Winding device

Abstract

A winding device for successively winding at least one material web, particularly a plastic film web, onto spools. The winding device includes a machine frame, at least one wheel which is mounted on the machine frame in a manner allowing rotation, at least two winding points for carrying the spools, which are mounted in the wheel in a manner allowing rotation, of which a first winding point is positionable in a winding position, and a second winding point is positionable in a loading and/or unloading position, with at least one guard element that is pivotably positionable in a region between the spools respectively associated with the first winding point and the second winding point.

Claims

1. A winding device for successively winding a material web onto spools, comprising: a machine frame; a wheel which is rotatably mounted on the machine frame; at least a first winding point and a second winding point for carrying the spools, which are mounted in the wheel in a manner allowing rotation thereof, with the first winding point being positionable in a winding position, and the second winding point being positionable in at least one of a loading position and an unloading position; and a guard element that is pivotably positionable in a region between the spools respectively associated with the first winding point and the second winding point, with a pivot axis of the guard element being parallel to a winding axis of the first winding point and the second winding point.

2. The winding device according to claim 1, wherein the guard element is pivotably mounted on the machine frame.

3. The winding device according to claim 1, wherein the guard element is configured as a plate.

4. The winding device according to claim 1, further comprising a limit stop arranged on the machine frame to limit the pivotability of the guard element to a prescribed range.

5. The winding device according to claim 1, wherein the guard element is movable with a piston cylinder unit.

6. The winding device according to claim 1, wherein the material web is a plastic film web.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) In the individual FIGURES:

(2) The drawing FIGURE shows a lateral view of a winding device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(3) Further scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.

(4) The drawing FIGURE shows a lateral view of a winding device 1, which is designed as a so-called turret winder. The central element of this winding device is the wheel 2, which is mounted in a manner allowing rotation in the machine frame 4specifically in the side wall thereofvia bearings 3. The wheel 2 carries multipleand in the embodiment shown, threewinding points 5, 5, 5 which are mounted in the wheel in a manner allowing rotation. The winding points, which can typically be formed by winding shafts, each carry one or more winding sleeves 6, 6, 6 which typically consist of cardboard.

(5) The winding point 5 has already been configured with at least one new winding sleeve 6, and is in the ready position. From there, it can be moved into the winding position in which the winding point 5 is currently found. This would occur by a rotation of the wheel 2 in the direction of the arrow D. Put more generally, the winding point 5 is in the loading and/or equipping position which functions primarily for the placement of new winding sleeves 6.

(6) There is a functional and also spatial separation from the winding point 5, which is in the unloading position in the embodiment shown. This separation is particularly included in instances where frequent spool changes are performed, thereby frequently avoiding a situation where the same winding point is unloaded and reloaded between two spool changes. These frequent spool changes occur particularly when the intended size of the finished spool is so small that the spool can be conveniently carried by one person. This is the case, by way of example, for stretch films which are commonly used to secure wares stacked on palettes such that they do not fall off. When enclosing these wares, the person unwinds the film from the spool.

(7) The winding of stretch film onto spools of relatively small dimensions (axial length of maximum 80 cm, spool diameter of maximum 40 cm) is therefore one of the preferred areas of application of the winding device according to the invention.

(8) The winding point 5 still carries a finished spool 7 which is ready to be unloaded. For this purpose, a support device 8 is included, wherein the spool 7 is placed thereon and the same can be transported away.

(9) The winding sleeve 6 on the winding point 5 is being wound. The winding point 5 can be driven by a motor for this purpose. To reduce the incorporation of air into the windings, a contact roll 10 is brought into contact with the spool 9 currently being formed, which presses the material web 11particularly the filmagainst the spool. In order to make it possible for the contact roll 10 to accordingly follow the changing diameter of the spool, it is mounted on a lever arm 12 in a manner allowing rotationand advantageously with a drive. This lever arm is attached to the machine frame 4 in a manner allowing pivoting. The material web is fed via the guide roll 13. A piston cylinder unit 14 is included, by means of which it is possible to apply a defined force such that the contact roll 10 bears on the spool with the desired pressure. The winding point 5 and the contact roll 10 rotate in the direction of rotation, which is indicated by the arrows R.sub.W and/or R.sub.K, respectively. The winding point 5 and the contact roll 10 form a roll gap 15 which is referred to further below.

(10) At this point, the process of the changing of the spool is not addressed in further detail.

(11) Both the loading of the winding point 5 and the unloading of the winding point [sic] 6 can be performed automatically. However, particularly in the case of stretch film being wound, the situation occurs from time to time that it is necessary to intervene manuallyparticularly in the unloading process. For example, it may be necessary to remove film which has adhered to a machine frame. Because the peripheral speeds of the rotating components can be considerable, however, there is a health hazard for the machine operator. By way of example, parts of the operator's clothing can quite quickly become caught in the roll gap 15, which can have unpleasant consequences.

(12) To prevent this, without the need to stop the winding process, a guard element 20 is included which can be a metal sheet or a plate, for example. The guard element preferably covers the entire area of the winding points 5, 5, and 5 in the axial dimension thereof. The guard element is preferably sized and arranged such that it breaks the direct joining line between the axes of the winding points 5 and 5. In this way, an effective protection against reaching into the winding gap 15 is ensured.

(13) If the loading and unloading of the respective winding point is complete, the guard is no longer needed. Specifically, it would prevent the rotation of the wheel 2 in the position shown. For this reason, the guard element 20 is attached with articulation to the triangular support 21, and is able to pivot in the direction indicated by the double arrow S.

(14) For the pivot movement itself, a piston cylinder unit 22 is included, which can be linked on one side thereof to the machine frame 4, and on the other side thereof to the guard element 20. Instead of the linkage to the machine frame 4, a linkage to the support 23 is illustrated, wherein the same can be attached to the traverse beam 24. The illustrated and described arrangement of the piston cylinder unit is advantageous for the following reason: in the event that the cylinder of the piston cylinder unit is switched to unpressurized operation as the result of a malfunction, the guard element automatically falls into the position which provided a guard. As far as the rotation of the wheel is concerned, this would mean that the winding point 5 would push the guard element out of the way during the rotation.

(15) Finally, a limit stop 25 is included, wherein the guard element 20 is pressed against the same by the piston cylinder unit 22 when the guard element is not needed. This limit stop 25 can be replaced by a sensor, or combined with such a sensor, as described above.

(16) With regard to the present invention, various different features, which are clearly advantageous, have been described in this text at various points. Even without specifically having been addressed, all of these features can be freely combined with each other without departing from the scope of the invention.

(17) The invention being thus described, it will be apparent that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be recognized by one skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims.

(18) TABLE-US-00001 List of reference numbers 1 winding device 2 wheel 3 bearing 4 machine frame 5, 5, 5 winding point 6, 6, 6 winding sleeve 7 spool 8 support device 9 spool 10 contact roll 11 material web 12 lever arm 13 guide roll 14 piston cylinder unit 15 roll gap 16 17 18 19 20 guard element 21 triangular support 22 piston cylinder unit 23 support 24 traverse beam 25 limit stop R.sub.W direction of rotation R.sub.K direction of rotation S pivot direction