Method for changing tubing rolls
Patent Information
- Application Number
- EP2023771784
- Authority / Receiving Office
- EP · EP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2022-09-01
- Filing Date
- 2023-08-31
- Publication Date
- 2025-07-09
AI Technical Summary
Manual hose roll changes in manufacturing facilities lead to production downtime due to the need for manual threading and gluing of hoses, which is time-consuming and inefficient, especially when blockages occur from internal adhesion of hose layers during processing.
An automated method for changing hose reels involves unwinding a first hose, connecting an overlapping end section of a second hose, separating the hoses at a specific point, and inserting an opening tool from the first hose into the second hose, allowing for a simplified and automated connection that enables continuous production without stopping the facility.
This method allows for seamless and automated hose roll changes during ongoing production, reducing downtime and improving efficiency by simplifying the connection process and ensuring uninterrupted operation.
Smart Images
Figure 1.1
Abstract
Description
[0001] Procedure for changing hose reels
[0002] The present invention relates to a method for changing hose reels, comprising the method steps: unwinding a first hose from a first hose reel by means of a production device, wherein the first hose reel is accommodated in the production device and wherein an opening tool is arranged in an interior of the first hose; providing a second hose reel having a second hose; connecting an end section of the second hose to the first hose; and inserting the opening tool from the first hose into an interior of the second hose.
[0003] Production facilities for the manufacture of automatically fillable valve bags made of PE film or PP fabric are equipped with hose reels, the hose of which is unwound as continuous material from the hose reel and processed into bags and separated by the relevant production facility.
[0004] During the production of such a hose provided on a hose reel, so-called blockages can occur inside the hose. This means that layers of the flat hose are locally stuck together internally. These blockages can arise, for example, as a result of manufacturing steps during the hose production, such as coating or perforating the hose. Blockages in the hose are released or broken up using the aforementioned opening tool of the production facility. The opening tool is located inside the hose and can be mounted in a floating manner.
[0005] Therefore, when changing rolls, the opening tool must be threaded or inserted from the first hose in the production facility into the new, second hose. During a roll change, one end of the first hose is manually inserted into one end of the second hose and glued there so that the hose ends overlap or are nested. In this way, the second hose can be pulled into the production facility with the help of the first hose and the opening tool can be transferred from the first hose to the second hose. Due to this transfer of the opening tool and the necessary gluing of the hoses together, a roll change in such a production facility is carried out manually.
[0006] Such a roll change can take two to three minutes and, depending on the hose length and production speed, is performed three to four times per hour. During manual roll changes, the production equipment is shut down.
[0007] Against this background, the present invention is based on the technical problem of specifying a method that enables automated reel changing of hose reels in a production facility with an opening tool. The above-described technical problem is solved by a method according to claim 1. Further embodiments of the invention emerge from the dependent claims and the following description.
[0008] The invention relates to a method for changing hose reels, comprising the method steps: unwinding a first hose from a first hose reel by means of a production device, wherein the first hose reel is accommodated in the production device and wherein an opening tool is arranged in an interior of the first hose; providing a second hose reel having a second hose; connecting an end section of the second hose to the first hose; and inserting the opening tool from the first hose into an interior of the second hose. The method is characterized in that when the end section of the second hose is connected to the first hose, an exposed inner side of the end section of the second hose is connected in an overlapping manner to an outer side of the first hose.The method is further characterized in that the first hose is separated along a separation point, wherein the separation is carried out after the second hose has been connected to the first hose and before the opening tool is inserted into the second hose, wherein the separation point is arranged between a connection point of the first hose to the second hose and an opening of the end section of the second hose, and wherein after the separation the opening of the end section of the second hose faces an opening of the end section of the first hose.
[0009] Because an inner side of the first tube is exposed in the region of the end section, the second tube can be easily connected to the inner side of the second tube by pressing it against it on one side, without the need to thread the second tube into a tube opening of the second tube. Thus, the first tube and the second tube can be connected to each other in a greatly simplified and automated manner, with the overlapping connection also enabling the opening tool to be transferred from the first tube to the second tube.
[0010] Automated hose reel changes can be performed during ongoing production operation without shutting down the production facility. When we refer to the "inner sides" of the hose in this case, we are referring to the sides of the two flat layers of the hose in question facing each other inside the hose. An exposed inner side is therefore not covered by the opposite layer of the hose in the exposed area.
[0011] The inner side of the end section of the second hose, which is to be connected to the first hose, can be at least partially exposed before connection to the first hose, wherein a portion of the end section of the second hose is removed, and / or wherein a portion of the end section of the second hose is separated and folded. In particular, one of the opposite layers of the flat hose is removed at least in sections to expose the inner side of the hose covered by this layer.
[0012] Exposing the inside of the end section of the second hose can be a manual, preparatory process step before the second hose roll is transferred to the production facility. Exposing the inside of the end section of the second hose can be an automated, preparatory process step before the second hose roll is transferred to the production facility. Exposing the inside of the end section of the second hose can be an automated process step that can be performed within the production facility.
[0013] It may be provided that a hose reel is provided as a second hose reel, which already has the required exposed inner side of the end section.
[0014] The end section of the second tube can have a cut edge and / or fold inclined to an unwinding direction, wherein the inclination is less than 90°. The cut edge and / or fold can delimit the opening of the second tube. In other words, the end section of the second tube can form a pocket for receiving and threading the opening tool. The end section of the second tube can have a tab that extends from the opening of the second tube to the connection point of the first tube with the second tube, wherein the tab comprises the exposed inner side of the end section of the second tube and is connected to the outer side of the first tube.
[0015] The opening of the first hose can be spaced apart from the opening of the second hose. In particular, the second hose is therefore not inserted with its end section having an opening into an opening of the first hose, or vice versa. Therefore, during the transfer from the first hose to the second hose according to the invention, the opening tool is at least temporarily not completely surrounded by hose material, but is temporarily and at least partially exposed in the region of the spacing between the openings.
[0016] To improve the insertion of the opening tool from the first tube into the second tube, it can be provided that the opening tool is tilted by means of an adjusting device before insertion into the second tube and / or that the opening tool is narrowed in a region facing the second tube. In particular, an end of the opening tool facing the end section of the second tube is tilted toward the exposed inner side of the second tube to enable secure contact of the opening tool with the exposed inner side and to cause the opening of the second tube to widen.
[0017] In order to improve the insertion of the opening tool from the first hose into the second hose, it can be provided that the end section of the second hose or its opening is kept open by compressed air before and / or during the insertion of the opening tool, and / or the end section of the second hose or its opening is kept open by a mechanical device, such as rollers, cylinders or the like, before and / or during the insertion of the opening tool.
[0018] It can be provided that the first hose pulls the second hose along after connection, so that an unwinding of the first hose transitions seamlessly into an unwinding of the second hose.
[0019] A hose roll change can be carried out alternately from a first side and a second side of a hose level facing away from the first side, wherein the hose level is spanned by the hose being unwound in each case.
[0020] The invention is described in more detail below with reference to a drawing illustrating exemplary embodiments. The drawings schematically show:
[0021] Fig. 1 shows a production facility at a first time during roll change in a side view;
[0022] Fig. 2 shows the production device from Fig. 1 at a second time during roll change;
[0023] Fig. 3 shows the production device from Fig. 1 at a third point in time during roll change;
[0024] Fig. 4 shows an end section of a hose with exposed inside in a plan view.
[0025] Fig. 1 shows a production device 1 in which a first hose reel 2 with a first hose 3 and a second hose reel 4 with a second hose 5 are accommodated.
[0026] The production device 1 has a floating opening tool. According to Fig. 1, the first hose 3 of the first hose roll 2 is unwound by means of the production device 1, wherein the first hose roll 2 is accommodated in the production device and wherein the opening tool 6 is arranged in an interior 7 of the first hose 3.
[0027] Furthermore, Fig. 1 shows the provision of the second hose roll 4 having the second hose 5.
[0028] To change from the first hose reel 2 to the second hose reel 4, an end section 8 of the second hose 5 is first connected to the first hose 3. In this case, an exposed inner side 9 of the end section 8 of the second hose 5 is connected in an overlapping manner to an outer side 10 of the first hose 7.
[0029] In addition, the first hose 3 is separated along a separation point 11.
[0030] The separation is performed after connecting the second hose 5 to the first hose 3 and before inserting the opening tool 6 into the second hose 5. The separation point 11 is arranged between a connection point 12 of the first hose 3 to the second hose 5 and an opening 13 of the end section 8 of the second hose 5.
[0031] After separation, the opening 13 of the end section 8 of the second hose 5 faces an opening 14 of an end section 15 of the first hose 3 (Fig. 2). The opening 13 is spaced apart from the opening 14.
[0032] Fig. 3 shows the insertion of the opening tool 6 from the first tube 3 into an interior 16 of the second tube 5. The opening tool 6 can be tilted by means of an adjusting device 20 before being inserted into the second tube 5.
[0033] Fig. 4 shows the end section 8 of the second hose 5 in a plan view of the exposed inner side 9 of the second hose 5. To expose the inner side 9, the second hose 5 has been partially cut open and folded over along its longitudinal edges 17 in the region of its end section 8, so that a fold 18 and a tab 19 are formed.
[0034] The fold 18 delimits the opening 13 of the end section 8 of the second hose 5. The fold 18 is inclined towards an unwinding device 21, wherein the inclination is less than 90°.
[0035] Reference symbol
[0036] 1 production facility
[0037] 2 first hose reel
[0038] 3 first hose
[0039] 4 second hose reel
[0040] 5 second hose
[0041] 6 opening tool
[0042] 7 Inside the first tube 3
[0043] 8 End section of the second hose 5
[0044] 9 exposed inside of the second hose 5
[0045] 10 Outside of the first hose 3
[0046] 11 Separation point
[0047] 12 connection point
[0048] 13 Opening of the second hose 5
[0049] 14 Opening of the first hose 3
[0050] 15 End section of the first hose 3
[0051] 16 Inside the second hose 5
[0052] 17 Longitudinal edge of the end section 8
[0053] 18 fold
[0054] 19 Tab
[0055] 20 Adjusting device
[0056] 21 Unwinding direction
Claims
Patent claims drive for changing hose reels, with the following process steps: - unwinding a first hose (3) from a first hose roll (2) by means of a production device (1), wherein the first hose roll (2) is accommodated in the production device (1) and wherein an opening tool (6) is arranged in an interior (7) of the first hose (3); - providing a second hose reel (4) having a second hose (5); - connecting an end portion (8) of the second hose (5) to the first hose (3); - Inserting the opening tool (6) from the first tube (3) into an interior (16) of the second tube (5); characterized in - that when connecting the end section (8) of the second hose (5) to the first hose (5), an exposed inner side (9) of the end section (8) of the second hose (5) is connected in an overlapping manner to an outer side (10) of the first hose (3); and - that the first hose (3) is separated along a separation point (11), - wherein the separation takes place after the second hose (5) has been connected to the first hose (3) and before the opening tool has been inserted (6) into the second hose (5), - wherein the separation point (11) is arranged between a connection point (12) of the first hose (3) with the second hose (5) and an opening (13) of the end section (8) of the second hose (5) and - wherein, after separation, the opening (13) of the end portion of the second hose (5) faces an opening (14) of an end portion (15) of the first hose (3). Method according to claim 1, characterized in that - The inside (9) of the end section (8) of the second hose (5) to be connected to the first hose (3) before connecting to the - wherein a part of the end section (8) of the second hose (5) is removed, and / or - wherein a part of the end section (8) of the second tube (5) is separated and folded. Method according to claim 2, characterized in that - the end section (8) of the second tube (5) has a cutting edge and / or fold (18) inclined to an unwinding direction (21), - wherein the inclination is less than 90°. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that - the end section (8) of the second hose (5) has a tab (19), - which extends from the opening (13) of the second hose (5) to the connection point (12) of the first hose (3) with the second hose (5), - wherein the tab (19) comprises the exposed inner side (9) of the end section (8) of the second hose (5) and is connected to the outer side (10) of the first hose (3). Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the opening (14) of the first hose (3) is at a distance from the opening (13) of the second hose (5). Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the opening tool (6) is tilted by means of an adjusting device (20) before being inserted into the second hose (5) and / or the opening tool (6) is narrowed in a region facing the second hose (5). Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that - the end section (8) of the second hose (5) is kept open by compressed air before and / or during the insertion of the opening tool (6), and / or - the end section (8) of the second tube (5) is held open by a mechanical device, such as rollers, cylinders or the like, before and / or during the insertion of the opening tool (6). Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first tube (3) pulls the second tube (5) along after the connection, so that an unwinding of the first tube (3) transitions seamlessly into an unwinding of the second tube (5). Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that - a hose reel change is carried out alternately from a first side and a second side of a hose level facing away from the first side, - whereby the hose plane is spanned by the respective unwound hose.