GB2353023A - Reel supporting stand - Google Patents

Abstract

A stand for supporting a reel during winding or unwinding comprises a pair of outer plates 1, 3 Fig 1 connected by cross shafts 10 to form a rigid frame, a pair of inner plates 4, 5 slidable along the cross shafts 10 and each bearing a pivoted arm 6, 7, an inward facing chuck 8 on each arm, the chucks being locatable in the core of a reel to support it during winding or unwinding, actuators 11 for moving the inner plates 4, 5, and actuators 16, Fig 3, mounted on the plates 4, 5 for pivoting the arms 6, 7, to raise or lower a reel. Once a reel is mounted on the chucks 8 its lateral position may be adjusted by linking the actuators 11 so that they operate in synchronism. Alternative a single actuator may be linked to both of plates 4 and 5. Drive or brake mechanism may be connected to the chucks 8.

Description

2353023 S11AFT-LESS UNWIND or REWIND STAND The invention relates to a

braked or driven support stand for the unwinding or winding of materials in reel form.

There are many makes and models of reel stands in use for the unwinding or winding webs of material in reel form. They are split broadly into two categories: Shafted & Shaft-less reel stands. Shafted stands use a separate, usually metal shaft, pushed through the core of the reel, to support the reel as it unwinds or rewinds. The shaft is usually supported on bearings or a clamping device running on bearings.

The support shafts are often heavy, as they are required to be strong enough, not only support the weight of the reel, but also to withstand high torsion forces. These are generated when the reels accelerate and decelerate, often with high tension being maintained in the web and sometimes at very high speeds. This requirement for strong shafts means they are often heavy and therefore, difficult for operators to handle. Current Health and Safety guidelines are routinely breached, because it is not possible to provide a suitably light weight shaft, that can carry even a light reel if it is significantly narrower.than the shaft length.

Therefore there is a tendency within industries using materials in reel form, to use wherever possible, shaft4ess reel stands. On a shaft-less reel stand, instead of a shaft being used to support the reel, two short stub shafts, (called chucks) are mounted on the inside of moveable arms. The arms are then mechanically closed in on the core of the reel, with the chucks locating snugly into just the ends of the reels core. Typically, the reel is on the floor while the chucks locate and then a separate mechanism lifts the arms so that the reel is suspended in the air, free to rotate. The requirement for a heavy shaft is eliminated.

The above mentioned type of shaft-less reel-stands are well adapted to large heavy reels and are themselves, heavily engineered. Typically, the arms are mounted at the base onto a rotating beam via a bearing system and the arms can slide in and out along the beam, pushed by mechanical actuators. Both the arms, which usually protrude Ca. 1200mm from the rotating beam and the beam itself, must be manufactured sufficiently strong to withstand two distinct forces. That is the high torque created when a reel is supported in the air and the compression force required to grip the reel by the arms closing in. Thus the arms and the rotating beam have to be large, typically 250mm square box or circular section steel. Therefore, they are relatively expensive and oversized for small reels of Ca. I Tonne in weight and below.

An object of this invention is to provide a reel stand which uses counterbalance rather than cantilever forces to support the reel, with the compression force required to hold the reel being dissipated.

The present invention provides a shaft-less reel stand comprising of plate steel for the lifting arms and side frames giving it a narrow profile. The lifting arms use counterbalanced force rather than cantilevered force, thus, the reel stand will function using relatively low powered actuators.

The reel stand can be linked directly to proprietary web control equipment in order to automate some of its functions. Linking the reel stand controls to a proprietary Web guiding system will allow the reel stand to automatically align the reel to the desired web path, as the reel winds or unwinds. Linking the reel stand controls to a proprietary Web tension control system will allow 2 tht - zel stand to automatically control the tension in the web through either a brake in the unwind mode or a motor in the rewind mode, A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure I shows a front end view of the reel stand in unwind configuration, opened.

Figure 2 shows a front end view of the reel stand in unwind configuration, closed.

Figure 3 shows a view of the right hand internal moving frame from the inside looking out.

Figure 4 shows a view of the left hand external fixed frame from the outside.

Figure 5 shows a front and side view of a bearing wheel axle.

Figure 6 shows a front and side view of a lifting arm pivot with bearing fitted, Figure 7 shows in perspective, the electrical control box.

Figure 8 shows a front end view of the reel stand in rewind configuration, open.

Figure 9 shows a front end view of the reel stand in unwind configuration, open, with a single drive to move both arms together.

Referring to the drawing, figure I shows the reel stand comprising principally of two external side frames I and 3, two internal moving frames 4 and 5 and two pivoting lifting arms 6 and 7. Items I and 3, 4 and 5 and 6 and 7 are, respectively, mirror images of each other.

The external side frames form a rigid structure by the use of four identical cylindrical cross stays, consisting of precision steel shafts of known design, The shafts locate into recesses 18 as shown in figure 4, bored out of the external frame to approximately 2/3rds its thickness. The shafts are held tight in the frame by high tensile cap screws of known design, (not shown), which locate through a hole bored through the remaining 1/3d frame thickness, into the a threaded hole in the end of the cross stays 10. The external side frames I and 3 are fixed to the floor or a machine bed, by brackets 2.

The internal moving side frames 4 and 5, slide along the four cross stays 10, on linear bearing units 14 of known design, which flange mount into the internal moving side frames through prebored holes. The moving side frames can support downward force by running on wheels consisting of bearings 15 of known design, located on an axle 32, shown in figure 5.

Figure 6 shows the pivots 12 which protrude through the internal moving side frames, are fitted with bearings 26 of known design, onto which the lifting arms 6 and 7 are fitted. The back plate of the pivots 12 is secured to the outside face of the internal moving frame by weld or cap screws.

Figure 3 shows the lifting arm 7 fitted onto the pivot 12. The lifting arm assembly is kept in position by a locking nut, (not shown). The lifting arm is fitted with bearing 13 of known design which is fitted onto an axle 32 and is placed to run on the internal moving side frames as close to the edge possible. This means that the lifting arms are kept parallel, as compression forces which 3 ocL.-.- on the outside ends of the reel stand lifting arms when the chucks close on a reel, are spread through the internal moving side ftames 4 and 5 and the load is spread to the linear bearings 14.

The chucks 8 are conical to allow easy entry into the reel core and are machined from a single piece of steel to incorporate a flange to prevent the core passing over the chuck and they have either an integral journal or are bolted to a separate flange plate which has an integral journal, which fits into a bearing of known design which in turn fits into a prebored hole in the lifting arms 6 and 7. Figure I shows a brake 9 of known design fitted to the journal of the chuck 8, to give tension in an unwind application. Figure 8 shows a motor 33 of known design fitted to the journal of the chuck 8 to give tension in an rewind application.

Figure 3 also shows a double acting actuator 16, of known design, which can be electrically, pneumatically or hydraulically powered. Double acting actuators can push or pull a load, giving accurate control of position. The actuators 16 are attached by swinging brackets of known design, at one end to the inside of the internal moving frames 4 and 5 and at the other end to the lifting arms 6 and 7, as indicated in figure 3. The actuators 16 must be identical to each other and positioned similarly in each case, to ensure that when activated, the chucks 8 are kept in parallel to each other.

The internal moving side frames are moved by double acting actuators I I of known design, as shown in figure 1. The actuators I I can be electrically, pneumatically or hydraulically powered. The actuators I I have their bodies fixed to the external fixed frames I and 3 by a coupling of known design (not shown) and their moving rods fixed to the internal moving frames by a coupling of known design, (not shown). When the actuators I I are energised, buttons 21, 22, 23, and 24,on the electrical control panel 3 1, shown in figure 7, control via electrical relays of known design, (not shown), the direction in which each actuator I I pushes or pulls the internal moving side frames 4 and 5. The electrical cabinet 31 has a locking handle 30 for safety purposes.

Referring to figure 7, buttons 21, 22, 23, 24, 27 and 28 are spring return, normally open electrical switches of known design. Buttons 21, 22, 23 and 24 control the actuators 11. Buttons 27 and 28 control the actuators 16. A three position switch 25 selectively activates and isolates buttons 2 1, 22, 23, and 24, through electrical relays of known design, (not shown), depending on the operation to be carried out.

Published tables available in engineering text books and manufacturers specifications, are used to determine the size, material and type of components to be used, according to the requirements of the reels to be carried. So for example, if a reel of material of a given diameter, length and weight is to be unwound at a given speed with a given tension in the web, it is possible using common engineering stress calculations and published information, to determine the required physical size and type of material and components required and therefore the overall size of the reel stand.

Should one of the running conditions of the reel stand be changed, for example, web tension, it may be necessary or desirable to change the size of the brake 9, the lifting arms 6 and 7, the internal moving side frames 4 and 5, the external fixed frames I and 3, the linear bearings, 14 or the cylindrical cross shafts 10, to compensate for the change. In practice a reel stand will be made to cover a range of reel specifications.

An expmple of how the reel stand is Werated in the unwind mode is as follows; With the system energised, the three position switch 25 is turned to the 'Manual' position, this energises the circuits controlled by buttons 21, 22, 23, 24, 27 and 28. the buttons 22 and 24 4 sh(,.,,n in figure 7 are pushed to ensure the internal moving frames 4 and 5 are fully opened. A reel of material is placed between the lifting arms 6 and 7 with its core perpendicular to the chucks 8. Buttons 27 and 28 are used activate the actuators 16 to align the chucks 8 vertically with the centre of the reel core. Buttons 21 and 23 are then pushed to bring in the internal moving side frames until the chucks 8 are tightly located in the reels core.

Button 27 is then pushed to lift the reel up into the running position, which is achieved when the lifting arms 6 and 7 touch a physical stop fitted with an electrical limit switch 17 of known design, which isolates button 27, thus stopping the reel in the raised position.

The three position switch 25 is then turned to the 'Side-lay' position. In this position electrical relays of known design (not shown), are activated which 'pair-ofr buttons 21 with 24 and buttons 22 with 23. This means that when for example, button 21 is pushed to move the left hand internal moving frame inwards, the signal also goes to the electrical relay normally fed from button 24. This means that as the left hand internal moving frame moves inwards, the right hand internal moving frame moves outwards to the same degree. The same linkage occurs between buttons 22 and 23. Thus the reel can be aligned to positions downstream of the reel stand. For example, reels of different widths can be positioned so that one edge is always in the same position.

With the three position switch in the 'Side-lay' position adjustments to reel alignment can be made as a reel is wound or unwound by pushing the buttons 21, 22, 23 or 24. With the three position switch in the 'Guided' position, an electrical relay of known design (not shown) isolates the buttons 21, 22, 23 and 24 themselves, but the electrical relays connected to them remain C paired'. The signal to activate these paired relays comes from a proprietary Web guiding system of known design (not shown). A proprietary Web guide system uses either physical or electrical sensors to establish the web position and a control box produces an electrical signal corresponding to the webs position The electrical control box 3 1, contains an electrical relay of known design, (not shown) which will process the electrical signal from the Web guide system and transrnit this to the 'paired, electrical relays connected to buttons 21, 22, 23 and 24. Thus, the signal from the proprietary Web guide system automatically controls the position of the reel by activating the actuators 11.

The position of the web with regard to its desired alignment, is indicated by the LED display 29. This display is energised by an electrical relay of known design (not shown), which takes a spur from the incoming signal from the Web guide system and lights up the left or right side LED's relative to the position of the web. The LED display 29 is not essential, is only present to give an indication of the webs position and is only feasible when a Web guide system is used.

When the web comes to the end of a reel or part of a reel and the reel has stopped rotating, the three position switch is turned to the 'Manual' position and the reel core is lowered onto the ground or a trolley in the reverse procedure to the reel being picked up, with the internal moving side frames being moved outwards to allow the core or part reel to be removed.

An TLam ollows, ple of how the reel stand is operated in the rewind mode is as f For the reel stand to operate in the rewind mode, the components are, and the controls function as for the unwind mode, except that the reel stand is fitted with a motor drive 33, as shown in figure 7 and the empty reel core is usually loaded with the lifting arms 6 and 7 in the up position. Then when sufficient material has been wound onto the core, the full reel is lowered onto the ground or a trolley. The reel stand is opened as previously described and the reel removed.

A further embodiment of the invention is described below with reference to the same drawing:

In circumstances where reels are consistently wound and there is no requirement for side-lay adjustment, either manually or automatically from a Web guide system, a simpler version of the reel stand is proposed. Figure 9 shows a specific embodiment of a reel stand in which the changes to the reel stand shown in figure I are highlighted.

Referring to figure 9, two of the diagonally opposed cross stays 10 are replaced with screwed shafts 38 of known design, which are opposite hand threaded from the centre out. The screwed shafts 38 are fitted at one end into an end bearing 41 of known design which is fixed with cap screws to the non drive side external fixed frame 3. The other end of the screwed shaft 38 is fitted with a toothed timing belt pulley 35 and is supported in a bearing 39 of known design which fits into a pre bored hole in the external fixed frame, (not shown). The screwed bars 38 are connected to the internal moving frames through ball screws 40, of known design, which fit into pre bored holes in the moving side frames, (not shown). The toothed pulleys 3 5 are connected to a motor and gearbox 34 of known design by a toothed timing belt 36 of known design. The motor can be electrically, pneumatically or hydraulically powered. The ball screws 40 are sized to fit accurately on the screwed bars 38 and in conjunction with the linear bearings 14 sliding on the cross stays 10, this maintains a rigid structure.

To position the internal moving side frames 4 and 5, the motor and gearbox 34 are energised and turn the screwed bars 3 8 via the toothed belt 36 and the pulley wheels 3 5. This forces the ball screws 40 to move along the screwed bars 38 moving the internal moving side frames. Because the screwed bars 38 have opposite handed threads each side of centre, for a given direction of rotation of the screwed shafts 38, the internal moving side frames 4 and 5, move in opposite directions.

Thus, this reel stand is simpler than the aforementioned example, requiring only one pair of control buttons (not shown), to open and close the internal moving side frames 4 and 5 and one pair of buttons 27 and 28 as shown in figure 7, to control the lifting arms 6 and 7. A two position switch of known design (not shown) is required as a safety feature. With the two position switch in the first position, the electrical relays to the buttons controlling the opening and closing of the internal moving side frames are energised. With the two position switch in the second position, the electrical relays to the buttons controlling the internal moving side frames are isolated. Thus preventing the inadvertent opening of the internal moving side frames whilst the reel stand is in operation.

6

Claims (10)

1. A stand for the unwinding or winding of reels of material of varying widths and diameters, being made up of four or more plates, the outer of which being fixed into a rigid frame by cross shafts, the inner of which being adapted to slide along the cross shafts and having arms mounted on them which in turn have inward facing chucks fitted to them which can locate into the core of a reel of material and support the said reel off the ground whilst it winds or unwinds, the lifting of the arms and the moving of the inner plates being made by permanently fixed actuators powered by mechanical, electrical, hydraulic or pnuematic means.

2. A stand as claimed in claim I wherein the arms are fixed to the moving plates by means of a pivot which allows the arms to swing allowing any reel mounted between them to be raised or lowered by means of the actuators.

3. A stand as claimed in claim I or claim 2 wherein the pivot which allows the arms to swing is located between the chuck onto which the reel mounts and the actuator which moves the arm.

4. A stand as claimed in claim 2 or claim 3 wherein the inner plates can move inwards and outwards by means of actuators.

5. A stand as claimed in claim 3 or claim 4 wherein the inner plates can be locked together by means of actuators.

6. A stand as claimed in claim 4 or claim 5 wherein when the inner plates are locked together by means of actuators, further actuators can move the locked together plates from side to side.

7. A stand as claimed in any preceding claim wherein a brake mechanism is connected to one or both chucks.

8. A stand as claimed in any preceding claim wherein a drive mechanism is connected to one or both chucks.

9. A stand as claimed in any preceding claim which is made from metal, plastics material, Carbon fibre material, composite material or from any combination of these materials, 10. A stand substantially as herein described and illustrated in ie accompanying drawings.

7 Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows A shaftless reel stand comprising a first pair of opposed frames rigidly connected to each other by cross shafts, a second pair of opposed frames which are arranged inwardly of the first pair and are slidably mounted upon the cross shafts, respective arms pivotally mounted onto each of the inner firarnes and carrying opposed support means for respective ends of a reel, and actuator means capable of pivoting the arms so as, in use, to lift a reel which is held therebetween to a raised position for unwinding or winding, or conversely lower such a reel to a non-operational position, in which respect the pivotal mounting of each arm lies between its reel support means and the position at which the actuator means acts upon the arm.

2. A reel stand as claimed in claim I wherein the first, outer frames comprise steel plates. 3. A reel stand as claimed in claim I or claim 2 wherein the second, inner frames comprise steel plates.

4, A reel stand as claimed in any of claims 1, 2 or 3 wherein the liffincly arms comprise steel plates.

5. A reel stand as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the inner frames are slidably adjustable along the cross shafts by rneans of actuators which are secured to the respective outer frames.

6. A reel stand as claimed in claim 5 wherein the actuators for movino, the nner frames are C, powered by electrical, hydraulic or pneumatic means.

7. A reel stand as claimed in claim 5 or 6 wherein the actuators for moving the inner frames I are controllable so as to move the inner fi-arnes either independently, including away from or towards each other, or in unison.

8. A reel stand as claimed in any preceding claim wherein a brake mechanism is connected to one or both reel support means.

9. A reel stand as claimed in any of claims I to 7 wherein a drive mechanism is connected to one or both reel support means.

10. A reel stand substantially as hereiribefore described with reference to a and as illustrated by any of the accompanying drawings.