GB2295383A

GB2295383A - Storing flat articles in a wound roll.

Info

Publication number: GB2295383A
Application number: GB9523886A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Uwe Koehn; Guenter Graeler
Original assignee: Windmoeller and Hoelscher KG
Current assignee: Windmoeller and Hoelscher KG
Priority date: 1994-11-22
Filing date: 1995-11-22
Publication date: 1996-05-29
Also published as: IT1282447B1; ITBZ950072A1; FR2727085A1; ITBZ950072A0; CH690674A5; GB9523886D0; JPH08217309A

Abstract

Stacks 12 of tubular bag blanks are fed by conveyor 14 onto a slower moving winding band 26 drawn from roll 28, band and stacks then being wound on reel 18. The core of the reel may have a step extending parallel to the reel axis and as high as a stack; the leading stack abuts this step, thus reducing the tendency for stacks to become disturbed on winding. Tension in band 26 and the height of reel 18 are both governed automatically. <IMAGE>

Description

2295383 A method and apparatus for the intermediate storage of flat

obiects The invention concerns a method and apparatus for the inter- s mediate storage of flat objects, using a winding shaft drivably mounted in a frame, whereon the flat objects delivered on a winding band can be deposited in the form of a roll. The invention may, for example, be used for storing tubular web sections deposited in stacks.

Apparatus of the above type is known, for example, from DE-B-1039444 disclosing an apparatus for the conveyance and storage of a plurality of identical objects, wherein the identical objects are deposited on a band-shaped support which is self-adhesive on its upper surface, and are then wound up ihto a roll together with the band-shaped support and thereby placed into intermediate storage. When required, the band-shaped support can be unwound again and the objects concerned, which adhere to the self-adhesive surface of the band, can be extracted.

DE-C-2526432 and DE-C-2658294 each discloses apparatus for the separation and feeding of flat objects, stored in a roll in a lapped formation and provided with holding bands, to stations disposed down the line, wherein finished paper sacks are rolled up in a lapped formation in a roll. However, with this winding method only relatively thin layers, which were laid f lat in the form of a lapped formation, have so f ar been wound up. To deposit comparatively thicker objects the upper surf ace of the winding band was, according to the state of the prior art as manifested in DE-B-1039444, designed to be self-adhesive in order to inhibit as far as possible an unintended displacement of the objects during the winding up or unwinding or during the intermediate storage.

Now in the case of the manufacture of, for example sacks, there frequently arises in practice the problem that intermediate products cannot be immediately processed further in a machine down the line, so that the products concerned have to be placed into intermediate storage. it here happens, for example, that the tubular webs produced in great quantities by the tubular web machine cannot be processed further in their full quantities by the bottom laying device disposed down the line. For this reason, in practice, the tubular web machine is here frequently followed by two bottom laying devices. However, if the tubular web machine is followed by only one bottom laying device, the manufactured tubular web sections which cannot yet be fed to the bottom laying device are placed into intermediate storage. As a rule, the sacks are delivered from the tubular web machine in packets of sack sections deposited with their edges aligned, that is to say in the form of packets of, for example, 40 tubular web sections lying on top of one another up to a height of, for example, 15 cm. Hitherto such sacks were then carried over a long distance in the manufacturing shed over long storage belts onto which they had been shifted, for example over a 100 m long storage belt, and were then fed to their further processing. Thus this storage belt in here used as a kind of buffer. Another comparatively expensive solution lay in depositing the stacks of the tubular web sections in a pallet stacking mode.

The object of the present invention is to further develop a generic apparatus for the intermediate storage of flat objects in such a way that it is here possible to place them into intermediate storage, without the flat objects, stacked with their edges aligned, being mutually displaced during the winding onto the winding shaft in such a way that the flat objects can no longer be taken out from the apparatus for intermediate storage in stacks with their edges being aligned. In particular such apparatus should process, as flat objects, tubular web sections deposited in stacks. At the same time, a corresponding method in to be provided.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a method for storing tubular web sections, or sacks formed therefrom, characterized in that, in a first step, tubular web sections or sacks formed therefrom, provided with parallel longitudinal seams, are formed into stacks of a predetermined height with their edges aligned, and in a second step the formed stacks are wound up into a roll with the individual wound layers of the roll separated from one another.

A second aspect of the invention provides an apparatus for the intermediate storage of flat objects, including a frame; and a winding roller drivably mounted in said frame and on which the flat objects delivered on the winding band can be deposited in the form of a roll, wherein said winding roller comprises a core body which has a step extending parallel to its central axis.

In accordance therewith, the core body forming the winding shaft may have a step extending parallel to its central axis. This step may form an abutment edge with its height being approximately that of the first delivered stack. During the winding up it prevents the bags deposited in stacks from being displaced with respect to each other. Because the first stack of bags is deposited with its edge aligned because of the step, the subsequently deposited bags also follow with their edges aligned.

According to a particular development of the invention, the winding roller consists of a cylinder on whose peripheral surface there may be positioned parts for forming the step. Because of this, the winding roller can be easily changed over according to the stack of bags to be placed into intermediate storage, that is to say, according to the height of the stack.

In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the winding roller may consist of a cylinder wherein a segment is pivotably mounted on one side for forming the step. In this embodiment, the segment can be folded out in any desired height, so that here the height of the step can be determined on the basis of the pivoting angle of this cylindrical segment. In this arrangement, the cylindrical segment can be held laterally at its freely pivotable end by tension springs and this segment can be displaced against the spring force by means of an eccentric with planar surfaces, for forming a step of a variable height.

On the other hand, a pin may project laterally on one or on both sides of the pivotable segment, in each case at the free end, on which pin there engages a fork of a pivotable adjustment lever which can be engaged in various engaged positions in the cylinder. By this means too, a variable step height can be set.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the winding band extends substantially over the whole width of the delivered flat objects. This ensures that the tubular web sections emerging, for example from a tubular web machine, which have just been glued along one or two longitudinal seams and whose adhesive has not yet set, are uniformly pressed over their whole length or width, so that the applied adhesive remains evenly distributed over the glued surfaces concerned.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, a web roller drivable by a motor can be arranged in the frame, from which roller the winding band is carried over a device controlling the web roller motor, and over guide rollers. The means for controlling the web roller motor may consist of a guide roller pivotably mounted in lateral rocker arms, over which guide roller the winding band is carried.

It may, moreover, have proximity switches (initiators) which indicate the position of the pivotably mounted guide roller.

By means of the pivotably mounted guide roller, the winding band can be deflected to such an extent that a kind of band storage means is formed. When some of the winding band is drawn of f f rom this band storage means f or the winding of freshly delivered packets, the deflected winding band is shortened and the pivotably articulated guide roller is pivoted. The web roller motor is then actuated by means of an end position switch so that an appropriate length of the winding band is again unrolled and the loop, and hence the band storage means, are lengthened again.

According to a further advantageous development of the invention, the winding up roller can be carried in the frame with the facility of longitudinal displacement. In this arrangement, the winding up roller may be displaceable by means of two lateral threaded rods which are adjustable by means of gear drive motors with step down gearing. Provision may also be made for a device for controlling the geared motors; in this arrangement, it may be designed in such a way that at least one bearing roller which is carried for displacement at the sides of the frame, and which bears on the roll in the band intake zone, can be displaced according to the winding roller, whereby the displacement can be registered by proximity switches. Depending on the position of at least one bearing roller which is ascertained by the initiators, the whole roll is moved upwards in the frame by means of the gear drive motors which are actuated on each occasion.

According to a further preferred embodiment, a pressing 35 device is arranged in the intake zone of the apparatus opposite the winding band, which in the immediate intake zone, is capable of keeping a predetermined distance from the delivered stack of the tubular web sections, while after the intake of this stack, it then presses the latter so as to press, for example the appropriately glued joints, firmly together and thus to produce a better setting of the adhesive. The press band can be displaced from its operative position into a rest position by means of a piston-cylinder unit.

The web roller motor and the winding motor are advantageously designed as braking motors, since it is then possible for a desired tension to be maintained in the winding band.

Further details and advantages of the invention will be described in greater detail below with reference to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, represented in the drawings, in which:- Fig. 1 is a side view of an embodiment of the apparatus in according to the invention, during the winding up; Fig. 2 is a front view of the apparatus of Figure 1; Figs.3-6 are schematic side views of various embodiments of winding rollers; Fig. 7 is a side view of the apparatus of Figure 1, during the unwinding; and Fig. 8 is a front elevation of the apparatus shown in Figure 7.

In the apparatus 10, represented in this exemplary embodiment, stacks or packets 12 of tubular web sections deposited with their edges aligned which come, for example from a tubular web manufacturing machine which is here not illus- trated in greater detail, are placed into intermediate storage.

A stack may, for example, consist of 40 tubular web sections and may reach a height of 15 cm. It is, of course, possible to process stacks of any desired size. The stacks 12 are delivered in the direction of arrow a, shown in Figure 1, by a conveyor belt 14.

As shown in Figure 1, the apparatus 10 consists of a frame 16 wherein the shaft of a winding roller 18 (Figures 3 to 6), whose precise structure will still be described below, is suspended in guides 20 with the facility of being adjusted in height. The height adjustment facility is obtained by means of threaded spindles 22 that can be moved up and down by means of drive motors 241, so that the shaft of the winding roller 18 can be displaced in its height together with the wound-up roll. Each drive motor 241 has a pinion fixed on its output shaft for engagement with a larger gear of the winding roller lifting and lowering transmission to provide a step-down gearing facility.

As shown in Figure 2, the winding motor 24, which is designed as a braking motor, projects laterally from the frame 16. By "braking motor" in this case we mean a motor with an integral magnetic brake which is automatically activated when the drive current to the motor is interrupted.

Together with the delivered stacks, a winding band 26 extending over the whole width of the packets 12 is wound up under tension on the winding shaft. The winding band 26 is wound off from a web roller 28. To one side of it, the web roller 28 has a drive motor 30 which is also designed as a braking motor and is thus capable of maintaining the necess- ary tension in the winding band 26.

From the web roller 28, the winding band 26 is passed over a guide roller 32, a device 34 for controlling the web roller motor 30, a further (reversing) guide roller 36 and a guide roller 38 before it is wound on the winding roller 18. At the (reversing) guide roller 38 there is disposed the zone for the intake of the delivered stacks 12 into the apparatus 10. Opposite this intake zone of the winding band 26, there lies a pressing band 40 which is carried over two rollers 42 and 44. In this arrangement the roller 42, facing the conveyor belt 14, is applied in such a way that initially it does not yet touch the delivered stack. Thus the stack runs onto the winding band 26 and is then seized by the corresponding pressing band 40 which compresses the tubular paper web sections which have just been freshly glued, in such a way that the glue is properly distributed and thereby sets more readily. The pressing band 40 can be pivoted by means of a piston-cylinder unit 46 which is articulated, on one side to a fixed point on the frame and, at the other side to a side plate of the pressing band carrier. The winding band 26 circulates at a speed slower than of the conveyor belt 14. Thereby the individually delivered stacks 12 are brought into direct abutment with one another so that they can be wound up one after the other in a spacesaving manner, as has been indicated in Figure 1 and also in Figure 7.

The device 34 for controlling the winding band roller motor 30 consists of a guide roller 48 which is laterally mounted on rocker arms 50 that are pivotable round points 52 fixed to the f rame. Spring-loaded piston-cylinder units 54 are articulated at the free ends of the rocker arms 50.

Opposite the pivotable free end of at least one rocker arm 50, there are arranged vertically spaced proximity switches 56 which can be triggered, for example by coming into contact with the free end of a rocker arm 50. A loop, as represented in Figure 1 by way of example, is formed in the winding band by means of the pivotably suspended guide roller 48. The stacks 12 are now delivered discontinuously and, for each further delivered stack, a section of the winding band 26 is wound up, by means of the winding motor 30, on the roll 181 being formed on the winding roller 18. Thereby the loop formed round the guide roller 48 becomes shortened and the rocker arms 50 are pulled by the tension in the winding band 26 to pivot upwards against the resilient resistance of the piston-cylinder unit 48. As soon as the rocker arms 50 have reached a predetermined limit angle, they lie opposite the uppermost limit switch 56 which then actuates the web roller motor 30 and causes it to feed on an appropriate length of the winding band 26, in which process the rocker arms 50 are caused to pivot downwards again by means of the spring force of the piston-cylinder units 54 now exceeding the winding band tension. It is thus possible to ensure that the necessary tension in the winding band 26 is always maintained.

In addition, a device 58 is moreover provided for controlling the gear/motor units 241 driving the threaded spindles 22 for the upward and downward movement of the shaft of winding roller 18. The control device 58 consists of two pressing rollers 60 and 62 which are also mounted relative to the frame 16 on a vertically movable carriage spring biased upwardly by piston-cylinder units 64. The pressing rollers 60 and 62 lie opposite the intake zone of the winding roller 18 or of the roll 181 wound up thereon, and are displaced downwards against the resilient prestressing of the pistoncylinder unit 64, when the diameter of the roll increases.

Because of the downward displacement, appropriate proximity switches 66 are triggered by means of a lug 68, and actuate the gear/motor units 24, and cause the winding roller 18 and the roll 181 thereon to be displaced upwards. Similarly downward movement of the roll 18, will result if the diameter reduces as a result of winding off stacks.

The various proximity switches 56 and 58 may if desired be reed switches to operate contactlessly.

In Figures 3 to 6, various embodiments of the winding roller 18 are shown. All the embodiments have the common feature that they have a stop 70 which extends over the whole axial length of the winding roller 18, and is parallel to the median axis of the shaft of the winding roller 18. Figure 3 shows a suitable core body of the roller 18 with a nonadjustable step 70. This core body has the approximate shape of a spiral.

In the embodiment of Figure 4, the core body of the winding roller 18 consists of a cylinder whereon suitably shaped wedges 72 can be secured, to form different heights of step 70. Here, a varying step shape, depending on the desired thickness of the stack, can be formed by the attachment of an appropriate wedge 72.

in the embodiments of Figures 5 and 6, cylindrical segments 20 74 are in each case arranged for pivoting outward round a pivoting point 76, whereby the step height 70 can be adjusted by outward pivoting of these cylindrical segments 74.

In Figure 5, this adjustment is effected by means, at one or both ends of the segment 74, consisting of an eccentric 78 with planar surfaces 80, which are appropriately applied against the cylindrical segment 74 and thereby determine the height of the step 70. The cylindrical segment 74 is in each case acted on at its free pivoting end by tension springs 82.

in the embodiment of Figure 6, pivoting of the cylindrical segment 74 is obtained by means of an L-shaped adjustment lever 84 that can be pivoted round a pin 86 in the direction of arrow b and can be secured in notches 88. At one side the lever 84 is designed to be fork-shaped so that the fork engages about a pin at the free end of the cylindrical segment 74. Such levers may be provided at both ends of the winding roller 18, or also on one end only of the winding roller 18.

In Figures 7 and 8 the apparatus 10 is shown during the unwinding of the stacks 12. The pressing band 40 is here lifted away from the stacks 12 by means of the pistoncylinder unit (ram) 46. The stacks are delivered to the conveyor belt 14 running in the direction of arrow c, again at a speed higher than the winding band 26 that becomes rewound onto the web roller 28.

Cla374S 1 A method for storing tubular web sections, or sacks formed therefrom, wherein, in a first step, tubular web sections or sacks formed therefrom, provided with parallel longitudinal seams, are formed into stacks of a predetermined height with their edges aligned, and in a second step the formed stacks are wound up into a roll with the individual wound layers of the roll separated from one another.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the tubular web sections, or the sacks formed therefrom, are wound up with their longitudinal seams extending parallel to the winding shaf t.

3. A method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the individual stacks are prepressed for a short time before being wound up.

4. An apparatus for operating the method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, including a frame; a winding roller drivably mounted in said frame, and a stacking device from which individual stacks are transferred to a winding band; wherein said winding band loaded with stacks is wound up into a roll with the start of the winding band fixed in position on the winding roller.

5. An apparatus for the intermediate storage of flat objects, including a frame; and a winding roller drivably mounted in said frame and on which the flat objects delivered on the winding band can be deposited in the form of a roll, wherein said winding roller comprises a core body which has a step extending parallel to its axis of rotation.

6. An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the winding shaft consists of a cylinder on whose peripheral surface parts for forming the step may be positioned.

7. An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the winding shaft consists of a cylinder of which a segment is pivotably mounted on one side for forming the step.

8. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the segment is held on the pivotable step by at least one tension spring; and wherein, for forming steps of variable heights, the segment can be pivoted against the spring force by means of at least one eccentric with planar surfaces.

9. An apparatus according to claim 7 or 8, including, at the f ree end of the pivotable segment, at least one laterally extending pin which is engaged by a f ork of a pivotable adjustment lever which can be engaged in various engaged positions.

10. An apparatus according to any one of claims 5 to 9, wherein the winding band extends substantially over the whole side of the delivered flat objects.

11. An apparatus according to any one of claims 5 to 9, including a web roller drivable by a motor and arranged in the frame, from which web roller the winding band is carried over means for controlling the web roller motor and over guide rollers.

12. An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the means for controlling the web roller motor consists of a guide roller pivotably mounted in rocker arms, over which guide roller the winding band is carried, and of limit switches which register the position of the pivotably mounted guide roller.

13. An apparatus according to any one of claims 5 to 12, wherein the winding up roller is carried in the frame with the facility of being adjusted in height.

14. An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the winding up roller is displaceable by means of two lateral threaded rods which are adjustable by means of drive motors.

15. An apparatus according to claim 13, including means for controlling the drive motors.

16. An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the control means also has at least one bearing roller which is carried in the frame and able to be laterally displaced, said at least one bearing roller bearing on the roll in the winding up roller in the band intake zone, and the at least one bearing roller is displaceable by the change in diameter of the roll, and including limit switches for registering the displacement of said at least one bearing roller.

17. An apparatus according to any one of claims 5 to 12, wherein the intake zone for the objects to be placed into intermediate storage, a pressing device is arranged opposite the winding band, said processing pressing device being displaceable from an operative position into a rest position.

18. An apparatus according to any one of claims 5 to 17, wherein the web roller motor and the winding motor are braking motors.

19. A method for storing tubular web sections or stacks, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

20. Apparatus for the intermediate storage of flat objects, constructed and adapted to operate substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated in, the accompanying drawings.