EP3216731B1 - Apparatus and method for slitting a web material into partial webs and spreading the partial webs - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a cutting and spreading device according to the preamble of claim 1 and to a method for starting up a cutting and spreading device according to the preamble of claim 17.

The processing of sheet-like flat materials in the form of packaging films, in particular shrink films on packaging machines, and in particular on shrink packers, is known. Products or packaging materials filled with products, such as e.g. Bottles, cans, soft packs, etc., but also packs made from such products or packaging materials. In a subsequent shrink tunnel of the packaging machine, the film is shrink-wrapped in such a way that it lies firmly around the respective product or packaging material and a stable, salable package or container is thereby obtained. Likewise, automatic winding machines are known in which packaging materials or containers of packaging material are wrapped in a packaging film.

The webs of flat material used for packaging, for example packaging or shrink film, are usually made available in a web width that is greater than the web width required for further processing. It is therefore known to cut the original or conveyed sheet of flat material in a cutting and spreading device one or two times in the longitudinal direction of the web so as to produce two or three individual webs which have the web width required for packaging. In order to enable processing of the individual webs, it is also necessary to divide these individual webs after cutting, i.e. to spread.

In known cutting and spreading devices, both the positionally accurate supply of the web material to be cut and the required spreading of the partial webs obtained by the cutting are set once in a set-up phase, namely by relatively aligning the web material supply to the cutting and spreading device and / or by angular adjustment of the inclined deflection rollers used within the spreading device, such as in GB 2 239 965 A. shown. After a change of format, for example when using a new web material with a changed width, this adjustment and adjustment work must be carried out again.

The shows a very basic structure for this EP 0 309 818 A2 , in which the conveyed web is divided into two partial webs, and both the conveyed web as well as the two partial webs are each recorded with a single-sided edge sensor and all three webs are adjustable in position transversely to the running direction by means of spreading and adjusting devices.

Due to dynamic processes during the operation of the cutting and spreading device, deviations in the positional supply of the web material to the cutting device or within the spreading device can occur, which lead to fluctuating widths of the partial webs or a positionally displaced supply of the partial webs to the subsequent packaging station. This can lead to optically disruptive deviations or errors in the packaging of the containers, which can only be recognized from the fully packed container. As a result, the web material or the spread must be realigned after a system stop, which is time-consuming and cost-intensive.

Furthermore, with conventional cutting and spreading devices, the partial webs are cut wider from the web material than is necessary for the actual packaging process in order to create tolerance ranges in the transverse direction of the partial webs, which can be used in the subsequent packaging station in order to avoid packaging errors.

Proceeding from this, it is an object of the invention to provide a cutting and spreading device which enables the web material to be precisely cut and then spread the partial webs obtained. Furthermore, for reasons of material savings, the film width should be as constant as possible with a minimum width with which the packaging can be securely packaged in the packaging station is possible. To achieve this object, a device according to claim 1 is provided. A method for starting up a cutting and spreading device is the subject of the independent claim 17.

The invention initially relates to a device for cutting a web material into a plurality of partial webs by slitting and spreading the partial webs. The device comprises a dispensing device for providing the web material, at least one cutting device for producing at least one longitudinal section in the web material and at least one spreading device by means of which the partial webs obtained after the at least one longitudinal section are at least partially deflected transversely to their conveying direction and spaced apart from one another by the deflection. Furthermore, a first control loop is provided, by means of which the position of the web material is controlled transversely to its conveying direction before being fed to the cutting device. Furthermore, a second control loop, which interacts with the spreading device, is provided, by means of which the deflection of at least one partial web is controlled transversely to its conveying direction. This spreading device contains two separate, separately working control loops for the left and right outer partial web.
In particular, the first control circuit ensures that the web material is fed to the cutting device in a desired position. This ensures that the longitudinal cuts are made at a predetermined position in the web material and thus partial webs of a desired width are obtained. The width of the individual partial webs can be chosen absolutely and relative to one another. A central feed of the web material to the cutting device is preferably achieved by the first control loop. This central feed is particularly advantageous for the production of partial webs with the same widths.

The spreading of the partial webs to a desired target spread is achieved by means of the second control loops, i.e. the respective partial webs leave the spreading device with a defined distance relative to one another. In particular, a change in position of the respective partial webs is achieved within the spreading device in such a way that the mutually opposite longitudinal edges of two partial webs arranged next to one another are at a defined distance from one another. The partial webs arranged next to one another preferably leave the spreading device parallel to one another and in a common conveying plane.

The implementation of the first and second control loops ensures that partial webs of a defined width and in a predetermined spread are permanently provided by means of the device according to the invention, so that the packaging of packaging materials is bundled in the subsequent packaging station can be done with a high, constant quality. Furthermore, the width of the partial webs can be reduced by the control according to the invention due to the lower necessary tolerance limits, which leads to a considerable saving in material in the web material used.

According to a further exemplary embodiment, the first control circuit comprises at least one sensor unit for detecting the position of the web material transversely to its conveying direction, a control unit and an actuator by means of which the position of the web material can be changed transversely to its conveying direction. A pair of sensor units can preferably also be provided on opposite sides of the web material. A measurement signal can be obtained via this at least one sensor unit, which indicates the position of the web material relative to the sensor unit and thus relative to the cutting device. The sensor unit is preferably coupled to the control unit, which receives the measurement signal and generates a control signal on the basis of this measurement signal. This control signal is used to control the actuator, which, by acting on a web adjustment device, changes the feed position of the web material.

According to a further exemplary embodiment, the second control circuit comprises at least one sensor unit for detecting the position of a partial web transversely to its conveying direction, a control unit and an actuator which interacts with the spreading device and, through this interaction, influences the amount of deflection of the partial web transversely to its conveying direction. A further measurement signal can be obtained via the sensor unit of the second control circuit, which indicates the position of the respective partial web relative to the sensor unit. On the basis of this measurement signal, the distance between two partial webs arranged next to one another can be determined. The sensor unit is preferably coupled to the control unit, which receives the measurement signal and, on the basis of this measurement signal, determines the distance between the partial webs arranged next to one another. This determined actual distance is compared with a target distance by means of the control unit. Furthermore, a control signal is generated that depends on the deviation of the actual distance from the target distance. The control takes place on the basis of this control signal of the actuator, which effects a change in the spreading of the partial webs by acting on an adjustment mechanism in the spreading device.

According to a further exemplary embodiment, the first control loop interacts with the dispensing device and is designed to shift the dispensing device relative to the cutting device transversely to the conveying direction of the web material or to rotate the dispensing device relative to the cutting device about a vertical axis perpendicular to the conveying direction. For example, the dispensing device is arranged on a carriage which can be displaced linearly in the transverse direction, on which the actuator of the first control loop acts and causes the dispensing device to be displaced. Alternatively, the dispensing device can be arranged on a rotating frame that can be rotated about a vertical vertical axis, on which the actuator of the first control loop acts and thus causes the dispensing device to rotate. The change in position of the dispensing device can cause a change in the feed position relative to the cutting device.

A particular advantage of the aforementioned, movable dispensing device is that it can be easily retrofitted in existing packaging machines.

According to a further exemplary embodiment, the first control loop interacts with a web adjustment device which is provided between the dispensing device and the cutting device and which is designed to effect a displacement of the web material transversely to its conveying direction by twisting and / or shifting. The web adjustment device can in particular contain several rollers, by means of which the web material is deflected several times. The path adjustment device can in particular comprise a rotating frame which can be rotated about a vertical axis, in particular a vertical vertical axis, in order to bring about a change in position. The web adjustment device can particularly preferably have a first deflecting roller at the inlet, a second deflecting roller at the outlet and between these deflecting rollers a pair of rollers held on the rotating frame. The pair of rollers is preferably arranged vertically offset from the plane spanned by the first and second deflecting rollers. By turning the rotating frame The orientation of the axes of rotation of the pair of rollers can be changed relative to the axes of rotation of the first and second deflecting rollers, which leads to the change in position of the web material in the transverse direction. The main advantage of providing a web adjustment device in the conveying path of the web material between the dispensing device and the cutting device is that already existing systems can be retrofitted with little effort by inserting the web adjustment device.

According to a further exemplary embodiment, the spreading device has a plurality of pairs of rollers assigned to the individual partial webs, the axes of rotation of the pairs of rollers being at least partially changeable in their orientation by inclinations. The axes of rotation of the rollers of a pair of rollers are preferably changed uniformly in amount and direction. Through the inclination of the axes of rotation of the roller pairs, a change in position of the partial web conveyed by the pair of rollers and thus a change in the distance of this partial web from neighboring partial webs can be achieved.

According to a further exemplary embodiment, the angular position of the axes of rotation of a pair of rollers can be changed in the same direction by means of an adjustment mechanism. The adjustment mechanism can, for example, have a receptacle which is held displaceably and in which a bearing point of the two rollers of the pair of rollers is held. By shifting the receptacle, the angular position of the axes of rotation of the rollers of the pair of rollers can be changed with the same amount and direction.

According to a further exemplary embodiment, the actuator of the second control loop acts on the adjusting mechanism of the spreading device. As a result, an adjustment of the spread caused by the spreading device can be achieved by the second control loop.

According to a further exemplary embodiment, the sensor unit of the first control circuit is designed to detect a longitudinal edge of the web material and / or there is a pair of sensor units lying opposite one another for simultaneous use Detection of both longitudinal edges of the web material provided. The detection of the longitudinal edges of the web material is advantageous because these are easy to detect, for example by means of ultrasonic sensors. Furthermore, when the longitudinal edges of the web material are detected, reference markings for determining the position of the web material relative to the cutting device can be dispensed with.

According to a further exemplary embodiment, the sensor unit of the second control circuit is designed to detect a longitudinal edge of a partial web which has been laterally deflected by the spreading device. The detection of the longitudinal edges of the partial web is advantageous since these are also easy to detect, for example by means of ultrasonic sensors. Furthermore, reference marks for determining the spread can be dispensed with when the longitudinal edges of the partial web are detected.

According to a further exemplary embodiment, a plurality of second control loops are each provided with at least one sensor unit and one actuator, the individual sensor units each being assigned to different partial webs, and each sensor unit being designed to detect a longitudinal edge of the partial web assigned to it and laterally deflected by the spreading device. The spread of all partial webs changed in their position by the spreading device can thereby be determined.

According to a further exemplary embodiment, the sensor units are at least partially formed by ultrasonic sensors. Ultrasonic sensors can be used with any soundproof material such as plastic, paper or metal. The edges of even transparent web materials can be determined using ultrasonic sensors. In addition, ultrasonic sensors are insensitive to dirt and therefore have a high detection reliability.

According to a further exemplary embodiment, the sensor units are at least partially fork-shaped or U-shaped and have two legs lying opposite one another. The sensor unit can thus be arranged such that the sensor unit encompasses the web material or the partial web.

According to a further exemplary embodiment, a first leg of the sensor unit has a transmitter for transmitting a measurement signal and a second leg of the sensor unit has a receiver which is designed to receive the measurement signal. A longitudinal edge of the web material or the partial web lying between the transmitter and the receiver can thus be optimally recognized. The transmitter is preferably an ultrasound transmitter and the receiver is an ultrasound receiver.

According to the invention, the spreading device has means for compensating for the path difference between partial webs which travel distances of different lengths relative to one another. In this case, a third control loop can be provided, which interacts with the means for compensating for the path difference and controls these means in such a way that the partial webs travel at least partially of the same length within the spreading device. The means for compensating the path difference can be formed, for example, by at least one displaceable roller. The means for compensating for the path difference between partial webs ensures that the partial webs leave the spreading device without a longitudinal offset irrespective of the degree of change in position that the respective partial web has experienced within the spreading device.

According to a further exemplary embodiment, the third control circuit has at least two sensor units and a control unit for detecting a path difference between two partial webs with different deflections and an actuator which controls the means for compensating the path difference as a function of the determined path difference. The sensor units can be assigned to different partial webs and can be designed to detect reference marks on the partial webs. A longitudinal offset of the partial webs relative to one another can thus be determined by the control unit on the basis of the measurement signals received from the sensor units. The control unit is preferably designed to provide a control signal that is transmitted to the actuator. This actuator is in operative connection with the means for compensating for the path difference or the longitudinal offset in order to eliminate this by the controlled action. According to a further exemplary embodiment, the sensor units can be adjusted motor-wise transversely to the conveying direction of the web material or the partial webs. The adjustability is in particular controlled by a central control unit, for example a control unit that controls the entire machine. As a result, the sensors can be moved to the required target positions depending on the format of the processed web material or the required spread. This simplifies the changeover when changing formats.

• Bereitstellen des Bahnmaterials durch eine Spendeeinrichtung;
• Erzeugung zumindest eines Längsschnitts im Bahnmaterial durch eine Schneideinrichtung, um zumindest zwei Teilbahnen zu erhalten;
• Auslenken und Beabstanden der nach dem zumindest einen Längsschnitt erhaltenen Teilbahnen zumindest teilweise quer zu ihrer Förderrichtung durch eine Spreizeinrichtung;
• Steuern der Lage des Bahnmaterials quer zu dessen Förderrichtung vor der Zuführung zur Schneideinrichtung durch einen ersten Regelkreis; und
• Steuern der Auslenkung zumindest einer Teilbahn quer zu ihrer Förderrichtung durch zumindest einen zweiten, mit der Spreizeinrichtung zusammenwirkenden Regelkreis.

One aspect relates to a method for cutting a web material into several partial webs by longitudinally cutting and spreading the partial webs with the following steps:

• Providing the web material by a dispensing device;
• Generating at least one longitudinal cut in the web material by a cutting device in order to obtain at least two partial webs;
• Deflecting and spacing the partial webs obtained after the at least one longitudinal section at least partially transversely to their conveying direction by means of a spreading device;
• Controlling the position of the web material transversely to its conveying direction before being fed to the cutting device by a first control loop; and
• Controlling the deflection of at least one partial web transversely to its conveying direction by means of at least one second control loop which interacts with the spreading device.

• Hindurchfädeln des Bahnmaterials von der Spreizeinrichtung über die durch einen Drehrahmen gebildete Bahnjustiereinrichtung, die Schneideinrichtung, die Spreizeinrichtung und die Tänzerwelleneinrichtung, wobei das Bandmaterial über die in ihrer Winkelverstellung verstellbaren Walzenpaare geführt ist und die Sensoreinheiten von der übergeordneten Steuereinheit gesteuert außerhalb ihres Arbeitsbereiches positioniert sind;
• In Eingriff bringen der Schneidmesser der Schneideinrichtung mit dem Bahnmaterial, um dieses in Teilbahnen aufzutrennen;
• Verfahren der Sensoreinheiten durch die zentrale Steuereinheit auf ihre Sollposition;
• Durchtrennen einer mittleren Teilbahn in Querrichtung;
• Führen der mittleren Teilbahn über ein Walzenpaar;
• Verbinden der Bahnenden der mittleren Teilbahn;
• Einstellen einer Spreizung der Spreizeinrichtung durch Schrägstellen von Walzenpaaren auf eine gewünschte Sollspreizung bewirkt durch die zentrale Steuereinheit, wobei nach dem Einstellen der Sollspreizung die Längskanten der Teilbahnen innerhalb des Erfassungsbereichs der Sensoreinheiten zu liegen kommen oder bei einer motorischen Verstellung der Sensoreinheiten die Sensoreinheiten auf ihre jeweilige Sollposition verfahren werden;
• Förderung des Bahnmaterials durch die Schneid- und Spreizvorrichtung durch lagegenaue Zuführung des Bahnmaterials zur Schneideinrichtung mittels des ersten Regelkreises und durch Regelung der Spreizung der Teilbahnen durch den zweiten Regelkreis.

According to a further aspect, the invention relates to a method for starting up a cutting and spreading device and / or a new device with a web material to be cut and spread. The device comprises a spreading device, a path adjustment device, a cutting device, a spreading device and a dancer shaft device. The process has the following steps:

• Threading the web material through from the spreading device via the web adjusting device formed by a rotating frame, the cutting device, the spreading device and the dancer shaft device, wherein the strip material is guided over the pairs of rollers that are adjustable in their angular adjustment and the sensor units are positioned outside their working area, controlled by the higher-level control unit;
• The cutting knife engages the cutting device with the web material in order to cut it into partial webs;
• Moving the sensor units to their target position by the central control unit;
• Severing a central partial web in the transverse direction;
• Guiding the middle part web over a pair of rollers;
• Connecting the ends of the middle partial web;
• Setting the spreading of the spreading device by tilting roller pairs to a desired target spread caused by the central control unit, the longitudinal edges of the partial webs coming within the detection range of the sensor units after the target spread has been set, or the sensor units in their respective target position when the sensor units are adjusted by motor to be moved;
• Conveying the web material through the cutting and spreading device by supplying the web material to the cutting device with the correct position by means of the first control loop and by regulating the spreading of the partial webs by the second control loop.

According to one exemplary embodiment, the actuator which causes the rollers of the roller pairs to be inclined is controlled by the central control unit.

According to one embodiment, the longitudinal offset is controlled by the third control loop when the web material is conveyed by the cutting and spreading device.

Web materials in the sense of the invention include, in particular, plastic films, paper, metal, textile webs or other materials provided in web form Understood. The web materials can in particular be made available in roll form.

Actuators in the sense of the invention are understood to mean in particular motor drives, for example linear drives or rotary drives etc.

Sensor units in the sense of the invention are understood to mean any sensors, in particular ultrasound sensors, infrared sensors, color line sensors, light-sensitive sensors, or also CCD sensors (CCD: Charge-Coupled Device).

Further developments, advantages and possible uses of the invention also result from the following description of exemplary embodiments and from the figures. All of the features described and / or depicted, in themselves or in any combination, are fundamentally the subject of the invention, regardless of how they are summarized in the claims or their relationship. The content of the claims is also made part of the description.

Fig. 1

beispielhaft in einer Drauf- und Seitenansicht eine erfindungsgemäße Vorrichtung zum Schneiden und Spreizen von Bahnmaterial in einem ersten Ausführungsbeispiel;

Fig. 2

beispielhaft in einer Drauf- und Seitenansicht eine erfindungsgemäße Vorrichtung zum Schneiden und Spreizen von Bahnmaterial in einem zweiten Ausführungsbeispiel;

Fig. 3

beispielhaft in einer Drauf- und Seitenansicht eine erfindungsgemäße Vorrichtung zum Schneiden und Spreizen von Bahnmaterial in einem dritten Ausführungsbeispiel;

Fig. 4 - 7

beispielhaft Darstellungen zur Einrichtung einer Vorrichtung zum Schneiden und Spreizen von Bahnmaterial gemäß dem zweiten Ausführungsbeispiel aus Fig. 2;

The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the figures using several exemplary embodiments. Show it:

Fig. 1

exemplary in a top and side view of an inventive device for cutting and spreading web material in a first embodiment;

Fig. 2

exemplary in a top and side view of an inventive device for cutting and spreading web material in a second embodiment;

Fig. 3

exemplary in a top and side view of an inventive device for cutting and spreading web material in a third embodiment;

Figures 4-7

exemplary representations for setting up a device for cutting and spreading web material according to the second embodiment Fig. 2 ;

In the Figures 1 to 3 a cutting and spreading device 1 according to the invention is shown in different embodiments in plan and side views. The cutting and spreading device 1 is described below with the aid of a three-dimensional Cartesian coordinate system with the x, y and z axes. The device comprises a dispensing device 2, by means of which the web material 10 to be processed is provided. The dispensing device 2 can in particular comprise a device for holding a supply of the web material 10, in particular a mandrel for receiving a roll of the web material. Furthermore, the dispensing device 2 can also comprise a plurality of such devices for holding a supply of the web material 10 and a connecting device 2.1, for example a splice device. By means of this connecting device 2.1, after a first supply 2.2 of the web material 10 has been used up, the end of this web material can be connected to the beginning of the web material provided by the second stock 2.2 '. This means that the stock of web material can be changed without interrupting the entire system. The web material 10 can in particular be provided in roll form, the web material 10 being obtained from the web material stock by unwinding.

In the conveying direction FR, which runs parallel to the x-axis, the web material 10 first passes through a cutting device 3, which is designed to make longitudinal cuts in the web material 10. The cutting device 3 can in particular contain cutting knives which, by engaging in the web material 10, make longitudinal cuts and thereby cut the web material 10 into a plurality of partial webs 10a, 10b, 10c. The web material 10 has in particular a longitudinal direction LR which extends in the conveying direction FR (negative x direction) and a transverse direction QR (y direction) which runs perpendicular to the longitudinal direction LR, ie the web material 10 extends with its broad side in the y direction. The web material 10 has a width b in the transverse direction QR. The cutting material 3 cuts the web material 10 at least once, preferably at least twice in the longitudinal direction LR. This creates the partial webs 10a, 10b, 10c, which have a reduced width with respect to the web material 10. The web material 10 is preferably divided into several by the cutting device 3 cut partial webs 10a, 10b, 10c of equal width. Deviating from this, however, it is also possible for the partial webs 10a, 10b, 10c to have different widths.

In the conveying direction FR following the cutting device 3, the partial webs 10a, 10b, 10c then pass through a spreading device 4, by means of which the partial webs 10a, 10b, 10c in the transverse direction QR, i.e. spread in the y direction, i.e. be spaced apart. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the cutting device 3 and the spreading device 4 are combined as a cutting-spreading device, i.e. the cutting device 3 and the spreading device 4 are formed by a common device component. As an alternative to this, the cutting device 3 and the spreading device 4 can also be formed by different, separate device components. Subsequently, the spaced-apart partial webs 10a, 10b, 10c are guided parallel to one another by a dancer shaft device 6 with a plurality of mutually parallel dancer waves and then fed to a packaging station (not shown). The web material 10 can be, for example, a plastic film web. The packaging station can be formed, for example, by a film winding station or a film shrinking station.

The cutting and spreading device 1 has a plurality of control loops 20, 30, by means of which both the positional feeding of the web material 10 to the cutting device 3 and the spreading, ie the spacing of the partial webs 10a, 10b, dynamically during the operation of the cutting and spreading device 1 10c are controllable to each other. In particular, a first control circuit 20 is provided, by means of which the feed of the web material 10 to the cutting device 3 can be controlled in the transverse direction QR, ie in the y direction. The first control circuit 20 comprises at least one sensor unit 21, 21 ', which is connected to a control unit 22 in order to transmit a measurement signal detected by the sensor unit 21, 21' to the control unit 22. Furthermore, the first control circuit 20 also comprises an actuator 23 which is controlled by a control signal provided by the control device 22 and is mechanically connected to a web adjustment device 5 for changing the feed position or feed position of the web material 10, so that it acts of the actuator 23 on this web adjustment device 5, the feeding of the web material 10 to the cutting device 3 in the transverse direction QR, ie in the y direction, can be influenced.

The at least one sensor unit 21, 21 'is provided, for example, between the dispensing device 2 and the cutting device 3 and is designed to detect the actual position of the web material 10 in the y direction. The sensor unit 21, 21 'can in particular be a the longitudinal edge of the web material 10, i.e. a sensor that detects the edge running in the conveying direction FR. In particular, the sensor unit 21, 21 ′ can be U-shaped with two sensor legs spaced apart from one another and for gripping around the longitudinal edge of the web material 10. In this case, a first sensor leg can be provided above the web material 10 and a second sensor leg opposite the first sensor leg below the web material 10. The first sensor leg can have a transmission element that emits a measurement signal, and the second sensor leg can have a reception element that receives this measurement signal. The sensor unit 21, 21 'can preferably be formed by an ultrasound sensor. As an alternative to this, other types of sensors, for example infrared sensors, color line sensors, light-sensitive sensors, or also CCD sensors (CCD: Charge-Coupled Device) can be used. Furthermore, a pair of sensor units 21, 21 'can also be used to detect the position of the web material 10 in the transverse direction QR (y-direction), the sensor units 21, 21' preferably being arranged opposite one another on different longitudinal edges of the web material 10. As a result, not only the absolute position of these longitudinal edges but also the width b of the web material 10 can be continuously determined by this pair of sensor units.

The at least one sensor unit 21, 21 ′ determines an actual position or an actual position of the web material 10 in the y direction and transmits it to the control unit 22 as a measurement signal. The control unit 22 compares the received actual position or an actual position of the web material 10 with a target position. This target position is either stored in the control unit 22 or the control unit 22 has access to an external memory area in which this target position is saved. Alternatively, the target position can also be provided by a central control unit 50, for example a machine control that controls the entire packaging station. Based on the actual position and the target position, the control unit 22 determines a control signal that is transmitted to the actuator 23. The actuator 23 interacts with the web adjustment device 5, by means of which the feed position of the web material can be changed in the y direction. Depending on the control signal, the actuator adjusts the feed position of the web material 10 to the cutting device 3 in order to minimize the deviation of the actual position from the target position. This dynamic regulation during the ongoing processing of the web material 10 can thus ensure that the web material 10 is fed in the correct position to the cutting device 3 in the y direction, ie ideally the web material 10 is fed to the cutting device 3 in the desired position.

As in Figure 1 shown, the path adjustment device 5 can be assigned to the dispensing device 2 or can also be part of this dispensing device 2. For example, the web material supply 2.2, for example a winding mandrel on which the web material is arranged, can be arranged on a slide which, actuated by the actuator, can be displaced in the y direction. Alternatively, it is also possible to design the entire dispensing device 2 to be displaceable in the y direction. This dispensing device 2 can contain, for example, a plurality of web material stocks 2.2, 2.2 ', guide means for the web material 10, in particular guide rollers and / or the connecting device 2.1.

Figure 2 shows a further alternative of a web adjustment device 5, namely with a rotating frame 8. This is done by the dispensing device 2, which in the exemplary embodiment according to Figure 2 is made stationary, provided web material 10 via a first deflecting roller 8.1, a pair of rollers 8.2 arranged offset to the first deflecting roller 8.1 and a second deflecting roller 8.3 arranged in turn offset to the pair of rollers 8.2 to the cutting device 3. The axes of rotation of the first and second deflection rollers 8.1, 8.3 preferably span a first plane which is parallel to a second plane which is spanned by the axes of rotation of the pair of rollers 8.2. The rollers of the pair of rollers 8.2 are coupled to change the feed position of the strip material 10 to the cutting device 3 via the rotating frame 8, which is designed to be rotatable about a vertical vertical axis HA running in the z direction, ie perpendicular to the conveying direction FR and the transverse direction QR. As a result of the rotation of the rotating frame 8, the feed position of the strip material 10 is changed as a function of the direction of rotation, ie the web material 10 is displaced in the positive or negative y direction.

The at least one sensor unit 21, 21 'assigned to the first control circuit 20 is arranged in the exemplary embodiment shown between the roller pair 8.2 and the second deflection roller 8.3. Alternatively, it is also possible to provide the sensor unit 21, 21 'between the second deflection roller 8.3 and the cutting device 3. The control of the feed position of the web material 10 to the cutting device 3 is equivalent to the previously described embodiment in accordance with Figure 1 , wherein the actuator 23 in the embodiment according to Figure 2 acts on the rotating frame 8 and, depending on the control signal, causes its rotation about the vertical axis HA.

The aim of the first control loop 20 is to feed the web material 10 in the correct position in relation to its orientation in the transverse direction QR to the cutting device 3 in order to obtain a desired partial web width in the partial webs 10a, 10b, 10c resulting from the cutting. The cutting device 3 has cutting blades for obtaining N partial webs 10a, 10b, 10c (N-1), where N is a natural number.

The cutting device 3 and the spreading device 4 following it in the conveying direction FR are preferably designed as a combined cutting-spreading device, as described in the applicant's own German patent application DE 10 2009 008 936 A1 is described. In particular, the partial webs 10a, 10b, 10c obtained after the cutting are guided over different pairs of rollers of the spreading device 4. The spreading device 4 contains in particular a plurality of pairs of rollers 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, each of which 10933_2 WO / EP working sub-web 10a, 10b, 10c are assigned and around which the respective sub-webs 10a, 10b, 10c are deflected several times. The rollers are at least partially accommodated in the spreading device 4 in such a way that their axis of rotation can be pivoted, specifically within the xy plane. As a result of this pivotability of the axes of rotation of the rollers, a change in the position of the partial web 10a, 10b, 10c in the y direction and thus a spreading of the partial webs 10a, 10b, 10c relative to one another can be achieved when the respective partial web 10a, 10b, 10c is deflected. In particular, the pivotability of the axes of rotation of the rollers belonging to a pair of rollers 4.1, 4.2, 4.3 is selected such that they can be pivoted in the same amount and in the same direction. The number of pairs of rollers in the spreading device 4 corresponds to the number of partial webs 10a, 10b, 10c to be processed.

In order to maintain the spread of the partial webs 10a, 10b, 10c, the rollers of the pair of rollers by which the partial web to be displaced laterally to be displaced in the transverse direction QR are deflected such that the axis of rotation of the roller forms an acute angle with the Y axis . The change in position of the respective partial web 10a, 10b, 10c by deflection on the inclined rollers of the roller pair assigned to it depends directly on the angular amount by which the rollers of the roller pair were inclined. The change in position of a partial web 10a, 10b, 10c and thus the spreading of these partial webs to one another can thus be influenced directly by the inclination of the rollers of the respective roller pairs 4.1, 4.3.

In the in Figures 1 to 3 In the exemplary embodiments shown, the cutting device 2 has two cutting knives, so that three partial webs 10a, 10b, 10c are obtained from the web material 10 by the cutting device 2. It goes without saying that this embodiment is chosen arbitrarily and the cutting and spreading device 1 according to the invention contains any number of cutting knives in the cutting device 2 and can therefore process any number of partial webs. In the event that an odd number of partial webs 10a, 10b, 10c is processed, the position of the central partial web 10b preferably remains unchanged, ie a pair of rollers is assigned to the central partial web 10b. in which the axes of rotation of the rollers run exactly perpendicular to the conveying direction FR. All other partial webs, ie the partial webs 10a and 10c in the exemplary embodiment shown, which are to undergo a change in position in the transverse direction QR by the spreading device 4, are each assigned a second control circuit 30, which comprises at least one sensor unit 31, a control unit 32 and an actuator 33. The changes in position of the individual partial webs 10a, 10c can thereby be controlled independently of one another.

As already explained above in relation to the sensor unit 21, the sensor unit 31 is preferably designed to detect a longitudinal edge of the partial web 10a, 10c assigned to it. Again, a U-shaped sensor unit 31 can be used for this, which is preferably an ultrasonic sensor. The at least one sensor unit 31 determines an actual position or an actual position of the partial web 10a, 10c assigned to the sensor unit 31 in relation to the y direction and transmits it to the control unit 32 as a measurement signal. The control unit 32 compares the received actual position or an actual position of the partial web 10a, 10c with a target position. This target position is either stored in the control unit 32 or the control unit 32 has access to an external memory area in which this target position is stored. Alternatively, the target position can also be provided by the central control unit 50, for example a machine control that controls the entire packaging station. Based on the actual position and the target position, the control unit 32 determines a control signal that is transmitted to the actuator 33. The actuator 33 interacts with an adjustment mechanism of the spreading device 4, by means of which the inclined position of the roller pair 4.1, 4.2, 4.3 which deflects the partial web in question can be changed. Depending on the control signal, the actuator 33 thus adjusts the inclination of the rollers of the respective roller pair and thus changes the position of the partial web 10a, 10c conveyed by the rollers, in order to minimize the deviation of the actual position from the desired position. This dynamic regulation during the ongoing processing of the web material 10 can thus ensure that the partial webs 10a, 10b, 10c are forwarded to the packaging station in the correct position.

Preferably, when processing an even number of partial webs, each partial web and when processing an odd number of partial webs, a second control loop 30 is assigned to all partial webs except the central partial web. The control units 32 of these second control loops 30 can be at least partially formed by a single control unit 32.

Depending on the number of partial webs 10 a, 10b, 10c processed by the spreading device 4 and depending on the degree of spreading, the partial webs 10a, 10b, 10c can travel 4 different path lengths within the spreading device due to the change in position in the transverse direction QR, so that a longitudinal offset Δl can occur between the partial webs 10a, 10b, 10c. To compensate for this longitudinal offset Δl, a third control circuit 40 is provided, which comprises at least two sensor units 41, 41 ', a control unit 42 and an actuator 43. The two sensor units 41, 41 'are assigned different sub-webs 10a, 10b, so that the longitudinal offset Δl can be determined by the sensor units 41, 41'.

The sensor units 41, 41 'are preferably designed to detect reference marks, which are formed, for example, by suitable locations on the print image of the partial webs 10a, 10b, 10c or by print marks provided especially for this purpose. Before the web material 10 is cut into the partial webs 10a, 10b, 10c, these reference marks form a line transverse to the conveying direction FR, i.e. the reference marks come to lie on a line parallel to the y-axis. The offset of the reference marks relative to one another thus corresponds to the longitudinal offset Δl.

The sensor units 41, 41 'are connected to the control unit 42 for transmitting the measurement signals provided by the respective sensor units 41, 41'. The amount of the longitudinal offset Δl can be determined from the time offset which the reference marks are recognized by the sensor units 41, 41 'and the conveying speed of the web material 10. Depending on the temporal offset with which the reference marks through the respective Sensor units 41, 41 'are recognized, the control unit 42 generates a regulating or control signal by means of which the actuator 43 is controlled.

The actuator 43 is operatively connected to a path length adjustment mechanism of the spreading device 4, which, controlled by the actuator 43, changes the path length through which one of the two partial webs that were used for the longitudinal offset measurement changes in such a way that the longitudinal offset Δl is eliminated. The path length adjustment mechanism can be designed, for example, to change the distance between rolls of a pair of rolls that deflects the respective partial web. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the path length adjustment mechanism preferably acts on the middle partial web 10b, so that when the three partial webs 10a, 10b, 10c are spread identically, the longitudinal offsets Δl between the two partial web pairs (middle partial web to the respective outer partial webs) are eliminated at the same time.

The sensor units 21, 21 ', 31, 41, 41' can preferably be arranged to be displaceable, in particular motor-displaceable, with respect to the web material 10 or the partial webs 10a, 10b, 10c. The sensor units 21, 21 ', 31, 41, 41' can in particular be provided so as to be displaceable in the transverse direction QR, ie in a direction parallel to the y direction. Each sensor unit 21, 21 ', 31, 41, 41' is preferably assigned a drive 9, via which the sensor units 21, 21 ', 31, 41, 41' are adjusted in the transverse direction QR. The respective drives 9 allow the sensor units 21, 21 ', 31, 41, 41' to be used as a function of the width b of the web material 10 and the spreading of the partial webs 10a, 10b, 10c caused by the spreading device 4 transverse to the conveying direction FR of the web material 10 to the desired target position. The drives 9 can in particular be connected to the central control unit 50, which, for example, effects the overall control of the cutting and spreading device 1, so that the sensor units 21, 21 ', 31, 41, 41' are controlled by the central control unit 50 as a function of Predefined parameters, for example the width of the web material 10 or the spread to be effected can be moved into a defined target position.

The embodiment according to Figure 3 essentially corresponds to the previously described exemplary embodiments according to Figures 1 and 2nd , with the in Figure 3 The cutting and spreading device 1 shown has only the first control circuit 20 for precisely feeding the web material 10 to the cutting device 3 and the second control circuit 30 for controlling the spreading of the partial webs 10a, 10b, 10c. In this exemplary embodiment, which is designed in particular for processing a fixed format of a web material, the dynamic longitudinal offset control caused by the third control circuit 40 is replaced by a manually adjustable path length adjustment mechanism that is fixed for the format to be processed. Furthermore, in this exemplary embodiment there is also no need for motor displacement of the sensor units 21, 21 ', 31 due to the use of a fixed format of the web material 10.

The following is based on the Figures 4 to 7 the commissioning of the cutting and spreading device 1 according to the invention and the new device with a web material 10 to be cut and spread are described. First, the web material 10 is threaded through the spreading device 2 via the web adjustment device 5 formed by the rotating frame 8, the cutting device 3, the spreading device 4 and the dancer shaft device 6. The cutting knives of the cutting device 3 are not in engagement with the web material 10. In the spreading device 4, the strip material is guided over the roller pairs 4.1, 4.3, which are adjustable in their angular adjustment. The sensor units 21, 21 ', 31, 41, 41' are positioned outside their working area in a controlled manner by the higher-level control unit 50.

As in Figure 5 the cutting knives 3.1 of the cutting device are then brought into engagement with the web material 10, so that this is cut into the partial webs 10a, 10b, 10c. In addition, the sensor units 21, 21 ', 31, 41, 41' are moved to their desired position by the central control unit 50. This is followed, as in Figure 6 shown by the dashed line, the middle partial web 10b cut in the transverse direction QR, guided over the pair of rollers 4.2 and the partial web ends obtained by cutting through again connected.

Below, as in Figure 7 represented by the central control unit 50 causes the spreading device 4 to be set to a desired target spread by inclining the roller pairs 4.1, 4.3. The actuator 33 causing the inclination of the rollers of the roller pairs 4.1, 4.3 can be controlled by the central control unit 50. After the target spread has been set, the longitudinal edges of the partial webs 10a, 10c come to lie within the detection range of the sensor units 31, 31 '. Alternatively, in the case of motorized adjustment of the sensor units 31, 31 ', there is the possibility that the movement of the sensor units 31, 31' to their respective target position and the setting of the spread to the target spread take place simultaneously. After the completion of these steps, with continuous feeding of the web material 10 by the cutting and spreading device 1, the positionally accurate feeding of the web material 10 to the cutting device by the first control circuit 20, the regulation of the spreading of the partial webs 10a, 10b, 10c by the second control circuit 30 and if necessary, start the regulation of the longitudinal offset Δl by the third control circuit 40.

Reference list

1

Cutting and spreading device

2nd

Dispenser

2.1

Connecting device

2.2, 2.2 '

Stock of web material

3rd

Cutting device

3.1

Cutting knife

4th

Spreader

4.1 - 4.3

Pair of rollers

5

Path adjustment device

6

Dancer wave device

8th

Rotating frame

8.1

first deflection roller

8.2

Pair of rollers

8.3

second deflection roller

9

drive

10th

Web material

20th

first control loop

21, 21 '

Sensor unit

22

Control unit

23

Actuator

30th

second control loop

31

Sensor unit

32

Control unit

33

Actuator

40

third control loop

41, 41 '

Sensor unit

42

Control unit

43

Actuator

50

central control unit

b

width

FR

Direction of conveyance

HA

Vertical axis

LR

Longitudinal direction

QR

Cross direction

Δl

Longitudinal offset

Claims (19)

1. Apparatus for slitting a web material (10) into a several partial webs by longitudinal cutting and spreading of the partial webs, comprising a dispensing device (2) for providing the web material, at least one cutting device (3) configured such as to produce at least one longitudinal cut in the web material, and at least one spreading device (4), by means of which the partial webs (10, 10b, 10c) obtained after the at least one longitudinal cut are deflected at least partially transverse to their conveying direction (FR), and due to the deflection are spaced at a distance from one another, wherein a first control circuit (20) is provided, by means of which the location of the web material (10) transverse to its conveying direction (FR) is controlled before the guiding to the cutting device (3), wherein at least one second control circuit (30) is provided, interacting with the spreading device (3), by means of which controlling is put into effect of the deflection of at least two partial webs (10a, 10c) transverse to their conveying direction (FR), and wherein the first control circuit (20) comprises at least one sensor unit (21, 21') for detecting the location of the web material (10) transverse to its conveying direction (FR), a control unit (22), and an actuator (23), by means of the location of the web material can be changed transverse to its conveying direction (FR), characterised in that the spreading device (4) comprises means for compensating for the path difference between partial webs (10a, 10b, 10c), which run through path stretches of different length relative to one another, and that a third control circuit (40) is provided, which interacts with the means for compensating the path differences, and actuates these means in such a way that the partial webs (10a, 10b, 10c) run at least partially through part stretches of equal length.
2. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterised in that the third control circuit (40) comprises at least two sensor units (41, 41') and a control unit (42) for detecting a path difference between two partial webs (10b, 10c) with different deflections, and an actuator (43), which, depending on the path difference detected, actuates the means for compensating for the path difference.
3. Apparatus according to claim 2, characterised in that the sensor units are allocated to different partial webs, and are configured for detecting reference marks on the respective partial webs.
4. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the second control circuit (30) comprises at least one sensor unit (31) for detecting the location of a partial web (10a, 10c) transverse to its conveying direction (FR), at least one control unit (32), and at least one actuator (33), which interacts with the spreading device (4) and by means of this interaction, influences the amount of the deflection of the partial web (10a, 10c) transverse to its conveying direction (FR).
5. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the first control circuit (20) interacts with the dispensing device (2), and is configured such as to displace the dispensing device (2) relative to the cutting device (3) transverse to the conveying direction (FR) of the web material (10), or to rotate the dispensing device (2) relative to the cutting device (3) about a vertical axis running perpendicular to the conveying direction (FR).
6. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the first control circuit (20) interacts with a web adjustment device (5) provided between the dispensing device (2) and the cutting device (3), which is configured such as to cause a displacement of the web material (10) transverse to its conveying direction (FR) by rotation and/or displacement.
7. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the spreading device (4) comprises several pairs of rollers allocated to the individual partial webs (10a, 10b, 10c), wherein the axes of rotation of the pairs of rollers can be changed at least partially by an oblique setting in their alignment.
8. Apparatus according to claim 7, characterised in that the angle setting of the axes of rotation of a pair of rollers can be rotated in the same direction by means of an adjustment mechanism.
9. Apparatus according to claim 8, characterised in that the actuator (33) of the second control circuit (30) takes effect on the adjustment mechanism of the spreading device (4).
10. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims 4 to 9, characterised in that the sensor unit (21, 21') of the first control circuit (20) is configured such as to detect a longitudinal edge of the web material (10), and/or that a pair of sensor units (21, 21'), located opposite one another, are provided for the simultaneous detection of both longitudinal edges of the web material (10).
11. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the sensor unit (31) of the second control circuit (30) is configured such as to detect a longitudinal edge of a partial web (10a, 10c) which was deflected laterally by the spreading device (4).
12. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that several second circuits (30) are provided, in each case with at least one sensor unit (31) and an actuator (33), that the individual sensor units (31) are in each case allocated to different partial webs (10a, 10c), and that each sensor unit (31) is configured for detecting a longitudinal edge of the partial web (10a, 10c) laterally deflected by the spreading device (4).
13. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims 4 to 12, characterised in that the sensor units (21, 21', 31) are formed at least partially by ultrasonic sensors.
14. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims 4 to 13, characterised in that the sensor units (21, 21', 31) are at least partially forkshaped or U-shaped, and comprise two mutually opposing limbs.
15. Apparatus according to claim 14, characterised in that a first limb of the sensor unit (21, 21', 31) comprises a transmitter for transmitting a measurement signal, and a second limb of the sensor unit (21, 21', 31) comprises a receiver, which is configured such as to receive the measurement signal.
16. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims 4 to 15, characterised in that the sensor units (21, 21', 31, 31', 41, 41') can be adjusted by motor means transverse to the conveying direction (FR) of the web material (10) or of the partial webs (10a, 10b, 10c).
17. Method for taking into operation a cutting and spreading apparatus (1) and/or a new device with a web material (10) which is to be cut and to be spread, comprising a spreading device (2), a web adjustment device (5), a cutting device (3), a spreading device (4), and a dancer roller shaft device (6), wherein the method comprises the following steps:

    - threading the web material (10) through from the spreading device (2) over the web adjustment device (5) formed by a rotating frame (8), the cutting device (3), the spreading device (4), and the dancer roller shaft device (6), wherein the web material is guided by means of the roller pairs (4.1, 4.3) which are adjustable in their angle setting, and the sensor units (21, 21', 32, 41, 41'), controlled by the superordinated control unit (50), are positioned outside their working range;

    - bringing the cutting blade (3.1) of the cutting device (3) into engagement with the web material (10), in order to separate this into partial webs (10a, 10b, 10c);

    - moving the sensor units (21, 21', 31, 41, 41') by means of the central control unit (50) to their reference position;

    - cutting through a middle partial web (10b) in the transverse direction (QR);

    - guiding the middle partial web (10b) by means of a pair of rollers (4.2);

    - connecting the web ends of the middle partial web (10b);

    - setting a spreading effect of the spreading device (4) by an oblique setting of the pairs of rollers (4.1, 4.3) to a desired reference spread, put into effect by the central control unit (50), wherein, after the setting of the reference spread, the longitudinal edges of the partial webs (10a, 10c) come to lie within the detection range of sensor units (31, 31'), or, with a motor adjustment of the sensor units (31, 31'), the sensor units (31, 31') are moved to their respective reference positions;

    - conveying of the web material (10) through the cutting and spreading apparatus (1) by precisely positioned guiding of the web material (10) to the cutting device, by means of a first control circuit (20) and by regulated controlling of the spreading of the partial webs (10a, 10b, 10c) by means of a second control circuit (30).
18. Method according to claim 17, characterised in that the actuator (33) which carries out the oblique setting of the rollers of the roller pairs (4.1, 4.3) is activated by the central control unit (50).
19. Method according to claim 17 or 18, characterised in that, during the conveying of the web material (10) through the cutting and spreading apparatus (1), the regulated controlling of the longitudinal displacement (Δ|) is put into effect by the third control circuit (40).

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