US2663511A

US2663511A - Winding apparatus

Info

Publication number: US2663511A
Application number: US263271A
Authority: US
Inventors: Horace D Stevens
Original assignee: Firestone Tire and Rubber Co
Current assignee: Bridgestone Firestone Inc
Priority date: 1951-12-26
Filing date: 1951-12-26
Publication date: 1953-12-22
Anticipated expiration: 1970-12-22

Description

Dec. 22, 1953 Filed Dec. 26, 1951 H. D. STEVENS WINDING APPARATUS vBY 3 Sheets-Sheet l IN VEN TOR.

Dec. 22, 1953 H. D. STEVENS 2,663,511

WINDING APPARATUS 7 Filed Dec. 26, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

Dec. 22, 1953 Filed Dec. 26, 1951 H. D. STEVENS WINDING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR.

BY 2% f m Patented Dec. 22, 1953 WINDING APPARATUS Horace l). Stevens, Sarasota, Fla., assignor to The f Firestone Tire & Rubber Company, Akron,

Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application December 26, 1951, Serial No. 263,271

9 Claims. (01. 242-56) This invention relative to apparatus for continuously winding sheet material and more particularly to improved apparatus capable of winding sheet material on successive spools without interruption.

Apparatus according to the present invention is adapted to receive sheet material such as calendered plastic film from a calender and to wind it into rolls of the desired size without interrupting the operation of the calender and the wind-up apparatus. The present apparatus, like that disclosed in my co-pending application, Serial No. 42,383, filed August 4, 1948, has two wind-up spindles, one spindle receiving and winding the material while the other spindle, termed the stand-by spindle, is made ready to receive and wind the material when its turn comes in the next cycle of operation. When the winding spindle is fully loaded, a changeover is made to the stand-by spindle which begins winding automatically. During the changeover, there is a brief instant of time during which the sheet material is momentarily secured to both spindles to place a portion of the sheet under tension. At this instant the stretched sheet is severed, and the winding proceeds on the new spindle. The other spindle is then unloaded and made ready for its next winding period of operation.

In the present invention the wind-up spindles are stationary, and the sheet material isfed onto one or the other of the spindles by transfer rolls which shift their position to cooperate successively with the wind-up spindles. The transfer rolls have associated cutting means to sever the sheet in the manner described. The apparatus provides a rugged, serviceable, and effective means of achieving the objects which are set out in part below.

A general object of the invention is to provide a method and apparatus which enables a web of sheet material to be wound successively on each of a plurality of wind-up spindles without interrupting the continuous feeding movement of the sheet material.

A more specific object is to provide apparatus of the type described which attaches the sheet material to the next successive wind-upspindle prior to or substantially simultaneously with the severing of the sheet material to part it from the preceding wind-up spindle.

Another object is to provide wind-up apparatus Whose speed of winding is maintained equal to the feeding of sheet material to the apparatus.

Another object is to provide apparatus which effectively controlsthe sheet .material .being wound without creating sheet material.

Other objects are to provide apparatus which is rugged and simple in construction, which is dependable in operation, and which is easy to reloose, flapping ends of pair and maintain.

These and other objects and advantages will be more fully apparent from the following description of a preferred form of the invention, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which: 7

Figure 1 is a sectional view of apparatus embodying the invention taken in the plane i--l of Figure 2;

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken in the plane indicated by the linesE-E of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic sketch of the mai parts of the apparatus of Figure 1 in side elevation showing the sheet material being wound on 1 ceiving a continuously moving, plastic sheet it from a calender, not shown, and winding it into rolls of the desired size on a pair of fixed windup spindles I2 and it. The apparatus feeds the a sheet material to a spindle until a roll of the desired yardage has been wound thereon and then Without interruption of the winding secures the sheet to the other spindle and severs it from the first.

The sheet is delivered to the spindles by a carriage indicated generally at M which is vertically movable into positions of delivery immediately adjacent the two spindles. ries a transfer frame 55 having a pair of rolls it and i7 mounted thereon which engage the sheet to the wind-up spindles in a manner to be described and also a pair of cutting knives i8 7 and M which sever the strip when the transfer is made from one spindle to the other.

The transfer frame I5 is mounted on carriage [4 ma manner which permits it to be rocked forwardly so that the transfer rolls l8 and I? can press the sheet into contact with the wind- The carriage i i car- 1 3 up spindles and so that the cutting knives I8 and I9 can sever the sheetafter the transfer is made from one spindle to the other.

The operation of the carriage and transfer frame and their associated parts can be best understood by reference to Figures 3-6, inclusive, which diagrammatically illustrate the mode of operation. In Figure 3'the carriage I4 is shown in position to deliver sheet to thelower wind-up spindle I3, the sheet passing through the carriage,

over transfer roll I1, and then downward about? guide roll 20 to be wound on the spindle I3. Dur-.

ing normal winding, as in Figure 3, frame i5 is in its retracted position. When spindle i3 is: full and the winding operation is to betrans ferred to spindle l2, the frame i5 is rocked for-- wardly to the position of Figures, inwhich position the transfer roll I! presses the strip intocontact with an adhesive-coated, cardboardacore-z i mounted on spindle H2. The sheet is momentarily stretched taut between-spindles. i2 and: I3; and, then in the last increment of forward motioni of the frame, knife [9 severs the sheet The roll, it

and knife I9 are thus so mountedon-frame. [5,as to produce a slight interval between their times of operation.

As winding proceeds on spindle I 2, frame is retracted away from thespil dle l2 into carriage It, and the carriage then moves downwardly to the position of Figure 5 inreadinessto, transfer the winding operation back once again to spindle E3. The sheet isshown inFigpreB as passing through the frame. l5, around. the transfer roll it, over guide roll 22, and then finally to thespindle I2. When the winding is complete onspindle I2, frame. l 5,- is. rockedforwardlyto the position of Figure=6, at Whichtime the upper transfer roll it; presses the, sheetvv against another adhesive-coated, cardboard core,

2! on spindle l3, and an instant, laterv knife l8.

severe the stretched sheet. Frame I51 is then retracted and the carriage Ii movedupwardly. to the position of Figure 3 ready tobegimits cycle of operation once again.

The carriage or frame. IA, is supported for. its.- reciprocating movement by a. supporting struc.-.

ture indicated generally at 2,5,, which includes. a..

pair of I vertical, cylindrical posts 2,6 and. 21-, see Figure 1, whichare supportedby suitablabase. members 28 and which are connectedatthetop bythe tie rods 2.9.and 39 and cross braces. 3| and 32. A. framework 3.4.013. structural; members supports the associated equipment...

The carriage itself comprises.a.p.airv of iden.- tical side. members 35r-and 3G, see.:Figure..2,-.,con. nected by. a plurality, ofv tie rods. 3]. which. are; secured to the side members.bysuitablebrackets- 38; Cross bracestfi. may, be. provided. to. add:v rigidity. The carriageis supported between and. movable along the. supporting. posts. 2B..and 2:1 by a set of four guide rollers d2 which roll along the. posts andwhichare concavein section to conform closely. to the cylindrical surfaces. of the; posts. The carriage may, ifdesired, have collars: secured thereto which would embrace..the;.posts.- and serve to guide the carriage movement.

Thecarriage I i. is movedto, its transfer posi-. tions adjacent the wind-:up, spindles I2. and. [33. by, means of a chain andsprocketdrive mecha.-. nism, which includes. chainsv 4.3.- trained about.

upper drive sprockets. 44: and: lower. idlingz.

sp roc lgets Q5, The carriage is, connectedto the frgnt halvesof the, chains..by brackets-.46;. and

f the carriage counter-balanced.

on the opposite side of the sprockets. The drive sprockets 44 are mounted on shaft 48 driven by a motor 49 and a speed reducer 50 through gears 5i and 52. Drive shaft 48 is journalled in suitable bearings secured to the

posts

26 and 2?, and the motor and speed reducer are suitably supported as by the bracket 56.

As-the carriage;moves from-one transfer positionto-another, an actuating lover or finger 51 secured to the carriage actuates limit switches 69 and 61 which are positioned in the path of travel ofthe .finger and which control the power to the reversing motor 49. The motor will tend to overtravel:somewhat,.and;the carriage is driven past theslimit' switches a slight amount until it comes in contact with the stops 63 on the base, which determine its; lowermost position, and the stops 64, secured to the posts 26, which determine its uppermost position.

The transfer frame I5 gcomprises a pair of side em wv 65; o he shape: shown. F ural 1 hiQ 23 I QnI Q by he. e; bars whi h. so ave he u tio mf supp rting; the cuttin n ves se F gu 2.- he ansfe l 6: nd

Il are journalled in a position in bearings-which re u p r d. y oi pr n s: 67;. s e. Fi ur h-.p rmit her lls' t yie dlwhen th ir c ntact; h W l i- 1 ind es, h s. yi ldin movement. f o ls. rmi s th n hee 0'@ .e:.pre sed1into dh siv n a em nt Wi h-the. w ndvun. s n es sli h l fore the kn v s-reach the r. cuttingnos r ion. rov d n for thes iehtfiima lay re e red: toabove;

. The rame. i5issunrcflcd forits'roclsin rmova ment by pa rs fjnarall l,.cranlsarms;.lilsasshowna n insures. 1: and; 2.. which. have pivo a nsagee. mentwith the frame. as; at. i]: and, which are: secured. at. 12 fQIy rotation. with; rock shafts. l3i x ndmg acr stheu a iaga.

Theframe is rockediinto: andiout of; itstransr. fer position byrotationofthe shafts, ia'bymeans. of. a rack and pinion arrangement; bestshown iniFigure 2,. comprising. a; pair of; vertically, re.-.-. ciprocajole racks 75.: which; have. sliding move-. ment within apair of guides 16 and which. are. given their. reciprocal 1 movement. by. a. hydraulic. motor-indicatedat; Hz. Eachof the. shafts 13-. have segmentalpinions.T8zsecuredzthereto having engagement. with the. racks. Thesegmental mmons. have. an. arcuate extent; of. about. degreesto. provide: the; required rocking. moves. mentaofs-the frame.

Itwill .bernoted from Figure flcthat the. strip ii it enters. fromi a. calender'or. other. sourcerof esupplye atthe left; not; shown; passes-through. a. coma pensatingdev-ice; indicated generally at. 8i},- and thempasses through".theicarriageito the windl up spindles. The compensator 89 acts as a control means for: regulating the speed of: the= wind-up spindles withrespect. toithecalender. speed; com

pensating bothafor. variations in rate. of=- productionioi .the. calender; andin .the.increasing-periph eral speed of the; wind-sup rolls. as.- the material is stored on the spindles. The compensator; compr sesthepairs; ofl,ii i sed-.guide,rollsj and 82 n in a. Qe1r.- 0lls.8 3-;which;have.vertical :move-. ment, within, the channel, members. 8.4; of: the. frame; Thedallccr-rolls;arecounterbalanced by. an arrangement: comprising chains the .idling;

sprockets

86 and 8? and: counterweightsa. 88; controimeans, not.'shown, israssociated withthe dancer. roll'; and: is. responsive: to: the movementv thereof;- t0.- r u1ate= the; speed: of: the. windeup. pindles, Thus if; the. winde'up; spindlesare drawine .thei-sheet faster than.thei.calencler=can supply it, the dancer roll will move upward, and

the control means will then reduce the spindle speeds. The counterbalancing of the dancer roll makes it sensitive to any change in the relative speeds of the calender and the wind-up spindles.-

The cycle of operation is primarily under the control of feeler gages which measure the buildup of sheet on the winding spindle. These gages each take the form of an idling roller 95 mounted on a pivotal arm iii which is normally urged into contact with the spindle. As the sheet builds up on a spindle, a pivotable arm such as iii in contact therewith will rotate outwardly to actuate a limit switch 92 and associated control circuit generally indicated at S and comprised of apparatus readily available and familiar to those skilled in the art. The arms 9i thereby control the operation of hydraulic motor 'i'l. At this time the motor i! will operate the racks to rock the transfer frame forwardly to make the transfer of sheet between the spindles, and then return it to retracted position. The motor :29 then will move the carriage to its next position where it will stand ready to make the next transfer.

It should be noted that the transfer of sheet material from one wind-up spindle to the other is accomplished by first securing the sheet material to the empty spindle while it is still winding on the first spindle and then cutting the sheet while it is stretched between the spindles. It will be appreciated that the stretching of the tough, plastic sheet between the spindles facilitates the cutting thereof by the knives. The transfer is positive and eliminates any danger of losing control of a loose and flapping end of sheet material. The apparatus which performs this function is simple and dependable. It needs no fine adjustment, nor does it require any high precision of construction.

Various changes and modifications will occur to those skilled in the art all within the scope of the invention, the essential features of which are summarized in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for continuously winding :5 eet material, comprising a plurality of fixed windup spindles, a carriage movable to positions or" delivery adjacent said wind-up spindles, said sheet passing through said carriage before winding on said spindles, means mounted on said carriage to press the sheet passing therethrough into adhesive engagement with one of said spindles while sheet is still winding on a second of said spindles, and a knife mounted on said carriage operable subsequent to the engagement of said one roll and said one spindle and adapted to sever the sheet momentarily stretched between said two spindles.

2. Apparatus for continuously winding sheet material, comprising a plurality of fixed windup spindles, a carriage movable within a support ing framework, a source of continuously moving sheet material, means to deliver said sheet material to said wind-up spindles at a substantially constant tension, means to move said carriage to positions of delivery adjacent said wind-up spindles, means mounted on said carriage and operable intermittently to press the sheet into adhesive engagement with one of said spindles in each of said positions of delivery while said sheet is still winding on another of said spindles, and a knife mounted adjacent said spindles adapted to sever the sheet stretched between said two spindles subsequent to the engagement of said sheet with the said one spindle.

- 3. Apparatus for continuously winding sheet material, comprising a plurality of fixed windup spindles, a carriage movable within a supporting framework, a source of continuously moving sheet material, means to deliver said sheet material to said wind-up spindles at a substantially constant tension, means to move said carriage to positions of delivery adjacent said wind-up spindles, means mounted on said carriage and operable intermittently to press the sheet into adhesive engagement with one of said spindles in each of said positions of delivery while said sheet is still winding on another of said spindles, a knife mounted adjacent said spindles adapted to sever the sheet stretched between said two spindles subsequent to the engagement of said material and said one spindle, and means responsive to the build up of sheet material on said spindles to control the cycle of operation of said carriage.

l. Apparatus for continuously winding sheet material, comprising a plurality of fixed windup spindles, a carriage movable within a sup porting framework, a source of continuously moving sheet material, means to move said carriage to positions of delivery adjacent said wind-up spindles, a frame supported by said carriage, means to move said frame forwardly to position adjacent said wind-up spindles to move said frame rearwardly away from said. spindles, means mounted on said frame to press the sheet into adhesive engage -ent with one of said spindles when said frame is moved forwardly while said sheet is still winding on a second of said spindles, a plurality of knives mounted on said frame, one of said knives being adapted to sever the sheet stretched between said two spindles sub.- sequent to the engagement of said material and said first-mentioned spindle.

5. Apparatus for continuously winding sheet material, comprising a plurality of fixed wind-up spindles, a carriage supported by and movable within a supporting framework, a source of continuously moving sheet material, means to move said carriage to positions of delivery adjacent said wind-up spindles, a frame supported by said carriage, means to move said frame forwardly to a position adjacent said wind up spindles and to move said frame rearwardly away from said spindles, a pair of guide rolls mounted on said frame and disposed parallel to said spindles, and knives mounted respectively above and below said guide rolls, said sheet passing between said guide rolls and partially around one of said rolls before winding on one of said spindles, said one guide roll being adapted to press the sheet passing around it into adhesive engagement with a second of said spindles when said frame is moved forwardly while said sheet is still winding on said one spindle, the one of said knives mounted ad jacent the said one guide roll being adapted to sever the sheet stretched between said two spindles subsequent to the engagement of said one roll and said second spindle.

6. Apparatus for continuously winding sheet material, comprising a pair of fixed wind-up spindles, a carriage supported by and movable vertically within a supporting framework, a source of continuously moving sheet material, means to move said carriage to positions of delivery adjacent said wind-up spindles, a frame supported by said carriage, means to move said frame forwardly to a position adjacent said windup spindles and to move said frame rearwardly away from said spindles, a pair of rolls mounted on said frame and disposed parallel to said spindies, and, a. pair of: knives; mounted: respectively above :and below saidgrolls, ,saidlsheetcipassing be-- tweensaid: rolls andpartially around oneof. said; rolls before winding on: one:of. said: spindles said one; roll being adapted to presathe. sheet pass ing 'aroundit into adhesive engagement WiflliLthQ, other of said spindles when; said 3 frame: is move 51 forwardly while-said sheet isstillwinding; onxsaid: one spindle, oneof said knivesbeingmountedwad jacent the said one guide rollandzbeing adapter-l to sever the sheet stretched: between said: two spindles subsequent to the engagement of: said? one roll and said; other: spindle".

'7. Apparatus for continuously, winding; sheet: material, comprising a pair of fixed. Wil'llrlli): spindles, a carriage supportediby' andcmovable. vertically within a supporting framework, a source of continuously moving; sheet material, means to-move-said carriagatdp'ositions-of de; livery adjacent said wind-up spindles, a; frame supported by said carriage;. means; ta move, said frame forwardly to a position adjacent: saidwind up spindles and to move-said frame rearwardlyaway from said spindles. a pair, of. guide; rolls mounted on said frame andzdisposedparalle to: said' spindles, a pair of. kniveamonntedrespec tively above vandhelowsaid-guide rolls, said sheet passing: between said guide rollsv and; partially; around one of said: rolls: before; winding: on: one: of said spindles, said one guide roll-being'adapted. to press-the sheet passing around-it into adhesive engagementwith the other ofisaid spindles when said frame is moved; forwardly whilesaid: sheet-- is still winding on' said: one spindle; the knife" mounted adjacent thesaidronezguide roll: being. adapted'to sever the sheet: stretched between.said 'wo spindles subsequent: totheengagement: of. said. one roll and saidntherispindle and means. responsive to the build. up" of. sheetmat'erial on; said spindles to controlthecyole of operationof said carriage and frame.

8. Apparatus for continuously-winding sheetv material,v comprising av pair of fixedwind-up; spindles, a carriage supported by and: movable: vertically within a supporting framework, a. source of continuously movingsheetrmaterial;.a? balanced compensator adapted to: deliver said: sheet material throughsaidzcarriage and? tossaid.

83-2 wind-up :spindles at a substantially-- constant. ten= sion, .means. t0-move said carriageto. positions. of: delivery adjacent: saidzwindi-up; spindles, a rockable frame. supported by.- said. carriaga, means to rocksaid frameforwardly to. a osition adjacent said wind-up spindles and. to rock said frame rearwardly away from. said. spindles, a pair ofr-esilientlymountediguide' rolls mounted on said frame. and disposed parallel to said. spindles,. a pair; of, knives: mounted: respectively above. and. below-said guide rolls, said sheet'p'ass-ing between: saidguide-rolls and partially aroundzone ofsaid. rollsrbefore winding; on one of-v said. spindles, said. one. guide rollbeing; adapted to? press the sheetpassing around it. into :adhesiveengagement with the. other ofsaid: spindles,- when' said frame.- is. rocked forwardly whilesaid' sheetv is still; winding; on-saidonespindle, the'saidknife mounted adejacentsthesaid. Qnaguide roll being adaptedto: sever the; sheet stretched.- between. said two:- spindlessubsequent to the: engagement of said: one-roll: and said other spindle, and-means-responsive to the-buildup ofisheetmaterial onsaidspindles to controlthe-cyole=ofoperation of saidcarriage-and frame;

9: The. method-0f,- continuously; winding plastic: sheet materiaL. which comprises leading. said sheet .material betweena. pair of. guides, winding; said sheet on a fixed-axis,.and, while winding on said axis, moving said-guides-adjacent a second, fixed wind-up axis tobring said. sheet adjacent thereto,,securing said sheet'to said second axis for windingthereon and momentarily tostretch said. sheet .taut betweenzsaid-axes, and thereafterv i severing, said stretched and. tautened. sheet at a point between said; axes.

HORACE D STEVENS.

References-z, catarin: as. file: of. this patent UNITED STATES PETE N'TS Number Name Date 1,298,013 Crowe Mar. 25, 1919 1,687,928 Castricum et all .Oct.-l6,.1928 2,006,499 Fourness et a1. July 2, 1935 2,449,234 Knoble Sept. 1.4, 1948' 2,539,745 Kell'er Jan. 30 1951