EP4194383A1 - Automated machine for unwinding and rewinding fabric reels and process for unwinding and rewinding a fabric reel executed by means of said automated machine - Google Patents
Automated machine for unwinding and rewinding fabric reels and process for unwinding and rewinding a fabric reel executed by means of said automated machine Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP4194383A1 EP4194383A1 EP22211766.5A EP22211766A EP4194383A1 EP 4194383 A1 EP4194383 A1 EP 4194383A1 EP 22211766 A EP22211766 A EP 22211766A EP 4194383 A1 EP4194383 A1 EP 4194383A1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- abutment
- support
- conveyor belt
- rack
- movement path
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Pending
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- 239000004744 fabric Substances 0.000 title claims abstract description 141
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 title claims description 19
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- 230000033001 locomotion Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 145
- 238000003860 storage Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 29
- 238000013459 approach Methods 0.000 claims description 25
- 238000003780 insertion Methods 0.000 claims description 5
- 230000037431 insertion Effects 0.000 claims description 5
- 238000005520 cutting process Methods 0.000 description 14
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 8
- 230000008878 coupling Effects 0.000 description 7
- 238000010168 coupling process Methods 0.000 description 7
- 238000005859 coupling reaction Methods 0.000 description 7
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 4
- 230000005484 gravity Effects 0.000 description 3
- 239000004753 textile Substances 0.000 description 3
- 238000011144 upstream manufacturing Methods 0.000 description 3
- 230000009471 action Effects 0.000 description 2
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- 238000004804 winding Methods 0.000 description 2
- 229910000831 Steel Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 229910052782 aluminium Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- XAGFODPZIPBFFR-UHFFFAOYSA-N aluminium Chemical compound [Al] XAGFODPZIPBFFR-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 230000005540 biological transmission Effects 0.000 description 1
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Images
Classifications
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H19/00—Changing the web roll
- B65H19/10—Changing the web roll in unwinding mechanisms or in connection with unwinding operations
- B65H19/12—Lifting, transporting, or inserting the web roll; Removing empty core
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H16/00—Unwinding, paying-out webs
- B65H16/02—Supporting web roll
- B65H16/021—Multiple web roll supports
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H16/00—Unwinding, paying-out webs
- B65H16/02—Supporting web roll
- B65H16/028—Supporting web roll on its outer circumference
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H16/00—Unwinding, paying-out webs
- B65H16/10—Arrangements for effecting positive rotation of web roll
- B65H16/106—Arrangements for effecting positive rotation of web roll in which power is applied to web roll
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H2301/00—Handling processes for sheets or webs
- B65H2301/40—Type of handling process
- B65H2301/41—Winding, unwinding
- B65H2301/413—Supporting web roll
- B65H2301/4135—Movable supporting means
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H2301/00—Handling processes for sheets or webs
- B65H2301/40—Type of handling process
- B65H2301/41—Winding, unwinding
- B65H2301/413—Supporting web roll
- B65H2301/4139—Supporting means for several rolls
- B65H2301/41392—Supporting means for several rolls moving in forced (kinematic) relationship
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H2301/00—Handling processes for sheets or webs
- B65H2301/40—Type of handling process
- B65H2301/41—Winding, unwinding
- B65H2301/4165—Unwinding or winding material from or to one station in which the material is stored
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H2404/00—Parts for transporting or guiding the handled material
- B65H2404/30—Chains
- B65H2404/31—Chains with auxiliary handling means
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H2405/00—Parts for holding the handled material
- B65H2405/40—Holders, supports for rolls
- B65H2405/44—Supports for storing rolls
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H2701/00—Handled material; Storage means
- B65H2701/10—Handled articles or webs
- B65H2701/17—Nature of material
- B65H2701/174—Textile, fibre
Definitions
- the automated machine and the present process are inserted in the field of the textile industry, e.g. in the field of production of clothing garments, in the field of production of furnishing article, in the field of production of finishing articles for automobiles, in particular fabric seats, and the like.
- the present automated machine and process are advantageously intended to be employed in order to unwind a selected fabric reel and supply the fabric unwound therefrom, for example, to a cutting machine placed downstream, and such cutting machine preferably cuts the different fabric portions constituting a clothing article, and in order to rewind the aforesaid fabric reel after the cutting machine has removed the necessary fabric.
- machines for unwinding fabric reels which comprise a support frame, which carries, rotatably mounted thereon, at least two rollers upper ducts and a lower driving roller placed therebetween, and multiple closed-loop belts wound around the aforesaid driving roller and alternatively around one or the other of the driven wheels, in a manner such to define a reception seat for the fabric reel to be unwound.
- the driving roller is actuatable to rotate in a first rotation sense in order to drive the closed-loop belts to unwind the fabric reel and in a second rotation sense opposite the first in order to drive the belts themselves to rewind the reel.
- the at least one conveyor belt 12 can be guidedly connected to the support frame 2 "directly” or “indirectly”, i.e. through other components of the same automated machine 1, which are guidedly connected to the support frame 2 and carry, mounted thereon, the same conveyor belt 12 or they are mounted on the support frame 2 and carry, guidedly connected thereto, the at least one conveyor belt 12.
- the first movement means 10 move the same abutment rack 4 in a manner such that the support arms 6 and the abutment portions 9 pass on the sides of the conveyor belt 12 itself and hence abut the fabric reel against the same conveyor belt 12, consequently placing the fabric reel in the reception seat 13.
- the present automated machine 1 comprises a logic control unit operatively connected to the first movement means 10 of the storage group 3 in order to control them at least to move the abutment racks 4 and selectively place one of the abutment racks 4 adjacent to the at least one conveyor belt 12 of the unwinding group 11, to the second movement means 14 of the unwinding group 11 in order to control them to move the at least one conveyor belt 12 between the operating position and the non-operating position and to the at least one conveyor belt 12 itself in order to actuate it in the first rotation sense and in the second rotation sense.
- such conveyance slide 49 is made of sheet metal, for example steel or aluminum sheet metal.
- the movement path comprises at least one passage section extended from top to bottom.
- the at least one conveyor belt 12 is placed to intercept the passage section of the movement path X.
- the conveyor belts 12 of the unwinding group 11 comprise at least one common driving roller 17, one support roller 18 for each conveyor belt 12 and one rotary belt 19 for each conveyor belt 12. More in detail, the driving roller 17 (which is preferably common to all the conveyor belts 12) is rotatable around a first revolution axis S parallel to the flanking direction Z.
- Each passage slit 15 is, therefore, preferably delimited by the support roller 18 and by the rotary belt 19 of two adjacent conveyor belts 12 and by the driving roller 17 common to the conveyor belts 12 and is provided with an access opening 21 directed towards the storage group 3 and opposite the aforesaid common driving roller 17. More in detail, such passage slits 15 are susceptible of receiving at their interior corresponding support arms 6 of a selected abutment rack 4 through the aforesaid access openings 21 directed towards the storage group 3.
- the support arms 6 of the selected abutment rack 4 placed adjacent to the conveyor belts 12 are each inserted in a corresponding passage slit 15 through the access opening 21.
- each abutment element 29 is slidably associated with a corresponding support arm 25 and is selectively lockable in position along the corresponding support arm 25.
- the tensioning springs 31 exert an elastic thrust against the sliding blocks 30, on which the support rollers 18 are rotatably mounted, in a manner such to push, as much as possible, the sliding blocks 30 away from the abutment elements 29 and, then, push as much as possible the support rollers 18 away from the common driving roller 17 in order to maintain the rotary belts 19 taut.
- each sliding block 30 comprises a slidable body 53, in particular having parallelepiped shape and provided with at least one through hole, within which the corresponding support arm 25 is inserted at its second end 27.
- each sliding blocks 30 of the tensioning means 28 of each conveyor belt 12 carry, also rotatably idly mounted, the idle roller 22 of the respective conveyor belt 12.
- each idle roller 22 is extended along its third revolution axis U between two third lateral ends, which are supported by two corresponding sliding blocks 30.
- each tensioning spring 31 is preferably of helical type and is placed coaxial with the corresponding support arm 25 and in abutment against the threaded nut 33 of the respective abutment element 29, on one side, and against the respective sliding block 30, on the other side.
- the synchronization shaft 40 of the synchronization device 39 is extended below the support walls 23 and carries the first pinion 37 and the second pinion fitted.
- the fact that the abutment racks 4 are guidedly associated with the support frame 2 in an oscillating manner around the tilt axis W and that the aforesaid tilt axis W is placed above the support beam 5 allows the same abutment racks 4 to maintain the orientation having the support beam 5 placed below the concave abutment portions 9 for the entire closed movement path X.
- the support frame 2 comprises at least one guide seat 43 extended adjacent to at least part of the movement path X (in particular adjacent to the passage section extended from top to bottom and susceptible of being intercepted by the at least one conveyor belt 12 or by the conveyor belts 12 in operating position) and, in addition, each abutment rack 4 is provided with at least one engagement pin 44, which is spaced from the corresponding support beam 5 and from the corresponding tilt axis W and is susceptible of being inserted in the guide seat 43 in order to maintain the tilt of the corresponding abutment rack 4 controlled around the tilt axis W thereof, at least along part of the movement path X (i.e. in particular at least along the passage section).
- the transport chain 47 is advantageously wound around the first wheel 45 and the second wheel 46, defines the closed movement path X and carries the abutment racks 4 mounted thereon, each in an oscillating manner around the tilt axis W thereof.
- the first movement means 10 can comprise two motors, each mechanically connected to a corresponding first wheel 45 and arranged for rotating together the aforesaid two first wheels 45, or, comprise a single actuation motor mechanically connected to one of the two first wheels 45 and a return shaft 61 placed to mechanically connect the aforesaid two first wheels 45 and arranged for transferring the rotation motion from one to the other.
- each abutment rack 4 is provided with a coupling pin 68 extended along the tilt axis W starting from the coupling end 67 of each coupling bracket 65 and inserted in a reception opening made on the corresponding transport chain 47.
- the support frame 2 is provided with at least two lateral walls 62, which are facing each other, each carry a first wheel 45 and a second wheel 46 mounted thereon and, preferably, laterally delimit the operative volume in which in particular the storage group 3 and the unwinding group 11 are at least partially placed.
- the first movement means 10 comprise a rotary base, which is placed substantially vertically, has circular form, is rotatably mounted on the support frame 2 around a corresponding third rotation axis substantially horizontal, rotatably mounted, at its perimeter, the abutment racks 4 in an oscillating manner around the tilt axis W thereof, and is actuatable in rotation by a corresponding movement motor.
- a rotary base defines a closed movement path X of circular form, which is provided with a passage section adjacent to the unwinding group 11 which is extended from top to bottom with arc of circumference form.
- the process comprises a pick-up step, in which the first movement means 10 move at least the selected abutment rack 4 along the movement path X from the release position to the approach position, moving the support beam 5 of the selected abutment rack 4 close to the at least one conveyor belt 12 and passing its at least two concave abutment portions 9 on the sides thereof at least one conveyor belt 12, in order to pick up the fabric reel from the reception seat 13.
- the invention thus conceived therefore attains the pre-established objects.
Abstract
Description
- The present invention regards an automated machine for unwinding and rewinding fabric reels and a process for unwinding and rewinding a fabric reel executed by means of the aforesaid automated machine, according to the preamble of the relative independent claims.
- The automated machine and the present process are inserted in the field of the textile industry, e.g. in the field of production of clothing garments, in the field of production of furnishing article, in the field of production of finishing articles for automobiles, in particular fabric seats, and the like.
- In particular, the present automated machine and process are advantageously intended to be employed in order to unwind a selected fabric reel and supply the fabric unwound therefrom, for example, to a cutting machine placed downstream, and such cutting machine preferably cuts the different fabric portions constituting a clothing article, and in order to rewind the aforesaid fabric reel after the cutting machine has removed the necessary fabric.
- Known at the state of the art are machines for unwinding fabric reels, which comprise a support frame, which carries, rotatably mounted thereon, at least two rollers upper ducts and a lower driving roller placed therebetween, and multiple closed-loop belts wound around the aforesaid driving roller and alternatively around one or the other of the driven wheels, in a manner such to define a reception seat for the fabric reel to be unwound. More in detail, the driving roller is actuatable to rotate in a first rotation sense in order to drive the closed-loop belts to unwind the fabric reel and in a second rotation sense opposite the first in order to drive the belts themselves to rewind the reel.
- Advantageously, such machine for unwinding the fabric reels is employed in order to unwind a fabric reel and provide the fabric part unwound from such reel to a cutting machine placed downstream, which is for example set for cutting the fabric portions that constitute a clothing garment, such as a shirt, and in order to rewind the reel once the cutting machine has removed the necessary fabric.
- The machines for unwinding fabric reels described briefly up to now has in practice shown that it does not lack drawbacks.
- The main drawback of these machines of known type lies in the fact that the fabric reel to be unwound must be manually loaded on and unloaded from the reception seat. Therefore, the intervention of one or more operators is required, depending on the weight of the reel, who become fatigued and possibly also risk being injured during the movement of the reel itself.
- In addition, for example in the event in which the cutting machine placed downstream of the machine for unwinding the reels is employed for cutting parts of clothing garments having different colors or made of different fabrics, the fabric reel placed in the reception seat must be substituted numerous times in time intervals that are quite close to each other.
- In such case, it is known to place a storage with rotary carousel upstream of the machine for unwinding the reels. Such storage with rotary is generally provided with multiple movable supports, which are mounted on the rotary carousel and each support a fabric reel with color and/or material different from those of the other movable supports, and with movement means arranged for rotating the rotary carousel up to carrying the movable support with the selected fabric reel within reach of the operator employed for loading and unloading the machine for unwinding the reels.
- In this manner, since the storage rotary carousel is placed just upstream of the machine for unwinding the reels, the operator does not have to travel long distances to take the new fabric reels to substitute the old and, since the storage with rotary carousel is capable of supplying the movable support with the selected fabric reel directly within reach of the same operator, he/she does not have to continually repeat movements that are potentially damaging for the health, such as for example continuously lifting the fabric reels to substitute the old ones from the ground.
- Nevertheless, it is always requested that the operator be present during operation of the machine for unwinding the reels, so as to readily substitute the fabric reel as soon as the cutting machine has removed the fabric part necessary for the subsequent processing, and hence such operator cannot be employed for performing other functions.
- In order to at least partly solve the problems of the prior art described briefly up to now, from United States patent
US 4,493,460 it is known to use a rotary storage together with a separate unwinder machine provided with a conveyor belt. More in detail, the rotary storage is provided with a closed-loop catenary carrying a plurality of fabric reels mounted thereon, movable in rotation in order to selectively bring one of the aforesaid reels to an unloading section. In addition, the conveyor belt of the unwinder machine is movable in translation with respect to the support frame of the aforesaid unwinder machine in order to contact with the fabric reel selectively placed at the unloading section from the catenary of the rotary storage and is actuatable in rotation in order to unwind such reel. Also such solution resulted not lacking drawbacks in practice, since it is subjected to problems tied to possible jamming and machine-stops that require frequent manual interventions by the operators. - In addition, in the technical field of the textile industry, different machines are known comprising automated storages for unwinder reels and/or groups, for example of the type described in the patent documents
US 2004/118964 ,GB 353037 CN 105540309 ,US 3,776,541 ,GB 1017177 WO 2004/069705 , which have proven to be inefficient or unreliable in operation. - Therefore, there is the strong need in the reference field to be able to execute, in a completely automated manner, the transfer operations of the different fabric reels between the storage a rotary carousel and the machine for unwinding the reels.
- In this situation, the problem underlying the present invention is therefore that of overcoming the abovementioned drawbacks manifested by the solutions of known type by proving an automated machine for unwinding and rewinding fabric reels and a process for unwinding and rewinding a fabric reel, which are capable of executing, in a completely automated manner, the loading and unloading of the selected fabric reels and their unwinding and rewinding.
- A further object of the present invention is to provide an automated machine for unwinding and rewinding fabric reels and a process for unwinding and rewinding a fabric reel, which are capable of operating in a completely efficient and versatile manner.
- A further object of the present invention is to provide an automated machine for unwinding and rewinding fabric reels and a process for unwinding and rewinding a fabric reel, which are entirely reliable in operation.
- A further object of the present invention is to provide an automated machine for unwinding and rewinding fabric reels and a process for unwinding and rewinding a fabric reel, which are simple and inexpensive to attain.
- The technical characteristics of the present invention, according to the aforesaid objects, can be 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 figures, which represent a merely exemplifying and non-limiting embodiment of the invention in which:
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figure 1 shows a perspective view of an automated machine for unwinding and rewinding fabric reels, object of the present invention, in accordance with a preferred embodiment; -
figure 2 shows a lateral section view of the automated machine offigure 1 ; -
figure 3 shows a top plan view of an unwinding group of the automated machine offigure 1 , with several parts removed in order to better illustrate other parts; -
figure 4 shows a front perspective view of the unwinding group offigure 3 , with several parts removed in order to better illustrate other parts; -
figure 5 shows a rear perspective view of the unwinding group offigure 3 , with several parts removed in order to better illustrate other parts; -
figure 6 shows a lateral section view of the unwinding group offigure 3 , with several parts removed in order to better illustrate other parts, and such lateral section is made at a support roller of a conveyor belt; -
figure 7 shows a perspective view of an abutment rack of a storage group the automated machine offigure 1 ; -
figure 8 shows a perspective view of the unwinding group offigure 3 , with several parts removed in order to better illustrate other parts and with conveyor belts in an operating position, and of the abutment rack offigure 7 in an approach position; -
figure 9 shows a lateral section view of the unwinding group offigure 3 , with several parts removed in order to better illustrate other parts and with conveyor belts in operating position, and of the abutment rack offigure 7 in approach position, and such lateral section is made at a support arm of the aforesaid abutment rack; -
figure 10 shows a perspective view of the unwinding group offigure 3 , with several parts removed in order to better illustrate other parts and with conveyor belts in operating position, and of the abutment rack offigure 7 in a release position; -
figure 11 shows a lateral section view of the unwinding group offigure 3 , with several parts removed in order to better illustrate other parts and with conveyor belts in operating position, and of the abutment rack offigure 7 in release position, and such lateral section is made at the support roller of a conveyor belt; -
figure 12 shows a perspective view of a detail of the unwinding group offigure 3 , with several parts removed in order to better illustrate other parts; -
figure 13 shows a perspective view of a detail of the unwinding group offigure 3 , with several parts removed in order to better illustrate other parts. - With reference to the enclosed drawings,
reference number 1 overall indicates an automated machine for unwinding and rewinding fabric reels in accordance with the present invention. - More in detail, the present
automated machine 1 is intended to be employed in the field of the textile industry, in particular in the field of production of clothing garments, such as for example shirts, pants or the like. - In particular, the present
automated machine 1 is intended to be installed upstream of a cutting machine, so as to supply the fabric unwound from a reel to such cutting machine, which is arranged for cutting from the unwound fabric the parts constituting a specific clothing article. - The present
automated machine 1 comprises asupport frame 2, astorage group 3 and anunwinding group 11. - Advantageously, the
support frame 2 internally defines an operating volume, within which theaforesaid storage group 3 and theunwinding group 11 are at least partially placed. - The
group 3 for storing the fabric reels comprises two ormore abutment racks 4, which are guidedly connected to thesupport frame 2 along a movement path X. - More in detail, the
abutment racks 4 can be guidedly connected to thesupport frame 2 "directly" or "indirectly", i.e. through other components of the sameautomated machine 1, which are guidedly connected to thesupport frame 2 and carry, mounted thereon, theabutment racks 4 or they are mounted on thesupport frame 2 and carry, guidedly connected thereto, theabutment racks 4. - Each
abutment rack 4 is provided with asupport beam 5, which is extended along a main extension direction Y, advantageously substantially horizontal, of at least twosupport arms 6, which are transverse to thesupport beam 5 and each extended between a lower end 7 mechanically connected to thesupport beam 5 itself and an oppositeupper end 8, and with at least twoconcave abutment portions 9 which are each placed at theupper end 8 of acorresponding support arm 6 and are intended to receive a fabric reel in abutment. - Advantageously, each
abutment portion 9 comprises twoabutment wings 50, which are placed side-by-side and are extended starting from theupper end 8 of thecorresponding support arm 6 each along a direction that is tilted with respect to the horizontal and transverse to the main extension direction Y. - In addition, the
storage group 3 comprises first movement means 10 mechanically connected to at least to thesupport frame 2 and arranged for moving theabutment racks 4 along the movement path X. - The
unwinding group 11 of the fabric reels is, in addition, placed adjacent to thestorage group 3 and is provided with at least oneconveyor belt 12. -
Such conveyor belt 12 is guidedly connected to thesupport frame 2, at least partially delimits areception seat 13 for a fabric reel, is configured for being at least partially inserted between the at least twosupport arms 6 of a selectedabutment rack 4 and is actuatable in a first rotation sense in order to unwind a fabric reel and in an opposite second rotation sense in order to rewind the fabric reel. - More in detail, the at least one
conveyor belt 12 can be guidedly connected to thesupport frame 2 "directly" or "indirectly", i.e. through other components of the sameautomated machine 1, which are guidedly connected to thesupport frame 2 and carry, mounted thereon, thesame conveyor belt 12 or they are mounted on thesupport frame 2 and carry, guidedly connected thereto, the at least oneconveyor belt 12. - The
unwinding group 11 comprises also second movement means 14, which are mechanically connected to thesupport frame 2 and to the at least oneconveyor belt 12 and are arranged for moving theaforesaid conveyor belt 12 between an operating position, in which it intercepts the movement path X of theabutment racks 4, and a non-operating position, in which it is spaced from the movement path X of theabutment racks 4. - More in detail, the arrangement of
multiple abutment racks 4, which have at least twosupport arms 6 and two correspondingconcave abutment portions 9 and are movable along a movement path X, and with at least oneconveyor belt 12, which is movable between a non-operating position and an operating position in which it intercepts the movement path X in order to be at least partially inserted between thesupport arms 6 of a selectedabutment rack 4, ensures that the fabric reels can be loaded onto and unloaded from thereception seat 13 and substituted, in a completely automated manner, without requiring the intervention of human operators. - In operation, in fact, the first movement means 10 have a selected
abutment rack 4, which on theconcave abutment portions 9 thereof supports a fabric reel having a desired color and/or material, just adjacent to the at least oneconveyor belt 12 and the second movement means 14 carry theconveyor belt 12 into operating position, in a manner such that the latter intercepts the movement path X and is at least partially inserted between thesupport arms 6 of thesame abutment rack 4. - In addition, in operation, following the positioning of the
conveyor belt 12 in operating position, the first movement means 10 move thesame abutment rack 4 in a manner such that thesupport arms 6 and theabutment portions 9 pass on the sides of theconveyor belt 12 itself and hence abut the fabric reel against thesame conveyor belt 12, consequently placing the fabric reel in thereception seat 13. - In operation, at this point, the
conveyor belt 12 can be actuated in the first rotation sense in order to unwind the fabric reel, for example so as to supply the fabric unwound from the reel to a cutting machine placed downstream, and, when it is the time to substitute the fabric reel with a fabric reel having different color and/or different material, thesame conveyor belt 12 is actuated in the second rotation sense opposite the first in order to rewind the fabric reel that is situated in itsreception seat 13. - In addition, in operation, the first movement means 10 move the
abutment rack 4 that remained without fabric reel at least along the movement path X in order to once again place thesupport arms 6 on the sides of theconveyor belt 12, which is in operating position, and then pick up, through theconcave abutment portions 9, the fabric reel by lifting from theconveyor belt 12 and making it exit outward from thereception seat 13. - Finally, in operation, the second movement means 14 move the
conveyor belt 12 without fabric reel into non-operating position so as to free the movement path X and thus allow the first movement means 10 to move theabutment rack 4 with the fabric reel just used away from thesame conveyor belt 12 and to move theabutment racks 4 up to bringing a newselected abutment rack 4, which for example supports a fabric reel that differs by color and/or material, adjacent to theconveyor belt 12 itself, in particular so as to repeat the loading and unloading operations and for unwinding and rewinding with the new fabric reel. Advantageously, the presentautomated machine 1 comprises a logic control unit operatively connected to the first movement means 10 of thestorage group 3 in order to control them at least to move theabutment racks 4 and selectively place one of theabutment racks 4 adjacent to the at least oneconveyor belt 12 of theunwinding group 11, to the second movement means 14 of theunwinding group 11 in order to control them to move the at least oneconveyor belt 12 between the operating position and the non-operating position and to the at least oneconveyor belt 12 itself in order to actuate it in the first rotation sense and in the second rotation sense. - More in detail, such logic control unit is preferably configured for controlling the first movement means 10 to bring at least one selected
abutment rack 4 at an approach position along the movement path X, and such approach position is situated adjacent to theunwinding group 11, in particular adjacent to the at least oneconveyor belt 12 in non-operating position, and to control the second movement means 14 to move the at least oneconveyor belt 12 from the non-operating position to the operating position, in a manner such that theconveyor belt 12 itself comes to intercept the movement path X and is at least partially inserted between thesupport arms 6 of the selectedabutment rack 4 in approach position. - The logic control unit is also preferably configured for controlling the first movement means 10 to move at least the selected
abutment rack 4 along the movement path from the approach position to a release position, moving thesupport beam 5 of the selectedabutment rack 4 away from the at least oneconveyor belt 12 and passing theconcave abutment portions 9 on the sides of theaforesaid conveyor belt 12. - In this manner, when the
abutment rack 4 is moved from the approach position to the release position, thesupport arms 6 and theconcave abutment portions 9 of thesame abutment rack 4 translate adjacent to theconveyor belt 12 and the transported fabric reel remains deposited in thereception seat 13 at least partially delimited by theconveyor belt 12. - In addition, the logic control unit is preferably configured for actuating the at least one
conveyor belt 12 in the first rotation sense, so as to unwind the fabric reel and supply the fabric unwound therefrom, for example to a cutting machine placed downstream of the presentautomated machine 1, and for actuating the aforesaid at least oneconveyor belt 12 in the second rotation sense, so as to rewind the fabric reel when it is necessary to substitute it with a new different fabric reel. - Preferably, therefore, the logic control unit is configured for controlling the first movement means 10 to move at least the selected
abutment rack 4 along the movement path X from the release position to the approach position, in a manner such that thesupport beam 5 of the selectedabutment rack 5 approaches the at least oneconveyor belt 12 and theconcave abutment portions 9 once again pass on the sides of theconveyor belt 12 in order to pick up the fabric reel and make it exit outward from thereception seat 13. - In addition, the logic control unit is preferably configured for controlling the second movement means 14 to move the at least one
conveyor belt 12 from the operating position to the non-operating position in order to free the movement path X. - Advantageously, the present
automated machine 1 comprises at least onecontrol panel 73 operatively connected to the logic control unit and provided with a user interface, by means of which an operator can select one of the abutment racks 14, which in particular support a fabric reel having a desired color or made of a desired material, so as to in particular control the first movement means 10 and the second movement means 14 to move at least the selectedabutment rack 4 and the at least oneconveyor belt 12 in order to execute the operations of unwinding of the fabric reel transported by the selectedabutment rack 4 and rewinding of the same. - In order to supply with precision the fabric unwound from a fabric reel to a subsequent machine placed downstream of the present
automated machine 1, theautomated machine 1 itself advantageously comprises at least oneconveyance slide 49, which is placed downstream of the at least oneconveyor belt 12, at least with theaforesaid conveyor belt 12 placed in operating position. In particular, theaforesaid conveyance slide 49 is placed below the at least oneconveyor belt 12, so as to receive via gravity the fabric unwound from the fabric reel. - Advantageously,
such conveyance slide 49 is mechanically connected to the at least oneconveyor belt 12 itself, in a manner such that it is moved together with theconveyor belt 12 itself when this is moved between the non-operating position and the operating position. - Preferably,
such conveyance slide 49 is made of sheet metal, for example steel or aluminum sheet metal. Advantageously, the movement path comprises at least one passage section extended from top to bottom. In addition, in the operating position, the at least oneconveyor belt 12 is placed to intercept the passage section of the movement path X. - Therefore, in operating position, the at least one
conveyor belt 12 is advantageously susceptible of being inserted between the at least twosupport arms 6 of a selectedabutment rack 6 and be positioned above thesupport beam 5 of the same selectedabutment rack 5. - In this manner, it is possible to simply via gravity the fabric reel in the
reception seat 13 by translating downward the selectedabutment rack 4, consequently moving itssupport beam 5, which is in particular placed below the at least oneconveyor belt 12 in operating position, by the same at least oneconveyor belt 12 and passing theconcave abutment portions 9 on the sides of the latter. Therefore, in particular, the approach position of the abutment racks 4 is placed along the passage section extended from top to bottom and, in addition, the release position along the abutment racks 4 is in turn placed along the passage section but corresponds with a lower height than that of the approach position. - In accordance with the preferred embodiment illustrated in the enclosed figures, the unwinding
group 11 comprisesmultiple conveyor belts 12, which are placed side-by-side along a flanking direction Z, preferably substantially horizontal, each laterally delimit with an adjacent conveyor belt 12 a passage slit 15 having a first width L1 along such flanking direction Z, together at least partially delimit, thereception seat 13 for a fabric reel and they are actuatable together in the first rotation sense in order to unwind the fabric reel and in the second rotation sense in order to rewind the fabric reel. - Advantageously, the abutment racks 4 also each comprising
multiple support arms 6, which are transverse to thesupport beam 5, are parallel to each other, are side-by-side along the main extension direction Y of thesupport beam 5, each extended between a lower end 7 thereof and anupper end 8 thereof and each have, along the main extension direction Y, a second width L2 smaller than the first width L1 of the passage slits 15, and multipleconcave abutment portions 9, which are each placed at theupper end 8 of acorresponding support arm 6, are intended to receive a corresponding fabric reel in abutment and each have, along the main extension direction Y, a third width L3 smaller than the first width L1 of the passage slits 15. - The unwinding
group 11 advantageously comprises, in addition, asupport structure 16, which is slidably connected to thesupport frame 2, carries theconveyor belts 12 mounted thereon and is mechanically connected to the second movement means 14 in order to move together theconveyor belts 12 between the operating position and the non-operating position. Preferably, in the operating position, theconveyor belts 12 themselves intercept the movement path X (in particular the passage section extended from top to bottom of the movement path X), at least part of theconveyor belts 12 are configured for being at least partially inserted between twoadjacent support arms 6 of a selectedabutment rack 4 and the passage slits 15 delimited between them are configured for receiving at their interior thesupport arms 6 of the selectedabutment rack 4. In addition, in the non-operating position, theconveyor belts 12 are advantageously spaced from the movement path X (in particular from the passage section extended from top to bottom of the movement path X). - Preferably, the number of the
support arms 6 of eachabutment rack 4 equals that of the passage slits 15 and, therefore, in particular, the number of theconveyor belts 12 is equal to the number of thesupport arms 6 of eachabutment rack 4 increased by one. In the embodiment illustrated in the enclosed figures, the abutment racks 4 are in particular provided with threesupport arms 6 and, in addition, there are fourconveyor belts 12 and they delimit three passage slits 15. - In addition, preferably, each
support arm 6 is spaced from theadjacent support arm 6 of thesame abutment rack 4 by a first distance D1 and the conveyor belt 12 (which is in particular susceptible of being inserted between the aforesaid twoadjacent support arms 6 when in operating position) has a fourth width L4 thereof smaller than thefirst distance D 1. - More in detail, the arrangement of
multiple support arms 6 with the respectiveconcave abutment portions 9 and ofmultiple conveyor belts 12 side-by-side for delimiting multiple passage slits 15 between them allows the penetration between theconveyor belts 12 themselves of the unwindinggroup 11 and of the abutment racks 4 in order to execute the loading and the unloading of the fabric reels into thereception seat 13 and simultaneously ensures that the fabric reels are not bent under the weight thereof, being warped, but rather are correct for the entire length thereof from theabutment portions 9. - More in detail, indeed, when the conveyor belts are brought into
operating position 12 and intercept the movement path X (or in particular its passage section), thesupport arms 6 of theabutment rack 4 selectively placed adjacent to theconveyor belts 12 themselves (i.e. placed in approach position) are inserted in the passage slits 15 and, when the first movement means 10 move the selectedabutment rack 4 in order to deposit the reel in thereception seat 13, the same passage slits 15 are traversed by theconcave abutment portions 9, in particular from top to bottom. - Preferably, the
conveyance slide 49 is mounted on thesupport structure 16 of the unwindinggroup 11, in a manner such that it is moved together with theconveyor belts 12 when they are moved between the operating position and the non-operating position. - Advantageously, the
conveyor belts 12 of the unwindinggroup 11 comprise at least onecommon driving roller 17, onesupport roller 18 for eachconveyor belt 12 and onerotary belt 19 for eachconveyor belt 12. More in detail, the driving roller 17 (which is preferably common to all the conveyor belts 12) is rotatable around a first revolution axis S parallel to the flanking direction Z. - In addition, the
support roller 18 of eachconveyor belt 12 is preferably rotatable around a corresponding second revolution axis T parallel to the first revolution axis S of thecommon driving roller 17 and is interposed between thestorage group 3 and the samecommon driving roller 17. - Preferably, the
support rollers 18 of theconveyor belts 12 are placed side-by-side each other and, therefore, their second revolution axes T are placed aligned with each other. - The
rotary belt 19 of eachconveyor belt 12 is also advantageously wound around thecommon driving roller 17 and acorresponding support roller 18. - In addition, the first and the second revolution axis S, T are preferably substantially horizontal.
- Advantageously, the unwinding
group 11 comprises actuation means mounted on thesupport structure 16, mechanically connected to thecommon driving roller 17 and arranged for actuating together theconveyor belts 12 in the first rotation sense or in the second rotation sense, rotating thecommon driving roller 17 around the first revolution axis S thereof, and suchcommon driving roller 17 drives therotary belts 19. - Each passage slit 15 is, therefore, preferably delimited by the
support roller 18 and by therotary belt 19 of twoadjacent conveyor belts 12 and by the drivingroller 17 common to theconveyor belts 12 and is provided with an access opening 21 directed towards thestorage group 3 and opposite the aforesaidcommon driving roller 17. More in detail, such passage slits 15 are susceptible of receiving at their interiorcorresponding support arms 6 of a selectedabutment rack 4 through theaforesaid access openings 21 directed towards thestorage group 3. - In particular, when the
conveyor belts 12 are brought into operating position by the second movement means 14 through thesupport structure 16, thesupport arms 6 of the selectedabutment rack 4 placed adjacent to the conveyor belts 12 (i.e. in particular placed in approach position) are each inserted in a corresponding passage slit 15 through theaccess opening 21. - Advantageously, the driving
roller 17 common to theconveyor belts 12 is placed at a first height and thesupport rollers 18 of eachconveyor belt 12 are placed at a same second height equal to or lower than the first height. - In addition, each
conveyor belt 12 preferably comprises anidle roller 22, which is idly rotatable around a third revolution axis U thereof parallel to the first revolution axis S of thecommon driving roller 17 and is placed above with respect to thecorresponding support roller 18. - Therefore, preferably, the
rotary belts 19 of theconveyor belts 12 delimit, at least on the lower part, thereception seat 13 and theidle rollers 22 of theconveyor belts 12 delimiting thereception seat 13 at least laterally. - In particular, in the event in which the
support rollers 18 of theconveyor belts 12 are placed at a second height equal to the first height of the drivingroller 17 common to theconveyor belts 12, therotary belts 19 are provided with an abutment surface 51 (which is intended to receive a fabric reel thereon) that is substantially horizontal and, therefore, therotary belts 19 themselves delimit only on the lower part thereception seat 13 and theidle rollers 22 delimit only laterally thesame reception seat 13. Instead, as illustrated in the enclosed figures, in the event in which thesupport rollers 18 of theconveyor belts 12 are placed at a second height lower than the first height of the drivingroller 17 common to theconveyor belts 12, therotary belts 19 are provided with an abutment surface 51 (which is intended to receive a fabric reel thereon) that is tilted with respect to the horizontal and, therefore, therotary belts 19 themselves delimit both on the lower part and laterally, together with theidle rollers 22, thereception seat 13. - More in detail, the arrangement of the
idle rollers 22 on eachconveyor belt 12 prevents the fabric reel from accidentally rolling and falling outside thereception seat 13 and simultaneously ensures that the rotation of the aforesaid fabric reel is not prevented or obstructed during the unwinding or the rewinding. Indeed, in operation, when theconveyor belts 12 are actuated in the first rotation sense or in the second rotation sense in order to unwind or rewind the fabric reel placed in thereception seat 13, the fabric reel itself rotates on itself, driving theidle rollers 22 themselves in rotation; against such rollers the fabric reel is laterally abutted. Suchidle rollers 22 are free to rotate around the second revolution axis T. - In accordance with a preferred embodiment, the
support structure 16 of the unwindinggroup 11 comprises at least twosupport walls 23 facing each other and carrying, rotatably mounted thereon, the drivingroller 17 common to theconveyor belts 12 around the first revolution axis S thereof. More in detail, the aforesaidcommon driving roller 17 is extended along its first revolution axis S between two first lateral ends, which are supported by the aforesaid twosupport walls 23. - In addition,
such support structure 16 advantageously comprises at least onesupport beam 24 placed to mechanically connect thesupport walls 23 and twosupport arms 25 for eachconveyor belt 12, andsuch support arms 25 are extended transverse to the flanking direction Z, in particular perpendicular with respect thereto, each between afirst end 26 mechanically connected to thesupport beam 24 and an oppositesecond end 27. - More in detail, each
second end 27 carries rotatably mounted therein, together with thesecond end 27 of the other of the twosupport arms 25 provided for asame conveyor belt 12, the correspondingsupport roller 18. In particular, eachsupport roller 18 is extended along its second revolution axis T between two second lateral ends, which are supported by the second ends 27 of thecorresponding support arms 25. More in detail, the second ends 27 of thesupport arms 25 can rotatably carry, mounted thereon, the correspondingsupport roller 18 "directly" or "indirectly", i.e. through other components of thesame support structure 16 in turn mounted on the or connected to the aforesaid second ends 27. - More in detail, the two
support arms 25 provided for eachconveyor belt 12, which are extended starting from thefirst end 26 thereof connected to acommon support beam 24 and carry rotatably mounted thecorresponding support roller 18 at the second ends 27, ensure that theaccess openings 21 of the passage slits 15 are not obstructed by components which would block the penetration between thesupport belts 12 themselves of the unwindinggroup 11 and the abutment racks 4 of thestorage group 3. - Preferably, the
support beam 24 of thesupport structure 16 is extended below the drivingroller 17 common to theconveyor belts 12 and is, in particular, parallel to the first revolution axis S of the samecommon driving roller 17. In addition,such support beam 24 is preferably orthogonal to thesupport walls 23 of thesame support structure 16. - In addition, in accordance with the preferred embodiment, the two
support arms 25 provided for eachconveyor belt 12 are extended advantageously parallel to each other and, in particular, substantially horizontal starting from thesupport beam 24, in a manner such that, since theaforesaid support beam 24 is preferably placed below thecommon driving roller 17, eachsupport roller 18 is placed at a same second height smaller than the first height of thecommon driving roller 17. - Preferably, the
conveyance slide 49 is mounted, e.g. by means of screws, on thesupport beam 24 of thesupport structure 16, in particular on the opposite side with respect to that of thesupport arms 25. - Advantageously, the unwinding
group 11 comprises afabric tensioning device 74, which is provided with at least onebar 75 movable between a tensioning position, in which it intercepts the vertical direction which joins the at least oneconveyor belt 12 and theconveyance slide 49 and is placed at a second distance from the at least oneconveyor belt 12, and a disengagement position, in which it does not intercept the vertical direction that joins the at least oneconveyor belt 12 and theconveyance slide 49 and is placed at a third distance from the at least oneconveyor belt 12 greater than the second distance of the tensioning position. - In particular, the
bar 75 of thefabric tensioning device 74 is movable from the disengagement position to the tensioning position following the actuation of the at least oneconveyor belt 12 in the first rotation sense in order to unwind a fabric reel and following the deposit of the fabric unwound from the aforesaid fabric reel on theconveyance slide 49. In this manner, when thebar 75 is moved from the disengagement position to the tensioning position, thebar 75 itself, coming to interrupt the vertical direction that joins the at least oneconveyor belt 12 and theconveyance slide 49, comes to intercept the fabric unwound from the fabric reel, tensioning it. - In addition, the
bar 75 of thetensioning device 74 is advantageously movable from the tensioning position to the disengagement position before the actuation of the at least oneconveyor belt 12 in the second movement sense in order to rewind the fabric reel. - Preferably, the aforesaid
fabric tensioning device 74 is mounted on thesupport structure 16 of the unwindinggroup 11, in a manner such that it is moved together with theconveyor belts 12 when they are moved between the non-operating position and the operating position. - More in detail, the
fabric tensioning device 74 comprises twomovement arms 76, each rotatably mounted on thesupport walls 23 of thesupport structure 16 around a same fourth revolution axis.Such movement arms 76, preferably, carry mounted thereon theaforesaid bar 75 spaced from the aforesaid fourth revolution axis and are actuatable in rotation around this in order to move thebar 75 between the disengagement position and the tensioning position. - Advantageously, the
support structure 16 comprises tensioning means 28 for therotary belt 19 of eachconveyor belt 12. - Such tensioning means 28 comprise, advantageously, for the
rotary belt 19 of eachconveyor belt 12, twoabutment elements 29, two slidingblocks 30 and two tensioning springs 31. - In particular, each
abutment element 29 is slidably associated with acorresponding support arm 25 and is selectively lockable in position along thecorresponding support arm 25. - In addition, each sliding
block 30, advantageously, is slidably associated with acorresponding support arm 25 at itssecond end 27 and carries rotatably mounted, together with the other slidingblock 30, the correspondingsupport roller 18. - Preferably, the second lateral ends of each
support roller 18 are supported by two corresponding slidingblocks 30, which are slidably associated with twocorresponding support arms 25 at the second ends 27 thereof. - Therefore, preferably, each
support roller 18 is rotatably mounted "indirectly" on the second ends 27 of the twocorresponding support arms 25 since it is rotatably mounted on slidingblocks 30 slidably mounted on theaforesaid support arms 25 at the second ends 27. - Each
tensioning spring 31 is also advantageously interposed precompressed between acorresponding abutment element 29 and a corresponding slidingblock 30. - More in detail, the tensioning springs 31 exert an elastic thrust against the sliding
blocks 30, on which thesupport rollers 18 are rotatably mounted, in a manner such to push, as much as possible, the slidingblocks 30 away from theabutment elements 29 and, then, push as much as possible thesupport rollers 18 away from thecommon driving roller 17 in order to maintain therotary belts 19 taut. - In addition, since it is possible to selectively vary the point in which the
abutment elements 29 are fixed along thesupport arms 25, it is possible to selectively vary the size of the elastic thrust exerted by the tensioning springs 31, lengthening or shortening the same tensioning springs 31; the tensioning of therotary belts 19 depends on the size of the elastic thrust. - Advantageously, each sliding
block 30 comprises aslidable body 53, in particular having parallelepiped shape and provided with at least one through hole, within which thecorresponding support arm 25 is inserted at itssecond end 27. - In particular, even if no stop element is fixed at the second ends 27 of the support arms 25 - such stop element having dimensions greater than those of the through hole - the sliding
blocks 30 are not removed and do not risk falling from thecorresponding support arms 25 since they are retained by therotary belt 19 wound around thecommon driving roller 17 and thesupport roller 18 which is rotatably mounted on the slidingblocks 30 themselves. - Preferably, the two sliding
blocks 30 of the tensioning means 28 of eachconveyor belt 12 carry, also rotatably idly mounted, theidle roller 22 of therespective conveyor belt 12. In particular, eachidle roller 22 is extended along its third revolution axis U between two third lateral ends, which are supported by two corresponding sliding blocks 30. - In particular, the
slidable body 53 of each slidingblock 30 is provided, in addition to the through hole, also with a lower mountingopening 55 and with an upper mountingopening 56, which are extended along directions parallel and orthogonal to that of the through hole and carry, rotatably mounted thereon, respectively a second lateral end of thecorresponding support roller 18 and a third lateral end of the correspondingidle roller 22. - In accordance with the preferred embodiment, each
support arm 25 comprises a threaded portion (not illustrated) and eachabutment element 29 comprises a threadednut 33 screwed on the threaded portion of thecorresponding support arm 25. - In addition, each tensioning
spring 31 is preferably of helical type and is placed coaxial with thecorresponding support arm 25 and in abutment against the threadednut 33 of therespective abutment element 29, on one side, and against the respective slidingblock 30, on the other side. - In this manner, it is possible to vary the tensioning of the
rotary belts 19 by simply screwing and unscrewing the threaded nuts 33 in order to translate them along the threaded portions of thecorresponding support arms 25, consequently varying the length of the tensioning springs 31 and the elastic thrust exerted by these. - In accordance with a different embodiment not illustrated in the enclosed figures, the
support arms 25 comprise multiple first fixing openings attained spaced therealong, eachabutment element 29 comprises an abutment body provided with a through opening, within which thecorresponding support arm 25 is slidably inserted, and with at least one second fixing opening transverse to the aforesaid through opening and communicating therewith, and the tensioning means 28 comprise, for eachsupport arm 25 andabutment element 29, a fixing pin insertable in the second fixing opening of the abutment body of eachabutment element 29 and selectively in one of the first fixing openings of thecorresponding support arm 25. - In this manner, in order to vary the tensioning of the
rotary belts 19 it is sufficient to disconnect each fixing pin of the tensioning means 28 from the first fixing opening of thecorresponding support arm 25 and from the second fixing opening of the abutment body of therespective abutment element 29, make each abutment body slide along thecorresponding support arm 25 up to carrying its second fixing opening at a first fixing opening different from the preceding and newly insert each fixing pin in the second fixing opening of the respective abutment body and in the new selected first fixing opening of thecorresponding support arm 25. - Advantageously, the
support structure 16 of the unwindinggroup 11 comprises two slidingguides 34, each mounted on acorresponding support wall 23 and extended along a movement direction V that is substantially rectilinear, preferably substantially horizontal X. - More in detail, such movement direction V is transverse to the flanking direction Z and also to the movement path X in at least one point thereof (in particular transverse to the passage section extended from top to bottom of the movement path X).
- Advantageously, the aforesaid movement direction V is orthogonal to the flanking direction Z.
- In addition, the movement direction V is preferably orthogonal also to the movement path X in at least one point thereof (in particular orthogonal to the passage section of the movement path X).
- In addition, the
support frame 2 advantageously comprises at least two fixed slider elements, each of which slidably inserted in a corresponding slidingguide 34 and adapted to support thesupport structure 16. - In particular, each sliding
guide 34 is mounted on a face of thecorresponding support wall 23 directed in a direction opposite that on which slidingguide 34 of theother support wall 23 is mounted. In addition, thesupport frame 2 preferably comprises at least twosupport walls 57, each of which facing acorresponding support wall 23, and carry interposed therebetween thesupport structure 16 and each carry fixed thereto a corresponding fixed slider element. - Advantageously, the second movement means 14 comprise at least one
first rack 36 mounted on a first support wall 23' of the twosupport walls 23 of thesupport structure 16, at least onefirst pinion 37 coupled to thefirst rack 36 and at least oneelectric motor 38 mounted on thesupport frame 2, mechanically connected to the aforesaidfirst pinion 37 and arranged for rotating it. - In this manner, when the
electric motor 38 carries thefirst pinion 37 in rotation, thefirst rack 36 is translated, driving thesupport structure 16 along the movement direction V. - In order to ensure that the
support structure 16 translates along the movement direction V without risking being able to modify the orientation of the flanking direction Z along which theconveyor belts 12 are side-by-side, the second movement means 14 advantageously comprise amotion synchronization device 39 for the motion of thesupport structure 16. -
Such synchronization device 39 is preferably provided with at least one second rack mounted on asecond support wall 23" of the twosupport walls 23 of thesupport structure 16, at least one second pinion coupled to the second rack and at least onesynchronization shaft 40 rotatably mounted on thesupport frame 2, mechanically connected to thefirst pinion 37 and to the second pinion and arranged for transmitting the rotation motion from the aforesaidfirst pinion 37 to the second pinion. - In this manner, a single
electric motor 38 is sufficient for translating thesupport structure 16, maintaining unchanged the orientation of the flanking direction Z, since, if the slidingguide 34 mounted on the first support wall 23' translates by a specific distance on the corresponding fixed slider element under the action of thefirst pinion 37 and of thefirst rack 36, also the slidingguide 34 mounted on thesecond support wall 23" will translate by the same specific distance on the corresponding fixed slider element under the action of the second pinion brought into rotation by thesynchronization shaft 40 and of the second rack. - In accordance with the preferred embodiment illustrated in the enclosed figures, the
synchronization shaft 40 of thesynchronization device 39 is extended below thesupport walls 23 and carries thefirst pinion 37 and the second pinion fitted. - In particular, the
synchronization shaft 40 is extended transverse to thesupport walls 57 between two opposite fourth lateral ends, which are supported by thesame support walls 57. - The
support frame 2, advantageously, also carries rotatably mounted thereon two firstrotatable bearings 41, which are placed adjacent to the first support wall 23' of the twosupport walls 23, are side-by-side each other and are positioned above thefirst pinion 37, and, in addition, thefirst rack 36 is made of flexible material, defines at least one first windingcurve 42 around thefirst pinion 37 and is maintained under tension by the aforesaid two firstrotatable bearings 41. - Advantageously, the
support frame 2 also carries, rotatably mounted thereon, two second rotatable bearings, which are placed adjacent to thesecond support wall 23" of the twosupport walls 23, are side-by-side each other and are positioned above the second pinion, and, in addition, the second rack is made of flexible material, defines at least one second winding curve around the second pinion and is maintained under tension by the aforesaid two second rotatable bearings. - More in detail, the first two
rotatable bearings 41 are rotatably mounted on thesupport wall 57 facing the first support wall 23' and, in addition, the second tworotatable bearings 41 are rotatably mounted on thesupport wall 57 facing thesecond support wall 23". - In addition, the
electric motor 38 is advantageously in turn mounted on thesupport wall 57 facing the first support wall 23' and is preferably mechanically connected to thefirst pinion 37 by means of atransmission 58 provided withbelt 59 andpulley 60, and possibly also by means of a reducer. - More in detail, the aforesaid configuration with
first rack 36 and second rack made of flexible material and the placement of thesynchronization shaft 40 below thesupport structure 16 allows, simultaneously, reducing as much as possible the bulk of the second movement means 14 and of thesynchronization device 39 and at any rate obtaining an optimal movement of thesupport structure 16. - In accordance with the preferred embodiment, the movement path X of the abutment racks 4 is closed.
- Preferably, in addition, the closed movement path X is provided with a passage section extended from top to bottom with substantially rectilinear and vertical progression, in a manner such that the deposit of the fabric reels in the
reception seat 13 of the unwindinggroup 11 and the pickup of the fabric reel from the aforesaid reception seat are executed by simply translating upward or downward the abutment racks 4. - In addition, each
abutment rack 4 of thestorage group 3 is advantageously guidedly associated with thesupport frame 2 in an oscillating manner around a corresponding tilt axis W, which is parallel to the main extension direction Y of thesupport beam 5 thereof and placed above with respect to thesupport beam 5 thereof, in particular above with respect to theconcave abutment portions 9. - More in detail, the fact that the abutment racks 4 are guidedly associated with the
support frame 2 in an oscillating manner around the tilt axis W and that the aforesaid tilt axis W is placed above thesupport beam 5 allows thesame abutment racks 4 to maintain the orientation having thesupport beam 5 placed below theconcave abutment portions 9 for the entire closed movement path X. In particular, in fact, the placement of the tilt axis W above thesupport beam 5 and, in particular, above theconcave abutment portions 9 ensures that the center of gravity of the abutment rack 4 (whether this is empty or provided with the fabric reel) will always be placed between thesupport beam 5 and the tilt axis W itself, consequently eliminating the risk that the abutment racks 4 can be overturned during the movement along the closed movement path X. - Advantageously, the
support frame 2 comprises at least oneguide seat 43 extended adjacent to at least part of the movement path X (in particular adjacent to the passage section extended from top to bottom and susceptible of being intercepted by the at least oneconveyor belt 12 or by theconveyor belts 12 in operating position) and, in addition, eachabutment rack 4 is provided with at least oneengagement pin 44, which is spaced from thecorresponding support beam 5 and from the corresponding tilt axis W and is susceptible of being inserted in theguide seat 43 in order to maintain the tilt of thecorresponding abutment rack 4 controlled around the tilt axis W thereof, at least along part of the movement path X (i.e. in particular at least along the passage section). - In order to facilitate the insertion of the
engagement pin 44 of the abutment racks in theguide seat 43, thesupport frame 2 comprises anenlarged introduction portion 71 communicating with theguide seat 43. - In accordance with a further embodiment not illustrated in the enclosed figures, the movement path X is not closed, rather it is open and is extended between a first termination and a second termination. For example, such open movement path X is provided with a horizontal section, which terminates with the aforesaid first termination, and with a vertical section, which is extended starting from the horizontal section and terminates with the aforesaid second termination. More in detail, the passage section is extended along part of the vertical section of the movement path X and is spaced from the second termination thereof.
- In such case, for the purpose of placing a selected
abutment rack 4 at the passage section in order to deposit the fabric reel thereof in thereception seat 13 of the unwindinggroup 11, the first movement means 10 carry all theother abutment racks 4 substantially to the first termination of the horizontal section and/or substantially to the second termination of the vertical section up to having the selectedabutment rack 4 spaced from the others and free to be translated along the near totality of the movement path X. - Different from such configuration with horizontal section and vertical section, the open movement path X can also have overturned "U" shape for example.
- In accordance with the preferred embodiment, the first movement means 10 comprise at least one
first wheel 45, at least onesecond wheel 46, at least onetransport chain 47 and at least one actuation motor. More in detail, thefirst wheel 45 is rotatably connected to thesupport frame 2 around a first rotation axis P substantially parallel to the main extension direction Y of the support beams 5 of the abutment racks 4. In addition, advantageously, thesecond wheel 46 is rotatably connected to thesupport frame 2 around a second rotation axis Q parallel to the first rotation axis P. - In addition, the
transport chain 47 is advantageously wound around thefirst wheel 45 and thesecond wheel 46, defines the closed movement path X and carries the abutment racks 4 mounted thereon, each in an oscillating manner around the tilt axis W thereof. - Advantageously, the actuation motor is also mechanically connected to the
support frame 2 and at least to thefirst wheel 45 in order to rotate thefirst wheel 45 and drive the abutment racks 4 along the closed movement path X by means of thetransport chain 47. - Therefore, in operation, when the first movement means 10 are actuated for bringing a selected
abutment rack 4 to the passage section, the actuation motor rotates thefirst wheel 45, which drives all the abutment racks 4, by means of thetransport chain 47, along the movement path X, and makes them transit in the passage section, and the same actuation motor is deactivated when the selectedabutment rack 4 reaches the passage section. - Advantageously, the
first wheel 45 and thesecond wheel 46 are provided with a same diameter and are placed one above and the other below, in a manner such that thetransport chain 47 defines a passage section of the movement path X that is substantially rectilinear and vertical. - Preferably, the
support frame 2 comprises aguide seat 43 placed alongside thetransport chain 47 and having in turn rectilinear and vertical extension, in a manner such that the abutment racks 4 provided withengagement pin 44 are maintained with stable and controlled orientation along the passage section of the movement path X. - In order to securely support the abutment racks 4, the first movement means 10 comprise two
first wheels 45, which are facing each other and rotatable around the same first rotation axis P, twosecond wheels 46, which in turn face each other and are rotatable around the same second rotation axis Q, and twotransport chains 47, of which one is wound around a first and asecond wheel second wheel such transport chains 47 both carry theabutment racks 4 rotatably mounted in an oscillating manner around their tilt axes W. - Preferably, the first movement means 10 can comprise two motors, each mechanically connected to a corresponding
first wheel 45 and arranged for rotating together the aforesaid twofirst wheels 45, or, comprise a single actuation motor mechanically connected to one of the twofirst wheels 45 and areturn shaft 61 placed to mechanically connect the aforesaid twofirst wheels 45 and arranged for transferring the rotation motion from one to the other. - Advantageously, each
abutment rack 4 is provided with twocoupling brackets 65, which are extended transverse to thesupport beam 5 between abase end 66 mechanically connected to thesame support beam 5 and anopposite coupling end 67, which is rotatably connected in an oscillating manner around the tilt axis W to acorresponding transport chain 47. - In particular,
such coupling brackets 65 are extended between thebase end 66 and thecoupling end 67 with a length greater than that of thesupport arms 6 between the lower end 7 and theupper end 8, in a manner such that the tilt axis W both placed above and as spaced as possible from thesupport beam 5 in order to increase the stability of the same abutment racks 4. - More in detail, each
abutment rack 4 is provided with acoupling pin 68 extended along the tilt axis W starting from thecoupling end 67 of eachcoupling bracket 65 and inserted in a reception opening made on thecorresponding transport chain 47. - In accordance with the preferred embodiment, the
support frame 2 is provided with at least twolateral walls 62, which are facing each other, each carry afirst wheel 45 and asecond wheel 46 mounted thereon and, preferably, laterally delimit the operative volume in which in particular thestorage group 3 and the unwindinggroup 11 are at least partially placed. - Advantageously, the
lateral walls 62 carry fixed thereto at least twodelimitation brackets 72, which delimit between them theguide seat 43 for the engagement pins 44 of the abutment racks and, preferably, also theintroduction portion 71. - In particular, the
aforesaid support frame 2 also comprises amain beam 63, which is placed to mechanically connect the aforesaidlateral walls 62, in particular so as to increase the rigidity of thesupport frame 2 itself. - Preferably, the aforesaid
main beam 63 are coupled to thesupport walls 57, which support thesupport structure 16 of the unwindinggroup 11 through the fixed slider elements. - More in detail, the
lateral walls 62 of thesupport frame 2 between them at least partially delimit aload window 64, which is placed adjacent to thestorage group 3 and is placed on the other side with respect to the unwindinggroup 11. - In this manner, by moving the abutment racks 4 along the closed movement path X and making them all pass adjacent to the
load window 64, an operator can load the fabric reels on eachabutment rack 64. In addition, after the abutment racks 4 have been loaded, the operator himself/herself can be moved away in order to perform other tasks while the presentautomated machine 1 executes the loading and unloadingoperations 11 and the operations for unwinding and rewinding of the reels without requiring human intervention. - In accordance with a different embodiment not illustrated in the enclosed figures, the first movement means 10 comprise a rotary base, which is placed substantially vertically, has circular form, is rotatably mounted on the
support frame 2 around a corresponding third rotation axis substantially horizontal, rotatably mounted, at its perimeter, the abutment racks 4 in an oscillating manner around the tilt axis W thereof, and is actuatable in rotation by a corresponding movement motor. In particular, such rotary base defines a closed movement path X of circular form, which is provided with a passage section adjacent to the unwindinggroup 11 which is extended from top to bottom with arc of circumference form. - Also forming the object of the present invention is a process for unwinding and rewinding a fabric reel executed by means of the automated machine for unwinding and rewinding fabric reels described briefly up to now and regarding which the same reference numbers will be maintained hereinbelow for the sake of description simplicity.
- The process comprises a positioning step, in which the first movement means 10 carry a selected
abutment rack 4 at an approach position along the movement path X, and such abutment position is advantageously adjacent to the unwindinggroup 11, in particular adjacent to the at least oneconveyor belt 12 in non-operating position. - The process also comprises an insertion step, in which the second movement means 14 move the at least one
conveyor belt 12 from the non-operating position to the operating position in order to insert the at least oneconveyor belt 12 between thesupport arms 6 of the selectedabutment rack 4 in approach position. - In addition, the process provides for a deposit step, in which the first movement means 10 move at least the selected
abutment rack 4 along at least the movement path X from the approach position to a release position, moving thesupport beam 5 of the selectedabutment rack 4 away from the at least oneconveyor belt 12 and passing its twoconcave abutment portions 9 on the sides thereof at least oneconveyor belt 12, in order to deposit the corresponding fabric reel in thereception seat 13. - The process also comprises an unwinding step, in which the at least one
conveyor belt 12 is actuated in the first rotation sense in order to at least partially unwind the fabric reel, in particular so as to provide the fabric unwound from the aforesaid fabric reel to a machine placed downstream of the presentautomated machine 1, and a rewinding step, in which the at least oneconveyor belt 12 is actuated in the second rotation sense in order to rewind the fabric reel. - In addition, the process comprises a pick-up step, in which the first movement means 10 move at least the selected
abutment rack 4 along the movement path X from the release position to the approach position, moving thesupport beam 5 of the selectedabutment rack 4 close to the at least oneconveyor belt 12 and passing its at least twoconcave abutment portions 9 on the sides thereof at least oneconveyor belt 12, in order to pick up the fabric reel from thereception seat 13. - In addition, a moving away step is provided for, in which the second movement means 14 move the at least one
conveyor belt 12 from the operating position to the non-operating position in order to free the movement path X, in a manner such that the process itself can be repeated once again from the start with a new selectedabutment rack 4. - More in detail, in addition, the present process is executable by means of an
automated machine 1 in accordance with the embodiment illustrated in the enclosed figures, in particular which is provided with an unwindinggroup 11 comprisingmultiple conveyor belts 12 side-by-side along the flanking direction Z and mounted on asame support structure 16 and with astorage group 3 havingabutment racks 4 provided withmultiple support arms 6 andmultiple abutment portions 9. - Advantageously, in the insertion step, the second movement means 14 move the
support structure 16 in order to move theconveyor belts 12 together from the non-operating position to the operating position. In particular, in the non-operating position, theaforesaid conveyor belts 12 are spaced from the movement path X. In addition, advantageously, in the operating position, theaforesaid conveyor belts 12 intercept the movement path X, at least part of these are at least partially inserted between twoadjacent support arms 6 of the selectedabutment rack 4 placed in approach position and the passage slits 15 receivesuch support arms 6 at their interior. - In addition, advantageously, in the unwinding step, all the
conveyor belts 12 are together actuated in the first rotation sense in order to at least partially unwind the fabric reel, and, in addition, in the rewinding step, all theconveyor belts 12 are together actuated in the second rotation sense in order to rewind the fabric reel. - In addition, advantageously, in the pick-up step, the first movement means 10 move at least the selected
abutment rack 4 along the movement path X from the release position to the approach position, moving thesupport beam 5 of the selectedabutment rack 4 close to theconveyor belts 12 and passing theconcave abutment portions 9 in the passage slits 15, in order to pick up the fabric reel from thereception seat 13. In addition, in the moving away step, the second movement means 14 move thesupport structure 16 in order to move theconveyor belts 12 from the operating position to the non-operating position in order to free the movement path X. - The invention thus conceived therefore attains the pre-established objects.
Claims (11)
- Automated machine for unwinding and rewinding fabric reels, which comprises:- a support frame (2);- a group (3) for storing said fabric reels, which comprises:- two or more abutment racks (4), which are guidedly connected to said support frame (2) along a movement path (X) and are each provided with:- a support beam (5) extended along a main extension direction (Y),- at least two support arms (6) transverse to said support beam (5) and each extended between a lower end (7) mechanically connected to said support beam (5) and an opposite upper end (8);- at least two concave abutment portions (9), each placed at the upper end (8) of a corresponding said support arm (6) and intended to receive a fabric reel in abutment;- first movement means (10) mechanically connected at least to said support frame (2) and arranged for moving said abutment racks (4) along said movement path (X);- a group (11) for unwinding said fabric reels, which is placed adjacent to said storage group (3) and is provided with:- at least one conveyor belt (12), which is guidedly connected to said support frame (2), at least partially delimits a reception seat (13) for a said fabric reel, is configured for being at least partially inserted between the at least two support arms (6) of a selected said abutment rack (4) and is actuatable in a first rotation sense in order to unwind a said fabric reel and in an opposite second rotation sense in order to rewind a said fabric reel;- second movement means (14) mechanically connected to said support frame (2) and to said at least one conveyor belt (12) and arranged for moving said conveyor belt (12) between an operating position, in which said conveyor belt (12) intercepts the movement path (X) of said abutment racks (4), and a non-operating position, in which said conveyor belt (12) is spaced from the movement path (X) of said abutment racks (4).
- Automated machine according to claim 1, characterized in that said movement path (X) comprises at least one passage section extended from top to bottom;
in said operating position, said at least one conveyor belt (12) being placed to intercept said passage section. - Automated machine according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said unwinding group (11) comprises multiple conveyor belts (12), which are placed side-by-side along a flanking direction (Z), each laterally delimit, with an adjacent said conveyor belt (12), a passage slit (15) having a first width (L1) along said flanking direction (Z), and together at least partially delimit said reception seat (13) for a said fabric reel and they are actuatable together in said first rotation sense in order to unwind a said fabric reel and in said second rotation sense in order to rewind a said fabric reel;said abutment racks (4) each comprising:- multiple support arms (6), which are transverse to said support beam (5), parallel to each other, side-by-side along the main extension direction (Y) of said support beam (5), each are extended between a said lower end (7) thereof and a said upper end (8) thereof and each have, along the main extension direction (Y) of said support beam (5), a second width (L2) smaller than the first width (L1) of said passage slits (15);- multiple concave abutment portions (9), each placed at the upper end (8) of a corresponding said support arm (6), intended to receive in abutment a said fabric reel and each having, along the main extension direction (Y) of said support beam (5), a third width (L3) smaller than the first width (L1) of said passage slits (15);said unwinding group (11) also comprising a support structure (16), which is slidably connected to said support frame (2), carries said conveyor belts (12) mounted thereon and is mechanically connected to said second movement means (14) in order to move said conveyor belts (12) together between said operating position, in which said conveyor belts (12) intercept said movement path (X) of said abutment racks (4), at least part of said conveyor belts (12) are configured for being at least partially inserted between two adjacent support arms (6) of a selected said abutment rack (4) and the passage slits (15) delimited between them are configured for receiving at their interior the support arms (6) of the selected said abutment rack (4), and said non-operating position, in which said conveyor belts (12) are spaced from the movement path (X) of said abutment racks (4).
- Automated machine according to claim 3, characterized in that the conveyor belts (12) of said unwinding group (11) comprise:- at least one common driving roller (17), which is rotatable around a first revolution axis (S) parallel to said flanking direction (Z);- a support roller (18) for each said conveyor belt (12), and said support roller (18) is rotatable around a corresponding second revolution axis (T) parallel to the first revolution axis (S) of said common driving roller (17) and is interposed between said storage group (3) and said common driving roller (17);- a rotary belt (19) for each said conveyor belt (12), and said rotary belt (19) is wound around said common driving roller (17) and a corresponding said support roller (18);said unwinding group (11) comprising actuation means mounted on said support structure (16), mechanically connected to said common driving roller (17) and arranged for actuating together said conveyor belts (12) in said first rotation sense or in said second rotation sense, rotating said common driving roller (17) around said first revolution axis (S) thereof, and said common driving roller (17) drives said rotary belts (19);each passage slit (15) being delimited by the support roller (18) and by the rotary belt (19) of two adjacent said conveyor belts (12) and by said driving roller (17) common to said conveyor belts (12) and being provided with an access opening (21) directed towards said storage group (3) and opposite said common driving roller (17).
- Automated machine according to claim 4, characterized in that the support structure (16) of said unwinding group (11) comprises:- at least two support walls (23) facing each other and carrying, rotatably mounted around said first revolution axis (S) said driving roller (17) common to said conveyor belts (12);- at least one support beam (24) placed to mechanically connect said support walls (23);- two support arms (25) for each conveyor belt (12) extended transverse to said flanking direction (Z) each between a first end (26) mechanically connected to said support beam (24) and an opposite second end (27), which carries rotatably mounted thereon, together with the second end (27) of the other said support arm (25), the corresponding said support roller (18).
- Automated machine according to claim 5, characterized in that said support structure (16) comprises tensioning means (28) for the rotary belt (19) of each said conveyor belt (12), and said tensioning means (28) comprise:- two abutment elements (29), each of which is slidably associated with a corresponding said support arm (25) and is selectively lockable in position along the corresponding said support arm (25);- two sliding blocks (30), each of which slidably associated with a corresponding said support arm (25) at its said second end (27) and carries rotatably mounted thereon, together with the other said sliding block (30), the corresponding said support roller (18);- two tensioning springs (31), each of which is interposed precompressed between a corresponding said abutment element (29) and a corresponding said sliding block (30).
- Automated machine according to any one of the claims from 3 to 6, characterized in that the support structure (16) of said unwinding group (11) comprises two sliding guides (34) each mounted on a corresponding said support wall (23) and extended along a substantially rectilinear movement direction (V);said support frame (2) comprising at least two fixed slider elements, each of which is slidably inserted in a corresponding said slide guide (34) and adapted to support said support structure (16);said second movement means (14) comprising:- at least one first rack (36) mounted on a first support wall (23') of the at least two support walls (23) of said support structure (16);- at least one first pinion (37) coupled to said first rack (36);- at least one electric motor (38) mounted on said support frame (2), mechanically connected to said first pinion (37) and arranged for rotating said first pinion (37).
- Automated machine according to any one of the preceding claim, characterized in that said movement path (X) is closed;
each abutment rack (4) of said storage group (3) being guidedly associated with said support frame (2) in an oscillating manner around a corresponding tilt axis (W) parallel to the main extension direction (Y) of said support beam (5) thereof and placed above with respect to said support beam (5) thereof. - Automated machine according to claim 8, characterized in that said first movement means (10) comprise:- at least one first wheel (45), which is rotatably connected to said support frame (2) around a first rotation axis (P) substantially parallel to the main extension direction (Y) of the support beam (5) of said abutment racks (4);- at least one second wheel (46), which is rotatably connected to said support frame (2) around a second rotation axis (Q) parallel to said first rotation axis (P);- at least one transport chain (47), which is wound around said first wheel (45) and around said second wheel (46), defines said closed movement path (X) and carries said abutment racks (4) mounted thereon, each in an oscillating manner around said tilt axis (W) thereof;- at least one actuation motor mechanically connected to said support frame (2) and at least to said first wheel (45) in order to rotate said first wheel (45) and drive said abutment racks (4) along said closed movement path (X) by means of said transport chain (47).
- Process for unwinding and rewinding a fabric reel executed by means of an automated machine (1) according to any one of the preceding claim, said process comprising:- a positioning step, in which said first movement means (10) carry a selected said abutment rack (4) at an approach position along said movement path (X);- an insertion step, in which said second movement means (14) move said at least one conveyor belt (12) from said non-operating position to said operating position in order to insert said at least one conveyor belt (12) between the support arms (6) of the selected said abutment rack (4) in said approach position;- a deposit step, in which said first movement means (10) move at least the selected said abutment rack (4) along said movement path (X) from said approach position to a release position, moving the support beam (5) of the selected said abutment rack (4) away from said at least one conveyor belt (12) and passing said at least two concave abutment portions (9) thereof on the sides of said at least one conveyor belt (12), in order to deposit the corresponding said fabric reel in said reception seat (13);- an unwinding step, in which said at least one conveyor belt (12) is actuated in said first rotation sense in order to at least partially unwind said fabric reel;- a rewinding step, in which said at least one conveyor belt is actuated in said second rotation sense in order to rewind said fabric reel;- a pick-up step, in which the first movement means (10) move at least the selected said abutment rack (4) along said movement path (X) from said release position to said approach position, moving the support beam of the selected said abutment rack (4) close to said at least one conveyor belt (12) and passing said at least two concave abutment portions (9) thereof on the sides of said at least one conveyor belt (12), in order to pick up said fabric reel from said reception seat (13);- a moving away step, in which the second movement means (14) move said at least one conveyor belt (12) from said operating position to said non-operating position in order to free said movement path (X).
- Process according to claim 10 executed by means of an automated machine (1) according to any one of the claims from 3 to 7, characterized in that:- in said insertion step, said second movement means (14) move said support structure (16) in order to move together said conveyor belts (12) from said non-operating position, in which said conveyor belts (12) are spaced from said movement path (X), to said operating position, in which said conveyor belts (12) intercept said movement path (X), at least part of them are at least partially inserted between two adjacent said support arms (6) of the selected said abutment rack (4) placed in approach position and said passage slits (15) receive said support arms (6) at their interior;- in said unwinding step, all said conveyor belts (12) are together actuated in said first rotation sense in order to at least partially unwind one said fabric reel;- in said rewinding step, all said conveyor belts (12) are together actuated in said second rotation sense in order to rewind said fabric reel;- in said pick-up step, said first movement means (10) move at least the selected said abutment rack (4) along said movement path (X) from said release position to said approach position, moving the support beam (5) of the selected said abutment rack (4) close to said conveyor belts (12) and passing said concave abutment portions (9) thereof in said passage slits (15), in order to pick up said fabric reel from said reception seat (13);- in said moving away step, said second movement means (14) move said support structure (16) in order to move together said conveyor belts (12) from said operating position to said non-operating position in order to free said movement path (X).
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IT202100030863 | 2021-12-07 |
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EP4194383A1 true EP4194383A1 (en) | 2023-06-14 |
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Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
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EP22211766.5A Pending EP4194383A1 (en) | 2021-12-07 | 2022-12-06 | Automated machine for unwinding and rewinding fabric reels and process for unwinding and rewinding a fabric reel executed by means of said automated machine |
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GB353037A (en) | 1930-03-12 | 1931-07-13 | Hoe & Co R | Improvements in printing presses |
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WO2004069705A1 (en) | 2003-02-05 | 2004-08-19 | G.M.P. Spa | Apparatus to replace a feed reel for feeding a covering film, to lay and cut a segment of film, and relative method |
CN105540309A (en) | 2015-12-21 | 2016-05-04 | 杭州珂瑞特机械制造有限公司 | Wood pulp elevation changing device and method |
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2022
- 2022-12-06 EP EP22211766.5A patent/EP4194383A1/en active Pending
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Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
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GB353037A (en) | 1930-03-12 | 1931-07-13 | Hoe & Co R | Improvements in printing presses |
GB1017177A (en) | 1962-08-16 | 1966-01-19 | Edgar Von Rudgisch | Improvements relating to the storage and dispensing of sheet material |
US3776541A (en) | 1970-07-21 | 1973-12-04 | G Stumpf | Cloth folding machine |
US4493460A (en) | 1981-04-13 | 1985-01-15 | G. O. Stumpf Gmbh & Co. Kommanditgesellschaft | Apparatus for depositing a web of material on a table |
US20040118964A1 (en) | 2002-12-20 | 2004-06-24 | Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. | Unwind system with flying-splice roll changing |
WO2004069705A1 (en) | 2003-02-05 | 2004-08-19 | G.M.P. Spa | Apparatus to replace a feed reel for feeding a covering film, to lay and cut a segment of film, and relative method |
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