GB2295375A

GB2295375A - Reel

Info

Publication number: GB2295375A
Application number: GB9523307A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Wolfgang Ley
Original assignee: Hoechst AG
Current assignee: Hoechst AG
Priority date: 1994-11-14
Filing date: 1995-11-14
Publication date: 1996-05-29
Anticipated expiration: 2015-11-14
Also published as: DE4440618A1; GB9523307D0; GB2295375B; DE4440618B4

Description

2295375 Winder The invention relates to a winder comprising support means

onto which strip material can be wound, and a method of winding strip material.

In the production of web-shaped materials comprising paper, metal, plastic and the like, the final product is generally wound onto a winding core. For this purpose, double-turn and triple-turn winders are used, in which the winding device consists of two or three winding stations. Double-turn and triple-turn winders allow production to be continued without interruption during cutting-off of the material web. As soon as the maximum winding diameter is reached during winding of the material web, the turn winder pivots an empty winding core into a position which makes possible a cutting-off or a severing of the running material web. This is effected by the material web being carried along by t--e empty winding core.

Material webs, in particular film webs, are usually trimmed, that is to say the edges are severed (since they have in part a variable thickness and a slight curvature), before the material webs are wound up. The resulting edge strips of film webs are generally wound onto winding cores made of cardboard and are subsequently fed to a mill for reuse and chopped up in the latter. The chopped-up film is subsequently fed together with fresh plastic granules as raw material to an extruder for the raw material to be melted and for the extrusion of a preliminary film via a slot die.

A receiving device for winding cores with ribbon-like material is known from DE-A-23 31 652, the said device having two separate carrying elements each arranged on a side frame of a machine. These carrying elements are pushed from both sides into a sleeve or a winding core for a web-like material and are clamped therein in a self-centering manner. A carrying element of this type essentially comprises a carrying pin, a stop flange limiting the insertion depth of the carrying pin into the sleeve and a locking device, which can be actuated from outside, in the carrying pin, which is brought into engagement with an inner sleeve wall. In detail, the carrying pin is bowl-shaped, having an internal bush and a receiving bore which is central with respect to said bush. The locking device has a plurality of clamps which are distributed over the circumference of the carrying pin and can be retracted and extended radially by means of an extension device. When extended, the points of these clamps are pressed onto the inner wall of the sleeve, so that this is aligned radially and centred, even in the case of different core inner diameters. These carrying elements are costly in terms of construction because of the locking device, to which is added the fact that the locking of a material roll on the receiving device requires at least two manipulations which are to 3 be carried out by hand in order that the sleeve of the material roll is locked to each carrying element.

A receiving device for winding cores with ribbonlike material is known from German Utility Model 75 40 882, which device has first and second pins which ar-- axially spaced from each other on an axle bolt and can be displaced with respect to each other. The pins clamp a winding core which can be pushed on the pins. The first pin is designed as a truncated pyramid which tapers towards the interior of the winding core, projects from an opening of a stop disk which is arranged parallel to the base surface of the truncated pyramid and is similar to and smaller than the base area of the truncated pyramid, and is arranged so that it can be displaced with respect to the first axle bolt against the force of a compression spring. The second pin has a cross-section which tapers towards the interior of the winding core. Provided for the first pin is a cylindrical receiving housing whose first, circular ring-shaped end wall, which faces the winding core, is connected to a first stop disk which forms a stop surface. Connected to the second end wall of the pin, which end wall faces away from the winding core, is a friction lining onto which a braking disk is pressed. In the interior of the receiving housing, a compression spring rests with one end on the second end wall and presses with the other end on the first pin. The receiving housing, together with the first pin, can be rotated on the first, stationary axle bolt.

In the case of this receiving device, the material is wound on winding cores which generally consist of cardboard. After the removal of the rolls from the carrying elements, the winding cores are often deformed under the pressure of the wound material and, in the process, cardboard particles which become detached contaminate the material, which leads in the case of film material to film rolls no longer being reusable since even slight contamination during extrusion of the chopped-up film material together with fresh plastic granules contaminates and impairs the melt in such a way that it is impossible to produce a preliminary film which is free of foreign inclusions which are caused by the contamination.

The invention makes it possible to provide a winding station which enables winding of material, in p.-rticular film material, onto support means without the use of winding sleeves or cores, from which support means the material roll can be removed with very simple manipulation. The invention also makes it possible to provide a winder having two parts which can be separated rapidly allowing the material roll to be removed quickly.

The present invention provides a winder comprising support means onto which strip material can be wound, the support means comprising a first tapered member and a second tapered member which can be pneumatically connected to each other and can be disconnected from each other, and which are separable when disconnected.

Preferably, the tapered members abut each other at their smaller ends.

Preferably, the first tapered member is connected to a shaft, and can k-e rotated by a motor via its associated shaft. The first tapered member may be connected.to the shaft by means of a flange.

Preferably, the winder comprises pneumaticallyoperated means to connect and disconnect the tapered members, the said means being biased towards the state in which the tapered members are connected. The pneumaticallyoperated means may be a piston rod and cylinder. The winder preferably comprises two separate pneumatically-operated means to connect and disconnect the tapered members. One pneumatically-operated means may comprise a piston rod and cylind-r and the other pneumatically-operated means may comprise one or more clamping modules.

Preferably, the first tapered member carries a spindle which extends axially through an internal recess in the second tapered member. The spindle may be detachable from the first tapered member. Preferably, the pneumatically-operated means is attached to the spindle.

In one embodiment of the invention, the first tapered member is detachably connected to a hollow, fully- floating spindle, which extends axially through an internal recess in the second tapered member. Preferably, the first tapered member and the second tapered member each have an internal recess, and a pressure medium reservoir, a pneumatic control means comprising one or more lines, a multiway valve, a pneumatic cylinder and one or more clamping modules are arranged in one or other or both of the internal recesses for connecting and disconnecting the first tapered member and the second tapered member. Preferably, the lines include a control line for the multiway valve and a working line for the pneumatic cylinder, which lines extend through the interior of the fully-floating spindle. Preferably, the control line and the working line extend from the fully-floating spindle into the recess of the first tapered member. Preferably, the control line c.:nnects the multiway valve to a second valve which is arranged close to a cover which seals off the larger end of the second tapered member. Preferably, the multiway valve is changed over when the second valve is acted upon by a pressure medium. Preferably, the working line connects the pneumatic cylinder to the multiway valve. Preferably, the working line is connected to a vent via the multiway valve.

Preferably, the pneumatic cylinder is provided with a piston rod which can be extended and retracted, and the piston rod, when in the extended condition, locks the cover to the fully-floating spindle, the cover being attached to the second tapered member. Preferably, the spindle has an open end which faces away from the first tapered member, and the pneumatic cylinder is attached to the open end. Preferably, when extended, the piston rod of the pneumatic cylinder extends through an opening in the outer surface of the fully-floating spindle, the said surface being cylindrical. Preferably, there are two clamping modules and the clamping modules are arranged on either side of the fully-floating spindle in the recess of the second tapered member and each comprises a diaphragm cylinder, the diaphragms contacting the inner surface of the recess of the second tapered member in frictional connection when the tapered members are connected.

Preferably, each of the clamping modules is connected to th.- multiway valve via its own working line and a Tpiece, which connects the two working lines to each other, and can be acted upon by compressed air.

Preferably, the pressure medium reservoir is enclosed by a pipe stand-off clamp which is fastened by a bracket. Preferably, the multiway valve is fitted on the bracket. Preferably, the bracket is screwed to the inner surface of the recess of the first tapered member.

Preferably, the cover has on the inside two angled hooks which are located opposite each other, one of which engages the piston rod of the pneumatic cylinder when the - 8 piston rod is extended.

Advantageously, the first tapered member comprises metal, and the second tapered member comprises a plastics material. Preferably, the first tapered member comprises steel. Preferably, the second tapered member comprises a polyamide.

If desired, the first tapered member and the second tapered member may be produced from the same material. The first and second tapered members may comprise metal or plastic.

Advantageously, the first tapered member has a greater conicity than the second tapered member. Preferably, the smaller end of the first tapered member has a smaller diameter than the adjacent first smaller end of the second tapered member.

Advantageously, the tapered members are truncated cones.

The present invention also provides a winding station for winding strips of material onto a double-conical trim element, wherein the trim element comprises a flanged cone and a cone which can be joined pneumatically and can be separated from each other, and which rest on each other with their narrow ends, while their broad ends form the end faces of the trim element.

Preferably, the flanged cone and the cone have internal recesses in which a pressure medium reservoi and a pneumatic control means consisting of lines, - 9 multiway valve, mini pneumatic cylinder and clamping modules, are arranged for connecting and disconnecting the flanged cone and the cone. Advantageously, the flanged cone is detachably connected to a hollow, fullyfloating spindle, which extends axially through the recess of the cone. A control line for the multiway valve and a working line for the mini pneumatic cylinder are led through the interior of the fullyfloating spindle and the two lines are preferably led out of the fullyfloating spindle into the recess of the flanged cone. Furthermore, the control line preferably connects a valve, which is arranged close to a cover which seals off the larger end of the cone, to the multiway valve, and changes over the multiway valve when the valve is acted upon by a pressure medium.

The present invention further provides a method of winding strip material. wherein the strip is wound directly onto support means, and the support means is in accordance with the invention.

By means of the invention, waste is avoided and also a saving is achieved since winding cores or sleeves are dispensed with and, as a result of dispensing with these winding aids, contamination of the reusable material does not occur.

One embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

- Fig. 1 shows a section through a two-part trim element of a winder (winding station) according to the invention; Fig. 2 shows a section along the line A-B of Figure 1; and Fig. 3 shows a section along the line C-D of Figure 1.

Referring now to the drawings, Figure 1 shows, in section, a support means or trim element 33 of a winder on which the edge strips produced during trimming of the edges of a film are wound. of course, the winder is also suitable for other ribbon-like materials such as paper, metal strips and the like. The trim element 33 comprises a flanged cone 1 and a cone 2 which can be pneumatically connected to each other and can also be pneumatically disconnected from each other. In the double-conical trim lement 33, which has the smallest diameter approxi.nately at the centre, the larger ends or end faces 31, 32 have greater diameters than the centre. The flanged cone 1 and the cone 2 are shown contacting each other at their smaller ends 29, 30, while their larger ends 31, 32, form the end faces of the trim element 33. The flanged cone 1 comprises a cone and a flange integral therewith which is connected to a flanged shaft, not shown, which can cause the trim element 33 to rotate. The flanged cone 1 may consist of a metal, preferably steel, while the cone 2 may be produced from a plastics material, in 11 - particular a polyamide.

As can be seen from Figure 1, the flanged cone 1 has a greater conicity than the cone 2. Thus, for example, the angle of inclination of the flanged cone 1 is 100 with respect to the horizontal, while the angle of inclination of the cone 2 is 90 with respect to the horizontal. The smaller end 29 of the flanged cone 1 has a smaller diameter than the adjacent smaller end 30 of the cone 2.

The flanged cone 1 has an internal recess 25 which essentially consists of two cylindrical cavities with different diameters which are offset with respect to each other by a shoulder. A recess 26 in the cone 2 is shaped cylindrically and extends through most of the length of the cone 2. In one cylindrical cavity of the flanged cone 1 there is accommodated a pressure medium reservoir 19 which is, for example, a compressed air reo3rvoir. The compressed air reservoir 19 is arranged in a control line Z which is connected to a multiway valve 13.

As Figure 2 shows, the compressed air reservoir 19 is held by a pipe stand-off clamp 20 which is fastened to a bracket 15 by means of a cheesehead screw 21. The bracket 15 extends partially through both the cavities of the recess 25, and the multiway valve 13 is fastened to the bracket 15. The bracket 15 has an upwardly directed limb which is provided with a hole. In the shoulder which connects the two cavities of the recess 25 there is a 12 - threaded hole, so that the bracket 15 can be screwed to the threaded hole in the shoulder by means of a screw 14. The multiway valve 13 is fastened on the bracket 15 with the aid of two screws 23. In addition, there are in the recess 25 working lines B, B which lead to clamping modules 5, 5 in the cone 2, which will be described in more detail below. The two working lines B, B are connected to each other via a T-piece 34 which is connected to the multiway valve 13.

The flanged cone 1 is fastened to a hollow, fullyfloating spindle 3 with six cheese-head screws 10 distributed over the circular circumference. The fullyfloating spindle 3 extends axially through the recess 26 of the cone 2. In the interior of the fully-floating spindle 3 there extends a further working line A which leads from a mini pneumatic cylinder 6, which is arranged close to the large- end 32 of the cone 2, via the multiway valve 13 to the outside. Running parallel to the working line A in the interior of the fully-floating spindle 3 is the control line Z which connects a valve 12, shown in Figure 3, to the multiway valve 13, and drives it.

The flanged cone 1, which is normally produced from a metal, can be covered on the cone surface with a ceramic layer. Likewise, it is possible to produce the flanged cone 1 from a plastics material, for example from the same polyamide plastics material as cone 2. On the other hand, the cone 2 can be produced from a metal, just like the flanged cone 1, if this is possible for reasons of weight. The compressed air reservoir 19 and the pneumatic control means consisting of the lines P, A, B, B, Z, the multiway valve 13, the mini pneumatic cylinder 6 and the valve 12 and the clamping modules 5, 5, r.ake possible the correction and disconnection of the flanged cone 1 and the cone 2.

The mini pneumatic cylinder 6 is provided with a piston rod 27 which can be extended and retracted, the piston rod 27 in the extended condition extending through a notch 28 of the cylindrical outer surface of the fullyfloating spindle 3. The mini pneumatic cylinder 6 is acted on by a spring and, in the normal condition, the piston rod 27 is extended, so that it is in engagement with one of two angled hooks 24 of a cover 4. The cover 4 serves ac a safety cover and is screwed to the cone 2 by means of screws 9. The mini pneumatic cylinder 6 is fastened to the fullyfloating spindle 3 by means of screws 8. The cover 4 seals off the larger end 32 of cone 2 and is locked to the fully-floating spindle 3 the extended piston rod 27. When the piston rod 27 f our the by is retracted, the cover 4 is unlocked, and at the same time the clamping modules 5 are vented (see below), so that the cone 2 can be pulled off the fully-floating spindle.

The lines A, B, B, Z are in each case connected to the valves 12, 13 and clamping modules 5, 5 with quick screw connections. Furthermore, the control line Z has a pivotable quick screw connection 22.

The clamping modules 5, 5 are arranged on both sides of the fullyfloating spindle 3 in the recess 26 of the cone 2 and produce a frictional connection between the cone 2 and the fu31y-floating spindle 3, which is equivalent to the cone 2 and the flanged cone 1 being connected firmly to each other, so long as the frictional connection exists. The clamping modules are known, single-acting diaphragm cylinders from the Festo Pneumatik Company. As a result of supplying pressure to the cylinders of the clamping modules 5, 5, the diaphragms expand with a stroke of up to about 5 mm in the radial direction of the cylinders, as a result of which they contact the inside of the recess 26 of the cone 2 in frictional connection. Each of the clamping modules 5, 5 is connected to the mu.1.l--iway valve 13 via its own working line B, B, the two lines B being connected to each other by a T-piece 34. The clamping modules 5, 5 are fastened to the fully-floating spindle 3 by means of cheese-head screws 7. The diaphragm of an individual clamping module 5 is surrounded by a diaphragm-protecting metal sheet 17 which is screwed onto the cylinder of the clamping module 5 with two countersunk screws 18.

Figure 2 shows a sectional view along the line A-B of Figure 1. From this it can be seen that the flange of - is - the flanged cone 1 is fastened with six screws to the flanged shaft, not shown, which causes the trim element 33 to rotate to wind up film strips. The pipe stand-off clamp 20 consists of a semicircular lower bow which half encloses the cylindrical compressed air reservoir 19, and a trapeznidal upper bow whose two limbs rest tangentially on the upper semi- cylindrical half of the compressed air reservoir 19. The horizontal part of the upper bow has a threaded hole into which the cheese-head screw 21 is screwed in order to connect the pipe stand-off clamp 20 to the bracket 15.

It can be seen from Figure 3 that the cover 4 is screwed to the cone 2 with six screws 9, and that the valve 12 is arranged to the side of the mini pneumatic cylinder 6.

The connection and disconnection of the cone 2 to and from the flanged cone 1 tak-zs place in the following manner:

As soon as the cone 2 is pushed onto the fullyfloating spindle 3 of the flanged cone 1, the line P, which is directly connected to the multiway valve 13, has compressed air supplied to it by venting the control line Z at the valve 12. The line P is connected via the multiway valve 13 to the working lines B, B, which supply the two clamping modules 5, 5 with compressed air. The diaphragms of the cylinders of the clamping modules 5, 5 have compressed air supplied to them and expand, so that - 16 they contact the inner surface of the recess 26 of the cone 2 in a frictional connection and connect said cone 2 firmly to the fully- floating spindle 3 and to the flanged cone 1. The further working line A is vented in this condition, and the piston rod 27 of the mini pneumatic cylinder 6 is extended, so that the cone 2 is locked to the fully- floating spindle 3 in order to ensure that no axial displacement or withdrawal of the cone 2 from the fully-floating spindle 3 can take place, even if the clamping modules 5, 5 are suddenly depressurized, for example as a result of an unpredictable failure of the air supply.

To disconnect the cone 2 from the flanged cone 1, the multiway valve 13 is changed over from the condition in which the clamping modules 5, 5 are supplied with compressed air to the condition in which the clamping modul, :s are vented. For this purpose, the control line has compressed air supplied to it via the valve 12, as has already been described above. The valve 12 is of similar design to a car or bicycle inner-tube valve and has compressed air supplied to it with the aid of a compressed air pistol. The compressed air reservoir 19, arranged in the control line Z, increases the volume of the control line Z and primarily serves to compensate for leaks in the multiway valve 13. The control line Z leads from the compressed-air reservoir 19 to the multiway valve 13. As a result of the application of 17 - pressure via the control line Z, the multiway valve 13 is changed over against the spring pressure, as a result of which the two working lines B, B are vented via the vent S and the further working line A has compressed air supplied to it via the line P. The result of this is that, on the one hand, the diaphragms of the clamping modules 5, 5 withdraw, breaking the frictional connection to the inner surface of the recess 26 of the cone 2 and, on the other hand, the piston rod 27 of the mini pneumatic cylinder 6 is retracted, so that the cone 2 with the material roll located on it can be drawn off from the fully-floating spindle 3.

It should be added that, in the connected state of the flanged cone 1 and the cone 2, the further working line A is vented via the vent R of the multiway valve 13.

Because of the smaller conicity and the larger diameter of the smaller end 30 of the cone 2 '-n comparison to the flanged cone 1, the material roll, which extends both over the flanged cone 1 and over the cone 2, can readily be taken off the flanged cone 1. The material roll is then taken off the separated cone 2 and is fed to the recycling step.

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Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A winder comprising support means onto which strip material can be wound, the support means comprising a first tapered member and a second tapered member which can be pneumatically connected to each other and can be d.sconnected from each other, and which are separable when disconnected.

2. A winder according to claim 1, wherein the tapered members abut each other at their smaller ends.

3. A winder according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the first tapered member is connected to a shaft, and can be rotated by a motor via its associated shaft.

4. A winder according to claim 3, wherein the first tapered member is cc.,nected to the shaft by means of a flange.

5. A winder according to any one of claims 1 to 4, comprising pneumatically-operated means to connect and disconnect the tapered members, the said means being biased towards the state in which the tapered members are connected.

6. A winder according to claim 5, wherein the pneumatically-operated means comprises a piston rod and cylinder.

7. A winder according to any one of claims 1 to 6, comprising two separate pneumatically-operated means to connect and disconnect the tapered members.

8. A winder according to claim 7, wherein one pneumatically-operated means comprises a piston rod and cylinder and the other pneumatically- operated means comprises one or more clamping modules.

9. A winder according to any one of claims 5 to 8, wherein the first tapered member carries a spindle which extends axially through an internal recess in the second tapered member.

10. A -..-inder according to claim 9, wherein the spindle is detachable from the first tapered member.

11. A winder according to claim 9 or claim 10, wherein the pneumaticallyoperated means is attached to the spindle.

12. A winder according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the first tapered member is detachably connected to a hollow, fully-floating spindle, which extends axially through an internal recess in the second tapered member.

13. A winder according to claim 12, wherein the first tapered member and the second tapered member each have an internal recess, and a pressure medium reservoir, a pneumatic control means comprising one or more lines, a multiway valve, a pneumatic cylinder and one or more clamping modules are arranged in one or other or both of the internal recesses for connecting and disconnecting the first tapered member and the second tapered member.

14. A winder according to claim 13, wherein the lines include a control line for the multiway valve and a working line for the pneumatic cylinder, which lines extend through the interior of the fully-floating spindle.

15. A winder according to claim 14, wherein the control line and the working line extend from the fullyfloating spindle into the recess of the first tapered member.

16. A winder according to claim 14 or claim 15, wherein the control line connects the multiway valve to a second valve which is arranged close to a cover which seals off the larger end of the second tapered member.

17. A winder according to claim 16, wherein the multiway valve is changed over when the second valve is acted upon by a pressure medium.

18. A winder according to any one of claims 14 to 17, wherein the working line connects the pneumatic cylinder to the multiway valve.

19. A winder according to any one of claims 14 to 18, wherein the working line is connected to a vent via the multiway valve.

20. A winder according to any one of claims 16 to 19, wherein the pneumatic cylinder is provided with a piston rod which can be extended and retracted, and the piston rod, when in the extended condition, locks the cover to the fully-floating spindlle, the cover being attached to the second tapered member.

21. A winder according to any one of claims 13 to 20, wherein the spindle has an open end which faces away from the first tapered member, and the pneumatic cylinder is attached to the open end.

22. A winder as claimed in claim 20 or claim 21 when dependent on claim 20, wherein, when extended, the piston rod of the pneumatic cylinder extends through an opening 22 - in the outer surface of the fully-floating spindle, the said surface being cylindrical.

23. A winder according to any one of claims 13 to 22, wherein there are two clamping modules and the clamping modules are arranged on either side of the fully-floating spindle in the recess of the second tapered member and each comprises a diaphragm cylinder, the diaphragms contacting the inner surface of the recess of the second tapered member in frictional connection when the tapered members are connected.

24. A winder according to claim 23, wherein each of the clamping modules is connected to the multiway valve via its own working line and a T-piece, which connects the two working lines to each other, and can be acted upon by compressed air.

25. A winder according to any one of claims 13 to 24, wherein the pressure medium reservoir is enclosed by a pipe stand-off clamp which is fastened by a bracket.

26. A winder according to claim 25, wherein the multiway valve is fitted on the bracket.

27. A winder according to claim 26, wherein the bracket is screwed to the inner surface of the recess of 23 - the first tapered membe

28. A winder according to claim 20, wherein the cover has on the inside two angled hooks which are located opposite each other, one of which engages the pistor rod of the pneumatic cylinder when the piston rod is extended.

29. A winder according to any one of claims 1 to 28, wherein the first tapered member comprises metal, and the second tapered member comprises a plastics material.

30. A winder as claimed in claim 29, wherein the first tapered member comprises steel.

31. A winder as claimed in claim 29, wherein the -econd tapered member comprises a polyamide.

32. A winder according to any one of claims 1 to 28, wherein the first tapered member and the second tapered member are produced from the same material.

33. A winder according to claim 32, wherein the first and second tapered members comprise metal or plastic.

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34. A winder according to any one of claims 1 to 33, wherein the first tapered member has a greater conicity than the second tapered member.

35. A winder according to any one of claims 1 to 34, wherein the smaller end of the first tapered member has a smaller diameter than the adjacent first smaller end of the second tapered member.

36. A winder according to any one of claims 1 to 35, wherein the tapered members are truncated cones.

37. A winder substantially as described herein, with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

38. A winding station for winding strips of material onto a double-conica! trim element, wherein the trim element comprises a flanged cone and a cone which can be joined pneumatically and can be separated from each other, and which rest on each other with their narrow ends while their broad ends form the end faces of the trim element.

39. A method of winding strip material, wherein the strip is wound directly onto support means, and the support means is as specified in any one of claims 1 to 37.

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40. A method according to claim 39, carried out substantially as described herein.

41. Any novel feature described herein and any novel combination of hereindescribed features.