Method for unwinding and splicing reels of articles made of flexible material, and module for implementing the method

Abstract

The invention relates to a method, and the module (1) for implementing same, for unwinding and splicing reels (2) of articles made of flexible material. According to the invention, the method comprises steps of: A) unwinding a full reel (2) from an unwinding station (4), the reel being positioned on a rotary assembly (3); B) during the unwinding of the reel, positioning a new, full reel (2) on the rotary assembly (3) from a reloading station (5); C) when the unwound reel is empty, pivoting the rotary assembly (3) in order to move the empty reel to the reloading station (5) and, concomitantly, the full reel to the unwinding station (4); D) splicing an initial end of the article from the full reel with a final end of the article obtained from the empty reel, and unwinding the full reel from the unwinding station (4); E) from the reloading station (5), removing the empty reel and positioning a new, full reel; - recommencing the method at step C) as many times as is necessary.

Description

Description Title of the invention: Method for unwinding and splicing reels of flexible material articles, and module for implementing said method technical field

[0001] The invention relates to the technical field of unwinding reels of flexible articles, such as strips or sheets of fabric, plastic film, rubber, or any other product that can be wound and unwound. More particularly, the invention relates to a method for unwinding and splicing such reels, as well as a module for implementing said method. Previous art

[0002] In the current state of the art, it is known to unwind a reel of an article made of flexible material by means of an unwinder adapted to drive the reel in rotation to feed a downstream machine, or to brake the rotation of the reel to put the unwound article under tension in the case where the downstream machine pulls and swallows said article.

[0003] When a reel is empty, it is necessary to replace it with a new reel while maintaining the continuity of the item by splicing the end end of the item from the empty reel with the beginning end of the item from the new reel.

[0004] The configuration of an unwinder is complex and presents several drawbacks, particularly related to the time required for the various reel handling operations. Indeed, the operations of removing the empty reel and reloading a full one generate a loss of efficiency due to the downtime of the downstream machine.

[0005] There is known document US2009 / 116948 which describes a process and module for unwinding and splicing reels of articles made of flexible material, which do not give complete satisfaction. Description of the invention

[0006] One of the aims of the invention is therefore to remedy the aforementioned problems by providing a method and module for unwinding and splicing reels. articles made of flexible material whose performance is optimized, i.e. including the shortest possible stopping cycles between splicing a full reel with an empty reel.

[0007] To this end, a remarkable process for unwinding and splicing reels of flexible material articles has been developed, comprising steps consisting of: A) unwinding a full reel from an unwinding station, the reel being positioned on a rotating assembly; B) during the unwinding of the reel, position a new full reel on the rotating assembly from a reloading station; C) when the unwound reel is empty, rotate the rotating assembly to move the empty reel towards the reloading station and, simultaneously, the full reel towards the unwinding station; D) join an initial end of the item from the full reel with an end end of the item from the empty reel, and unwind the full reel from the unwinding station; E) from the reloading station, remove the empty reel and position a new full reel; - Repeat the process from step C) as many times as necessary

[0008] In this way, the invention provides a method for unwinding and splicing reels with downtime limited practically only to the time required to perform the splicing. The removal of the empty reel and the positioning of a new full reel occur simultaneously with the unwinding of the reel.

[0009] The rotation of the rotating assembly is preferably motorized, rapid, and automatic, for example, around a vertical axis. The coils, on the other hand, are positioned to be driven in rotation around a horizontal axis, although this is not a limiting factor.

[0010] To further automate the process according to the invention and avoid human intervention, the process includes a step of automatically cutting the article transversely to detach it from the empty reel. Alternatively, the cutting operation can be performed by an operator, or is not necessary if the end end of the unwound item is not attached to the empty reel.

[0011] The splicing operation can be performed manually by an operator. To further minimize human intervention, the splicing operation can be automated using an automatic splicing device, such as an adhesive splicing device.

[0012] The operations of removing the empty reel and reloading a full reel can be carried out safely and away from the unwinding station.

[0013] The invention also relates to a module for unwinding and splicing reels of flexible material articles, notable in that it comprises a rotating assembly disposed between an unwinding station and a reloading station. The rotating assembly includes means for receiving at least two reels, with the ability to rotate the reels around their axis. The rotating assembly is capable of pivoting, for example, 180°, and preferably around a vertical axis, to successively move the reels to the unwinding station for unwinding a full reel, and to the reloading station for removing an empty reel and positioning a new full reel.

[0014] The rotating assembly can be made in any suitable way, for example by an arm mounted pivoting around an axis, or in the form of a plate, for example, positioned horizontally below or above the reels, without this being limiting.

[0015] In order to avoid human intervention, the unwinding station includes a cross-cutting device, and preferably also an automatic splicing device, in particular by adhesive bonding.

[0016] Advantageously, the rotating assembly includes means for receiving secondary reels positioned above or below the reels in order to allow the simultaneous unwinding of a secondary article superimposed on the main article unwound, such as a liner for example. Brief description of the drawings

[0017] Other features and advantages of the invention will become clear from the description given below, which is by way of example and not limitation, with reference to the accompanying figures in which:

[0018] [Fig. 1] illustrates the module according to the invention in perspective.

[0019] [Fig. 2] illustrates the module seen from the side of the unwinding station.

[0020] [Fig. 3] illustrates the module in perspective, seen from the side of the reloading station.

[0021] [Fig. 4] represents the module according to the invention seen from above.

[0022] [Fig. 5] represents the unwinding station seen from the side.

[0023] [Fig. 6] illustrates the module according to the invention in perspective, seen from below in detail on the rotating assembly. Detailed description of the invention

[0024] With reference to figures 1 to 6, the invention relates to a method and a module (1) enabling the unwinding of reels (2) of articles of flexible material, for example strips or sheets of textile, plastic, rubber, or any other flexible element that can be unwound towards a downstream machine, not shown, which may be known to be a cutting, printing, coating, surface treatment machine, etc.

[0025] The invention allows, when a reel is empty, for it to be evacuated and the end of a new full reel to be spliced ​​together to continue the unwinding operation. The module (1) according to the invention comprises a rotating assembly (3), illustrated in the form of a platform, arranged between an unwinding station (4) and a reloading station (5).

[0026] In the illustrated embodiment, the rotating assembly (3) pivots around a vertical axis, and the unwinding (4) and reloading (5) stations are diametrically opposed.

[0027] The rotating assembly (3) includes means for receiving at least two coils (2) with the ability to rotate the coils (2) around their axis.

[0028] The receiving means are of any suitable type well known to those skilled in the art, for example in the form of a support frame with two flanges intended to receive the ends of the reel mandrels (2). In practice these receiving means are motorized unwinders (6), either to rotate the reel to feed the downstream machine, or to brake the rotation of the reel to put the unwound article under tension in the case where the downstream machine pulls the article.

[0029] According to the invention, the rotating assembly (3) is capable of being pivoted, in particular automatically by being motorized, to move successively the reels (2) towards the unwinding station (4) for unwinding a full reel, and towards the reloading station (5) for evacuating an empty reel and positioning a new full reel.

[0030] From the above, this module (1) makes it possible to reduce the downtime of the unwinding process because, when the unwound reel is empty, it is enough to pivot the rotating assembly (3) to present a new full reel to be spliced ​​and unwound.

[0031] In practice, the process implemented includes the following steps: A) unwind a full reel (2) from the unwinding station, the full reel being positioned on the rotating assembly (3); B) during the unwinding of the reel (2), position from the reloading station (5) a new full reel (2) on the rotating assembly (3); C) when the unwound reel is empty, either the end end of the article detaches by itself, or a step, manual or automatic, consists of cutting the article transversely to detach it from the empty reel, and rotating the rotating assembly (3) to move the empty reel to the reloading station (5) and, concomitantly, the full reel to the unwinding station; D) to join, manually or automatically, an initial end of the article from the full reel with the final end of the article from the empty reel, and to unwind the full reel from the unwinding station; E) from the reloading station (5), and in particular during masked time on the unwinding of the full reel, remove the empty reel and position a new full reel.

[0032] Next, repeat the process from step C) as many times as necessary.

[0033] When splicing is done automatically, the uncoiling station (4) includes an automatic splicing device (not shown), such as for example an automatic splicing device by adhesive bonding, as well as a cross-cutting device.

[0034] In the illustrated embodiment, the rotating assembly (3) is in the form of a platform positioned at ground level and pivoting about a vertical axis, with the reels (2) positioned above the platform and rotating about a horizontal axis. Other embodiments can, of course, be considered without departing from the scope of the invention; for example, the platform could be positioned at the top, above the reels (2), so as to have a suspended assembly and thus limit the footprint.

[0035] The unwinding (4) and reloading (5) stations are diametrically opposed, so that the rotating assembly (3) must pivot 180° to change the reels (2) between stations.

[0036] The operations of removing the empty reel and reloading a full reel can be carried out manually or automatically; the essential point is that they are carried out in the background while the other reel is being unwound.

[0037] In the event that an operator carries out the evacuation and reloading operations, he carries them out in a completely safe manner away from the unwinding module (1).

[0038] According to the embodiment illustrated, see figure 6, the rotating assembly (3) also includes receiving means, namely motorized unwinders (6'), of secondary reels (2') positioned above or below the reels (2) in order to allow the simultaneous unwinding of a secondary article in superposition of the main article unwound, such as a liner for example.

[0039] It follows from the above that the invention does indeed provide a method and a module (1) for unwinding and splicing coils (2) of articles made of flexible material whose yield is optimized, that is to say with the shortest possible stopping cycles between splicing two coils (2).

Claims

Demands: [Claims 1] A method for unwinding and splicing reels (2) of articles made of flexible material, characterized in that it comprises the steps of: A) unwinding a full reel (2) from an unwinding station (4), the reel being positioned on a rotating assembly (3); B) during the unwinding of the reel, position from a reloading station (5) a new full reel (2) on the rotating assembly (3); C) when the unwound reel is empty, rotate the rotating assembly (3) to move the empty reel towards the reloading station (5) and, simultaneously, the full reel towards the unwinding station (4); D) join an initial end of the article from the full reel with an end end of the article from the empty reel, and unwind the full reel from the unwinding station (4); E) from the reloading station (5), remove the empty reel and position a new full reel; - repeat the process from step C) as many times as necessary. [Claims 2] Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the pivoting of the rotating assembly (3) takes place around a vertical axis, preferably of 180°. [Claims 3] A method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that when the unwound reel is empty, the method comprises a step of automatically and transversely cutting the article to detach it from the empty reel. [Claims 4] A method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the step of splicing an initial end of the article from the full reel with a terminal end of the article from the empty reel is carried out automatically with an automatic splicing device. [Claims 5] Method according to claim 4, characterized in that the splicing device performs splicing by adhesive bonding. [Claims 6] Module (1) for unwinding and splicing reels (2) of articles made of flexible material, characterized in that it comprises a set rotating assembly (3) disposed between a unwinding station (4) and a reloading station (5), the rotating assembly (3) comprising means for receiving at least two reels (2), with the capacity to rotate the reels (2) around their axis, the rotating assembly (3) being able to be pivoted to move successively the reels (2) towards the unwinding station (4) for unwinding a full reel and towards the reloading station (5) for evacuating an empty reel and positioning a new full reel. [Claims 7] Module (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that the rotating assembly is in the form of a plate. [Claims 8] Splicing module (1) according to any one of claims 6 to 7, characterized in that the uncoiling station (4) includes a cross-cutting device. [Claims 9] Splicing module (1) according to any one of claims 6 to 9, characterized in that the unwinding station (4) includes an automatic splicing device, in particular by adhesive splicing. [Claims 10] Splicing module (1) according to any one of claims 6 to 9, characterized in that the rotating assembly (3) includes means for receiving secondary reels (2') positioned above or below the reels (2) in order to allow the simultaneous unwinding of a secondary article superimposed on the article, such as a liner.

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