WO1995015901A1

WO1995015901A1 - Method and apparatus for effecting a set change in a paper winder

Info

Publication number: WO1995015901A1
Application number: PCT/US1994/014029
Authority: WO
Inventors: Glenn D. Wilson
Original assignee: Beloit Technologies, Inc.
Priority date: 1993-12-08
Filing date: 1994-12-05
Publication date: 1995-06-15

Abstract

A method and apparatus for winding a continuous web (W) of material into a winding roll (12) wound on a starting core (15) including a winding drum (11) with a pinch roller (10) for laying the web onto the winding drum (11) with the drum having perforations (32, 33), and a knife (16) which moves radially outwardly form within the drum intermediate a suction zone (34) beneath the perforations. The apparatus operates by applying suction to the perforations, cutting the web on the surface of the drum, and releasing the lead cut end (18, 37) of the web to start onto a core with an adhesive (39) causing the lead end to wind onto the core and the trailing cut end (19, 38) finishing onto a wound roll (12).

Description

PATENT APPLICATION

TITLE: METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR EFFECTING A SET CHANGE IN A PAPER WINDER

Background Of The Invention Field Of The Invention

The present invention relates to improvements in paper machines and, more particularly, to an improved winder for winding a continuous traveling web into a series of rolls.

In winding a continuous web, such as a paper web into a succession of rolls, starting with the leading end of each roll onto a core, it is desirable that the trailing end of the web, when a roll is finished, be neatly cut and that the cut leading end of the web be efficiently and effectively started onto a new core. This should be accomplished smoothly, effectively and without the necessity of having to stop or slow the winding machine. When a roll is completely wound, it is taken away and, in the meantime, winding has begun on a new core. Rotation of the roll being wound is obtained in a number of ways, with the winding roll and the starting core being driven by a winding drum in one type of apparatus. It is this type of apparatus to which the present invention pertains.

One of the areas of difficulty encountered is in the cutting of the web which is traveling longitudinally, whereas the severance or cross-cut must be made laterally of the traveling web. Different forms of cutting mechanisms have been employed with some of the apparatus involving separate cutters which transverse the web in a lateral or axial direction, and others which are carried on the drum for driving the winding roll in rotation. A difficulty with these apparatus is that if the cross-machine tear cut is not done quickly and effectively, the cut lead end of the web will not wind smoothly onto the core, and the entire machine will jam resulting in a tremendous back-up of scrap paper and both dangerous and costly shut-down of the machine is required.

Another difficulty lies in being able to have the cut lead end of the traveling web pass onto the core, which requires that it deviate from the travel path of the trailing end of the web finishing onto the wound roll. All of the functions, including the cutting, the smooth finishing of the roll being wound, and the leading of the trailing end onto the core must be accomplished at very high speeds with the winders running substantially in excess of 4,000 feet per minute. Of course, this is not to imply that this is the speed at which the set change will be made; suffice it to say that the set change is made without bringing the web to a stop. This is further complicated by the fact that the web normally follows the contour of the rotatably driven support drum, and a reversal in direction of the web is required to pass onto the core and onto the winding roll. The paper is subjected to centrifugal forces due to the changes in direction and if, at any point in time, control of the lead end of the web is lost, tremendous back-up of paper web occurs before the machine can be stopped. Stopping, of course, requires clearing away all of the waste, transferring it into the broke bin and restarting the machine.

It is an object of the invention to overcome the disadvantages, drawbacks, inefficiencies, shortcomings, and problems inherent in effecting and starting the winding of fresh leading ends of continuously running webs in wound web roll winders.

A further object of the invention is to provide a mechanism and method for the handling of a traveling web being wound into a roll in a winder, and, particularly, the functions of cutting the web when the winding roll is completed, transferring the lead cut end onto a core for continuous operation and winding of successive rolls from the traveling web. Summary of the Invention

In accordance with the principles of the invention, the web is controllably held, and the apparatus for performing the functions of holding the web, cutting it and transferring it onto a core is mounted and carried on a supporting driving drum. The traveling web is laid onto the driving drum by pinch rollers. The web travels around on the driving drum which performs the functions of driving the winding roll in rotation and driving the new core to bring it up to speed. The driving drum carries a mechanism for holding the web onto the driving drum and also carries a knife, or slitting apparatus, so that the slit can be performed while the web is fully controlled and held onto the surface of the driving drum. This control of the web is accomplished by an arrangement of suction boxes arranged upstream and downstream of the location of the knife, which is carried on the drum. The suction arrangements hold and release the web as is needed for the trailing end of the web to complete on the winding drum and for the leading end to be started on the core.

Other objects, advantages and features, as well as equivalent methods and structures which are intended to be covered herein, will be more apparent with the teaching of the principles of the invention in connection with the disclosure of the preferred embodiments thereof in the specification, claims and drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Figure 1 is a side-elevational view, shown in somewhat schematic form, of a winding mechanism constructed and operated in accordance with the present invention. Figures 2 and 3 are side-elevational views similar to Figure 1 showing the position of the operative elements of the winder in successive stages following the stage of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a plan view of the surface of the drum at the location of the knife.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along line V-V of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along line VI-VI of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view taken substantially along line VII-VII of Figure 4.

Figures 8-11 are side-elevational views, shown in somewhat schematic form, of an alternative form of a winder of the invention showing the location of the parts in successive positions as the winder is operating.

Figure 12 is a plan view of another preferred knife arrangement, shown somewhat schematically, with the drum surface broken away to better show the knife traversing apparatus.

Figure 13 is a side-elevational view, shown somewhat schematically, of the knife arrangement shown in Figure 12.

Figure 14 is a side-elevational view, similar to Figure 13, showing the knife in an actuated position. Description of the Preferred Embodiments

As shown in Figure 1 , a continuous traveling web W is fed over a pinch roll 10 to be laid on the surface of a winding drum 11 at a lay-on station. The winding drum drives in rotation a winding roll 12 of wound web, which is shown in the web winding position in Figures 1, 2, and 3 as being substantially completed. The winding roll 12 may be provided with a rider roll 13 which applies a controllable varying downward force to aid in the control of the tension at which the web is wound into roll 12. The completing roll 12 is wound on a core 14 where the lead end of the roll was initially started. For purposes of better illustrating the invention, the frame in which the rolls are mounted has not been shown.

A new core 15 is brought into place at a starting station by equipment, such as by a spaced pair of core holders, the operation of which is shown schematically at 8, to be spun by contact with the outer surface of the winding drum 11. Actually, the new core 15 is in contact with the outer surface of the web W on the winding drum and the requirement is to sever the web so that the trailing end 19 at the location where the web is cut passes onto the completing roll 12 and the leading end 18 of the cut web passes onto the core 15 to start a new roll. Alternatively, if there is a motor-powered drive available at the wind-up station, the core may be brought up to speed before it makes contact with the drum.

As the web W travels over the surface of the winding drum 11 , and the wound roll 12 is completed, the web is cut transversely across the surface of the winding drum at a web cutting station by a knife 16. The knife is carried on the drum normally in a recessed position as is shown in Figures 2 and 3, but in Figure 1 the knife is actuated and driven outwardly beyond the periphery of drum 11 to cut the web completely across the width thereof. The knife 16 shown in Figures 4-7 is operated by a solenoid 17 capable if driving the knife swiftly radially outwardly to the cut web and then again retracting the knife. The knife can have either a straight or serrated cutting edge. When the web is cut, the trailing end 19 will be formed ahead (i.e. downstream) of the cut and lead end 18 behind (i.e. upstream) the cut. To hold these severed ends onto the winding drum 11, suction boxes 20 and 21 are provided at each side (i.e. upstream and downstream) of the knife. The suction boxes are provided with suction by suitable suction lines 22 and 23 leading to a source of suction, not shown, applied at the end of the winding drum 11 through a conduit in its axial shaft.

Another preferred web severing arrangement is shown in Figures 12-14 where the knife 16' is arranged to travel both transversely and outwardly relative to support winding drum 11. In this web severing arrangement, a carriage 2 has two pairs of spaced wheel assemblies 9,9a mounted on it so that the carriage, on which the blade 16', preferably serrated as shown, is also mounted, can move reciprocally laterally along an inclined ramp 5 which is formed in a support shaft 3 extending longitudinally within the drum 11. Since the winding drum11 extends transversely of the direction of the on-coming web in the winding apparatus, the inclined ramp 5 in the support shaft 3 also extend transversely of the web with the slot 25' in the winding drum.

In the web severing arrangement shown in Figures 12-14, elements which correspond to the elements in the other web severing arrangement shown in Figures 4-7 are identified with corresponding numerals, but with the prime superscript.

In the operation of the serrated blade apparatus shown in Figures 12-14, the actuator 17', which may be a solenoid, moves a rod 7, which is linked by link 7a to the serrated blade 16', in the direction of arrow 4. The wheels on the carriage guide the carriage, and serrated blade 16', up the inclined ramp 5 such that the blade emerges from the slot 25' extending longitudinally of the winder roll 11, and transversely of the direction of the traveling web W, in a direction which has both outward and lateral components of motion as shown by directional arrows 1,1a, respectively, in Figure 14. Such motion insures severance of the web. When the web has been severed, actuator 17' is reverse actuated to return the serrated blade backward down the ramp in the direction opposite to arrow 4 to a position where the serrated blade is within slot 25' and beneath the surface of drum 11.

As the winding drum 11 continues to rotate, the lead end 18 is carried opposite a new core 15 which has its surface exposed to the glue applicator 24. This glue applicator directs a jet spray of glue onto the new core completely across the width of the machine and the length of the new core. The lead end 18 of the web passes in the nip between the support winding drum 11 and the new core 15 where its outer surface is contacted by the glue on the surface of the new core. This causes the web to adhere thereto and travel around with the core as illustrated in Figure 3. The trailing end 19 of the cut web will then continue to pass onto the wound web roll 12. The trailing end might also have glue on it.

An air jet 29 downstream of the nip between the new core 15 and the support drum 11 aids in urging and holding the lead end 18 onto the core. The lead end with the adhesive is pressed onto the core by the nip between the core 15 and the drum 11 as shown in Figure 2, and the air jet 29 additionally helps to partially dry the adhesive but also with the force of the air jet to aid in pasting the lead end 18 onto the core 15. Element 29 may alternately be a timed adhesive spray directing an axially extending strip of adhesive onto the core before it picks up the web. The knife 16 is retracted as soon as the slit is made so that it will not interfere with the transfer of the lead end 18 onto the core and rotation of support drum 11. Also, the suction boxes 20 and 21 control and hold the ends 18 and 19 of the web on the drum. At the transfer nip where the web lead end 18 passes onto the core, the adhesion of the glue will be greater than the force of the suction gland 20 so that the lead end will follow the core. If desired, the suction gland 21 can be controlled so that it releases the suction of the lead end

< as the transfer onto the core is made. Otherwise, normally the suction may be maintained in the two suction glands 20 and 21 continually which will not interfere with the operation of the winder. The wind-up of the web onto the winding roll 12 will pull the web off of the two suction glands during normal winding operation. Alternatively, the vacuum pressure may be turned off to the suction glands to obviate having to pull the web off.

Figures 4-7 further illustrate the location and operation of the knife 16. The knife is retained in a slot 25 in the surface of the drum 11. As shown in Figure 5, the operating solenoid 17 is carried within the hollow winder drum 11 and is supplied electricity with leads 26, Figures 5 and 6. For operating the solenoid, both to quickly project knife 16 through the surface of the drum 11 for cutting the web, and to subsequently retract it after the cut has been made, the solenoid is supplied with electricity through commutator rings 27 at the end of the drum 11 as supplied with electricity through leads and brushes 28 which feed the electricity to the rings 27.

Solenoid operation is preferred because the relative simplicity of feeding electricity to the solenoid, but in some cases a pneumatic actuator including a piston and cylinder may be utilized.

Figures 8-11 illustrate another form of winding drum 31. In this form, the web W is laid onto the drum by a pinch roller 10. The drum is provided with a knife 16 for severing the web when the roll 12 which is being wound is completed. At the location of the knife 16 in Figure 9, the knife is actuated to cut the web. At that point, suction openings 32 and 33 in the surface of the drum 31 passed over onto a suction box 34. Suction box 34 is upstream of new core 15 at the core starting station. Thus, when the knife 16 is actuated, the leading and trailing ends 37 and 38 of the web are held onto the surface of the drum 31. Prior to the application of the knife, a double sided adhesive tape 39 is applied by a tape applicator 36. This double faced adhesive strip extends completely across the web and causes the lead end 37 of the web to adhere to the outer surface of the core 15. The lead end will have passed downstream of the suction box 34 and will adhere to the surface of the core 15 to follow around as shown in Figure 11. Thus, the web trailing end 38 will be finish wrapped onto the winding roll 12, and the winding of a new roll will have started onto the core 15. The core will continue to wind and will be transferred around the surface of the drum to the location of the roll 12 by a means, such as arms 7 rotatable about drum 11 , the movement of which is shown schematically by arrow 9, so that, as it is wound, eventually a new core will be brought into place and the procedure will be repeated.

In operation, with reference to Figure 1, as the roll 12 is nearing completion of its desired diameter, knife 16 severs the web on the surface of the drum 11. Glue is applied by a glue applicator 24 to the lead cut end 18 by applying glue to the core 15 which rotates against the web lead end so that, as shown in Figure 2, the adhesive lead end 18 of the web sticks to the outer surface of the core 15 to wrap around the core as shown in Figure 3. The core then continues to wind, and the trailing cut end 19 of the web is wound onto the completed roll 12.

In the arrangement of Figure 8, a similar procedure is followed except that the vacuum is not maintained in the perforations 32 and 33 on the drum 31. A double faced adhesive tape is applied by the tape applying roll 36, with the tape being shown at 39 in Figure 8. As the leading edge of tape 39 reaches the location of the suction box 34 to which suction is applied by suitable means, such as through line 35, the knife 16 is actuated to cut the web completely across the web width. Then, as the exposed adhesive side of tape 39 passes beneath the core 15 it adheres thereto and, as shown in Figure 11 , the lead end

37 of the web follows around the core 15 to start a new roll. The trailing cut end

38 passes onto the roll 12. This transfer of the leading end of the web onto the new core is facilitated by the fact that the vacuum pressure holding the web onto the drum is broken as the web passes over the trailing end of the suction box 34 which is located beneath the place where the new core 15 is positioned over the surface of drum 31.

Thus will be seen that we have provided an improved winder which meets the objectives and advantages as above set forth. The operative mechanism is essentially all carried by the winding support drum, or the frame on which the support drum 11 is mounted, and arranged so that the procedures operate automatically. The operation of the knife is controlled by a timer or by a contact means outside of the drum, and the cut in the web is completely across the web so that additional tearing or cutting is not necessary. The successive rolls can be accomplished without changing the speed of operation of the winder and complete control is attained.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A winder for winding a continuous web (W) of material into a winding roll (12) wound on a starting core (15), comprising in combination: a rotary winding drum (11) for receiving a continuous web (W) and carrying the web onto a winding roll (12) with said drum being perforate (32,33) for the application of vacuum to adhere the web to the drum surface; guide means (10) for laying the web onto said drum (11) at a lay-on station (10,11); a core starting station (15,11) positioned downstream of the lay-on station in the direction of movement of the surface of the drum; a knife (16) for cutting the web (W) at a cutting station (16,25) positioned between the lay-on station and the core starting whereby a web on the surface of the drum (11) is cut at the finish of the winding of the web roll and before starting the web onto a core (15); and suction means (20,21) located downstream and upstream of the cutting station for holding the tail end (19,38) of a web onto the drum downstream of the knife (16) and the lead end (18,37) of the web onto the drum upstream the knife.

2. A winder for winding a continuous web of material into a winding roll (12) wound in a starting core (15) constructed in accordance with Claim 1 , wherein: a pinch roller (10) is located at the starting station (10,11) carrying the web into nip contact with the winding drum for laying the web onto the drum.

3. A winder for winding a continuous web of material into a winding roll (12) wound in a starting core (15) constructed in accordance with Claim 1 , wherein: said knife (16) is carried on the drum (11) in rotation therewith.

4. A winder for winding a continuous web of material into a winding roll (12) wound on a starting core (15) constructed in accordance with Claim 3, further including: a knife actuator (17) stationarily positioned beside the drum for determining the location of the cutting station (16,25) when the knife (16) is actuated.

5. A winder for winding a continuous web of material into a winding roll (12) wound on a starting core (15) constructed in accordance with Claim 3, further including: a solenoid (17) carried on the drum for actuating the knife to cut the web.

6. A winder for winding a continuous web of material into a winding roll (12) wound on a starting core (15) constructed in accordance with Claim 1 , wherein: the drum (11) has suction perforations (32,33) in the surface located upstream and downstream of the cutting station for holding the trailing end (19,38) of a winding web and the lead end (18,37) of the cut web onto the drum surface.

7. A winder for winding a continuous web of material into a winding roll (12) wound on a starting core (15) constructed in accordance with Claim 1 , further including: electrical operation means (26,27,28) for the knife (16); and electrical conducting rings (27) and brushes (28) located between the drum and a stationary electrical source (26) for actuating electrical means for operating the knife.

8. A winder for winding a continuous web of material into a winding roll (12) wound on a starting core (15) constructed in accordance with Claim 1 , further including: suction means (20,21) within the drum for applying vacuum pressure beneath the suction perforations (32,33) for adhering the web to the drum surface after being cut at the cutting station (16,25) with the knife (16) located intermediate the suction box means.

9. A winder for winding a continuous web of material into a winding roll (12) wound on a starting core (15) constructed in accordance with Claim 1 , further including: a winding station (12,11) spaced after the core starting station (15,11); and arm means (8) to move the winding core from the core starting station

(15,11) to the winding roll winding station (12,11) after initial layers of web have been wound on the core (15).

10. A winder for winding a continuous web of material into a winding roll (12) wound on a starting core (15) constructed in accordance with Claim 1 , further including: clamp means (8) for moving the core (15) into the core starting station (15,11) and for rotating the core to winding speed.

11. A winder for winding a continuous web of material into a winding roll (12) wound on a starting core (15) constructed in accordance with Claim 1 , further including: adhesive applying means (24,36) for applying an adhesive to the lead end of a web after it has been cut by the knife (16).

12. A winder for winding a continuous web of material into a winding roll (12) wound on a starting core (15) constructed in accordance with Claim 11 , wherein: the adhesive applying means comprises a tape applier (36) for applying a double surface tape (39) to the lead end (37) of the web to cause it to adhere to the core.

13. A winder for winding a continuous web of material into a winding roll (12) wound on a starting core (15) constructed in accordance with Claim 11 , further including: an air jet means (29) positioned adjacent to the core (15) at the core starting station (15,11) for aiding in the adherence of the lead end (37) of the web onto the core.

14. A winder for winding a continuous web of material into a winding roll (12) wound on a starting core (15) constructed in accordance with Claim 1 , wherein: said suction means (20,21) applies a stronger suction (20) to the web before the knife location and a lesser suction (21) after the knife location to permit the lead end (37) of the web to separate from the drum (11) and adhere to the core.

15. A winder for winding a continuous web (W) of material into a winding roll (12) wound on a starting core (15) comprising in combination: a rotary winding drum (11) for receiving a continuous web and carrying the web onto a winding roll (12) in nipping engagement with said winding drum, the winding drum being perforate (32,33) for the application of the vacuum to adhere the web to the drum surface; guide means (10) for laying the web onto said drum at a lay-on station (10,11); a core starting station (15,11) positioned downstream of the lay-on position in the direction of movement of the surface of the drum; a knife (16) for cutting the web at a cutting station (16,25) positioned between the core station and the lay-on station whereby a web on the surface of the drum is cut at the finish of a winding roll and before starting the web onto a new core (15); a suction gland (34) positioned immediately in advance of the core starting station; and a knife operator (17) positioned for operating the knife proximate to said suction gland whereby the web is severed and the trailing end (19,38) of the severed web is held onto the drum and the leading end (18,37) of the severed web follows onto the new core.

16. A winder for winding a continuous web of material into a winding roll (12) wound on a starting core (15) constructed in accordance with Claim 15, wherein: the suction gland (34) extends downstream only to the core starting station (15,11) so that the web is no longer subjected to the suction and is released from the drum to pass onto the core.

17. A winder for winding a continuous web of material into a winding roll (12) wound on a starting core (15) constructed in accordance with Claim 15, wherein: the knife (16) is located intermediate the upstream and downstream ends (20,21; 34) of the suction gland.

18. A winder for winding a continuous web of material into a winding roll (12) wound on a starting core (15) constructed in accordance with Claim 15, further including: a pinch roller (10) at the lay-on station (10,11) for applying the web in a nip with the drum.

19. A winder for winding a continuous web of material into a winding roll (12) wound on a starting core (15) constructed in accordance with claim 15, further including: a support shaft (3) within the winding drum (11), the support shaft including an inclined ramp (5) extending longitudinally therealong; a slot (25) in the winding drum extending longitudinally therealong; a carriage (2) for supporting the knife and for moving along the inclined ramp such that such movement causes the knife to move both outwardly and longitudinally (1 ,1a) relative to the slot and winding drum to sever the web; actuator means (17') linked with the carriage for moving the carriage along the inclined ramp.

20. The method of winding a continuous web (W) of material into a winding roll (12) on a starting core (15) comprising the steps: laying a traveling continuous web onto a rotary winding drum (11); holding the web on the drum by suction means; cutting (16,16') the web at the completion of a winding roll; and leading the lead end of the cut web onto a core (15) at a core starting station (11 ,15).

21. The method of winding a continuous web of material into a winding roll (12) wound on a starting core (15) in accordance with the steps of Claim 19, wherein: the cutting is effected by actuating a knife (16) radially outwardly through a slot (25) in the drum.

22. The method of winding a continuous web of material into a winding roll (12) wound on a starting core (15) in accordance with the steps of Claim 19, further including the step of: applying adhesive means (24,36) to the lead end (18,37) of the web after cutting the web with the adhesive means causing the web to follow the core surface.

23. The method of winding a continuous web of material into a winding roll (12) wound on a starting core (15) in accordance with the steps of Claim 19, further including the step of: adhering the web onto the surface of the drum by providing perforations (32,33) in the drum surface and positioning a suction gland (34) within the drum extending to the core so that the suction releases the web to move onto the core.