EP3889084A1

EP3889084A1 - Support and rotation group for a reel, machine including such a group, method for tracking a material wrapped on a reel in said group

Info

Publication number: EP3889084A1
Application number: EP21166584.9A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Fabrizio DELLA CASA
Original assignee: Crono Log Srl
Current assignee: Crono Log Srl
Priority date: 2020-04-02
Filing date: 2021-04-01
Publication date: 2021-10-06
Also published as: IT202000006934A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a support and rotation group (10) for a reel, the group (10) being associated with a machine for processing said reel and comprising:- a supporting structure (11);- a shaft (20) arranged to be integrally coupled to a reel (30) of wound material and to be associated in a rotatable way with the supporting structure (11),the support and rotation group (10) for a reel being characterized by comprising an electronic tracking device (40) which can be activated when the reel (30) is coupled to the shaft (20), the electronic tracking device (40) comprising:• a data reading device (41) configured to continuously read data stored in an electronic tag (31) applied on the reel (30), the stored data comprising identification data of the reel (30);• an electronic processing unit (42) associated with the data reading device (41) configured to transmit the data read by the data reading device (41) to a remote storage unit (50) through a telecommunications network (80).

Description

The present invention relates to a support and rotation group for a reel, a machine comprising such a group, and a method for tracking a material wound on a reel in said group.
For example, the machine may be an unwinding/winding machine and/or more generally, a machine for packaging products or for making products at least partially consisting of wound material.
The reels may be rolls of any ribbon-like or filiform material.
Currently, it is known in machines like the ones mentioned above, to provide one or more sensors adapted to detect and signal the approaching depletion of the reel so as to allow optimizing reel changes.
However, nowadays the need has also arisen to track the unwinding or winding reels, that is to identify such reels and correlate them with the simultaneous operation of the machine wherein they are employed.
This information would indeed allow having a complete tracking of the product or of a package, something increasingly required for the purposes of quality certifications due to increasingly international and global markets. The association of an individual reel with a product or a package may indeed be quite useful, for example for identifying products or packages that are faulty because they were made with a defective roll of reel.
Tracking the reels may also be useful for surveys aiming at optimizing the production and the management of warehouse stock.
The machines known to date are not capable of carrying out any tracking on reels.
It therefore is the object of the present invention to obviate the above-mentioned drawbacks, and in particular the one of conceiving a support and rotation group for a reel, a machine and a method for tracking a material wound on a reel capable of uniquely identifying the reels in use.
These and other objects according to the present invention are achieved by making a support and rotation group for a reel, a reel processing machine and a method for tracking a material wound on a reel, as disclosed in claims 1, 15 and 18.
Further features of the support and rotation group for a reel, the reel processing machine and the method for tracking a material wound on a reel, are the object of the dependent claims.
The features and advantages of a support and rotation group for a reel, a reel processing machine and a method for tracking a material wound on a reel according to the present invention will be more apparent from the following description, which is to be understood as exemplifying and not limiting, with reference to the schematic attached drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a detailed perspective schematic view of a shaft of a support and rotation group for a reel according to a first embodiment of the present invention, where such a shaft is coupled to a reel;
Figure 2 is a detailed perspective schematic view of a shaft of a support and rotation group for a reel according to a second embodiment of the present invention, where such a shaft is coupled to a reel;

Figure 3 is a detailed schematic view of a support and rotation group for a reel according to a third embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 4 is a detailed schematic view of a support and rotation group for a reel according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 5 is a schematic prospect view of shaft of a support and rotation group for a reel according to the present invention;
Figure 6 is a block diagram depicting a potential application scenario of an electronic tracking device of a support and rotation group for a reel according to a possible embodiment of the present invention.

With reference to the drawings, a support and rotation group for a reel is shown, indicated as a whole by 10. Such a support and rotation group 10 for a reel is associated with a reel processing machine which may be, for example a machine for packaging products or for making products at least partially consisting of wound material.
The support and rotation group 10 for a reel comprises a supporting structure 11 and a shaft coupled in a rotatable way to the supporting structure 11 by means of two support-shaft elements 12.
The shaft 20 is in particular arranged to be integrally coupled to a reel 30 of wound material and to rotate about its own axis so as to unwind or wind the reel 30. The material wound on the reel 30 may be filiform such as, for example a wire, or ribbon-like, such as for example a plastic or paper film.
In particular, the shaft 20 comprises a central body 21 which extends in a longitudinal direction X between two opposite ends 22 arranged to couple with respective support-shaft elements 12; the central body 21 is also provided with a locking system 23 adapted to achieve the engagement between the central body 21 and the reel 30. Such a locking system may be, for example of pneumatic or mechanical type. In the case of pneumatic type locking system, such a system comprises a plurality of strips 23 or keys (not shown) wherein each strip or each key has its own air chamber which by expanding, allows the snap engagement with the reel 30.
The mechanical type locking system instead comprises a plurality of keys that expand radially by means of a central screw acting on cones.
In any case, the above-mentioned locking systems are of the type known in the art and therefore are not described in detail.
The central body 21 may, for example consist of aluminium or ergal or steel or carbon.
The central body, for example is substantially cylindrical-shaped with a diameter that goes from about 18 mm up to about 150 mm, and a length that goes from about 100 mm up to about 3000 mm.
The shaft 20 may be put into rotation due to dragging from the unwinding of the reel 30 or may be moved in rotation by means of a motor unit (not shown) associated with the support-shaft elements 12. Such support-shaft elements 12 may be, for example fixed or rotatable flanges with respect to the supporting structure 11. According to the present invention, the support and rotation group 10 for a reel comprises an electronic tracking device 40.
Such an electronic tracking device 40 can be activated when the reel 30 is coupled to the shaft 20, and comprises a data reading device 41 configured to continuously read stored data in an electronic tag 31 applied on the reel 30, said stored data comprising identification data of the reel 30, that is a unique identification code of the reel 30.
The electronic tag 31 may be, for example an RFID (RadioFrequency Identification) tag or an NFC (Near-Field Communication) tag. In this case, the reading device 41 is an RFID reader or an NFC reader.
Preferably, the stored data in the electronic tag 31 also comprise data relative to the sizes of the material wound on the reel 30 comprising at least the total length L of the material wound the reel 30, the external diameter D of the reel 30, the external diameter d of the core of the reel 30 (that is the innermost layer thereof) and the thickness t of the wound material. As it is known, the length L may be calculated from the external diameter D, the internal diameter d and the thickness t with the following formula: $L = \sum_{i = 1}^{\frac{D - d}{2 t}} π \cdot [d + (1 + i) \cdot t]$
The electronic tracking device 40 also comprises an electronic processing unit 42, for example a microprocessor, associated with the data reading device 41, configured to transmit the data read by the data reading device to a remote storage unit 50 through a telecommunications network 80.
The remote storage unit 50 may be a database in a server that can be reached by means of the telecommunications network 80, for example the Internet or Intranet. The remote storage unit 50 may therefore be, for example a storage space like those commonly called cloud.
The electronic processing unit 42 is provided with a communication module 43 configured to interface with the telecommunications network 80 by means of a wired connection or through a wireless connection, for example by means of a connection with a Wi-Fi network.
The transmission to the remote storage unit 50 allows saving a large quantity of data and information that may be processed by means of suitable algorithms to provide complete tracking of the material used and the certification of origin thereof.
The data saved in the remote storage unit 50 may be viewed on any fixed or mobile terminal.
Preferably, the electronic tag 31 is of the rewritable type; here, the electronic processing unit 42 is also configured to update in real time the datum relative to the external diameter D of the reel 30 stored on the electronic tag 31. In this manner, the electronic tag 31 will always have the datum relative to the current external diameter of the reel 30 at the end of a processing cycle.
Preferably, the electronic tracking device 40 comprises a local storage unit 44 associated with the electronic processing unit 42 which is configured to save the data read by the data reading device 41 in the local storage unit 44.
Preferably, the support and rotation group 10 for a reel also comprises operation sensors of such a group, and the processing unit is also associated with the operation sensors and is configured to receive the data read by the sensors during the unwinding and/or winding of the reel 30, and to store the read data received in association with the data read by the data reading device 41 in the local storage unit 44.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the operation sensors comprise one or more sensors 13 for detecting the external diameter D of the reel 30 and one or more sensors 15 for detecting the number of turns carried out by the shaft 20.
Here, if the stored data in the electronic tag 31 also comprise data relative to the sizes of the material wound on the reel 30, the electronic processing unit 42 is advantageously configured to determine the residual length Lres of the unwinding reel 30 by means of the following formula: $L_{res} = L - \sum_{r = 0}^{n} π \cdot [D - 2 \cdot r \cdot t]$
In this embodiment, the electronic processing unit 42 is configured to store also the residual length determined in association with the data read by the data reading device 41 in the local storage unit 44.
The electronic processing unit 42 preferably is configured to transmit the stored data in the local storage unit 44 to the remote storage unit 50 at predefined time intervals. Here, the electronic processing unit 42 uses the local storage unit 44 as a buffer that is then emptied at predefined time intervals. Preferably, the operation sensors also comprise one or more among the following sensors:

sensor for detecting the thickness of the reel 30;
sensor for detecting the width of the reel 30;
sensor for detecting any prints or markings on the reel 30.

Preferably, the electronic tracking device 40 comprises a power supply battery 45, preferably of the rechargeable type.
Such a power supply battery 45 is preferably connected to a generator device 60 configured to generate electric energy from the rotation of the shaft 20.
The transmission at predefined intervals allows saving the energy stored in the power supply battery 45.
The data transmitted to the remote storage unit 50 therefore may be displayed with an update in real time or staggered according to how the transmission occurs. The generator device 60 is therefore associated with the shaft 20 and may be integrated therein.
Preferably, the electronic tracking device 40 is integrated in the shaft 20.
According to a first alternative, the electronic tracking device 40 is mounted on a longitudinal end 22 of the shaft 20.
According to a second alternative, the electronic tracking device 40 is mounted on the supporting structure 11, such as for example shown in Figure 4, more preferably on one of the two support-shaft elements 12 of the supporting structure 11, as shown in Figure 3. In any case, the electronic tracking device 40 is positioned so that the reading device 41 faces outwards so as to read the tag 31 applied on the reel 30. Preferably, the support and rotation group 10 for a reel comprises also at least one presence sensor 14 for detecting the presence of the reel 30 on the shaft 20. For example, such a presence sensor 14 may be a photocell.
The at least one presence sensor 14 is associated with the electronic tracking device 40 so as to activate the latter when the reel 30 is detected on the shaft 20. The activation of the electronic tracking device 40 starts the reading of the tag 31 and the sending of the data to the remote storage unit 50. The activation of the electronic tracking device 40 may occur also manually by pressing a button, or may occur by means of a command that may be generated by a user by means of an activation software.
The activation software may be stored in a main control unit of the support and rotation group 10 for a reel. Alternatively, the activation software may be stored in a central processing and control unit (not shown) of the reel processing machine, such a central processing and control unit being associated with the electronic tracking device 40. The reel processing machine may further comprise a cutting station (not shown) adapted to cut the material unwound from the reel 30 at fixed or variable predetermined length intervals.
In this case, the reel processing machine may be configured to apply the unique reel identification code 30 read by the data reading device 41 on each individual cut portion of the reel, for example by means of printing or gluing. This reel identification code 30 may be, for example obtained in the form of a bar code.
If also the residual length determined in association with the data read by the data reading device 41 is stored in the local storage unit 44, the reel processing machine may be configured to apply, on each individual cut portion of the reel, for example by means of printing or gluing, a unique identification code of the individual portion of cut reel containing the reel identification code associated with the residual length of the reel itself stored in the local storage unit 44. In this case, the reel processing machine may be provided with a cut counter that sends the detected data to the electronic processing unit 44 which stores the datum received in association with the data read by the data reading device 41 and the determined residual length.
Thanks to the reel identification code or the individual portion of cut reel applied on the individual portion of cut reel, in both cases it is possible to have accurate information on the origin of the product made, that is from which reel it was obtained; in the case of the identification code of the individual portion of cut reel, it is possible to have accurate information also on the condition (residual length of the reel when it was cut) of the reel from which it was obtained. Preferably, the central processing and control unit is configured to set a plurality of operating parameters of the reel processing machine at least on the basis of the data read by the reading device 41. The operating parameters are, for example the temperature and the welding time, when a welding station is provided, the unwinding or winding speed of the reel, the quantity and type of glue, when there is a gluing station. These operating parameters vary from reel to reel according to, for example the material forming the reel, or the dimensions thereof, in particular the thickness and the width.
The central processing and control unit may also be associated with the functioning sensors of the support and rotation group of a reel 10; in this case, the central processing and control unit is configured to set the plurality of operating parameters of the reel processing machine not only on the basis of the data read by the reading device 41, but also on the basis of the data detected by such sensors. For example, in the case in which the data relative to the dimensions of the wound material are not stored in the electronic tag 31 and the operation sensors comprise a sensor for detecting the thickness of the reel and/or of the width of the reel, the setting of the operating parameters may be based on these detected data.
The setting of the operating parameters on the basis of the data read from the electronic tag 31, and possibly of the data detected by the operation sensors, allows ensuring a constant processing quality standard of the reels over time that is independent of human errors. Indeed, the operating parameters thus set are only associated with the reel used, thus ensuring the repeatability of the processing operations carried out by the machine.
A method for tracking the material wound on the reel 31 integrally coupled to the shaft 20 of the support and rotation group 10 is described below.
Such a method comprises the steps of:

applying the reel 30 on the shaft 20, the electronic tag 31 being applied on the reel 30;
reading, by means of the data reading device 41, the stored data in said electronic tag;
transmitting the data read by the data reading device 41 to the remote storage unit 50 through the telecommunications network.

Preferably, the method comprises the step of:

saving the data read by the data reading device 41 in the local storage unit 44.

Preferably, the method comprises the steps of:

carrying out, through the operation sensors, a series of detections during the unwinding and/or winding of the reel 30;
receiving the data read by the operation sensors and storing the detected data received in association with the data read by the data reading device 41 in the local storage unit 44.

Preferably, the method comprises the steps of:

if the electronic tag 31 includes data relative to the dimensions of the reel 30, determining the residual length Lres of the unwinding reel 30;
storing also the residual length determined in association with the data read by the data reading device 41 in the local storage unit 44.

In a preferred embodiment, the step of transmitting the stored data in the local storage unit 44 to the remote storage unit 50 occurs at predefined time intervals. Preferably, the method comprises the steps of:

cutting, by means of the cutting station of the reel processing machine, the material unwound from the reel 30 at fixed or variable predetermined length intervals;
applying, by means of the reel processing machine, on each individual cut portion of the reel, a unique identification code of the reel 30 read by the data reading device 41 or a unique identification code of the individual portion of cut reel containing a reel identification code 30 read by the data reading device 41 associated with the residual length of the reel itself stored in the local storage unit 44.

The features of the device the object of the present invention are apparent from the description provided, as are the relative advantages.
The continuous reading of the electronic tag indeed allows a reliable tracking of the products made from the reel. The association of the reel identification code with the residual length thereof during the processing cycle allows knowing the consumption thereof in real time so as to be able to optimize the management of the warehouse stock.
Finally, it is clear that the device as conceived herein is susceptible to many modifications and variations, all falling within the invention; furthermore, all the details are replaceable by technically equivalent elements. In practice, the materials used, as well as their dimensions, can be of any type according to the technical requirements.

Claims

Support and rotation group (10) for a reel, said group (10) being associated with a machine for processing said reel and comprising:
- a supporting structure (11);

- a shaft (20) arranged to be integrally coupled to a reel (30) of wound material and to be associated in a rotatable way to said supporting structure (11), said support and rotation group (10) for a reel being characterized by comprising an electronic tracking device (40) which can be activated when said reel (30) is coupled to said shaft (20), said electronic tracking device (40) comprising:
• a data reading device (41) configured to continuously read data stored in an electronic tag (31) applied on said reel (30), said stored data comprising identification data of said reel (30);

• an electronic processing unit (42) associated with said data reading device (41) configured to transmit said data read by said data reading device (41) to a remote storage unit (50) through a telecommunications network (80).
Support and rotation group (10) for a reel according to claim 1 wherein said electronic tracking device (40) also comprises a local storage unit (44) associated with said electronic processing unit (42) which is configured for saving said data read by said data reading device (41) in said local storage unit (44).
Support and rotation group (10) for a reel according to claim 2 comprising operation sensors (13, 15), said electronic processing unit (42) being also associated with said operation sensors (13, 15) and being configured for receiving the data detected by said operation sensors (13, 15) during the unwinding and/or winding of said reel (30), and for storing in said local storage unit (44) said detected data received in association with said data read by said data reading device (41).
Support and rotation group (10) for a reel coil according to claim 3 wherein the operation sensors (13, 15) comprise one or more sensors for detecting an external diameter D (13) of the reel (30) and one or more sensors for detecting a number of turns (15) carried out by the shaft (20), said electronic processing unit (42) being configured to determine the residual length L_res of the reel (30) in progress and to store in the unit of local storage (44) also the residual length determined in association with the data read by the data reading device (41).
Support and rotation group (10) for a reel according to claims from 2 to 4 wherein said electronic processing unit (42) is configured to transmit the data stored in said local storage unit (44) to said remote storage unit (50) through said telecommunications network (80) at predefined time intervals.
Support and rotation group (10) for a reel according to one of the preceding claims wherein said electronic tracking device (40) comprises a power supply battery (45) .
Support and rotation group (10) for a reel according to claim 6 wherein said power supply battery (45) is of the rechargeable type and is connected to a generator device (60) configured to generate electric energy by the rotation of said shaft (20).
Support and rotation group (10) for a reel according to one of the preceding claims comprising at least one presence sensor (14) for detecting the presence of said reel (30) on said shaft (20), said at least one presence sensor (14) being associated with said electronic tracking device (40) so as to activate the latter when the presence of said reel (30) is detected on said shaft (20) .
Support and rotation group (10) for a reel according to one of claims from 1 to 7 wherein said electronic tracking device (40) can be activated manually by means of a button on said shaft (20) or by receiving an activation signal.
Support and rotation group (10) for a reel according to one of the preceding claims wherein said electronic tracking device (40) is integrated in a main body (21) of said shaft (20).
Support and rotation group (10) for a reel according to one of claims from 1 to 9 wherein said electronic tracking device (40) is mounted on one of the two ends (22) of said shaft (20).
Support and rotation group (10) for a reel according to one of claims from 1 to 9 wherein said electronic tracking device (40) is mounted on said supporting structure (11).
Support and rotation group (10) for a reel according to claim 12 wherein said electronic tracking device (40) is mounted on one of two support-shaft elements (12) of said supporting structure (11).
Support and rotation group (10) for a reel according to one of the preceding claims, wherein said data reading device (41) is of the RFID or NFC type.
Reel processing machine comprising:
- a support and rotation group (10) for a reel according to one or more of the preceding claims;

- a central processing and control unit associated with said electronic tracking device (40), said central processing and control unit being configured to set a plurality of operating parameters of the reel processing machine at least on the basis of the data read by said reading device (41).
A reel processing machine according to claim 15 wherein said central processing and control unit is also associated with the functioning sensors of said support and rotation group for a reel (10), said central processing and control unit being configured for setting the plurality of operating parameters of the reel processing machine not only on the basis of the data read by the reading device (41) but also on the basis of the data detected by said operating sensors.
A reel processing machine according to claim 15 or 16 comprising a cutting station suitable for cutting the material unwound from the reel (30) at fixed or variable predetermined length intervals, said reel processing machine being configured to apply on each individual reel portion cut a unique reel identification code (30) read by the data reading device (41) or a unique identification code of said single cut reel portion which contains a reel identification code (30) read by the data reading device (41) associated with the residual length of the reel itself stored in the local storage unit (44).
Method for tracking a material wound on a reel in a support and rotation group (10) for a reel according to one of the claims 1 to 14 comprising the steps:
- applying a reel (30) on said shaft (20), an electronic tag (31) being applied on said reel (30), said stored data comprising identification data of said reel (30);

- reading, by means of said data reading device (41) included in said electronic tracking device (40), the data stored in said electronic tag (31);

- transmitting said data read by said data reading device (41) to a remote storage unit (50) through a telecommunications network (80).
Method according to claim 18 comprising the step of:
- saving in said local storage unit (44) said data read by said data reading device (41).
Method according to claim 19 comprising the steps of:
- carrying out, through said operation sensors (13, 15), a series of detections during the unwinding and/or winding of said reel (30);

- receiving the data detected by said operation sensors (13, 15) and storing in said local storage unit (44) said detected data received in association with said data read by said data reading device (41).
Method according to claim 20 comprising the steps of:
- determining the residual length L_res of the unwinding reel (30);

- storing also the residual length determined in association with the data read by the data reading device (41) in the local storage unit (44).
Method according to claim 20 or 21 comprising the step of:
- transmitting the data stored in said local storage unit (44) to said remote storage unit (50) through said telecommunication network (80) at predefined time intervals.
Method according to one of claims from 18 to 22 comprising the step of:
- setting, by means of a central processing and control unit associated with said electronic tracking device (40), a plurality of operating parameters of a reel processing machine at least on the basis of the data read by said reading device (41).
Method according to claim 23 wherein the setting of the plurality of operating parameters of the reel processing machine takes place not only on the basis of the data read by the reading device (41) but also on the basis of the data collected by said operation sensors.
Method according to one of claims from 21 to 24 comprising the steps of:
- cutting, by a cutting station of a reel processing machine, the material unwound from the reel (30) at fixed or variable predetermined length intervals;

- applying, by means of said reel processing machine, on each individual cut portion of the reel a unique identification code of the reel (30) read by the data reading device (41) or a unique identification code of said single cut reel portion containing a reel identification code (30) read by the data reading device (41) associated with the residual length of the reel itself stored in the local storage unit (44).