GB2337249A

GB2337249A - Reel shaft support

Info

Publication number: GB2337249A
Application number: GB9810526A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Giancarlo Marin
Original assignee: CREATIVE PATENT Ltd
Current assignee: CREATIVE PATENT Ltd
Priority date: 1998-05-15
Filing date: 1998-05-15
Publication date: 1999-11-17
Anticipated expiration: 2018-05-15
Also published as: GB2337249B; GB9810526D0

Abstract

A support 1 for reel carrier shafts comprises an external body 2 and coaxial, driven, internal body 4 having at one end 5 a protruding collar 7 with a half shell 10 profiled 11 to drivingly engage the end 12 of the reel. To allow introduction of the reel, an upper half ring 14 is axially slidable with respect to the body 4. The ring 14 is connected to a fluid-actuated piston 18 and ring 27 within a chamber 19 at the end of the body 2.

Description

1 A SUPPORT FOR A REEL CARRI1ER SHAFT 2337249 The present invention

relates to a support for a reel carrier shaft. In particular, the present invention relates to a support for reel winding and unwinding devices most notably in the paper industry.

Expansible shafts are used to support paper reels and keep them centred during winding or unwinding operations. It is-lmown to house the ends of the expansible shafts in supports which are often powered self-braking motors. Such supports must be designed so as to ensure the easy inction of the reel carrier shaft, typically from above, and at the same time set the red er shaft rotating about its own longitudinal axis. To that end, such supports are pm with an upward opening which can be closed by means of an axially sliding hl#-nng. The ends of the shaft are inserted in the corresponding ends of the support by lg them vertically. The ends of the shaft are then held in position by a said half ringn the opening is closed. The opening is closed usually by moving the half ring itidf.

It is also known to include safetyices associated with the support such that it is only possible to remove or insert a reet-0- wer shaft through the opening when the half ring is in the upper position. This s s is intended to avoid the possibility of the shaft falling due to accidental opening c support.

Hitherto known supports require Cpual manoeuvring of mechanical means in order to open and close the half ring wwks the shaft ends and typically the manual manoeuvring involves axial sliding of tkIWf ring. Such manual manoeuvring involves the loss of time when exchanging reel carrier shafts to and from the support. Furthermore, such manoeuvring invole risk of an operator getting injured.

-i 51- An object of the present inventi'2-- obviate the disadvantages enumerated above.

In particular, one object of the t invention is to provide a support for reel carrier shafts which are shorter in the -Q direction than hitherto known supports designed to support the same shaft. A "r aim of the present invention is to provide A-- kb 2 a support for reel carrier shafts which ensure greater safety during the opening and closing operation. Finally, another aim of the present invention is to provide a support which should enable an operator to effect the opening and closing operations more quickly than known hitherto.

According to the present invention there is provided a support for reel carrier shafts, comprising:

an external body fixed to a support structure; an internal body positioned coaxially inside said external body, one end of which is connected to a power unit, while the other end is provided with a collar protruding from said external body; a lower half shell fixed inside said collar through connection means, the inner surface of said shell is provided with a prism-shaped seat suitable for housing a projecting profile belonging to the end of said reel carrier shaft; an upper half ring axially sliding above said shell to be coupled to the same end of the same reel carrier shaft, characterised in that said support includes a fluid-operated actuator comprising an annular chamber defined between an annular flange coaxially fixed outside of said external body and an annular cover coaxially positioned outside said annular flange, the inside of said annular chamber being provided with a piston connected to said upper half ring and arranged between the inner surface of said annular cover and a sliding ring which can move axially on the outer surface of said annular flange.

Moreover, the present invention provides a support for reel carrier shafts that, according to the main claim, comprises:

an external body fixed to a support structure; an internal body positioned coaxially inside said external body, one end of which is connected to a power unit, while the opposite end is provided with a collar that protrudes from said external body; 3 a lower half shell fixed inside said collar through connection means, the inner surface of which is provided with an annular seat that is coupled to the same end of the same reel carrier shaft, an upper half ring (14) axially sliding above said collar (10) to be coupled to the same end (12) of the same reel carrier (13), said support being characterised in that it comprises a fluid-operated actuator constituted by an annular chamber defined by an annular flange coaxially fixed to the outside of said external body and by an annular cover coaxially positioned outside said annular flange, the inside of said annulw thamber being provided with an annular piston connected to said upper half ring and included between the inner surface of said annular cover and a sliding ring that can be moved axially on the outer surface of said annular flange.

Embodiments of the present invendon will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

Fig 1 shows the side view of the ort view of the present invention; Fig 2 shows the front view of theort of the invention observed from the annular connection side; Fig 3 shows the longitudinal secdM-x)f the support of the present invention in a closed position; Fig 4 shows the longitudinal section -of the support of the present invention in an open position.

As shown in all of the figures, tht invention relates to a support which is generally indicated by the numeral 1. Tbompport comprises an external body 2 which is fixed to a support structure 3 which te up by the base of the reel winding machine. An internal body 4 is posifi ially inside the external body 2. One end 5 of the internal body 4 is coupled to a.- ding shaft 6 which is suitable for being connected to a power unit. The other a the internal body 4 is provided with a collar 7. Internal body 4 is supported by beariW 8 and 9 which are positioned outside the 4 internal body 4 but housed inside said external body 2. The bearings 8 and 9 enable rotation of the internal body 4 when said power units set the protruding shafts 6 rotating.

The inside of collar 7 is provided with a lower half shell 10. The inner surface of the lower half shell 10 is provided with a prism shaped seat 11. Seat 11 is suitable for housing a corresponding projecting profile belonging to the end 12 of a reel carrier shaft 13 which is indicated in the figures by a dotted line.

On the collar 7 and the lower half shell 10, an upper half ring 14 is provided. The upper half ring 14 can slide in two directions indicated by the arrows 15 in Figure 3. It will be noted that the arrows 15 are parallel to an axis 160 of the support. The upper half ring 14 is connected by means of screws 16 to the protruding part 17 of an annular piston 18. The annular piston 18 belongs to a fluid operated actuator indicated as a whole by A.

One can discern from the figures that fluid operated actuator A comprises an annular chamber 19 in which said annular piston 18 slides. Said annular chamber 19 is defined by the outer surface 20 of an annular flange 21 positioned coaxially outside said internal body 4. The inner surface 22 of an annular cover 23 is fixed to said annular flange 21 by means of a threaded coupling 24. The upper surface 25 of said piston 18 slides in contact with the inner surface 22 of said annular cover 23 whilst its lower surface 26 is slidingly coupled onto a sliding ring 27 that in turn is slidingly connected to the outer surface 20 of the annular flange 21.

Sliding, ring 27 is sealed with respect to said surfaces 26 and 20 due to the presence of two gaskets 28 and 28' respectively. Sliding ring 27 is also provided with a grove 29 suitable for defining a tooth 30 which strikes against a contrast element comprising the head 31 of a screw coupled to said annular piston 18. A shoulder 32 belonging to the sliding ring 27 and adjacent to the outer surface 20 of the annular flange 21 serves as an end of stroke by striking against a block 33 belonging to the annular flange 21 itself.

A pair of through holes 34 and 35 respectively are made in the annular cover 23 for enabling the annular chamber 19 to communicate with the outside. These through holes are suitable for ensuring the passage of fluid under pressure which causes the actuation of the piston 18.

When the support is at rest, it is typically being arranged for receiving the end 12 of the expansible reel carrier shaft 13. In this condition, the upper half ring 14 is positioned as shown in Figure 4. In this case, annular piston 18 is completely inside chamber 19. In this situation, an opening 36 is defined above the lower half shell 10 and said opening houses the end 12 of the expansible reel carrier shaft 13 when this is lowered vertically as shown by arrow 37.

When the end 12 of the expansible-icel carrier shaft is housed in the prism shaped seat 11, a fluid under pressure, pref compressed air, is introduced in the chamber 19 through the through hole 35 as indicated by the arrow 38. The compressed air moves the annular piston 18 in the direction ofaxial arrow 39 until it reaches the final position represented in Figure 3. In this ins-the upper half ring 14 captures the end 12 of the expansible reel carrier shaft 13 thventing the end 12 from disengaging. The expansible reel carrier shaft 13 can thw be set rotating by the power unit which sets the rotation of the protruding shaft 6 togewith the internal body 4 and the fluid operated actuator A connected with it. A film or or other thin material is then wound onto the expansible reel carrier shaft 13.

The interposition of the sliding riw,27 between the annular flange 20 and the annular piston 18 enables the annular pu 18 to have a stroke C inside chamber 19. Said stroke C exceeds the length F of the-annular flange 21. Thus this makes it possible to reduce the axial dimensions of the ST-Porl.

Starting from the position shown Figure 4, the total stroke of the annular piston 18 which is necessary for closing the su W-rt is covered in two phases. In the first phase, piston 18 moves towards the riW as indicated by the arrow 39. The piston covers a distance 40 until the screw 31 kess against the annular element 30 of the sliding ring 27. The annular piston 18m- ntinues its axial stroke in direction 39 dragging with itself also the sliding ring 27. The Woke of the sliding ring 27 ends when it is in 6 the position represented in Figure 3. In this case, the second annular projection 32 strikes against the reference block 33.

To reopen the support, after the power unit has been stopped and so when the internal body 4 together with the actuator A are at rest, compressed air is introduced in the through hole 34 to shift the annular piston 18 in the direction indicated by arrow 42 which is opposite to the previous direction 39. Thus annular piston 18 and the sliding ring 27 return to the same intermediate positions described above until reaching the position of that indicated in Figure 4.

In accordance with the description given above, the present invention achieves the aims stated. The first aim is to provide a support having reduced axial dimensions in comparison to equivalent supports suitable for bearing the same expansible reel carrier shaft. The present invention also achieves the aim of providing a support which is easy to handle and safe requiring shorter manoeuvring times in comparison to hitherto known supports. The support of the present invention is also safer than supports known to date.

The aforegoing description has been given by way of example only and it will be appreciated by a person skilled in the art that modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

For example the actuator fluid may not always comprise compressed air but may also use other liquids under pressure such as water, or oil or the like.

7

Claims

1. A support (1) for reel carrier shafts, comprising:

an external body (2) fixed to a support structure (3); an internal body (4) positioned cowdally inside said external body (2), one end (5) of which is connected to a power unit, the other end is provided with a collar (7) protruding from said external body (2); a lower half shell (10) fixed inside said collar (7) through connection means, the inner surface of said shell is provided with a prism-shaped seat (11) suitable for housing a projecting profile belonging to the ena(I2) of said reel carrier shaft (13); an upper half ring (14) axially sl above said shell (10) to be coupled to the same end of the same reel carrier shaft (13), characterised in that said support kes a fluid-operated actuator (A) comprising an annular chamber (19) defined between an annular flange (21) coaxially fixed outside of said external body (2) and an annular er (23) coaxially positioned outside said annular flange, the inside of said annulw chamber being provided with a piston (18) connected to said upper half ring (14) and arranged between the inner surface (22) of said annular cover (23) and a sliding ring (27) which can move axially on the outer surface (20) of said annular flange (21).

2. A support (1) according to claim 1 in which said sliding ring (27) is provided with a gasket (28) suitable for 9 the side of the ring in contact with said annular piston (18) and with another g (28') suitable for sealing the side of the ring in contact with said annular flange (21). --- 3. A support (1) according CwcWm 1 or 2 in which said annular piston (18) is provided with a contrast element (31) slidingly coupled onto a groove (29) belonging to said sliding ring (27), said groove (29)-being suitable for defining in said sliding ring (27) a tooth (30) which strikes against a contrast element (3 1) during movement of said annular piston (18).

2 8 4. A support (1) according to claim 3, in which said sliding ring (27) is provided with a shoulder (32) facing said annular flange (31) and striking against a block (33) which belongs to said annular flange (21), said shoulder (32) and said block (33) serving as end of stroke during movement of said sliding ring (27).

5. A support (1) according to claim 3 or 4 in which said contrast element of said annular piston (18) comprises a head (31) of a screw coupled to the annular piston (18) itself.

6. A support (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which said annular cover (23) is provided with at least one pair of through holes (35, 34) communicating with said annular chamber (19) in which said annular piston (18) slides.

7. A support (1) according to any preceding claims in which said annular piston (18) is connected to said upper half ring (14) by means of a fastening screw (16).

8. A support as described herein and as shown in any one of Figures 1 to 4.