GB2211824A

GB2211824A - Web rewinding apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2211824A
Application number: GB8807656A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Glenn Edgar Randolph
Original assignee: IMPRINTING SYSTEMS SPECIALTY I
Current assignee: IMPRINTING SYSTEMS SPECIALTY I
Priority date: 1987-11-02
Filing date: 1988-03-31
Publication date: 1989-07-12
Anticipated expiration: 2008-03-31
Also published as: DE3811377C2; DE3811377A1; JPH0651542B2; IT8820955A0; GB2211824B; GB8807656D0; IT1219711B; CA1333711C; JPH01122861A

Description

A 2211821t Label Auto-Transfer Turret Rewind Assembly The present

invention relates to a method and apparatus for winding reels of material onto a core. More particularly, the present invention relates to an assembly for the winding of defined lengths of webs onto a resilient core adapted for engagement onto and removal from a mandrel. The invention is particularly useful in the manufacture of labels in the printing industry.

In the manufacturing of labels, after printing, it is necessary to rewind reels of labelcarrying webs bearing large quantities of labels onto smaller rolls of accurate and defined quantities of labels. In actual manufacture, it requires about twice as much time and accompanying manpower to rewind the labels as to accomplish the original manufacture or printing of the labels.

The present invention provides a method and apparatus for transferring large reels of labels onto small rolls or cores with excellent accuracy (i.e., a specified number of labels per roll) and with less than one-fourth (l/4) the manpower required for the current label rewinding process.

The invented label auto-transfer turret rewind apparatus is basically a rotatable base plate having a plurality of protruding mandrels or spindles, each spindle adapted to receive and rotate a take-up spool, which spindles are journaled for rotation in the base. Each spindle is powered by a drive mechanism on the reverse side of the rotatable base plate. A counter controls a cut-off mechanism for. accurately placing the correct number of labels on each spool. In addition, a warning system provides an audible signal when a spool is not removed by the time the spindle rotates to a specified indexed position.

The following patents are believed to be material to the examination of the subject invention:

Yamaguchi U.S. Patent 4,055,313, entitled Apparatus for Exchanging Rewound Rolls in a Roll Slitting and Rewinding Machine, shows a longitudinal is slitter and rewinder, which cuts a wide web into a plurality of narrow webs, and winds them onto a plurality of rolls.

Seelinger U.S. Patent 4,596,505 entitled Automatic Loader/Unloader for Slitter, teaches a longitudinal web slitter, and also teaches two pairs of turret-type spindles 20, 21, 22, 23.

Marshall U.S. Patent 4,518,126, entitled Take-up Mechanism, shows a winding takeup mechanism for controlling strands or webs on tubes.

Kupper U.S. Patent 4,651,865, entitled Device for Unloading a Coil, shows multiple mandrels, but these are for textile threads. The mandrels appear to be individually driven.

Cooper U.S. Patent 4,416,426, entitled Web Treatment Apparatus shows a rotatable turret with four mandrels which index to various positions.

(ray U.S. Patent 1,040,188, entitled Automatic Winding Machine, shows an automatic winding apparatus with multiple spindles from an earlier era.

Nichols U.S. Patent 1,484,842, entitled 3 Slitting and Rewinding Machine, teaches another rewind apparatus, including the slitting function.

The invention is a label auto-transfer turret rewind apparatus, which comprises a large disc having a plurality of core-receiving mandrels -protruding from one side of the disc, each journaled for rotation within a bearing housed in the disc, the other end of each mandrel carrying a drive sheave.

Two or three mandrel drive sheaves are engaged by a drive belt at any one time, the remainder being undriven, and therefore "idling". A glue unit is movable against a core on a mandrel, and has an associated cutting blade or knife. The glue unit then retracts and a knife blade passes through the region is between two cores on adjacent mandrels, cutting a web, if present, and urging it against the newly glued core. The turret indexes to a new orientation. The core is wound with labels on a web, and the procedure is repeated when the core is filled with the desired number of labels. Upon indexing to an idler position, the wound core is removed manually and an empty core is placed on the mandrel. Each core has a segmented friction core holder, by which the core is gripped when the mandrel is turning, and which readily releases its grip on the mandrel upon a simple manual maneuver by the operator.

It is the primary object of this invention to provide a method for rewinding label-carrying webs onto small rolls or cores with extremely high accuracy, yet with a minimum of manpower.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a method for turning mandrel mounted in turret-fashion on a rotary plate, but only when in predetermined positions.

It is also an object of this invention to 4 provide apparatus for rewinding webs of material such as label-carrying webs, which is safe and easy to operate.

- It is another object of this invention to provide means for holding a core tightly on a mandrel, yet which is easy to remove.

The foregoing and other objects will become more readily apparent from the following detailed description and the appended drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a front view of the label auto transfer turret rewind assembly.

Figure 2 is a rear view of the label turret rewind assembly.

Figure 3 is an isometric view of a friction core holder in the deactivated position.

Figure 4 is an end view of a friction core holder in the activated position, showing two alternative embodiments of core holder segment connectors.

Figure 5 is an isometric view of a mandrel in accordance with the invention.

Referring now to Figure 1, a large disc 10 is mounted for rotation on a base 12, about axis 13.

The disc 10 is provided with 8 label friction mandrels or spindles 14, all of which protrude from one side of disc 10 and are driven from the other side.

Each mandrel 14, which has a longitudinal flat face 16, holds a core 18, which is generally made of cardboard, fiberboard, vinyl, plastic, or other resilient material. The core is held onto the mandrel 14 by a pair of semi-circular disclike segments 20, 22, which have slightly offset respective centers 24, 26. Each segment 20 is identical to segment 22, but is reversed when mated. Mandrel 14 has a pair of longitudinal flat faces 28, which accommodate the off- set centers in the non-round orientation, as shown in Figure 3. The segments preferably have an annular outer groove 30 for receiving a resilient band or 0 ring 32 to hold the mated segments together.

The reverse side of the turret rewind base 12 carries drive means, including a motor driven sheave 36, and a drive sheave arrangement in which drive belt 38 engages only two or three of the mandrel.

drive sheaves 40 at any one time (see Figure 2).

Idler pulleys 42 are provided to create proper tension in belt 38 and the proper drive angle of belt 38 with regard to each sheave 40 in a driven position.

A glue unit 44 includes a glue-containing receptacle or trough 46, a roller-applicator 48 is mounted at the trough so that a portion of the roller extends into the glue contained in the trough, and means for moving the glue unit laterally into and out of engagement with a core on a spindle. The glue unit is mounted on a track 50 which is connected to the frame 12, and is preferably reciprocally powered along the track by a pneumatic cylinder, not shown.

The glue unit may advantageously carry a lower glue carrier roll 52 which is partially submerged in the glue pool and contacts the roller-applicator 48 by which the carrier roll applies glue to the applicator roll 48, which allows the applicator roll to be of a smaller diameter than otherwise would be required to extend into the glue pool in the trough. In addition, the use of a carrier roll will prevent excessive glue from being applied-to the carrier roll and thus to the core.

A web cutting assembly 56, including a cutting blade 58, is mounted for horizontal movement on a track 60, which is fixed to frame 12. A solenoidactuated pneumatic cylinder 62 is connected 6 to the blade assembly for horizontal movement along the track 60. Another solenoid-actuated pneumatic cylinder controls vertical movement of the blade. The cutting assembly includes a web guide roll 66 which controls the angle and path of the web as it is being cut. If desired, the blade 58 can be set to cut at an angle of up to 45 degrees from the vertical.

The indexing of each core-containing mandrel to the next position is automatically controlled. A counter may be provided to accurately count the number of labels on the core, whereupon when a predetermined number is reached it would generate a signal to activate movement of the cutting assembly and blade, then to index the mandrel to the next position by rotation of the disc plate to its new orientation, and activate the glue unit to apply adhesive to a newly positioned core in the standby position.

A detector, comprising a photoelectric cell 70, is focused at a location indicated by reflector 72, and is so adjusted that its beam is aimed to just miss mandrel if it carries no core thereon. The detector is provided with an audible alarm which also controls an emergency stop for preventing further indexing of the turret apparatus until the label or web-containing roll can be removed from the mandrel at the focused position indicated at 75.

In operation, a core 18 is placed on a mandrel 14, prior to the mandrel being indexed to the location for web accumulation. As it approaches location 18A, the mandrel begins turning, as its associated drive sheave 40 is engaged by drive belt 38. Upon reaching that core location, indicated at 18A, the glue unit is activated to move horizontally until the applicator roll 48 touches a core for one core revolution, the applicator applying glue for one 7 revolution, the exact time of the glue application being computer controlled. The glue unit retracts. When the active core is filled, the cutting unit moves forward to slice the label-containing web, the turret indexes, and the glue unit applies adhesive to the. next core.

The action of the blade dropping and slicing the web actually forces the web down against the adhesive-bearing core, and immediately upon blade retraction, the core is already accumulating labels. Then the turret 10 indexes to the next station, meaning that the plate disc has revolved 1/8 of a revolution. The label-filled core 18 is removed after the turret has indexed twice, so that the associated is drive sheave for the mandrel which that core is gripping is no longer engaged by drive belt 38, and the mandrel 'Is no longer turning. The empty core is turning prior to the glue being applied, and the core is also turning while it is filling. Then when it indexes to the next station, it can be removed.

The elongated flat sides of each mandrel accommodate the core support segments when offset to the non-circular central orifice orientation. When the spindle 14 turns in an operative direction, it forces the split center of the core-gripping segments to assume a round configuration, rather than that of two slightly off-s et half-moons. Reverse pressure on the core will release the outward force from the mandrel and allow the core to be readily removed therefrom.

Normally a rewind machine is required for twice as much time as the original winder. A rewind machine is used to rewind the large rolls into small, easily handled rolls for a label applicator, such as a portable label applicator. Use of the subject invention allows the reduction of required personnel by at least two or three rewinder operators, with an attendant dramatic decrease in cost of label production.

Alternatively, the semi-circular core support segments may be wider than shown, thus requiring only one pair of segments to support a core.

When two pairs of segments are used, each opposed pair may be connected by a spacer 80, as shown in Figure 4, or by a pair of spacers 82, such as dowel rods.

A safety guard 86 may be provided to prevent contact of any person with the cutting blade.

From the foregoing, it is readily apparent that I have invented a method and apparatus for is rewinding label-carrying webs onto small rolls or cores with extremely high accuracy, yet with a minimum of manpower, a method for turning only selected mandrels mounted in turret-fashion on a rotary plate, when in predetermined positions, I have also provided apparatus for rewinding webs of material such as label-carrying webs, which is safe and easy to operate, along with means for holding a core tightly on a mandrel, yet which is readily removable with ease.

While I have shown and described present preferred embodiments of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto or thereby, but any changes or modifications within the scope of the following claims are included within the invention.

9

Claims

Apparatus for rewinding a web of material, comprising:

frame; rotatable disc mounted on said frame; a plurality of mandrels rotatably mounted at equal intervals about said disc, said mandrels extending horizontally from said disc and being arranged with their axes being equidistant from the central axis of said disc; and drive means adapted to drive less than all of said mandrels as positioned in a predetermined location with regard to said frame and to engage and disengage mandrels as they move into and out of said predetermined location.
2. Apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising cutting means mounted on said frame for cutting said web.
3. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein at least one of said mandrels carries a core for receiving a web, said apparatus further comprising means mounted on said frame for applying glue to said core.
4. Apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising means for moving the glue applying means laterally into and out of engagement with a core on a mandrel.
5. Apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising means for determining the amount of web on said core and for controlling the cutting means in response to a signal from said amount determining means.

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6. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each mandrel is provided with a drive sheave on the end of said mandrel opposite said corereceiving end, said drive means is a motor, including a drive belt engaging said motor and at least two of said mandrel -drive sheaves.
7. Apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a horizontally oriented track fixed to said frame, said cutting means including a cutting blade assembly mounted for horizontal movement on said track, and means for horizontal movement of said cutting blade assembly along said track.
8. Apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said means for horizontal movement along the track is a solenoid-actuated pneumatic cylinder connected to the blade assembly and to said frame.
9. Apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising means for movement of said blade through said web.
10. Apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising a solenoid-actuated pneumatic cylinder connected to said blade.
11. Apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising a track connected to said frame, said means for applying glue being mounted on said track for reciprocal movement thereon.
12. Apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising a pneumatic cylinder for moving said glue- applying means along said track.
13. Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said means for applying glue comprises a glue-containing receptacle, a roller-applicator mounted on said receptacle and means for moving the roller-applicator laterally into and out of engagement with a core on a mandrel.
14. Apparatus according to claim 13, further comprising a lower glue carrier roll mounted for rotation in said receptacle and partially submerged in glue in said receptacle, and adapted to contact said roller-applicator to apply glue to the applicator roll.
15. Apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising detector means on said frame for determining the presence of a web on a mandrel.
16. Apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said detector means comprises a photoelectric cell and a reflector, the beam of said cell being aimed to closely miss a mandrel carrying no core thereon, but sufficiently close to hit a core carried on said mandrel.
17. Apparatus according to claim 16, further comprising an audible alarm activatable by a signal generated by said detector.
18. Apparatus for holding a coiling tube having a resilient surface onto a mandrel, said mandrel having a longitudinal flat surface, said apparatus comprising a pair of semi-circular tube insert segments, each of said semi-circular segments being provided with an offset central cut out, which when - 12 mated with its corresponding semi-circular segment, creates a round hole for access by the mandrel, creating points at the end of each segment which will engage the interior of the coiling tube when the mandrel is rotated to bring the center into a -perfectly round orientation.
19. Apparatus according to claim 18, further comprising an annular groove in the circumference of each of said segments, and a resilient fastener positioned in said groove to mate a pair of segments.
20. Apparatus according to claim 18, further comprising a second pair of mated segments, each pair is being located near opposite ends of said tube.
21. Apparatus according to claim 20, further comprising segment connectors fixed to opposed segments.
22. Apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said segment connectors are rods.
23. A method for rewinding a web of material, comprising; mounting a plurality of equally spaced mandrels about a rotatable disc; placing a web-receiving core on at least one mandrel; commencing rotation of said core; applying adhesive to said core; indexing said disc to place said adhesive bearing core in position to receive said web; cutting said web and bringing the free end of said web into contact with said adhesive-bearing core; accumulating the desired amount of said web on said core, while applying adhesive to a core on an adjacent mandrel; cutting said web; indexing said disc to a core removing position; ceasing rotation of said core; and removing said web-filled core from said mandrel.

Published 1989 atThePatent Office,State House.66171 High Holbom, LoiidonWC1R4TP.Purther copies maybe obtainedfromThe PatentOffice. I- Milt. ,nlex techrioues ltd, St Mary Cray, Kent, Con. 1187