EP0223632A1 - Unwinding device for bobbins - Google Patents

Abstract

Reel unwinder (6, 7) to ensure the continuous feeding of an endless belt (21) comprising, on a frame (25 to 28) two axes (4, 5) for two reels, one in progress unwinding, the other, after removal of the remaining used-up reel, receiving a full reel, means for maintaining a suitable web tension (9, 10, 11), means acting on its axis to launch the full reel at the linear speed of unwinding, the end of the full reel receiving a tape of glue, means for applying the strip of the reel near depletion on the full reel so as to effect the bonding between the strips, and knives (17, 18) for cutting the strip from the spent reel. The application means consist of two applicator elements (14, 15) arranged on either side of at least one guide roller (16) on a mobile assembly (8) capable of placing these elements and rollers in the active position. in the vicinity of each full coil (7), and by a control (51, 56) which ensures the approach and then contact with the full coil for that of the applicator elements (14, 15) which is located on the other side of the strip (21) coming from the reel during unwinding. The movement of the carriage is preferably a translational movement.

Description

The invention relates to a reel unwinder for ensuring the continuous feeding of an endless belt comprising, on a frame two axes for two reels, one in the course of unwinding, the other, after removal of the rest of reel exhausted, receiving a full reel, means for maintaining a suitable web tension, means acting on its axis to launch the full reel at the linear unwinding speed, the end of the full reel receiving a tape of glue , means for applying the strip of the reel near exhaustion on the full reel so as to effect the bonding between the strips, and knives for cutting the strip coming from the spent reel.

Coil unwinders of this type known to date are generally provided with a rotating cradle which carries the two axes of the two coils and which can thus, when the time comes, approach the bodies which ensure bonding, this This takes place in the same area of the device.

Such an arrangement has the major drawback that the mobile assembly constituted by the cradle and the coils is extremely heavy. In addition, it is out of balance when it is moved, since one of the coils is full and the other almost empty.

This results in the need to use extremely powerful mechanical means, which are also heavy and bulky, to the detriment of the cost price of the unwinders and their ease of use.

The object of the invention is to remedy these drawbacks and to do this, it relates to a reel unwinder, the application means of which consist of two applicator elements arranged on either side of at least one guide roller on a movable assembly able to place these elements and rollers in the active position in the vicinity of each full coil, and by a control which ensures the approach then the contact with the full coil for that of the applicator elements which is located on the other side of the tape from the reel being unwound.

Preferably, to alternately ensure the active position in the vicinity of each full coil, the mobile assembly is a carriage which performs a translational movement along slides perpendicular to the plane of symmetry of the two axes.

We can see that thanks to this arrangement the axes of the coils are fixed. In addition, the mobile assembly consists exclusively of the carriage, the two applicator rollers and one or two guide rollers, which allows it to be maneuvered quickly and easily using light mechanical means.

The invention thus makes it possible to equip a continuous supply with a wide range of coil unwinders, including some for which such a supply has not been profitable until now, whether for example small unwinders or relatively slow speed unwinders.

In a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, the applicator rollers are rollers and these rollers and the guide roller or rollers are carried by two uprights to form a symmetrical frame provided with two adjacent axes or better in the extension of those of the applicator rollers, axes resting in cutouts integral with the carriage and one of which is held in each of the two active positions to play the role of axis of rotation by stops integral with the frame, the approach and contact control acting on the symmetrical frame to ensure the displacement of the other axis and therefore of the other applicator roller and guide rollers.

Such a symmetrical frame makes it possible to provide only one approach command and only one contact command instead of two. If it is known that these commands conventionally comprise at least one actuator for the approach and in general two actuators for the contact, it is easily understood that this further results in economy of manufacture and greater reliability.

Advantageously, the various bodies of the unwinder being symmetrical with respect to a plane, the axes of the knives can also be fixed and arranged on either side of this plane of symmetry.

• - la figure 1 représente très schématiquement dix phases successives du fonctionnement d'un dérouleur de bobines conforme à l'invention référencées de a à j ;
• - la figure 2 est une vue latérale à plus grande échelle de ce dérouleur ;
• - la figure 3 est une vue transversale partielle à échelle encore agrandie ; et
• - la figure 4 est une vue en coupe selon la ligne IV-IV de la figure 3.

An embodiment of the invention is now described by way of nonlimiting example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

• - Figure 1 shows very schematically ten successive phases of the operation of a reel unwinder according to the invention referenced from a to j;
• - Figure 2 is a side view on a larger scale of this unwinder;
• - Figure 3 is a partial cross-sectional view on a still enlarged scale; and
• - Figure 4 is a sectional view along the line IV-IV of Figure 3.

FIG. 1 shows a reel unwinder for a printing machine consisting very schematically of a frame 1 which supports, by brackets 2 and 3, two superposed axes 4 and 5 receiving two reels 6 and 7.

The frame 1 also receives a carriage 8 movable parallel to the plane containing the axes 4 and 5 and a conventional equipment for outputting the strip composed of two fixed rollers 9. and 10 and a roller 11 subjected to the action of an elastic member not shown.

The carriage 8 carries a symmetrical articulated frame consisting of two uprights 12 and 13 of which only one 12 is visible in the figure, two applicator rollers 14 and 15 and a guide roller 16.

Finally, two knives 17 and 18 and their supports 19 and 20 of conventional constitution are placed on either side of the plane of symmetry of the unwinder.

The continuous strip 21, which is here a strip of paper intended for printing, takes place in phase a of the upper reel 6 to reach the guide roller 16, then the output crew 9, 10, 11 and from there , according to arrow F, the printing machine.

At this stage, the carriage 8 is in the high position and the frame formed by the applicator rollers 14 and 15, the uprights 12 and 13 and the guide roller 16 in the inactive position against the carriage 8.

The operating phase b shows the coil 6 being exhausted while the coil 7, which was on standby, is rotated by control of its axis 5 so that the peripheral speeds of the two coils are synchronized.

During phase c the last turns of the coil 6 take place and the bonding operation is prepared. To do this, the carriage 8 has been put in the low position and the articulated frame carrying the applicator rollers 14, 15 has been rotated about an axis coincident with that of the applicator roller 15. In this way, the strip 21 is presses on the guides 19 and 20 of the knives and on the applicator roller 14 which is in the approach position in the vicinity of the coil ₇ , before reaching the guide roller 16.

Phase d is the bonding phase of the end of the strip 21 coming from the now empty reel 6, with the first turn of the reel 7. This bonding operation is carried out in a conventional manner using double-sided adhesive tape 22 carried by this first turn which is slightly separated from the next.

Ji., Before this ribbon 22 passes under the applicator roller 14 in the approach position, the latter is brought into the contact position, as shown in d by a new rotation of the articulated frame and the ribbon 22 ensures the bonding of the strip 21 on the first turn of the coil 7. The knife 17 is also rotated in a completely conventional manner and its teeth penetrate the strip 21 to cut it; this cutting can be done before, during or after the actual bonding.

We thus pass to phase e for which the axis 4 for driving the coil 6 is stopped, the knife 17 has returned to the rest position and the articulated frame in the inactive position along the carriage 8. The strip 23 from the reel 7 now takes place passing over the guide roller 16 to reach the output equipment 9, 10, 11 and finally the printing machine.

Phase f corresponds to the unwinding of the coil 7 during which the axis 4 has been loaded with a new full coil 6 ′.

When in phase g the coil 7 begins to run out, the axis 4 is rotated and the coil 6 'is launched at synchronous speed.

This leads to phase h for which the coil 7 unwinding its last turns a new bonding operation is prepared. To do this, the carriage 8 is placed in the high position and the symmetrical articulated frame in the approach position by rotation, this time around an axis coincident with that of the applicator roller 14. Thus the strip 23 is unwound along the knife guides 19 and 20, the applicator roller in the approach position 15, the guide roller 16 and the three rollers 9, 10, 11 of the output equipment.

Of course, the coil 6 'is also provided with a double-sided adhesive tape 22', so that when during the phase i the applicator roller 15 is brought into the contact position, the strip 23 sticks to the strip 24 of this coil 6 '.

Simultaneously, it is the knife 18 which is placed in the active position and which ensures, as before, the cutting of the strip 23 coming from the now empty reel 7.

When the articulated frame has returned to the inactive position, as shown in j, it is the strip 24 coming from the coil 6 'which follows the same path as the strip 21 as shown in a. It remains, to return to the starting position, to replace the exhausted coil 7 with a new coil.

Figure 2 shows on a larger scale the general structure of the unwinder. We find there the frame 1 here consisting of four uprights, two of which are visible 25 and 26, a base 27 and an upper spacer 28 as well as the brackets 2 and 3 which carry the axes 4 and 5. The unwinder being shown in its phase d, the axis 4 carries a coil 6 being exhausted and the axis 5 carries a full coil 7.

The motors 29 and 30 as well as the flywheels 31 and 32 are used to move the coils laterally.

The outgoing assembly 9, 10, 11 is carried by the uprights and the spacers 26, 28 and the knives 17, 18 with their support 19, 20, flanked by a protective cross member 33, by the uprights 25.

The mobile carriage 8 and the articulated symmetrical frame carrying the rollers 14, 15 and 16 visible in FIG. 2 are shown in more detail in FIGS. 3 and 4. It will be noted in this connection that the applicator rollers 14 and 15 carry a flexible coating.

The upright 26 and its symmetrical 34 carry two vertical racks 35, 36 engaged with two coaxial toothed wheels 37, 38 and four rollers 39, 40, 41, 42. These two toothed wheels and these four rollers are carried by two lateral flanges 43 , 44 which constitute, with suitable spacers 45, 46, the carriage 8. Thus, this carriage can be moved in vertical translation by a motor 47 engaged by the reduction gear 48 with the shaft 49 which carries the two toothed wheels 37 , 38.

The spacer 45 supports the pivot 50 of a central approach cylinder 51 engaged with an arm 52 itself secured to a sleeve 53 threaded on the spacer 46 and free to rotate.

The socket 53 carries, in the vicinity of its ends, two symmetrical arms 54, 55 articulated on two contact jacks 56, 57 themselves engaged with the axis 58 of the guide roller 16. The axis 58 and the axes 59 and 60 of the applicator rollers 14, 15 are journalled on the uprights 12 and 13.

As best seen in Figure 3, the axes 59 and 60 of the applicator rollers 14, 15 protrude relative to the uprights 12 and 13 so as to engage in integral bearings for part of the carriage and for part of the frame.

More specifically, the axis end 61 of the applicator roller 15 is housed in a cutout 62 of a block 63 secured to the flange 43 of the carriage, and when the carriage is in the low position, this same axis end 61 rests in a seat 64 of a stop 65 integral with the upright 26 of the frame. We find the same configuration for the end of the symmetrical axis 61 'and for the two ends of axes 66 and 66' of the applicator roller 14 which cooperates with two blocks also bearing the reference 63 and with two stops 67 corresponding to the position high of the carriage and visible in Figure 2.

In this way, when the carriage is in the low position, as shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, the articulated frame can undergo the rotational movement which is imposed on it by the jack 51 to move into the approach position then by the jack 52 to move into the contact position around the end of the axis 61 and its symmetrical 61 ¹ retained by the stops 65, while the end of the axis 66 located at the end of the axis 59 of the roller 14 is free to the same way as its symmetrical 66 '.

On the other hand, if the carriage is in the high position, it is the ends of axes 66 and 66 'which are engaged with the stops 67 and the rotation therefore takes place around the axis 59, the axis 60 being then free.

Thus have been represented and described all the mechanisms making it possible to obtain the movements of the parts of the unwinder necessary for the execution of the phases a to j commented on with reference to FIG. 1.

The motor 47 ensures the reciprocating movement of ascent and descent of the carriage 8 which advances by means of the toothed wheels 37, 38 and the rollers 39 to 42 along the racks 35, 36. The single approach cylinder 51 ensures, by the intermediate arm 52 of sleeve 53, arms 54, 55 and cylinders in retracted position 56 and 57, the approach movement the applicator roller 14 around the axis 61, 61 'when the carriage is in the low position and the applicator roller 15 around the axis 66, 66' when the carriage is in the high position. The cylinders 56, 57 then ensure the contact movement for one or the other of the applicator rollers, followed by a rotation of the knives 17, 18 around the axis of its support 19 or 20. It will be noted that the members control of these two knives 17, 18 have not been described because they are also perfectly conventional and widely used in unwinders known to date.

The very simplicity of the mechanical means used by the invention makes it possible to design for certain uses a manual control of the movements of the carriage and of the jacks, but it goes without saying that, depending on the speed of unwinding and on the size of the installation , more or less automated solutions can be implemented. For example, the movement of the carriage can remain manually controlled while the approach, contact and cutting can be automated. We will then advantageously use conventional means which make it possible to identify the double-sided self-adhesive tape 22 or 22 ′ and to trigger the contact and the cut by virtue of this marking, which eliminates the manual positioning of the adhesive tape.

Claims (5)

1. Unwinder of reels (6, 6 ', 7) to ensure the continuous feeding of an endless belt (21, 23) comprising, on a frame (25 to 28) two axes (4, 5) for two reels, one in the course of unwinding, the other, after removal of the remainder of exhausted reel, receiving a full reel, means for maintaining a suitable web tension (9, 10, 11), means acting on its axis for launching the full reel at the linear speed of unwinding, the end of the full reel receiving a tape of glue (22, 22 '), means for applying the strip of the reel near depletion on the reel full so as to make the bonding between the strips, and knives (17, 18) for cutting the strip coming from the spent reel, characterized in that the application means are constituted by two applicator elements (14, 15) arranged on either side of at least one guide roller (16) on a mobile assembly (8) capable of placing these elements and roller in the active position in the vicinity swimming of each full reel (5, 6 ', 7), and by a control (51, 56, 57) which ensures the approach then the contact with the full reel for that of the applicator elements (14, 15) which is located on the other side of the strip (21, 23) from the reel being unwound. 2. Reel unwinder according to claim 1, characterized in that, to alternately ensure the active position in the vicinity of each full reel, the mobile assembly is a carriage which performs a translational movement along slides (35, 36) perpendicular to the plane of symmetry of the two axes (4, 5). 3. reel unwinder according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the applicator elements are rollers (14, 15), and in that these rollers and the guide roller or rollers (16) are carried by two uprights (12 , 13) to form a symmetrical frame provided with two axes (61, 61 ', 66, 66') close to those of the applicator rollers, axes resting in cutouts (62) integral with the carriage and one of which is held in each of the two active positions to play the role of axis of rotation by stops (65, 67) integral with the frame, the approach and contact control (51, 56, 57) acting on the symmetrical frame to ensure the movement of the other axis and therefore of the other applicator roller and of the guide roller (s). 4. Reel unwinder according to claim 3, characterized in that the axes of rotation (61, 61 ', 66, 66') of the frame are in the extension of those of the applicator rollers (14, 15). 5. Uncoiler reels according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the axes of the knives (17, 18) are fixed and arranged on either side of its plane of symmetry.

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