Winding – tensioning – or guiding – Convolute winding of material – With particular material connection to take-up
Reexamination Certificate
2001-11-01
2003-07-22
Matecki, Kathy (Department: 3654)
Winding, tensioning, or guiding
Convolute winding of material
With particular material connection to take-up
C242S533700, C242S542000, C242S581000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06595458
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a rewinding machine for the production of rolls of web material, for example rolls of so-called tissue paper, so as to obtain small rolls of toilet paper, all-purpose drying paper and the like.
The present invention also relates to a method for the production of rolls without a central winding core.
BACKGROUND ART
In order to produce rolls or “logs” of web material, so-called rewinding machines are commonly used, in which machines a predetermined length of web material is wound onto a tubular winding core normally made of cardboard. These rolls or logs are then cut into a plurality of smaller-size rolls intended for sale. A tubular winding core section remains inside each small roll.
The winding machines of this type are divided into two categories depending on the manner in which the winding movement is provided. In a first type of rewinding machine, known as a central spindle rewinding machine, a spindle supported on support elements between a pair of side walls receives a tubular winding core on which the roll or log is formed by means of rotation of the spindle which, for this purpose, is associated with drive means. The winding movement is therefore provided centrally by the spindle.
In a second type of rewinding machine, known as a surface rewinding machine, the rotational movement of the tubular core on which the roll or log is formed is provided by peripheral members in the form of rollers or rotating cylinders and/or belts with which the roll or log is kept in contact during formation. An example of a surface rewinding machine is described in WO-A-9421545.
In both cases the end product contains a tubular core made of material different from that forming the roll.
In an attempt to obtain rolls provided with an axial hole, but without a winding core made of material different from that forming the roll, various systems have been studied. Italian Patent No. 1201390 describes a surface rewinding machine in which the cardboard tubular winding core is replaced by a recyclable winding spindle. A system for extraction of the spindle from the finished roll and for recycling said spindle towards the zone for insertion into the rewinding machine is provided downstream of the winding zone. A rewinding machine based on the same, concept is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,421,536.
One of the difficulties of these machines and the associated winding methods relates to the first winding phase when the leading edge of the web material must be made to adhere to the spindle so as to start formation of the turns.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,869,095 describes a system in which a winding spindle receives, mounted on it, a tubular core on which a roll of wound web material is subsequently formed. The roll with its winding core is then extracted from the spindle and the tubular core remains inside the end product. In this known machine both the spindle and the tubular core are provided with holes so as to be able to suck the web material and wind it around the winding core. The spindle is kept constantly connected to suction means which follow the movement of the spindle during formation of the roll which is formed on a cradle defined by two parallel-axis rollers. Moreover, the spindle is supported by support slides which travel in lateral sliding guides and is gradually raised during winding.
EP-A-0 618 159 describes a spindle-type rewinding machine where the rolls of web material are formed around a motor-driven spindle which is subsequently extracted from the roll. During extraction, a stabilizing fluid is introduced through holes formed in the spindle so as to ensure the rigidity of the walls forming the axial hole of the roll. This publication also describes, in general terms, how the holes in the spindle may be used to suck the leading edge of web material. However, no system for applying the vacuum to the spindle is described.
Italian Patent Application No. 9652A/78, dated Dec. 1, 1978, describes a surface rewinding machine in which cardboard tubular cores which remain inside the finished roll are used for winding. A system for providing holes in the cardboard forming the tubular cores is also described. A sucking action is produced through these holes so as to cause the leading edge of the web material to adhere to the tubular core and allow winding to be started. The vacuum inside the tubular core is produced by means of one or two suction ducts which are located in a fixed position, This device, therefore, is able to function only using particularly slow winding methods in which the axis of the tubular core is not displaced or performs minimum movements until one or more winding turns have been completed. A system of blowing nozzles is also required in order to start winding of the free leading edge around the tubular core.
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
One object of the present invention is to provide a method and a surface winding device which allow the production of rolls or logs without a tubular core, in which the initial step for causing the free leading edge of web material to adhere to the winding spindle is efficient, fast and reliable and is suitable for high production speeds.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a method and a device of the abovementioned type, in which the step involving extraction of the spindle from the finished roll or log is easy and is not affected by the procedures used to start winding.
These and further objects and advantages, which will become clear to persons skilled in the art from a reading of the text below, are obtained by means of a surface rewinding machine of the type comprising a winding cradle for sequentially forming rolls of web material, an insertion device for inserting the winding spindles into the winding cradle and an insertion path for introducing the winding spindles into the cradle. According to the invention, a rewinding machine of this type is provided with a suction system cooperating with the spindles along at least one portion of the insertion path so as to produce a vacuum inside the spindles which have a wall which is permeable to air and typically provided with a series of holes which could also have microscopic dimensions. The suction system follows the movement of the spindles over at least part of the insertion path. This enables high production speeds to be achieved.
With this arrangement, a vacuum is produced inside each spindle during the insertion movement of the spindle into the winding cradle. During insertion, the leading edge of the web material comes into contact with the external surface of the spindle and adheres to the latter owing to the effect of the suction through the holes formed in the spindle wall. The holes may be distributed in various ways. One possibility consists in a random distribution. Alternatively, the holes may be distributed in one or more lines which extend in a helical manner along the whole spindle. Or else the holes may be distributed in annular lines arranged at suitable intervals along the axial extension. According to a further alternative, the holes are distributed along one or more aligned arrangements parallel to the spindle axis.
In a practical embodiment of the invention, the suction system may comprise a nozzle, or preferably two nozzles, one for each end of the spindle, movable along an operating path along which the nozzle or nozzles are connected pneumatically to the inside of the spindle while the latter is inserted into the winding cradle, moving along the insertion path.
The movement along the operating path and the form of the latter depend on the configuration of the rewinding machine. Generally, the present invention may be applied to any surface rewinding machine, independently of the configuration of the winding cradle. The latter may preferably consist, for example, of three winding rollers, as described in WO-A-9421545. However, the winding cradle may also be defined by different winding members, for example systems of belts, combinations of belts or rollers or the like, as known to persons skille
Breiner & Breiner L.L.C.
Fabio Perini S.p.A.
Kim Sang
Matecki Kathy
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