Conveyor-Aligned Sheet Feeding for Coreless Roll Reinforcement

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing coreless winding machines produce rolls of continuous strip material with insufficient crushing strength, necessitating the use of costly and space-consuming cardboard cores.

Innovation Solution

A device for automatically introducing a reinforcing sheet, such as paper, into the winding process of coreless rolls, using a conveyor system to ensure the sheet is homokinetically aligned with the winding speed, providing structural reinforcement without the need for cardboard cores.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If cardboard cores are used to support wound material, then rolling strength is sufficient, but cost increases and storage space requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverolling strengthVSAvoidcost and storage space
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts and eliminates the cardboard core from the winding system, replacing it with a coreless design that winds material directly onto a mandrel. This removes the need for storing and handling cardboard cores while maintaining structural integrity through the winding process itself.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the structural parameters by transitioning from a core-supported design to a coreless design with controlled winding tension and layering. The mandrel serves as a temporary support that is removed after winding, allowing the wound roll to maintain its shape through proper winding parameters rather than requiring a permanent core.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Quantity of substance

If coreless winding is used to eliminate cardboard cores, then cost and storage requirements are reduced, but rolling strength becomes insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecost and storage spaceVSAvoidrolling strength
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The invention applies preliminary reinforcement measures by introducing a reinforcing sheet during the winding process. This sheet is inserted at a critical stage to provide the necessary structural strength to the coreless roll, preventing collapse during handling and transport without requiring a cardboard core.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The invention creates a composite structure by combining the wound material with a reinforcing sheet. This composite construction provides the necessary mechanical strength to the coreless roll, allowing it to maintain its shape and resist crushing forces without requiring a traditional cardboard core.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

3Strength

If reinforcing sheet is introduced manually into coreless rolls, then rolling strength is improved, but productivity decreases due to manual operation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverolling strengthVSAvoidwinding speed
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention implements an automatic sheet introduction system that operates autonomously during the winding process. The system automatically feeds, positions, and inserts the reinforcing sheet without requiring manual intervention, allowing the winding process to continue at high speed without interruption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The invention ensures continuous operation by integrating the sheet introduction mechanism into the winding process itself. The reinforcing sheet is introduced automatically at the appropriate moment without stopping the winding operation, maintaining continuous production flow and high productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The reinforced coreless rolls achieve sufficient crushing strength and operational efficiency, eliminating the need for cardboard cores, reducing costs and storage requirements while enhancing productivity.

Implementation Method 1

a first conveyor member (44) and a second conveyor member (45) placed in sequence along an inclined path

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Implementation Method 2

a series of idle rollers (55) arranged at one end of respective arms (56) hinged onto support bars (57) to form gravity pressing means for the paper sheets (51)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGravitation: Gravitation

Data Source

PatentEP4617212A1Winding machine with automatic introduction of reinforcing sheet
Publication Date: 2025.09.17 IMS TECH SPA
  • EP4617212A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4617212A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4617212A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention relates to a device for automatically introducing a reinforcing sheet into a coreless coil applicable to a winding machine of the coreless type, and to the winding machine comprising such a device. In particular, the invention relates to a device (3) for introducing a reinforcing paper sheet (51) into a coreless roll (50) being wound with a continuous strip material (S) by means of a winding machine of the coreless type, comprising: - a feeding tray (31) for paper sheets (51), - a feeder (32) of the paper sheets (51) taken from the feeding tray (31), - an introduction member (33) of a paper sheet (51) loaded into a roll (50) being wound in said winding machine.