EP3466855B1

EP3466855B1 - Storage device for a plant for winding reels of web-like material and plant for winding reels of web-like material provided with said storage device.

Info

Publication number: EP3466855B1
Application number: EP18198874.2A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Graziano RAMINA
Original assignee: Ramina SRL
Current assignee: Ramina SRL
Priority date: 2017-10-06
Filing date: 2018-10-05
Publication date: 2020-07-01
Anticipated expiration: 2038-10-05
Also published as: EP3466855A1; IT201700112606A1

Description

Field of application

The present invention regards a storage device for a plant for winding reels of web-like material, as well as a plant for winding reels of web-like material provided with said storage device, according to the preamble of the respective independent claims.
The present storage device is intended to be installed in a plant for winding web-like material in reels, normally fabric or non-woven fabric, and is advantageously employed for storing such web-like material during several winding steps thereof, in order to allow a continuous operation of the plant itself.
The storage device and the winding plant for reels of web-like material, object of the present invention, has use in various fields, in particular the field of production of non-woven fabric made of plastic material, or the field of production of fabric for example for clothing products, in order to package the fabric in rolls for a simple transport and storage thereof.

State of the art

In the industry of production of web-like material such as fabric, non-woven fabric or in the industry of production of paper, it has been known for some time to produce reels or rolls of web-like material wound around a tubular support body which constitute intermediate products for subsequent processing and/or transformation operations.
For such purpose, in the abovementioned fields of reference of the present invention and in particular in the field of production of fabric and/or non-woven fabric, plants have for some time been known for winding reels of web-like material, for the purpose of improving the transportability of the product and for its storage in warehouses.
In some production fields, it is normal to produce reels of large diameter, which are subsequently intended to be unwound and cut longitudinally along the main extension of the web-like material in order to then be re-wound in reels of smaller size, suitable for the various final objectives of the material thus produced.
For such purpose, re-winding machines and plants have been known for some time that are of start-stop type, in which the feeding of the web-like material is interrupted or in any case considerably slowed when a reel is completely wound in order to then allow the insertion in the plant of a new tubular support body, around which the web-like material will be wound for the attainment of a new reel.
Normally, such plants of known type are provided with a winding zone which is defined at two counter-rotating rollers around two corresponding substantially horizontal rotation axes.
Between the two counter-rotating rollers, a slit is defined at which the tubular support body is set; around such body, the web-like material for the formation of the reel is intended to be wound.
In operation, the web-like material slides between the counter-rotating rollers, intercepting the tubular body in order to be wound around the latter. The reel is formed above the slit, which is defined between the rollers, and gradually increases its diameter up to reaching the desired size.
In this situation, the feeding of the web-like material is stopped or at least slowed in order to allow an operator (or an automated mechanical member) to remove the reel from the winding zone of the plant so to subsequently allow the positioning of a new tubular support body for the formation of a new reel.
The plants of known type briefly mentioned above have in practice proven that they do not lack drawbacks.
The main drawback lies in the fact that the large size of the formed reels and the complexity of the reel unloading operation and the operation of insertion of new tubular support bodies requires the complete stoppage of the feeding of the web-like material at the end of the winding of each reel, in order to allow the unloading and the removal of the preceding reel, and the insertion of the aforesaid new tubular body.
Only at the end of the aforesaid unloading and inserting operations is it possible to restart the feeding of the web-like material for the formation of a new reel.
For the purpose of at least partially overcoming the abovementioned drawback, plants are known for winding reels of web-like material, as for example described in the patent US 4456190 , in which once the material has been wound around the tubular body in order to form a reel, the latter is unloaded by means of an actuator which lifts and removes the reel so to make it roll outside the winding plant.
In this manner, the removal of each reel is automated and requires less time before being able to reactivate the feeding of the web-like material for the formation of the successive reel.
Nevertheless, also the plant described therein does not lack the aforesaid drawback of having to stop or at least slow the feeding of material between the removal of one complete reel and the preparation of the tubular support body for the formation of the successive reel.
In order to at least partially overcome the drawback of the above-described plants of known type, in the field of production of web-like material, storage devices have been known for some time that are suitable for storing and subsequently unloading a portion of the web-like material which slides within the storage device itself in a continuous manner.
Normally, storage devices are installed in the plants for winding reels of web-like material upstream of the two aforesaid counter-rotating rollers at which the winding of the web-like material occurs around the tubular support body.
In operation, when a reel is ready to be removed from the plant in order to make room for a new tubular support body for the formation of the successive reel, the feeding of the web-like material is not stopped; rather, the latter is stored within the storage device. Subsequently, when a new tubular body is arranged in the slit between the two counter-rotating rollers, the storage device releases the web-like material that was previously stored, in order to start the formation of the new reel.
In this manner, the feeding of the web-like material is constant, increasing the productivity of the winding plant since the dead times are limited, as it is not necessary to wait for the restarting of the material feed.
Normally, the storage device of known type provides for a support structure to which a plurality of transmission rollers are fixed; around such rollers, the web-like material is intended to be at least partially wound.
More in detail, the storage device provides for a first series of transmission rollers pivoted to the support structure in proximity to its bottom and rotating around respective parallel and horizontally aligned rotation axes.
The storage device of known type also provides for a vertically movable trolley, slidably engaged to the support structure and movable between a work configuration, in which it is placed in proximity to the first series of transmission rollers, and a storage configuration in which it is placed in proximity to the upper end of the support structure.
More in detail, the trolley comprises a second series of transmission rollers, rotating around respective horizontally aligned parallel axes and therefore such second series of rollers is parallel to the first series of rollers.
The web-like material enters into the storage device and engages the rollers of the first and second series along a zigzag path, since it alternately engages a roller of the first series and a roller of the second series and exits from the storage device only after having at least partially wound around all the rollers of the first and of the second series of transmission rollers, in an alternating manner, one after the other.
In operation, during the winding of the web-like material around the tubular support body, the movable trolley is moved into its work configuration, i.e. in proximity to the first series of transmission rollers, in order to form a path which is as short as possible for the web-like material, which engages the rollers both of the first and of the second series.
During the removal of a complete reel and during the positioning of a new tubular support body, the trolley of the storage device is moved from the work position towards the storage position, increasing the distance between the first series of transmission rollers and the second series of transmission rollers.
In this manner, the feeding of the web-like material is not interrupted and the latter does not exit from the storage device since it is obliged to follow an increasingly longer path as the trolley progressively ascends towards the storage configuration.
When the new tubular support body is housed between the two counter-rotating rollers, the trolley is made to descend until it encloses the web-like material stored around the tubular body itself.
An example of a storage device for a plant for winding reels of web-like material of known type described briefly above is described in the patent US 3645463 .
The storage device for a plant for winding reels of web-like material of known type described briefly above has nevertheless proven that it does not lack drawbacks.
The main drawback lies in the fact that the transmission rollers of the first and of the second series rotatably constrained to the support structure of the storage device are rotated by the web-like material itself, which is moved in order to be wound around the tubular support body. In this situation, if the web-like material is of non-woven fabric type or with light cloth, the force that the material itself must exert in order to move the transmission rollers of the storage device can lead to its irreversible stretching, ruining it in a permanent manner, sometimes up to the breakage thereof.
A further example of a storage device for a plant for winding reels of web-like material of known type is described in the patent US 4009814 .
The storage device of known type described therein is provided with a movement chain which engages, in a shape relationship, a plurality of pinions axially fixed to the transmission rollers.
The chain is moved along a path closed as a ring by an electric motor in order to rotate the transmission rollers in a forced manner.

Presentation of the invention

In this situation, the problem underlying the present invention is therefore that of overcoming the drawbacks manifested by the plants for winding reels of web-like material, by providing a winding plant which allows a quick and easy removal of each reel of web-like material being formed, without having to stop the feeding of the web-like material itself.
A further object of the present invention is that of making winding plant which does not ruin or stretch the web-like material in any manner.
A further object of the present invention is that of making a winding plant which requires the work and assistance of an extremely limited number of technicians. Another object of the present invention is that of making a winding plant, which is structurally simple and inexpensive to attain and entirely reliable in operation.
A further object of the present invention is that of providing a storage device for a plant for winding reels of web-like material which allows not stopping the feeding of web-like material during the removal of the preceding reel of web-like material.
A further object of the present invention is that of providing a storage device for a winding plant which does not stretch or ruin the web-like material in any manner.

Brief description of the drawings

The technical characteristics of the finding, according to the aforesaid objects, can be clearly seen in the contents of the below-reported claims and the advantages thereof will be more evident in the following detailed description, made with reference to the enclosed drawings, which represent a merely exemplifying and non-limiting embodiment of the invention, in which:

figure 1 shows a perspective view of a plant for winding reels of web-like material, object of the present invention;
figure 2 shows an axonometric side view of the plant for winding reels of web-like material of figure 1;
figure 3 shows an axonometric side view of a storage device for a plant for winding reels of web-like material in a work configuration thereof;
figure 4 shows an axonometric side view of the storage device for a plant for winding reels of web-like material in a storage configuration thereof.

Detailed description of a preferred embodiment

With reference to the enclosed drawings, reference number 1 overall indicates a storage device, object of the present invention.
The storage device 1 is intended to be installed in a plant 100 for winding reels of web-like material 28 and is adapted to store the aforesaid web-like material 28 at its interior during the removal of a complete reel 29 by an operator or an automated mechanical member, in order to then be able to start the winding of a new reel.
Preferably, the storage device 1 and the plant 100, object of the present invention, are usable in the industry of production of fabrics, of non-woven fabrics and in the industry of production and transformation of paper for any use.
In accordance with the preferred but non-limiting embodiment of the present invention, the web-like material 28 is non-woven fabric, made of plastic material such as polypropylene and/or polyester and/or polyethylene and is susceptible of being wound around a tubular support body 27 by means of the winding plant 100, object of the present invention.
In this manner, the web-like material 28 wound in a reel 29 around the tubular support body 27 is easy to transport for subsequent processing, such as for cutting in order to form smaller reels or for packaging.
The storage device 1 for a winding plant 100 for winding reels 29 of web-like material 28, object of the present invention, comprises a support structure 2, which is provided with a base 3 intended to be abutted against the ground.
Advantageously, the base 3 of the support structure 2 comprises abutment bases 22 intended to be abutted against the ground and support the support structure 2 itself.
The support structure 2 of the storage device 1 also comprises at least one support frame 4, placed on the upper part and spaced with respect to the base 3.
More in detail, the support frame 4 preferably comprises two longitudinal members 24 facing each other and extended along two substantially horizontal and parallel directions and connected to the base 3 by means of vertical uprights 23, and connected to each other by means of two or more substantially horizontal crosspieces 25.
Preferably, the support structure 2 is made of metal material, e.g. steel or aluminum.
The storage device 1, object of the present invention, also comprises a movable trolley 7 slidably connected to the support structure 2 and movable between a work configuration, in which the movable trolley 7 itself is placed in proximity to the base 3 of the support structure 2, and a storage configuration, in which the movable trolley 7 is placed in proximity to the support frame 4 of the support structure 2.
In accordance with the preferred embodiment illustrated in the enclosed figures, the movable trolley 7 is provided with slide profiles 26 slidably inserted within corresponding vertical tracks made within the vertical uprights 23 of the support structure 2 of the storage device 1.
Advantageously, the storage device 1, object of the present invention, comprises actuator means 15 mechanically fixed to the support structure 2 and adapted to move the movable trolley 7 between the work configuration and the storage configuration. More in detail, the aforesaid actuator means 15 comprise at least two pneumatic pistons 20 mechanically connected on one side to the base 3 of the support structure 2 and on the other side to the movable trolley 7, and an electronic control unit operatively connected to the pneumatic pistons 20 in order to control the pressure and the displacement thereof during the movement of the movable trolley 7.
Advantageously, the electronic control unit is a PLC (Programmable Logic Controller) of the type per se known to the man skilled in the art and therefore not described in detail hereinbelow.
Advantageously, the storage device 1 comprises a hydraulic or pneumatic circuit, such as a compressor in flow connection with the pneumatic pistons 20 and adapted to feed the latter in order to move the movable trolley 7.
Advantageously, the actuator means 15 comprise a pneumatic or hydraulic circuit of a pressurized fluid placed in fluid communication with the pneumatic pistons 20 by means of at least one proportional valve, which can be commanded by means of the electronic control unit in an automatic and continuous manner.
More in detail, the proportional valve is movable between an open configuration in which it allows the passage of the pressurized fluid within the pneumatic pistons 20 in order to increase the pressure thereof and a closed configuration in which the pressurized fluid is separated from the pneumatic pistons 20 in order to decrease the pressure thereof.
In operation, the electronic control unit commands the gradual opening of the proportional valve placed to intercept the hydraulic or pneumatic circuit.
In order to increase the pressure within the pneumatic pistons 20, in particular during the movement of the movable trolley 7 from the work configuration to the storage configuration, the movable trolley 7 is provided with a position sensor, such as a linear position encoder, which is operatively connected to the electronic control unit, in order to send it an electrical signal of its position between the work configuration and the storage configuration.
In this manner, the electronic control unit commands the at least partial opening of the aforesaid proportional valve in order to place the pneumatic pistons 20 in communication with the circuit. In particular, in order to maintain constant the ascending speed of the movable trolley 7 from the work configuration to the storage configuration, the electronic control unit commands the proportional valve to be increasingly brought towards the open configuration as the movable trolley 7 ascends, since the stored web-like material 28 is increasing and therefore the weight that the movable trolley 7 must move is increasing.
In the same manner, during the descent of the movable trolley 7 from the storage configuration to the work configuration, the electronic control unit commands the proportional valve to be brought towards its closed configuration, in order to gradually decrease the pressure of the pneumatic pistons 20, since it is only necessary that the latter constrain a fraction of the weight force of the movable trolley 7 and of the web-like material 28 so to move the trolley 7 itself in a gradual manner.
The storage device 1, object of the present invention, also comprises a first series 5 of first transmission rollers 6 rotatably mounted on the support structure 2 at the base 3 and a second series 8 of second transmission rollers 9 rotatably mounted on the movable trolley 7 arranged substantially parallel to the first series 5 of the first transmission rollers 6.
Preferably, in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention illustrated in the enclosed figures, the first transmission rollers 6 and the second transmission rollers 9 are rotatably mounted in an idle manner, respectively on the base 3 of the support structure 2 and on the movable trolley 7.
In this manner, the web-like material 28 is intended to slide within the storage device 1 starting from an inlet section up to an outlet section of the storage device 1 itself, alternately between the first transmission rollers 6 and the second transmission rollers 9 in order to be stored between the base 3 of the support structure 2 and the movable trolley 7, with the latter moved from the work configuration to the storage configuration.
In operation, the web-like material completes a zigzag path within the storage device 1, in particular between the base 3 of the support structure 2 and the movable trolley 7 since it is partially wound around the first transmission rollers 6 of the first series 5 and around the second transmission rollers 9 of the second series 8.
During the winding of the web-like material 28 around the tubular support body 27 (in particular at a winding station 20 of the plant 100, as described in detail hereinbelow) the movable trolley 7 is positioned in its work configuration and therefore the first series 5 of first rollers 6 and the second series 8 of second rollers 9 are placed close to each other in order to make the web-like material 28 complete the shortest possible path before exiting from the storage device 1.
In order to store web-like material 28 within the storage device 1, during the removal of a reel 29 for housing a new tubular support body 27, the movable trolley 7 is moved from the work configuration to the storage configuration, in which the movable trolley 7 itself is positioned in proximity to the support frame 4, vertically spaced from the base 3 of the support structure 2.
In this manner, the web-like material 28 completes a zigzag path between the first transmission rollers 6 and the second transmission rollers 9, which are placed at greater distance with the movable trolley in storage configuration with respect to the work configuration. In order to complete the new path, the web-like material 28 employs much more time, allowing the operators to remove the reel 29 of web-like material 28 and house a new tubular support body 27 in order to start a new winding.
According to the idea underlying the present invention, the storage device 1 also comprises a plurality of transmission pulleys 11 rotatably mounted on the support frame 4 of the support structure 2 and also comprises movement means 12 for rotating the first transmission rollers 6 and the second transmission rollers 9, comprising at least one elongated flexible element 13 closed as a ring and at least partially wound around the first transmission rollers 6 of the first series 5, around the second transmission rollers 9 of the second series 8 and around said plurality of transmission pulleys 11. Advantageously, in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention illustrated in the enclosed figures, the first transmission rollers 6 and the second transmission rollers 9 comprise coaxially fit pulleys for the transmission of the elongated flexible element 13.
Otherwise, in accordance with a further embodiment not illustrated in the enclosed figures, the pulleys for the transmission of the cable can be made directly on the surface of the first and second transmission rollers 6, 9 by means of an annular groove at least partially engaged by the elongated flexible element 13.
Advantageously, the storage device 1, object of the present invention, also comprises a second series of pulleys 31 rotatably mounted on the movable trolley 7 and at least partially enclosed by the elongated flexible element 13, in accordance with the preferred embodiment illustrated in the enclosed figures.
In this manner, when the movable trolley 7 is moved between the work configuration and the storage configuration, the elongated flexible element 13 closed as a ring slides in the transmission pulleys 11, 31 and in the pulleys of the transmission rollers 6, 9 without being deformed, maintaining its length constant with the variation of the position of the movable trolley 7 with respect to the support structure 2. Advantageously, the storage device 1 comprises stabilization means, which are mechanically connected to the movable trolley 7 and adapted to horizontally stabilize it during its movement between the work configuration and the storage configuration. The storage device, object of the present invention, also comprises at least one motor 10 mechanically fixed to the support structure 2 and fit to a drive pulley 14 at least partially enclosed by the elongated flexible element 13 in order to move each single roller of the first rollers and the second transmission rollers 6, 9.
Preferably, the motor 10 is an electric motor, for example of asynchronous type and commanded by an electronic inverter, per se known to the man skilled in the art and therefore not described in detail hereinbelow.
In addition, between the motor 10 and the drive pulley 14, a gear motor is advantageously interposed which is adapted to decrease the number of revolutions of the electric motor in order to bring them to a sufficiently low value for moving all the transmission rollers 6, 9 and hence for moving the web-like material 27 without damaging it.
Advantageously, the first and the second transmission rollers 6, 9 are driven in rotation at a speed such that the web-like material is moved at a speed comprised between 0 m/min and 100 m/min and in particular comprised between 25 m/min and 70 m/min. Of course, the transmission pulleys 11 and the transmission rollers 6, 9 must have the same external diameter so that they rotate at the same speed once driven by the elongated flexible element 13.
The elongated flexible element 13 is a cable, a wire, a cord or a web.
Indeed, using a cord for example as elongated flexible element 13, the latter is capable of maintaining a constant distribution of tension along its extension between the transmission pulleys 11 even when the web-like material is partially wound around the first and second transmission rollers 6, 9, the cord able to slide on the pulleys 11 in order to restore such constant tensioning that could be lost during the operation of the storage device 1, for example via deformations of the machine structure, clearances, adjustments or vibrations.
The use of a chain engaged via shape relationship by toothed wheels, provided in the abovementioned prior art solution, results very inconvenient with respect to the use of the aforesaid cord, wire, cable, etc. according to the present invention, since the movement of the toothed wheels and therefore of the transmission rollers is discretized by the rings of the chain. Hence, in the case of vibrations of the storage device or in the case of adjustments on the traction of the chain and on the mutual distance between the toothed wheels, the rotation speed of the transmission rollers could vary with respect to the optimal value, and hence lead to punctual stretches of the web-like material or to the formation of wrinkles.
In accordance with the preferred embodiment illustrated in the enclosed figures, the first series 5 comprises a number of first transmission rollers 6 comprised between 4 and 12 and the second series 8 comprises a number of second transmission rollers 9 comprised between 3 and 11.
The motor 10 is fit to the drive pulley 14, which is advantageously placed in proximity to the outlet section of the storage device 1.
Otherwise, in accordance with a further embodiment of the storage device 1, object of the present invention, not illustrated in the enclosed figures, the motor 10 is fixed to the support structure 2 at the inlet section of the storage device 1 itself, in order to move the transmission rollers 6, 9 starting from the first roller that the web-like material 28 intercepts in its passage within the storage device.
In this situation, the motor 10 is commanded by the electronic control unit in order to rotate at a speed such that the first roller 6, 9 drives the web-like material 28 with the same speed with which it arrives at the inlet section of the storage device 1, termed "line speed" in the technical jargon of the field.
In accordance with such further embodiment, the motor 10 is maintained in rotation at the aforesaid line speed also during the movement of the movable trolley 7 from the work configuration to the storage configuration, in order to drive the web-like material 28 inside the storage device 1 so to allow its storage during the unloading of each reel 29.
The storage device 1, object of the present invention, comprises tensioning means 16 mechanically associated with the elongated flexible element 13 in order to adjust the tension thereof in an automatic manner.
More in detail, the tensioning means 16 comprise a tensioning pulley 17 rotatably constrained to a movable bracket 18 of the support structure 2.
Preferably, the movable bracket 18 of the tensioning means 16 is movable by at least one actuator 19 in order to increase or decrease the tension of the elongated flexible element 13 of the movement means 12. Such actuator 19 is electrically connected to the electronic control unit and is continuously commanded by the latter in order to automatically vary the tension of the elongated flexible element 13, so to maintain the tension always at an optimal desired level, which can vary during the movement of the movable trolley 7 and can also vary due to the type of web-like material which slides in the storage device 1.
The elongated flexible element 13, i.e. a cord, a wire, a cable or a web, and is in fact subjected to a normal axial yielding during the normal use in the storage device 1.
More clearly, the elongated flexible element 13 tends to yield during normal use, increasing its length and at least partially losing the tension, above all in the first moments of use once wound around the first and second transmission rollers 6, 9 of the storage device 1.
The aforesaid tensioning means 16 according to the present invention allow maintaining constant the tension of the elongated flexible element 13 during the entire use of the storage device 1, in particular even following axial yielding of the elongated flexible element 13 itself.
In operation, when it is necessary to remove a completely wound reel 29 of web-like material 28, the latter is transversely cut in order to separate the reel 29 itself from the feeding of web-like material exiting from the storage device 1 and the actuator means 15 are driven in order to move the movable trolley 7 from the work configuration to the storage configuration.
Advantageously, the speed with which the movable trolley 7 is lifted from the base 3 towards the support frame 4 is such that the zigzag path that the web-like material 28 must complete within the storage device 1 increases in a manner equivalent to the quantity of web-like material 28 that enters into the storage device 1.
In this manner, the web-like material 28 that enters into the storage device 1 during the step of removal of the reel 29 is completely stored within the storage device 1, allowing the operators to remove the reel 29 and house a new tubular support body 27. Advantageously, the height of the storage device 1 and therefore the distance that the movable trolley 7 can complete during its movement between the work configuration and its storage configuration is such that the web-like material storable within the storage device 1 is greater than that which would normally pass in the time necessary for removing the reel 29.
More clearly, with a speed for feeding the web-like material comprised in the aforesaid interval of 25 m/min to 70m/min, and knowing that the removal of each reel 29 and the housing of a new tubular support body 27 requires about 40s of time for the operators, the height of the storage device must be able to store at least between 16 m and 46 m of web-like material 28 (i.e. at least the web-like material 28 which slides at the line speed between the 25 m/min and the 75 m/min during the 40 seconds necessary for the removal of the reel 29), in order to allow the operators to have the time necessary to terminate the aforesaid operations of removal of the reel 29 and house the new tubular body 27.
Advantageously, the storage device 1, object of the present invention, can store up to 120m of web-like material 28.
The quantity of web-like material storable within the storage device is proportional to the number of first and second transmission rollers 6, 9 and to the height of the storage device 1 itself. Therefore, in order to increase the storage capacity of the storage device 1 it is sufficient to increase the number of transmission rollers 6, 9 and/or the height of the storage device 1 itself.
Also forming the object of the present invention is a plant for winding reels of web-like material, regarding which the reference numbers used up to now will be maintained for the sake of simplicity.
The plant 100 for winding reels 29 of web-like material 28, object of the present invention, comprises a winding station 20 provided with a platform 21 susceptible of rotatably supporting the reel 29 of the web-like material 28.
Preferably, platform 21 is provided with two hubs adapted to support the tubular support body 27 during the winding of the web-like material.
The platform 21 also preferably comprises at least two rotary support rollers 30 which support the reel 29 of web-like material 28 during the winding thereof.
According to the idea underlying the present invention, the plant 100 also comprises at least one storage device 1 of the above-described type, adapted to store web-like material 28 at its interior when a completely wound reel 29 is removed from the winding station 20 in order to house a new tubular support body 27, preferably at the support rollers 30 of the platform 21.
Advantageously, the storage device 1 is connected to the winding station 20 in order to decrease the vibrations and the relative movements between the storage device 1 and the winding station 20, so to avert possible risks of damage for the web-like material. Advantageously, in accordance with the preferred embodiment illustrated in the enclosed figures, the storage device 1 and the winding station 20 of the winding plant 100 are connected by a footbridge 26 for the passage of at least one operator, for example for the purpose of controlling the operation of the storage device 1 itself.
The storage device 1 and the plant 100 for winding reels 29 of web-like material 28, object of the present invention, therefore attain the pre-established objects.

Claims

Storage device (1) for a plant for winding reels of web-like material, which comprises:
- a support structure (2) provided with:
- a base (3) intended to be abutted against the ground,

- at least one support frame (4) placed on the upper part and spaced with respect to said base (3);

- a movable trolley (7) slidably connected to said support structure (2) and movable between a work configuration, in which said movable trolley (7) is placed in proximity to said base (3) of said support structure (2), and a storage configuration, in which said movable trolley (7) is placed in proximity to said support frame (4) of said support structure (2);

- a first series (5) of first transmission rollers (6) rotatably mounted on said support structure (2) at said base (3);

- a second series (8) of second transmission rollers (9) rotatably mounted on said movable trolley (7) and arranged substantially parallel to said first series (5) of the first transmission rollers (6);
said web-like material being intended to alternately pass between the first transmission rollers (6) and the second transmission rollers (9) in order to be stored between said base (3) of said support structure and said movable trolley (7) with the latter moved from the work configuration to the storage configuration;
said storage device also comprising:
- a plurality of transmission pulleys (11) rotatably mounted on the support frame (4) of said support structure (2);

- movement means (12) for rotating said first transmission rollers (6) and said second transmission rollers (9), comprising at least one elongated flexible element (13) closed as a ring and at least partially wound around the first transmission rollers (6) of said first series (5), the second transmission rollers (9) of said second series (8) and said plurality of transmission pulleys (11);

- at least one motor (10) mechanically fixed to said support structure (2) and fit to a drive pulley (14) at least partially enclosed by said elongated flexible element (13) in order to move each single roller of said first transmission rollers and second transmission rollers (6, 9);
said storage device being characterized in that said elongated flexible element (13) is a cable, a wire, a cord or a web and in that it comprises tensioning means (16) mechanically associated with said elongated flexible element (13) in order to adjust the tension thereof in an automatic manner.
Storage device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises actuator means (15) mechanically fixed to said support structure (2) and adapted to move said movable trolley (7) between the work configuration and the storage configuration.
Storage device (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that said actuator means (15) comprise at least two pneumatic pistons (20) mechanically connected on one side to said base (3) of said support structure (2) and on the other side to said movable trolley (7), and an electronic control unit operatively connected to said pneumatic pistons (20) in order to control the pressure and the displacement thereof during the movement of said movable trolley (7).
Storage device (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that said actuator means (15) comprise a pneumatic or hydraulic circuit of a pressurized fluid placed in fluid connection with said pneumatic pistons (20) by means of at least one proportional valve which can be commanded by means of said electronic control unit in an automatic and continuous manner;
said proportional valve being movable between an open configuration in which it allows the passage of said pressurized fluid within said pneumatic pistons (20) in order to increase the pressure thereof and a closed configuration in which said pressurized fluid is separated from said pneumatic pistons (20) in order to decrease the pressure thereof.
Storage device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said tensioning means (16) comprise a tensioning pulley (17) rotatably constrained to a movable bracket (18) of said support structure (2); said movable bracket being movable by at least one actuator (19) in order to increase or decrease the tension of said elongated flexible element (13) of said movement means (12).
Storage device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said first series (5) comprises a number of first transmission rollers (6) comprised between 4 and 12 and said second series (8) comprises a number of second transmission rollers (9) comprised between 3 and 11.
Plant for winding reels of web-like material comprising a winding station (20) provided with a platform (21) susceptible of rotatably supporting the reel of said web-like material,
said plant being characterized in that it also comprises at least one storage device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims.
Plant for winding reels of web-like material according to claim 7, characterized in that said platform (21) and said storage device (1) are mechanically fixed and connected by a footbridge (26) for the passage of at least one operator.