METHOD FOR UNWINDING AND SPLICING REELS OF ARTICLES MADE OF FLEXIBLE MATERIAL, AND MODULE FOR IMPLEMENTING THE METHOD

Abstract

A method, and a module (1) for its implementation, is provided for unwinding and splicing reels (2) of flexible material articles. The method includes unwinding a full reel (2) from an unwinding station (4), the reel being positioned on a rotating assembly (3); and, during the unwinding of the reel, positioning a new full reel (2) from a reloading station (5) onto the rotating assembly (3). When the unwound reel is empty, the method includes rotating the rotating assembly (3) to move the empty reel to the reloading station (5) and, simultaneously, the full reel to the unwinding station (4) The method includes splicing the initial end of the article from the full reel with the final end of the article from the empty reel, and unwind the full reel from the unwinding station (4); and From the reloading station (5), removing the empty reel and position a new full reel. The process from step C) may be repeated as many times as necessary.

Claims

1. A method for unwinding and splicing reels of flexible material articles, said method comprising the following steps: A) Unwinding a full reel from an unwinding station, the reel being positioned on a rotating assembly; B) During the unwinding of the reel, positioning a new full reel from a reloading station onto the rotating assembly; C) When the unwound reel is empty, rotating the rotating assembly to move the empty reel to the reloading station and simultaneously move the full reel to the unwinding station; D) Splicing the initial end of the article from the full reel with the final end of the article from the empty reel, and unwind the full reel from the unwinding station; E) From the reloading station, removing the empty reel and position a new full reel; and Repeating the process from step C) as many times as necessary.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the rotation of the rotating assembly around a vertical axis.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein automatically cutting the article transversely when the unwound reel is empty to detach it from the empty reel.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein automatically splicing the initial end of the article from the full reel with the final end of the article from the empty reel using an automatic splicing device.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the splicing device using adhesive.

6. A module for unwinding and splicing reels of flexible material articles, said module comprising a rotating assembly positioned between an unwinding station and a reloading station, the rotating assembly including means for holding at least two reels, with the ability to rotate the reels around their axis, and the rotating assembly being able to pivot to successively move the reels to the unwinding station for unwinding a full reel and to the reloading station for removing an empty reel and positioning a new full reel.

7. The module according to claim 6, wherein the rotating assembly being in the form of a platform.

8. The module for splicing according to claim 6, wherein the unwinding station comprising a transverse cutting device.

9. The module for splicing according to claim 6, wherein the unwinding station comprising an automatic splicing device, using adhesive.

10. The module for splicing according to claim 6, wherein the rotating assembly including means for holding secondary reels positioned above or below the primary reels to allow the simultaneous unwinding of a secondary article overlaid on the main article.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description, provided as an indication and not limiting, with reference to the attached figures, in which:

[0024] FIG. 1 illustrates the module according to the invention in perspective.

[0025] FIG. 2 illustrates the module viewed from the unwinding station side.

[0026] FIG. 3 illustrates the module in perspective, viewed from the reloading station side.

[0027] FIG. 4 shows the module according to the invention from above.

[0028] FIG. 5 shows the unwinding station from the side.

[0029] FIG. 6 illustrates the module according to the invention in perspective, viewed from below in detail on the rotating assembly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0030] With reference to FIGS. 1 to 6, the invention concerns a method and a module (1) for unwinding reels (2) of flexible material articles, such as strips or sheets of fabric, plastic, rubber, or any other flexible element that can be unwound towards a downstream machine, not shown, which may be a cutting, printing, coating, or surface treatment machine, as is known.

[0031] The invention allows, when a reel is empty, to remove it and splice the end of a new full reel to continue the unwinding operation. The module (1) according to the invention comprises a rotating assembly (3), illustrated as a platform, positioned between an unwinding station (4) and a reloading station (5).

[0032] In the illustrated embodiment, the rotating assembly (3) pivots around a vertical axis, and the unwinding (4) and reloading (5) stations are diametrically opposed.

[0033] The rotating assembly (3) includes means for holding at least two reels (2) with the ability to rotate the reels (2) around their axis.

[0034] The holding means are of any suitable type well known to those skilled in the art, for example, in the form of a support frame with two flanges designed to receive the ends of the reels' mandrels (2). In practice, these holding means are motorized unwinders (6), either to rotate the reel to feed the downstream machine or to brake the reel's rotation to tension the unwound article when the downstream machine pulls the article.

[0035] According to the invention, the rotating assembly (3) is able to pivot, notably automatically by being motorized, to successively move the reels (2) to the unwinding station (4) for unwinding a full reel, and to the reloading station (5) for removing an empty reel and positioning a new full reel.

[0036] As described, this module (1) reduces downtime in the unwinding process because, when the unwound reel is empty, it is sufficient to pivot the rotating assembly (3) to present a new full reel for splicing and unwinding.

[0037] In practice, the method implemented comprises the following steps: A) Unwind a full reel (2) from the unwinding station, the full reel being positioned on the rotating assembly (3); B) During the unwinding of the reel (2), position a new full reel (2) from the reloading station (5) onto the rotating assembly (3); C) When the unwound reel is empty, either the final end of the article detaches itself, or a step, manual or automatic, cuts the article transversely to detach it from the empty reel and pivots the rotating assembly (3) to move the empty reel to the reloading station (5) and, simultaneously, the full reel to the unwinding station; D) Splice, manually or automatically, the initial end of the article from the full reel with the final end of the article from the empty reel, and unwind the full reel from the unwinding station; E) From the reloading station (5), and notably during the unwinding of the full reel, remove the empty reel and position a new full reel.

[0038] Then, repeat the process from step C) as many times as necessary.

[0039] When splicing is done automatically, the unwinding station (4) includes an automatic splicing device (not shown), such as an automatic splicing device using adhesive, as well as a transverse cutting device.

[0040] In the illustrated embodiment, the rotating assembly (3) is in the form of a platform positioned at ground level, pivoting around a vertical axis, with the reels (2) positioned above the platform, rotating around a horizontal axis. Other embodiments can be considered without departing from the scope of the invention, such as the platform being positioned above the reels (2), resulting in a suspended assembly, minimizing floor space.

[0041] The unwinding (4) and reloading (5) stations are diametrically opposed, so the rotating assembly (3) must pivot 180 to move the reels (2) between stations.

[0042] The operations of removing the empty reel and loading a full reel can be performed manually or automatically; the key point is that they occur during the unwinding of the other reel.

[0043] If an operator performs the removal and loading operations, they are done entirely safely, away from the unwinding module (1).

[0044] In the illustrated embodiment, see FIG. 6, the rotating assembly (3) also includes means for holding secondary reels (2), motorized unwinders (6), positioned above or below the primary reels (2), allowing the simultaneous unwinding of a secondary article overlaid on the main unwound article, such as a liner, for example.

[0045] From the foregoing, it is clear that the invention provides a method and a module (1) for unwinding and splicing reels (2) of flexible material articles, with optimized efficiency, meaning the shortest possible downtime between splicing two reels (2).