Replacement device for film roll and wrapping machine

Abstract

A replacement device (1) for replacing a roll (50) of a film or tape or web made of plastic and / or paper material, which can be associated with a wrapping machine (100) for automatically replacing a depleted roll (50 ') mounted on the wrapping machine (100) with a new roll (50), comprises: a support frame (12); a moving arm (13) rotatably fixed to the support frame (12) and rotatably supporting the support element (14); a support element (14) supporting at least one reel changing carriage (10) provided with a first reel holder shaft (34) for accommodating a new reel (50) of film or tape or web; the replacement device (1) further comprises a connecting element (15) having opposite ends (15a, 15b) rotatably connected to the support element (14) and the support frame (12), respectively, to form an articulated parallelogram mechanism with the support element and the support frame and with the moving arm (13); the device comprises a first drive device (5) for rotating the moving arm (13) between a non-working position (A), in which the support element (14) is at a large distance from the wrapping machine (100), and a working position (B), in which the support element (14) is closest to the wrapping machine (100).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a system and a device for automatically changing reels of film, tape or web made of plastic and / or paper material in a wrapping machine arranged to wrap one or more products stacked on a platform or pallet with said film, tape or web to form a palletized load. The invention also relates to a wrapping machine provided with at least one device for automatically changing reels of film, tape or web made of plastic and / or paper material. Background Art

[0002] Known wrapping machines comprise an unwinding device which is movable along and / or around a winding axis and which supports a roll of film or tape or web which is unwound from the unwinding device and wrapped around a load, by a combination of relative linear and rotational motion between the unwinding device and the load, to form a series of strips or tapes which generally have a helical orientation.

[0003] In wrapping machines provided with a rotating table to support the load, during the wrapping cycle the load rotates about a vertical winding axis, while the unwinding device moves alternately parallel to the winding axis along a fixed upright of the wrapping machine.

[0004] In wrapping machines equipped with a rotating arm, the load remains stationary during the wrapping process, while the unwinding device rotates relative to the load about a vertical wrapping axis and translates parallel to the wrapping axis. To this end, the unwinding device is fixed to an annular structure or an arm rotatably supported by the machine frame so as to rotate around the load.

[0005] The unwinding equipment mainly includes: a support frame, which is fixed to a rotating ring or a rotating arm, or the support frame is slidably connected to a fixed column, and the support frame rotatably supports the roll holder shaft on which the film roll is mounted; a pair of pre-stretching rollers for stretching and unwinding the film; and one or more guide rollers or return rollers for turning the film towards the load during the unwinding process.

[0006] The film is unwound from a roll and wrapped around the aforementioned rollers according to a wrapping path that allows correct unwinding and allows the set pre-stretching or elongation to be achieved.

[0007] If the film is used up, the roll must be replaced with a new roll.

[0008] If the roll is of the type comprising an elongated central core, usually made of cardboard or plastic, around which the film is wrapped, the core without film must be removed from the roll holder shaft of the unwinding device.

[0009] This changing procedure is usually done manually by one or more operators who, after stopping the machine and positioning the unwinding device at a suitable height from the ground, proceed to remove the core of the exhausted roll (if any) from the corresponding roll holder shaft and / or insert and lock a new film roll.

[0010] At this point, the initial flap of film or tape needs to be picked up from the new roll and wrapped around the pre-stretching and guide rollers or return rollers according to the desired wrapping path until it is clamped by the clamps of the unwinding equipment in order to retain the flap during the initial wrapping step of the product.

[0011] Besides being tiring for operators, these manual interventions are also extremely slow and require significant machine downtime, which reduces production efficiency.

[0012] To overcome these inconveniences, in some high-performance wrapping machines, especially those with rotating rings or rotating arms, the changing process is carried out automatically without operator intervention.

[0013] To this end, these machines comprise a roll changing device comprising a roll changing carriage provided with new rolls that can be moved away from or towards the wrapping machine, and a possible removal device for removing the spent rolls, which is usually positioned separately from the carriage and is usually located on the other side of the machine.

[0014] During the roll change process, after the spent roll has been removed by the removal device, the roll change carriage moves closer to the working position of the wrapping machine to provide a new roll, which is automatically inserted into the roll holder shaft of the unwinding device of the wrapping machine due to the lifting, lowering and rotation movements of the unwinding device performed by the wrapping machine.

[0015] However, the initial flap of film or tape being unwound from a new roll needs to be manually wrapped around the rollers of the unwinding apparatus, a process that is laborious and slow.

[0016] Alternatively, a changeover device is known that includes a roll-changing carriage that can be moved toward and away from the machine. In addition to being loaded with a new roll, this carriage also has a support around which the initial flap of film or tape unwound from the roll is wrapped manually by the operator and locked in the unwound position by a retaining clip fixed to the carriage itself. This support is sized and positioned so that, when the unwinding device is lowered into the roll-changing operating position on the carriage, it is adjacent to the pre-stretching and guide rollers of the unwinding device. The film flap is then disengaged from the support and automatically transferred and wrapped onto the pre-stretching and guide rollers.

[0017] In the inoperative position of the carriage away from the wrapping machine, the operator can continue to position new rolls onto the wrapping machine.

[0018] In order to increase the operating autonomy of the wrapping machine, a changing device is known which comprises a plurality of roll changing carriages which can be moved along guides or straight rails between respective inoperative positions and operative positions in the working area for changing rolls. In the inoperative position, the carriages are spaced apart from the working area of ​​the wrapping machine in order not to interfere with the operation of the wrapping machine.

[0019] A disadvantage of this changing device is its size, since the changing device comprises linear guides and a roll changing carriage which completely occupies at least one side of the wrapping machine, thereby limiting the accessibility to the machine and its components and the possibility of positioning auxiliary operating units such as labels, graphic markings, or units for inserting corner protections on the load, etc. Summary of the Invention

[0020] The object of the present invention is to improve the known changing device for automatically changing rolls of film or tape or web made of plastic and / or paper material in wrapping machines.

[0021] Another object is to provide a changing device of limited and compact dimensions that allows full access to the wrapping machine.

[0022] Another object of the present invention is to provide a changing device that allows the automatic changing of multiple reels without operator intervention.

[0023] Another object is to provide a wrapping machine provided with a roll changing device that has limited and compact dimensions and that allows for the automatic changing of a plurality of rolls, thus ensuring a high operational autonomy of the wrapping machine.

[0024] In a first aspect of the invention, according to claim 1 , there is provided a changing device for changing rolls of film or tape or web made of plastic and / or paper material.

[0025] In a second aspect of the invention, according to claim 12, there is provided a changing device for changing rolls of film or tape or web made of plastic and / or paper material. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] The invention may be better understood and implemented with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate exemplary and non-limiting embodiments of the invention, in which:

[0027] - Figure 1 is a top perspective view of a first embodiment of a replacement device for rolls of film, tape or web according to the invention, the replacement device being in a non-operating position;

[0028] - Figure 2 yes Figure 1 A bottom perspective view of the replacement device;

[0029] - Figure 3 yes Figure 1 A top plan view of the replacement equipment;

[0030] - Figure 4 is a top plan view of the replacement device of the present invention, the replacement device being in a roll replacement working position;

[0031] - Figure 5 yes Figure 1 A partial enlarged perspective view of the replacement device, specifically showing the clamping clamps of the initial wing of the film or belt or mesh;

[0032] - Figure 6 yes Figure 1 an enlarged perspective view of a removal device of a changing device, the removal device being configured to remove exhausted reels from an unwinding device of a wrapping machine associated with the changing device;

[0033] - Figure 7 yes Figure 1 A perspective view of a replacement device associated with a rotary ring wrapping machine in a non-operating configuration;

[0034] - Figure 8 yes Figure 7 A top view of the changing equipment and wrapping machine;

[0035] - Figure 9 yes Figure 7 A top view of the wrapping machine and the replacement device of the present invention in the roll replacement working position;

[0036] - Figure 10 is a top view of the changing devices associated with the rotary ring wrapping machine of the present invention, wherein one of the changing devices is in a roll changing working position and the other changing device is in a non-working position;

[0037] - Figure 11 and Figure 12 a plan view and a top view, respectively, of a second embodiment of a device for changing rolls of film or tape, the device being in an inoperative position;

[0038] - Figure 13 and Figure 14 They are Figure 11 a plan view and a top view of the replacement device, with the replacement device in the middle position;

[0039] - Figure 15 and Figure 16 They are Figure 11 A plan view and a top perspective view of the replacement device, which is in the roll replacement working position;

[0040] - Figure 17 yes Figure 11 a perspective view of a replacement device associated with a rotating ring wrapping machine and in a non-operating position;

[0041] - Figure 18 yes Figure 17 A top view of the changing equipment and wrapping machine. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0042] refer to Figures 1 to 6 , shows a device 1 according to the invention for replacing rolls 50 of film, tape or web made of plastic and / or paper material, which is associated with a wrapping machine 100 for automatically replacing an exhausted roll 50' mounted on the wrapping machine 100 with a new roll 50.

[0043] More precisely, the changing device 1 of the invention is mounted adjacent to a working area L of a wrapping machine 100, for example of the rotary ring type ( Figures 7 to 9 ), in which a load (not shown) is wrapped with a film or tape or a web, the changing device 1 allows an exhausted roll 50' of film or tape, i.e. a cardboard or plastic core of the film or tape, to be removed from an unwinding device 110 of a wrapping machine 100, and / or a new roll 50 of film or tape to be loaded onto the unwinding device 110, as described below.

[0044] If the roll 50 of film or tape or web used on the wrapping machine 100 is a coreless roll, i.e. there is no core around which the film is wrapped, it is not necessary to remove the exhausted roll from the unwinding device 110, because during the operation of the bending machine, the film is completely unwound from the corresponding roll holder shaft 111 of the unwinding device 110.

[0045] In addition to a corresponding roll holder shaft 111 arranged to receive and support the roll 50, the unwinding device 110 also includes a plurality of pre-stretching rollers 112, 113 and guide rollers 114, which are suitable for unwinding the film or tape from the roll 50 and possibly pre-stretching the film or tape.

[0046] The changing device 1 comprises a support frame 2, a mobile arm 3, a first end 3a of which is fixed to the support frame 2 in a manner rotatable about a first rotation axis X1, in particular a vertical axis, a support element 4, which is fixed to the second end 3b of the mobile arm 3 in a manner rotatable about a second rotation axis X2, in particular parallel to the first rotation axis X1, and a plurality of roll changing carriages 10 fixed to the support element 4. Each roll changing carriage 10 comprises a first roll holder shaft 34 suitable for receiving a new roll 50 of film or tape made of plastic and / or paper material in order to mount the new roll on the wrapping machine 100.

[0047] When using rolls of film or tape or web with a core, each roll-changing carriage 10 also comprises a removal device 20 configured to remove and retain the exhausted roll 50 ′ from the wrapping machine 100 .

[0048] The changing device 1 further comprises first drive means 5 and second drive means 6 for rotating the moving arm 3 and the supporting element 4, respectively.

[0049] More precisely, the first drive device 5 is configured to rotate the mobile arm 3 about the first rotation axis X1 between a non-working position A and a working position B, wherein in the non-working position A, the support element 4 is arranged further away from the wrapping machine 100, and in the working position B, the support element 4 is arranged closer to the wrapping machine 100.

[0050] The second drive device 6 is configured to rotate the support element 4 about the second rotation axis X2 so as to position an established roll change carriage 10 among a plurality of roll change carriages into a change position, in particular when the mobile arm 3 is arranged in the working position B to receive an exhausted roll 50' and / or to supply a new roll 50.

[0051] The spool-changing carriage 10 is fixed to the supporting element 4 and is angularly spaced about the second axis of rotation X2 .

[0052] In the embodiment shown, the changing device 1 of the invention comprises two roll changing carriages 10 spaced apart by an angle of 180°. However, it is conceivable that three or more roll changing carriages 10 are fixed to the supporting element 4, in which case the roll changing carriages 10 are spaced apart by an angle of 120° or 360°, whichever is smaller, depending on the number of roll changing carriages 10.

[0053] Specific reference Figure 1 and Figure 2The supporting frame 2 comprises, for example, a base 41 , in particular a plate-like member fixed to and supported by a plurality of supporting rods 42 having supporting feet 43 and connected to one another.

[0054] The first drive device 5 comprises, for example, a first toothed fifth wheel 7 fixed to the support frame 2, in particular to the base 41, the first toothed fifth wheel 7 being rotatably connected to the first end 3a of the mobile arm 3 and supporting the first end 3a of the mobile arm 3, and a first rotary actuator 31 fixed to the mobile arm 3 and arranged to drive the first toothed wheel 8 engaged with the first toothed fifth wheel 7.

[0055] The first actuator 31 comprises, for example, a first electric gear motor which rotatably drives the first toothed wheel 8 engaged with the circumferential external teeth of the first toothed fifth wheel 7. By rotating the first toothed wheel 8 on and along the external teeth of the first toothed fifth wheel 7, the mobile arm 3 rotates accordingly.

[0056] The second drive device 6 comprises, for example, a second toothed fifth wheel 17 fixed to the second end 3 b of the mobile arm 3 and a second rotary actuator 32 fixed to the support element 4 and arranged to drive the second toothed wheel 18 engaged with the second toothed fifth wheel 17.

[0057] The second actuator 31 comprises, for example, a second electric gear motor which rotatably drives the second toothed wheel 18 which engages with the circumferential external teeth of the second toothed fifth wheel 17. By rotating the second toothed wheel 18 on and along the external teeth of the second toothed fifth wheel, the support element 4 and the reel-changing carriage 10 supported by it rotate accordingly.

[0058] Each roll changing carriage 10 comprises a plurality of abutment elements 35 of known type, around which the initial flap 51a of the film 51 unwound from the new roll 50 can be wrapped in a circular path, and a clamping jaw 36 adapted to hold one end of the unwound initial flap of the film and arranged around the abutment element 35.

[0059] Specific reference Figure 5The clamping jaws 36 mounted on the respective support arms 37 include a first fixed clamping element 36a and a second flexible clamping element 36b, which are fixed to each other and configured to receive and hold the end of the initial flap 51a of the membrane. The clamping jaws 36 also include a blade 38 adapted to cut the remaining portion of the membrane simply by pulling the initial flap downward.

[0060] The roll holder shaft 34 of the roll changing carriage 10 - on which the new roll 50 of film or tape is inserted - is also of a known type, in particular retractable or telescopic, since it can be pushed downwards in an almost vertical insertion direction H by the roll holder shaft 111 of the unwinding device 110, thereby transferring the new roll 50 to the unwinding device.

[0061] Patent EP 2 097 323 in the name of the applicant discloses a roll changing carriage of this type.

[0062] The removal device 20 that can be mounted on each roll changing carriage 10 comprises: a container 21, for example tubular, which is suitable for receiving, in particular partially receiving, an exhausted roll 50', in particular the core of the roll; a base element 22, which is fixed to the bottom wall 21a of the container 21 inside the container 21, and the base element 22 is provided with a side wall 23, which forms a flat support surface, which is suitable for abutting and supporting the exhausted roll 50'.

[0063] For example, the applicant's patent application WO 2022 / 101838 discloses such a removal device.

[0064] The device also comprises a pair of locking jaws 25 fixed to the outside of the container 21 and operable in a clamping position to lock the spent roll 50 to the removal device 20 and allow the spent roll 50 to be detached from the wrapping machine 100 .

[0065] Special References Figure 6 Each locking pliers 25 is moved between a clamping position and a disengaged position by a respective actuator 28 , such as a linear pneumatic or electric actuator.

[0066] The removal device 20 of each reel changing carriage 10 is fixed to its supporting structure 19 by means of elastic means 26 so as to be able to be elastically moved in an insertion direction H, in particular a substantially vertical direction, along which the spent reel 50 ′ is moved and inserted into the removal device 20 during the changing process, as will be explained in more detail below.

[0067] Alternatively, in a not shown variant of the changing device of the invention, the removal device 20 can be slidably fixed to the support structure 19 of the corresponding roll changing carriage 10 and can be moved in the insertion direction H, in particular in a substantially vertical direction, by a third drive device to adjust the height of the removal device 20 relative to the support structure 19, in particular in the case of supporting the exhausted roll 50', for example so as not to interfere with the normal operation of the wrapping machine 100.

[0068] Special References Figures 7 to 9 , shows a wrapping machine 100 comprising a changing device 1 according to the invention, positioned at one of the supporting columns of the frame of the wrapping machine 100, close to the working area L of the wrapping machine. The wrapping machine 100 is, for example, a rotary ring machine, comprising a frame 102 provided with four supporting columns 103 supporting a moving device 101 arranged to move an unwinding device 110 parallel to and / or about the wrapping axis W, thereby allowing the load to be wrapped using a film or tape unwound from a reel 50 positioned on the unwinding device 110.

[0069] In particular, the moving device 101 includes a carriage 104 movable along a support column 103 and a horizontal ring 105 rotatably connected to and supported by the carriage 104 so as to rotate about the wrapping axis W and support the unwinding device 110 .

[0070] In the non-working position A, the changing device 1 is arranged to occupy a limited space on one side of the wrapping machine 100, as can be seen in the figure, thereby allowing almost complete accessibility to the wrapping machine 100 itself, in particular to its working area L.

[0071] refer to Figure 10 The wrapping machine 100 may comprise a pair of changing devices 1 according to the invention, positioned on corresponding support columns 103 of the frame 102 of the wrapping machine 100 and close to the working area L of the wrapping machine. Figure 10 In FIG. 1 , the changing device 1 is in the working position B, wherein one of the two corresponding roll changing carriages 10 is in the changing position and the other changing device 1 is in the non-working position A.

[0072] Likewise, in the corresponding non-working position A, the changing device 1 is arranged to occupy a limited space on one side of the wrapping machine 100 , in particular the working area L of the wrapping machine, thereby allowing wide accessibility.

[0073] The two changing devices 1 allow the automatic changing of four rolls of film or tape without operator intervention, thus giving the wrapping machine a high degree of operational autonomy.

[0074] It should be noted that the number of replacement devices 1 associated with the wrapping machine 100 can be selected depending on the layout of the production plant in which the wrapping machine is located and / or the presence of accessory operating units, such as units for inserting corner protection devices, labels or graphic marking units, etc. on the load.

[0075] The operation of the replacement device 1 associated with the wrapping machine 100 of the present invention is envisaged as follows: during the replacement of the exhausted roll of film or tape 50 mounted on the unwinding device 110, the first drive device 5 is started to rotate the mobile arm 3 around the first rotation axis X1 to move from the non-working position A to the working position B, thereby bringing the support element 4 and the roll replacement slide 10 closer to the wrapping machine 100, in particular the working area L.

[0076] The second drive device 6 can also be activated to rotate the support element 4 about the second rotation axis X2 in order to position the provided reel change carriage 10 in a change position for receiving a spent reel 50 ′ and / or retrieving a new reel 50 .

[0077] The wrapping machine 100 automatically performs the reel replacement process in the following manner: by appropriately controlling the moving device 101, the unwinding device 110 is moved and / or positioned at a removal position for transferring the exhausted reel 50' to the set reel replacement carriage 10 and / or a pickup position for picking up a new reel 50 from the reel replacement carriage 10.

[0078] More precisely, in the removal position (if the reel contains a core), the unwinding device 110 is positioned so that its reel holder shaft 111 overlaps and is aligned with the removal device 20 of the reel changing carriage 10. Thus, when the unwinding device 110 is lowered and moved in the insertion direction H, the spent reel 50' (i.e. the core) is inserted into the container 21 until the core abuts and rests on the base element 22, so that the spent reel 50 is disengaged from the reel holder shaft 111 of the unwinding device 110, making it possible to lift the unwinding device 110 to release the spent reel 50'. The spent reel remains contained in the container 21 and is held by the locking jaws 25 in the clamping position.

[0079] In the case of a "coreless" reel, when or immediately after the spent reel 50' is transferred to the reel changing carriage 10, the reel changing carriage 10 is moved to the pick-up position, with its reel holder shaft 111 being superimposed and aligned with the reel holder shaft 34 of the reel changing carriage 10 supporting the new reel 50. Therefore, when the unwinding device 110 is lowered and moved in the insertion direction H, the reel holder shaft 111 is gradually inserted into the new reel 50, thereby pushing the reel holder shaft 34 of the reel changing carriage 10 downwards until it is completely disengaged from the new reel 50.

[0080] At the same time, the initial flap 51a of the film 51 unwound from the new roll 50 is wrapped around the abutment element 35 according to a circular path, and the pre-stretching rollers 112, 113 and the guide roller 114 of the unwinding device 110 are inserted between the abutment elements 35, wherein the ends of the film are held by the clamping clamp 36.

[0081] The initial flap 51a of the film is then transferred (e.g., by lowering and disengaging the abutment element 35) so as to be wrapped around the pre-stretching rollers 112, 113 and guide rollers 114 of the unwinding device 110, which can be lifted and separated from the roll changing slide 10 for further wrapping operations.

[0082] Then, the mobile arm 3 of the changing device 1 is rotated by the first drive means 5 about the first rotation axis X1 from the working position B to the inoperative position A, so as to move the roll changing carriage 10 away from the working area L and allow the wrapping machine 100 to operate.

[0083] The second drive device 6 is activated to rotate the support element 4 about the second axis of rotation X2, thereby positioning the roll changing carriage 10, which is still loaded with a new roll, in the changing position, while the roll changing carriage 10, which is not loaded with a new roll but supports the exhausted roll 50', is in the opposite position. In this position, the roll changing carriage 10 faces outwards relative to the wrapping machine and is more accessible to the operator, so that he can easily remove the exhausted roll 50' from the roll holder shaft 34 and insert a new roll 50 onto the roll holder shaft 34 and wrap the initial flap around the abutment element 35.

[0084] Thus, the roll changing device 1 of the present invention allows for the automatic changing of multiple rolls without the need for operator intervention. In practice, the support element 4 can support two or more roll changing carriages 10, each of which can receive an exhausted roll 50' from the unwinding device 110 of the wrapping machine and / or supply the unwinding device with a new roll 50.

[0085] The changing device 1 of the invention also has a limited and compact encumbrance which, together with the positioning of the changing device close to the wrapping machine, allows full accessibility to the wrapping machine.

[0086] refer to Figures 11 to 16 , discloses a second embodiment of the replacement device 1 of the present invention, which is different from the above embodiments and Figures 1 to 6 The illustrated embodiment differs only in that, in addition to a moving arm 13 (rotatably supported by a support frame 12 and rotatably supporting a support element 14 supporting at least one reel changer 10), it also includes a connecting element 15 having opposite ends 15a and 15b, which are rotatably connected to the support element 14 and the support frame 12, respectively. Together with the moving arm 13, the support element 14, and the support frame 12, the connecting element 15 forms an articulated parallelogram mechanism that prevents the support element 14 and the reel changer 10 secured thereto from rotating during rotation of the moving arm 13 about a first rotation axis X1 from an inoperative position A to an operative position B, and vice versa. Specifically, in this articulated parallelogram mechanism, the support frame 12 serves as the fixed element, the support element 14 acts as a connecting rod, and the moving arm 13 and the connecting element 15 act as a rocker. The connecting element 15 comprises a tubular tie rod.

[0087] Likewise, in this embodiment, the movable arm 13 is provided with a first end 13a fixed to the support frame 12, which first end can rotate around a first rotation axis X1, in particular a vertical rotation axis, and the support element 14 is fixed to a second end 13b of the movable arm 13, which second end can rotate around a second rotation axis X2.

[0088] exist Figures 11 to 16 In the embodiment shown, the supporting frame 12 comprises, for example, a base 61 which in particular comprises a profiled plate comprising a central portion to which the first end 13 a of the mobile arm 13 is rotatably fixed.

[0089] The movable arm 13 is arranged to be in the non-working position A ( Figure 11 and Figure 12 ) and working position B( Figure 15 and Figure 16 ) between the first drive device 5 and Figures 1 to 6, and comprises, for example, a first toothed fifth wheel 7 fixed to the support frame 12, in particular the base 61, and rotatably connected to and supporting the first end 13a of the mobile arm 13, and a first rotary actuator 31 fixed to the mobile arm 13 and arranged to drive the first toothed wheel 8 engaged with the first toothed fifth wheel 7.

[0090] By means of an articulated parallelogram mechanism, the rotation of the mobile arm 13 about the first axis of rotation X1 causes a linear displacement of the support element 14 according to two mutually orthogonal displacement directions X and Y.

[0091] In the embodiment shown, the changing device 1 of the invention comprises a single roll changing carriage 10 which is connected to the Figures 1 to 6 The roll changing carriage 10 disclosed in the embodiment is the same.

[0092] However, in an alternative embodiment not shown, it is conceivable that Figures 11 to 16 A variant of the changing device 1 can comprise a plurality of reel changing carriages 10 fixed to a support element 14, these reel changing carriages 10 being angularly spaced apart about a third axis of rotation. In this case, in practice, a further supporting element is mounted on the support element 14, also in the form of a plate-like element and rotatable about the aforementioned third axis of rotation, which is parallel to the first and second axes of rotation X1, X2, and which supports the plurality of reel changing carriages 10.

[0093] A second drive is provided to rotate the further support element about the third axis of rotation in order to position the provided reel change carriage 10 in the change position, in particular when the movable arm 13 is arranged in the working position B.

[0094] Figure 17 and Figure 18 A wrapping machine 100 is shown, which includes Figures 11 to 16 The embodiment of the replacement device 1 disclosed and shown in FIG. 1 is positioned on one of the support columns 103 of the frame 102 of the wrapping machine and close to the working area L of the wrapping machine, in particular when the mobile arm 13 is in the non-working position A. The wrapping machine 100 and Figures 8 to 10 The same as disclosed in.

[0095] The operation of this embodiment of the replacement device 1 of the present invention is similar to that described above. Figures 1 to 6 The operation of the embodiment is the same.

[0096] It should be noted that in the non-working position A, the changing device 1 is arranged to occupy a limited space on one side of the wrapping machine 100, as can be seen in the figure, thereby allowing almost complete accessibility to the wrapping machine 100 itself, in particular the working area L of the wrapping machine 100.

[0097] Furthermore, due to the articulated parallelogram mechanism formed by the support frame 12, the support element 14, the movable arm 13 and the connecting element 15, the changing device 1 has particularly compact dimensions and a minimal footprint even when moving between the non-working position A and the working position B.

Claims

1. A replacement device (1) for replacing rolls (50) of film, tape or web made of plastic and / or paper material, said replacement device (1) being able to be associated with a wrapping machine (100) for automatically replacing an exhausted roll (50') mounted on said wrapping machine (100) with a new roll (50), said replacement device (1) comprising: - a supporting frame (12); a mobile arm (13) provided with a first end (13a) fixed to the support frame (12) in a rotatable manner about a first axis of rotation (X1), in particular vertical; a support element (14) fixed to the second end (13b) of the mobile arm (13) in a manner rotatable about a second rotation axis (X2), in particular parallel to the first rotation axis (X1); at least one roll-changing carriage (10) fixed to the supporting element (14) and provided with a first roll-holder shaft (34) suitable for receiving a new roll (50) of film or tape or web to be mounted on the wrapping machine (100); a connecting element (15) having opposite ends (15a, 15b) which are rotatably connected to the support element (14) and to the support frame (12), respectively, so as to form, together with the support element (14), the support frame (12) and the mobile arm (13), an articulated parallelogram mechanism which prevents the roll-changing carriage (10) from rotating during the rotation of the mobile arm (13) about the first rotation axis (X1); - a first drive device (5), which is used to rotate the mobile arm (13) around the first rotation axis (X1) between a non-working position (A) and a working position (B), in which the support element (14) is at a large distance from the wrapping machine (100) and in which the support element (14) is closest to the wrapping machine (100) to receive the exhausted roll (50') and / or supply the new roll (50).

2. The replacement device (1) according to claim 1 comprises a plurality of roll replacement slides (10) fixed to the support element (14), in particular, a plurality of the roll replacement slides (10) are fixed to the support element (14) in a manner that they are angularly spaced apart from each other.

3. The replacement device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The first driving device (5) includes a first toothed fifth wheel (7) and a first rotary actuator (31), wherein the first toothed fifth wheel (7) is fixed to the supporting frame (12) and the first toothed fifth wheel (7) rotatably supports the first end portion (13a) of the moving arm (13), the first rotary actuator (31) is fixed to the moving arm (13) and is configured to operate the first toothed wheel (8) and the first toothed wheel (8) is engaged with the first toothed fifth wheel (7).

4. The replacement device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein Each roll-changing carriage (10) comprises a plurality of abutment elements (35) and clamping pliers (36), with which an initial flap (51a) of a film or tape or web (51) unwound from the new roll (50) can be wound around the abutment elements (35) in a circular path, and with which the clamping pliers (36) can hold the end of the initial flap (51a) arranged around the abutment elements (35).

5. Changing device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein Each roll changing carriage (10) comprises a removal device (20) configured to remove an exhausted roll (50') from the wrapping machine (100) and to retain the exhausted roll (50').

6. The replacement device (1) according to claim 5, wherein The removal device (20) of each roll changing carriage (10) comprises: a container (21) suitable for receiving the exhausted roll (50'); a base element (22) fixed to the bottom wall (21a) of the container (21) inside the container (21), and the base element (22) is provided with side walls (23), the side walls (23) forming a flat support surface suitable for abutting and supporting the exhausted roll (50'); and a pair of locking pliers (25) fixed to the outside of the container (21) and capable of working in a clamping position to lock the exhausted roll (50') to the removal device (20) and allow the exhausted roll to be detached from the wrapping machine (100).

7. The replacement device (1) according to claim 5 or 6, wherein: The removal device (20) of each roll changing carriage (10) is fixed to the supporting structure (19) of the corresponding roll changing carriage (10) by elastic means (26) so that the removal device (20) can be elastically moved along an insertion direction (H), in particular, the insertion direction (H) is substantially vertical, and the spent roll (50') is moved along the insertion direction (H) and inserted into the removal device (20).

8. The replacement device (1) according to any one of claims 5 to 7, wherein The removal device (20) of each roll changing carriage (10) is slidably fixed to the support structure (19) of the corresponding roll changing carriage (10), and the removal device (20) can be moved along the insertion direction (H) by a third drive device to adjust the height of the removal device (20) relative to the support structure (19), in particular, the insertion direction (H) is basically vertical, and the exhausted roll (50') moves along the insertion direction (H) and is inserted into the removal device (50).

9. A wrapping machine (100), comprising: An unwinding device (110) supporting a roll (50) of a film, tape or mesh made of plastic and / or paper material; a moving device (101) for moving the unwinding device (110) parallel to and / or around a wrapping axis (W) to wrap a load with the film, tape or mesh unwound from the roll (50); and at least one changing device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

10. The wrapping machine (100) according to claim 9, wherein The unwinding device (110) can be moved to a removal position by the moving device (101) to provide the exhausted roll (50') to the roll changing carriage (10) of at least one of the changing devices (1) arranged in the working position (B), and / or the unwinding device (110) can be moved to a pick-up position by the moving device (101) to obtain a new roll (50) from the roll changing carriage (10).

11. The wrapping machine (100) according to claim 9 or 10, comprising a plurality of changing devices (1).

12. A replacement device (1) for replacing rolls (50) of film, tape or web made of plastic and / or paper material, said replacement device (1) being able to be associated with a wrapping machine (100) for automatically replacing an exhausted roll (50') mounted on said wrapping machine (100) with a new roll (50), said replacement device (1) comprising: - a supporting frame (2); - a mobile arm (3) provided with a first end (3a) fixed to the supporting frame (2) in a manner rotatable about a first axis of rotation (X1), in particular vertical; - a support element (4) fixed to the second end (3b) of the mobile arm (3) in a manner rotatable about a second rotation axis (X2), in particular parallel to the first rotation axis (X1); a plurality of roll-changing carriages (10) fixed to the supporting element (4) and each of which comprises a first roll-holder shaft (34) adapted to receive a new roll (50) of film or tape to be mounted on the wrapping machine (100); - a first drive device (5) for rotating the mobile arm (3) about the first rotation axis (X1) between a non-operating position (A) in which the support element (4) is at a greater distance from the wrapping machine (100) and an operating position (B) in which the support element (4) is closest to the wrapping machine (100); - a second drive device (6) for rotating the support element (4) about the second rotation axis (X2) to position a defined roll-changing carriage (10) among the plurality of roll-changing carriages in a replacement position, in particular, to position a defined roll-changing carriage (10) among the plurality of roll-changing carriages in a replacement position when the movable arm (3) is positioned in the working position (B), so as to receive the exhausted roll (50') and / or supply the new roll (50); The first driving device (5) comprises a first toothed fifth wheel (7) and a first rotary actuator (31), wherein the first toothed fifth wheel (7) is fixed to the supporting frame (2), and the first toothed fifth wheel (7) supports the first end portion (3a) of the moving arm (3) in a rotatable manner, the first rotary actuator (31) is fixed to the moving arm (13), and the first rotary actuator (31) is configured to drive the first toothed wheel (8), and the first toothed wheel (8) is in contact with the first toothed wheel (8). The invention relates to a method for producing a toothed fifth wheel (7) engaged with the first toothed fifth wheel (7), and wherein the second drive device (6) comprises a second toothed fifth wheel (17) and a second rotary actuator (32), the second toothed fifth wheel (17) being fixed to the second end (3b) of the mobile arm (3), the second rotary actuator (32) being fixed to the support element (4), and the second rotary actuator (32) being arranged to drive the second toothed wheel (8), the second toothed wheel (8) being engaged with the second toothed fifth wheel (17).

13. The replacement device (1) according to claim 12, wherein The reel change carriages (10) of a plurality of the reel change carriages (10) are fixed to the support element (4) in such a manner that they are angularly spaced apart from one another around the second axis of rotation (X2).

14. The replacement device (1) according to claim 12 or 13, wherein Each roll changing carriage (10) comprises a plurality of abutment elements (35) and clamping jaws (36), wherein an initial flap (51a) of a film or tape or web (51) unwound from the new reel (50) can be wound around the abutment elements (35) in a circular path, and wherein the clamping jaws (36) can hold the end of the initial flap (51a) arranged around the abutment elements (35).

15. Changing device (1) according to any one of claims 12 to 14, wherein Each roll changing carriage (10) comprises a removal device (20) configured to remove an exhausted roll (50') from the wrapping machine (100) and to retain the exhausted roll (50').

16. The replacement device (1) according to claim 15, wherein The removal device (20) of each roll changing carriage (10) comprises: a container (21) suitable for receiving the exhausted roll (50'); a base element (22) fixed to the bottom wall (21a) of the container (21) inside the container (21), and the base element (22) is provided with side walls (23), the side walls (23) forming a flat support surface suitable for abutting and supporting the exhausted roll (50'); and a pair of locking pliers (25) fixed to the outside of the container (21) and capable of working in a clamping position to lock the exhausted roll (50) to the removal device (20) and allow the exhausted roll to be detached from the wrapping machine (100).

17. The replacement device (1) according to claim 15 or 16, wherein The removal device (20) of each roll changing carriage (10) is fixed to the supporting structure (19) of the corresponding roll changing carriage (10) by elastic means (26) so that the removal device (20) can be elastically moved along an insertion direction (H), in particular, the insertion direction (H) is substantially vertical, and the spent roll (50') is moved along the insertion direction (H) and inserted into the removal device (20).

18. Changing device (1) according to any one of claims 15 to 17, wherein The removal device (20) of each roll changing carriage (10) is slidably fixed to the support structure (19) of the corresponding roll changing carriage (10), and the removal device (20) can be moved along the insertion direction (H) by a third drive device to adjust the height of the removal device relative to the support structure (19), in particular, the insertion direction (H) is basically vertical, and the exhausted roll (50') moves along the insertion direction (H) and is inserted into the removal device (50).

19. A wrapping machine (100), comprising: An unwinding device (110) supporting a roll (50) of film, tape or mesh made of plastic and / or paper material; a moving device (101) for moving the unwinding device (110) parallel to and / or around a wrapping axis (W) to wrap a load with the film, tape or mesh unwound from the roll (50); and at least one changing device (1) according to any one of claims 12 to 18.

20. The wrapping machine (100) according to claim 19, wherein The unwinding device (110) can be moved to a removal position by the moving device (101) to provide the exhausted roll (50') to the roll changing carriage (10) of at least one of the changing devices (1) arranged in the working position (B), and / or the unwinding device (110) can be moved to a pick-up position by the moving device (101) to obtain a new roll (50) from the roll changing carriage (10).

21. The wrapping machine (100) according to claim 19 or 20, comprising a plurality of changing devices (1).

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