US3380685A

US3380685A - Control apparatus for horizontal reel

Info

Publication number: US3380685A
Application number: US562578A
Authority: US
Inventors: Elmer E Crist; Jack L Diltz
Original assignee: Beloit Corp
Current assignee: Beloit Corp
Priority date: 1966-07-05
Filing date: 1966-07-05
Publication date: 1968-04-30
Anticipated expiration: 1985-04-30
Also published as: GB1186428A; SE322668B

Description

April 30, 1968 E. E. cRlsT ET AL 3,380,685

CONTROL APPARATUS FOR HORIZONTAL REEL Filed July 5, 1966 5 Sheets-Sheet l April 30, 1968 E. E. CRIST ETAL 3,380,685

CONTROL APPARATUS FOR HORIZONTAL REEL Filed July 5, 1966 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 il' `f I l j 18N VENTORS .522229115 Zjz @a/./z/ZZ April 30, 1968 E. E. cRlsT ET AL CONTROL APPARATUS FOR HORIZONTAL REEL 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 5, 1966 INyENToRs Z'fzef. Cfw QfaaL-/ZZ w @W WYWATTORNEYS April 30, 1968 E. E. cRlsT ET AL 3,380,685

CONTROL APPARATUS FOR HORIZONTAL REEL Filed July 5, A196e 5 sheets-sheer@ m" -fm ATTORNEYS April 30, 1968 E. E. CRIS-r ET AL 3,380,685

CONTROL APPARATUS FOR HORIZONTAL REEL Filed July 5, 1966 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 lmnp V. llilllll limp.

IN VENTORS Z /fzefCZ- JQZKIQZZZ m, Z2! Q Q s; ATTORNEYS l l v United States Patent 3,380,685 CONTROL APPARATUS FOR HORIZONTAL REEL Elmer E. Crist and Jack L. Diltz, Beloit, Wis., assignors to Beloit Corporation, Beloit, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Filed July 5, 1966, Ser. No. 562,578 12 Claims. (Cl. 242-65) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A Web Winding apparatus having a core carrying means pivotally supported between the Winder drum and a pickup device for removing the core from the web winding machine. The core is maintained in Winding relationship with the winding drum by means of a pressurizing means such as an air motor. The core carrying means includes a core saddle which is mounted between upper and lower pivot arms and which thereby is carried substantially frictionless as the buildup on the core increases and as the core moves from the Winder drum to the pickup mechanism.

This invention relates to a web Winding apparatus and in particular to a web Winding device having novel means for controlling the Winding tension of a moving Web.

Winding apparatus currently in use generally employ a Winder drum and a pair of horizontal rails for carrying a core or Winding spool. The spool is held against the Winder drum by pressurizing means, and the tension of the web becomes a function of the pressure between the spool and the drum.

As the buildup of the web increases, the increasing diameter of the spool causes the winding core to slide along the horizontal rails in a direction away from the Winder drum.

Maintaining a uniform tension on the web during the winding operation has been found to be highly desirable for several reasons, such as maintaining a uniform texture for the wound web. However, the horizontal rail structure as currently used to accommodate the web buildup on the spool has not been found entirely satisfactory for this purpose.

The appreciable Weight of the spool on the rails inevitably develops irregularities in the bearing surfaces which are reected in irregular friction components on the spool, as it traverses the rail span. The result is a nonuniform tension on the web.

Therefore, it is a principal object of this invention to provide an improved Web Winding apparatus.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a winding apparatus which has means for maintaining a uniform nip pressure between the Winder drum and an associated Winding spool.

It is another object of this invention to provide a means for supporting a winding spool against a Winder drum and for accommodating the buildup in web material for maintaining a uniform nip pressure between the spool and the drum.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a pivotally suspended core saddle for maintaining the positioning of a Winding core on a Winding machine and for providing a substantially frictionless translation of the core due to the buildup of web material thereon.

It is an additional object of this invention to provide a substantially frictionless means for loadingl a winding spool against the bearing surface of a Winder drum.

It is another object of this invention to provide a novel pick-off means for removing a fully Wound spool from a core saddle pivotally supported according to this invention.

3,38,685 Patented Apr. 30, 1968 JCC These and other objects, features and advantages of' the present invention will be understood in greater detail from the following description and the associated drawings wherein reference numerals are utilized in designating an illustrative embodiment and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a side view showing the pivotally supported Winding spool according to this invention along with an associated winder drum and spool pick-olf device;

FIGURE 2 is a view taken along the lines II-II of FIGURE 1 and showing the means for supporting a Winder core at the core saddle of this invention;

FIGURE 3 is an elevational view taken along the lines III-III of FIGURE 1 showing the functional relationship of the lower link arm and the inner pressure arm as well as of the upper link arm of this invention;

FIGURE 4 is a view taken along the lines IV--IV of FIGURE 1 showing the structural relationship of the components assembled to comprise the pick-off device of this invention;

FIGURE 5 is a side view of the Winding apparatus of this invention similar to the view of FIGURE 1 and showing the loading of a core into the core saddle of this invention at the start of the Winding process;

FIGURE 6 is a view similar to the views of FIG- URES l and 5 showing the transfer of a fully wound spool from the core saddle to the pick-off device of this invention; and

FIGURE 7 is a side elevational view of a control apparatus according to this invention showing an alternate desirable technique for maintaining uniform nip pressure during the winding of the roll.

This invention concerns generally the means for supporting a Winding spool on a Winding apparatus. More specifically, this invention is directed to a means for accommodating the buildup on the spool during the winding operation by allowing the Winding core to translate from a Winder drum in a substantially frictionless manner. Generally, this is accomplished by providing a core saddle which is pivotally supported both above and below the winding core and which due to the peculiarities of the linkage connections will translate substantially horizontally from the Winder drum to a pick-off device.

Associated with the pivotal mounting of the core saddle which supports a winding core is a means for properly loading the Winding core against the Winder drum to maintain adequate and uniform tension in the web. The loading means employed in this invention consists of a frictionless air spring which is mounted on an inner pressure arm and which is maintained in a substantially fixed relationship with one of the pivotal supports for the core saddle by a hydraulic system.

Referring to the drawings in greater detail, FIGURE 1 shows a winding apparatus having a Winding core 10 carried within a pivotally supported core saddle 11. In FIG- URE 2 the winding core 10 is shown to consist of a winding surface 11a and a shaft 12 having a bearing surface 13 formed at opposite ends thereof. The core saddle offers a bearing surface 14 which is cooperable with the bearing surface 13 for carrying the core 10 in a rotatable position.

The core saddle 11 is carried by upper and

lower link arms

15 and 16, respectively. The upper arm 15 is pivotally mounted to a bracket 17 at a shaft 18 which is received within a bearing surface 19 of the bracket 17. The upper link arm 15 is connected to the core saddle 11 at a pivot pin 20 as illustrated in FIGURES 1, 2 and 3.

The lower link arm 16 is pivotally supported at a bracket 21 which is xedly mounted to the web winding apparatus. The arm 16 is received about a pin or shaft 22 which is rotatably mounted Within the bracket 21.

Similar to the connection of the upper link arm 15 to the core saddle 11, the lower link arm 16 is connected to 3 the core saddle 11 at a pivot pin 23. The core saddle 11, therefore, is a floating bearing surface which will translate through a path determined by the angular movement of the

pivotal arms

15 and 16.

The driving force for rotating the Winding spool or core 10 consists of a Winder drum 24 which is rotatably received within a bracket and which is rotated at a predetermined speed to apply the proper winding relationship to the core 16. A web 26 is wrapped about the winder drum 24 and is passed between the drum and the core 10 for being Wound about that core. Therefore, the Winder drum contacts the web 26 between the drum surface and the surface of the web material wound on the core 10. The web material as wound on the core 10 may be referred to as a spool, and to maintain uniformity in the spool is one of the principal objects of this invention.

Uniformity in the spool is maintained by providing a uniform tension between the contacting surfaces of the spool and the Winder drum 24. Pressure between the spool and the Winder drum may be referred to as nip pressure and is uniformly controlled in this invention. In particular, the upper and

lower link arms

15 and 16 are supported at substantially

frictionless pivot points

18 and 22, and the entire core assembly may translate between the Winder drum and the pick-up device with inconsequential frictional variations. Frictional variations experienced on horizontal rails and the like tend to develop abrupt movements of the spool which makes for a non-uniform winding of the web.

Since nip pressure is critical to a proper winding of the web on the core 10, means are provided for loading the core assembly against the Winder drum 24. Such a means, however, may also be a source of frictional variations during the translation of the core due to build up in the web thereabout. However, this invention incorporates a frictionless loading device for accomplishing a uniform loading of the winding spool against the Winder drum.

To load the winding spool against the drum 24 a pressure arm 27 is also pivotally supported about the pin 22 associated with the lower link arm 16. The inner arm 27 extends between opposite legs of the lower link arm 16 as shown in FIGURE 3. The loading is accomplished through two pressure devices. First, a hydraulic cylinder 28 is pivotally mounted at the point 29 on a pedestal 30 which supports the winding drum and associated assembly. The hydraulic cylinder 28 has a piston rod 31 which extends therefrom and which is connected at a point 32 to the pressure arm 27. Fluid pressure is then introduced into the hydraulic cylinder for moving the piston rod 31 outwardly therefrom and for causing the pressure arm 27 to be moved away from the Winder drum 24. Second, a frictionless spring or diaphragm operated piston device 33 is mounted at the pressure arm 27 oppositely of the hydraulic cylinder 28 and has a piston rod 34 which extends( from the frictionless air spring to the lower link arm 16 at a point 35 xedly secured to a plate 36. At a given instant, the pressure arm 27 is held substantially constant by the hydraulic cylinder 28, and, therefore, the air spring 33 can act on the lower link arm 16 from the lixed position of the pressure arm 27. The frictionless spring 33, therefore, maintains the proper nip pressure on the winding spool.

Should the movement of the hydraulic cylinder exceed the movement required to accommodate the build up of web material on the core 10, limit switches may be used within the lower link arm 16 for actuating and deactuating the hydraulic cylinder to compensate for mispositioning of the lower link arm relative to the pressure arm 27. In this way, a given relationship between the pressure arm 27 and the lower link arm may be maintained throughout the translational motion of the core 10 from the Winder drum surface 24 to the pick-up device of this invention.

In FIGURE 1 the winding spool was shown in a typical winding stage. However, means must be provided for initially loading the empty core on the core saddle 11, and also means must be provided for removing the fully Wound 4 spool from the core saddle at the end of the Winding process. FIGURE 5 illustrates the former, and FIGURE 6 shows the latter.

To begin the winding stage the upper and lower link arm assemblies 15 and 16 a removed to a position adjacent to the surface ,of the Winder drum 24. As shown in FIG- URE l, an empty spool 38 is positioned within the jaw 39 of a loading arm 40. With the upper and lower link arm assemblies in the position shown in FIGURE 5, the empty spool 38 is moved within the jaw 39 along the surface of the drum 24 to -be placed within the core saddle 11. Rotation of the loading arm 40 is accomplished through a rack 41 and pinion arrangement 42 which rotates the loading arm 40 in a manner well understood in the art.

Once the empty spool 38 is positioned Within the core saddle 11 and the winding of the web has been transferred to the spool 38 as is also well understood, the loading arm 40 is extended through a hydraulic cylinder 43 and an extension arm 44. The extension of the arm 40 releases the core 38 and allows the loading assembly to be returned to the position shown in FIGURE 1 for receiving an additional empty core in preparation for the next loading process.

With the empty core 38 in the position shown in FIG- URE 5, the winding operation proceeds, and the core enlarges due to the build up of web thereon and accordingly, translates from the vicinity of the Winder drum 24 to the vicinity of a pick-up device for being removed entirely from the winding operation to a storage or transportation facility.

The pick-up device of this invention is shown in operation in FIGURE 6 and consists essentially of a pick-up rail 45 which is pivotally mounted at a point 46 on a pick-up pedestal 47. The pick-up rail 45 has an upturned end portion 48 for receiving the core 38 thereon and has a core stop 49 disposed oppositely of the upturned portion 48 for halting the progression of the spool along the rail 45. The rail 45 is shown in FIGURES l, 3 and 5 in a relatively declined angle proceeding from the core stop to the upturned end 48. However, the angle of the pick-off rail 45 can be altered by the use of a hydraulic cylinder 50 which is disposed at a point 51 to the pedestal 47 and which has a connection 52 directly to the pick-olf rail 45. By actuating the hydraulic cylinder 50, the pick-off rail is elevated or lowered about the pivotal point 46 for causing the wound spool supported thereon to move to a position adjacent to the core stop 49.

The operation of the pick-up device is illustrated in FIGURE 6. In FIGURE 6 the upper and lower link arms are moved to an extreme position, and the winding operation is about to be transferred to a subsequent core. The fully wound spool 53 is deposited at the upturned portion 48 of the pick-oft rail 45, and the hydraulic cylinder 50 is actuated for raising the rail 45 and for causing the fully wound spool 53 to traverse along the rail to the core stop 49. At this point, a ybrake shoe mechanism 54 is employed for restricting the movement of the fully wound spool 53 on the rail 45. The brake shoe consists essentially of an arcuate shoe 55 mounted on an arm 56 and pivotally supported at a shaft 57. A series of linkages 58 and 59 are employed for causing the arcuate shoe 55 to be raised or lowered according to the needs of the system. The linkages are actuated by an air device 60. Once the fully wound spool has reached a position adjacent to the core stop 49, a crane device or other lifting mechanism may be employed for removing the spool from the winding apparatus.

In FIGURE 7 an alternate desirable embodiment of the apparatus of this invention which may be utilized to maintain -a uniform nip pressure during the winding of the roll is shown. In particular, the upper and lower pivot arms 61 and 62 are pivoted about points 63 and 64 in a manner similar to that shown in FIGURE 5. Also, the arms 61 and 62 are pivotally mounted as at points 65 and 66 to a saddle 67 similar to the saddle 11 of FIGURE 5. In conjunction with the saddle 67, a bearing clamp 68 is pivotally mounted as at 69 and has a contact surface 70 which is utilized to confine the spool 38 within the saddle 67.

In this embodiment, it will be noted that the intermediate arm 27, the hydraulic system 28 and the frictionless motor 33 as shown in FIGURE 5 are eliminated. In place of the hydraulic device 28, the intermediate arm 27 and the frictionless motor 33, a uniform torque motor 71 is mounted directly to a shaft 72 which interconnects the lower pivot arm 62 and its companion pivot arm at the opposite end of the reel (not shown). By mounting the uniform torque motor 71 directly to the shaft 72, a uniform angular movement is provided for the lower pivot arm 62 and its companion arm at the opposite end of the spool. The uniform torque motor maintains a constant pressure at the nip 73, while the lower pivot arm 62 is carrying the spool 38 from a newly started position 74 to a substantially fully wound position 75. It will be noted that a stop 76 is mounted on a stand 77 and is provided to contact the arm 62 -at a point 78 and thereby limit the movement of the arm 62 due to the operation of the uniform torque motor 71.

It will be understood that various modifications of the embodiment disclosed herein may be achieved by those versed in the art, but we desire to claim all such modifcations as properly come within the scope and the spirit of the embodiment disclosed herein.

We claim:

1. In a web Winding apparatus:

a saddle means for rotatably receiving a core therein,

a first link arm pivotally supported at one end above the saddle means and having the other end pivotally connected to the saddle means,

a second link arm pivotally supported at one end below the saddle means and having the other end pivotally connected to the saddle means,

the connection point of the first link arm to the saddle means being spaced laterally from the connection point of the second link arm to the saddle means,

means for pivoting the first and second link arms together for translating a core supported within the saddle means along a substantially straight line path.

2. A web winding apparatus comprising:

a frame,

a winder drum over which a traveling web passes for being wound,

an upper ylink arm pivotally supported relative to said frame and extending downwardly therefrom,

a lower link arm pivotally supported relative to said frame and extending upwardly therefrom,

an arcuately shaped core saddle pivotally connected at one end to the lower extremity of said upper link arm and similarly connected at the opposite end to the upper extremity of said lower link arm,

a pressure arm pivotally mounted relative to said frame,

a first pressure means disposed between one of said link arms and said pressure arm for biasing a spool disposed within said core saddle toward the winder drum, and

a second pressure means disposed between said frame and said pressure arm for urging said pressure arm, link arms, and core saddle away from the Winder drum.

3. A web winding apparatus as described in claim 2 wherein said first pressure means comprises a substantially frictionless air spring.

4. A web winding apparatus comprising:

a frame,

a Winder drum over which a traveling web passes for being wound,

an upper link arm pivotally supported relative to said frame and extending downwardly therefrom,

a substantially constant torque means for biasing a spool which is to be wound within said core saddle toward the Winder drum.

5. A web winding apparatus in accordance with claim 4 wherein said constant torque means comprises 4a constant torque motor.

6. lA web winding apparatus comprising:

a frame, a Winder drum rotatably mounted on said frame,

a core carrying means supported adjacent to the winder drum,

a carriage arm pivotally mounted -on said frame and being pivotally connected to the core carrying means,

means for depositing an empty core on said core carry- -ing means and for starting a web about said core,

means ybiasing -the core toward said winder drum for maintaining a uniform nip pressure the-rebetween,

means for pivotally moving the carriage arm and core carrying means away from the winder drumV to accommodate web build up on said core, and

pickup means for receiving the core when fully wound from said core carrying means.

7. A web winding -apparatus in accordance with claim 6 wherein the web build up of the core within said core carrying means causes translation of the core toward the pickup means.

8. A web winding apparatus as described in claim 6 wherein said pick-off means comprises:

a pick-off rail extending from. said frame to the vicinity of said core carrying means,

means for depositing a fully wound core on said pickofi rail, and

means for moving the fully wound core along said rail to a position removed from the area of operation of said Winder drum.

9. A web winding apparatus as described in claim 8 wherein:

said pick-off rail is pivotally supported relative to said frame and wherein said means for moving the fully Wound core along said rail comprises means to pivotally alter the slope of said rail after receiving a wound core thereon for rolling the core to a position removed `from the area of operation of said winder drum.

10. A web winding apparatus comprising: a winding drum having an outer cylindrical surface over which a traveling web passes for being wound, core support means for supportingla core having a roll of web material Wound thereon from the drum, pivotally mounted carrying means attached to the core support means for accommodating movement of the core support means away from the drum as the wound roll increases in size, said pivotally mounted carrying means comprising first and second link arms,

said first link arm being pivotally mounted at one end above the core support means and being pivotally connected at the other end to the core support means,

said second link arm being pivotally mounted at one end below the co-re support means and being pivotally connected at the other end to the core support means,

the points of connection of the first and second link arms to the core support means being spaced substantially horizontally to allow joint pivotal movement of the first and second link arms and to allow movement of the core along a substantially straight line in -response to the build up in winding web thereon, and pressure control means for moving the core and maintaining a winding pressure in the nip formed between the drum and the roll being Wound.

11. A web winding apparatus in accordance with claim 10 wherein said core support means comprises an arcuate core saddle for allowing pivotal movement of the rst and second link arms without causing substantial vertical movement of the axis of the core supported within the saddle.

12. A Web Winding apparatus comprising:

a winding core having a substantially frictionless pivotal mounting and carried thereby lbetween a Winder drum and a pickup mechanism,

a hydraulic cylinder moving said winding core to accommodate buildup on the core and a frictionless air spring loading the core against a Winder drum,

a pickup mechanism for receiving a Wound core from its substantially frictionless pivotal mounting and for moving the Wound core to a position removed from the Winder drum.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS WILLIAM S. BURDEN, Primary Examiner.