REEL SUPPORT ASSEMBLY FOR A WEB MATERIAL PROCESSING MACHINE AND HOTFOIL STAMPING MACHINE

Abstract

A reel support assembly (14) for a web material processing machine is described. The reel support assembly (14) comprises a support frame (16) and at least a first support arm unit (34a) having at least one holding stub (40) for mounting a reel (12) on the first support arm unit (34a). Furthermore, the reel support assembly (14) comprises an elevator unit (24) having a support element (26) on which a reel (12) may be placed. The support element (26) is supported on the support frame (16) in a vertically movable manner. Additionally, a hotfoil stamping machine (10) is presented which comprises such a reel support assembly (14). The reel support assembly (14) is arranged at an upstream end of the hotfoil stamping machine (10) with respect to a web travelling direction.

Claims

1. A reel support assembly for a web material processing machine, especially a hotfoil stamping machine, comprising: a support frame and at least a first support arm unit, having at least one holding stub for mounting a reel on the first support arm unit, wherein the first support arm unit is directly supported on the support frame, and an elevator unit having a support element on which a reel may be placed, wherein the support element is supported on the support frame in a vertically movable manner, wherein the first support arm unit is pivotably and/or translatorily supported on the support frame.

2. The reel support assembly according to claim 1, further comprising: a second support arm unit, having at least one holding stub for mounting a reel on the second support arm unit, wherein the second support arm unit is supported on the support frame and wherein the second support arm unit is arranged opposite the first support arm unit such that a reel can be supported between the first support arm unit and the second support arm unit.

3. The reel support assembly according to claim 2, wherein the at least one holding stub of the first support arm unit and the at least one holding stub of the second support arm unit are movable in a direction substantially corresponding to their middle axis such that the holding stubs can be selectively extended into cooperation with a reel to be mounted on the respective support arm unit and withdrawn therefrom.

4. The reel support assembly according to claim 3, wherein the holding stubs are supported on the respective support arm unit via a rail extending substantially parallel to the middle axis of the respective holding stub.

5. The reel support assembly according to claim 1, wherein the support element is coupled to the support frame via a chain drive or a belt drive.

6. The reel support assembly according to claim 1, wherein the elevator unit comprises a brake unit which is normally closed such that the support element is only movable if the brake unit assumes an activated condition.

7. The reel support assembly according to claim 2, wherein the second support arm unit is pivotably and/or translatorily supported on the support frame.

8. The reel support assembly according to claim 2, wherein each of the support arm units comprises a first arm piece being rotatably supported on the support frame and a second arm piece being slidably supported on the first arm piece.

9. The reel support assembly according to claim 8, wherein the first arm piece and the second arm piece are connected via a sliding rail being oriented along a direction of slidable support of the respective support arm unit.

10. The reel support assembly according to claim 9, wherein the first arm piece and the second arm piece are connected via two substantially parallel sliding rails.

11. The reel support assembly according to claim 2, wherein each of the support arm units comprises at least two holding stubs for respectively mounting a reel to the support arm unit.

12. The reel support assembly according to claim 1, further comprising: at least one safeguard bar selectively occupying an exclusion space into which a stub supporting a reel is not to be moved.

13. The reel support assembly according to claim 1, wherein the support element is horizontally movable.

14. A hotfoil stamping machine comprising the reel support assembly according to claim 1, wherein the reel support assembly is arranged at an upstream end of the hotfoil stamping machine with respect to a web travelling direction.

15. The hotfoil stamping machine according to claim 14, wherein a support frame of the hotfoil stamping machine serves as the support frame of the reel support assembly.

Description

[0030] The invention will now be explained with reference to different embodiments which are shown in the attached drawings. In the drawings,

[0031] FIG. 1 shows a portion of a hotfoil stamping machine according to the invention comprising a reel support assembly according to the invention, wherein a support element of an elevator unit of the reel support assembly is in a storage position,

[0032] FIG. 2 shows the portion of the hotfoil stamping machine of FIG. 1, wherein the support element of the elevator unit of the reel support assembly is in an alignment state,

[0033] FIG. 3 shows the portion of the hotfoil stamping machine of FIGS. 1 and 2, wherein the support element of the elevator unit of the reel support assembly is in a loading state,

[0034] FIG. 4 shows a sectional view of the hotfoil stamping machine of FIG. 2,

[0035] FIG. 5 shows a detail of the reel support assemblies of FIGS. 1 to 4, wherein a first support arm unit of the reel support assembly is in an operational position,

[0036] FIG. 6 shows the detail of FIG. 5, wherein the first support arm unit of the reel support assembly is in an intermediate position,

[0037] FIG. 7 shows the detail of FIGS. 5 and 6, wherein the first support arm unit of the reel support assembly is in an extended position,

[0038] FIG. 8 shows the detail of FIGS. 5 to 7 together with two safeguard bars being in two different positions respectively,

[0039] FIG. 9 shows an elevator unit of the reel support assemblies shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 in a separate view,

[0040] FIG. 10 shows the elevator unit of FIG. 9 seen along direction X in FIG. 9,

[0041] FIG. 11 shows a detail of the reel support assemblies of FIGS. 1 to 4 relating to the mounting of a reel to the reel support assembly, wherein a holding stub is engaged with a reel,

[0042] FIG. 12 shows the detail of FIG. 11, wherein the holding stub is disengaged from the reel, and

[0043] FIG. 13 shows the detail of FIGS. 11 and 12, wherein the reel is withdrawn from the reel support assembly.

[0044] FIG. 1 shows an end portion 10a of a hotfoil stamping machine 10.

[0045] In terms of a web travelling direction in a hotfoil stamping process being performed by the hotfoil stamping machine 10, the end portion 10a corresponds to an upstream end of the hotfoil stamping machine 10.

[0046] This means, at this end portion 10a reels 12 to be processed are provided, wherein at an opposed end, i.e. at a downstream end, products made by the hotfoil stamping machine 10 are provided.

[0047] In this context, a reel 12 usually comprises a reel core on which a web is wound, e.g. a foil to be processed in the hotfoil stamping machine 10.

[0048] Depending on the hotfoil stamping process to be performed, one or more reels 12 can be supported in the hotfoil stamping machine 10 by a reel support assembly 14.

[0049] In the present examples, the hotfoil stamping machine 10 and the reel support assembly 14 use a shared support frame 16, i.e. a support frame of the hotfoil stamping machine 10 serves as a support frame of the reel support assembly 14.

[0050] Moreover, the hotfoil stamping machine 10 of the present example is partially surrounded by a platform 18 for operators which is limited by a handrail 20 and a gate 22.

[0051] In the vicinity of the end portion 10a the platform 18 comprises a pivoting gangway 23 which can be selectively pivoted out of the way as can best be seen from a comparison of FIGS. 1 and 3.

[0052] The reel support assembly 14 comprises an elevator unit 24 having a support element 26 on which a reel 12 may be placed.

[0053] The support element 26 is supported on the support frame 16 in a vertically movable manner.

[0054] To this end the support element 26 is coupled to a chain drive 28 comprising a chain 30 and a drive motor 32 for operating the chain 30 (cf. FIGS. 9 and 10).

[0055] Using the chain drive 28 the support element 26 can be moved into a storage position as shown in FIG. 1. This position substantially corresponds to the top position being reachable by using the chain drive 28.

[0056] The support element 26 is preferably placed in the storage position if the hotfoil stamping machine 10 is loaded with the needed reels 12 and is performing a hotfoil stamping process using these reels 12.

[0057] Alternatively, the support element 26 is placed in the storage position if the hotfoil stamping machine 10 is not operational, or if the lift is not used so as to keep some free space to allow the operator to handle light reels by hand and bypass the elevator unit 24.

[0058] Alternatively, the support element 26 can be moved into an alignment state as shown in FIG. 2. In this state the support element 26 is arranged at a height such that the reel 12 placed on the support element 26 or a reel 12 to be received on the support element 26 is aligned with corresponding support arms units 34a, 34b of the reel support assembly 14 as will be explained in detail below.

[0059] The support element 26 can also assume a loading state as shown in FIG. 3.

[0060] In this state the support element 26 is placed close to a floor, such that the reel 12 placed thereon can be easily withdrawn from the support element 26. Obviously, placing a reel 12 on an empty support element 26 being in the loading state is also possible.

[0061] In this context, the support element 26 is also horizontally movable along a direction indicated by arrow 36 in FIG. 10.

[0062] This allows to load a first reel 12 in a lower stub 40 of the respective arm units 34a, 34b first, and to load a second reel in the upper stub 40 of the arm units 34a, 34b thereafter.

[0063] The first reel 12 is loaded on the arm units 34a, 34b and the arm units 34a, 34b are set into the intermediate position (cf. FIG. 6).

[0064] Then, the second reel 12 is loaded on the support element 26 close to the floor, i.e. in the loading position. The support element 26 is elevated and must be moved away from the end portion 10a along the direction indicated by arrow 36 to pass next to the first reel 12.

[0065] To load the second reel 12 on the arm units 34a, 34b, the support element 26 must be brought back toward the end portion 10a along the direction indicated by arrow 36 once the support element 26 has reached the alignment height.

[0066] In other words, the second reel 12 can be moved around the first reel 12.

[0067] It is noted that in the example of FIGS. 1 to 4 the gangway 23 may be folded away such that the support element 26 can be placed in close proximity to the floor, i.e. in the loading state (see especially FIG. 3).

[0068] Moreover, the gate 22 is adapted for being opened such that the support element 26 may be accessed in order to withdraw a reel 12 therefrom or in order to place a reel 12 thereon.

[0069] For safety reasons, the elevator unit 24 also comprises a brake unit 33, preferably two brake units. In the latter case one of the brake units may be integrated into the drive motor 32 (cf. FIG. 9).

[0070] These brake units 33 are used for selectively blocking the chain 30.

[0071] The brake unit 33 and the brake unit integrated into the drive motor 32 are normally closed. Thus, the support element 26 is only movable if the brake units assume an activated condition. In other words, in the absence of an activation, e.g. in the absence of the necessary electricity, the brake units are closed and renders the support element 26 immovable.

[0072] As has already been mentioned, the reel support assembly 14 comprises a first support arm unit 34a and a second support arm unit 34b (see FIG. 2).

[0073] The second support arm unit 34b is arranged opposite the first support arm unit 34a such that a reel 12 can be supported between the first support arm unit 34a and the second support arm unit 34b.

[0074] Furthermore, the first support arm unit 34a and the second support arm unit 34b are adapted for moving in synchronization.

[0075] The first support arm unit 34a and the second support arm unit 34b will be explained in detail with reference to FIGS. 5 to 7, wherein strictly speaking these Figures only show the first support arm unit 34a. However, since the second support arm unit 34b is identical to the first support arm unit 34a except for the fact of being mirror-inverted, also the reference signs relating to the second support arm unit 34b will be used.

[0076] In the example shown, both support arm units 34a, 34b have two holding stubs 40 for mounting a reel 12 thereon. One of the stubs 40 is represented as an upper stub and the other one of the stubs 40 is represented as a lower stub.

[0077] Each support arm unit 34a, 34b comprises a respective first arm piece 42a, 42b being rotatably supported on the support frame 16 and a second arm piece 44a, 44b being slidably supported on the first arm piece 42a, 42b.

[0078] Thus, the first support arm unit 34a and the second support arm unit 34b are pivotably supported on the support frame 16 via the respective first arm pieces 42a, 42b.

[0079] Furthermore, the first support arm unit 34a and the second support arm unit 34b are translatorily supported on the support frame 16 because the second arm pieces 44a, 44b are slidably supported on the respective first arm pieces 42a, 42b.

[0080] To this end, the respective first arm pieces 42a, 42b are connected to the respective second arm pieces 44a, 44b via sliding rails 48a, 48b being oriented along a direction of translatory extension of the respective support arm unit 34a, 34b.

[0081] Using the degrees of movability provided by the pivotal support on the support frame 16 and the extendability, the first support arm unit 34a and the second support arm unit 34b can be brought into an operational position in that the support arm units 34a, 34b are in a first pivotal position with respect to the support frame 16 and non-extended (cf. FIG. 5).

[0082] In this position, web wound on the reels 12 can be withdrawn therefrom for processing it within the hotfoil stamping machine 10. Different paths of the web being withdrawn from the reels 12 are generally designated by reference sign 50.

[0083] The first support arm unit 34a and the second support arm unit 34b can also be brought into an intermediate position in that the support arm units 34a, 34b are in a second pivotal position and non-extended (cf. FIG. 6). Thus, as compared to the operational position of FIG. 6 the support arm units 34a, 34b and the reels mounted thereon are just pivoted.

[0084] Possible paths of the web being withdrawn from the reels 12 are again designated by reference sign 50.

[0085] Moreover, the first support arm unit 34a and the second support arm unit 34b can also be brought into an extended position in that the support arm units 34a, 34b are in a second pivotal position with respect to the support frame and extended (cf. FIG. 7).

[0086] As compared to the intermediate position, the support arm units 34a, 34b are not further pivoted but just extended, as depicted in FIG. 8.

[0087] In the extended position the reels 12 may be handed over from the respective holding stubs 40 of the support arm units 34a, 34b to the supporting element 26 of the elevator unit 24 and vice versa.

[0088] To this end, the holding stubs 40 and corresponding holding pieces 54 are supported on the respective support arm unit 34a, 34b via a rail 56 extending substantially parallel to a middle axis 40a of the respective holding stub 40.

[0089] It is understood that also a plurality of parallel rails may be used for the same purpose.

[0090] Thus, the holding stubs 40 are movable in a direction substantially corresponding to their middle axis 40a such that the stubs 40 can be selectively extended into cooperation with a reel 12 to be mounted on the respective support arm unit (cf. FIG. 11).

[0091] If the reel 12 is to be withdrawn from the support arm units 34a, 34b, the holding stubs 40 may be withdrawn from the core of the reel 12 by moving them along the rail 56 (cf. FIG. 12).

[0092] In this condition, the reel can be separated and withdrawn from the holding arm units 34a, 34b (cf. FIG. 13).

[0093] This may be done by using the supporting element 26.

[0094] Several sets of arms 34a, 34b can be used on a single rail 56 to position several reels along a single axis 40a. Please note that a single arm 34a can be used to hold a narrow reel, while to arms 34a, 34b are needed to hold wide, heavy reels.

[0095] FIG. 8 shows a variant in which on the support frame 16 two safeguard bars 52 are arranged for selectively occupying a space into which a holding stub 40 may be positioned if not correctly adjusted.

[0096] The space may be occupied by a holding stub 40 when the holding stub 40 is not correctly or not completely inserted into the reel 12. The safeguard bar is briefly moved from its retracted position into the extended position. When the space is occupied by a holding stub 40, the safeguard bar 52 is prevented to extend, and thus the safety system of the reel support assembly 14 can prevent any pivoting of the support arm unit 34 until the problem is fixed.

[0097] The hotfoil stamping machine 10 can thus be operated as follows.

[0098] For the ease of explanation, a condition in which there are no reels 12 in the hotfoil stamping machine 10 will be taken as a starting point.

[0099] Moreover, in this starting point the supporting element 26 is in the storage position and the support arm units 34a, 34b are in the operational position (cf. FIG. 1).

[0100] If a reel 12 is to be loaded into the hotfoil stamping machine 10, the supporting element 26 is lowered to the loading position (cf. FIG. 3) and a reel 12 is placed thereon.

[0101] Subsequently, the support arm units 34a, 34b are brought into the extended position (cf. FIG. 7).

[0102] The holding stubs 40 are brought into a condition corresponding to FIGS. 12 and 13 such that they provide enough space for a reel 12 to be placed therebetween.

[0103] Thereafter, the supporting element 26 is brought into the alignment condition. Thus, the reel 12 is placed such that the holding stubs 40 can be moved into the center of a core thereof (cf. FIG. 11).

[0104] After this, the supporting element 26 is lowered such that it does not support the reel 12 any more and especially does not block a horizontal movement thereof.

[0105] Then the holding arm units 34a, 34b can be brought from their extended position (cf. FIG. 7) to the intermediate position (cf. FIG. 6) and from there to the operational position (cf. FIG. 5).

[0106] Now the web wound on the reel 12 can be used for a hotfoil stamping process.

[0107] If the reel 12 is to be withdrawn from the hotfoil stamping machine 10 the steps of the above process are simply performed in an inverted order.