Winding – tensioning – or guiding – Helical or random winding of material – For web material
Reexamination Certificate
2000-06-22
2001-09-18
Marcelo, Emmanuel M. (Department: 3653)
Winding, tensioning, or guiding
Helical or random winding of material
For web material
C242S564500
Reexamination Certificate
active
06290164
ABSTRACT:
This invention relates to a method and apparatus for supplying a long strip of material to an end use machine.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Strip material is required for many processes and for forming many products. One important aspect of supplying a strip material to an end use machine for the process or for manufacturing the end product is the packaging of a strip material into a suitable supply.
The supply preferably provides a long length of the strip thus reducing the inconvenience of replacing the supply package with a further package. The strip is preferably supplied in long length in order to avoid the necessity for splices in the strip. The package should not cause damage or distortion of the strip in a manner which prevents or inhibits its use in the end use machine.
One form of package which has been used for many years is that of the pancake roll in which the strip material is rolled in spiral fashion so that each turn of the strip lies directly on top of the previous turn to build up a pancake roll of a maximum diameter which can be achieved while retaining stability. This technique however allows the packaging of a very limited length of material so that replacement of the package is relatively frequent.
Another form of package is a traverse wound spool in which the strip is wound onto a spool while simultaneously the winding point is traversed axially of the pool. Using this technique relatively large spools can be formed thus significantly increasing the length of the strip on the package structure.
However one significant problem which arises is that of handling the package so as to allow it to be moved from the supply location where the package is formed to an end use location at the end use machine including the steps of unloading the package from a winding support stand, handling the package during transportation and storage and loading the package onto an unwind stand at the end use machine. These problems have significantly reduced the maximum size of package which can be formed using this technique. Generally the package is rotated so that it stands on one end during storage and transportation. However it is known to mount packages of this type in a cardboard stand which holds up the core during transportation and storage.
In previous examples, strip material is wound onto a structure having a diameter of the order of four to six feet and up till now this has been the maximum size package which can be accommodated.
Another technique which has been available for many years but which has recently received considerable attention is that of festooning where the strip is folded back and forth into a generally rectangular structure. This technique has considerable advantages in that it allows a relatively long length of the strip to be formed into a single package structure and in addition both ends of the strip are available so that each package can be spliced to a subsequent package for continuous supply of the strip. However some materials cannot accommodate folding or may be compromised by folding so that such materials are not suitable candidates for the festooning process.
The term “strip” used herein is not intended to be limited to any particular type of material and is not intended to be limited to a single layer since the strip may be formed by a number of overlying layers which may or may not be laminated together. The present invention is therefore not material specific although it may have more value in regard to wider and thicker materials where the size of a package structure is relatively large in order to accommodate a suitable length of the material on a single roll.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is one object of the present invention, therefore, to provide an improved method of supplying a strip to an end use machine which allows very long lengths of the strip to be supplied in a very large package while protecting the package during storage and transportation against damage. It will be appreciated that damage to outside parts of a large package in view of its size will cause loss of a large length of the product. It is further object to minimize handling and other nonvalue added activity at the winding and unwinding locations. It is a further object to allow winding into an economically acceptable package structure of a material which is relatively thick or otherwise difficult to wind or fold.
According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a winding support stand for supporting a package structure during winding of a strip into the package structure at a supply location, during transportation of the package structure from the supply location to an end use location and during unwinding of the package support structure for supply of the strip to an end use machine at the end use location, the stand comprising:
a stand base;
an elongate cylindrical support member mounted on the stand base for rotation about a longitudinal axis of the member for receiving thereon the strip to form the package structure and for unwinding of package structure to supply the strip;
a flexible sling for engaging and supporting an outer surface of the package structure to inhibit sagging of the package structure;
the sling having a first end support and a second end support each arranged parallel to the axis of the elongate member and each located at a height on the support stand at least as high as the axis such that the sling extends around substantially 180 degrees of arc of the package.
Preferably the first and second end supports are arranged such that the sling extends around the package over the angle substantially equal to 180 degrees and extends from the package substantially vertically upwardly therefrom.
Preferably the first and second end supports are each arranged inwardly of a vertical plane tangential to the package, below a horizontal plane tangential to the top of the package and above a horizontal plane tangential to the bottom of the package.
Preferably the first and second end supports are carried by support members which are attached to the stand base for transportation therewith at least during the transportation of the package.
Preferably the support members are collapsible by folding or by removal for separate storage to allow nesting of one support stand with another for return when the package is unwound.
Preferably one of the first and second end supports comprises a roller which is rotatable about its axis to effect winding of the sling onto the roller.
According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a winding support stand for supporting a package structure during winding of a strip into the package structure at a supply location, during transportation of the package structure from the supply location to an end use location and during unwinding of the package support structure for supply of the strip to an end use machine at the end use location, the stand comprising:
a stand base;
an elongate cylindrical core mounted on the stand base for rotation about a longitudinal axis of the member for receiving thereon the strip to form the package structure and for unwinding of package structure to supply the strip;
the stand base including first and second end support arms each for supporting a respective end of the core;
first and second rails each connected to a bottom of a respective arm and each extending across the stand base from said one side of the core to the opposed side underneath the core for resting upon a floor surface;
each arm being cantilevered from the respective rail;
the rails being arranged to converge toward one another from a wider side of the stand base at the bottom of the arms to a narrow side of the stand base as the arms extend across underneath the core;
and the stand base being shaped by the arrangement of the arms and the rails to allow nesting of one stand base with another stand base by insertion of the rails at the narrower side between the rails at the wider side to a position in which the core of one stand base is parallel to and along side the core of the next adjacent stand bas
Fleury Philip J.
Mol Darrell Van
O'Connor Lawrence J.
KT Equipment (International) Inc.
Marcelo Emmanuel M.
Pillsbury & Winthrop LLP
LandOfFree
Method and apparatus for supplying strip material does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Method and apparatus for supplying strip material, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Method and apparatus for supplying strip material will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2447738