Apparatus For Handling Rewind Rolls

Abstract

This invention relates to apparatus for handling rewind rolls during their buildup at the outer end of rewind arms on a rewind machine, thence for thence for pivoting the rewind arms and the rewind rolls to an unloading position convenience for removal.

Parent Case Text

This application is a continuation-in-part of our copending application Ser. No. 41,904, entitled "Apparatus for Handling Rewind Rolls", filed June 1, 1970 now abandoned.

Description

This invention relates to rewind machines and more particularly to improvements in means for handling rewind rolls.

In essence, rewind machines are utilized for receiving relatively wide mill or supply rolls, unwinding same and slitting or cutting them longitudinally into strips or sub-webs of material. Thence, the webs are each rewound on individual cores forming separate rewind rolls, and thereafter the completed rewind roll is removed from the machine.

While heretofore many different types of apparatus have been used for handling rewind rolls with reasonable success, our contribution to the art is a new apparatus which is an improvement over such prior art apparatus, as the description proceeds.

Assignee's own U.S. Pat. No. 3,291,412 issued Dec. 13, 1966 and U.S. Pat. No. 3,258,136 issued June 28, 1966 are hereby made of record. These patents have to do with rewind machines and with roll handling apparatus therefor. While the foregoing apparatus was highly successful, the present application concerns improvements upon the features thereof.

In the handling of rewind rolls after completion of the rewinding operation, it is desirable to consistently remove a completed rewind roll without injuring or damaging the material rewound thereon. It is likewise desirable to remove a completed rewind roll by means which are safe for the operating personnel. It is also desirable to use apparatus which may be easily employed with existing types of rewind machines without greatly altering the present construction thereof. Applicants have found that it is desirable to accurately pivot the rewind rolls during the rewinding operation upwardly and outwardly from the center of the machine, and upon completion of the rewinding operation to continue to pivot the rewind rolls outwardly and downwardly from the center of the machine to a waiting truck. It is the purpose of this invention to provide apparatus comprising the above desired structural and operative features.

In order to accomplish the desired results we provide new and improved apparatus for handling rewind rolls characterized by a frame, a front section and a rear section. Each of these sections has a rewind arm supporting shaft carried by the frame, and at least one pair of rewind arms mounted on the rewind arm supporting shaft. Rewind rolls are formed at the outer ends of the rewind arms. A first fluid piston and cylinder assembly is connected to the rewind arm supporting shaft for controlling the angle of inclination of the rewind arms through a first portion of their arcuate stroke, and a second fluid piston and cylinder assembly is connected to the rewind arm supporting shaft for controlling the angle of inclination of the rewind arms through a second portion of their arcuate stroke.

According to one aspect of the invention, the second fluid piston and cylinder assembly moves the rewind rolls to their unloading position wherein the rewind arm extends substantially horizontally outwardly with respect to the center of the machine. As another aspect of the invention, a waiting truck is positionable under the rewind rolls when in their unloading position to carry the rolls away along a roadway disposed perpendicular to the center line of the machine.

There has thus been outlined rather broadly the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter which will form the subject of the claims appended hereto. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception on which this disclosure is based may readily be utilized as the basis for the designing of other structures for carrying out the several purposes of the invention. It is important, therefore, that this disclosure be regarded as including such equivalent constructions as do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention.

One embodiment of the invention has been chosen for purposes of illustration and description, and is shown in the accompanying drawing forming a part of the specification, wherein:

FIG. 1 is an end elevation of a rewind machine and apparatus for handling rewind rolls constructed in accordance with the concept of this invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged end elevation of the mechanism for controlling the position of the rewind arms;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line indicated at 3--3 in FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of the hydraulic and electrical control circuitry for controlling the position of the rewind arms.

In FIG. 1 of the illustrated embodiment of the invention, a rewind machine comprises a frame 10, a front section, indicated generally at 12, and a rear section, indicated generally at 14. A relatively wide web of sheet material 16 is fed from a mill or supply roll 18 which is mounted for rotation on a shaft 20 which, in turn, is mounted on support frame 22. The web 16 passes partially around guide roll 24, edge guide 26 being provided for purposes of aligning the side edges of the web. Thence, the web passes partially around guide rolls 28 and 30, from whence it passes to a tension roll 32 for purposes of controlling the linear tension of the web 16. Thereafter, the web passes partially around a driven pull or feed roll to a spreader roll 36, which is provided for the purpose of transversely opening or spreading the web 16. The web then passes partially around two driven feed rolls 38 and 40. Suitable means are provided to cut the web 16 into a plurality of elongated longitudinal strips or sub-webs 42 and 44. In the present embodiment of the invention, this is accomplished by means of a plurality of slitters or cutters 46 positioned adjacent a driven backup roll 48. Alternatively, score cuts, shear cuts or razor cuts may be employed, as desired. Also, the cutters may be adjusted for different sub-web width, as desired. The sub-webs 42 and 44 then pass partially around a driven main pull roll 50, from which adjacent strips of web pass alternately to tracking rolls 52 and 54, and thence to rewind rolls 56 which are formed on rewind cores 58 and rewind rolls 60 which are formed on rewind cores 62.

The front section 12 and the rear section 14 of the rewind machine are of similar construction and operate in a similar manner. Each rewind roll 56 is rotatably mounted on a pair of rewind arms 64. The inner ends of the rewind arms 64 are carried and secured to a rewind arm support shaft 66 which is pivotally mounted on the frame 10 for selectively controlling the angle of inclination of the rewind arms, as desired. It will be appreciated that the rewind arms may be longitudinally adjustably positioned along the rewind arm support shaft 66 to accommodate rewind rolls of various widths. In like manner, each rewind roll 60 is rotatably mounted on a pair of rewind arms 68 and the inner ends thereof are fixedly mounted on a rewind arm support shaft 70 which is pivotally mounted on the frame 10 for selectively controlling the angle of inclination of the rewind arms. The rewind arms are longitudinally adjustably positionable along the rewind support shaft 70, depending upon the width of the rewind rolls.

A bracket, indicated generally at 72, is fixedly mounted on the rewind arm support shaft 66. This bracket has a first arm 74 and a second arm 76 disposed at an angle of the order of about 120 degrees with respect to the first arm. A front rewind roll counterbalance fluid piston and cylinder assembly 78 is pivotally connected to a bracket 80 which is mounted on a frame 10, and a piston rod 82 extends from the other end thereof and is pivotally attached to the end of the first arm 74, as at 84. A front rewind roll unloading fluid piston and cylinder assembly 86 is pivotally connected to a bracket 88 which is mounted on the frame 10, and a piston rod 90 extends from the other end thereof and is pivotally attached to the end of the second arm 76, as at 92. Suitable control means are provided to control the rewind roll 56 for pivoting counterclockwise, as viewed in the drawing, during buildup thereof under the control of the piston and cylinder assembly 78, and upon completion of the rewind rolls to pivot it upwardly and outwardly from the center of the machine to its unloading position as indicated by the broken lines in the drawings under the control of the piston and cylinder assembly 86. In this position the rewind arm 64 extends substantially horizontally outwardly with respect to the center of the machine. The precise position of the rewind arms when changing over from one piston and cylinder assembly to the other piston and cylinder assembly may be selected, as desired. However, it should be so selected that when one piston is passing over its dead center position, control is being maintained by the other piston and cylinder assembly. Thereafter, the rewind rolls 56 are loaded onto a waiting truck 102, which is driven away on a roadway 104 disposed in perpendicular relationship to the machine.

The tracking roll 52 is supported by a tracking arm 140, FIG. 1, which is centrally pivotally mounted on a frame 142 that is adjustably mounted on slideway 144 for purposes of aligning each individual tracking roll with respect to its corresponding rewind roll. It will be appreciated that the slideway extends the entire width of the machine, and a plurality of tracking roll assemblies are mounted thereon, one being provided for each rewind roll. The end of the arm 140 is pinned to connecting links 146, FIGS. 2 and 3, as by means of pin 148 and the connecting links are interconnected by a shaft 150. A universal joint 152 connects shaft 150 to a piston 154 extending from a fluid cylinder 156, which is fixedly mounted with respect to the shaft 150 and the tracking arm 140. Control of the fluid in the cylinder 156 controls the nip pressure between the tracking roll and the rewind roll.

It will be noted that the arcuate travel of the tracking rolls is relatively short compared to the arcuate travel required by the rewind roll as it builds up from an initial relatively small diameter to a relatively large diameter towards the end of the rewinding operation and, therefore, the rewind arms are adapted to advance outwardly away from the lay-on roll in successive steps or increments. This is effected by means of the fluid cylinder 78. As seen in FIG. 2, the universal joint 152 is provided with a surface 158 which is adapted to contact finger 160 depending from a tray 162, the tray 162 being fixedly mounted on shaft 164. The shaft 164 extends the entire width of the machine and is mounted for pivotal movement on the sides thereof. A plurality of fingers 160 extend from the tray 162, one being provided for each rewind roll. The first finger to be contacted by its respective tracking roll assembly actuates the finger and, thereby, rotates the shaft 164. A hub 166 is mounted on shaft 164 and is provided with a projecting member 168 for actuating a switch mechanism 170 to prevent overtravel of the shaft 164. The projecting member 168 controls the switch mechanism 170 which stops the entire rewind machine and, thereby, prevents hazardous breakage. A micro-torque rotary fluid valve 172 is mounted on the frame of the machine and interconnecting linkage 174 operatively connects the hub 166 to the fluid valve 172 so that in operation, an angular movement of the shaft 164 provides a corresponding movement of the valve 172. As best seen in FIG. 4, valve 172 is part of a fluid system for angularly controlling the position of the rewind arms.

Referring to FIG. 4, the fluid control system is shown as including a reservoir 176 from which hydraulic fluid is pumped by a pump 178 into the system, the pressure in the system being observed by a gauge assembly 182 provided for the purpose. A first two-way solenoid controlled hydraulic valve 184 is positionable between a first non-operative position 186, wherein the input line 188 is blocked and the output line is connected to a drain 190, and an operative position 192 wherein the input line 188 receives hydraulic fluid under pressure from a main supply line 194, connected to the pump 178, and passes it to an output line 196 containing a pressure regulating valve 198 for maintaining it at a preselected constant value. The output line leads through a check valve 200 to the micro-torque rotary fluid valve 172. In operation, when the rewind roll 56, FIG. 1, is slowly building up, the solenoid valve 184 is switched to its operative position 192 to supply fluid to the valve 172 which, in turn, is periodically switched to its open position by the linkage 174 in the manner described hereinbefore. When in its open position, the valve 172 passes hydraulic fluid through line 202 and check valve 204 to the counterbalance cylinder assembly 78, as at 206, to retract the piston rod 82 and, thereby, raise the rewind arms 64 and rewind roll 56 to accommodate the material being added thereto. A drain line 208 extends from the other end 210 of the cylinder assembly through the valve 172 to a drain provided for the purpose. When the valve 172 is in its non-operative position, flow of fluid is prevented in the drain line by a stop 212, and back-flow in line 202 is prevented by the check valve 204, thereby retaining the piston rod 82 in a fixed position. At the same time a second two-way solenoid controlled hydraulic valve 214 is switched to its operative or "float" position 216 wherein hydraulic fluid from line 218 connected to the unloading cylinder assembly 86 at 220, and fluid from line 222 connected to the unloading cylinder assembly 86 at 224 are both directed to a drain 226. This provides a dampening action during buildup of the rewind roll.

When the rewind arms 64 reach their vertical positions and the rewind roll is complete, the rewind arms actuate a switch 228, FIG. 1, which transmits a signal through control line 230 to a solenoid control switching circuit 232. This circuit switches the first solenoid controlled hydraulic valve 184 to its non-operative position 186, thereby preventing additional flow of fluid to the counterbalance cylinder assembly 78, and switches the second solenoid controlled valve 214 to its inoperative position 234 wherein no fluid passes therethrough. At the same time, the solenoid control switching circuit switches a third three-way solenoid controlled valve 236 from its non-operative position 238, wherein no fluid flow passes therethrough, to its first operative position 240 wherein fluid under pressure passes from the supply line 194 through line 222 to the unloading cylinder assembly 86 at 224 to extend the piston rod 90 and, thereby, rotate the rewind roll from its vertical to its horizontal position, adjacent the waiting truck 102, while the line 218 is connected to a drain 242. Also, at the same time, the solenoid control switching circuit switches a fourth two-way controlled valve 244 from its inoperative position 246, wherein no fluid passes therethrough, to its operative or "float" position 248 wherein hydraulic fluid from line 250 connected to the counterbalance piston and cylinder assembly 78 through line 252 and the line 202, as well as hydraulic fluid from line 254 connected to the counterbalance piston and cylinder assembly 78 through line 256 and the line 208 are both directed to a drain 258. This provides a dampening action during movement of the rewind roll towards its unloading position.

Just before the rewind arms reach their final unloading positions, indicated by the broken lines in FIG. 1, the rewind arms actuate a switch 260 which transmits a signal through control line 262 to the solenoid control switching circuit 232, FIG. 4. This circuit then switches the third solenoid controlled valve 236 from its first operating position 240 to its non-operative position 238 wherein no fluid flow passes therethrough, and at the same time the fourth solenoid controlled valve 244 is switched from its operative position 248 to its inoperative position 246, wherein no fluid passes therethrough. This switching procedure terminates the power input into the rewind arms and allows the rewind roll 56 to coast to its final unloading position, as indicated by the broken lines in FIG. 1.

After the completed rewind roll has been unloaded and the operator is ready to start a new cycle of operation, the operator manually operates a switch in the solenoid control switching circuit 232 which switches the third solenoid controlled valve 236 from its non-operative position 238 to its second operative position 264 wherein fluid under pressure passes from the supply line 194 through line 218 to the unloading cylinder and piston assembly 86 at 220 to retract the piston rod 90 and, thereby, rotate the rewind roll from its horizontal unloading position to its vertical position. At the same time, the fourth solenoid controlled valve 236 is moved from its inoperative position 246 to its operative position 248 to provide a dampening effect. When the rewind arms 64 reach their vertical positions, they actuate the switch 228 which, in turn, actuates the solenoid control switching circuit 232 to switch the fourth solenoid controlled valve 236 from its second operative position 264 to its non-operative position 238 and at the same time the second solenoid controlled valve 214 is switched from its non-operative position 234 to its operative or "float" position 216. Also, at the same time the solenoid control switch circuit 232 switches a fifth three-way solenoid controlled valve 266 from its inoperative position 268 wherein no flow passes therethrough to its first operative position 270 wherein fluid under pressure from the supply line 194 passes therethrough to the line 256, and thence through the line 208 to enter the counterbalance piston and cylinder assembly 78 at 210, thereby extending the piston 82 and causing the rewind arm to rotate from its vertical position to its position as indicated by the solid lines in FIG. 1.

When the rewind arms 64 reach their positions, as indicated by the solid lines in FIG. 1, they actuate a switch 272 which transmits a signal through control line 274 to the solenoid control switching circuit 232 which switches the fifth three-way solenoid controlled valve 266 from its first operative position 270 to its inoperative position 268, while at the same time it switches the second solenoid controlled valve 214 to its operative position 216 to its inoperative position 234. The rewind arms 64 rest in this position until the operator is ready to start another rewind operation, and at that time he manually actuates the solenoid control switching circuit 232 to switch the first solenoid controlled valve 184 from its inoperative position 188 to its operative position 192, while at the same time the second solenoid controlled valve 214 is switched from its inoperative position 234 to its operative position 216. The cycle is then repeated in the same manner as described hereinbefore.

In order to prevent back-flow in the lines 218, 222, 256 and 252, check valves 276, 278, 280 and 282, respectively, are mounted therein. On some occasions it may be desirable for the operator to manually raise the rewind arms 64 from their positions as shown by the solid lines of FIG. 1 to their vertical positions. For this purpose the fifth solenoid controlled valve is provided with a second operative position 284 wherein hydraulic fluid under pressure passes from the main supply line 194 through lines 252 and 202 to the counterbalance cylinder assembly 78 at 206 to, thereby, retrack piston rod 82 and raise the rewind arms 64.

In like manner the rear section 14 of the machine is provided with a bracket 106 having a first arm 108 and a second arm 110. A rear rewind roll counterbalance fluid piston and cylinder assembly 112 is pivotally connected to a bracket 114 which is mounted on the frame 10, and a piston rod 116 extends therefrom and is pivotally attached to the end of the first arm 108, as at 118. A rear rewind roll unloading fluid piston and cylinder assembly 120 is pivotally connected to the bracket 88, and a piston rod 122 extends therefrom and is pivotally attached to the second arm 110, as at 124. The control means for the rear section operate in the same manner as that described hereinbefore in connection with the front section so that upon completion of the rewind roll, it pivots upwardly and outwardly from the center of the machine to its unloading position, as indicated by the broken lines in the drawing, under the control of the piston and cylinder assembly 120. In this position the rewind arms 68 extend substantially horizontally outwardly with respect to the center of the machine. Thereafter the rewind rolls 60 are loaded onto a waiting truck 134 which is driven away on a roadway 136, provided for the purpose.

It will thus be seen that the present invention does indeed provide an improved apparatus for handling rewind rolls which is superior in simplicity, economy and efficiency as compared to prior art such devices.

Although a particular embodiment of the invention is herein disclosed for purposes of explanation, various modifications thereof, after study of this specification, will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains.

Claims

What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. Apparatus for handling rewind rolls comprising a frame, a front section and a rear section, each of said sections having a rewind arm support shaft carried by said frame, at least one pair of rewind arms mounted on said rewind arm support shaft, each rewind arm being mounted on said shaft at its inner end, means carried by each pair of said rewind arms at their outer ends for receiving a strip of sheet material to be wound into a rewind roll, a bracket fixedly mounted on said rewind arm support shaft, said bracket having a first arm and a second arm, a rewind roll counterbalance fluid piston and cylinder assembly having one end mounted on said frame, a piston rod extending from the other end of said fluid piston and cylinder assembly and being pivotally attached to said first arm, a rewind roll unloading fluid piston and cylinder assembly having one end mounted on said frame, a piston rod extending from the other end of said rewind roll unloading fluid piston and cylinder assembly, and being pivotally attached to said second arm, control means including solenoid operated fluid value means operatively connected to said rewind arms, said rewind roll counterbalance fluid piston and cylinder assembly and said rewind roll unloading fluid piston and cylinder assembly to control the rewind roll for pivoting during buildup under the control of said rewind rolls counterbalance fluid piston and cylinder assembly and thence to their unloading positions under the control of said rewind roll unloading fluid piston and cylinder assembly.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said control means includes first solenoid controlled fluid valve means for controlling the flow of fluid to said counterbalance fluid piston and cylinder assembly responsive to a first range of positions of said rewind arms, and second solenoid controlled fluid valve means for controlling the flow of fluid to said unloading fluid piston and cylinder assembly responsive to a second range of positions of said rewind arms.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said control means includes a first solenoid controlled fluid valve for controlling a flow of fluid to retract said counterbalance fluid piston and cylinder assembly to raise said pair of rewind arms towards a substantially vertical position during buildup of said rewind rolls, and a second solenoid controlled fluid control valve for controlling the flow of fluid to extend said unloading fluid piston and cylinder assembly to move said pair of rewind arms outwardly to a substantially horizontally unloading position.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising means for incrementally supplying fluid to said rewind roll counterbalance fluid piston and cylinder assembly during buildup, and wherein said control means comprises a first solenoid controlled fluid valve for controlling the flow of fluid to said means for incrementally supplying fluid, and a second solenoid controlled fluid valve for selectively controlling the flow of fluid to said unloading fluid piston and cylinder assembly.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for incrementally supplying fluid to said rewind roll counterbalance fluid piston and cylinder assembly during buildup, and wherein said control means comprises a first solenoid controlled fluid valve for controlling the flow of fluid to said means for incrementally supplying fluid, a second solenoid controlled fluid valve for connecting both sides of the piston of said unloading fluid piston and cylinder assembly to a drain during buildup, a third solenoid controlled fluid valve for controlling the flow of fluid to said unloading fluid piston and cylinder assembly for moving said pair of rewind arms to their unloading positions, a fourth solenoid controlled fluid valve for connecting both sides of the piston of said counterbalance fluid piston and cylinder assembly to a drain during movement of said rewind arms to their unloading positions, a fifth solenoid controlled fluid valve to control the flow of fluid to said counterbalance fluid piston and cylinder assembly for returning said counterbalance fluid piston and cylinder assembly to its original position.

6. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said second arm is disposed at an angle of about 120.degree. with respect to said first arm of said bracket mounted on said rewind arm support shaft.

7. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said rewind rolls move upwardly and outwardly with respect to the rewind machine during buildup of the rewind rolls, and wherein the rewind arms are substantially horizontally outwardly disposed with respect to the rewind machine when said rewind rolls are in their unloading position.

8. Apparatus for handling rewind rolls comprising a frame, a front section and a rear section, each of said sections having a rewind arm support shaft carried by said frame, at least one pair of rewind arms mounted on said rewind arm support shaft, each rewind arm being mounted on said shaft at its inner end, means carried by each pair of said rewind arms at their outer ends for receiving a strip of sheet material to be wound into a rewind roll, a bracket fixedly mounted on said rewind arm support shaft, said bracket having a first arm and a second arm disposed at an angle of about 120.degree. with respect to said first arm, a rewind roll counterbalance fluid piston and cylinder assembly having one end mounted on said frame, a piston rod extending from the other end of said fluid piston and cylinder assembly and being pivotally attached to said first arm, a rewind roll unloading fluid piston and cylinder assembly having one end mounted on said frame, a piston rod extending from the other end of said rewind roll unloading fluid piston and cylinder assembly, and being pivotally attached to said second arm, control means including solenoid operated fluid valve means operatively connected to said rewind arms, said rewind roll counterbalance fluid piston and cylinder assembly and said rewind roll unloading fluid piston and cylinder assembly to control the rewind roll for pivoting during buildup under the control of said rewind roll counterbalance fluid piston and cylinder assembly and thence to their unloading positions wherein the rewind arms extend substantially horizontally outwardly with respect to the center of the machine under the control of said rewind roll unloading fluid piston and cylinder assembly, a waiting truck positionable adjacent the rewind rolls unloading positions, said truck being drivable on a roadway disposed perpendicular to the machine.