GB2186271A

GB2186271A - A machine for unwinding and automatically connecting sheet material

Info

Publication number: GB2186271A
Application number: GB08613950A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jean Francois Ballet
Original assignee: Colgate Palmolive Co
Current assignee: Colgate Palmolive Co
Priority date: 1983-05-12
Filing date: 1986-06-09
Publication date: 1987-08-12
Also published as: AU560080B2; FR2545801B1; GB2186271B; GB2142609B; FR2545801A1; GB8412123D0; AU2787784A; BE899652A; GB2186866A; GB8613951D0; GB2142609A; GB2186866B; GB8613950D0

Abstract

A machine for unwinding and automatically connecting sheet material such as polyethylene film, non- woven or cellular sheets and the like comprising two frames 19A, 19B mounted to rock between an operative position and a stand-by position, reels of sheet material 20A, 20B being driven at the periphery thereof by devices 5A, 5B at a speed which is controlled by the unwinding speed required at the downstream end of the machine. The sheet passes through a first of the said rockable frames and passes around a discharging roller 21. When the end of the reel is detected, the second reel is driven at the periphery thereof, the second rockable frame is brought into operation, a driving roller 22 is brought into cooperation with the discharging roller, and the front end of the second sheet, which has been previously supplied with an adhesive 38, is connected to the first sheet. A photoelectric cell 23 then initiates the cutting of the first sheet when the connecting region is detected. A pulley block tensioning device 3 imparts constant tension to the web being fed onward therefrom and the positive drive afforded by driving roller 22 is effected to relieve the tension on the web while splicing is taking place. <IMAGE>

Description

GB2186271A 1 SPECIFICATION Figure 3 is a diagrammatic view of the con

necting device of the machine; and A machine for unwinding and automatically Figure 4 is a diagram of the motor control connecting sheet material circuit.

70 The unwinding machine shown in Fig. 1 is The present invention relates to a machine for adapted to deliver continuously a sheet of a unwinding and automatically connecting sheet material such as polyethylene, non-woven fab material which is carried by two reels which ric, cellulose, etc., to a treating installation are put alternately into operation. (not shown) located on the downstream side When it is desired to continuously unwind 75 of the machine. The unwinding machine com- at a high rate fragile and/or extensible pro- prises a double unwinder device 1, a connect ducts, reel changing presents serious prob- ing device 2 and a device 3 for controlling the lems if it is desired to avoid as far as possible tension in the material being unwound.

waste and to avoid disturbing the operation of The unwinder 1 comprises two reel-carrying.

the treating installation located on the down- 80 shafts 4A, 413 (which in use carry reels 20A stream side of the machine, which installation and 2013) with which there are associated a may for example serve to manufacture dispo- belt driving device 5A, 513 and an empty reel sable napkins or diapers for babies. Heretofore detecting device 6A, 6B.

it has only been possible to automatically feed The devices 1 and 2 are mainly symmetrical a new reel of material which leads to breakrelative to the two reels which are being con down and discontinuity of operation. sidered. Consequently, hereinafter, the letter The present invention aims to provide a -A- or---13---will be assigned to the same simple and compact machine which is capable element relating to the two respective reels of meeting these requirements in a satisfac- and these letters will be omitted for designat tory manner. 90 ing any one of these two elements.

According to the present invention there is As can be seen in Fig. 2, each driving de provided an unwinding and automatic connect- vice 5 comprises a set of two pulleys 7, 8 ing machine for sheet material which is carried around which a belt 9 extends. The shafts of by two reels, the said machine comprising the two pulleys are carried by a rigid frame two frames mounted to be rockable between 95 10 which is pivotally mounted on the shaft of an operative position and a stand-by position. the lower pulley 7. A driving pulley 11 is Each frame comprises at least one input roller keyed on this shaft and is connected selec and an output roller, a discharging roller, a tively by a lever 14, with possibility of rever driving roller adapted to temporarily cooperate sal of the direction of rotation, via a belt or with the discharging roller, and a guiding deother transmission means and a pulley 13 to vice for guiding a sheet which leaves the out- the output means 15 of a transmission 16 put roller toward the nip gap between the driven by a motor 17.

discharging roller and the driving roller when The connecting device 2 (see Figs. 1 and 3) the corresponding frame is in the operative comprises two pivotal frames 19A, 19B which position thereof. 105 are respectively associated with the two reels According to advantageous features of the 20A, 2013, a discharging roller 22 and a present invention each frame comprises cut- photoelectric cell 23. The roller 22 is also ting means disposed between the input roller driven by the motor 17 and its speed is pro and the output roller, the said cutting means portional to that of the driving devices 5A and being controlled if desired by a photoelectric 110 5B.

cell which is disposed downstream of the dis- Each frame 19A, 19B carries two rollers 24, charging roller. The machine preferably com- 25 and is mounted to be able to rock about prises a driving device for the periphery of the the shaft of the lower roller 24. In use the reel associated with each frame, the two per- sheet 26 which is being unwound extends ipheral driving devices being adapted to rotate 115 from its reels 20A or 20B and passes around at the same peripheral speed and each being a fixed roller 27 located upstream of the capable of coming selectively into engagement frame 19, and then under the input roller 24, with the corresponding reel. and then around the upper output roller 25 The invention may be put into practice in which the sheet surrounds to the extent of various ways and one specific embodiment 120 almost half its circumference. Between the rol will be described to illustrate the invention lers 24 and 25, the frame carries an anvil 28 with reference to the accompanying drawings, in the form of a groove and, on the other side in which: of the sheet 26, a movable cutter 29. A Figure 1 is a diagrammatic assembly view of stand-by table 30 is provided downstream of an unwinding and automatic connecting ma- 125 the roller 25. The shaft of the driving roller 22 chine according to the invention; is carried by a pivotal fork member 31 Figure 2 is a diagrammatic view of the de- adapted to pivot as indicated by the arrow.

vice for driving the reels of the said machine, The rollers 21, 24, 25 and 27 are freely rota this view being in the opposite direction to table and the roller 22 is connected to the that of Fig. 1; 130motor 17 by a suitable transmission (not 2 GB 2 186 271 A 2 shown). full and in a stand-by condition. The driving Pneumatic fluid motors or cylinder devices device 513 rotates at the same speed as the (not shown) control the movements of the device 5A. The beginning of the sheet 26B is frames 10 (see Fig. 2) of the unwinder 1, the fed around the rollers 27B and then 24B and frames 19 and the cutters 29 of the device 2 70 around the roller 25B and its free end freely and the fork member 3 1. bears on the table 30B and carries on its up The tension controlling the device 3 com- per face a double-sided adhesive band 38.

prises a tension pulley arrangement 32 which As the diameter of the reel 20A diminishes, is loaded by a suspended counterweight 33 the frame 10A of the driving device 5A de- which imposes a constant tension on the 75 scends until the proximity detector 6A associ sheet downstream of the cell 23 and compen- ated therewith initiates the connecting oper sates for variations in speed and stretch of ation which is carried out as follows.

the sheet within a moderate space, in particu- The roller 22 is brought against the band lar during the connecting operation which will 26A and drives the latter to the output of the be described hereinafter. 80 device 2 upstream of the cell 23. The frame The speed of the motor 17 is regulated by 10B descends and commences the the periph- the circuit shown in Fig. 4. This circuit com- eral driving of the reel 2013. The frame 19B is prises a speed variator 34 of the -four-qua- moved to the left and this brings the adhesive drant- type, i.e. of the type which is con- band 38 into contact with the sheet 26A. The trolled both when accelerating and when brak- 85 two sheets 26A and 26B are then driven to ing. This variator receives three items of the gether in the nip gap between the rollers 21 information: over the line 35, a set speed, and 22.

corresponding to the unwinding required by When the cell 23 detects the passage of the downstream installation, which is delivered the adhesive band 38 by a change in the opa- by a dynamo (not shown) located downstream 90 city (or in the reflected luminosity), it actuates of the tension pulley arrangement 32; an error the cutter 29A which cuts the sheet 26A and signal corresponding to the difference between then causes the raising of the frame 10A and the real speed of unwinding in the region of the retraction to the left of the frame 19A and the tension pulley arrangement which is de- the withdrawal to the left of the roller 22. The duced from the movements of the counter- 95 reel 20A can then be replaced by a stand-by weight 33 by a potentiometer 36 connected full reel and the unwinding of the sheet 26B to the latter, and the set speed. Lastly, the follows on the unwinding of the sheet 26A variator 34 receives a signal corresponding to without interruption. The information from the the real speed of the motor 17 furnished by a cell 23 is also transmitted to the tension pul- dynamo 37 keyed on the shaft of the motor. 100 ley arrangement located on the downstream The variator 34 deduces at each instant from side which automatically eliminates the region the first two signals the speed required of the of the sheet involved in the connection from motor 17, and the third signal enables this the subsequent treatment.

speed to be stabilized by means of a closed It should be noted that jerks in the motion loop regulation. 105 of the sheet due to the connection of the two The machine operates in the following man- sheets are isolated from the downstream side, ner: on one hand, by the positive drive afforded At the start, it will be assumed that the reel temporarily by the roller 22, and on the other 20A is in course of unwinding; its sheet 26A hand, by the tension pulley arrangement 32.

passes round the roller 27A, round the roller 110 Further, the roller 22 pulls on the sheet 26A, 24A, round the roller 25A, round the roller which facilitates the cutting, and the tension 21, in front of the cell 23 through the tension pulley arrangement acts as a buffer device ac pulley arrangement 32 and then reaches a commodating variations in sheet speed.

subsequent treating station (not shown) lo- The connection between the two reels is cated downstream of the machine. The roller 115 thus achieved in a reliable and automatic man 22 is separated from the roller 21. The frame ner and leaves a minimum amount of product 19A is rocked forwardly (to the right in Fig. on the empty reel and does not disturb the 3) and this brings the portion of sheet located operation of the installation downstream of between the rollers 25A and 21 to a vertical the machine. It will be understood that a suit position. The driving device 5A is lowered 120 able timing must be provided between the into the lower position so that it freely bears various movements, and in particular between against the reel 20A and drives the latter by thestart of the peripheral drive of the reel 20B cooperation of its belts 9A with the periphery and the lowering (moving to the left) of the of this reel, the synchronization of the speed frame 1913, so as to avoid any damage to the of this belt 9A and the velocity of the sheet 125 sheet 2613. This timing may, in particular, in downstream of the tension pulley arrangement troduce slack in the sheet in the region of the being achieved by means of the circuit shown connection, this slack being taken up later by in Fig. 4. the tension pulley arrangement 32 when the At the start the driving device 513 is raised roller 22 returns to the inoperative position.

and moved away from the reel 2013, which is 130 In order to replace an empty reel and put its 3 GB 2 186 27 1 A 3 leading end in position in the device 2, a cor- frame, the two peripheral driving devices be responding case 39 (see Fig. 1) must be ing arranged to rotate at the same peripheral opened, and this opening cuts off the pneu- speed and each being capable of being matic circuit connected to the associated fluid brought selectively into engagement with their motor or cylinder device actuating the cutter 70 associated reel.

Claims

29. In this way the safety of the operator is 10. A machine as claimed in

Claim 9 in ensured. which each peripheral driving device comprises The levers 14A, 14B are for disengaging a belt extending around two pulleys, one of the driving device 5A or 513 when a single the said pulleys having a fixed axis, the said reel is desired to be employed, and also for 75 belt drivingly engaging by the effect of friction reversing the direction of rotation of a reel the corresponding reel.

when the nature of the sheet material requires 11. A machine as claimed in Claim 9 or this. Claim 10 comprising a device for detecting the diameter of the reel which is being un CLAIMS 80 wound, the said device, on detection of a pre 1. An unwinding and automatic connecting determined condition indicating the reel to be machine for sheet material which is carried by nearly fully unwound, being operative to put two reels, the said machine being provided the other or stand-by frame into the operative with sheet connecting means comprising two position thereof and to selectively put the frames mounted to be movable between an 85 other peripheral driving device into engage operative position and a stand-by position, ment with the stand-by reel.

each frame comprising at least one input roller 12. A device as claimed in Claim 9 sub and an output roller, a discharging roller, and stantially as specifically described herein as a driving roller adapted to cooperate temporar- device 1 with reference to Figs. 1 and 2 of ily with the discharging roller with a nip gap 90 the accompanying drawings.

therebetween, and means for guiding a sheet 13. A machine for unwinding sheet ma which leaves an output roller toward the said terial which is carried by two reels comprising nip gap between the said discharging roller at the downstream end thereof, a pulley block and the said driving roller when the frame is tensioning arrangement which imparts a con in the operative position thereof. 95 stant tension to the sheet.
2. A machine as claimed in Claim 1 in 14. A machine as claimed in Claim 13 in which the generatrix of the output roller of which the said pulley block tensioning arrange each frame is above the said nip gap between ment comprises a suspended counterweight the said discharging roller and the said driving associated with a position detector, the speed roller when the frame is in the operative posi- 100 of the unwinding mechanism being controlled tion thereof. in accordance with the output of the said po
3. A machine as claimed in Claim 1 in sition detector.

which the generatrix of the output roller of 15. A machine as claimed in Claim 13 or each frame is in vertical alignment with the Claim 14 substantially as specifically described said nip gap between the said discharging rol- 105 herein as device 3 with reference to Fig. 1 or ler and the said driving roller when the frame Fig. 1 and Fig. 4 of the accompanying draw is in the operative position thereof. ings.
4. A machine as claimed in Claim 1, 2 or 16. A machine as claimed in any one of 3 in which each frame further includes a Claims 9 to 12 in combination with sheet con- stand-by table located downstream of the said 110 necting means as claimed in any one of output roller. Claims 1 to 8.
5. A machine as claimed in any preceding claim substantially as specifically described herein with reference to components 3, 22 and 23 of the accompanying drawings.

Printed for Her Majesty's Stationery Office by Burgess & Son (Abingdon) Ltd, Dd 8991685, 1987. Published at The Patent Office, 25 Southampton Buildings. London, WC2A 1 AY, from which copies may be obtained.

5. A machine as claimed in any one of 17. A machine as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 4 in which each frame further Claims 1 to 8 or Claims 9 to 12 or Claim 16 includes cutting means. in combination with a pulley block tensioning
6. A machine as claimed in any one of 115 arrangement as claimed in any one of Claims Claims 1 to 5 in which in each frame the 13 to 15.

cutting means are disposed between the said 18. A machine as claimed in Claim 1 sub- input roller and the said output roller thereof. stantially as specifically described herein with
7. A machine as claimed in Claim 5 or reference to the accompanying drawings.

Claim 6, including sensor means, e.g. a photo- 120 electric cell, disposed downstream of the dis- CLAIMS charging roller and controlling the said cutting Amendments to the claims have been filed, means. and have the following effect:

8. A machine as claimed in Claim 1 in Claims 1-18 above have been deleted or which the sheet connecting means are sub- 125 textually amended.

stantially as specifically described herein as New or textually amended claims have been device 2 with reference to Figs. 1 and 3. filed as follows:

9. A machine for unwinding sheet material 1. A machine for unwinding sheet material which is carried by two reels including a reel which is carried by two reels arranged to be periphery driving device associated with each 130 driven alternately, comprising at the down- 4 GB2186271A 4 stream end thereof, a pulley block tensioning arrangement which imparts a constant tension to the sheet, means for joining the end of one reel to the start of the other reel, and tension relieving means arranged to relieve the tension in the part of the sheet material where the end of one reel is joined to the start of the other reel while that part is passing through the machine.

2. A machine as claimed in Claim 1 in which the said pulley block tensioning arrange ment comprises a suspended counterweight associated with a position detector, the speed of the unwinding mechanism being controlled in accordance with the output of the said position deector.

3. A machine as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 in which the tension relieving means comprises a drive which is normally inactive, but is arranged to drive the sheet material towards the tensioning arrangement as a join is passing through the machine.

4. A machine as claimed in any preceding claim in which the tension relieving means comprises a detector of a join arranged to eliminate the part of the sheet where there is a join from subsequent treatment.