WO2006025656A1

WO2006025656A1 - Apparatus for transferring tissue roll

Info

Publication number: WO2006025656A1
Application number: PCT/KR2005/002550
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jong-Ok Lee
Original assignee: Woolji Industrial Co., Ltd.
Priority date: 2004-09-02
Filing date: 2005-08-05
Publication date: 2006-03-09
Also published as: KR100509427B1

Abstract

The present invention relates to an apparatus for transferring a tissue roll, and more particularly, to an apparatus for transferring and supplying a tissue roll formed by rolling a non-woven fabric made of a rayon material to an apparatus for compression-molding the tissue roll to produce a disposable tissue. The apparatus for transferring a tissue roll according to the present invention is directed to an apparatus for transferring and supplying a tissue roll manufactured by rolling non-woven fabric to a molding apparatus for compressing and molding the tissue roll, and comprises a hollow and flexible transferring tube, a tissue roll inserting means for inserting the tissue roll into one end of the transferring tube, and a compressed air supplying means for supplying compressed air to the one end of the transferring tube to discharge the tissue roll inserted in the one end to the other end of the transferring tube.

Description

APPARATUS FOR TRANSFERRING TISSUE ROLL

Technical field The present invention relates to an apparatus for transferring a tissue roll, and more particularly, to an apparatus for transferring and supplying a tissue roll formed by rolling a non-woven fabric made of a rayon material to an apparatus for compression- molding the tissue roll to produce a disposable tissue.

Background Art

In Korean Utility Model Registration No. 20-0320406 entitled "Disposable tissue and apparatus for producing the same", filed by the applicant of the present application on March 22, 2003 and then registered on July 7, 2003, a disposable tissue and an apparatus for producing the same are disclosed. The disposable tissue disclosed in the above utility model is compression-molded and then restored to its original shape when water is supplied.

Fig. 12 is a perspective view of a disposable tissue disclosed in the above registered utility model, Fig. 13 is a sectional view illustrating a state before an apparatus for producing a disposable tissue disclosed in the above registered utility model compresses the disposable tissue, and Fig. 14 is a sectional view illustrating a state after an apparatus for producing a disposable tissue disclosed in the above registered utility model compresses the disposable tissue. The disposable tissue 1 is manufactured from a now- woven fabric made of a rayon material. The disposable tissue is inserted and then compression-molded in a mold with a specific shape. At this time, the disposable tissue 1 is preferably manufactured by rolling a non- woven fabric into a cylindrical form and compressing the rolled non-woven fabric (hereinafter, referred to as "tissue roll") in a cylindrical mold into a disc shape. An apparatus for producing a disposable tissue performs a process of compression-molding a non-woven fabric made of a rayon material, and comprises a first mold 11 which includes a vertical through-hole 11a for receiving a disposable tissue 1, a second mold 13 which is installed to open and/or close a lower entrance of the through-hole, and a piston 15 which is inserted in the through-hole 11a through an upper entrance of the through-hole lla to compress the disposable tissue 1 received in the through-hole lla and can be returned to a position above the upper entrance of the through-hole lla. That is, the apparatus for producing a disposable tissue disclosed in the above registered utility model is operated in such a manner that the disposable tissue 1, particularly, the tissue roll is first inserted in the through-hole lla and then compressed to produce the compression-molded disposable tissue. Further, when the compression- molded disposable tissue 1 is supplied with water 3, it is expanded almost into its original state as shown in Figs. 14 and 15. Therefore, the expanded tissue can be immediately used as a wet tissue.

In order to produce a disposable tissue using the apparatus for producing a disposable tissue disclosed in the above registered utility model, a process of inserting the disposable tissue 1 into the through-hole lla is necessarily required. Further, an apparatus for transferring the disposable tissue is indispensable to the automation of the above insertion process. In particular, since the disposable tissue which has not yet compressed is preferably a tissue roll formed by rolling a non-woven fabric into a cylinder shape, it is important that the tissue roll should not be unrolled while the tissue roll is being transferred.

Disclosure of Invention

An object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus capable of transferring a tissue roll formed by rolling a non-woven fabric while its rolled state is maintained.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for transferring and supplying a tissue roll manufactured by rolling non- woven fabric to a molding apparatus for compressing and molding the tissue roll, which comprises a hollow and flexible transferring tube; a tissue roll inserting means for inserting the tissue roll into one end of the transferring tube; and a compressed air supplying means for supplying compressed air to the one end of the transferring tube to discharge the tissue roll inserted in the one end to the other end of the transferring tube. Preferably, the tissue roll inserting means comprises a conveyor, a holder installed on the conveyor and formed with a groove extending in a direction perpendicular to a traveling direction of the conveyer to receive the tissue roll, and a pusher for pushing the tissue roll received in the holder along the groove. More preferably, the pusher comprises a rotatable positive motion cam formed with a groove having a specific shape, and a driven rod of which one end is coupled into the groove of the positive motion cam and which reciprocates along the groove of the holder.

Preferably, the compressed air supplying means comprises an air compressor for compressing air, an air duct through which the air compressed in the air compressor is supplied, and an on/off valve for opening/closing the air duct.

The apparatus for transferring a tissue roll according to the present invention may further comprise an alignment means for aligning the transferring tube such that the one end of the transferring tube communicates alternatively with the tissue roll supplying means and the compressed air supplying means. Preferably, the alignment means comprises a fixing plate with through-holes formed respectively on upper and lower sides thereof, a guide block arranged opposite to and at a certain distance from the fixing plate, a movable block guided by the guide block to move in a vertical direction, and an auxiliary block to which the one end of the transferring tube is fixed and which moves horizontally from the movable block toward the fixing plate and allows the one end of the transferring tube to communicate with the upper or lower through-hole of the fixing plate depending on a predetermined position of the movable block. More preferably, the groove of the holder of the tissue roll supplying means is coupled to communicate with the lower through-hole of the fixing plate, and an end of the air duct of the compressed air supplying means is coupled to communicate with the upper through-hole of the fixing plate.

Brief Description of Drawings

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of an apparatus for transferring a tissue roll according to the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a partial front view illustrating an operation state of the embodiment of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a partial front view illustrating another operation state of the embodiment of Fig. 1.

Figs. 4 to 11 are sectional views of the embodiment taken along ling A-A of Fig. 1 for illustrating their respective operating states of the embodiment.

Fig. 12 is a perspective view of a disposable tissue according to the prior art.

Fig. 13 is a sectional view conceptually illustrating a state where the disposable tissue according to the prior art is compressed by an apparatus for producing the disposable tissue.

Figs. 14 and 15 are conceptual views showing that the disposable tissue according to the prior art is dipped in water and then restored to its origin state.

100: Transferring tube 200: Tissue roll supplying means 300: Compressed air supplying means

Best Mode for Carrying out the Invention

Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of an apparatus for transferring a tissue roll according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of an apparatus for transferring a tissue roll according to the present invention, Fig. 2 is a partial front view illustrating an operation state of the embodiment of Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is a partial front view illustrating another operation state of the embodiment of Fig. 1, and Figs. 4 to 11 are sectional views of the embodiment taken along ling A-A of Fig. 1 for illustrating their respective operating states of the embodiment.

The apparatus for transferring a tissue roll according to this embodiment of the present invention comprises a transferring tube 100, a tissue roll supplying section 200 and a compressed air supplying section 300. The transferring tube 100 serves as a tissue roll transferring path and is manufactured of a flexible tube. In particular, it is preferred that an inner circumferential surface of the transferring tube be coated with a material such as Teflon in order to minimize a friction generated therebetween while the tissue roll is transferred. Further, in order to enhance the productivity, it is preferred that that a plurality of transferring tubes 100 be provided in the apparatus of the present invention.

The tissue roll supplying section 200 is used to receive the tissue roll from an external device and supply the received tissue roll to the transferring tube 100. Typically, the external device can be a device 50 for rolling a non-woven fabric into the tissue roll 30. The tissue roll supplying section 200 includes a conveyor 210 and holders 220 each of which is installed on the conveyor and formed with a groove 221 extending in a direction perpendicular to a traveling direction of the conveyor to receive the tissue roll 30 therein. The tissue rolls 30 supplied from the external device 50 are received in the grooves 221 of the holders 220, respectively. An upper opening of the groove 221 is gradually enlarged, and thus, the tissue roll 30 can be easily received in the groove 221. However, since a width of the groove 221 is slightly smaller than a diameter of the tissue roll 30 which is in a rolled state, it is preferable to further provide a push plate 450 operating in a vertical direction and a push rod 451 attached to a lower side of the push plate and having a width equal to or less than that of the groove 211. As shown in Fig. 3, the push plate 450 is operated upward and downward by a push plate driving means 452 to push the tissue roll 30 resting on the upper opening of the groove 221 of the holder 220 down into a lower side of the groove 221. That is, the push plate 450 causes the tissue roll 30 resting on the upper side of the groove 221 of the holder 220 to be fully inserted into the groove 221 such that the tissue roll cannot be unrolled. In order to enhance the productivity, it is preferred that a plurality of the holders 220 be installed on the conveyor 210 at regular intervals.

Since the holder 220 is installed on the conveyor.210, the holder 220 is moved from a position where the tissue roll 30 is supplied to the holder 220 to a position where the transferring tube 100 is placed, as the conveyer moves. Thus, when the holder 220 is reached at the position where the transferring tube 100 is placed, the groove 221 is in communication with an end 100a of the transferring tube 100. At this time, if a pusher 400 pushes the tissue roll 30 received in the groove 221 toward the transferring tube 100, the tissue roll is received into the end 100a of the transferring tube 100. To this end, it is preferred that the pusher 400 comprise a positive motion cam 410 which is formed with a groove having a certain shape and rotated by means of a motor 430, and a driven rod 420 of which one end is coupled into the groove of the positive motion cam 410. Thus, the driven rod 420 reciprocates along the groove 221 of the holder 220 by means of the positive motion cam 410. When the groove 221 of the holder 220 is in communication with the end 100a of the transferring tube 100, the driven rod 420 pushes the tissue roll 30 received in the groove 221 toward into the transferring tube 100. It is preferred that the pusher 400 be provided with a plurality of driven rods 420 equal in number to the transferring tubes 100 and operated once each time the holders equal in number to the transferring tubes are traveled.

If the tissue roll 30 is received into the end 100a of the transferring tube 100, the end 100a of the transferring tube 100 is moved and connected to the compressed air supplying section 300. The compressed air supplying section 300 includes an air compressor (not shown) for generating compressed air, an air duct 330 serving as a passage of the compressed air, and an on/off valve 320 for regulating the flow of the compressed air through the air duct 330. The transferring tube 100 is connected to the air duct 300 such that the end 100a of the transferring tube communicates with one end 310 of the air duct 330. Accordingly, it is also preferred that a plurality of the air ducts 330 and on/off valves 320 be provided to be equal in number to the transferring tubes 100.

If the compressed air is injected from the end 310 of the air duct 330, the tissue roll 30 received in the end 100a of the transferring tube 100 is moved along the transferring tube 100 by means of air pressure generated from the air compressor and then discharged to the other end 100b of the transferring tube 100.

After the tissue roll is discharged to the other end 100b of the transferring tube 100, the one end 100a of the transferring tube 100 is moved again to communicate with the groove 221 of the holder 220 of the tissue roll supplying section 200. Thereafter, the aforementioned process will be repeated. In other words, the end 100a of the transferring tube 100 communicates alternately with the tissue roll supplying section 200 and the compressed air supplying section 300.

In order to allow the end 100a of the transferring 100 to communicate alternately with the tissue roll supplying section 200 and the compressed air supplying section 300, an alignment means is provided. The alignment means includes a fixing plate 115, a guide block 130, a movable block 120 and an auxiliary block 122.

The fixing plate 115 is formed with through-holes at upper and lower sides thereof. The end 310 of the air duct 330 is coupled to communicate with the upper through-hole, while the groove 221 of the holder 220 communicates with the lower through-hole.

The guide block 130 is arranged at a certain distance from the fixing plate 115. The movable block 120 is coupled with the guide block 130 such that it can be slid in a vertical direction. A movable block driving means 121 for driving the movable block 120 is provided.

The auxiliary block 122 is coupled with the movable block 120 such that it can be moved toward the fixing plate 115 in a horizontal direction. An auxiliary block driving means 123 for driving the auxiliary block 122 is also provided.

The end 100a of the transferring tube 100 is fixed to the auxiliary block 122. Thus, the end 100a of the transferring 100 is slid in a vertical direction with respect to the guide block 130 and also moved horizontally toward the fixing plate 115 with respect to the movable block 120. Further, the air duct 330 and the groove 221 of the holder are coupled to the upper and lower sides of the fixing plate 115, respectively, such that they can communicate alternately with the end 100a of the transferring tube 100. Therefore, the end 100a of the transferring tube 100 can communicate alternately with the air duct 330 and the groove 221 of the holder, respectively, depending on the specific position of the operating block 120 and auxiliary block 122. At this time, it is preferred that adapters 110, 112 and 113 be attached to the end 100a of the transferring tube and the upper and lower through holes of the fixing plate 115, respectively, in order to ensure the dimensional accuracy and durability of the transferring tube 100 in consideration of characteristics of the transferring tube made of a flexible tube. Preferably, the adapters 110, 112 and 113 are made of a metal material. In particular, it is preferred that the adapter 100 coupled to the end 100a of the transferring tube and the adapter 112 coupled to the lower through-hole of the fixing plate 115 be manufactured in the form of a tube with an entrance of which is gradually enlarged, so that the tissue roll 30 can easily pass through the adapters. Further, in a case where the upper through-hole of the fixing plate 115 coupled to the air duct 330 communicates with the end 100a of the transferring tube, the compressed air can push the tissue roll 300 received in the one end 100a of the transferring tube toward the other end HOb of the transferring tube with a sufficient discharge pressure only when airtightness should be ensured between the two coupled members. Therefore, it is preferred that the adapter 113 coupled to the upper through-hole of the fixing plate 115 be matched in shape with the entrance of the adapter 110 coupled to the end 100a of the transferring tube such that air leakage can be minimized.

The well-known means such as a pneumatic or hydraulic actuator capable of causing the object to linearly reciprocate can be used in the pressing plate driving means 452, the movable block driving means 121 and the auxiliary block driving means 123. in particular, since the compressed air supplying section 300 of this embodiment is provided with an air compressor, the pneumatic actuator capable of using the compressed air supplied from the air compressor is preferably used in the above driving means.

Hereinafter, the operation of the apparatus for transferring a tissue roll according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to Figs. 4 to 11. As first shown in Fig. 4, when the holder 220 in which the tissue roll 30 is inserted is reached at a position where the groove 221 of the holder 220 can communicate with the lower through-hole of the fixing plate 115, the conveyor 210 is temporarily stopped. Then, the push plate 450 is operated downward to compress the tissue roll 30 toward a lower side of the groove 221 and is operated upward again. Next, as shown in Fig. 5, the auxiliary block 122 advances toward the fixing plate

115 such that the adapter 110 coupled to the end 100a of the transferring tube 100 comes into close contact with and communicates with the adapter 112 coupled to the lower through-hole of the fixing plate 115.

Further, as shown in Fig. 6, as the positive motion cam 410 is rotated by means of the motor 430, the driven rod 420 advances along the groove of the holder 220 and then pushes the tissue roll 30 into the end 100a of the transferring tube. If the driven rod 420 is moved backward, the tissue roll 30 is in a state where it is inserted in the end 100a of the transferring tube, more specifically, in the adapter 110 coupled to the end 100a of the transferring tube, as shown in Fig. 7. As shown in Fig. 8, the auxiliary block 122 is then moved backward toward the movable block 120. At this time, the tissue roll 30 is in a state where it is still inserted in the end 100a of the transferring tube.

The movable block 120 is moved upward as shown in Fig. 9. Then, as shown in

Fig. 10, the auxiliary block 122 advances toward the fixing plate 115 such that the end 100a of the transferring tube comes into close contact with and communicates with the adapter 113 coupled to the upper through-hole of the fixing plate 115.

If the on/off valve 320 is operated such that the passage can be opened to allow the compressed air to pass through the air duct 330, the compressed air is injected through the end 310 of the air duct and the tissue roll 30 is thus transferred from the one end 100a of the transferring tube 100 to the other end 100b of the transferring tube 100 by means of a force of the compressed air.

In a case where the other end 100b of the transferring tube 100 according to this embodiment of the present invention is connected to communicate with the through-hole

11a bored through the first mold 11 of the apparatus for producing a disposable tissue disclosed in the aforementioned Korean registered utility model No. 20-0320406, the tissue roll can be automatically supplied to the apparatus for producing a disposable tissue.

Thus, the productivity can be remarkably enhanced.

It is intended that the embodiment of the present invention described above and illustrated in the drawings should not be construed as limiting the technical spirit of the present invention. The scope of the present invention is defined only by the appended claims. Those skilled in the art can make various changes and modifications thereto without departing from its true spirit. Therefore, various changes and modifications obvious to those skilled in the art will fall within the scope of the present invention.

Industrial Applicability According to the present invention as described above, a tissue roll manufactured by rolling a non-woven fabric into a cylindrical form can be. transferred in a state where the rolled shape of the tissue is maintained. That is, since a process of transferring the tissue roll can be automated, the productivity can be remarkably enhanced in all the processes in which the tissue roll is used as a raw or intermediate material. Further, since the compressed air is used to transfer the tissue roll, it is possible to transfer the tissue roll for long distance in a short time by adjusting a pressure of the compressed air.

Claims

1. An apparatus for transferring and supplying a tissue roll manufactured by rolling non-woven fabric to a molding apparatus for compressing and molding the tissue roll, comprising: a hollow and flexible transferring tube; a tissue roll inserting means for inserting the tissue roll into one end of the transferring tube; and a compressed air supplying means for supplying compressed air to the one end of the transferring tube to discharge the tissue roll inserted in the one end to the other end of the transferring tube.

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tissue roll inserting means comprises: a conveyor; a holder installed on the conveyor and formed with a groove extending in a direction perpendicular to a traveling direction of the conveyer to receive the tissue roll; and a pusher for pushing the tissue roll received in the holder along the groove.

3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the pusher comprises: a rotatable positive motion cam formed with a groove having a specific shape; and a driven rod with one end coupled into the groove of the positive motion cam, the driven rod reciprocating along the groove of the holder.

4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the compressed air supplying means comprises: an air compressor for compressing air; an air duct through which the air compressed in the air compressor is supplied; and an on/off valve for opening/closing the air duct.

5. The apparatus as claimed in any one of claim 1 to 4, further comprising an alignment means for aligning the transferring tube such that the one end of the transferring tube communicates alternatively with the tissue roll supplying means and the compressed air supplying means.

6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the alignment means comprises: a fixing plate with through-holes formed respectively on upper and lower sides thereof; a guide block arranged opposite to and at a certain distance from the fixing plate; a movable block guided by the guide block to move in a vertical direction; and an auxiliary block to which the one end of the transferring tube is fixed and which moves horizontally from the movable block toward the fixing plate and allows the one end of the transferring tube to communicate with the upper or lower through-hole of the fixing plate depending on a predetermined position of the movable block, wherein the groove of the holder of the tissue roll supplying means is coupled to communicate with the lower through-hole of the fixing plate, and an end of the air duct of the compressed air supplying means is coupled to communicate with the upper through- hole of the fixing plate.