EP3746388B1 - Device for winding up and unwinding a plurality of reels of strips - Google Patents

Description

TECHNICAL AREA

The invention relates to the technical sector of winding or unwinding flexible products, in the form of strips, made for example from textile materials, or rubbery materials, in particular based on gum used for the manufacture of a tire for example.

More specifically, the invention relates to the continuous winding or unwinding of strips to form wafers, for example from a web extracted continuously from an extruder, cut across its width. Unlike the winding of a sheet which takes the form of a spool, the winding of strips takes the form of pancakes, due to the small width of the rolled strips.

By “gum” we mean a rubber-based paste, used in the manufacture of a tire. This rubber-based paste can incorporate a reinforcing element, such as fabric, rope, or cable, or any other component or structural elements.

PRIOR ART

In the current state of the art, it is known to manufacture a layer of rubber using an extruder. At the exit of the extruder, the web is generally conveyed via transit and cooling rollers to a first module at which the cooled web is deposited on a support film, called a “liner”, made of plastic or textile material. , then is then wound into a coil of approximately 1600 mm width, for example.

In practice, when the roll of gum is finished, the web is cut transversely and the roll is unloaded then evacuated to other machines for operations of unwinding the reel, cutting the web into strips, and winding the strips into pancakes.

More precisely, a slitting machine, commonly called a wide cutting machine, is commonly used to cut the 1600 mm coil into strips of 180 mm for example. Then, these strips are slit again, for example into 10 mm strips using a machine commonly called a narrow cutting machine.

The process mentioned above consists of cutting a 1600 mm reel into eight 180 mm wafers for example, the rest being selvedges which are reprocessed, and winding these eight strips into wafers around the same winding bar and storage, in the form of an expandable bar.

The eight wafers are then extracted from the expanding bar, and transported manually, one by one, to another expanding bar installed on the unwinder of the narrow cutting machine.

These different operations require the provision of several types of bars, and the use of intermediate mandrels made of cardboard or plastic or metal, particularly for transporting the wafers one by one, and also require a significant number of handling of bars and products. , with the risks that this entails, such as the risk of operator accidents, or deterioration of the cakes in the event of a fall during transport.

The aforementioned drawbacks are all the more exacerbated by the fact that the operator must handle wafers of 100 mm to 300 mm with a weight of approximately 50 kg to 150 kg, and this approximately every 3 to 5 minutes.

US 6,435,450 discloses a device allowing the winding or unwinding of a plurality of cables, which comprises a bar comprising a shaft around which are mounted a plurality of sections, spaced from each other, each section being intended to support a cable, the sections being mounted free to rotate, in the same direction and in an opposite direction, so as to be able to unwind the cables one by one.

STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION

One of the aims of the invention is therefore to remedy the aforementioned problems, and to provide a device allowing the winding and unwinding of a plurality of wafers, while by making it possible to eliminate the intermediate handling of the coils between a wide cutting machine and a narrow cutting machine, also making it possible to eliminate the use of intermediate mandrels, and the handling of unwinding and winding bars.

To solve the aforementioned problems, a device according to claim 1 was designed and developed, remarkable in that it comprises a bar comprising a shaft around which are mounted a plurality of sections, spaced from each other, and each intended to support a cake. The sections are mounted free to rotate in the same direction to be able to unwind the wafers one by one, and rotatable by the shaft in an opposite direction to be able to simultaneously wind all of the strips around the wafers.

From the above, the device according to the invention can be used successively on a wide cutting machine for winding a first width of strips around a bar, and then on a narrow cutting machine for unrolling the wafers with a view to their cutting to a narrower width, for winding on another bar. The invention thus makes it possible to have no product pancakes to handle between the wide cutting machine and the narrow cutting machine, thus guaranteeing the integrity of the product. This also saves time, eliminates risks for operators, and avoids the consumption of cardboard, plastic or metal mandrels.

According to the invention, each section is composed of at least one sleeve mounted around a free wheel fixed around the shaft.

According to another characteristic, the bar comprises flanges allowing the sections to be spaced between them, with each flange preferably mounted around a ball bearing or a freewheel fixed around the shaft.

Advantageously, the device comprises means for supporting the bar in a horizontal position.

Preferably, the support means comprise braking means, for example pneumatically, of the rotation of the shaft in the direction in which it drives the sections, that is to say in the direction of unwinding of the cakes, to adjust the tension of the strips during unwinding.

According to a particular embodiment, the support means comprise pallets, positioned below each section of the bar, each pallet being subject to lifting means to press against the corresponding wafer, to block the rotation of the wafers which are not in the process of rolling out the pancakes.

For example, the support means are in the form of a carriage supporting the shaft of the bar by its ends.

Advantageously, the carriage is motorized and, preferably, movable automatically, in particular between the wide cutting machine and the narrow cutting machine.

SUMMARY DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

• la figure 1 est une représentation schématique illustrant en perspective le dispositif selon l'invention, avec une barre et un chariot support ;
• la figure 2 est une représentation schématique de la barre du dispositif selon l'invention, utilisée sur une découpeuse large ;
• la figure 3 est une représentation schématique du dispositif selon l'invention, utilisée sur une découpeuse étroite ;
• la figure 4 est une représentation schématique illustrant la barre du dispositif selon l'invention, seule avec quatre galettes ;
• la figure 5 est une représentation schématique de la barre du dispositif selon l'invention, représentée en coupe longitudinale.

Other advantages and characteristics will become clearer from the description which follows, given by way of non-limiting example, of the bar according to the invention, from the appended drawings in which:

• there figure 1 is a schematic representation illustrating in perspective the device according to the invention, with a bar and a support carriage;
• there figure 2 is a schematic representation of the bar of the device according to the invention, used on a wide cutting machine;
• there Figure 3 is a schematic representation of the device according to the invention, used on a narrow cutting machine;
• there Figure 4 is a schematic representation illustrating the bar of the device according to the invention, alone with four pancakes;
• there Figure 5 is a schematic representation of the bar of the device according to the invention, shown in longitudinal section.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference to figures 1 to 5 , the invention relates to a device (1) allowing the winding of a plurality of strips around a bar, with a view to forming a plurality of pancakes (2). The device (1) then allows the pancakes (2) to be rolled out, one by one, using the same device (1).

The invention finds in particular an advantageous application in a method of cutting a sheet into a plurality of strips and winding said strips into pancakes (2), with a subsequent operation consisting of unwinding each of the strips for, for example, the recut into a plurality of thinner strips.

The invention makes it possible to carry out these two successive operations, without changing the bar around which the pancakes (2) are wound.

To do this and with reference to figures 4 and 5 , the device (1) according to the invention comprises a bar (3) comprising a shaft (4) around which are mounted a plurality of sections (5), spaced from each other, and each intended to support a pancake.

The sections (5) are mounted free to rotate in the same direction to be able to unwind the pancakes (2) one by one, and can be rotated by the shaft (4) in a direction opposite to the direction of unwinding, to be able to wind simultaneously all the strips around the pancakes (2).

To do this, each section (5) is composed of a free wheel (6) fixed around the shaft (4), and around which a sleeve (7) is fitted. On the embodiment illustrated in Figure 5 , two adjacent sleeves (7) are mounted around a free wheel (6) to form a section (5).

In this way, the sleeve (7) can receive a wafer, in particular by wrapping a strip around said sleeve (7). Due to the presence of the free wheels (6), the sleeves (7), and consequently the wafers (2), are then free to rotate in one direction, and can be rotated in the other direction, by the rotation of the shaft (4). These free wheels (6) can be produced in any known manner, and are for example in the form of ratchet free wheels (6) or roller free wheels (6).

To space the different sections (5) from each other, flanges (8) are arranged between the sections (5). These flanges (8) are mounted to rotate freely around ball bearings (9) or free wheels fixed around the shaft (4). In this way, the rotation of the sections (5) is free, and is not hindered by the presence of the flanges (8), nor by the presence of the other adjacent sections (5). These flanges (8) allow the strip to overflow during winding on a section (5) without risking wrapping around the adjacent section (5).

From the above and with reference to the figure 2 , the bar (3) of the device (1) according to the invention can be used at the outlet of a machine for cutting strips from a sheet to receive each of the strips in winding, and simultaneously, to form a plurality of pancakes (2) around said bar (3). To do this, the shaft (4) of the bar (3) is rotated so as to simultaneously drive all the sections (5) in rotation, and in the same direction, to wind the different strips and form the pancakes ( 2).

Once the operation is completed, and with reference to the Figure 3 , the bar (3), with the different wafers (2), can be moved and positioned at an unwinding machine, with a view to cutting each wafer into a plurality of strips of finer width. The bar (3) of the device (1) according to the invention then makes it possible to unwind, one by one, each wafer (2) by causing a wafer to rotate individually by pulling on the strip in a direction opposite to that having allowed to roll up the strip.

The advantage of the device (1) according to the invention is then to be able to keep the same bar (3) to be able to carry out the winding operation and the unwinding operation.

According to a preferred embodiment, the device (1) according to the invention comprises means (10) for supporting the bar (3) in a horizontal position, for the simultaneous winding of the pancakes (2), or the unwinding of the pancakes (2) one by one, when the pancakes (2) are received around the sections (5).

These support means (10) are independent of those of the machines on which the bar (3) can be mounted, and make it possible to support the shaft (4) of the bar (3) at each of its ends.

With reference to the figures 1 And 3 , the support means (10) are for example in the form of a carriage (11) supporting the shaft (4) of the bar (3), and preferably motorized to be able to move automatically between the machine ( figure 2 ) which made it possible to wind the strips, and the machine ( Figure 3 ) allowing said pancakes (2) to be rolled out. The movement of the carriage can be guided by a rail (12).

The operation of unwinding the pancakes (2) consists in particular of pulling on a strip, in a direction opposite to that which allowed the strip to be rolled up, to carry out the unwinding as such. Preferably, the carriage (11) comprises braking means (13), for example pneumatic, of the rotation of the shaft (4) in the direction of unwinding of the cakes (2). This makes it possible to brake the shaft (4) while the cakes (2) are unrolling.

In practice, the braking means (13) can be positioned at one end of the shaft (4), and can be motorized to oppose a resistant torque, with a controlled force to adjust the tension of the strips.

Advantageously, given that the pancakes (2) are rolled out one by one, the carriage (11) comprises pallets (14), positioned below each section (5) of the bar (3), and each secured to lifting means (not shown).

The lifting means, of all suitable types, for example pneumatic, make it possible to press the pallets (14) against the corresponding pancakes (2) to block the rotation of the cakes (2) which are not being unrolled. This function is authorized due to the presence of free wheels (6).

During unwinding of a wafer (2), the corresponding section (5) therefore allows the transmission of torque from the motor or brake element (13) while the other sections are kept fixed around the axis due to the presence of free wheels (6) and pallets (14).

It appears from the above that the device (1) according to the invention makes it possible to avoid the use of several bars (3) for receiving the wafers (2), and therefore to avoid having to remove the wafers one by one (2) to position them on a new bar (3), avoiding all the risks that this entails, such as the risk of injury to an operator or damage to a cake (2). The device (1) according to the invention allows a saving of time between the different cutting machines, and therefore a gain in productivity, and also makes it possible to do without any intermediate parts such as for example cardboard cores used for transport pancakes (2).

Claims (8)

1. Winding or unwinding device (1) for a plurality of spools (2), each spool (2) being formed by winding a strip, the device comprises a bar (3) including a shaft (4) around which are mounted a plurality of sections (5), spaced apart from each other, each section (5) being intended to support a spool (2), the sections (5) are mounted free to rotate in the same direction to be able to unwind the spools (2) one by one, characterized in that the sections (5) can be driven in rotation by the shaft (4) in the opposite direction to be able to simultaneously wind all the strips around the spools, each section (5) being composed of at least one sleeve (7) mounted around a free wheel (6) fixed around the shaft (4).
2. Device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the bar (3) comprises flanges (8) for spacing the sections (5) apart from each other.
3. Device (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that each flange (8) is mounted around a ball bearing (9) or a free wheel fixed around the shaft (4).
4. Device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises support means (10) for the bar (3) in a horizontal position.
5. Device (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that the support means (10) include braking means (13) for the rotation of the shaft (4) in the direction in which it drives the sections (5).
6. Device (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that the support means (10) include pallets (14), positioned below each section (5) of the bar (3), each pallet (14) being subjected to lifting means to come into contact with the corresponding spool (2), to block the rotation of the spools (2) that are not being unwound.
7. Device (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that the support means (10) are in the form of a cart (11) supporting the shaft (4) of the bar (3) at its ends.
8. Device (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that the cart (11) is motorized and can be moved automatically.

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