Reeling Shaft Transfer Rail System and Method of Transferring Reeling Shafts on a Reeling Shaft Transfer Rail System

Abstract

A reeling shaft transfer rail system has two parallel substantially horizontal or slightly sloped rails for supporting the ends (25) of a reeling shaft (20). Hoses are arranged on each of the transfer rails (15) and filled or drained to move and hold the reeling shaft (20). In a method of transferring reeling shafts on transfer rails, the reeling shafts (20) are transferred on two parallel, substantially horizontal or slightly downstream of a main transfer direction inclined transfer rails (15) for supporting each of the supporting ends (25) of a reeling shaft (20). The reeling shafts (20) are transferred or positioned in the reeling shaft transfer rail system (10) by pressurizing hoses (17) arranged on each of the transfer rails. The hoses are arranged so fluid added to or withdrawn from the hoses pushes or holds the reeling shaft (20) on the transfer rails (15).

Claims

1. A reeling shaft transfer rail system, comprising: two parallel transfer rails for supporting each end of a reeling shaft wherein the two parallel transfer rails are substantially horizontal or inclined about 0.1-0.5 degrees downhill in a downstream direction in which the reeling shaft moves; and pressurizable hoses arranged on each of the two parallel transfer rails, each pressurizable hose connected to a source of pressurized fluid for moving and stopping movement of the reeling shaft.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein each of the two parallel transfer rails further comprises: a guide for guiding the movement direction of the reeling shaft, wherein the guide extends continuously along the transfer rail and supports the ends of the reeling shaft by engaging a guide groove; and a support surface of one of the transfer rails on which at least one of said pressurizable hoses lies so it engages a support surface on one of the ends of the reeling shaft.

3. The system of claim 2 further comprising: a pressure system forming the source of pressurized fluid, the pressure system being in communicating relation with each of the pressurizable hoses and arranged to adjust at least one of: pressure of the pressurized fluid, and flow rate of the pressurized fluid to pressurize or fill at least one of the pressurizable hoses so as to move, stop or hold the reeling shaft along the two parallel transfer rails.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein the pressurizable hoses on each of the transfer rails are located in contact with supporting parts of the ends of the reeling shaft.

5. The system of claim 1 further comprising a guide on each of the transfer rails to engage a supporting surface on each end of the reeling shaft.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the pressurizable hoses have several parts which are spaced apart in the downstream direction.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the pressurizable hoses extend over two selected stopping stations on the transfer rails such that each of two reeling shafts are spaced apart so as to separate parent rolls wound on each of the two reeling shafts.

8. The system of claim 6 wherein the parts of the pressurizable hoses are arranged spaced on each transfer rail such that one part of each of the pressurizable hoses supports one support surface on the ends of the reeling shaft at a time.

9. The system of claim 3 further comprising position sensors connected in signal transmitting relation to a position measurement system which is connected in communicating relation to the pressure system and wherein the pressure system is arranged to measure and control the location of the reeling shafts on the transfer rails.

10. The system of claim 2 wherein for each of the two transfer rails a distance between the supporting surface formed on the end of the reeling shaft and the support surface of the transfer rail is adjustable so as to control compression pressure applied to the pressurizable hose therebetween.

11. A method of transferring reeling shafts on a reeling shaft transfer rail system having two parallel transfer rails which are substantially horizontal or about 0.1-0.5 degrees downhill in a downstream direction in which the reeling shaft moves, wherein each reeling shaft has two opposite supporting ends, the method comprising: supporting each of the opposite supporting ends of the reeling shafts on pressurizable hoses on each of the two parallel transfer rails; and transferring the reeling shafts along the two parallel transfer rails by supplying pressurized fluid to the pressurizable hoses.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising stopping at least one of the reeling shafts by supplying the pressurized fluid to the pressurizable hoses such that the stopped reeling shaft is held in a stopping station.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the reeling shafts are moved by adjusting at least one of pressure and flow rate of the pressurized fluid inside the pressurizable hoses by controlling a pressure system connected to the pressurizable hoses.

14. The method of claim 12 further comprising stopping the reeling shafts by adjusting at least one of pressure and flow rate of the pressurized fluid inside the pressurizable hoses by controlling a pressure system connected to the pressurizable hoses.

15. The method of claim 11 wherein the transfer movement of at least one of the reeling shafts is accomplished by increasing the pressure in the pressurizable hoses on an upstream side of the at least one reeling shaft and on a downstream side of the at least one reeling shaft creating in the pressurizable hoses no pressure or a lower pressure than on the upstream side of the at least one reeling shaft.

16. The method of claim 12 wherein the stopping of at least one of the reeling shafts is provided by controlling pressure in the pressurizable hoses to substantially a same level on each side of the at least one reeling shaft.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0036] In the following the invention is described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawing.

[0037] FIG. 1. is a schematic partial isometric view of a reeling shaft transfer rail system in accordance with the invention.

[0038] FIG. 2 is a schematic side elevational view of the reeling shaft transfer rail system of FIG. 1.

[0039] FIG. 3A is a fragmentary front elevational detail view of the end of the reeling shaft of the transfer rail system of FIGS. 1 and 2.

[0040] FIG. 3B a fragmentary schematic side elevational detail view of the end of the reeling shaft of the transfer rail system of FIGS. 1 and 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0041] During the course of the following description relating to FIGS. 1-3B like numbers and signs will be used to identify like elements according to the different views which illustrate the invention and its advantageous examples. In the figures some repetitive reference signs have been omitted for clarity.

[0042] In FIG. 1 is shown a schematic example of a reeling shaft transfer rail system 10. The reeling shaft transfer rail system 10 is built on a frame 11. The frame 11 supports the reeling shafts 20 at each end of the reeling shaft 20. In FIG. 1 is shown only one end of the reeling shaft 20 and only one side of the reeling shaft rail system but it is to be understood that at the other end of the reeling shaft 20 a corresponding arrangement is located and thus the reeling shaft transfer rail system 10 comprises corresponding elements, structures etc. at each end of the reeling shaft 20 i.e. at each side of the transfer rail system 10. On the frame a transfer rail 15 is located, on which a supporting end 25 of the reeling shaft 20 is located. The transfer rail 15 comprises a guide 16 for guiding the movement direction of the reeling shaft 20 and an at least partially pressurized hose 17 which supports the supporting end 25 of the reeling shaft 20. By controlling the pressure and/or the flow rate of the pressure medium inside the at least partially pressurized hose means 17 the reeling shaft 20 can be moved along the transfer rail 15 and stopped at a desired location. In the example of FIG. 1 the reeling shaft 20 has a fiber web wound around it, i.e. a parent roll 21 is formed around the reeling shaft 20. The at least partially pressurized hose 17 is connected to a pressure system for creating and controlling the pressure and/or the flow rate of the pressure medium, pressure fluid, inside the at least partially pressurized hoses 17 which are on each side of the reeling shaft 20 on at least some parts of the surface 18 of the transfer rail 15. On the transfer rail of the transfer rail system 10 are located the at least partially pressurized hoses 17 which are at least controllably connected to each other in order to synchronize the movements of each supporting end 25 of the reeling shaft 20.

[0043] In FIG. 2 is shown a schematic example of the reeling shaft transfer rail system 10 of FIG. 1 as a side view. The transfer rail 15 extends over a length and is supported by the frame 11, which in this example is formed of several frame parts, advantageously of concrete. Also, in FIG. 2 is shown only one end of the reeling shaft 20 and it is to be understood that at the other end of the reeling shaft 20 a corresponding arrangement is located. On the transfer rail 15 is located the supporting end 25 of the reeling shaft 20. The transfer rail 15 comprises a guide 16 for guiding the movement direction of the reeling shaft 20 extending continuously along the transfer rail 15. The at least partially pressurized hoses 17 on the supporting surface 18 of a transfer rail supports the end 25 of the reeling shaft 20. The pressurized hose 17 in the example of FIGS. 1 and 2 is formed of several parts, spaced apart in the main direction along which the parent rolls 21 move. Extending parts of the at least partially pressurized hoses 17 are used to hold or move one or more of the reeling shafts 20. Advantageously, one part of the at least partially pressurized hose 17 covers at least two stopping stations next to each other as shown in the FIG. 2. The parts of the at least partially pressurized hoses 17 can be arranged alternatingly on each transfer rail 15 such that one part of the at least partially pressurized hoses 17 supports the supporting end 25 of the reeling shaft 20 at the time.

[0044] The at least partially pressurized hose means can also extend along the transfer rail 15 as one piece. By controlling the pressure and/or the flow rate of the pressure medium inside the at least partially pressurized hose means 17 the reeling shaft 20 can be moved along the transfer rail 15 and stopped at a desired location. In the example of FIG. 1 the reeling shaft 20 has a fiber web around it, i.e. a parent roll 21 is formed around the reeling shaft 20. The at least partially pressurized hose means 17 is connected to a pressure system for creating and controlling the pressure and/or the flow rate of the pressure medium, pressure fluid, inside the at least partially pressurized hose means 17 and on each side of the reeling shaft transfer rail system located pressurized hose means 17 are at least controllably connected to each other in order to synchronize the movements of each supporting end 25 of the reeling shaft 20.

[0045] In FIGS. 3A-3B is shown schematically a detail view of the supporting end 25 of the reeling shaft 20 on the transfer rail system 10. The supporting end of the reeling shaft 20 comprises a guide groove 26, to which the guide 16 of the transfer rail system 10 is located to place the supporting end of the reeling shaft 20 at the correct location on the transfer rail 15. The pressurized hoses 17 support the supporting end 25 of the reeling shaft 20 at its support surface 27 on the support surface 18 of the transfer rail 15. The distance between the supporting surface 27 of the supporting end 25 and the transfer rail 15 is advantageously adjustable in order to provide a desired compression pressure to the at least partially pressurized hose means 17 to prevent pressure release by flow of fluid from under the supporting end 25 of the reeling shaft 20. As can be seen from FIGS. 3A-3B, when the reeling shaft 15 is to be moved along the transfer rail 15 the pressure inside the at least partially pressurized hose means 17 is controlled by increasing or decreasing the pressure such that movement to a desired direction is possible or such that the reeling shaft 20 is stopped at the desired stopping station. The at least partially pressurized hose means 17 is connected to a pressure system for creating and controlling the pressure and/or the flow rate of the pressure medium, pressure fluid, inside the at least partially pressurized hose means 17 and on each side of the reeling shaft transfer rail system located at least partially pressurized hose means 17 are at least controllably connected to each other in order to synchronize the movements of each supporting end 25 of the reeling shaft 20.

[0046] In connection with the reeling shaft transfer rail system 10, the transfer of the reeling shafts 20 on the transfer rails 15 is accomplished by the at least partially pressurized hose 17 located on the transfer rails 15 in an exact location i.e. advantageously between the accurately machined support surface 18 of the transfer rails 15 and the accurately machined supporting surface 27 of the end of the reeling shaft 20 as shown in FIG. 3A. The movement of the reeling shaft 20 is caused by increasing the pressure in the pressurized hoses 17 on the upstream side of the reeling shaft 20 and on the other downstream side of the at least partially pressurized hoses are without pressure or at a low pressure. The stop of the movement of the reeling shaft 20 is caused by increasing pressure at each side of the reeling shaft 20. The at least partially pressurized hoses 17 are pressurized by fluid, for example by gas, advantageously pressurized air, or by liquid, advantageously water. In transferring reeling shafts 20 along the transfer rails 15 of the reeling shaft transfer rail system 10, the movement of the supporting ends 25 of the reeling shafts 20 along each transfer rail 15 is synchronized by a throttle control of the pressurized fluid in the at least partially pressurized hoses 17. The at least partially pressurized hoses 17 are connected to a pressure system 40 for creating and controlling the pressure and/or the flow rate of the pressure medium, pressure fluid, inside the at least partially pressurized hoses 17 and on each side of the reeling shaft 20 of the transfer rail system 10. The at least partially pressurized hoses 17 are at least controllably connected to each other in order to synchronize the movements of each supporting end 25 of the reeling shaft 20. The reeling shaft transfer rail system 10 may also comprise a position measurement system 30 with position sensors 31 as shown in FIG. 1 which are connected to the pressure system 40 to measure and control the location of the reeling shafts 20. The at least partially pressurized hoses 17 may have a coating or a separate surface element or be surface treated to increase or decrease the friction of the surface of the at least partially pressurized hoses 17. Also, the supporting ends 25 of the reeling shafts may comprise a coating or be surface treated to adjust the movement properties i.e. to increase or decrease the friction.

[0047] Partially pressurized hoses or pressurizable hoses are fillable flexible tubes or hoses that when filled with fluid under pressure push or hold a reeling shaft and the roll formed thereon. Each hose can have one or preferably a plurality of connections e.g. at both ends and at positions along the hose. The connections receive fluid from the pressure system, which may also have a drain reservoir or sump so the pressure system can receive fluid from the connections to the hose. By selecting where fluid is supplied to or drained from the hoses, the reeling shafts can be pushed from one side or the other. The pressurizable hoses can be fill on one side as shown in FIG. 3B or both side, to temporarily hold the location of a reeling shaft.

[0048] In the description in the foregoing, although some functions have been described with reference to certain features, those functions may be performable by other features whether described or not. Although features have been described with reference to certain embodiments or examples, those features may also be present in other embodiments or examples whether described or not.

[0049] Above only some advantageous examples of the invention have been described to which examples the invention is not to be narrowly limited and many modifications and alterations are possible within the invention.