arm 2. The first drive rocker 6 is brought up to the circumference of the master roll 3 and the web 8 is unwound over the pressure roller 9 and the deflection roller 10 and fed to a cutting system, not shown. After a diameter of the master roll has been correspondingly reduced by unwinding the master roll, so that sufficient space is available, a new master roll 3 'is made available on the roll storage stand 5 (FIG. 2). Both the input arm 2 and the first drive rocker 6 have already been pivoted in the direction of the removal arm 13 in order to increase the available space.

In Figure 3 the point in time at which the master roll 3 is taken over by the removal arm 13 is now shown. For this purpose, the removal arm 13 grips protruding ends of the winding core 4 and takes over the parent roll 3 without interrupting a rotation of the parent roll 3. The drive of the master roll 3 is taken over by the second drive rocker 14, which is assigned to the removal arm 13. If necessary, both the first drive rocker 6 and the second drive rocker 14 can briefly rest on the circumference of the master roll in order to ensure a steady transition.

In Figure 4 the master roll 3 is held solely by the removal arm 13 and driven by the second drive rocker 14, the web of material 8 being withdrawn via the pressure roller 9 and the deflecting roller 10. The input arm 2 is pivoted in the direction of the roll storage stand 5 in order to receive a new master roll 3 '. The first drive rocker 6 has been pivoted upwards in order to enable the introduction of the new master roll 3 into an unwinding position. This is in Figure 5 shown. The new master roll 3 'is ready to take part in the unwinding process. However, the material web is still being unwound from the previous master roll 3.

Figure 6 now shows the beginning of a splicing process in which the material web coming from the parent roll 3 mounted on the removal arm 13 is spliced to the material web located on the new parent roll 3 '. This is done with the aid of the pressure roller 9, which presses the webs of material against one another and generates the compressive forces required for forming the splice connection. At the same time, the cutting device with the trimming knife 15 and the counter blow bar 16 is prepared in order to produce a cut through the web of material.

Figure 7 now shows the actual splicing process, with an initially double-layered material web being pulled off after the pressure roller 9.

In Figure 8 it is now shown how the web of material coming from the previous master roll 3 is severed by the trimming knife 15. Accordingly, the parent roll 3 is completely unwound and can, as shown in FIG Figure 9 shown. The beginning of the web of material wound on the new master roll 3 'is automatically removed via the pressure roller 9 and the deflection roller 10 without any interruption occurring. The unwinder is in the same position as it is in Figure 1 is shown. Accordingly, a new settlement cycle begins.

Non-stop processing is possible with the method according to the invention or the device according to the invention. It is provided that both the unloading arm and the input arm actively unwind the master roll by means of corresponding drive units, that is to say that both positions are used for unwinding. This results in a significant increase in efficiency, especially in offline systems such as those used in the manufacture of nonwovens. Downtimes, which were previously necessary due to the replacement of the parent roll, can be completely eliminated. In addition, complete automation is possible.

The invention is not restricted to one of the embodiments described above, but is defined by the appended claims.

All of the features and advantages arising from the claims, including structural details, spatial arrangements and method steps, can be essential to the invention both individually and in the most varied of combinations.

List of reference symbols

1

Unwinders

2

Input arm

3

Mother role

3 '

new mother role

4th

Winding core

4 '

unwound winding core

5

Roll storage stand

6th

first drive unit / first drive rocker

7th

Belt drive

8th

Web

9

Pressure roller

10

Deflection roller

11

poor

12th

Trajectory

13th

Extraction arm

14th

second drive unit / second drive arm

15th

Paring knife

16

Counter strike bar

Claims (12)

1. Device (1) for automatically unwinding a material web (8) from a master roll (3), having a pivotably mounted infeed arm (2) and at least one first drive unit (6), wherein the master roll (3) can be rotatably mounted on the infeed arm (2) with its winding core (4) and a driving force can be introduced into the master roll (3) by means of the drive unit (6), wherein the master roll (3) can be transferred from the infeed arm (2) to the outfeed arm (13) during an unwinding procedure, wherein the unwinder (1) has a pivotably mounted outfeed arm (13), at least one second drive unit (14) is associated to the outfeed arm for introducing a drive force into the master roll (3), and wherein the latter has a contact roller (9) which can be placed against a circumference of the master roll (3, 3') mounted on the feed arm (2), characterized in that the material web (8) is guided away from the master roll (3, 3') via the contact roller (9).
2. Device (1) for automatic unwinding according to claim 1, characterized in that the contact roller (9) can be adjusted in the event of a displacement of the master roll (3, 3') and thus a displacement of the axis of rotation of the master roll (3, 3').
3. Device (1) for automatic unwinding according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the contact roller (9) is pivotably mounted on an arm.
4. Device (1) for automatic unwinding according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the contact roller (9) is arranged below the master roll (3, 3').
5. Device (1) for automatic unwinding according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first drive unit (6) on the infeed arm (2) and/or the second drive unit (14) on the outfeed arm (13) is designed as a winding shaft drive mounted in particular on the end side.
6. Device (1) for automatic unwinding according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first drive unit (6) on the infeed arm (2) is designed as a first drive swing arm and/or the second drive unit (14) on the outfeed arm (13) is designed as a second drive swing arm.
7. Device (1) for automatic unwinding according to claim 6, characterized in that the first drive swing arm (9) and/or the second drive swing arm (14) have one or more belt drives (7).
8. Device (1) for automatic unwinding according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it has a cutting device which is designed in particular as a cross-cut knife (15) with a counter-impact strip (16).
9. Device (1) for automatic unwinding according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it has a roll storage stand (5) from which the master roll (3, 3') is receivable by the infeed arm (2).
10. Device (1) for automatic unwinding according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it has a outfeed installation by means of which the unwound winding core (4') can be removed from the outfeed arm (13).
11. Method of operating a device having the features of one of the preceding claims, wherein the material web (8) is unwound from the master roll (3), which is mounted on the infeed arm (2), to a predeterminable minimum diameter, wherein the master roll (3) is subsequently transferred to the unwinding arm (13) during the ongoing unwinding process and is further unwound there, wherein a new master roll (3') is picked up by the infeed arm (2), wherein the infeed arm (2) is already pivoted and picks up a new master roll (3') prepared for unwinding, while the master roll (3) is unwound on the infeed arm (2) and driven via the second drive unit (14), wherein one end of the material web (8), which is unwound from the master roll (3) mounted and driven on the outfeed arm (13), is spliced to a start of the new master roll (3') mounted and driven on the infeed arm (2), wherein for this purpose the material web coming from the master roll (3) mounted on the take-off arm (13) is pressed against the circumference of the new master roll (3') by means of a contact roller (9), and wherein the material web (8) is guided away from the master roll (3, 3') via the contact roller (9).
12. Method according to claim 11, characterized in that, for transferring the master roll (3), the infeed arm (2) is moved towards the outfeed arm (13) or towards each other, a drive being effected via the first drive unit (6) at least until the master roll (3) is driven by the second drive unit (14).

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