Method of and an arrangement for securing a trailing end of a web in a web roll to a surface of the roll

Abstract

A trailing end (14) of a web in a web roll (14, 14.1) is secured to a surface of the web roll in a slitter-winder (10) by attachment articles (30) which extend over a trailing end of the web on the roll surface. Each attachment article has an adhesive surface positioned on a path of movement of the web roll, facing toward the roll, and, while the roll is moved, it is attached on the surface of the web roll. An arrangement (11) for securing a trailing end of a web to the roll in a slitter-winder (10) has a roll handling system (24) to move the rolls (14) via a path, and an adhesive article distribution system (28) positioned to attachment the article, in which the two systems co-operate so that, as the rolls are moved, the attachment article is attached on the surface of the web roll.

Claims

1. A method in a slitter-winder for web material, comprising the steps of: for each of a plurality of web rolls in a set of rolls securing a trailing end of a web which forms each web roll, to a surface of each corresponding web roll, with one of a plurality of attachment articles each having an adhesive surface, by transporting the plurality of attachment articles each having an adhesive surface on a transport system which moves in a cross machine direction to a predetermined cross directional position; and positioning each attachment article on the transport system at a predetermined cross directional position so that each corresponding adhesive surface is positioned on one of a plurality of paths along which each corresponding web roll moves, with each corresponding adhesive surface toward each corresponding web roll, and while each corresponding web roll is moved along each corresponding path, attaching each corresponding attachment article on the corresponding surface of the trailing end of each corresponding web and each corresponding surface of each web roll.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein each of the plurality of attachment articles is attached on the corresponding surface of the corresponding trailing end of the corresponding web and the corresponding surface of the corresponding web roll while winding of a new set of rolls has been commenced in the slitter-winder.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the plurality of the attachment articles are transferred simultaneously from being supported on the transport system onto the corresponding surface of each of the plurality of web rolls in the set of web rolls while each of the plurality of web rolls is rotating, by simultaneously moving the transport system.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein each of the attachment articles is formed by an adhesive tape dispensed from a tape dispenser on to the transport system and the adhesive tape is cut to form each of the plurality of attachment articles, the attachment articles being formed one by one and transferred on to a predetermined position by the transport system so that at the predetermined cross directional position each corresponding adhesive surface is positioned on one of the plurality of corresponding paths along which each corresponding web roll moves.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the transport system is first moved to a first position at which a leading end of the adhesive tape is dispensed from the tape dispenser on the transport system and the attachment articles are formed one after another at the predetermined positions and supported by the transport system, and subsequently the transport system is moved to the predetermined position at which the operation of attachment of said attachment articles on the surface of the trailing end of the webs and the surfaces of the web rolls is commenced.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the transport system is first moved to one of several first positions at which the tape dispenser is arranged.

7. The method of claim 3 wherein a tape dispenser is moved along with the transport system.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein one surface of the at least one attachment article is provided with readable information visible outwards on the surface of the roll after being attached on the roll.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the readable information is printed on the adhesive surface of the at least one attachment article while dispensing the at least one attachment article as an adhesive tape from a tape dispenser.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the transporting of the at least one attachment article to the predetermined cross directional position is on an endless belt forming at least part of the transport system.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) In the following, the invention will be described with reference to the accompanying exemplary, schematic drawings.

(2) FIG. 1 illustrates a slitter-winder according to an embodiment of the invention.

(3) FIG. 2 illustrates an arrangement according to FIG. 1 in a different operational position.

(4) FIG. 3 illustrates a view of a slitter-winder according FIG. 1.

(5) FIG. 4 illustrates an article distribution system according to another embodiment of the invention.

(6) FIG. 5 side elevation view of article distribution system according to another embodiment of the invention.

(7) FIG. 6 top plan view of article distribution system of FIG. 5

(8) FIG. 7 illustrates a transport system according to still another embodiment of the invention.

(9) FIG. 8 illustrates an article distribution system according to another embodiment of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(10) FIG. 1 depicts schematically a slitter-winder 10 which is of the two-drum type. The slitter-winder comprises two carrier rolls 12,13 and a press device, here being a press roll 18, as its main components. At least the press roll is arranged movable such that it may follow the growing set of rolls 14 while supporting them from above. The carrier rolls 12, 13 and the press roll 18 are used to rotatably support the set of web rolls 14 being wound to be so called customer rolls. The slitter-winder is also provided with a slitting section 9 arranged to slit the running web w into multiple partial webs w, as is known in the art as such.

(11) When the set of rolls is ready the partial webs w are cut (not shown) and the set of rolls are removed from the winder 10 by moving the set of rolls in a machine direction MD, meaning a general direction of running w in the system. The winder 10 is provided with a pusher device 15 for moving the set of rolls out of the winder 10. In FIG. 1 there is shown a situation where a first set of rolls 14.1 has already been wound to their full diameter and has been moved out of the winder 10 while winding of a new set of rolls 14 has begun. As is obvious, when the partial web w is cut there is a trailing end of the web 14 in the roll 14.1 which needs to be secured on the surface 14.4 of the roll so that the roll will not unwind or become loose.

(12) The slitter-winder 10 is provided with an arrangement 11 for securing a trailing end 14 of a web w of each roll 14 in the set. The arrangement 11 for securing a trailing end 14 of a web w comprises a roll handling system 24 which is provided in the embodiment of FIG. 1 with a sloping support surface 20. The roll handing system 24 defines a path of movement of the rolls 14 by means of its surface 20. That is because in this embodiment the rolls are moved be controllably rotating the roll along the support surface 20. This provides a straight forward means for moving the roll 14.1 forwards from the winder 10 while the arrangement 11 for securing a trailing end 14 of a web w is operated to secure the trailing end of the web in the roll. In FIG. 1 the first set of rolls 14.1 is on the sloping support surface 20 belonging to the arrangement 11. The support surface 20 may lead for example to a conveyor 22 for further handling the processed rolls. A trailing end 14 of the partial web w in the roll 14.1 is shown in an extremely exaggerated manner for illustrative purposes only. The arrangement for securing a trailing end 14 of a web w is provided with an adhesive article distribution system 28, which is arranged to position one or more adhesive articles 30 on the path of movement of the web roll 14.1, such that the adhesive articles 30 may be attached on the web rolls 14.1. The arrangement 11 for securing a trailing end 14 of a web w is provided with support roll 29 or a like against which the set of rolls 14.1 may be rested while the roll are rolled on the sloping surface 20.

(13) The adhesive articles 30 are preferably formed by cutting suitable pieces from an adhesive tape provided with an adhesive surface 30.1 on its one side and placed on the path of movement of the web roll 14.1 as will be explained later. Each of the attachment articles 30 is positioned on a path of movement of the web roll 14.1 to a predetermined position by a transport system 34 prior to attaching the attachment articles 30 on the surface 14.4 of the web roll. The transport system is arranged to move each of the adhesive article 30 in the cross direction to a predetermined position.

(14) The adhesive article distribution system 28 and the roll handling system 24 are arranged in co-operation with each other such that while the set of rolls 14.1 is moved, said one or more attachment articles 30 are attached on the surface 14.4 of the web roll 14.1. Thus, the arrangement is provided with a control system 100 which is provided with executable instructions to operate the adhesive article distribution system 28 and the roll handling system 24 and/or the slitter-winder 10 such that while the set of rolls 14.1 is moved, said one or more attachment articles 30 are attached on the surface of the web roll 14.1. The control system may be a computer system provided with an output unit arranged to transmit operational instructions, generated by running executable instructions, to the slitter-winder 10 and the adhesive article distribution system 28.

(15) According to an embodiment of the invention the control system 100 is provided with executable instructions to rotate the set of rolls 14 in the slitter-winder 10, after the partial webs have been cut, to such a rotational position that when the roll 14.1 has rolled to the working area of the adhesive article distribution system 28, the trailing end of the web 14 is at a position where the adhesive article distribution system 28 is capable of attaching said one or more attachment articles 30 on the surface 14.4 of the web roll to extend over the trailing end 14 of the web on the roll surface. This way the slitter-winder 10 rotates the set of rolls 14 to the position which, taken the diameter of the rolls and the distance to rotate to the position where the transport system is waiting to come in contact with the surface 14,4 of the roll such that the adhesive article may secure the trailing end 14 of the web to the roll 14.1.

(16) The arrangement for securing a trailing end of a web of each roll in the set may advantageously be used for practicing a method of securing a trailing end 14 of a web in a web roll 14, 14.1 to a surface 14.4 of the web roll in a slitter-winder 10 for web material. According to an embodiment of the invention in the method one or more attachment articles are set to extend over a trailing end of the web 14 on each roll surface 14.4 so that the roll will not be unwound or become loose. Firstly, in the method one or more attachment articles 30 are positioned on a path of movement of the web roll 14.1 such that the adhesive surface 30.1 of the articles is facing toward the web roll, and while the roll 14.1 is moved further one or more attachment articles 30 are attached on the surface 14.4 of the web roll 14.1.

(17) In the embodiment of FIG. 1 the one or more attachment articles 30 are transferred from the support of a transport system 34 and attached onto the surface 14.4 of the web roll 14.1 while the roll is moved away from the winder part 10 of the slitter-winder 8 by rotational movement. Simultaneously the transport system 34 is moved respectively to allow the movement of the roll 14.1 and facilitate the attachment of the adhesive articles 30.

(18) Also, according to an embodiment of the invention said one or more attachment articles 30 are attached on the surface 14.4 of the web w while winding of a new set of rolls 14 is commenced in the winder 10. This increases the capacity of the system remarkably since the slitting operation may be commenced immediately after the roll has been released from the winding section.

(19) In FIG. 2 there is shown the arrangement of FIG. 1 in a situation where one or more attachment articles 30 have been attached on the web roll 14.1 binding the trailing end 14 on the surface 14.4 of the web roll, in strongly exaggerated manner.

(20) In the following the adhesive article distribution system 28 according to an embodiment of the invention is explained with reference to FIGS. 1 and 3, which FIG. 3 illustrates a view of the arrangement 11 in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 1. The adhesive article distribution system 28 comprises a frame part 32 which is arranged movable in respect to the winder 10. The frame part 32 is supported on e.g. a rail or a guide 36 arranged on front side and back side floor. The frame part 32 is further provided with an actuator 38 such as a motor to move the frame part 32. The actuator 38 is made subject to control of the control system 100. The frame part may be also a subsection of a bigger frame system and the movement may be accomplished also by an appropriate pivoting arm system.

(21) There is a transport system 34 arranged in connection with the frame part 32. The transport system 34 is arranged to extend in the direction of the center axis of the rolls, i.e. in a cross direction CD over the total length of the successive rolls 14.1 in the set. The transport system 34 is provided with a support member 35, such as an endless belt, arranged to run around two guide rolls 38. At least one of the guide rolls is provided with a controllable drive (not shown), which is made subject to control of the control system 100. By rotating the guide rolls 38 the support member 35 may be moved in the cross direction, in either direction, as desired. In the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 3 the support member 35 is provided with openings 40 via which an under pressure is provided by e.g. a vacuum system 47 under the support member is arranged to effect on the attachment articles 30 such that they are firmly enough maintained on the surface 35.1 of the support member 35. The openings 40 may be provided by means of perforation, punctured hole or even by making the support member of woven or meshed wire. The adhesive distribution system 28 may be provided with an additional pressing device 48 extending in the cross direction for improving the securing of the trailing end 14 of the web w onto the surface 14.4 of the web roll 14.1 by applying an extra force on the adhesive article 30.

(22) In FIG. 3 there is shown an adhesive distribution system 28 which comprises a number of dispensers 42 arranged to the working area of the adhesive article distribution system 28. The dispensers 42 are provided with tape material for providing the adhesive articles 30. The dispensers 42 are also provided with a cutting device 46 for cutting the tape material. The attachment articles 30 are formed from an adhesive tape stored in the dispenser 42 by administrating tape of a suitable length and cutting it to have predetermined lengths corresponding to the length which the tape covers the trailing end of the web w on the roll 14.1. A dispenser may contain several tapes of different width and/or e.g. adhesive quality, or each dispenser may contain tape of only one kind in which case there are a number of dispensers each having tape of different quality or kind. Providing a number of dispensers increases also the redundancy of the system, because there is always available a spare dispenser should any one of the dispensers fail. The adhesive distribution system 28 may be moved to co-operate with any one of the dispensers 42 for positioning the attachment articles 30 on the support member 35 of the transport system 34. The arrangement is operated so that each of the attachment articles 30 is positioned on the support member 35 such that a leading end of the adhesive tape 44, which may be stored in a roll of tape, is dispensed from a dispenser 40 on the transport system 34, particularly on its support member 35, and the adhesive tape is cut forming a single attachment article, the attachment articles are formed one by one and transferred to a predetermined position by the transport system. The attachment articles 30 may be brought onto the support member from either of the ends of the transport system 34.

(23) According to an embodiment of the invention the control system 100 is provided with executable instructions to select a dispenser containing a tape having a width which is selected based on the roll related information, such as grammage and/or surface quality of the web in the roll. Typically the heavier/more slippery the web is the wider tape should be used. It should be understood that the width of the tape corresponds to the length of the angular coverage of the attachment article 30 on the roll 14.1.

(24) FIG. 4 discloses an embodiment where there is a dispenser 42 arranged at one or both ends of the adhesive article distribution system 28. In this embodiment one or two dispensers are integrated to the adhesive article distribution system 28 i.e. moved along with the transport system 34 and there is no need to move the adhesive article distribution system 28 for retrieving the attachment articles 30 on the support member 35.

(25) In FIGS. 5 and 6 there is disclosed an embodiment of the invention, which relates to the transport system 34 of the adhesive article distribution system 28. In this embodiment the transport system comprises in addition to the support member 35 an auxiliary support member 35 arranged to run against the support member 35 at least on the side of the transport system 34 where the attachment articles 30 are positioned. The auxiliary support member 35 is guided via rollers 38 around the support member 35. The auxiliary support member 35 is a retaining means arranged to retain the attachment articles on a correct position by pressing against the support member 35. The auxiliary support member 35 may be a sole means for retaining the attachment articles 30 on a correct position or it may for assisting the effect of the under pressure behind the support member 35.

(26) In FIG. 7 there is disclosed an embodiment of the invention, which relates to the transport system 34 of the adhesive article distribution system 28. In this embodiment the transport system comprises a folded edge 35 in the support member 35 arranged to run against the support member 35 at least on the side of the transport system 34 where the attachment articles 30 are positioned. The folded edge 35 is guided such that it is opened at the end, where the attachment articles 30 are guided and inserted under the folded edge to retain the attachment articles on a correct position by pressing against the support member.

(27) In the embodiments of FIGS. 5 and 6 the attachment articles are such that the area which is covered by the auxiliary support member or the pleated edge is free of adhesive.

(28) Now referring back to FIGS. 3 and 5, according to an embodiment of the invention the adhesive distribution system 28, advantageously the dispenser 42 is provided with a marking system 50 arranged to provide the attachment article with readable information 52, an example of which is shown in FIG. 5. The readable information may be computer readable, such as a bar code or quick response code, or human readable information, such as writing or a symbol or both. It is to be noted that the readable information is in FIG. 6 behind the attachment article and is visible here when the attachment article is transparent. The readable information comprises advantageously roll specific information. The marking system may be for example a printer arranged to print the readable information on the attachment article while dispensing the adhesive tape from the dispenser 42. It is to be noted that the marking system may be applied or used independent from the manner with which the roll is moved.

(29) In FIG. 8 there is shown an exemplary embodiment of the invention where the method is practiced while the set of rolls 14.1 is supported by one of the carrier rolls 12, 13 of the winder 10. The transport system 34 for the adhesive articles 30 is similar to that explained in connection with FIG. 1.

(30) Here the web rolls 14.1 are rotatably supported by the pushing device 15 and the front roll 13 winder, while the end of the still unwound partial webs w are retained against the rear roll 12 by a cutting/retaining device 23, the roll 12 being now at a halted state. In this embodiment the movement of the rolls 14.1 while the trailing end 14 of the web is secured on the surface 14.4 of the web roll 14.1, is solely rotational movement where the center 14.5 of the roll remains at one location and the roll is rotating on its support.

(31) As an optional measure the roll 14.1 may also be rotated under support of the front roll 13 and a support element 17 arranged to a roll removal device 16 of the winder 10. The support element 17 can comprise, for example, one or more rollers or corresponding arranged in connection with the removal device 16, supported by which the roll 14 can safely be rotated.

(32) It is also conceivable that the trailing end of the web is secured on the surface of the roll 14.4, at a dedicated roll rotating station arranged in the roll transportation system downstream the winder 10. This is depicted by rollers 17 in FIG. 8 between the removal device 16 and a conveyor 20. Such a dedicated roll rotating station may be arranged also between two conveyor sections. Also in this case it is solely rotational movement where the center 14.5 of the roll 14.1 remains at one location and the roll is rotating on its support 17, that is needed for operating the transport system 34 practicing the method according to the invention.

(33) While the invention has been described herein by way of examples in connection with what are, at present, considered to be the most preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but is intended to cover various combinations or modifications of its features, and several other applications included within the scope of the invention, as defined in the appended claims. The details mentioned in connection with any embodiment above may be used in connection with another embodiment when such combination is technically feasible.