Winding – tensioning – or guiding – Convolute winding of material – Sequential winding stations
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-03
2001-04-24
Nguyen, John Q. (Department: 3653)
Winding, tensioning, or guiding
Convolute winding of material
Sequential winding stations
C242S527200
Reexamination Certificate
active
06220541
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to web winding apparatus, and more particularly, is directed to web winding apparatus for alternately winding a web onto cores mounted on two mandrels at fixed positions.
In many instances, a silicone layer has a paper or plastic top layer adhesively mounted thereon. The top layer is printed with labels, and the top layer is die cut around the labels. Then, the silicone layer with labels thereon is wound on a core. During a labeling operation, the labels are removed and applied, for example, to containers. The remaining top layer therefore has a plurality of openings therein, and is called a skeleton or matrix, the latter term being used herein.
The matrix is wound onto a disposal or rewind core mounted on a mandrel. When the rewind roll (core plus matrix) acquires a predetermined diameter of matrix thereon, it must be removed, and a new rewind core mounted on the mandrel. However, this requires shutting down the machine, resulting in downtime. This becomes cumbersome in practice, and costly.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,810,280 to Ryan et al and having a common assignee herewith, there is disclosed a matrix rewinder, in which a matrix or skeleton of a used web is wound onto a core on a mandrel for removal. In order to provide that the machine is not stopped, three mandrels are provided offset from each other by 120°, and are sequentially brought into position for rewinding the matrix. However, the device of this patent does not always work properly with some types of webs, since the webs do not break, but must be cut.
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a web winding apparatus that overcomes the problems with the aforementioned prior art.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a web winding apparatus that can be used with all types of webs.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a web winding apparatus that does not require stopping the machine in order to change a fully wound core on a mandrel.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a web winding apparatus in which there are a plurality of mandrels at fixed positions, and a carriage that moves between the mandrels.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a web winding apparatus that is greatly simplified in construction.
In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, a web winding apparatus includes a frame support; a first mandrel rotatably mounted at a first fixed position on the frame support, for removably holding a core thereon; a second mandrel rotatably mounted at a second fixed position on the frame support which is different from the first position, for removably holding a core thereon; a motor drive for rotating the first mandrel and the second mandrel; and a carriage movable between first and second carriage positions in close proximity to the first and second fixed positions, respectively, for guiding a web onto the core on the first mandrel at the first carriage position and cutting the web thereat, and for guiding a web onto the core on the second mandrel at the second carriage position and cutting the web thereat.
The carriage is movable in a linear manner between the first carriage position and the second carriage position. In this regard, a linear track arrangement is provided on the frame support, and the carriage includes a plurality of guide rollers for riding along the linear track arrangement between the first and second carriage positions such that the first carriage position is below the first mandrel, and the second carriage position is below the second mandrel.
The carriage is normally spaced from the cores on the first and second mandrels at the first and second carriage positions, respectively, and the carriage is further movable in a direction toward and away from the first and second mandrels at the first and second carriage positions. In this regard, the carriage includes at least one pressure roller for engaging the core on the first and second mandrels at the first and second carriage positions, respectively, when the carriage is moved in the direction toward the first and second mandrels at the first and second carriage positions, respectively.
Thus, the carriage includes a first support and a second support, and the at least one pressure roller is mounted on the second support. The apparatus further includes a first linear track arrangement on the frame support or the first support, a plurality of first guide rollers mounted to the other of the frame support and the first support, for engagement with the first linear track arrangement, such that the first support moves in a first direction along the first linear track arrangement between the first and second carriage positions, a plurality of second guide rollers mounted to the first support or the second support, and a second linear track arrangement provided on the other of the first support and the second support and along which the plurality of second guide rollers ride, such that the second support moves in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction, toward and away from the first and second mandrels at the first and second carriage positions, with the at least one pressure roller mounted for movement with the second support.
Preferably, the first linear track arrangement is mounted on the frame support; the plurality of first guide rollers are mounted to the first support for riding in the first direction along the first linear track arrangement between the first and second carriage positions; the plurality of second guide rollers are mounted to the first support; and the second support is positioned between and guided by the plurality of second guide rollers, with side edges of the second support forming the second linear track arrangement, for movement of the second support in the second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction, toward and away from the first and second mandrels at the first and second carriage positions.
The carriage further includes at least one web guide roller mounted for movement with the second support, for guiding a web to the core on the first or second mandrel, and at least one knife mounted for movement with the second support, such that the at least one knife cuts the web when the at least one pressure roller is moved into engagement with the core on the first or second mandrel.
The carriage further includes a frame assembly fixedly mounted to the second support and extending outwardly therefrom, with the at least one pressure roller, the at least one further guide roller and the at least one knife mounted to the frame assembly.
In this regard, each knife is secured to a side wall of the frame assembly by a spring biased assembly that permits the knife to deflect slightly.
Also, each pressure roller includes a roller shaft mounted in grooves in front and rear walls of the frame assembly, and the carriage further includes springs mounted between the front and rear walls and the roller shaft to bias the roller shaft in a direction toward the respective first or second mandrel.
A drive mechanism is associated with each of the first and second carriage positions for moving the second support toward the respective first and second mandrels. The drive mechanism includes a cylinder having a piston rod movable by the cylinder such that engagement of the piston rod with the second support moves the second support toward the respective first and second mandrels.
A drive arrangement is also secured to the first support for moving the carriage between the first and second carriage positions. The drive arrangement includes first and second pulleys rotatably mounted to the frame adjacent the first and second carriage positions; an endless chain wrapped about the first and second pulleys, and the endless chain connected to the first support; and a motor having a motor shaft drivingly connected with one of the pulleys for rotating the one pulley.
The above and ot
CTC International Inc.
Goldberg Richard M.
Nguyen John Q.
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