US3329369A

US3329369A - Automatic loading back stand

Info

Publication number: US3329369A
Application number: US476624A
Authority: US
Inventors: James E Guthrie
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1965-08-02
Filing date: 1965-08-02
Publication date: 1967-07-04
Anticipated expiration: 1984-07-04

Description

Juiy 4, 1967 .1. E. GUTHRIE AUTOMATIC LOADING BACK STAND 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 2, 1965 ZNVENTOR James E. Guthrie ATTORNEYS July 4, 1967 J. E. GUTHRH-I AUTOMATIC LOADING BACK STAND 2 Sheets-5heet Filed Aug.

INVENTGR James E. Guthrie y P; MM

ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,329,369 AUTOMATIC LOADING BACK STAND James E. Guthrie, 6516 George Washington Highway, Chesapeake, Va. 23706 Filed Aug. 2, 1965, Ser. No. 476,624 14 Claims. (Cl. 24258.6)

The present invention relates to back stands for converter machines such as cutter, sheeting, or ofi-coater machines; and is more particularly concerned with an improved, highly simplified back stand arrangement and apparatus, adapted to receive and manipulate a plurality of heavy paper rolls for feeding to and utilization by such converter machines.

Various apparatuses have been suggested heretofore adapted to receive and support heavy rolls of paper in selected positions for unwinding and feeding said rolls to adjacent processing machinery. The rolls of paper to be manipulated by such supporting apparatuses may weigh in the order of a few hundred pounds, up to several tons each; and in a given processing operation, a plurality of such rolls may have to be utilized simultaneously. For example, in one typical operation, twelve such rolls of paper may have to be mounted in a back stand at proper heights and in such an arrangement that said twelve rolls may be unwound and fed to a cutting machine simultaneously, thereby to cut twelve ply material.

In one of the most widely used arrangements employed at the present time for loading and winding such paper rolls, an elongated shaft is manually passed through the core of the roll of paper (which core may have a diameter of, for example, eight inches), whereafter said shaft is secured to the roll at each end of the roll core by means of tapered collars slid over the ends of the shaft and driven into the core ends where they are locked into place by set screws. The roll is then lifted by a crane and placed in bearings in the converter machine back stand. This operation is, of course, repeated for each of the plurality of rolls to be mounted in the back stand, and normally requires considerable loading time as well as an operating crew of several persons.

Efforts have been made to simplify loading of this type through the provision of more elaborate apparatuses comprising a pair of stub shafts (sometimes with expanding heads) which can be electrically manipulated into proper position relative to the opposing ends of a paper roll core for insertion into said opposing ends. These alternative suggestions are, moreover, associated with mechanical elements adapted to raise the roll and to manipulate it in various directions so as to position the roll or rolls properly relative to the converter machine with which the rolls are to be used. In general, these more elaborate apparatuses involve heavy castings, hydraulic equipment, and heavy gearing; and the resultant equipment accordingly is extremely expensive to obtain and install, and requires careful and constant maintenance to assure that the equipment continues in proper operation. These characteristics of the more costly and elaborate machines suggested heretofore have made the apparatuses economically undesirable to many mill operators, particularly relatively small operators; and, as a result, such small mill operators have continued to employ the relatively laborious manual shafting and loading methods described earlier.

The present invention, recognizing the difficulties of known manual shaftin-g methods employed heretofore in converter machine back stands, and further recognizing the economic disadvantages of more elaborate automatic 3,329,369 Patented July 4, 1967 equipments suggested heretofore, is concerned With the provision of an automatic loading and manipulating back stand apparatus which is far simpler and less costly than automatic loading back stands suggested heretofore, whereby the back stand of thev present invention becomes economically feasible for adoption by small mill operators. The present invention, as will appear hereinafter, does the same overall job as more costly machines in that it is adapted to receive, engage, lift, and position a plurality of rolls relative to a converter machine; and accomplishes these functions by means of an extremely efficient and rugged mechanical arrangement which is far simpler in construction, and which is less costly to acquire, install, and maintain than has been the case with automatic loading equipments suggested heretofore.

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide an improved automatic loading machine adapted to significantly reduce the time required for loading a plurality of paper rolls, or rolls of other web material, for use by converter machines.

Another object of the present invention resides in the provision of an automatic, electrically and manually controlled loading apparatus capable of being operated by a substantially smaller operating crew than has been necessary heretofore.

A further object of the present invention resides in the provision of an improved automatic loading back stand employing stub shafts having expanding heads adapted to grasp the opposing ends of paper cores forming a portion of large paper rolls, whereby the laborious time-consuming manual shaftin-g methods which have often been utilized heretofore can be eliminated.

Still another object of the present invention resides in the provision of an automatic loading back stand which is far simpler in construction, and which is significantly less costly to construct, install, and maintain than has been the case with automatic loading equipments suggested heretofore, whereby the equipment of the present invention is economically attractive to small mill operators.

A further object of the present invention resides in the provision of a relatively simple and inexpensive automatic loading machine adapted to perform essentially all of the same roll loading and manipulating functions as have been accomplished heretofore only by more costly and complex machinery.

Still another object of the present invention resides in the provision of an automatic loading equipment which can be mounted on back stands already forming a portion of converter machinery with a relatively small modification of portions of such existing back stands, and without requiring that any changes be made adjacent the floor or base of the existing back stand and converter equipments, whereby automatic loading of large paper rolls can be effected in existing previously non-automatic back stands with relatively little expenditure on the part of mill operators.

Still another object of the present invention resides in the provision of an improved back stand loading machine having a loading arrangement which is far simpler than that which has characterized other loading machines suggested heretofore, in that rolls of paper may be rolled di rectly into' the machine of the present invention and into alignment with expanding heads for manipulation and positioning of the rolls.

A still further object of the present invention resides in the provision of an improved, albeit highly simplified, loading apparatus adapted to grasp and move a roll of paper in lateral directions, as well as in vertical and angular directions, whereby a roll can be properly positioned for use in existing converter machines.

In providing for the foregoing objects and advantages, the present invention contemplates the provision of an automatic loading back stand comprising a pair of roller mounted trucks positioned on rail means, e.g., a pair of elongated horizontal beams. The trucks are interconnected to one another, as well as to appropriate driving sources, via mechanical arrangements adapted to permit said trucks to be moved toward or away from one another, respectively, along said rail means and also adapted to permit said trucks to move together along said rail means in either of two opposing directions. The rail means upon which said trucks are mounted preferably comprise overhead beams supported upon vertical stanchions extending between said beams and a floor or ground level. In any particular installation, these stanchions can in fact comprise stanchions already in existence and forming portions of back stands already associated with a previously installed converter machine. The horizontal beams on which the aforementioned trucks are adapted to roll are preferably adjustable angularly in a horizontal plane, whereby the actual line along which said trucks may be moved can be varied angularly relative to a roll of paper and relative to a converter machine so as to facilitate grasping of a roll of paper and subsequent feeding of paper from said roll to the converter machine.

Each of the aforementioned movable trucks is provided with a plurality of downwardly extending further stanchions movable with the truck and acting as supports or as further rail means for a car arranged to be moved upwardly and downwardly relative to its associated truck. Since a pair of trucks are provided in the assembly of the present invention, a pair of cars is similarly provided. Each car supports a rotatable shaft having an expandable head thereon, with said shafts being disposed in substantially colinear spaced relation to one another, and with the expanding heads on said pair of shafts being in facing relation to one another. The possible up and down movements of the aforementioned cars, taken in conjunction with the possible horizontal movements of their associated trucks, permits each such shaft and its associated expanding head to be vertically located in both horizontal and vertical directions; and these possible horizontal and vertical movements can be further modified angularly through the aforementioned angular shifting of the horizontal beams upon which the trucks ride.

Accordingly, the aforementioned pair of expanding heads, which are adapted to be inserted into the opposing ends of a paper roll core, can be variably positioned in vertical, horizontal and angular directions relative to a roll of paper to facilitate grasping and manipulation of such a paper roll. As will appear, various mechanical, manual, and electrical driving mechanisms are provided in the apparatus of the present invention for achieving the various possible movements of the trucks, cars, and horizontal beams, thereby to achieve the desired manipulation of a paper roll, under the control of a single operator.

In a typical installation, the overall back stand and roll lifting apparatus of the present invention includes elongated beams extending toward a converter machine and arranged to support a plurality of lifting mechanisms such as have been described. For example, a typical back stand may include twelve pairs of trucks, twelve pairs of cars, etc., adapted to permit manipulation of twelve rolls of paper. The rolls of paper are simply rolled into the machine along the floor into positions underlying each of said lifting mechanisms respectively. The several truckcar assemblies are then appropriately driven to maneuver their expanding heads into the opposing ends of the roll cores, whereafter the said rolls of paper may be lifted to proper position for subsequent feeding to the converter machine. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, limit switches are provided in association with each truck-car assembly, so that a roll of paper, once grasped by its associated lifting mechanism, can be quickly lifted to a desired and predetermined proper height, whereupon the limit switch mechanism automatically terminates the lifting operation with the roll then being positioned at a proper level.

The foregoing objects, advantages, construction and operation of the present invention will become more readily apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is an isometric view of a portion of an automatic loading back stand constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the mechanism shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an end view of a portion of the mechanism shown in FIGURE 1, taken on line 33 of FIG- URE 2; and

FIGURE 4 is a view taken on line 4-4 of FIGURE 1, illustrating certain details of a car construction and mounting.

Referring now to the several figures, like numerals of which refer to like parts throughout, it will be seen that an automatic loading back stand constructed in accordance with the present invention may comprise a plurality of vertically disposed

stanchions

10, 11, 12, and 13 spaced from one another in a substantially rectangular array. It should be noted that the several stanchions 10 through 13, inclusive, may comprise preexisting stanchions, or portions of such pre-existing stanchions, already provided as part of a back stand in a pre-existing converter machine. It should further be noted that the several vertical stanchions 10 through 13, inclusive, are intended to act as supports for a single lifting mechanism of the type shown in FIGURE 1; and in a complete assembly, the several stanchions 10 through 13 inclusive would be repeated a plurality of times for a plurality of lifting mechanisms such as will be described. In a complete array, a plurality, e.g., twelve, lifting assemblies of the types shown in FIGURE 1 are provided; but for simplicity of description, only one such lifting mechanism will be described hereinafter.

A pair of elongated longitudinal I-beams 14 and 15 are mounted at the upper extremities of

stanchions

10, 11, and 12, 13, respectively; with said longitudinal I-beams 14 and 15 acting as the main support for the overall lifting assembly. When a pre-existing back stand is to be modified to incorporate the present invention, I-beams such as 14 and 15 may be added to the aforementioned pre-existing stanchions. The I-beams 14 and 15 may be sixty feet or more in length for a machine adapted to support and manipulate twelve paper rolls. A typical such roll is illustrated at 16, and may comprise various sizes and weights of paper with each such roll weighing anywhere between 300 pounds and 5 tons.

A cross-beam assembly is positioned upon the longi-' tudinal beams 14 and 15 at each lifting station. A typical such cross-beam assembly may comprise a pair of

elongated cross-beams

17 and 18 located in spaced parallel relation to one another, and having their opposing ends interconnected by means of

plates

19 and 20, rescpectively. Plate 19 overlies the upper surface of longitudinal beam 14, and is provided with a pivot 21 extending into engagement with said beam 14. Plate 20 overlies the upper surface of longitudinal beam 15; and said beam 15 includes an upstanding pin 22 which passes through a radius slot 23 formed in plate 20. Plate 20 further supports an upstanding rack 24 engaged by a pinion 25. Pinion gear 25 is supported on a bracket attached to beam 15, and said gear 25 is coupled via a shaft 26 to a hand wheel 27 mounted upon a cross member 28 extending between

stanchions

12 and 13 at a level of approximately three feet above ground level 29.

The overall arrangement is such, therefore, that rotation of hand wheel 27 imparts an angular movement to the

crossbeam assembly

17, 18, 19, 20 about the pivot 21 within a range of movement limited by the dimensions of radius slot 23 at rack 24. In a typical installation, the total lateral movement may be four inches, i.e., two inches in each direction relative to pin 22. This provision for angular movement of the cross-beam assembly simultaneously effects movemen tof the truck assemblies to be described, as well as of the car assemblies, shaft members, and expanding heads also to be described, whereby a roll 16 may be grasped by the lifting mechanism even though it may be somewhat angularly skewed after it has been rolled into the apparatus, and whereby angular variations in the position of the roll 16 can be effected to properly position a web of paper on said roll relative to a converter machine with which the roll is to be associated.

The cross-beams 17 and 18 act as rail means 'or tracks for a pair of

truck assemblies

30 and 31 disposed in spaced relation to one another. Said

cross-beams

17 and 18 further act as tracks for another truck-type assembly comprising a movable base plate 32 positioned between said spaced

trucks

30 and 31. The purposes of movable base plate 32 will become apparent as the description proceeds.

Truck assembly 30 is supported on rollers 33 mounted for rotation on th eupper surface of

cross-beams

17 and 18. The rollers 33 are attached to downwardly depending support stanchions 34. The upper ends of said stanchions 34, there being four such stanchions for the truck 30, are attached to the undersurface of truck 30, and the lowermost ends of said support stanchions 34 are terminated in a plate 35. A similar such arrangement is pro vided in association with truck 31, i.e., said truck 31 is provided with four downwardly extending support stanc'hions 36 terminating in a lower plate 37 and having rollers 38 mounted thereon for movement along the upper surface of

cross-beams

17 and 18.

Movable plate 32, positioned between the

trucks

30 and 31, has a variable speed reversible motor and speed reduction assembly 40, mounted thereon. The output shaft of motor and speed reducer 40' is coupled to a thrust assembly 41 which in turn receives a right-hand threaded rod 42 and a left-hand threaded rod 43. The threaded

rods

42 and 43 are disposed in alignment with one another and extend respectively from the thrust assembly 41 to the two

trucks

30 and 31; More particularly, truck 30 has a deep nut 44 secured to its underside (see FIGURES 2 and 3) and adapted to receive right-hand threaded shaft 42, whereas truck assembly 31 has a further deep nut 45 secured to its underside for receiving left-hand threaded rod 43. This mechanical linkage is accordingly such that, when motor 40 is caused to rotate in a first direction, the oppositely threaded

rods

42 and 43, cooperating with thrust assembly 41 mounted on plate 32, causes the

trucks

30 and 31 to move inwardly toward one another and toward said plate 32; whereas rotation of motor 40 in its opposite direction causes a reverse action to take place with the

trucks

30 and 31 being moved outwardly with respect to one another and with respect to plate 32. Thus, by selectively energizing reversible variable speed motor 40, and by controlling its direction of rotation, the

trucks

30 and 31 can be moved toward and away from one another as desired.

Movable base plate 32 also has a deep nut 47 attachedt-hereto; and said deep nut 47 receives an elongated threaded rod 48. One end of rod 48, adjacent plate 20, passes through an angle bracket 49 attached to said plate 20 and terminates in a gear 50 which in turn meshes with a further gear 51. Gear 51 is coupled to an elongated downwardly depending operating rod 52, supported in a bracket secured to plate 20, and adapted to be rotated by a further hand wheel 53 mounted upon the aforementioned cross-bracket 28 in spaced relation to hand wheel 27.

It will be appreciated from this arrangement that rotation of hand wheel 53 imparts rotation through the train 52, 51, and to threaded rod 48; and rotation of said threaded rod 48 through deep nut 47 tends to move the carrier member or plate 32 in one or an opposite direction along the upper surface of

cross-beams

17 and 18. Since the deep nut 47 is attached to plate 32, and since the motor 40, its reduction gear 46, and thrust assembly 41 are similarly mounted on plate 32, any such movement of plate 32 in one or the opposite direction carries the

trucks

30 and 31 with it, and effects like movement of said trucks, through the mechanical linkage afforded by threaded

rods

42 and 43, and the deep nuts 44 and 45 associated with

trucks

30 and 31, respectively. Accordingly, the

trucks

30 and 31, along with the interposed movable plate 32, can be moved as a unit in one or the opposite direction along

cross-beams

17 and 18 simply by rotating hand wheel 53. It will be appreciated, of course, that rotation of rod 48 can be effected electrically, i.e., by a suitably energized electric motor; and that, indeed, the angular movement of

cross-beams

17 and 18 can also be accomplished electrically by a suitable motor, rather than through the agency of hand wheel 27. However, for simplicity of operation, and to reduce the complexity and possible cost of the equipment insofar as small mill operators are concerned, the provision of hand wheels 27 and 53 sufiices for the purposes described.

The support stanchions 34 and 36 extending downwardly from

trucks

30 and 31 act as further rail or track means operative to carry a pair of

cars

54 and 55 thereon respectively; and said

cars

54 and 55 are arranged for vertical movement upwardly and downwardly along the support stanchions or rail means 34 and 36. Car 54, for example, has one side thereof formed by a pair of

plate members

54a and 54b between which are mounted four rollers 56 disposed on opposite sides of adjacent support stanchions 34- in the manner illustrated (see, for example, FIGURE 4). The other side of car 54 is similarly formed by a pair of spaced

plates

54c and 54d between which are mounted further rollers 57 bearing on opposite sides of a further pair of support stanchions 34. The

plates

54a and 54b are held in spaced relation to one another by the shafts of rollers 56, although additional bracing means may be provided; and similarly, the spaced

plates

54c and 54d are held in spaced relation to one another by the shafts of rollers 57, with additional bracing being optional. The innermost ones of said plates, i.e., 54b and 540, are connected to one another by a pair of upper cross-members 58 and by a pair of lower cross members 59. As a result, the car 54 comprises a unitary structure adapted to be moved upwardly and downwardly on support stanchions 34, with the

rollers

56 and 57 rolling on opposite sides of said support stanchions 34 during such vertical movements.

The construction of car 55 is the same as that already described with respect to car 54, and this latter construction will, therefore, not be repeated in detail. The opposite sides of car 55 are interconnected to one another by upper cross-members 60 analogous to previously described crossmembers '58; and lower cross-members 61 and rollers 62 are also provided for the purposes already described.

The

cars

54 and 55 are adapted to be moved upwardly and downwardly on their associated

support stanchions

34 and 36 under the control of a motor driving mechanism. More particularly, truck 31 carries a reversible variable speed electric motor 65 thereon, the output shaft of which is connected to a reduction gear assembly 66. The reduction gear '66 is in turn coupled to an elongated, downwardly depending rod 67 which thread-engages cross-member 60' of car 55, e.g., by means of a deep nut secured to the underside of cross-member 60. The output of reduction gear 66 is also coupled by a chain and sprocket assembly 68 to a further downwardly depending threaded rod 69 which is similarly in thread engagement with cross-member 60 in spaced relation to rod 67. Upon rotation of variable speed motor 65 in one direction, therefore, both of rods 67 and 69 will be moved in a direction appropriate to cause the car 55 to move upwardly; and if motor 65 is rotated in a reverse direction, a reverse or downward motion of car 55 will be achieved.

The output shaft of motor 65 is "also coupled via a telescopic shaft 70 to a further reduction gear 71 mounted on the upper surface of truck 30. Reduction gear 71 is coupled to a further downwardly depending threaded rod 72, and is also coupled via a chain and sprocket assembly 73 to still another downwardly depending threaded rod 74. The threaded

rods

72 and 74 are analogous to rods '67 and 69 already described; and said threaded

rods

72 and 74 are in thread engagement with nuts provided in or underneath cross-member 58 of car 54 (see especially FIGURE 3). Accordingly, energization of motor 65 for rotation in one or an opposite direction causes car 54 to be moved upwardly and downwardly together with car 55.

In short, by reason of the mechanical and driving arrangernents provided and described, the

cars

54 and 55 can be moved upwardly and downwardly with respect to the floor level of the apparatus, can be moved inwardly and outwardly with respect to one another by appropriate movement of the

trucks

30 and 31, and can be shifted angularly in position within limits by appropriate manipulation of the cross-beams 17 and 18.

The

cars

54 and 55 carry aligned

stub shafts

80 and 81, respectively, in suitable bearings mounted on the lower cross members 59 and 61 of said cars. The innermost or facing ends of said

stub shafts

80 and 81 each includes an expandable head 82 and 83, respectively, adapted for insertion into the opposing ends of a roll core (see FIG- URE 2). Expandable heads of the types used at 82 and 83 are in themselves well known in the art; and such heads may be manipulated to expand outwardly so as to grasp the interior surface of the roll core. In order to provide for selective expansion or collapse of the heads 82 and 83, the outermost end of each

stub shaft

80 and 81 is provided with a nut and thrust assembly 84 which is adapted to be manually turned in oneor an opposite direction by means of an appropriate tool. In addition, in order to control the rotary movement of the

shafts

80 and 81, the outer end of one or both shafts is provided with a brake assembly 85 which can take the form of an electrically actuated brake, or which can comprise an automobile type brake adapted to be fluid actuated under the control of an appropriate master cylinder.

Acontrol panel 86 may be mounted on stanchion 12 at a position above cross member 28 and adjacent to hand wheels 27 and 53, thereby to permit appropriate control of all the desired movements of

cars

54 and 55 from one end of the machine. Control panel 86 may include an electrical switch 86a forming a portion of an appropriate energization circuit associated with motor 65 for causing

cars

54 and 55 to be moved upwardly and downwardly by appropriate manipulation of switch 86a. Said control panel 86 may also include a switch 86b forming a portion of an electrical circuit energizing motor 40 to cause

trucks

30 and 31 to be moved inwardly and outwardly with respect to one another as desired. In addition, control panel 86 may include a switch 860 for controlling the energization of brake 85 (in the event that brake 85 is an electrical brake); or control element switch 86c may comprise a hand wheel for controlling an appropriate source of fluid pressure in the event that brake 85 takes the form of a fluid actuated brake. It will further be appreciated that, while no means have been provided for positively driving

shafts

80 and 81, such drive could be provided when it is desired to use the unit for winding operations. Such winding operation would require one extra motor, e.g., a motor mounted on either car 54 or on car 55, and coupled to either shaft 80 or to shaft 81. If such additional motor is provided, control therefor can also be included as a portion of panel 86.

The electrical energizati-on circuit of motor 65, associated with switch 86a, preferably also includes a series limit switch 88 (see FIGURE 1) mounted, for example, on one of the support stanchions such as 36 at a proper height above the

cars

54, 55 related to the final height at which it is desired to locate roll 16. This tends to facilitate the positioning of rolls in that actuation of switch 86a to raise roll 16 is followed by automatic deenergization of motor 65 through the agency of limit switch 88 when the roll reaches a proper height. In the event that different sections of the overall back stand are intended to raise different rolls of paper to different heights above the floor level, the various limit switches such as 88 can be pre-positioned at the different lifting stations so that the final lift position of each roll is automatically determined.

To operate an apparatus of the type thus described, a roll of paper such as roll 16 need merely be rolled along ground or floor level 29 into the machine at a position between

cars

54 and 55. The operator of the apparatus standing adjacent control panel 86 initially operates switch 86b to energize motor so that the

trucks

30 and 31 are moved outwardly with respect to one another by a sufficient distance to clear the expanding heads 82, 83 from the ends of the roll. It will be noted that with the expanding heads so moved apart, the entire central portion of the machine is completely unobstructed due to the overhead bridge type arrangement employed in the apparatus of the present invention; and loading of a roll into the machine is, therefore, a relatively simple matter, which can be accomplished by one man.

When the roll of paper has been rolled along the floor 29 into position between

cars

54 and 55, the operator at control panel 86 then rotates hand wheel 53 so as to space the expandable heads 82 and 83 substantially equidistant from the opposing ends of the roll core. The operator also moves

cars

54 and 55 upwardly or downwardly as may be necessary to position said heads 82 and 83 opposite to the opposing open ends of the roll core. Further actuation of switch 86b now causes trucks 30' and 31 to move toward one another so that expandable heads 82 and 83 enter the opposing ends of the roll core. The operator may then manually rotate the nut and thrust assemblies 84 to tighten heads 82 and 83 into the opposing core ends. Thereafter, the operator moves switch 86a to lift the roll 16 until limit switch 88 automatically de-energizes motor 65, at which time the roll of paper 16 is positioned at a proper height above floor level for use by a converter machine. To effect further alignment of the roll 16 relative to the converter machine, hand crank 53 can be rotated to shift the roll longitudinally; and, in addition, hand crank 27 can be rotated to effect angular adjustments in the position of the roll. A final positioning of the roll can thus be achieved. It should be noted that all of these operations, including both loading, lifting, and final positioning of the roll, can be accomplished by one man.

Notwithstanding the facility with which a roll may be loaded and positioned, it should further be noted that the apparatus of the present invention is relatively simple in construction, eliminates the need of heavy castings, elaborate hydraulic equipment, and heavy gearing which has been characteristic of automatic back stands suggested heretofore; and can be installed and maintained at a cost which is attractive to small mill operators.

While I have thus described a preferred embodiment of the present invention, many variations will be suggested to those skilled in the art. It should be understood, therefore, that the foregoing description is meant to be illustrative only, and is not limitative of my invention; and all such variations and modifications as are in accord with the principles described are meant to fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim: 1. An automatic loading back stand for converter machines comprising a pair of elongated elevated beams extending horizontally in parallel relation to one another, a plurality of roll loading stations supported in spaced relation to one another on said beams, each of said loading stations comprising a pair of parallel elevated rails disposed transversely to said beams, a pair of trucks rollably supported on each pair of rails, drive means coupled to said trucks for selectively moving said trucks toward and away from one another and for also moving said trucks in unison in the same direction along said pair of elevated rails, support means depending downwardly from each of said trucks, a pair of cars mounted for movement along said support means in generally vertical directions between said trucks and ground level, and means on said pair of cars for releasably grasping the opposite ends of the core of a roll of material to be loaded and manipulated at said loading station.

2. The structure of claim 1 including means for angularly shifting said rails and the trucks supported thereon relative to the direction of elongation of said elevated beams.

3. The structure of claim 1 including further drive means for effecting said vertical movement of said cars along said support means, and switch means at each of said loading stations for automatically terminating operation of said further drive means when said cars are moved to a predetermined position above ground level.

4. A back stand for loading and manipulating rolls of web material, comprising a pair of generally horizontal elongated rails disposed in spaced substantially parallel relation to one another, means supporting said rails at an elevated location above and generally parallel to ground level, a pair of trucks mounted on said rails in spaced relation to one another for movement in generally horizontal directions along said rails, first drive means coupled to said trucks for selectively moving said trucks toward and away from one another along said rails, second drive means coupled to said trucks for moving said trucks in unison in the same direction along said rails, generally vertical support means depending downwardly from said trucks respectively to positions approaching but spaced above ground level, a pair of cars mounted for movement in generally vertical directions along said downwardly depending support means, third drive means coupled to said pair of cars for effecting movement of said cars in unison upwardly and downwardly along said support means, and a pair of spaced shafts carried by said pair of cars respectively, said shafts extending in generally colinear relation to one another along a line parallel to the direction of elongation of said rails, the facing ends of said spaced shafts having selectively expandable members thereon respectively adapted to releasably grasp the opposite ends of the core of a roll of material to be loaded and manipulated.

5. The back stand of claim 4 including drive carrier means movably mounted on said rails at a position between said trucks, said first drive means comprising motor means mounted on said drive carrier means and coupled via a pair of oppositely threaded screw members to said pair of trucks.

6. The back stand of claim 5 wherein said second drive means comprises means for moving said drive carrier means along said rails.

7. The back stand of claim 6 wherein said means for moving said drive carrier means along said rails comprises a manually operable gear train coupled to said drive carrier means.

8. An automatic loading back stand for loading and manipulating rolls of web material, comprising generally horizontal rail means, a pair of trucks mounted for movement along said horizontal rail means, a carrier member mounted for movement along said horizontal rail means, said carrier member being located on said rail means at a position between said trucks, first drive means mounted on said carrier member and connected to said trucks for selectively moving said trucks along said rail means toward and away from one another relative to said carrier member, second drive means coupled to said interconnected carrier member and trucks for moving said carrier member and trucks in unison in the same direction along said rail means, further rail means extending in a generally vertical direction from each of said trucks, a pair of cars mounted for generally vertical movement along said further rail means, third drive means coupled to said cars for efiecting movement of said cars in unison upwardly and downwardly along said further rail means, and means carried by said vertically movable cars for releasably grasping the opposite ends of a roll of web material.

9. Take back stand of claim 8 wherein said first-mentioned rail means, said trucks, and said carrier member are all located at positions elevated above ground level, said further rail means depending downwardly from said trucks to a position spaced above ground level.

10. An automatic loading back stand for rolls of paper, comprising first rails disposed in spaced substantially parallel relation toone another, a pair of trucks mounted on said first rails in spaced relation to one another ifOI movement along said first rails, first drive means located between said trucks and coupled to said trucks for selectively moving said trucks toward and away from one another along said first rails, second drive means coupled to said first drive means for moving said first drive means and said trucks in unison in the same direction along said first rails, second rails attached to said trucks for movement with said trucks, said second rails extending from said trucks in directions transverse to said first rails, a pair of cars mounted for movement along said second rails in directions transverse to the directions of movement of said trucks, third drive means for moving said cars in unison along said second rails, stu b shaft means carried by said cars in spaced generally colinear relation to one another, and expandable members on the free facing ends of said spaced stub shafts adapted to releas ably grasp the opposite ends of a paper roll core.

11. An automatic loading back stand for manipulating paper rolls, comprising a plurality of upright stanchions vertically disposed in a generally rectangular array, a cross beam assembly mounted on said stanchions in a horizontal plane spaced above ground level, said cross beam assembly including elongated rail means disposed parallel to ground level at a position spaced above ground level, a pair of trucks mounted on said rail means in spaced relation to one another for movement in horizontal directions, each of said trucks including further rail means extending downwardly therefrom in vertical directions, a pair of cars mounted below said pair of trucks respectively for movement in vertical directions along said further rail means, and means on said cars for selectively engaging the opposing ends of a paper roll core.

12. The back stand of claim 11 including means for varying the position of said cross beam assembly relative to said upright stanchions.

13. A back stand for manipulating rolls of web material, comprising a plurality of vertically disposed stanchions, a cross beam assembly mounted adjacent the top of said stanchions for angular movement in a horizontal plane above ground level, means for angularly moving said cross beam assembly, said cross beam assembly including elongated rail means movable therewith and disposed at an elevated position parallel to ground level, a plurality of spaced trucks mounted for move- 14. The back stand of claim 13 wherein said stanchions are disposed in upright spaced relation to one another on a floor, said cross beam assembly, trucks, further rails, and cars all being positioned between spaced ones of said stanchions at locations above said floor, the area of said floor 'between said stanchions being substantially unobstructed to permit a roll of said web material to be rolled along said floor into a loading position between a pair of said ears.

1 2 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS.

1,669,837 5/1928 Pancoast 242-586 2,501,985 3/1950 Benjamin 2AZ58.6 2,599,720 6/1952 Prevost 242--58.6 2,962,24-1 11/1960 Campbell et a1. 242-79 LEONARD D. CHRISTIAN, Primary Examiner.

Claims

1. AN AUTOMATIC LOADING BACK STAND FOR CONVERTER MACHINER COMPRISING A PAIR OF ELONGATED ELEVATED BEAMS EXTENDING HORIZONTALLY IN PARALLEL RELATION TO ONE ANOTHER, A PLURALITY OF ROLL LOADING STATIONS SUPPORTED IN SPACED RELATION TO ONE ANOTHER ON SAID BEAMS, EACH OF SAID LOADING STATIONS COMPRISING A PAIR OF PARALLEL ELEVATED RAILS DISPOSED TRANSVERSELY TO SAID BEAM, A PAIR OF TRUCKS ROLLABLY SUPPORTED ON EACH PAIR OF RAILS, DRIVE MEANS COUPLED TO SAID TRUCKS FOR SELECTIVELY MOVING SAID TRUCKS TOWARD AND AWAY FROM ONE ANOTHER AND FOR ALSO MOVING SAID TRUCKS IN UNISON IN THE SAME DIRECTION ALONG SAID PAIR OF ELEVATED RAILS, SUPPORT MEANS DEPENDING DOWNWARDLY