Improvement applied to winding machine drum

Description

1 / 9 IMPROVEMENT APPLIED TO WINDING MACHINE DRUM FIELD OF APPLICATION [1] This utility model patent relates to improvements applied to a winding drum, which is used in the winding stage in the tissue paper manufacturing process. This innovation aims to optimize the direction and winding of the paper, through a vacuum system inside the drum, providing greater safety and efficiency by keeping the paper adhered to the drum surface, eliminating the need for traditional static elements for vacuum formation. STATE OF THE ART [2] The production of tissue paper, one of the most common types of paper used in products such as towels, handkerchiefs and toilet paper, is a process that involves several stages. Each stage of this process contributes significantly to the quality of the final product. The main stages are raw material preparation, pulping, sheet formation, drying, calendering, winding and cutting. [3] The first stage in the tissue paper manufacturing process is the preparation of the raw material. This phase involves the selection and processing of cellulose, which may include pulping if the cellulose is in the form of wood or other fibrous material. Pulping disintegrates the cellulose into fine fibers, transforming it into a wet pulp, which will be the basis for paper manufacturing. Depending on the type of paper desired, pulping may be accompanied by bleaching, aiming to obtain a whiter and higher quality paper. [4] After the preparation of the cellulose, the sheet-forming stage begins. The pulp is deposited onto a screen or rotary screen which, as it rotates, forms a layer of fibers that interlock and begin to take the shape of a sheet of paper. During this stage, it is possible to control characteristics Petition 870250013509, dated 19 / 02 / 2025, page 6 / 20 2 / 9 such as the thickness, texture and other properties of the paper, adjusting the process according to the specifications of the final product. [5] The next stage, pressing and drying, aims to remove the water present in the sheet of paper. Initially, the wet sheet goes through a pressing process, where most of the water is removed, and then it is sent to the dryers. Drying, in turn, uses heat to evaporate the remaining moisture, leaving the paper ready to be handled in the next stage. [6] In some processes, calendering is used to improve the smoothness and uniformity of the paper. Calendering consists of passing the paper through large pressure rollers, which help to compact the fibers and smooth its surface. This step can be carried out before or after the final winding, depending on the preferences of each factory and the specifications of the final product. [7] One of the most important steps, both for the quality and efficiency of the production process, is winding and cutting. The dry paper, ready to be transformed into rolls of the appropriate size, passes through the winder, where it is wound into large rolls. During this process, the paper needs to be wound uniformly and without flaws, such as tears or creases. To ensure this, tension control during winding is fundamental, as any variation in tension can compromise the integrity of the paper. After this step, the large rolls of paper are cut into specific sizes to be packaged and sent to consumers or distributors. [8] The winding stage, as already mentioned, is one of the most critical. It is during this process that the paper, which has already gone through several transformation phases, is wound and cut to its final dimensions. Controlling the paper's adhesion to the winding drum is essential to avoid failures during winding, such as the formation of air bubbles or paper misalignment. Petition 870250013509, dated 19 / 02 / 2025, page 7 / 20 3 / 9 [9] Traditionally, vacuum forming devices are used to guide the paper guide tip in production and keep it fixed to the drum during the winding process. These devices, called “vacuum rings” in the industrial environment, are located at one end of the drum and are static in nature, i.e., they do not rotate along with the drum.

[10] The state of the art presents a plurality of examples of winding drums that employ the use of static devices for vacuum formation in the winding process.

[11] An example of the state of the art is the equipment already manufactured and marketed by the holder of this document, which is evidenced by the video published on the Youtube website, under the link youtube.com / watch?v=qgVMBQjPTJ0, called “HERGEN Tissue End Passage and Winder”.

[12] The video shows the device called the Vacuum Ring, located at one end of the winder drum. Note that the device does not rotate with the drum and that its function is to guide the guide tip, provide the necessary traction and, consequently, direct the winding of the paper.

[13] Although it fulfills the winding stage, the use of these static vacuum forming devices requires complex modifications to the internal structure of the drum, which entails high implementation and maintenance costs. Such modifications also make the drum construction more elaborate, requiring constant monitoring to ensure proper operation. The need for frequent adjustments and maintenance makes the process less efficient and increases the probability of operational failures, raising operating costs over time.

[14] Furthermore, the main disadvantage in employing static devices in vacuum formation lies in the risk of the paper being inadvertently sucked into the drum due to vacuum pressure. This phenomenon can Petition 870250013509, dated 19 / 02 / 2025, page 8 / 20 4 / 9 significantly compromise the process, generating operational failures and excessive heating of the vacuum generator device. This heating is particularly critical because the operation involves paper, a highly flammable material, which considerably increases the risk of fire and damage to the equipment, compromising the safety and efficiency of the process.

[15] Furthermore, when analyzing the state of the art, it is observed that there is a lack of economically viable solutions that adequately address the winding stage in the manufacture of tissue paper. Although several examples are presented for the manufacture of conventional papers, the physical and chemical characteristics of tissue paper, which is considerably more fragile than conventional papers, make these solutions inadequate or significantly disadvantageous for this type of product.

[16] In this context, several examples of the state of the art can be found, among them patent document US7654427, filed on November 10, 2008, entitled Suction roller and transport apparatus using the same. Said patent presents a suction roller designed to capture and transport objects. The system is equipped with an internal negative pressure and at least one opening through which the paper is captured. Each opening is controlled by a valve that allows the selective activation or deactivation of the negative pressure.

[17] In a disadvantageous way, although the solution presented by US7654427 is effective for rewinding / winding more robust papers, it presents significant disadvantages when applied to the manufacture of tissue paper. The fragility of tissue paper makes the process susceptible to damage, making the use of the suction roll unsuitable for this type of production. The risk of compromising the integrity of the product is one of the main limitations of this technology.

[18] Furthermore, the constructive configuration of the suction roller presented in US7654427 is complex, involving multiple components such as a sleeve, inner and outer wheels, valves, and precise adjustments such as the protrusion angle and slots. This complexity increases the cost of Petition 870250013509, dated 19 / 02 / 2025, page 9 / 20 5 / 9 manufacturing and maintenance of the system, making it economically unfeasible for high-production processes, such as tissue paper manufacturing, which requires simpler, more economical and efficient solutions.

[19] Thus, there is a need to implement improvements in the winding machine drums, especially with regard to how the vacuum is generated inside the drum, in order to optimize the process and minimize the risk of damage to the product.

[20] Thus, it is an objective of the present innovation to provide a winding drum that eliminates the risks of overheating during the winding process, through a vacuum formation means that eliminates the need for internal static devices, contributing to cost reduction, reduced maintenance and drum production cost, without compromising the efficiency and quality of tissue paper manufacturing. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[21] Figure 1A illustrates an example of the state of the art, where a winding drum (T') is presented, which comprises a static vacuum forming device (D').

[22] Figure 1B illustrates a prior art example, which shows the operation of a winding drum comprising a static vacuum forming device, showing the area (A') in which the vacuum is formed.

[23] Figure 2 shows the front cutaway view of the winding drum shown in figures 1A and 1B, examples of the prior art, comprising two supports (S), a hermetic partition (D), a vacuum forming device (DFV) and a plurality of air intake holes (O).

[24] Figure 3 shows a front view of a winding drum (T), a support (S), an air passage support (SA), and a plurality of air intake openings (A). Petition 870250013509, dated 19 / 02 / 2025, p. 10 / 20 6 / 9

[25] Figure 4 illustrates one embodiment of the innovation, where the plurality of air intake holes (O) is arranged at the same end of the air passage support (SA).

[26] Figure 5 illustrates another embodiment of the innovation, in which the drum (T) comprises a partition (D') limiting the internal space of the drum (T) that will be subjected to vacuum action and isolating the plurality of orifices (O) from the rest of the drum (T).

[27] Figure 6 illustrates another embodiment of the innovation, in which the drum (T) comprises an extension (E) of the air passage support (SA), which directs the air to the region delimited by the partition (D'). DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[28] As evidenced by Figures 1A, 1B and 2, prior art winder drums disadvantageously allocate vacuum forming devices (VFDs) inside their structures, and said devices often have performance limitations and present a high risk to operational safety in production, since the paper being wound can be sucked into the device, causing overheating.

[29] As illustrated by figure 3, to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art, the present innovation relates to a winding drum (T) for industrial winding processes, employed in the manufacture of Tissue paper, which eliminates the need for internal vacuum formation devices, resulting in a significant reduction in costs, greater operational efficiency and increased safety during the production process.

[30] Thus, the drum (T) comprises a first support (S), a plurality of openings (A), a second support (SA) and a means of access to the interior of the drum (T). Petition 870250013509, dated 19 / 02 / 2025, page 11 / 20 7 / 9

[31] The first support (S) of the drum (T) besides being responsible for providing the structural integrity of the drum (T), provides the connection of the drum (T) with a rotary system or other drive mechanism that allows its rotation. Furthermore, unlike the solutions presented in the prior art, the first support (S) does not need to be coupled to any hermetic partition (D) of the vacuum forming device (VFD).

[32] Thus, the first support (S) is adjacently and perpendicularly arranged at one end of the drum (T), which provides greater simplification in the construction of said drum (T), since the need for additional components such as the hermetic partition (D) is eliminated. Furthermore, in addition to the significant advantage in the construction of the drum (T), it becomes lighter, more economical and with fewer potential failure points, promoting better mechanical distribution of the stress generated by the moment, since the stress is now distributed to the structure of the drum (T), and not to the hermetic partition (D), as occurs in prior art devices.

[33] The second support (SA), as shown in figure 3, is also responsible for providing structural integrity to the drum (T), supporting it. In addition, the second support (SA) is responsible for providing a means of air passage that is internally disposed in the drum (T), through an opening (A) that is located inside said second support (SA).

[34] In one embodiment of the innovation, the second support (SA) comprises a means of connection with a rotating system (not shown), assisting in the rotation of the drum (T).

[35] Furthermore, the second support (SA) comprises a connection end (E) with a vacuum forming device (DFV), which is arranged externally to the drum (T). In this way, a vacuum is generated inside the drum (T) without the need to allocate internal devices, simplifying the drum structure and eliminating the complexity associated with internal components. Petition 870250013509, dated 19 / 02 / 2025, page 12 / 20 8 / 9

[36] Additionally, the configuration of the second support (SA) provides greater constructive simplicity of the drum (T). This simplification is achieved by the fact that the second support (SA) includes the opening (A), configured by an efficient air passage means, enabling communication between the interior of the drum (T) and the vacuum forming device (DFV).

[37] Thus, this configuration eliminates the need for complex internal structures or additional components for vacuum formation, integrating mechanical support, rotary connection and airflow conduction functions into a single structural element. As a result, the drum (T) comprises a constructive improvement, which contributes to reduced manufacturing costs, increased operational safety, and ease of maintenance.

[38] With regard to the plurality of holes (O), they are arranged at the opposite end to the support (SA), allowing an optimized airflow between the external environment and the interior of the drum (T). The negative pressure generated by the vacuum forming device (DFV) inside the drum (T) creates a pressure difference sufficient to induce a continuous airflow through the holes (O). The generated airflow acts to fix the guide tip of the Tissue paper during the production process. When the guide tip comes into contact with the holes (O), the suction force generated by the airflow ensures its adherence to the surface of the drum (T), keeping it stable and aligned during winding.

[39] As shown in figure 4, in one embodiment of the innovation, it is understood that the plurality of holes (O) can be arranged at the same end as the support (SA).

[40] In another embodiment of the innovation, as shown in Figure 5, the drum (T) comprises a partition (D'), responsible for limiting the internal space of the drum (T) that will be subjected to vacuum, and for isolating the plurality of orifices (O) from the rest of the drum (T). In this embodiment, pressure losses are reduced, generating an efficiency of Petition 870250013509, dated 19 / 02 / 2025, p. 13 / 20 9 / 9 vacuum and, moreover, internal cleaning of the drum (T) is facilitated, since during winding paper residue accumulates inside the drum and when the vacuum region is limited, a smaller cleaning area is required.

[41] Furthermore, as evidenced by figure 6, in another embodiment of the innovation, the drum (T) comprises an extension (E) of the air passage support (SA), which directs air to the region delimited by the divider (D'). Thus, even if the plurality of orifices (O) are arranged at the opposite end to the air passage support (SA), it is possible to generate a vacuum inside the drum (T) in a specific region, reducing the vacuum loss generated along the length of said drum (T).

[42] Finally, it is understood that the drum (T) comprises a means of access (not shown) to its interior, this means of access being configured by a hinged access plate which, when opened, assumes a position perpendicular to the drum (T), facilitating access and, consequently, internal cleaning.

[43] The man of technique will readily perceive, from the description and the represented drawings, various ways of carrying out the innovation without departing from the scope of the appended claims. Petition 870250013509, dated 19 / 02 / 2025, p. 14 / 20

Claims

1 / 2 CLAIMS 1- “IMPROVEMENT APPLIED TO A WINDING MACHINE DRUM”, said drum (T) having a support (S) for structural support and integrity and a plurality of holes (O), said holes (O) being for the passage of airflow between an external environment and the interior of the drum (T) and for fixing a guide tip of a roll of Tissue paper, said support (S) being arranged adjacent and perpendicular to one end of the drum (T), characterized in that said drum (T) is configured by a hollow shaft and comprises a second support (SA) arranged at an end opposite to the support (S) and having an opening (A), which is arranged internally to the second support (SA); the opening (A) being for the passage of air and for generating negative pressure inside the drum (T) and the second support (SA) being for connection to a vacuum forming device, which is arranged externally to the drum (T). 2- “IMPROVEMENT APPLIED TO A WINDING MACHINE DRUM”, according to claim 1, characterized by the plurality of air intake holes (O) being arranged at the end of the air passage support (SA) or at the end of the support (S). 3- “IMPROVEMENT APPLIED TO A WINDING MACHINE DRUM”, according to claim 1, characterized in that the drum (T) comprises a partition (D') limiting the internal space of the drum (T) and isolating the plurality of holes (O) from the rest of the drum (T). 4- “IMPROVEMENT APPLIED TO A WINDING MACHINE DRUM”, according to claim 1, characterized in that the drum (T) comprises an extension (E) of the air passage support (SA), directing air to a region delimited by a divider (D'). Petition 870250013509, dated 19 / 02 / 2025, page 15 / 20 2 / 2 5- “IMPROVEMENT APPLIED TO A WINDING MACHINE DRUM”, according to claim 1, characterized in that the means (M) of access to the interior of the drum (T) is configured by an articulated access plate. Petition 870250013509, dated 19 / 02 / 2025, page 16 / 20

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