Patent ID: 6994508
Filing Date: 2006-02-07
Classification: B65H

Abstract:
1. A method for moving parent reels between at least two handling stations with the aid of a parent reel cart, wherein on at least one of the stations a parent reel is carried on carrier rails, the method comprising: at a first handling station, transferring the parent reel on the carrier rails from the first handling station to a means for carrying parent reels of the parent reel cart, the means for carrying parent reels comprising at least two transfer carriages each of which grips ends of the parent reel and each of which moves independently along the carrier rails of the first handling station, on a junction between the carrier rails of the first handling station and the parent reel cart, and moving said transfer carriages onto the parent reel cart; after transferring the parent reel from the first handling station to the parent reel cart, locking the transferred parent reel to the parent reel cart; moving the parent reel locked on the parent reel cart to a next handling station; and releasing the lock on the parent reel after moving the parent reel to the next handling station; and after releasing the lock, transferring the parent reel from the parent reel cart to the next handling station, wherein, when the parent reel cart arrives at a handling station, said junction is formed by at least two unified rails, each unified rail comprising a pivoting gate pivotably mounted to the parent reel cart and positioned to connect with a respective rail of the handling station at which the parent reel cart arrives to form a single rail, and wherein the gates are raised and disengaged from the handling station during moving of the parent reel cart between handling stations.