U.S. patent application number 10/332366 was filed with the patent office on 2004-05-13 for device and method for switching between materials.
Invention is credited to Bostrom, Mikael, Pettersson, Niklas.
Application Number | 20040089692 10/332366 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 20280483 |
Filed Date | 2004-05-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040089692 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Pettersson, Niklas ; et
al. |
May 13, 2004 |
Device and method for switching between materials
Abstract
Method and device for switching between web formed materials
that are to be separately processed in a following process step,
wherein each material (3) is supported and substantially enclosed
by a separate feeder cassette (2) that is individually driven and
controlled for shifting the materials individually, the feeder
cassettes being formed so as to permit drive rollers (12) arranged
downstream of the shifter device to engage the material through the
feeder cassette for feeding the material through the feeder
cassette.
Inventors: |
Pettersson, Niklas;
(Enkoping, SE) ; Bostrom, Mikael; (Sundbyberg,
SE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
YOUNG & THOMPSON
745 SOUTH 23RD STREET 2ND FLOOR
ARLINGTON
VA
22202
|
Family ID: |
20280483 |
Appl. No.: |
10/332366 |
Filed: |
January 7, 2003 |
PCT Filed: |
July 4, 2001 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/SE01/01532 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
226/1 ;
226/196.1; 226/91 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65H 2301/11 20130101;
B65H 20/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
226/001 ;
226/091; 226/196.1 |
International
Class: |
B65H 020/02; B65H
023/28 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jul 13, 2000 |
SE |
0002651-8 |
Claims
1. A shifter (1) for two or more web materials (3) that are
separately brought into engagement with drive rollers (12) for
feeding the material through a process step performed downstream of
the shifter (1), characterized in that each web material (3) is
supported and substantially enclosed by a separate feeder cassette
(2) that is driven and controlled for shifting materials in a
shifting motion wherein the material is brought into engagement
with the drive rollers such that the drive rollers reach through
the feeder cassette to engage and to feed the material forward
through the feeder cassette.
2. The shifter of claim 1, characterized in that a holder means
(11) is associated with the feeder cassette and operable for
preventing a relative motion between the material and the feeder
cassette during shifting motion, and releasable in the feed
position for allowing the drive rollers to feed the material
forward through the feeder cassette.
3. The shifter of claim 1, characterized in that each feeder
cassette comprises two plates (20 and 21) arranged with an
intermediate spacing there between, and the web material being
received between horizontal guides (22) that are mutually
adjustable transversally to the feed direction (X) in said
spacing.
4. The shifter of claim 1, characterized in that two or more feeder
cassettes are movably supported in a frame structure, triangularly
spaced and associated with drive and control means for moving each
feeder cassette separately towards the apex of the triangle in a
shifting motion.
5. The shifter of claim 4, characterized in that each feeder
cassette, as seen in the feed direction, has a first end (4) which
is mechanically supported in the frame structure, the interspaced
plates being supported in the first end and freely extending in the
feed direction towards a second end (5), the second end being
flexible in a Z-direction transversally to the plane of the web
material
6. The shifter of claim 3, characterized in that the lower plate
(21) connected in the first end of the feeder cassette rests in
supporting contact on the frame structure, and the upper plate
(20), likewise connected in said first end of the feeder cassette,
rests in supporting contact on an upper side of the horizontal
guides (22), the horizontal guides resting on the lower plate.
7. The shifter of claim 3, characterized in that grooves (23) are
formed in mutually opposing sides of the horizontal guides, and the
web material being received and guided in said grooves during the
feeding.
8. The shifter of claim 7, characterized in that at least a portion
of the horizontal guides is flexible in a direction transversally
to the plane of the web material.
9. The shifter of claim 6, characterized in that the horizontal
guides are formed from an inherently flexible material, or
comprising elements assembled to provide a certain relative motion
in the longitudinal direction of the horizontal guides, said
elements having pins, heels (23) or cams that alternately extend
from an upper plate 22' and a lower plate 22" of each horizontal
guide, respectively, said formations having a length adapted to the
thickness of the web material and allowing the longitudinal margins
of the web material to be received between the plates for guidance
in sliding contact with said pins, heels or cams.
10. The shifter of any previous claim, characterized in that each
feeder cassette has slots or openings (13,14) formed on the upper
or on the lower side thereof for the drive rollers to engage at
least one side of the material through said slots or openings.
11. The shifter of any previous claim, characterized in that the
feeder cassette has openings (14) formed in the upper and lower
sides thereof, respectively, for the drive rollers to engage both
sides of the material through said openings.
12. A method for switching between two or more web formed materials
that are to be separately processed in a following process step,
characterized in that each material is assigned a separate feeder
cassette that substantially encloses the material for guidance; the
feeder cassettes are alternately driven and controlled for shifting
and inserting each web material individually between drive rollers
arranged downstream of the feeder cassettes, and the feeder
cassettes being formed with slots or openings through which the
drive rollers are allowed to engage the subject material for
feeding the material through the feeder cassette.
13. The method of claim 12, characterized in that the feeder
cassettes are arranged above each other, triangularly spaced in a
fan shaped configuration; the feeder cassettes are formed to be
flexible in a direction transversally to the plane of the web
material, and the feeder cassettes being driven and controlled in a
partially arc-shaped shifting motion towards the apex of the
triangle for directing the feeder cassette and the web material in
adjustment to a process plane of a following process step.
14. The method of claim 12, characterized in that the feeder
cassettes are arranged above each other, triangularly spaced in a
fan shaped configuration; the feeder cassettes being driven and
controlled for a substantially linear shifting motion towards the
apex of the triangle, and all feeder cassettes being pivoted about
a common axis for angular adjustment of the subject feeder cassette
and web material relative to the process plane of a following
process step.
15. The method of claim 12, characterized in that the feeder
cassettes being arranged above each other in parallel; the feeder
cassettes being driven and controlled for a substantially linear
shifting motion, and all feeder cassettes being simultaneously
controlled for bringing the subject feeder cassette and web
material in alignment and adjustment to the process plane of a
following process step.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to a shifter arrangement for
switching materials. More closely, the invention refers to an
arrangement by which at least two separate materials may be shifted
and individually fed into an associated processing device. The
invention also refers to a method for shifting between at least two
separate materials that are alternately processed in a subsequent
procedure.
[0002] The present invention specifically relates to a method and
device for shifting at least two planar web materials, such as
planar packing materials like well board and other planar packing
materials, that are shifted and fed into an associated device for
converting the material into packing products or other articles.
The shifter device is contemplated to operate with endless web
materials that is fed to the shifter from supply rolls, and with
folded, endless materials such as fanfold.
[0003] Shifters of this type are operative for switching between
different material qualities, or between different material
dimensions. A known shifter device for said purpose has rollers,
vertically arranged in pairs, for separately feeding material in
individual paths. When shifting between the materials, the pairs of
rollers are alternately positioned to level with the input side of
a converting device associated with the shifter in the feed
direction.
[0004] A problem in connection with this known shifter is, that the
material is subjected to a pushing force and a pressure load from
the pair of rollers before the material is ripped by rollers or
drive wheels that are arranged downstream of the shifter. Due to
this effect, the material occasionally is crinkled which may often
lead to interruption of the process.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The present invention has for its object to avoid this
problem by providing a method and a shifter device by which
separately fed materials are alternately controlled and forwarded
by a pulling force, where after the materials are individually
gripped by rollers of a processing machine, such as a machine for
producing packing products, that is arranged downstream of the
shifter.
[0006] This object is met in a shifting device and a method as
defined in the accompanying claims, whereby advantageous
embodiments are further defined in the subordinated claims.
[0007] Briefly, the invention suggests a shifter device in which
separately fed web materials are controlled and forwarded by a
feeder cassette in a pulling motion that reaches in between drive
rolls arranged downstream of the shifter.
[0008] In a preferred embodiment, two or more feeder cassettes are
supported in a frame and arranged adjacent and above each other in
a fan shaped arrangement, triangularly spaced from each other. The
feeder cassettes are separately driven in a feeding motion directed
to the point where the triangle sides intersect. The web materials
are brought into the motion of the cassettes, said cassettes having
a built in flexibility that is controllable for driving the
material in a feed direction that at least partially is arc-shaped.
This way, the material path may be adjusted relative to an
operative plane of process devices arranged downstream of the
shifter.
[0009] In an alternative embodiment, the shifter device is pivoted
about an axis for allowing all cassettes of the shifter to be
driven in a linear feeding motion at an adequate feeding angle, in
a shifter having two or more cassettes that are arranged in a
fan-shaped configuration.
[0010] In yet another embodiment, the feeder cassettes of the
shifter device may be arranged above each other in parallel or
side-by-side. Upon shifting of materials, the cassettes are moved
so that the subject cassette is controlled and positioned for a
linear feeding motion in a plane that corresponds to a process
plane arranged downstream of the shifter device.
[0011] In all embodiments of the invention, the materials are
brought by the feeder cassettes to be gripped by pulling rolls that
are allowed to operate through each cassette for feeding the
material forward.
DRAWINGS
[0012] Embodiments of the invention will be more closely described
below, reference being made to the accompanying, diagrammatic
drawings wherein
[0013] FIG. 1 is a side view of a shifter device according to the
invention;
[0014] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a feeder cassette from
where an upper plate is omitted in order to reveal the inner
configuration of the cassette;
[0015] FIG. 3 shows the principal configuration of an alternative
material shifter device, and
[0016] FIG. 4 shows the principal configuration of another
alternative embodiment of the shifter device.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0017] With reference made to FIG. 1, the basic principle of a
shifter device 1 is shown in a preferred embodiment of the
invention.
[0018] A number of feeder cassettes 2 are supported in a frame
structure that is not further specified herein. The feeder
cassettes 2 define in section a narrow, box-shaped space, and are
arranged on top of each other with angular displacement in
fan-shaped arrangement as seen in the side view of FIG. 1. The
number of feeder cassettes 2 may vary. From a material supply, not
shown in the drawing, a planar web shaped material 3 is forwarded
through each feeder cassette such that the material is
substantially enclosed on all sides by the cassette. The expression
"enclosed" as used herein indicates that the cassette is structured
so that the material is restricted from movement in any other
direction except the longitudinal direction of the web formed
material.
[0019] Each feeder cassette 2 has a first end 4 facing upstream of
the feed direction, and mechanically restricted by the frame
structure. The feeder cassette is freely extending in the feed
direction from said first end to a second end 5, facing downstream
of the feed direction. The first end 4 is received in a guide 6,
such as a slide or a roller guide 6, arranged on the frame. In a
preferred embodiment, the feeder cassette is guided by a couple of
rack gears 6, arranged on each respective side of the feeder
cassette 2. Toothed wheels 7, fixedly arranged in each end of a
common axis 7' that is carried for rotation in the first end 4 of
the feeder cassette (see FIG. 2) insures a linear feeding motion
when the wheels 7 engages the rack gears 6. The second end 5 of the
feeder cassette rests for sliding motion on a frame portion 8, or
alternatively, on rollers 8.
[0020] Preferably, the feeder cassettes 2 are hydraulically,
pneumatically or electrically driven for feeding the material in
either direction towards or from a center of the fan shaped shifter
device 1, or in other words, towards or from the apex of the
angularly spaced feeder cassettes. To this purpose each feeder
cassette may be associated with a linear drive 9, as suggested in
FIG. 1. The linear drive 9 may be an air cylinder that operates
between the feeder cassette and the frame structure. Optionally,
the feeding motion may be achieved by driving the toothed wheels 7
for rotation by means of a motor (not shown) connected to the axis
7'.
[0021] As seen also in FIG. 2, the feeder cassette comprises an
upper plate 20 (excluded in FIG. 2 for better visibility) and a
lower plate 21. The plates 20,21 are secured in the first end 4 but
freely extending towards the second end 5. Two horizontal guides 22
extend in the feed direction X (see the crossing arrows of FIG. 2),
between the upper and lower plates 20,21. The horizontal guides 22
are supported from the first end of the feeder cassette so as to be
mutually adjustable in the Y-direction. The horizontal guides 22
rest towards an upper side of the lower plate 21, and carry the
upper plate 20 that is resting on the upper sides of the horizontal
guides 22.
[0022] The horizontal guides 22 are formed in the opposite margins
thereof to be operative for controlling the longitudinal sides of
the web formed material that is fed through the feeder cassette in
the X-direction. For this purpose, slots or grooves 23 may be
formed in the inner, opposing margins of the horizontal guides 22,
Alternatively, the horizontal guides may be formed from a material
that is inherently flexible in a Z-direction, i.e. transversally to
the general plane of the web formed material. In another
alternative embodiment, the desired flexibility may be provided by
producing the horizontal guides from elements that are assembled
for relative motion in the longitudinal direction of the horizontal
guides.
[0023] The slots or grooves 23 mentioned above may alternatively be
realized in the forms of pins, heels 23' or cams that alternately
extend from an upper plate 22' and a lower plate 22" of a
horizontal guide, respectively. Said formations will then be
dimensioned with a length that allows the longitudinal margins of
the web material to be received between the plates for guidance in
sliding contact with said pins, heels or cams.
[0024] Since the upper and lower plates, as well as the horizontal
guides of the feeder cassette are connected only to the first end 4
from which these elements extend freely in the feed direction to
the second end 5, the feeder cassette 2 is ductile or flexible in
the Z-direction. Said flexibility is utilized for producing a
feeder motion having an arc-shaped portion by which the web
material is controlled and adjusted relative to the operative plane
of a processing machine arranged after the shifter device as seen
in the feed direction. In FIG. 1, the processing machine is plainly
illustrated by a knife 10.
[0025] It will be realized, that even though plates 20,21 have been
shown to structurally form the feeder cassette 2, these plates
being interconnected only in one end of the feeder cassette firstly
operate as guides for directing the material. The plates may be
understood as guiding leaves, and may alternatively be formed as
meshes or fingers extending in the feed direction of the material
for restricting its movement in any other direction except the
longitudinal direction of the web formed material.
[0026] Each feeder cassette 2 is associated with a holder means 11,
for example an air cylinder 11 that is operative in its activated
mode for preventing a relative motion between the feeder cassette
and the web formed material. When shifting material to other
dimensions or other material grade, the feeder cassette is shifted
from a feeding position to a resting position. When the cassette is
moved to the feeding position, the holder means 11 is activated for
bringing the material in the motion of the feeder cassette. When
the shifting motion of the feeder cassette is completed, rollers 12
arranged after the shifter device, engage the material.
Simultaneously, the holder means 11 is de-activated for allowing
the rollers 12 to feed the material through the feeder
cassette.
[0027] The invention suggests that the rollers 12 reach through the
feeder cassette for gripping the material. The rollers 12 are
supported on a common axis, the rollers being spaced in the
Y-direction. The intermediate space between rollers 12, as well as
the width of the rollers in the Y-direction, is adapted to the
width and spacing between slots or openings 13,14, formed in the
upper and lower plates 20 and 21, respectively, of the feeder
cassette. Alternatively, the rollers 12 may be realized as radial
protruding portions formed by reducing the original diameter of a
cylinder, thus forming the corresponding axial spaces between the
rollers.
[0028] The rollers 12 engage and feed the material through the
feeder cassette 2. For this purpose, slots 13 and intermediate
tongues 13' may alternatively be correspondingly formed in the
upper and lower plates of the feeder cassette such that the slots
open in the ends of the plates. When the feeder cassette is moved
to the feeding position, the feeder cassette is controlled for
insertion of the tongues into the spaces between the drive rollers
12 whereby the drive rollers engage the material. If appropriate,
the drive rollers may be separated during the shifting motions of
the feeder cassette and then returned to an operative engagement
with the material.
[0029] In another embodiment, openings 14 are correspondingly
formed in the upper and lower plates of the feeder cassette, within
the end margins of the plates. In this alternative embodiment,
drive rollers preferably are controlled for separation during the
shifting movements and then returned into operative engagement with
the material through the openings 14. If appropriate, and in
consideration of material properties and the forces involved, the
feeder cassette may also be inserted between the drive rollers
without a preceding separation of the rollers. This may be
accomplished through properly adjusting a preset contact pressure
between upper and lower drive rollers.
[0030] The drive rollers 12 may be associated with the shifter
device 1, or alternatively associated with a processing machine
arranged downstream of the shifter and structured for converting
the forwarded material. Supporting surfaces or feeding guides 15
may be arranged upstream of the drive rollers for controlling the
end of the feeder cassette in a shifting motion that is partially
arc-shaped in its path. This way, the web material is
advantageously directed and adjusted to the parting line between
the rows of drive rollers and to the operative planes of process
steps that are to be performed downstream of the shifter
device.
[0031] In FIG. 1, the shifter device 1 comprises five feeder
cassettes 2 of which the second one from above is shifted into the
material feeding position. In this position, the material 3 is
released by the holder means 11 and allowed for feeding through the
feeder cassette, whereby the drive rollers 12 engage with the
material through the upper and lower plates 20 and 21,
respectively. In the other cassettes of shifter device 1, the
associated holder means 12 are activated for preventing relative
motion between the subject materials and the feeder cassettes. Upon
shifting of materials, the processed web material is cut close to
the drive rollers and closely outside the front end of the
operative feeder cassette. The holder means is activated for
bringing the material with the feeder cassette in the retracting
motion, and another feeder cassette is moved forward towards the
drive rollers. The holder means of the new cassette is activated
for bringing the new material in the shifting motion to a forward
position where the drive rollers are allowed to engage the
material. Since the feeder cassette encloses the web material in
the shifting motion until the drive rollers engage the material
through the upper and lower plates of the feeder cassette, the
material is brought in a pulling motion into engagement with the
drive rollers, and thus crease formations in the material are
prevented.
[0032] The invention may be modified within the scope of invention
as defined by the accompanying claims. If appropriate, the feeder
cassettes may be formed to allow the drive rollers for engagement
with the material through the upper or the lower plate 20 or 21,
separately. For example, this may be advantageous when processing
low friction material and a strong frictional engagement is
contemplated for feeding the material by the drive rollers.
[0033] Alternative embodiments of the invention are shown with
reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. The shifter device 1' of FIG. 3
comprises a number of feeder cassettes 2' arranged above each other
in fan-shaped configuration, driven and controlled for a
substantially linear feeding motion. The shifter device 1' is
pivotal about an axis 24 for alternately positioning of a feeder
cassette into a desired angle relative to the operative plane of a
process station arranged downstream of the shifter device.
[0034] The shifter device 1" of FIG. 4 comprises a number of feeder
cassettes 2" arranged in parallel and driven and controlled for a
substantially linear feeding motion. Upon shifting of material, the
shifter 1" is controlled for shifting the subject feeder cassette
to level with the operative plane of a process station arranged
downstream of the shifter where after feeding of the material may
be accomplished in a linear feeding motion.
[0035] In the latter alternatives, flexibility is not required in
the feeder cassettes or in the horizontal guides. A common feature
for all embodiments is that the feeder cassettes control the web
formed material for engagement with the drive rollers that are
allowed to operate through the cassette for feeding the material
forward.
[0036] Other modifications of the detailed structure, apparent for
a man skilled in the art, will be included within the principal
technical solution as defined by the claims.
* * * * *