Device for processing of cores

A device for processing cores with a view to restoring same for reuse as good as new and unused cores a number of times for handling and carrying of different types of material webs, includes a number of processing units being arranged to act on the core for removal of material residues and possible other residues in the form of adhesive. The processing surface of the processing units is adapted and/or arranged to adapt itself to the surface of the core on at least the processing thereof under the exercise of a compression pressure between the core and the processing units.

The present invention relates to a device for processing a core for reuse.

Various economic reasons make it desirable to be able to recycle cores, preferably more than once. This applies in particular to cores of expensive material, e.g. aluminium, and cores of large dimensions. In order to be able to be recycled and reused, such matter as glue and paper residues must be removed without the core being damaged. The greater part of the residual material on a core can be rinsed off using some form of core cleaner. As a rule, the residual material is pulled off at that glue strand which holds the material web on the core at the beginning of its winding up. The material web on the one side of the glue strand will remain on the core, like the glue strand itself Manual removal of the glue strand and residues of the material web are time consuming and there are major risks of damage to the core, with considerable levels of rejection as a consequence.

The task forming the basis of the present invention is to realize a device which removes the glue strand and material residues from the core without damaging it.

This task is solved according to the present invention in the device disclosed in the present invention.

The present invention realizes a device that automatically processes cores for the removal of material residues and glue residues and restoring the cores into re-usable cores. The cores become as good as comparable with new, unused cores. This implies major savings, not only economic but also environmental, since the requisite transport and new production of cores is reduced.

The prototype of one embodiment of a device according to the present invention illustrated inFIGS. 1 and 2is intended for the evaluation of the present invention by cleaning of a core1, which may be manufactured for example from aluminium. The core1rests on a substrate2on which the core1is axially displaceable by means of a carrier3. The carrier3is in its turn displaceable by means of a cog belt4which is driven by means of a cog wheel6connected to a motor5. The carrier3is, during displacement, in engagement with the end of the core1and shunts the core1in front of it on the substrate2to a recess7in the substrate2. Above the recess7, there is disposed a wheel8which is mounted on a shaft departing from a motor9. Beneath the recess7, there is disposed a wheel10which is mounted on a shaft departing from a motor11.

The wheels8and10are manufactured from a rubber-like material, e.g. polyurethane, either completely or only on that surface which is turned to face the core1and is to process the core1. The wheels8and10have an inwardly arched surface displaying substantially the same radius as the core1or a slightly smaller radius than the core1and are thus shaped in response to the core1which is to be processed. The abutment between the core1and the wheels8and10will be good throughout the entire surface, which corresponds to up to 100 degrees of the circumference of the core.

The carrier3shunts the core1in between the wheels8and10, which are advantageously rotated in a direction towards the direction of movement of the core1so that material residues and glue residues are ejected rearwardly from the wheels8and10and the core1. Possibly, brushes and/or blowing and/or suction nozzles may be provided for removing material and glue residues. The processing of the core1may be likened to a rubbing operation and the core1may be displaced past the wheels8and10several times and possibly be pivoted or rotated somewhat between these displacements. There may thus be provided a carrier on the receiving side seen inFIGS. 1 and 2for returning the core1to the starting position. After every passage of the wheels8and10, it may be appropriate to pivot or rotate the core1a number of degrees or parts of a turn.

The embodiment of a device according to the present invention illustrated inFIGS. 3 and 4displays a substrate2in the form of rollers on which the core1rests and is moveable by means of a carrier3. The carrier3is displaceable by means of a cog belt4which is driven by means of a motor5and displaces the core1towards the wheels8and10as well as the wheels12and13. The wheel8is disposed on the upper side of the core1, while the wheel10is disposed on the underside of the core1, substantially straight beneath the wheel8. The wheel12is disposed on the one side of the core1, while the wheel13is disposed on the other side of the core1, substantially opposite the wheel12. The wheels12and13are positioned ahead of the wheels8and10seen in the direction of displacement of the core1. The wheels8,10,12and13are each driven by its motor9,11,14and15via a bevel gear. The wheels8,10,12,13have substantially the same design as the wheels8and10described in connection with the embodiment according toFIGS. 1 and 2.

It will clearly be apparent fromFIG. 4that the wheels8,10,12,13cover the entire circumference of the core1, for which reason it should be sufficient with one single passage thereof for complete cleaning from glue strand residues and material residues.

The degree of circumference may be varied, but in the event of lesser circumference, the position of the glue strand must be established, which is possible if the paper tail is slight or wholly absent. Most types of cores can be processed after adaptation of the pressure with which the wheels are applied against the core, the hardness of the polyurethane, which must be softer the more fragile the core is, as well as the relative speed between the core and the wheels. The processing of certain types of cores is commenced inside the one end of the core and continues up to and past the other end in order to avoid damage to the ends.

The described embodiment of a device according to the present invention may be modified in such a manner that the rotary wheels are displaced along a stationary core, that the rotating wheels are displaced along a rotating core, which is either axially stationary or is displaced axially, and that the rotary wheels are displaced. There may also be provided several sets of wheels along the core.

FIGS. 5-7illustrate yet a further embodiment of a device according to the present invention for cleaning of a core2from material residues, for example glue and paper residues, e.g. tissue residues. The core2is placed between chucks16which are provided with stub shafts17for rotation thereof in the direction of the arrow18. A wheel19which has a friction or casing surface of rubber or a rubber-like material, e.g. polyurethane, is urged against a core2. Inside the casing surface, there are disposed a number of open cells or through-going cavities20which impart to the casing surface a certain resilience and facilitate the configurational adaptation of the casing surface to the shape of the core2. The wheel19is rotated in the direction of the arrow21. The arrows18and21are double-headed and the rotation of the core2and the wheel19must take place towards one another. If the core2is rotated clockwise, the wheel19must be rotated counter clockwise, and vice versa. The wheel19is reciprocally displaceable along the core2and during rotation thereof in order, by scraping or rubbing, to remove primarily material residues for achieving as thorough a cleaning of the circumferential surface of the core2as possible without any damage thereto. The circumferential surface is detected and the procedure is repeated until the desired level of cleanliness has been achieved.

In particular in the handling of large cores, e.g. tissue cores of an inner diameter of 300-600 mm, it may be rational to provide two or even more wheels19along and/or about the core2for processing its circumferential surface.

Other modifications of the device according to the present invention are also conceivable without departing from the scope of the inventive concept as defined in the appended Claims.