U.S. patent number RE35,729 [Application Number 08/506,548] was granted by the patent office on 1998-02-17 for apparatus for glueing the tail of a web to a log formed of the web material.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Fabio Perini S.p.A.. Invention is credited to Guglielmo Biagiotti.
United States Patent |
RE35,729 |
Biagiotti |
February 17, 1998 |
Apparatus for glueing the tail of a web to a log formed of the web
material
Abstract
An apparatus for glueing the tail or outer end of a web of
material which has been formed into a log which comprises: device
(9, 13) for unwinding the tail from the log (R); applicator (45)
for applying glue to the log; tail rolls (97, 99) for re-winding
the tail back on the log and glueing the tail to the log; and
conveyor (23, 41) for transferring said log. The applicator for
applying the glue includes a dispenser device (55-63) provided with
a nozzle (61) forming at least one upwardly oriented slit (63) from
which the glue is dispensed by overflowing; the log (R) conveyor
(23, 41) discharges the log, with the tail (L) being unwound from
it, above the glue dispenser, causing it to roll over said slit
(63) for the application of the glue to the log.
Inventors: |
Biagiotti; Guglielmo (Lucca,
IT) |
Assignee: |
Fabio Perini S.p.A.
(IT)
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Family
ID: |
11131148 |
Appl.
No.: |
08/506,548 |
Filed: |
July 25, 1995 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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Reissue of: |
780199 |
Oct 22, 1991 |
05259910 |
Nov 9, 1993 |
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Foreign Application Priority Data
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Oct 17, 1990 [IT] |
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9504 1/90 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
156/456; 156/187;
156/457; 156/446; 156/578 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B05C
5/0212 (20130101); B05C 9/02 (20130101); B05C
5/0262 (20130101); B65H 19/29 (20130101); B05C
5/0254 (20130101); B65H 2301/414446 (20130101); Y10T
156/1798 (20150115); B65H 2301/414421 (20130101); B65H
2301/41445 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B05C
5/02 (20060101); B05C 9/02 (20060101); B65H
19/29 (20060101); B05C 9/00 (20060101); B65H
19/22 (20060101); B65C 005/00 (); B64H
019/29 () |
Field of
Search: |
;156/446,456,578,187,191,457 ;118/264,410,602 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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2606674 |
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Nov 1987 |
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FR |
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0035562 |
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Nov 1975 |
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JP |
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1434941 |
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May 1976 |
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GB |
|
14976662 |
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Jan 1978 |
|
GB |
|
Primary Examiner: Engel; James
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Breiner & Breiner
Claims
Having thus described my invention, what is claimed as new and
desired to protect by Letters Patent are the following:
1. An apparatus for glueing the outer end of a web material forming
a roll or log including:
conveyor means .[.(23).]. which .[.lifts.]. .Iadd.moves
.Iaddend.the roll or log .[.vertically.]. from .[.a lower.].
.Iadd.an .Iaddend.unwind position to .[.an upper.]. .Iadd.a
.Iaddend.glue applying position,
.[.roller.]. means .[.for rotating the roll or log as it travels
vertically on the conveyor means whereby.]. to unwind the outer end
of the material wound up to form a log,
.[.transport means on which the roll or log travels from the
conveyor with the outer end of the material following behind the
roll or log,.].
means for applying glue on a portion of the web material still
wound on the log .[.in advance of the trailing outer end.].,
means for rewinding the outer end so that said glue serves to
adhere the said outer end to the log,
.[.means for transferring said log,.].
said means for applying the glue comprising a dispenser device
.[.(55-63).]. having means .[.(61).]. which form at least an
upwardly oriented slit .[.(63) from which.]. .Iadd.at or above
which said glue is caused to be present to provide dispensing of
.Iaddend.the glue .[.is dispensed by overflowing.].,
said log .[.(R).]. conveyor means .[.(23, 41).]. arranged to
discharge the log, with the outer end .[.(L).]. unwound therefrom,
thereby causing the log to roll over said slit .[.(63).]. .Iadd.and
said rewinding means.Iaddend..
2. An apparatus for glueing the outer end of a web material forming
a roll or log including:
conveyor means .[.(23).]. which .[.lifts.]. .Iadd.moves
.Iaddend.the roll or log .[.vertically.]. from .[.a lower.].
.Iadd.an .Iaddend.unwind position to .[.an upper.]. .Iadd.a
.Iaddend.glue applying position,
.[.roller.]. means .[.for rotating the roll or log as it travels
vertically on the conveyor means whereby.]. to unwind the outer end
of the material wound up to form a log,
.[.transport means on which the roll or log travels from the
conveyor with the outer end of the material following behind the
roll or log,.].
means for applying glue on a portion of the web material still
wound on the log .[.in advance of the trailing outer end.].,
means for rewinding the outer end so that said glue serves to
adhere the said outer end .[.of.]. .Iadd.to .Iaddend.the log,
.[.means for transferring said log,.].
said means for applying the glue comprising a dispenser device
.[.(55-63).]. having means .[.(61).]. which form at least an
upwardly oriented slit .[.(63) from which.]. .Iadd.at or above
which said glue is caused to be present to provide dispensing of
.Iaddend.the glue .[.is dispensed by overflowing.].,
said log .[.(R).]. conveyor means .[.(23, 41).]. arranged to
discharge the log, with the outer end .[.(L).]. unwound therefrom,
thereby causing the log to roll over said slit .[.(63).]. .Iadd.and
said rewinding means.Iaddend.,
said slit .[.(63).]. extending in a direction substantially
parallel to the axis of the log .[.(R).]. for at least a portion of
the length of the log.
3. An apparatus for glueing the outer end of a web material forming
a roll or log including:
conveyor means .[.(23).]. which .[.lifts.]. .Iadd.moves
.Iaddend.the roll or log .[.vertically.]. from .[.a lower.].
.Iadd.an .Iaddend.unwind position to .[.an upper.]. .Iadd.a
.Iaddend.glue applying position,
.[.roller.]. means .[.for rotating the roll or log as it travels
vertically on the conveyor means whereby.]. to unwind the outer end
of the material wound up to form a log,
.[.transport means on which the roll or log travels from the
conveyor with the outer end of the material following behind the
roll or log,.].
means for applying glue on a portion of the web material still
wound on the log .[.in advance of the trailing outer end.].,
means for rewinding the outer end so that said glue serves to
adhere the said outer end to the log,
.[.means for transferring said log,.].
said means for applying the glue comprising a dispenser device
.[.(55-63).]. having means .[.(61).]. which form at least an
upwardly oriented slit .[.(63) from which.]. .Iadd.at or above
which said glue is caused to be present to provide dispensing of
.Iaddend.the glue .[.is dispensed by overflowing.].,
said log .[.(R).]. conveyor means .[.(23, 41).]. arranged to
discharge the log, with the outer end .[.(L).]. unwound therefrom,
thereby causing the log to roll over said slit .[.(63).]. .Iadd.and
said rewinding means.Iaddend.,
.[.the log (R) transferring means comprising a.]. .Iadd.said
.Iaddend.conveyor .[.(23).]. .Iadd.means .Iaddend.having at least a
log .[.(R).]. bearing means .[.(41, 43).]. which can oscillate to
discharge the log .[.(R).]. onto an inclined surface .[.(65).].,
said inclined surface having an aperture in alignment with the slit
.[.(63).]. of the dispenser device .[.(55-63).]..
4. An apparatus for glueing the outer end of a web material forming
a roll or log including:
conveyor means .[.(23).]. which .[.lifts.]. .Iadd.moves
.Iaddend.the roll or log .[.vertically.]. from .[.a lower.].
.Iadd.an .Iaddend.unwind position to .[.an upper.]. .Iadd.a
.Iaddend.glue applying position,
.[.roller.]. means .[.for rotating the roll or log as it travels
vertically on the conveyor means whereby.]. to unwind the outer end
of the material wound up to form a log,
.[.transport means on which the roll or log travels from the
conveyor with the outer end of the material following behind the
roll or log,.].
means for applying glue on a portion of the web material still
wound on the log .[.in advance of the trailing outer end.].,
means for rewinding the outer end so that said glue serves to
adhere the said outer end to the log,
.[.means for transferring said log,.].
said means for applying the glue comprising a dispenser device
.[.(55-63).]. having means .[.(61).]. which form at least an
upwardly oriented slit .[.(63) from which.]. .Iadd.at or above
which said glue is caused to be present to provide dispensing of
.Iaddend.the glue .[.is dispensed by overflowing.].,
said log .[.(R).]. conveyor means .[.(23, 41).]. arranged to
discharge the log, with the outer .[.and (L).]. .Iadd.end
.Iaddend.unwound therefrom, thereby causing the log to roll over
said slit .[.(63).]. .Iadd.and said rewinding means.Iaddend.,
said slit .[.(63).]. extending in a direction substantially
parallel to the axis of the log .[.(R).]. for at least a portion of
the length of the log,
.[.the log (R) transferring means comprising a.]. .Iadd.said
.Iaddend.conveyor .[.(23).]. .Iadd.means .Iaddend.having at least a
log .[.(R).]. bearing means .[.(41, 43).]. which can oscillate to
discharge the log .[.(R).]. onto an inclined surface
.[.(65).].,
said inclined surface having an aperture in alignment with the slit
.[.(63).]. of the dispenser device .[.(55-63).]..
5. An apparatus for glueing the outer end of a web material forming
a roll or log including:
conveyor means .[.(23).]. which .[.lifts.]. .Iadd.moves
.Iaddend.the roll or log .[.vertically.]. from .[.a lower.].
.Iadd.an .Iaddend.unwind position to .[.an upper.]. .Iadd.a
.Iaddend.glue applying position,
.[.roller.]. means .[.for rotating the roll or log as it travels
vertically on the conveyor means whereby.]. to unwind the outer end
of the material wound up to form a log,
.[.transport means on which the roll or log travels from the
conveyor with the outer end of the material following behind the
roll or log,.].
means for applying glue on a portion of the web material still
wound on the log .[.in advance of the trailing outer end.].,
means for rewinding the outer end so that said glue serves to
adhere the said outer end to the log,
.[.means for transferring said log,.].
said means for applying the glue comprising a dispenser device
.[.(55-63).]. having means .[.(61).]. which form at least an
upwardly oriented slit .[.(63) from which.]. .Iadd.at or above
which said glue is caused to be present to provide dispensing of
.Iaddend.the glue .[.is dispensed by overflowing.].,
said log .[.(R).]. conveyor means .[.(23, 41).]. arranged to
discharge the log, with the outer end .[.(L).]. unwound therefrom,
thereby causing the log to roll over said slit .[.(63).]. .Iadd.and
said rewinding means.Iaddend.,
.[.the log (R) transferring means comprising a.]. .Iadd.said
.Iaddend.conveyor .[.(23).]. .Iadd.means .Iaddend.having at least a
log .[.(R).]. bearing means .[.(41, 43).]. which can oscillate to
discharge the log .[.(R).]. onto an inclined surface
.[.(65).].,
said inclined surface having an aperture in alignment with the slit
.[.(63).]. of the dispenser device .[.(55-63).].,
said bearing means .[.(41, 43).]. being a cradle which is pivoted
to said conveyor .[.(23).]., and including a guide means .[.(95).].
able to cause the cradle to oscillate about an axis .[.(43).]. on
which it is pivoted to the conveyor, thereby causing the discharge
of the log .[.(R).]. when the cradle passes a pre-determined
position of its path.
6. An apparatus according to claim 1 characterized in that said
dispenser device .[.(55-63).]. comprises a container .[.(55).].
provided with means .[.(61).]. which define said slit .[.(63).].
and which is connected to glue-feeding means .[.(91).]., a tank
.[.(73).]. disposed below said container .[.(55).]. for collecting
the glue overflowing from said slit .[.(63).]., and a conduit
.[.(87).]. for recovering glue from said tank .[.(73).]..
7. An apparatus according to claim 6, characterized in that the
container .[.(55).]. is provided with means .[.(61).]. defining
said slit .[.(63).]., connected to a glue reservoir .[.(93).].,
wherein the glue level is maintained above said slit .[.(63).].,
and the glue is dispensed by free fall.
8. An apparatus according to claim 6 characterized in that the
conduit .[.(87).]. for the collection of glue from said tank
.[.(73).]. re-circulates the glue, through suitable means
.[.(92).]., into the glue reservoir .[.(93).]..
9. An apparatus according to claim 6 characterized in that the
container .[.(55).]. is provided with means .[.(61).]. defining
said slit .[.(63).]. connected to a glue reservoir .[.(93').].
located below the slit .[.(63).]., and that a constant-flowrate
pump .[.(94).]. moves the glue from said reservoir .[.(93').]. into
said container .[.(55).]..
10. An apparatus according to claim 1 characterized in that the
dispenser device .[.(55-63).]. is provided with means .[.(83).].
for adjusting the position of the slit .[.(61).]. from which the
glue is fed.
11. An apparatus according to claim 1 characterized in that the
dispenser device .[.(55-63).]. is provided with means .[.(69, 71,
72).]. for adjusting the width of the slit .[.(63).]. from which
the glue is fed.
12. An apparatus according to claim 1 characterized in that along
the path of the log .[.(R).]., a surface .[.(101, 103).]. is
disposed between the outer end .[.(L).]. unwinding means .[.(7).].
and the glue-applying means .[.(45).]. to divert the outer end
.[.(L).]. unwound from the log .[.(R).]..
13. An apparatus according to claim 1 characterized in that the
means .[.(7).]. for unwinding the outer end of the log .[.(R).].
are disposed in a fixed position with respect to the apparatus
frame.
14. An apparatus according to claim 13 characterized in that the
means .[.(7).]. for unwinding the outer end .[.(L).]. of the log
.[.(R).]. comprise a pair of cylinders .[.(9, 11).]., each rotating
about a respective fixed axis, on which the log .[.(R).]. is made
to rest, and a stationary suction box .[.(13).]. with a surface
.[.(15).]. on which the unwound outer end .[.(L).]. is laid down,
said log conveyor .[.(23, 41).]. picking up the log from said
rotating cylinders .[.(9, 11).]..
15. An apparatus according to claim 14, including a sensor
.[.(21).]. which is located in an adjustable position near said
fixed surface .[.(15).]. to detect the position of the unwound
outer end .[.(L).]. and stop the rotation of the cylinders .[.(9,
11).]. when said outer end is unwound a pre-determined length.
16. An apparatus according to claim 1 characterized in that said
means .[.(47).]. for rewinding the log and adhering the outer end
.[.(L).]. comprise two cylinders .[.(97, 99).]. rotating at
slightly different peripheral speeds to cause the log .[.(R).]., in
transit between said two rollers, to rotate about its own axis.
Description
The invention refers to an apparatus for glueing the tail or outer
end of a web material wound to form a roll or log. It includes
means for unwinding the tail of the web of the material from a log;
means for applying glue to the log; means for re-winding the tail
on to the log and glueing it thereto; and means for transferring
said log.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A winding apparatus of this general type is described in U.S. Pat.
No. 4,475,974. That apparatus comprises chain means which support
pairs of bearing rollers. The logs to be glued are disposed on
these bearing rollers. Each roll or log is transported by means of
a conveyor member through a first station in which the tail or
outer end of the web is unwound from the log and laid down onto a
flat surface. At a second station a nozzle, moving parallel to the
axis of the log, applies glue to the end of the unwound material.
At a third station, the log is rotated between the two bearing
rollers so as to wrap the outer end and back onto the log and thus
glue it to the outer surface of the log. Located downstream of
these stations are log-pressing and closing rollers and a discharge
surface. This apparatus makes it possible to attain high outputs
per hour in that, at each instant, three logs are processed at the
same time in the three stations for the unwinding, glueing and
closing of the log, respectively. However, this type of glue
applicator has a rather complex and costly structure.
It is an object of the invention to provide an apparatus of the
above-mentioned type which makes it possible to reach high outputs
per hour with an extremely simple construction and with a limited
number of movable parts.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
In the apparatus of the present invention, the means for applying
the glue includes a dispenser device having means forming an
upwardly oriented slit from which the glue is delivered by
overflowing. The log transferring means discharges said log, with
the tail unwound therefrom, causing it to roll over the slit while
said tail is unwrapped from the log. Said slit may be of any shape.
Moreover, a plurality of adjacent slits may also be provided.
In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the slit extends in a
direction substantially parallel to the log axis at least for a
portion of the length of the log.
With such arrangement when the log is discharged, it rolls across a
guide surface and, during rolling, it passes over the slit from
which the glue is continuously (or discontinuously) supplied, so
that, at a predetermined location of the log surface, a strip of
glue having a pattern the same as the dispensing slit is applied
thereon. As the log continues to roll, the tail is automatically
rewound over the log and pressed against the log where the glue has
been applied. The glueing occurs therefore extremely swiftly and
without the need for dispensing nozzles moving longitudinally along
the log, as in prior machines. In fact, by the simple rolling of
the log over the slit, the glue is applied along the entire length
of the log. Gravity, which causes the rolling of the log, causes
the subsequent re-wrapping of the tail.
To transfer the log from the tail-unwinding station to the
glue-application station, a flexible conveyor may be provided,
which includes a bearing means on which the log is supported. The
bearing means may be made to oscillate to discharge the log at a
predetermined position onto an inclined table which has an opening
aligned with the slit of the glue dispenser device. In practice,
the conveyor member may be a pair of parallel chains between which
one or more cradles are disposed, pendulum-like, and pivoted to the
said conveyor.
Along the path of the conveyor, a guide means is also provided to
cause the cradle to oscillate about the axis on which the latter is
pivoted to the conveyor, thereby causing the discharge of the log
when the cradle passes a pre-determined point along the same guide
means. In this way, no separate pusher is necessary to discharge
the log from the conveyor because it is the motion of the conveyor
which causes the oscillation of the cradle and thus the discharge
of the log.
In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the glue-dispensing
device may comprise a container, especially a tubular container,
extending transversely to the movement of the log within the
apparatus, said container being provided with means defining the
glue-dispensing slit and further connected to means for the supply
of the glue. Disposed under the tubular container is a tank for
collecting the glue which overflows from the said slit. A conduit
is provided in the bottom of the tank for recovering the excess
glue.
Advantageously, said container may be connected to a glue reservoir
in which the glue level is maintained above the height of the
dispensing slit. In this way, a continuous flow of glue from the
reservoir to the container, and from the latter to the dispensing
slit, is obtained. The glue flow rate is determined by the
difference in height between the glue surface within the reservoir
and the dispenser slit by the pressure loss along the glue path, by
the glue viscosity, and by the slit dimensions.
This type of supply has the advantage of not requiring a controlled
dispensing means, such as a pump and a nozzle and, moreover, it
allows a continuous and easily adjustable flow of glue from the
reservoir to the slit, while the excess of glue overflowing from
the slit, which is not picked up by the logs rolling over the same
slit, is collected in the underlying tank from which it can be
easily recovered and made to flow back into the upper reservoir.
This avoids the drawbacks exhibited by the nozzle-type dispensing
means which, when the apparatus is stopped even for short periods,
are clogged up by the drying of the glue, thus making it difficult
to re-start the apparatus. With a continuous flow of glue, as
obtained through the dispenser of the present invention, there is
no undesirable drying of glue during short pauses of the apparatus,
since the supply is not interrupted and the glue remains in
circulation.
In a distinctively advantageous embodiment of the invention, the
means for unwinding the tail of the log consist of a pair of
cylinders rotating about fixed axes and combined with a suction box
having a surface on which the unwound tail is made to rest.
Contrary to the apparatus of known type, therefore, only one
unwinding station is provided in this case which station remains in
a fixed position with respect to the machine frame while the log,
with the tail already unwound, is picked up from the said station
by the above-described conveyor.
The invention also refers to a method for glueing the tail of a log
formed of web material onto the log itself, wherein: the glue is
applied on an area of the web material which is still wound up on
the log (and not on the unwound tail), by making said log roll with
its tail being unwound, over the glue-dispensing slit.
The invention further refers to a glue dispenser, mostly for use in
an apparatus for glueing the tail of logs or rolls of web material,
comprising a tubular container provided with means defining a slit
from which the glue is dispensed, and means for feeding the glue to
said tubular container. A storage tank may be provided below the
container to collect the glue overflowing from said slit.
Advantageously the storage tank may be connected to a glue
reservoir into which the glue collected by said tank is re-admitted
to let it into the tubular container afterwards. Said reservoir may
be located at such a height that the difference between the level
of glue inside the reservoir and the height of the dispenser slit
will allow the glue to flow through the latter.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The invention will be better understood by following the
description and the attached drawing, which shows a feasible, not
limiting, embodiment of the same invention. In the drawing:
FIG. 1 shows an ensemble side view of the apparatus according to
the invention.
FIG. 2 is an enlarged detail of the tail unwinding region.
FIG. 3 shows an enlarged side view of the glue application
region.
FIG. 4 shows a cross-section view of the glue dispenser.
FIG. 5 shows a section taken on line V--V of FIG. 4; and FIGS. 6
and 7 are schematic views of two embodiments of the glue dispenser
system.
With reference to FIG. 1, the apparatus according to the invention
comprises an inclined surface 3 on which the logs of web material
roll when they are discharged from an upstream-located rewinder,
not shown. Downstream of the inclined surface 3 is a rotating wheel
5 which transfers the rolls coming from the surface 3 to the next
station, generally designated 7, for the unwind of the tail L.
The station for the unwinding of the log tail comprises a pair of
cylinders 9 and 11 rotating about fixed axes in a direction
indicated by the arrows in the Figure. Associated with the cylinder
11 is a suction box 13 with a surface 15 on which, during the
unwinding operation, the tail of the log, being discharged on the
cylinders 9 and 11, is laid. Associated with the unwinding station
7 are nozzles 17, 19 from which air jets facilitate the unwinding
of the tail from the log on the surface 15.
A sensor 21 disposed above the surface 15 and schematically
represented in the Figure detects the position of the tail on the
bearing surface 15. Said sensor 21 is mounted by means of a knob 22
and a slot, as as to be easily moved in the direction of the double
arrow f21. Moving the sensor 21 makes it possible to adjust the
length of the unwound tail and thus the position of the line of
glue with respect to the tail of the web material. The unwinding
station operates substantially in a manner similar to that
described in the cited U.S. Pat. No. 4,475,974 and, therefore, will
not be described in greater detail.
The apparatus further comprises a conveyor 23 which may be a pair
of chains parallel to each other and disposed one on either side of
the machine, only one of them being indicated in dotted line in
FIG. 1. The conveyor 23 is driven by a series of wheels or pulleys
25, 27, 29, 31, 33 and 35. The wheels 25 to 35 define a path of the
conveyor 23 for the purposes indicated below. In the example shown,
the wheel 25 is driven into rotation through a belt or chain 37, by
a motor or motor-reducer 39, and transmits the motion to the other
wheels.
Cradles 41 pivotally connected to the conveyor 23 are provided for
supporting the log. In the example shown in FIG. 1, six cradles 41
are provided, each of which is pendulum-like pivoted to the
conveyor 23. In practice, each cradle 41 consists of a transverse
beam 40 connected at its ends to two small side boards 42
swingingly pivoted at 43 to the respective conveyor 23. Each beam
40 carries a plurality of V-shaped troughs 44 which form the teeth
of a comb-like structure. The cylinders 9, 11 are provided with
corresponding annular slots to allow the passage of the V-shaped
troughs 44, for the purposes to be indicated below.
An applicator generally designated 45 is disposed above the
unwinding station 7 for applying the glue to the log and downstream
of said applicator additional means 47 are disposed for pressing
the tail, now re-wound, against the log, and fixing it onto the
latter. Disposed downstream of means 47 is a wheel 49 which
discharges the logs, one after the other, onto an inclined plane 51
to feed them to further work cycles. The wheel 49 is synchronized
with the motion of the conveyor 23, and thus of the cradles 41, to
discharge the logs R onto the inclined plane 51, when no cradle is
passing through the discharge region of the wheel 49. In practice,
the wheel 49 discharges at such a frequency as to avoid the
accumulation of rolls after the glueing station.
The glue-applying means 45 are shown in detail in FIGS. 4 and 5.
Substantially, these means comprise a dispenser 53 made up of a
tutular-shaped container 55 which has a square cross-section and is
provided with holes 57 on top. The holes 57 of the tubular
container 55 lead into a wedge-shaped spout 59 formed by a pair of
inclined plates 61 which define at their top a slit 63 from which
the glue is delivered. The slit 63 is disposed in alignment with a
log or roll rolling surface 65 for the application of the glue in a
manner to be described later on. The position of the slit 63 with
respect to the surface 65 can be seen in detail in FIGS. 3 and 4,
wherein the dispenser device 53 is schematically represented. As
shown in particular in FIG. 4, one of the two plates 61 is fixed on
the tubular container 55, while the other may be adjusted in
position in the direction of arrow f61 by means of a series of set
screws 69 which engage into bushes 71 fixed to the relevant plate
61. Shapes 72 (FIG. 5) are provided to guide the motion of the
plate 61 during adjustment.
The tubular container 55 extends throughout the width of the
apparatus, while the slit 63, defined by the plates 61, extends to
an extent approximately equal to the axial development of the logs
to be glued.
Disposed beneath the tubular container 55 is a storage tank 73
mounted by brackets 75 to the sides 77 (FIG. 5) of the apparatus.
The brackets 75 are provided with slots 79 for the passage of screw
means 81 therethrough; said screw means are provided for a clamping
engagement to the machine frame allowing the assembly made up of
tank 73, container 55 and plates 61 to be adjusted in height. The
adjustment is carried out by means of set screws 83. The tank 73
has a laterally (to the right in FIG. 5) inclined bottom and is
provided with a pipe fitting 85 at the lowest point thereof for
connection to a conduit 87 from which the glue collected within the
tank 73 is taken out and made to re-circulate in a manner to be
described later on.
Conduits 91 are joined to the tubular container 55 for the inflow
of glue inside the said tubular container 55. The glue is drawn out
through the conduits 91 from a reservoir 93, schematically shown in
FIG. 1, in which the glue surface reaches a level higher than the
slit 63 defined by plates 61 fixed to the tubular container 55. In
this way, the glue contained in the reservoir 93 may flow through
the conduits 91 into the tubular container 55 and come out by
overflowing from the slit 61 because of the difference in height
between the glue surface inside the reservoir 93 and the feeding
slit 63. The flow rate of glue may be easily adjusted by varying
the difference in height. Advantageously, the glue is made to flow
continuously, and the excess of glue overflowing or overfalling
from the slit 63, and which is not applied to the log as described
later on, collects in the underlying storage tank 73 to be
recovered through the conduit 87 and re-circulated into the
reservoir 93 by a suitable pumping means. The arrangement of
reservoir 93 and conduit 91 with respect to the glue-feeding device
is also schematically depicted in FIG. 6 which shows a
glue-recirculating pump 92.
The delivery of glue may also take place in a different way, with
an arrangement of the type shown in FIG. 7. In this embodiment, the
glue reservoir, designated 93', is disposed at a lower level with
respect to the delivery slit 63 and to the tubular container 55.
The excess of glue collected in the tank 73 is directly introduced
into the reservoir 93' through the conduit 87. From this reservoir,
the glue is drawn out by a constantflow rate pump 94, to be fed
into the tubular container 55 via the conduit 91'.
The above-described apparatus operates as follows. The roll or log
coming from a rewinder located upstream of the described apparatus
is made to roll onto the inclined surface 3 and transferred by the
wheel 5 to the cylinders 9 and 11 which, as described for example
in the cited U.S. Pat. No. 4,475,974, provide for unwinding a
portion of the tail (free end) to lay it down onto the surface 15
of the suction box 13 with the aid of the nozzles 17, 19 and of
sensor 21 which stops the rotation of cylinders 9, 11 the moment
the free unwound end reaches a pre-determined position on the
surface 15.
At this point, the conveyor 23, which moves in the direction of
arrow f23, brings one of the cradles 41 below the log supported by
the cylinders 9 and 11 and raises it up towards the glueapplying
means generally indicated by 45. As shown in particular in FIG. 2,
when the log R is lifted from the cylinders 9 and 11 by means of
the cradles 41, its tail end L hangs freely downwards. Along the
path of the conveyor 23, a guide surface 95 is disposed which
drives the cradles 41 into oscillation when these arrive at the
height of the surface 65 for discharging the log R onto the said
surface 65.
The log-discharge phase is shown in particular in FIG. 3. the
position for the discharge of log R onto the surface 65 is so
determined that, when the log begins to roll over the said surface
65, it comes in contact with the slit 63, defined by the plates 61,
at the position where the tail is to be glued. Accordingly, when
the log R beings to roll on the surface 65, as shown in FIG. 3, it
comes in contact with the slit 63 and has applied thereto, in the
region I, an amount of glue sufficient to allow the subsequent
anchorage of the tail L which is re-wound onto the log body as the
latter continues to roll downwardly in the direction of arrow fR
along the surface 65.
Disposed at a suitable distance from the slit 63, two cylinders 97,
99 are part of the log-closing means 47. The space between the
rollers 97, 99 is such that, when the log passes between then, the
log itself is radially compressed to receive the tail L onto the
log. To this end, both cylinders 97, 99 are motor-driven and are
rotated at slightly different peripheral speeds. The difference
between the peripheral speeds is such as to rotate the log through
one or two revolutions during its transit between the cylinders 97,
99.
The thus-closed log is discharged, as already described, onto the
discharge plane 51 by means of wheel 49.
For the above-described apparatus to work properly, it is evident
that the tail L of log R must be folded downwards when the log is
discharged from the conveyor onto the surface 65 and passes over
the glue-feeding slit 63. If the wound material is sufficiently
flexible, the tail L places itself spontaneously in the position
shown in FIG. 2. However, in some cases, and when the material
wound up on the log R is thicker and stiffer, it may be necessary
to provide means ensuring the correct position of the log tail
prior to the discharge of the log onto the surface 65. In the
example shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, this is achieved by means of a
surface formed by a first, substantially vertical plate 101, and of
a second, inclined plate 103. The plate 101 can be adjusted by
means of screw means 105 and a handwheel 107 to take up such a
position, with respect to the log in transit, as to always ensure
(also in case of varying log diameter) that the tail L of the log
is folded downwards. When the log R is discharged as shown in FIG.
3, the tail L rests on the inclined plate 103 and slides over it
upwards while the log R rolls along the surface 65.
Even though in the above-described embodiment guide means 95 are
provided outside the conveyor 23 for causing oscillation of the
cradles 41, in a modified embodiment it is possible to omit these
guide means and replace them with guide means incorporated in the
cradles themselves. For example, the side boards 42 of each cradle
41 can be connected to the relevant conveyor 23 not only with a
pivot at 43, but also with a further pivot 150 engaging in a slit
151 of the side board itself. Such a slot 151 is shown in FIG. 2.
If the first pivot 43 and the further pivot 150 engaging in the
slot are connected to two different links of a chain forming the
conveyor member 23, than a change in direction of the conveyor 23,
such as the one caused by pulleys 27, 29, causes an oscillation of
the side boards and thus of the cradles 41 connected to the
conveyor. In this way, oscillation of the cradle 41 and discharge
of the log is achieved without external guides 95, these being
omitted by the guide formed by the pivot and slot arrangement in
the flexible member and the side boards.
Further modifications of the above-described apparatus are
possible. E.g. wheel 49 can be omitted and cylinders 97, 99 can be
synchronized with the movements of the cradles 41. As stated above,
each log R is kept for a while between cylinders 97, 99, in order
to seal the tail to the log. This is obtained by keeping the
peripheral speeds of cylinders 97 and 99 at the same value for a
while. Thereafter, cylinder 97 is allowed to rotate faster than
cylinder 99, thus causing the closed log R to further roll toward
the inclined surface 51. If the rotational speeds of cylinders 97
and 99 are made to vary in synchronism with the passage of cradles
41 in front thereof, the wheel 49 can be omitted, since
distribution of the logs is achieved by suitably controlling the
rotational speeds of cylinders 97, 99, e.g., by means of a central
processing unit (not shown) or other suitable means.
It is understood that the drawing shows an exemplification given
only as a practical demonstration of the invention, as this may
vary in the forms and dispositions without nevertheless coming out
from the scope of the idea on which the same invention is based.
The possible presence of reference numbers in the appended claims
has the purpose of facilitating the reading of the claims,
reference being made to the description and the drawing, and does
not limit the scope of the protection represented by the
claims.
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