Thin film reservoir and method of storing a continuous strip of film

Abstract

A film store and a method for dynamic storing of a label film in a web are described, wherein the film store comprises at least one storage area, which contains an upper slide and a lower slide and deflection rollers for the label film, which are fixed on the slides. The label film is guided along a conveying track, which extends in a meandering manner between the upper and lower slide, and the size of the film store is adjusted in a mutually compensating manner with respect to the weight by counter-movement of the upper and lower slide. For this purpose, the upper and lower slide are moved towards or away from one another by means of a torque- or force-regulated servo motor, and / or the servo motor tensions the label film between the deflection rollers, whereby the storage dynamics and the storage capacity are optimized while adhering to the maximum permissible web tension in the label film.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a film storage device for a continuous strip film, and a method for dynamically storing a continuous strip film. Background Technology

[0002] EP 2 923 981 B1 discloses a similar type of film storage device. This type of film storage device is used to continuously supply continuous film by automatically and alternately attaching film webs wound on, for example, two storage rollers, to each other, thereby continuously conveying them to processing machinery for labeling or packaging containers. The function of the film storage device is to compensate for variations in film transport, both on the input side during the attachment of film webs to each other and on the output side depending on film consumption in the processing machinery.

[0003] In similar film storage devices, a continuous film is guided in a zigzag manner between deflection rollers fixed to an upper and lower roller support. These roller supports are coupled to each other via a pulley system in a mutually compensating weight manner, thereby tensioning the continuous film between the upper and lower roller supports by the weight difference. When adjusting the size of the film storage device in the operating mode, the upper and lower roller supports move vertically toward each other and away from each other in opposite directions.

[0004] A continuous film is conveyed via a belt using conveyor units located upstream and downstream of the deflection rollers, passing it through a film storage tank. These conveyor units are preferably based on servo motors, such as those disclosed in EP 0 989 084 A2. The invention also proposes using pneumatic actuators, rather than weight differences, to apply a force that reverses the movement of the rollers.

[0005] The disadvantage is that the film tension on each return segment of the conveyor track formed between the deflection rollers cannot be controlled with the desired precision and flexibility by weight or pneumatic devices. This is because the maximum film tension allowed for a specific specification can vary greatly depending on the material, thickness, and width of the continuous film, and the actual film tension during the various enlargement and reduction stages of the film reservoir can also vary significantly. Generally, these factors make it difficult to adjust the film reservoir according to the specific machine efficiency and conveyor dynamics downstream.

[0006] Especially when the machine is highly efficient and the start-up / stop time is relatively short, such film reservoirs often cannot respond quickly enough. In this case, the relatively sluggish tensioning mechanism of the conveying unit and the film reservoir results in drastic fluctuations in force and longitudinal tension in the continuous film. Insufficient or excessive belt tension in the continuous film can lead to subsequent problems such as undesirable slippage of the continuous film, incorrect adjustment of the film conveying, undesirable film stretching, film tearing, or the like.

[0007] Furthermore, the actual belt tension of the continuous film varies with the force applied by the tensioning mechanism to overcome the friction and inertia of the components moving during sizing. For example, when the film reservoir is emptied, its output-side conveyor unit accelerates relative to the input-side conveyor unit. Accordingly, the roller supports of the film reservoir need to move toward each other and accelerate for this purpose. This temporarily creates additional belt tension in the continuous film. Therefore, the dynamic characteristics of sizing are limited by the belt tension allowed by the continuous film.

[0008] Another limiting factor is that the force / belt tension in the various return segments of the thin-film reservoir can vary significantly. These return segments are known to be separated from each other by deflector rollers mounted on a slider. For each return segment to transfer belt tension to adjacent return segments and establish force balance, the deflector rollers need to move between these return segments. However, the friction and inertia of the deflector rollers exert a limiting reaction on this. The greater the distance between the return segments, the greater the difference in belt tension within them. For example, when the thin-film reservoir is emptied, the belt tension in its output region is greater than that in the input region. Therefore, as the reservoir size increases, the storage dynamics of the thin-film reservoir are limited to an undesirable degree. Summary of the Invention

[0009] In view of this, the object of the present invention is to provide a thin film storage device and a method for dynamically storing strip label films, thereby eliminating or at least mitigating at least one of the above-mentioned problems.

[0010] The solution of the present invention to achieve the above-mentioned objective is a thin-film storage device according to the following technical solution and a method according to the following technical solution.

[0011] The film storage device is configured to store a continuous strip of film, for example, for labeling or packaging containers. To this end, the film storage device includes at least one storage area comprising an upper slider and a lower slider, and a deflection roller fixed to the slider in a manner such that the deflection roller guides the continuous film along a conveyor track extending zigzag between the upper and lower sliders. The upper and lower sliders are coupled to each other in a manner that compensates for their weight and allows for reverse vertical movement to adjust the size of the film storage device, for example, by means of a trolley assembly deflecting above the upper slider.

[0012] According to the invention, the corresponding storage area includes a torque- or force-regulated servo motor for realizing the reverse movement of the upper and lower sliders and / or for tensioning the continuous film between the deflection rollers.

[0013] The torque or force regulation of the servo motor limits the tension of the continuous film during the sizing process, i.e., during the emptying or filling of the film reservoir, for example by adhering to the maximum permissible force or maximum permissible torque of the servo motor.

[0014] This reliably prevents damage to the continuous film. Simultaneously, it allows for the overall adjustment and, in particular, maximization of, the storage dynamics of the storage area and / or the machine efficiency of the thin-film storage device.

[0015] Preferably, the servo motor is configured as a direct driver for a toothed belt fixedly connected to the slider in terms of driving technology, or as a direct driver for at least one of the sliders, in particular as a servo rotary motor for driving a toothed belt, or at least one servo linear motor rigidly coupled to one of the sliders.

[0016] For example, the toothed belt can be integrated into, or form, a pulley system used for weight compensation suspension and reversing the slider, or be directly driven by a servo rotary motor. The rotor of the servo linear motor can be rigidly coupled to one of the sliders, where the slider can also be suspended on the pulley system in a weight-compensating manner.

[0017] Servo rotary motors are particularly suitable for the torque regulation mentioned above, while servo linear motors are particularly suitable for the corresponding force regulation.

[0018] Preferably, the thin-film storage device further includes an electronic adjustment device programmed in a certain way to calculate the frictional resistance and / or moment of inertia that occur during the reverse movement of the slider, and accordingly calculate the component of the nominal torque / nominal force of the servo motor corresponding to the size adjustment of the thin-film storage device.

[0019] The adjustment device can continuously update this component of nominal torque / nominal force during the adjustment of the servo motor, and superimpose it, for example, with the component used to generate belt tension, thereby continuously adjusting the nominal torque / nominal force of the servo motor to avoid exceeding the allowable belt tension in the continuous film.

[0020] The reverse motion can also be continuously adjusted so that the component of the nominal torque / nominal force calculated for this purpose, i.e., for size adjustment, does not exceed the maximum value set for the continuous film.

[0021] This allows for the maximization of the dynamic characteristics of the reverse motion used to empty and fill the film reservoir without damaging the continuous film. The overall size of the film reservoir also optimizes its performance in terms of storage dynamics and machine efficiency.

[0022] Preferably, the electronic adjustment device is programmed in a manner that calculates the nominal torque / nominal force of the servo motor based on a component corresponding to size adjustment and a component corresponding to the belt tension of the continuous film. This allows the torque of the rotary motor or the force of the linear motor to be maximized according to the allowable belt tension of a specific continuous film, thereby optimizing the storage dynamics and machine efficiency of the film storage unit for a specific specification. Furthermore, it enables optimization of the belt tension to address transport problems that need to be avoided, such as undesirable slippage, film stretching, or the like.

[0023] Based on the aforementioned adjustments to the nominal torque, the nominal values ​​of torque and tension for each label / return segment vary relatively significantly. This is generally advantageous, but fixed nominal values, for example, corresponding to a specific label type, may also be sufficient.

[0024] Preferably, the thin-film storage device includes an output-side storage region and another storage region connected upstream of the output-side storage region via at least one conveying unit, wherein the conveying unit is configured to convey a continuous film while simultaneously decoupling the belt tension in the storage regions. That is, during conveying, the continuous film is guided within the region of the conveying unit in a manner that substantially does not transfer belt tension from one storage region to another. This allows for independent optimization of the storage dynamics and storage dimensions of these storage regions, and / or mutual matching.

[0025] Preferably, the output-side storage region is smaller than the upstream cascaded storage region. This allows for relatively large storage dynamics in the output-side storage region, which can follow the transport dynamics set downstream of the thin-film storage device. Accordingly, based on tension decoupling, the storage capacity upstream of the output-side storage region can be optimized, and particularly maximized, with storage dynamics reduced compared to the output-side storage region.

[0026] Preferably, the storage area includes an input-side conveying unit for continuous films, and the film storage device further includes an electronic adjustment device for adjusting the conveying speed of the input-side conveying unit according to the output-side conveying speed of the storage area. This allows the size of the film storage device to be adjusted according to the storage dynamics / conveyor dynamics set at the output side of the respective storage area.

[0027] Preferably, the regulating device is programmed in a manner that the input-side conveying speed follows the corresponding output-side conveying speed with a reduced acceleration or deceleration and / or a reduced abrupt change. This reduces storage dynamics in the continuous film during load switching, such as sudden stress towards the input end of the film storage device.

[0028] Preferably, the thin-film storage device further includes an output-side conveying unit located downstream of the storage area. In this case, the adjustment device is configured to adjust the conveying speed of the input-side conveying unit in a cascaded manner against the belt running direction, generally starting from the conveying speed of the output-side conveying unit. This indicates the provision of a control cascade for adjusting the input-side conveying speed of a specific storage area based on the output-side conveying speed of that specific storage area or the input-side conveying speed of its downstream storage area.

[0029] This allows for a decrease in storage dynamics in the reverse direction of belt movement, thereby enabling an increase in the storage capacity of each storage region in the reverse direction of belt movement. In this way, by connecting these storage regions in series, thin-film storage devices with optimized output-side storage dynamics and optimized input-side storage capacity can be modularly constructed, and the thin-film storage devices can be flexibly adjusted according to set transport dynamics and machine efficiency.

[0030] According to one of the embodiments, the film reservoir is preferably part of a device for providing continuous film, having means for automatically and alternately feeding film from parallel storage rollers. This allows for the continuous supply of film, for example, for packaging or labeling containers such as bottles, with relatively high machine efficiency.

[0031] The method is used to dynamically store a continuous strip film in a film storage device, the film storage device including at least one storage area comprising an upper slider and a lower slider, and a deflection roller fixed on the slider. Accordingly, the continuous film is guided along a conveyor track extending in a zigzag pattern between the upper and lower sliders, and the dimensions of the film storage device change during storage operation due to the counter-movement of the upper and lower sliders under mutual weight compensation.

[0032] According to the invention, this is done by using a torque- or force-regulated servo motor to move the upper and lower sliders toward or away from each other. Alternatively, a servo motor is used to tension the continuous film between deflection rollers.

[0033] The preferred method for adjusting the servo motor is as follows: The frictional resistance and / or moment of inertia of the slider during its reverse movement are calculated by machine. Based on this, the nominal torque or nominal force of the servo motor corresponding to the size adjustment of the storage area is calculated by machine, and the servo motor is adjusted accordingly. Specifically, the component corresponding to the size adjustment is superimposed, for example, with the component of the nominal torque / nominal force corresponding to the tension of the continuous film.

[0034] As an alternative, the nominal torque or nominal force can also be fixed according to the type of label tape.

[0035] Preferably, starting from the output-side conveying speed of the film storage unit, the conveying speed of the conveying unit defining the corresponding storage area for the continuous film is adjusted by means of a control cascade extending in the reverse direction of belt operation. The control cascade refers to the cascading or stepped organization of the adjustment of the conveying units, thereby adjusting the machine parameters of a specific conveying unit based on the machine parameters of at least one upstream conveying unit, particularly based on the immediately adjacent upstream conveying unit. Preferably, this principle continues in a cascading / stepped manner in the reverse direction of belt operation.

[0036] This allows for a cascading / step-by-step reduction of the transport / storage dynamics set on the output side in the reverse direction of belt operation, while maximizing the overall storage capacity of the film storage device while adhering to the maximum permissible belt tension in a continuous film.

[0037] Preferably, the maximum tension in the continuous film is limited by adjusting the torque or force of the servo motor, particularly by setting a maximum and / or minimum value for a specific specification. The maximum value could be, for example, the maximum torque or force of the servo motor, or the maximum permissible tension or similar force in the continuous film. The same applies to the minimum value. This allows for optimization of the film storage device's operation for specific specifications, i.e., for different types of continuous films, in terms of permissible storage dynamics and storage capacity.

[0038] Preferably, the output-side conveying speed of the thin-film reservoir follows a speed curve set downstream of the reservoir for the continuous film. Furthermore, through control cascading, the storage dynamics resulting from this in the output-side storage region of the thin-film reservoir are reduced in at least one upstream storage region, allowing more continuous film to be stored in the upstream storage region while adhering to the maximum permissible belt tension compared to the output-side storage region. This also contributes to optimizing the overall storage dynamics and storage capacity of the thin-film reservoir. Attached Figure Description

[0039] A preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown in the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:

[0040] Figure 1 A side view of the buffer storage;

[0041] Figure 2 A view of the output side of the buffer storage; and

[0042] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the filled storage area of ​​the buffer storage. Detailed Implementation

[0043] like Figure 1As shown, in a preferred embodiment, the thin film storage device 1 includes an input-side storage region 4 having a first upper slider 6 and a first lower slider 8, on which a plurality of deflection rollers 3 are fixed. The thin film storage device 1 also includes an output-side storage region 5 having a second upper slider 7, a second lower slider 9, and deflection rollers 3 fixed thereon.

[0044] exist Figure 1 In the diagram, sliders 6 to 9 rest against each other, thus illustrating the minimum storage size of the thin-film storage device 1. Figure 3 The middle section shows sliders 6 to 9, which are spaced a certain distance apart.

[0045] Accordingly, the deflection roller 3 defines the first conveying track 10 of the first storage area 4, which extends in a tortuous manner between the first upper slider 6 and the first lower slider 8, and the deflection rollers 3 of the second upper slider 7 and the second lower slider 9 respectively define the second conveying track 11 of the output side storage area 5, which is independent of the first conveying track.

[0046] exist Figure 3 The image illustratively shows a strip of continuous film 2, which is guided along conveyor tracks 10 and 11 in storage areas 4 and 5, and then stored in film reservoir 1 during transport. The continuous film 2 is used, for example, for labeling or packaging containers, particularly bottles (not shown).

[0047] Storage areas 4 and 5 can also be understood as storage levels of thin-film storage device 1. In thin-film storage device 1, two or more storage areas / storage levels (not shown) may be provided successively in the manner described above.

[0048] The size of the input-side storage area 4 is defined by the distance between the deflection roller 3 of the first upper slider 6 and the deflection roller of the first lower slider 8. Correspondingly, the size of the output-side storage area 5 is defined by the distance between the deflection roller 3 of the second upper slider 7 and the deflection roller of the second lower slider 9. The capacity of storage areas 4 and 5 is obtained at the maximum distance (not shown).

[0049] from Figure 3 It can also be seen that the film storage 1 includes a first servo motor 12, which is used to move the upper and lower sliders 6, 8 of the input side storage area 4 toward each other or away from each other, and to tension the continuous film 2 located between the deflection rollers 3 in the form of several generally vertically extending return segments.

[0050] Accordingly, the output-side storage area 5 includes a second servo motor 13, which is used to move the upper and lower sliders 7 and 9 of the output-side storage area 5 accordingly and to tension the continuous film 2 stored therein.

[0051] The input-side storage area 4 includes an input-side conveying unit 14 for conveying the continuous film 2 into the first storage area 4. The second storage area 5 also includes an input-side conveying unit 15, which pulls the continuous film 2 from the first storage area 4 and conveys it to the second storage area 5.

[0052] The film storage unit 1 also includes an output-side conveying unit 16, which pulls the continuous film 2 out from the output-side storage area 5 and provides the continuous film downstream of the film storage unit 1, for example in a packaging machine or labeling machine (not shown), for further processing.

[0053] Electronic adjustment device 17 for controlling / adjusting servo motors 12, 13 and control / adjusting conveyor units 14 to 16 is also schematically shown.

[0054] from Figure 3 It can also be seen that the upper sliders 6 and 7 are coupled to the lower sliders 8 and 9 in pairs using pulley blocks 18 and 19 to compensate for each other's weight. For this purpose, each pulley block 18 and 19 includes deflection rollers 18a and 19a located above the corresponding upper sliders 6 and 7 in a known manner. The principle of this suspension scheme with mutual weight compensation is known and will not be described in detail here.

[0055] Each trolley assembly 18, 19 is directly driven independently of servo motors 12, 13. For this purpose, trolley assemblies 18, 19 respectively include toothed belts 18b, 19b fixed to the upper and lower slides 6 to 9, which are directly driven by the corresponding servo motors 12, 13 via gears. In principle, chains, load-bearing ropes, belts, or similar (not shown) can also be used to replace or combine with toothed belts to transmit torque directly from servo motors 12, 13 to trolley assemblies 18, 19.

[0056] By directly driving the trolley blocks 18 and 19 via servo motors 12 and 13 on the toothed belts 18b and 19b, the drive backlash is minimized, and particularly precise adjustment is achieved. For this purpose, the servo motors 12 and 13 are preferably configured as torque-regulated servo rotary motors.

[0057] However, in principle, at least one functionally corresponding servo motor 20 can also be constructed as a force-adjustable servo linear motor, whose rotor 20a is directly coupled to one of the sliders 6 to 9 in terms of drive technology. In this case, the sliders 6 to 9 moving in this way can also be suspended in pairs on each of the pulley groups 18 and 19 in a way that compensates for weight. Figure 3 This is illustrated with a dashed line for one of the storage areas 4 and 5.

[0058] The following explanation, using the servo rotary motor implementation shown, describes the torque adjustment of the servo motor. If, instead, at least one servo linear motor is used, the force of this servo motor 20 is adjusted accordingly. That is, in this case, the force, rather than the torque, is involved.

[0059] The electronic adjustment device 17 is preferably programmed in a certain way so that a nominal torque MS1 and MS2 can be set for each of the servo motors 12 and 13. This nominal torque consists of a first component and a second component. The first component is used for the size adjustment of the film storage 1, that is, for moving the sliders 6 to 9 in pairs toward or away from each other. The second component is used to tension the continuous film 2 between the deflection rollers 3 of the corresponding sliders 6 to 9.

[0060] To determine the first torque component of storage areas 4 and 5, a value table and algorithm are preferably stored in the electronic adjustment device 17, thereby enabling the calculation of the frictional resistance and / or moment of inertia of sliders 6 to 9 for the implemented reverse motion. Based on this, the adjustment device 17 continuously calculates the components of the nominal torques MS1 and MS2 currently required for the adjustment size.

[0061] Furthermore, the adjustment device 17 can store the values ​​of the second components of the nominal torques MS1 and MS2, which are the values ​​required and the maximum allowable values ​​for setting the tension of the continuous film 2 in the corresponding storage areas 4 and 5.

[0062] For example, for different types of continuous films 2, individualized values ​​with tension can be stored for specific specifications, such as nominal values ​​and / or maximum and / or minimum permissible values.

[0063] Depending on the type of continuous film 2 to be processed, the electronic adjustment device 17 can fix a second torque component for tensioning the continuous film 2, and dynamically add a first torque component currently needed for dimensional adjustment to this second torque component. In this way, the nominal torques MS1 and MS2 of the servo motors 12 and 13 can be continuously updated and set for adjustment to match the storage dynamic characteristics of the required storage areas 4 and 5 for specific specifications.

[0064] In other words, on the one hand, the dynamic characteristics of size adjustment are maximized depending on the type of continuous film 2 used, and damage to the continuous film 2 is avoided. On the other hand, the storage capacity of storage areas 4 and 5 can be optimized in a way that matches the storage dynamic characteristics to be addressed and based on the load capacity of the continuous film 2.

[0065] The adjustment device 17 is set / programmed in a certain way so that the servo motors 12 and 13 can be adjusted independently to match the size changes of the storage areas 4 and 5.

[0066] To this end, by means of a conveying unit provided between the storage areas, such as the input-side conveying unit 15 of the output-side storage area 5, the storage areas 4 and 5 are decoupled from each other in terms of the tension of the continuous film 2.

[0067] That is, when conveying the continuous film 2 from the input-side conveying unit 15 of the output-side storage area 5, the belt tension is prevented from overlapping across the conveying unit 15. This can be achieved, for example, by guiding the film between the conveying roller and the mating pressure roller. In this way, it is particularly possible to avoid the transmission of belt tension to the output-side storage area 5, which needs to cope with the relatively high storage dynamics without damaging the continuous film 2.

[0068] In the example shown, the conveying unit 15 serves as both an input-side conveying unit for the output-side storage region 5 and an output-side conveying unit for the input-side storage region 4. Alternatively, independent input-side and output-side conveying units could be provided sequentially to achieve corresponding tension decoupling between the storage regions 4 and 5 of the thin-film reservoir 1.

[0069] The working principle of the thin film storage 1 is generally as follows: In general, its storage dynamic characteristics are set on the output side by the processing unit that supplies the continuous thin film 2 downstream. In this case, the output side conveying unit 16 directly follows the conveying dynamic characteristics set downstream, in terms of the storage dynamic characteristics on the output side.

[0070] Accordingly, the regulating device 17 is configured as a counter-current control cascade, which is based on the conveying speed V3 of the output side conveying unit 16 and adjusts the conveying speeds V1 and V2 of the upstream conveying units 14 and 15 accordingly.

[0071] That is, firstly, depending on the size adjustment to be implemented in the second storage area 5, the conveying speed V2 of the conveying unit 15 at the input of the output storage area 5 is adjusted according to its output side conveying speed V3. Then, according to the output side conveying speed V2 of the input storage area 4, that is, according to the downstream conveying unit 15, the conveying speed V1 of the input side conveying unit 14 of the input storage area is adjusted.

[0072] By employing the cascading arrangement in the opposite direction of flow / belt movement, the dynamic characteristics of the transport and storage to be addressed decrease from the output-side storage region 5 to the input-side storage region 4, i.e., in the opposite direction of the belt movement of the continuous film 2. This also applies in principle to other storage regions / storage stages (not shown) located between them, thereby enabling a stepwise decrease in storage dynamic characteristics towards the input of the film storage unit 1. In this case, the capacity of each storage region 4, 5 can increase in the opposite direction of belt movement, while adhering to the maximum or minimum permissible belt tension in the continuous film 2.

[0073] By implementing targeted control cascading of storage areas 4 and 5 in the opposite direction to the belt running direction, storage capacity and machine efficiency can be optimized based on the maximum allowable belt tension in the continuous film 2, in a manner that matches the conveying dynamics / storage dynamics set downstream of the film storage unit 1. In other words, the film storage unit 1 can be flexibly adjusted by combining the successively connected storage areas 4 and 5 in a modular control cascading manner according to different production conditions.

[0074] The control cascade is preferably constructed in such a way that the input-side conveying speeds V1 and V2 of storage regions 4 and 5 follow the corresponding output-side conveying speeds V2 and V3 with reduced acceleration or deceleration and / or reduced abrupt changes. That is, the abrupt load / acceleration of the continuous film 2 decreases in the opposite direction to the belt running direction.

[0075] This also results in storage areas 4 and 5 having an increased storage capacity when viewed in the opposite direction of belt operation, because as the distance from the output end of the thin film storage unit 1 increases, the dynamic load of the continuous thin film 2 decreases. Therefore, even when the capacity of each storage area 4 and 5 is large, the allowable belt tension in each storage area 4 and 5 can still be followed.

[0076] Therefore, through the cascading of storage areas 4, 5 / storage levels, the film storage 1 can be tailored to the specific properties of the continuous film 2 to be processed and / or to the requirements of the processing unit (not shown) supplied by the film storage 1.

[0077] Furthermore, through torque / force regulation, the storage dynamics of the continuous film 2 can be maximized in terms of its mechanical load capacity in each storage area 4, 5, because the resulting torque / force limitation can reduce or minimize load peaks. That is, through torque regulation of servo motors 12, 13 (and force regulation of servo motor 20), the load on the continuous film 2 can be made relatively uniform even during the different reverse movements of sliders 6 to 9 for emptying or filling the film storage 1.

[0078] In other words, the motion processes of sliders 6 to 9 during the emptying and filling of the thin-film storage 1 are optimized in terms of speed, acceleration, and storage dynamics. Based on this, and with the help of modular cascading, the capacity of the thin-film storage 1 can be specifically adjusted in a way that does not limit the storage dynamics and achieves high flexibility and efficiency in construction and manufacturing.

[0079] For the sake of comprehensiveness, in Figure 1 and Figure 2The image shows vertical linear guides 21 and 22 for sliders 6 to 9, and also shows a frame 23 on which the linear guides 21 and 22, servo motors 12 and 13, and conveying units 14 to 16 are fixed.

[0080] The film storage tank 1 is preferably a component of an apparatus (not shown) for continuously supplying a continuous film 2. In this apparatus, the continuous film is manufactured in a known manner, specifically by automatically and alternately unwinding film strips from parallel storage rollers, joining the film strips into a continuous film 2 by gluing or welding the ends of the film strips, and then conveying the continuous film to the downstream film storage tank.

[0081] At the start of operation of the thin-film storage 1, in a known manner as follows Figure 1 The sliders 6 to 9 are brought together until they reach their minimum mutual distance (e.g., snapped into each other), thereby allowing the continuous film 2 to be zigzag / winding around the deflection roller 3. This position also corresponds to the minimum storage size of the film reservoir 1.

[0082] Subsequently, the upper and lower sliders 6 to 9 are moved in pairs to an appropriate distance from each other, and the conveying units 14 to 16 are run at an appropriate speed to gradually store the continuous film 2 into the film storage 1, thereby filling the film storage 1.

[0083] In subsequent storage operations, the size of the thin film storage unit 1 varies according to the production requirements downstream of the thin film storage unit 1 in the manner described above. The storage dynamic characteristics decrease in the reverse direction of belt running from the output side conveyor unit 16 through the control cascade of each storage area 4, 5, thereby achieving thin film storage that is beneficial to the material and a flexible modular structure.

Claims

1. A film store (1) for a continuous film (2) in strip form, comprising at least one storage area (4, 5) which contains an upper slide (6, 7) and a lower slide (8, 9) and deflection rollers (3) which are fixed in such a way to the slides that they guide the continuous film (2) along a conveying track (10, 11) which extends tortuously between the upper and lower slides, wherein The upper and lower sliders are coupled to each other in a manner that compensates for their weight and allows them to move in opposite directions to adjust the size of the film storage container. The storage area includes a torque- or force-regulated servo motor for reversing the movement of the upper and lower sliders and for tensioning the continuous film between the deflection rollers. The thin-film storage device also has an electronic adjustment device (17) that is programmed to calculate the frictional resistance and moment of inertia of the slider (6-9) during the reverse movement of the slider, and based on this, calculate the component of the nominal torque (MS1, MS2) or the nominal force of the servo motor corresponding to the size adjustment of the storage area (4, 5), and adjust the servo motor accordingly. The electronic adjustment device (17) continuously updates the component of the nominal torque (MS1, MS2) / the nominal force and superimposes it with another component used to generate belt tension, and the nominal torque (MS1, MS2) / the nominal force is continuously adjusted so as not to exceed the allowable belt tension in the continuous thin film (2).

2. The thin-film storage device according to claim 1, wherein, The servo motor is configured as a direct driver for a toothed belt (18b, 19b) fixedly connected to the sliders (6-9) in terms of driving technology, or as a direct driver for at least one of the sliders.

3. The thin-film storage device according to claim 2, wherein, The direct drive is in the form of a servo rotary motor for driving the toothed belt, or at least one servo linear motor rigidly coupled to one of the sliders.

4. The thin-film storage device according to claim 1, wherein, The electronic adjustment device (17) is also programmed in a certain way to set the nominal torque (MS1, MS2) / nominal force of the servo motor, taking into account the component corresponding to the size adjustment and the component corresponding to the tension of the continuous film (2).

5. The thin-film storage device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, comprising an output-side storage region (5) and a storage region (4) connected in series upstream of the output-side storage region by means of at least one conveying unit (15), wherein, The conveying unit is configured to convey the continuous film (2) while simultaneously decoupling the tension in the storage area.

6. The thin-film storage device according to claim 5, wherein, The output-side storage area (5) is smaller than the storage area (4) connected in series upstream.

7. The thin-film reservoir according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein, The storage area (4, 5) includes an input-side conveying unit (14, 15) for the continuous film (2), and the film storage includes an electronic adjustment device (17) for adjusting the conveying speed (V1, V2) of the input-side conveying unit according to the output-side conveying speed (V2, V3) of the storage area.

8. The thin-film storage device according to claim 7, wherein, The regulating device (17) is programmed in a certain way so that the input side conveying speed (V1, V2) follows the corresponding output side conveying speed (V2, V3) with a reduced acceleration or deceleration or a reduced jolt.

9. The thin-film storage device according to claim 7, further comprising an output-side conveying unit (16) disposed downstream of the storage regions (4, 5), wherein, The regulating device (17) is configured to adjust the conveying speed (V1, V2) of the input side conveying units (14, 15) in a cascaded manner against the direction of belt operation, starting from the conveying speed (V3) of the output side conveying unit (16).

10. The thin-film storage device according to claim 8, further comprising an output-side conveying unit (16) disposed downstream of the storage regions (4, 5), wherein, The regulating device (17) is configured to adjust the conveying speed (V1, V2) of the input side conveying units (14, 15) in a cascaded manner against the direction of belt operation, starting from the conveying speed (V3) of the output side conveying unit (16).

11. An apparatus for providing a continuous film, comprising means for automatically and alternately conveying the film from parallel storage rollers and a downstream film storage tank (1) according to any one of the preceding claims.

12. A method for dynamically storing a strip of continuous film (2) in a film storage device (1), the film storage device comprising at least one storage region (4, 5), the storage region comprising an upper slider (6, 7) and a lower slider (8, 9) and a deflection roller (3) for the continuous film fixed on the slider, wherein, The continuous film is guided along a conveyor track (10, 11) that extends meandering between the upper and lower sliders, and the size of the film storage container is changed during storage operation by the reverse movement of the upper and lower sliders while compensating for each other's weight. The characteristic feature is that the upper and lower sliders are moved toward or away from each other by a servo motor that is torque-regulated or force-regulated, and the servo motor tensions the continuous film between the deflection rollers. In order to adjust the servo motor: the frictional resistance and / or moment of inertia of the sliders (6-9) during the reverse movement of the sliders are calculated by a machine, and based on this, the components of the nominal torque (MS1, MS2) or nominal force of the servo motor corresponding to the size adjustment of the storage area (4, 5) are calculated by a machine, and the servo motor is adjusted accordingly. The components of the nominal torque (MS1, MS2) / nominal force are continuously updated and superimposed with another component for generating belt tension, and the nominal torque (MS1, MS2) / nominal force are continuously adjusted so as not to exceed the allowable belt tension in the continuous film (2).

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein, Starting from the output side conveying speed (V3) of the thin film storage (1), the conveying speed (V1, V2) of the conveying units (14, 15, 16) for the continuous thin film (2) is adjusted in reverse to the direction of operation to define the storage area (4, 5).

14. The method according to claim 12 or 13, wherein, The maximum tension in the continuous film (2) is limited by adjusting the torque or force of the servo motor.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein, The maximum tension in the continuous film (2) is limited by setting minimum and / or maximum values ​​for a specific specification.

16. The method according to claim 12 or 13, wherein, The output-side conveying speed (V3) of the thin film storage (1) follows the speed curve of the continuous film (2) set downstream of the thin film storage, and by means of control cascading, the storage dynamic characteristics caused thereby in the storage area (5) on the output side are reduced in a certain way in at least one upstream storage area (4) of the thin film storage, so that more continuous film can be stored in the upstream storage area while following the maximum allowable belt tension compared to the storage area on the output side.

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