MXPA00009603A - Center driven side shuttle unwinder. - Google Patents

Abstract

A side shuttle unwinder supports a pair of parent rolls which are alternately rotated to unwind a web. Each of the parent rolls is engageable with a center drive mechanism for rotating the parent roll. Each center drive mechanism can include core chucks which are removably engageable with the parent roll. The core chucks can be permanently or rotatably mounted on the side shuttle.

Description

LATERAL SHUTTLE UNWINDER WITH CENTRAL IMPULSION BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to an unwinder for a roll of cloth material, and, more particularly, to an unwinder including a lateral shuttle stand for a pair of parent rolls which are alternatively unrolled by a drive mechanism central. Dispersers are commonly used to unwind a roll of rolled fabric material so that the fabric can be processed by equipment downstream of the unwinder. For example, in the paper conversion field a large paper roll unwinds and advances to a re-reel, which perforates the paper to form individual sheets and re-rolls the paper into rolls of paper-sized paper consumer for bath or paper towels. Examples of such re-reels are described in U.S. Patent Nos. Re. 28,353, 4,723,724, 5, 104,055, and EPO Patent No. 0 694 020 B1. When a parent roll unwinds completely or unrolls almost completely, or when it is desired to change the parent roll for any other reason, the parent roll must be removed from the unwinder and replaced with a new roll. The guiding end of the new roll should be attached or spliced to the end of the old roll so that a continuous web is advanced through the downstream equipment.

U.S. Patent Nos. 5,906,333, 5,934,604 discloses a central drive unwind that automatically replaces parent rolls and spins the end of the old roll and the leading end of the new roll. Many de-pellers are not central drive. In contrast, the roll is rotatably mounted on the unwinder, and a belt driven mechanism engages the surfaces of the roll to rotate the roll and unwind the cloth. U.S. Patent No. 5,730,389 discloses a device for changing and joining rolls in a belt driven unwinder. Two rolls are mounted on movable trolleys. The first roll is unwound by the band, and the second roll is deviated laterally from the first roll. The guide end of the second roll is retained by a suction member in the carriage. When the rolls are to be changed, a second suction member and a sheet move against the fabric to cut the fabric and hold the end of the fabric against the second suction member. The second suction member and the blade then move away from the path of the fabric. The carriages move to bring the second roll to the unwinding position, and the leading end of the second roll is attached to the end end of the first roll. The patent application entitled "Automatic Unwinder Unwinder", Serial No. 09 / 216,323, filed on December 18, 1998 describes an improved device for changing and joining rolls in a belt driven unwinder. That patent application and this request are the property of the same transferee.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The invention provides a quick-change central drive unwind and removable core mandrels for driving a parent roll. The first and second parent rolls are mounted on a side shuttle or movable carriage. The car can be equipped with a lifting device for each parent roll to help load and remove the parent rolls. While the first roll is being unwound, the second roll can be mounted on the carriage ready for wasting when the first roll is finished. The parent rolls can be driven by a single common motor that drives each parent roll alternately, by one or two motors for each parent roll, or by three motors: a main drive motor between the parent rolls which is retracted and advanced between the rolls parents and separate engines for each parent roll. The core mandrels can be mounted permanently on the carriage and connected to the drive mechanism, or the drive mechanism can be connected to the mandrels after the mandrels are inserted into the core of one of the parent rolls and installed to the .

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will be explained in conjunction with illustrative modalities shown in the attached drawing, in which: Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a movable carriage or side shuttle for a pair of parent rolls, the carriage that is equipped with a lifting device and a central drive mechanism for each parent roll; Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 showing both parent rolls axially aligned with the core mandrels, the right parent roll being unwound and the left parent roll in the process of being connected to the core mandrels; Figure 3 illustrates the left parent roll coupled by the core mandrels as the right parent roll continues to unroll; Figure 4 illustrates the left parent roll that is prepared for attachment to the fabric being fed to the rewind of the right parent roll; Figure 5 illustrates the carriage moved to the right of its position in Figures 1-4 to align the left parent roll with the fabric in the rewinder after the right parent roll has been unwound; Figure 6 shows the lifting mechanism for the right parent roll next to raising the finished roll and the left core mandrel decoupled from the finished roll, and the finished roll pulled to the right by the mandrel so that it can be decoupled; Figure 7 illustrates both core cores uncoupled from the finished roll and finished roll raised to a level where it can be engaged by the parent roll loading device; Figure 8 illustrates the alternate positions of the parent rolls as the axially movable core mandrel for each roll moves to couple or uncouple the core with the opposite core mandrel and also illustrates the use of a centrally placed drive that changes parent rolls from right to left; Figure 9 is a view similar to Figure 3 of an alternate embodiment of the invention in which each parent roll is driven by a separate motor; Figure 10 illustrates a configuration of two motors in which the motors are placed between the parent rolls; Figure 11 illustrates a configuration of three motors, the central motor being alternately connected to the right and left parent rolls; Figure 12 illustrates a configuration of four engines; Figure 13 is a side elevational view of the side shuttle uncoiler and associated spreading apparatus; Figure 14 is a view similar to Figure 1 in which core mandrels that are removable from the drive mechanism are inserted into the new parent roll and the new parent roll is lifted by hooks engaging the core mandrels; Figure 15 is a fragmentary sectional view of one of the removable core mandrels of Figure 14 which is held in position in the carriage; Figure 16 illustrates another embodiment of a removibie core mandrel; Figure 17 is a fragmentary side elevation view of a drive mechanism for removable core mandrels; Figure 18 is a front elevation view of another embodiment in which drive arrows that are permanently mounted on the carriage are engageable with the core mandrels that are inserted in the parent roll core; Figure 19 is a view similar to Figure 18 in which the right parent roll is being unwound and the left parent roll is being loaded; Figure 20 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of one of the drive arrows and core mandrels of Figure 18; Figure 21 illustrates a drive mechanism for a parent roll that retains the central arrow that is used in the paper machine to wind the fabric over the arrow to form the parent roll; Figure 22 is a view similar to Figure 21 showing the right parent roll being unwound and the left parent roll being installed; and Figure 23 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the drive mechanism for the parent rolls of Figures 21 and 22.

DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC MODALITIES Referring to Figures 1 -8, an unwinding apparatus 25 includes a carriage 26 which is mounted on rollers 27 for movement on a support surface S. The carriage includes two support frames 28 and 29 to rotatably support first and second rolls 30 and 31 parents. Each parent roll includes a hollow core core 32, and core mandrels 33-36 can be inserted into the support frames at the open ends of the cores. Each of the roll support frames includes posts 38 and 39 that extend upwards and downwards to rotatably support the core mandrels. In the embodiment of Figures 1-8, the intermediate core mandrels 34 and 35 are driven by a motor 40 which is mounted on the carriage. A drive belt 41 rotates an arrow 42, and the rotational movement of the arrow is selectively transferred to one of the core mandrels by a clutch 43 or 43a. Each of the intermediate core mandrels 34 and 35 includes an arrow 44 which is rotatably mounted on one of the posts extending upward in a fixed position. A pulley 45 at the end of the arrow is connected to the arrow 42 by a band 46. Each of the mandrels 33 and 36 of the right and left core includes an arrow 48 which is rotatably mounted on a core mandrel carriage 49. Each carriage 49 is slidably mounted in a slide 50 that includes a drive mechanism for axially moving the core mandrel toward and away from the parent roll. Platforms 52 and 53 of the parent roll lift in the support frames are movable between raised and collapsed positions by a lifting mechanism 54 which is enclosed by bellows 55. The lifting mechanism can be any conventional lifting mechanism, for example , the hydraulic lifting assembly described in U.S. Patent No. 5,934,604, and including scissor lift arms and a hydraulic piston. Each lifting mechanism is mounted on a slide 56 which allows the lifting mechanism to slide in the axial direction of the parent roll. A lateral lift mechanism 57 in the carriage axially moves the lifting mechanism 57. Referring to Figure 1, the right parent roll 30 is positioned in the center line of the rewinder or other fabric handling apparatus. The motor 40 is connected to the core mandrel 34 through the clutch 43a to rotate the parent roll 30 and to unwind the fabric. The left parent roll 31 is loaded on the carriage by a parent roll loading device 59 which is suspended from a crane. The loading device 59 is conventional and includes a pair of lifting arms 60 which are mounted for axial movement in the transverse tube 61. The left parent roll lifting platform 53 is raised by the lifting mechanism 54 to support the parent roll 31 so that the lifting arms 60 can be separated and raised without interference from the core mandrels 35 and 36. In Figure 2 the platform 53 has been lowered so that the core 32 of the parent roll is axially aligned with the core mandrels 35 and 36. A sensor can detect the center of the nucleus and stop the platform when the nucleus is in the correct position. The mandrill 36 left core has moved to the right and is inserted into the kernel. In Figure 3 the left core mandrel 36 moves further to the right to push the parent roll into the slide 56 so that the right core mandrel 35 is inserted into the core. The side lift mechanism 57 can also be used to move the parent roll to the right. Each of the core mandrels includes conventional expandable core pliers. The core pliers are expanded when the core mandrels are inserted in the core so that the parent roll rotates with the mandrels. In Figure 4 the right parent roll continues to unroll, and the left parent roll prepares to join the fabric that will be cut from the right roll. The details of the splicing procedure are described in the aforementioned US Serial No. 09 / 216,323, filed December 18, 1998. In central drive designs using a single drive motor 40, an auxiliary motor can be used. to rotate the new parent roll out of the line to prepare the roll for splicing. Since speed and control are not required for this step, the auxiliary motor could be much smaller than the main drive motor. The elevated torque and compact size of a hydraulic motor would be ideal for this application. In Figure 5, the right parent roll has stopped after it reaches a predetermined diameter. The running fabric is cut and the carriage 26 has moved to the right so that the prepared parent roll 31 is aligned with the fabric in the rewinder. The diameter of the running parent roll can be monitored via a laser measuring device or other means such as using a programmable logic controller to calculate the diameter using rpm of the parent roll and line speed. The transverse movement of the parent roll car can also be controlled automatically. A sending-receiving photoelectric eye unit 62 may be positioned outside the working frame of the carriage so that it is viewing between the parent rolls when a parent roll is running. When the new parent roll passes through the center line of the machine, the beam between the sending and receiving unit is interrupted, as the parent roll continues beyond the placement of the sender-receiver, the beam is seen again. By writing the transverse mechanism for carriage location via an encoder, LVDT, processor, or spring-loaded cable potentiometer, a controller can be used to position the carriage so that it stops at the desired location. The drive power of the motor 40 is transferred by the clutch 43a of the parent roll station which is terminated to the parent roll station with the new roll and engaging the clutch 43. In Figure 6, the roll lifting platform 52 father stops at a stage just below the finished roll in the unloading position. This can be done manually, or the lifting platform can be made to stop via a switch triggered by the core that is present near the top of the platform. The core gripping means placed in the stationary core mandrel 34 is decoupled. The core mandrel 33 mounted on the linear slides 50 is driven so as to pull the core out of the stationary core mandrel. The unsupported end of the core falls on the parent roll lifting platform. The core gripping means in the core mandrel 33 in the linear slider is decoupled from the core. The other end of the core is now unsupported and falls to the parent roll lifting device. Figure 7 illustrates the parent roll lifting platform raised to a level where the crane mounted on the parent roll lifting device 59 can discharge the core. The unrolled parent roll shift sequence of central drive shuttle that has been described above can typically be for all unwinds of this nature. In addition to the change sequence, s can also use different methods for parent roll support and to drive the parent roll. The parent roll support methods can be divided into four categories. The first category, core mandrels in the machine, requires that the core mandrels are permanently fixed to the carriage. The core mandrels may be stationary or mounted in a linear sliding means. An advantage of assembling core mandrels in line slides is to allow the lateral change of the parent roll in the mandrel area. It also eliminates the core mandrel requirement for handling.

IMPULSION COMBINATIONS The following impulse combinations can be used for parent-on-machine roll support methods. Figure 8 illustrates the drive configuration of a motor of Figure 1 which changes the motor drive energy 40 between the parent roll stations as required. A preparation motor can be used to assist in the preparation of joining for this configuration. Figure 10 illustrates a configuration of two motors with the motors 66 and 67 positioned between the parent roll stations to drive the intermediate core mandrels 34 and 35. Figure 9 illustrates a configuration of two motors with motors 64 and 65 positioned at the ends of the parent roll carriage 26 to drive the left and right core mandrels 33 and 36. Figure 11 illustrates a three-motor concept including motors 40 and 66 and 67. The center motor 40 uses the same drive mechanism as the side shuttle unlocking with a drive motor shown in Figure 8. The fabric can be unwound clockwise as shown in W ?, or counterclockwise as indicated in W2 as shown in Figure 13. Figure 13 illustrates the teat traveling on rolls 72 and 73 insane upper and lower in the carriage 26 towards a spreading apparatus 74. The spreading apparatus is described in detail in the patent application of E.

U. entitled "Automatic Unwinder Unwinder", Serial No. 09 / 216,323, filed December 18, 1998. As described in said application, the leading end of the new fabric is attached at the extreme end of the teat of the roll. finished.

RENEWABLE NUCLEUS MANDRELS The second category for parent roll support is renewable core mandrel methods. Renewable core mandrels are inserted on the side of the parent roll outside the machine. A crane engages the core mandrel arrows and loads the parent roll into the carriage. A drive mechanism is then attached to the core mandrel. The concept eliminates the requirement of the parent roll lifting devices placed in the cart. It also eliminates the requirement of the crane-mounted parent roll handling device that has an energized adjustable clear and replaces it with a standard hook. Referring to Figure 14, the removable core mandrels 78 and 79 are inserted into the core of a new parent roll 31. Each core mandrel includes an arrow 80 that is rotatably mounted in the housing 81 and a pulley 82 in the end of the arrow. The new parent roll is supported by a lifting device 83 that includes a hook 84 for coupling with the arrows.

As the new parent roll is lowered toward the carriage 26, the housing 81 engages the vertical support arms 38 and 39. The support arms may be provided with depressions to receive the housings, or the housings may be held in position for a safer mounting.

The core mandrels 85 and 86 for the right parent roller 30 are attached to the vertical support arms 38 and 39 by clamps 87 (see also Figure 15). The motors 88 and 89 are driven to the pulleys 82 by strips 90 and 91. Figure 16 illustrates another embodiment of a removable core mandrel 93 that includes an arrow 94 and a pulley 95. The arrow is rotatably mounted on, and subject to, the carriage 26 by means of supports 96 and 97 upper and lower. Figure 17 illustrates a drive system for rotating the removable core mandrels. The arrow 99 of the core mandrel is supported on a channel 100 in the support arm 38. The arrow is held in place by a clamp 101 which is pivotally mounted on the support arm by the pin 102 which is pivoted by a piston 103. A timing band 104 extends around a pulley 105 of drive motor, a tension pulley 106, a idler pulley 107, and a motor pulley 108 of hydraulic preparation. The tension pulley 106 is mounted on a pivot arm 109 which is controlled by the piston 1 10. When the core mandrel is clamped in position, the pulley 11 of the core mandrel is aligned with the belt 104. The pulley 106 of tension is pivoted to engage the belt with the pulley. The parent roll can be rotated slowly for spreading preparation by activating the hydraulic preparation motor that drives the pulley 108. The parent roll can be rotated to unwind the fabric by activating the drive motor for the pulley 105. In the embodiment illustrated in the Figure 17, the band 104 also wraps a brake pulley 112 which is mounted on a disc brake 113. The disk brake rotates between the brake yoke 1 14, and the rotation of the parent roll can be stopped by activating the brake pads to hold the disk brake. All of the drive motor configurations described in Figures 1-13 for machine core cores can also be used for removable core cores.

REMOVABLE NUCLEUS MANDRELS WITH MACHINE ARROWS A third category of parent roll support uses removable core mandrels and rotating shafts that are permanently mounted on the unwinder. This category allows the lateral change of the parent roll at the core mandrel locations. It also eliminates the requirement of the parent lifting device of Figures 1-13 and replaces it with a standard hook. Referring to Figures 18-20, the removable core mandrels 117 and 118 are inserted into the right parent roll 30 and the removable core mandrels 119 and 120 are inserted into the left parent roll 31. Each core mandrel includes a head 121 which is inserted into the core of the parent roll and a tapered hollow tube 122. In Figure 19 the left parent roll 31 is being lowered into the carriage 26 by a lifting device 123 which includes hooks 124 which engage the tubes 122 of the core mandrels. The parent roll is lowered until the tubes 122 are supported by mandrel breaks 125 in the carriage. Referring to Figure 20, each core mandrel is engageable with an arrow 126 which is rotatably mounted by means of bearings within a housing 127 that is mounted on the carriage. The housing 127 is disposably mounted for axial movement in a slide 128, and the housing is axially moved by an axial drive device 129. A pulley 130 at the end of the arrow is driven by motor 131. After the parent roll is lowered to the mandrel breaks 125, the housings 127 move axially to insert the arrows 126 into the tubes 122 of the core mandrels. The end of each arrow is tapered and engages a corresponding shaped hole in the tube to provide a non-rotating fit.

FATHER ROLL WITH CENTRAL ARROW The fourth category of parent roll support uses the central arrow around which the fabric is rolled by the paper machine to form the parent roll. In Figure 21 the parent rolls 134 and 135 were formed by a papet machine by wrapping a cloth around the central arrows 136 and 137. The central arrows are conventional and well known. Referring to Figure 23, each end of each arrow includes a collar 138 that is rotatably mounted on the arrow and a radially enlarged drum 139 that is fixed to the arrow. The arrow ends in an end stump 140. The collars 138 at the ends of the arrow are supported by support arms 141 and 142 on the carriage 26. The end stump at one end of the arrow is engageable with a low kickback coupler 143 on an arrow 144. A pulley 145 in the arrow it is driven by a motor 146 which is mounted on a slide 147 for axial sliding movement. The rotation of the arrow can be stopped by the brake 148. A hydraulic cylinder 149 moves the motor axially. The motor 146 can be changed axially to drive any of the parent rolls. Each parent roll can be rotated slowly for spreading preparation by a preparation motor 150 on one of the support arms 141 and 142. A rim or rubber wheel 151 is driven by the engine, and the motor and rim can be pivoted by a hydraulic cylinder 152 so that the rim engages with the drum 139 in the central arrow. The drum can also be used as a brake drum to stop the parent roll or to hold it in position after the splice preparation. EJ motor 146 can be changed axially to drive any of the parent rolls. Figure 22 illustrates the right parent roll 134 being rotated by the motor 146 while the left parent roll is being loaded by the lifting device 154. Figure 21 shows the left parent roll supported on the carriage. Although a detailed description of specific embodiments of the invention for the purpose of illustration was set forth in the foregoing specification, it will be understood that many of the details given herein may be varied considerably by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. the invention.

Claims (19)

1. CLAIMS 1. An apparatus for alternatively unrolling a tef from the first and second parent rolls comprising: A carriage for supporting a parent roll pa, each of parent rolls having an axially extending center and a rolled cloth material around the center, the carriage which is axially movable between a first position in which the first parent roll is in an unwinding position and the second parent roll is in a loaded position and a second position in which the second parent roll is in a loaded position. in a unrolling position and the first parent roll is in a loaded position, and first and second central drive mechanisms mounted on the carriage, the first drive mechanism being coupled with the center of the first parent roll when the first parent roll is in the unwinding position to rotate the first parent roll, the second drive mechanism being engageable with the center of the second undo parent when the second parent roll is in the unwinding position to rotate the second parent roll. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each of the first and second drive mechanisms includes a pair of core mandrels that are removably acceptable with the center of one of the parent rolls. 3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein each of the core mandrels is rotatably mounted on the carriage. The apparatus of claim 3 in which one of the core mandrels of each of the first and second drive mechanisms is mounted on the carriage for axial movement. The apparatus of claim 2 including a motor and means for alternately connecting the motor to one of the core mandrels of each of the first and second drive mechanisms. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein each of the first and second drive mechanisms includes a motor for rotating one of the core mandrels of the drive mechanism. The apparatus of claim 6 including a third motor and means for alternately connecting the third motor to the other core mandrel of each of the drive mechanisms. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein each of the first and second drive mechanisms includes a pair of motors for rotating the core mandrels of the drive mechanism. 9. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein each of the first and second drive mechanisms includes an arrow for each of the core mandrels which is removably coupled with the core mandrel, each of the arrows being mounted in a rotating way in the car. 10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein at least one of the arrows of each of the drive mechanisms is movable axially in the carriage. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein each of the core mandrels includes an arrow that is attached to the core mandrel, each of the arrows being mounted removably and rotatably on the carriage. The apparatus of claim 11 including a housing rotatably mounted on each of the arrows and means for removably mounting each of the housings in the carriage. The apparatus of claim 11 including bearings in the carriage to rotatably support each of the arrows. The apparatus of claim 1 including a lifting mechanism on the carriage for each of the parent rolls, each lifting mechanism being movable between lowered and raised positions. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein each of the first and second drive mechanisms includes a set of arrows that are operatively connected to the core mandrels, an arrow pulley mounted at one end of the arrows, a pulley of drive motor rotatably mounted on the carriage, and a drive belt dragged around the drive motor pulley and the arrow pulley. 16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein each of the first and second drive mechanisms includes a tension pulley movably mounted on the carriage and engages with the drive belt to urgeively engage the drive belt with the drive pulley. drive motor and the arrow pulley. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein each of the first and second drive mechanisms includes a preparation motor and a preparation motor pulley, the drive belt being driven around the preparation motor pulley. 18. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein each of the first and second drive mechanisms includes a brake pulley rotatably mounted on the carriage which engages the drive belt and means to prevent rotation of the brake pulley. . 19. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each of the parent rolls includes a central arrow, each of the first and second drive mechanisms being coupled with the central arrow of one of the parent rolls.