WO2013064750A1

WO2013064750A1 - Roll handling system and method

Info

Publication number: WO2013064750A1
Application number: PCT/FI2012/051071
Authority: WO
Inventors: Pekka Oksanen
Original assignee: Pesmel Group Oy
Priority date: 2011-11-03
Filing date: 2012-11-02
Publication date: 2013-05-10

Abstract

A roll handling system, comprising: a feeding table (5, 13), which is arranged to receive rolls (14a-14e) and store them; a moving transfer carriage (7, 15), which is arranged to receive rolls from the feeding table (5, 13) and transport said rolls; at least one storage place (17a-17e), where one or more rolls can be placed for storage, whereby said transfer carriage (15) is additionally arranged to convey the rolls to the storage place and receive rolls from the storage place. A method, where one or more rolls are stored by placing them in a storage place (17a-17e), of which there is at least one in the system; and the rolls are conveyed from the transfer carriage to the storage place (17a) and the rolls are received from the storage place (17a) to the transfer carriage. In a second example the roll handling system comprises: a slitter (1), which is arranged to form a roll batch comprising several rolls (14a-14e); and a feeding table (13), which is arranged to separate certain rolls from the roll batch.

Description

ROLL HANDLING SYSTEM AND METHOD

Object of the invention The invention relates to a roll handling system. The invention also relates to a method in a roll handling system. The invention especially relates to a roll handling system comprising a slitter.

Background of the invention

According to prior art, several narrow paper webs are cut from the paper web of large, wide paper rolls, which narrow paper webs are rolled into separate paper rolls. The width of the separate paper rolls can be selected as desired and it depends for example on the later use purpose of the paper web of said paper roll. The cutting and rolling are performed for example with a slitter, where a paper roll has been connected to a rotatable axis, from which paper roll new paper rolls are formed by cutting, and new paper rolls are formed on one or more other rotatable axes from the cut paper web. The new paper rolls form a batch, which is taken into a carriage, by means of which they are transferred for example onto a feeding table. The paper rolls are placed beside each other and roll onto the feeding table. On the feeding table there are one or more successive stoppers, which let the paper rolls of each batch roll forward to the next stopper or onto a separate transfer carriage. The transfer carriage typically has buffers, which push the paper rolls, which are apart from each other, against each other, whereby for example packing on the packing line is made easier. The transfer carriage serves one or more feeding tables, and transfers each batch to the packing line, e.g. via a separate feeding table. Each batch belongs to some client order.

In the above-described systems, which are represented also by the roll handling system according to Figure 1 , a problem has been that the operation of the slitter has been inefficient and the amount of wasted material is large. This is because it has from one large paper roll not always been possible to form a batch, which has the paper rolls belonging to some client order so that the amount of wasted material could be minimised. This is due to differences in the desired widths of the paper rolls in the order compared to the total width of the large paper roll. The above-described operation of the systems has also caused that several separate batches are delivered to the packing line, which batches belong to the same client order. This has caused additional procedures on the packing line for combining the batches for example on the same pallet, or it has been necessary to place them on different pallets, which in turn unnecessarily increases transport costs and time used for loading.

Brief summary of the invention

A purpose of the new solution in the invention is to reduce or completely eliminate the above-mentioned problems, which exist in the roll handling systems according to prior art.

The roll handling system according to the invention is presented in claim 1. The method in the roll handling system according to the invention is presented in claim 1 1. The roll handling system according to the invention is additionally presented in claim 15.

A new solution in the roll handling system is among others an example, where one or more feeding tables are used, where an individual stopper of the feeding table is replaced with several individual stoppers. The stoppers are beside each other, whereby a sort of segmented or divided stopper is formed. Thus the feeding table can selectively let past only those individual rolls, which are pre-selected from each batch and meant to be moved onwards in the system and apart from the other rolls of said batch. These selected rolls either move to the next stopper or directly onto the movable transfer carriage.

The feeding table applied in the new roll handling system, which feeding table has at least one segmented or divided stopper, makes it possible that each batch can have rolls belonging to several different clients. Said feeding table is able to separate those rolls from the batch, which belong to the same client.

An advantage is now that rolls belonging to different clients can be combined in the slitter in each formed batch, so rolls can be selected for each batch, the combined width of which rolls corresponds as precisely as possible to the width of the roll to be cut. Thus the amount of wasted material can be reduced. Each batch can also contain surplus rolls, which do not belong to any order but are necessary for example in order for wasted material not to be generated. Said surplus roll can for example be of some popular size, which can later be combined with some other, new order.

A new solution in the roll handling system is among others a second example, where the system additionally comprises one or more storage places, to which the transfer carriage can transport rolls from the feeding table. From the storage place the rolls can be taken back onto the transfer carriage and transported to the packing line. In this example the transfer carriage is additionally realised so that new rolls can with its aid be added to the storage place among old rolls in the storage place.

An advantage is now that rolls belonging to the same order can be collected in some storage place. Alternatively rolls belonging to the same order can be collected in a transfer carriage, utilising rolls obtained from the feeding table and storage place. Thus as large as possible a group of rolls can be moved to the packing line at the same time, whereby the operation of the packing line is made simpler and for example the number of rolls to be collected on one pallet is increased. The storage places also functions as a buffer storage, an all those rolls, which belong to the same client, can be delivered to the packing line as successive batches. An advantage is that the number of separate pallets can be reduced. Earlier the rolls have been transported to the packing line in the order the rolls have been completed.

A new feature of the transfer carriage of the roll handling system is that it has for example moving buffers, between which the rolls roll. With the aid of the buffer the rolls can be pushed against each other and additionally moved to either end of the transfer carriage. Thereafter the rolls can be moved for example into a storage place. Before said move, rolls can be taken from the storage place into the transfer carriage and moved for example with the aid of the buffers close to the rolls already in the transfer carriage. Thereafter all the rolls can together be moved to the storage place, to the packing line, or to some other line or onwards within the system, to some other device of the system.

As an additional feature of the above-described transfer carriage there may additionally be at least one rising and sinking pushing roller, which both rolls the rolls to the storage place and moves them from the storage place onto the transfer carriage. The roller is connected to a mechanism, which moves the roller over and behind the rolls, so that the roller can be used for pushing the rolls. Typically there are storage places on several levels, whereby the transfer carriage must also be able to lift the rolls. A shelf lift can for example function as a transfer carriage, which shelf lift is equipped with means suitable for handling rolls.

The new roll handling system and its different components are controlled by a control system and its different parts, for example programmable logic controls. The control system has data regarding each roll. In connection with the feeding table there may be an apparatus, for example a robot, for equipping each roll for example with a label or another identifier, so the formed roll can be identified. The new roll handling system also makes it possible that the rolls to be formed can be manufactured only for storage, from where they can be collected for some suitable client order. Especially the most popular roll sizes can be manufactured in advance, without a ready order. An advantage is that the slitter and the entire system is in efficient use, or rolls can be formed so that the amount of wasted material is decreased.

The invention is not limited only to the above-presented examples or to the examples presented below. For example, a new storage space can be applied also without a novel feeding table, and vice versa, but the greatest advantages are obtained by utilising them together. Utilising the above- mentioned new components in connection with some slitter is not essential, but used with a slitter they have been noted to provide particular advantages and the above-presented problems can be eliminated.

Description of the drawings

The new roll handling system and the thereto related device components and methods are described in this description and reference is simultaneously made to the enclosed drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a roll handling system according to prior art, seen from above,

Figure 2 shows an embodiment of a roll handling system according to the invention as an example, seen from above,

Figures 3 and 4 show the operation of the feeding table, transfer carriage and storage place in a roll handling system according to the invention,

Figure 5 shows a transfer carriage according to one example seen from its end, and its operation, and which can be applied in the roll handling system according to the invention, and

Figure 6 shows a feeding table according to one example seen from above, and its operation, and which can be applied in the roll handling system according to the invention.

Detailed description of the invention

Figure 1 shows a roll handling system according to prior art. It comprises a slitter 1 known as such, which forms several separate rolls 3a-3d from a material roll 2, for example around separate cores. The rolls 3a-3d are formed on the same rotatable axis of the slitter and said rolls are in this description called a batch. The slitter 1 can have several rotatable axes, on each of which its own batch of rolls is formed. Each batch can be moved from the slitter 1 to a carriage 4, where the rolls are vertical and parallel, and axis lines X running through their centers are horizontal and parallel, and most suitably they are also congruent, when the rolls are of the same size. The carriage is manual or automatic and the carriage 4 can have a lifting and lowering movement, and according to one example also a sideways tilting movement, whereby the rolls can roll off the carriage. Some other transfer device, which has corresponding functions, can also function as the carriage 4. The carriage 4 is not essential, but in some way the rolls are moved to the feeding table 5, on which the rolls roll as parallel. The feeding table 5 has one or more stoppers 6, which function as a common obstacle for all the rolls in the batch and when necessary let all the rolls in the batch roll past them. The stopper 6 is for example a rising and sinking wall or member, over which the rolls can roll, when the wall or member has lowered. When there are for example two successive stoppers 6 on the feeding table 5, there can simultaneously be two separate roll batches on the feeding table 5.

From the feeding table 5 the rolls can be moved onto a transfer carriage 7, where the rolls are vertical and parallel. On the feeding table 5 and in the transfer carriage 7 the rolls are at a distance from each other. On the transfer carriage 7 there are for example rolls, or a sliding surface, which makes possible pushing the rolls against each other. The transfer carriage 7 has one or more buffers 8, which push the rolls against each other. The move occurs in the direction of the above-mentioned axis lines X of the rolls. The transfer carriage 7 can if necessary have a lifting and lowering movement, or a sideways tilting movement. The transfer carriage 7 moves as controlled by a control system and uses a track for moving, which is for example formed from two rails. The transfer carriage 7 moves the rolls for example to a packing line, which comprises for example a feeding table 9, where one or more stoppers 6 are applied. Alternatively the packing line comprises some other apparatus or conveyor, with which the rolls are moved onwards. What is typical is that the packing line collects the rolls on a pallet or another transfer base, and additionally it can comprise a station, where the rolls are wrapped in a protective material, for example plastic. In the transfer carriage or by the feeding table, or in both, there may be a sweeping roller, which sweeps over the transfer carriage or the feeding table and ensures that all the rolls have moved off the transfer carriage or feeding table.

The system can also comprise a re-rolling device, to which the transfer carriage 7 moves the rolls. For this purpose the system for example has a feeding table 10 for the re-rolling device, where one or more stoppers 6 are applied, or some other type of conveyor. The transfer carriage 7 can receive rolls also from the re-rolling device or from some other slitter. For this purpose the system has for example an additional feeding table 11 , where one or more stoppers 6 are applied. From the additional feeding table 11 the rolls can be moved by rolling onto a transfer carriage 7, so that the rolls are vertical and parallel. According to one example the operation of the additional feeding table 11 corresponds to the operation of the feeding table 5.

The roll handling system according to Figure 1 has some problems, which have been presented above, but which can be eliminated with a roll handling system according to the new solution. One example and embodiment of the new solution is presented in Figure 2.

The roll handling system of Figure 2 has a slitter 1 , the operation of which corresponds to the operation of the slitter presented in Figure 1. Each formed roll batch (rolls 12a-12d) can however comprise rolls, which belong to different clients, or different orders, or which are only used to replenish the storage. The rolls manufactured for storage are for example rolls, the width of which is very common and which are manufactured in great amounts and repeatedly for different orders. The system of Figure 2 makes possible the storage of rolls and a flexible utilisation of the storage.

The system also comprises a feeding table 13, the operation of which mainly corresponds to the operation of the feeding table 5 presented in Figure 1. Additionally the feeding table 13 has been provided with a function, by means of which some of the rolls (roll 14a-14b) can be allowed to move to the next, latter stopper 6, or directly to the transfer carriage 15, and some of the rolls (14c-14e) remain in their place by the previous stopper 16. The stopper 16 applies the new solutions. According to one example the latter stopper 6 is a rising and sinking wall or member, or another restraint. One example of a feeding table stopper 16 is presented in Figure 6, and said example is applied in the feeding table 13 of Figure 2. The stopper 16 is divided into two or more adjacent parts (e.g. parts 16a-16e) and each part can be separately controlled. Each part both allows and prevents one or more rolls from moving forward along the feeding table (step II). Each part 16a-16e functions as a stopper. According to one example the stopper 16 consists of several adjacent walls, wedges or support members, which rise up from the surface of the feeding table in front of the rolls (step I). An alternative is also that the stopper 16 consists of several adjacent parts, which are situated above the rolls and lower down in front of the rolls, so that the moving forward of one or more rolls is prevented.

The system of Figure 2 also comprises a novel transfer carriage 15, the operation of which mainly corresponds to the operation of the transfer carriage 7 presented in Figure 1. A difference is that the transfer carriage 15 can be without the above-mentioned sweeping roller. According to one example the transfer carriage 5 has an apparatus, which moves the rolls off the transfer carriage, for example to a packing line, some feeding table or the storage 17. The storage 17 comprises at least one storage place 17a-17e, but most typically several storage places, where rolls can be stored as vertical and parallel. The rolls stay in the same position both on the feeding table 13 and in the transfer carriage 15, and also in the storage place. Most suitably, according to a second example, said apparatus in the transfer carriage for moving rolls is implemented so that the rolls can be moved by rolling from the transfer carriage to the storage place and back.

In a storage 17 according to the second example there are storage places in several superposed levels. The storage 17 can be implemented for example with the aid of steel storage shelves. The storage places for example have grooves, in which the rolls settle. In one example the storage place has an apparatus, for example a sweeping roller, which moves the rolls out of the storage place. According to a second possible example the storage place has a bottom tilting in a controlled manner, which rolls the rolls out of the storage place onto the transfer carriage. Most suitably the apparatus moving the rolls is in the transfer carriage 15 (transfer apparatus 20), as is presented in Figures 2-5, whereby among others the structure of the storage remains simple.

If there are storage places at different heights, a shelf lift can function as the transfer carriage 15, which shelf lift has the functions of the above-described transfer carriage and additionally a lifting and lowering movement, by means of which the rolls can additionally be lifted or lowered to a desired height. Thus shelf lifts of automatic storage spaces known as such can be applied, in which lifts the above-described new functions have been realised. A movement can also be realised in the transfer carriage, by means of which movement the transfer carriage or its upper surface moves closer to the feeding table or the storage place.

The system of Figure 2 can also comprise a packing line, to which the transfer carriage 15 conveys rolls. The packing line can comprise for example a feeding table 9, where one or more stoppers are applied, which stopper is traditional (stopper 6) or of the above-described new type (stopper 16).

The system of Figure 2 can also comprise for example a re-rolling device, to which the transfer carriage 15 conveys rolls, for example via a feeding table 10 of the re-rolling device. The transfer carriage 15 can receive rolls also from the re-rolling device or from some other slitter. For this purpose the system for example has an additional feeding table 18, where one or more stoppers 6 are applied, and the operation of which corresponds to the operation of the feeding table 11 described in connection with Figure 1.

If the above-mentioned additional feeding table 18 is used together with a second slitter, the operation of the additional feeding table 18 most suitably corresponds to the operation of the feeding table 13 of Figure 2. Thus the additional feeding table 18 is provided with a function, where some of the rolls can be allowed to move to the next stopper, or directly to the transfer carriage 15, and some of the rolls remain in their place by the previous stopper. The devices of the additional feeding table 18 can apply the same solutions as in connection with the feeding table 13 and stopper 16 of the slitter 1. The system further comprises a control system CTRL, which is microprocessor-based, comprises the necessary control algorithms and controls the operation of the system. Said control system CTRL can also be aware of the position of each roll within the system, e.g. in the storage 17. The data regarding the rolls can be given to the system manually or as given by a production control system. The control system gives information about the transfer of rolls for example to a storage control system. The control system typically consists of several control units, which comprise for example a programmable logic control, which controls one or more devices of the roll handling system. The control system controls the operation of the transfer carriage 15 and the feeding table 13, so that each order can be formed in a desired manner and rolls are placed into each storage place in a desired manner. The control system for example controls the collecting of rolls for an order from storage into the transfer carriage or the collecting of them into some storage place.

In the following the new procedures and methods are examined, which are possible due to the new roll handling system presented in Figure 2 and its control system. Due to the new system rolls belonging to different batches can now more easily be collected for one order from some client, which rolls are formed in one slitter at different times, or formed in different slitters. An order in this description mainly means a group of rolls, which are delivered out of the system together and at the same time, for example to a packing line. All the rolls of said group are on the transfer carriage 5 at the same time before they are conveyed to the packing line, or to some other conveyor. For some order the transfer carriage 15 can deliver two or more roll groups, but the new system makes it possible that there can now be rolls of different size and manufactured at different times in the same roll group (see Figure 4, step VIII, rolls 19a-19e). The composition of the roll group is now possible to optimise, so that for example a transport pallet can be made as large or as full as possible, so the total number of transport pallets can be reduced and the operation of the packing line is made more efficient.

The slitter 1 is now allowed to form a batch of rolls, which belong to different orders (see Figure 2, rolls 12a-12d). The feeding table 13 separates those rolls from each batch, which belong to the same order (Figure 2, rolls 14a- 14b), and guides them together to the transfer carriage 15. With the aid of the feeding table 13 it is even possible to combine those rolls from the rolls of two different batches, which belong in the same order, and guide them together to the transfer carriage 15. In the latter case a feeding table is used, which has at least two successive stoppers and in which the rolls to be combined can roll beside each other or between each other (compare to feeding table 13 and stopper 16). The transfer carriage 15 is equipped with an apparatus 21 , which moves the rolls against each other. The surface of the transfer carriage, onto which the rolls settle, can be equipped with means, for example rollers, which move the rolls in the direction of their axis lines. According to a second example, which is presented in Figure 2, the transfer carriage comprises two buffers 21a- 21b, between which the rolls settle. With the aid of the buffers the rolls can be pushed together and moved in the direction of the their axis lines X either to the front part (Figure 3, step V) or to the rear part (Figure 4, step V) of the transfer carriage 15. Most preferably the transfer carriage 15 also moves in the direction of the axis lines X. The rolls are removed from the transfer carriage in a direction, which is substantially perpendicular to the axis lines X. The rolls also arrive at the transfer carriage in a direction, which is substantially perpendicular to said axis lines. It is a question of a move into the storage place or out of there, or a move off the feeding table. The rolls on the transfer carriage 15 are conveyed to a storage place (storage places 17a-17e). If there are already rolls in the storage place but there is room for new rolls, the rolls are in the transfer carriage moved either to the front edge or rear edge of the transfer carriage. The rolls are moved to a point, where the new rolls, which are moved from the storage place onto the transfer carriage, do not hit the rolls. Most suitably there are only rolls in the storage place, which are against each other and situated in one edge of the storage place, so they can be moved to the transfer carriage even if there are already rolls in the transfer carriage. The rolls are situated in an edge of the storage place, which corresponds to the front part or rear part of the transfer carriage. According to a second example the positioning of the transfer carriage is controlled so that the transfer carriage can be stopped at a point, where the area of the transfer carriage which is free from rolls is placed by the rolls in the storage place. The system presented in Figure 2 is simpler, and the transfer carriage has only one stopping point for each storage place.

The taking of the rolls to the storage place with the aid of the transfer carriage is presented next.

According to Figure 3 the transfer carriage 15 moves (step I) close to the feeding table 13, where there are rolls ready behind a stopper 6, which rolls are intended to be moved to the storage place 17a. In this example the stopper 6 is a rising and sinking, uniform wall. Most suitably the stopper 6 shown in the Figure is preceded by a second stopper, which is divided into several parts and with the aid of which the transfer of individual rolls can be managed (compare to stopper 16). In this example the transfer carriage 15 comprises an apparatus 20, which pushes the rolls off the transfer carriage 15 and also pulls the rolls from the feeding table 13 or the storage place 17a onto the transfer carriage 15. The rolls are moved from the feeding table 13 onto the transfer carriage 15 (step II). Thereafter new rolls can move close to the stopper 6, when the transferred rolls are in the transfer carriage 5 (step III). The transfer carriage 15 has an apparatus 21 , which moves the rolls against each other (step IV). In this example the apparatus 21 comprises two buffers 21a-21b,which can move independently from each other in the direction of the axis lines X and move the rolls to the front end or rear end of the transfer carriage 15. Most suitably it is also so that during the movement of the transfer carriage 15, the apparatus 21 supports the rolls, and for example keeps them together. In this example the rolls are held between the buffers 21a-21b, when the transfer carriage 15 moves to the storage place 17a (step V). With the aid of the apparatus 20 in the transfer carriage 15 the rolls are moved to the storage place (step VI), whereafter the transfer carriage is ready to move to a new task.

In the alternative presented in Figure 3 the apparatus 20 is constructed so that the apparatus 20 can take rolls from both sides of the transfer carriage 15, or remove rolls from both sides of the transfer carriage 15. According to a second example the track of the transfer carriage or the storage places and the feeding tables are placed so that roll transfers occur only from one side of the transfer carriage.

Assembling a client order with the aid of the transfer carriage is presented next.

According to Figure 4 the transfer carriage 15 moves (step I) close to the feeding table 13. The structure of the transfer carriage 15 and the feeding table 13 corresponds to the structures presented in Figure 3. On the feeding table 13 there are rolls ready behind the stopper 6, which rolls belong to the same order. The rolls are moved from the feeding table 13 onto the transfer carriage 15 (step II), using the apparatus 20 in the transfer carriage. Thereafter new rolls can move close to the stopper 6, when the rolls are in the transfer carriage (step III). With the aid of the apparatus in the transfer carriage the rolls are moved against each other, either to the front end or rear end of the transfer carriage (step IV). In this example the rolls are supported when the transfer carriage moves to a storage place (step V), which has rolls belonging to the same order. With the aid of the apparatus 20 in the transfer carriage the rolls in the storage place 17a are moved to the transfer carriage (step VI), whereafter the rolls moved from the storage and the rolls already in the transfer carriage are moved against each other, with the aid of the apparatus 21.

The rolls in the storage place and the rolls in . the transfer carriage are situated so that the rolls from the storage place can be moved to an empty point in the transfer carriage. In this example different roll groups are situated in opposite ends of the transfer carriage. For example the control system maintains information regarding where the rolls are situated and if there is room in the transfer carriage for new rolls. The control system can for example maintain information about the width of each roll, based on which the total width of each roll group can be calculated. A principle can be that the rolls to be moved to the storage place are always situated in a specific selected end of the transfer carriage (see Figure 4 step VIII). If new rolls are added from the storage to the group of rolls in the transfer carriage, the rolls already in the transfer carriage are in the opposite end (see Figure 4 step VI), and finally all the rolls are moved to the above-mentioned selected end (see Figure 4 step VIII). After the above-described steps the transfer carriage 15 is ready to move to a new task (step VII). Said task can for example be moving all the rolls on the transfer carriage back to the same storage place 17a (step VIII) or to some other storage place. Said task can also be moving the rolls to a packing line, whereby rolls are collected to the transfer carriage from a feeding table and from one or more storage places. Assembling the order is possible also so that rolls are moved into the empty transfer carriage from one or more storage places. Thus the operation corresponds to steps V, VI, VII and VIII of Figure 4. The first rolls are taken onto the empty transfer carriage as in step VI, in its one end, but the rolls are moved to the opposite end of the transfer carriage (compare to step V), whereafter more rolls can be taken into the transfer carriage.

A transfer carriage according to one example (transfer carriage 15) is examined next, which is equipped with a roll moving apparatus (apparatus 20). Figure 5 shows a simplified principle of the transfer carriage. The transfer carriage can for example be a transfer device, which has only a horizontal movement, for example along a track equipped with rails. The transfer carriage can be for example a transfer and lifting device, which additionally has a lifting and lowering movement, for example a shelf lift.

The transfer carriage 15 comprises at least one moveable, horizontal roller 20a-20b, which is parallel to the axis lines X of the rolls (see Figure 2) and is sufficiently long. The roller 20a can by means of guide tracks or other mechanisms be moved both over a roll 22 and down behind a roll 22, so that it is possible to push the roll 22 with the aid of the roller 20a either off the transfer carriage 15 or out of the storage place 17a onto the transfer carriage 15. The movement of the roller 20a extends sideways outside the transfer carriage 15, behind the roll in the storage place.

Most suitably the transfer carriage 15 comprises two above-described rollers 20a-20b. One or more rolls 22 are placed between the rollers 20a-20b during the transfers, and if necessary, the rollers support the rolls frorri the front and from behind and prevent unnecessary rolling of the rolls. Each roller can by means of guide tracks or other mechanisms be moved both over a roll and down behind a roll (steps I and II), so that it is possible to push the roll 22 with the aid of the roller either off the transfer carriage or out of the storage place onto the transfer carriage (steps III and IV). According to one example the transfer of rolls onto the transfer carriage 15 and off it occurs only from one side of the transfer carriage 15. Thus, when the two above-described rollers 20a-20b are in use, one of the rollers can be constructed so that it is not taken over the roll or it does not have a vertical movement. Said roller settles behind the roll and if necessary supports the roll, which is brought onto the transfer carriage, or pushes the roll, which is moved off the transfer carriage. The material of the roll can be for example paper, plastic film, paper laminate, paper and plastic laminate, or plastic laminate.

The invention and its different embodiments are not limited, only by the above-presented examples, but the following claims define the features of the invention in further detail.

Claims

Claims:

1. A roll handling system, comprising:

a feeding table (5, 13), which is arranged to receive rolls (14a-14e), store them and convey them onwards in the system;

a moving transfer carriage (7, 5), which is arranged to receive rolls from the feeding table (5, 3), transport said rolls, and convey said roll onwards in the system;

characterised in that the system further comprises:

- at least one storage place (17a-17e), where one or more rolls can be placed for storage; whereby said transfer carriage (15) is additionally arranged to convey the rolls to the storage place and receive the rolls from the storage place.

2. The system according to claim 1 , characterised in that the feeding table (13) is arranged to receive a roll batch comprising several rolls (14a-14e) and to separate some of the rolls in the roll batch and convey them onwards, whereby some of the rolls of the roll batch remain on the feeding table.

3. The system according to claim 2, characterised in that the feeding table (13) is arranged to move the rolls by rolling them and it comprises at least one stopper (6, 16), which both allows and prevents rolls from rolling onwards past the stopper.

4. The system according to claim 3, characterised in that the stopper (16) comprises several adjacent parts (16a-16e), each of which is arranged to function independently as stoppers, so that each part both allows and prevents rolls from rolling onwards past said part.

5. The system according to claim 1 , characterised in that the transfer carriage (15) comprises an apparatus (20), which is arranged to move rolls from the transfer carriage to the storage place (17a-17e) and from the storage place onto the transfer carriage.

6. The system according to claim 5, characterised in that said apparatus comprises at least one movable roller (20a, 20b), which pushes the rolls.

7. The system according to claim 6, characterised in that said pushing roller (20a) is placed behind the roll, when the roll is moved forward by rolling; and the apparatus further comprises a second roller (20b), which is placed in front of the roll, when the roll is moved forward by rolling.

8. The system according to claim 1 , characterised in that the transfer carriage (15) comprises an apparatus (21), which is arranged to move the rolls placed on the transfer carriage against each other, whereby the rolls are moved in the direction of their central axis (X), when they are vertical and parallel on the transfer carriage.

9. The system according to claim 8, characterised in that said apparatus (21) is further arranged to move the rolls in question to a desired point on the transfer carriage and to support the rolls in question during movement of the transfer carriage.

10. The system according to any of the claims 1-9, characterised in that the system further comprises:

a slitter (1), which is arranged to form a roll batch comprising several rolls (3a-3d, 12a-12d); and

a transfer device (4), which is arranged to transport the roll batch to said transfer table.

1 1. A method in a roll handling system, comprising:

forming a roll batch comprising several rolls (3a-3d, 12a-12d) with a slitter (1);

receiving said roll batch on a feeding table (5, 13);

receiving the rolls from the feeding table (5, 13) to a moveable transfer carriage (7, 15), with which said rolls are transported and conveyed onwards in the system;

characterised in that the method further comprises:

storing one or more roll by placing it in a storage place (17a-17e), of which there is at least one in the system; and conveying the rolls from said transfer carriage to the storage place (17a) and receiving the rolls from the storage place (17a) to said transfer carriage.

12. The method according to claim 11 , characterised in receiving on the feeding table (13) said roll batch, which comprises several rolls (12a-12e), and separating some of the rolls (14a-14b) from the roll batch and conveying said separated rolls onwards to the transfer carriage, and leaving some of the rolls (14c-14e) of the roll batch on the feeding table.

13. The method according to claim 11 or 12, characterised in collecting at least one roll from the feeding table (13) and at least one roll from the storage place (17a-17e) to the transfer carriage (15), and moving the collected rolls on the transfer carriage so that they are vertical and against each other, and conveying the collected rolls from the transfer carriage either to the storage place (17a-17e) or onwards in the system.

14. The method according to any of the claims 11-13, characterised in moving rolls both from the transfer carriage to the storage place (17a-17e) and from the storage place onto the transfer carriage by utilising an apparatus (20), which is placed in the transfer carriage (15).

15. A roll handling system, comprising:

a slitter (1), which is arranged to form a roll batch comprising several rolls (14a-14e);

characterised in that the system further comprises:

a feeding table (13), which is arranged to:

- a) receive the rolls (14a-14e) of said roll batch,

- b) separate some of the rolls (14a-14b) from said roll batch, and - c) convey the separated part of the rolls (14a-14b) from the feeding table onwards in the system, and

- d) keep the remaining part of the rolls (14c-14e) of said roll batch on the feeding table, whereby they can later be conveyed from the feeding table (13) onwards in the system.

16. The system according to claim 15, characterised in that the system further comprises:

a moving transfer carriage (7, 15), which is arranged to receive rolls from the feeding table (5, 13), transport said rolls, and convey said rolls onwards in the system.