DEVICE FOR SPLICING TWO WEBS OF MATERIAL EACH ORIGINATING FROM A ROLL

Abstract: A device for splicing the trailing (downstream) end of a first web of material (the expiring web) originating from a first roll to a leading (upstream) end of a second roll, during stoppage, comprises a frame (1) which accommodates at least a festoon, a web splicing unit (4) and two roll holders (5, 6). Each roll holder comprises two arms which are fitted so as to be slidable in the axial direction and non-rotatable on a pivot shaft (15) mounted horizontally in the frame and coupled to a rotating mechanism. Each roll holder further comprises two chucks rotatably mounted in the ends of the arms and situated opposite each other coaxially for receiving a roll between them. A vertically arranged drive belt unit (25) is situated between the arms of each roll holder for rotationally driving a roll received be­ tween the two chucks with the roll holder a roll can be easily picked up and pressed against a drive belt.

Description: The present invention relates to a device for splicing the trailing (downstream) end of a first web of material (the expiring web) originating from a first web roll to the leading (upstream) end of a second web of material (the new web) originating from a second web roll, during stoppage, comprising a supporting frame accommodating at least a festoon, a web splicing unit, two horizontal web roll holding units and at least one drive belt unit near each web roll holding unit, each web roll holding unit comprising two rotatable chucks for supporting a web roll, said chucks being situated coaxially opposite each other and a the least one chuck be being movable in the axial direction, and the at least one drive belt unit being situated between the two chucks of a web roll holding unit and comprising a main drive belt arranged so as to cooperate with a portion of the outer circumference of a web roll supported by the chucks for rotationally driving the web roll. A device of this type is known, for example, from German Patent Specification 3.311.746 and can be used in printing machines. Splicing of the two material webs during stoppage has, inter alia, the advantage that a very good splice can be made. In the known device the chucks are rotatably mounted in two opposite side walls of a roll support frame. One chuck of a pair of chucks of a roll holder is axially displaceable by means of a cylinder-piston unit, so as to enable the receipt of a roll between a pair of chucks. The other chuck of the pair of chucks is coupled with a braking device to decelerate a roll received between the pair of chucks. Furthermore, means are provided for pressing a section of the drive belt of the drive belt nit against a section of the circumference of the roll received between a pair of chucks. However, the known device has a number of drawbacks. It is rather difficult to place a roll between the chucks of a roll holder, thus necessitating the use of a crane or other lifting device. Furthermore, the device is suitable for rolls with only one width. Finally, the whole drive belt unit must be tiltable so as to be able to press the drive belt against the roll. The object of the present invention is, therefore, to provide a device for splicing two webs of material, each originating from a roll, which does not have the above mentioned drawbacks and which offers the possibility of making use of simple transport means, both for placing and removing the rolls. This object is achieved according to the invention by a device of the above mentioned type wherein the supporting frame includes a horizontal upper frame part and two downwardly-extending vertical frame parts, each vertical frame part accommodating a web roll holding unit, each web roll holding unit comprising two arms being pivotable about a horizontal axis extending parallel to the axis of the chucks and being movable in the direction of said axis, the chucks of each web roll holding unit are rotatably mounted in the free ends of the arms and the at least one drive belt unit is mounted stationarily in a vertical plane in the supporting frame. As a result of this, the chucks can be brought to the desired height above the ground in order to be able to receive a roll presented on, for example, a hand truck. By moving the carrying arms towards each other, the chucks are inserted in the ends of tie central cylindrical sleeve of the roll and then clamped therein by expansion. Furthermore, it offers the possibility to press tie roll against the drive belt by tilting the arms of the roll holder, so that the roll holder has two functions, viz. picking up the roll and pressing the roll against the drive belt. The invention will now be illustrated in the description below of an exemplary embodiment on the basis of the drawings, wherein: FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the device according to the invention. FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the device of Figure 1 from the other side. FIGURE 3 is a perspective view similar to Figure 1 of another embodiment of the device according to the invention. FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of the device of Figure 3 from the other side. FIGURE 5 is a perspective view on enlarged scale of a roll holder with drive belt units of the device of Figure 3. The embodiment of a device according to the invention shown in figures 1 and 2 comprises a frame 1 which includes an upper horizontal frame part and two downwardly-extending vertical frame parts, a festoon consisting of a fixed roller assembly 2 and a moveable dancer roller assembly 3, a web splicing unit 4 and two roll holders 5, 6. Each roll holder 5, 6 comprises two rotatable chucks 7, 8, situated coaxially opposite each other for receiving a roll 9 or 10, respectively, of a web of material. The chucks 7, 8 are rotatably mounted in the ends of two arms 11, 12 or 13, 14, respectively, which can be tilted about a horizontal axis and can be displaced in the horizontal direction, the arms 11, 12; 13, 14 of each of the two roll holders 5,6 being fitted so as to be slideable in axial direction and non-rotatable, on a pivot shaft 15, 16 mounted horizontally in the frame. The arms 11, 12; 13, 14 can be displaced along the pivot shaft 15; 16 by means of racks 17 fitted in the longitudinal direction on the pivot shaft 15; 16, the electric motors 18 and 19 on the arms providing the drive. An electric motor 20 serves to displace the roll holder 5; 6 in its entirety laterally for the purpose of lateral corrections. To receive the roll in, for example, the roll holder 5, the arms 11, 12 are moved apart by means of the motors 18, 19 and a roll presented by a simple transport means such as a hand truck is placed between the arms, care being taken to ensure that the chucks 7, 8 are situated opposite the central cylindrical sleeve of the roll 9. The arms 11, 12 are then moved towards each other and the chucks 7, 8 are inserted into the ends of the cylindrical sleeve of the roll and are subsequently clamped therein by expanding them. In order to be able to tilt the arms 11, 12; 13, 14 of the two roll holders 5, 6, the pivot shafts 15, 16 are each coupled to a rotating mechanism which, in the embodiment shown, consists of a lever 21 rigidly attached to the pivot shaft 15; 16, and a spindle structure 23 fitted between the end 22 of the lever 21 and the frame 1 and which can be driven by an electric motor 24. Since the arms 11, 12; 13, 14 are unrotatably connected to the associated pivot shaft 15; 16, operation of the spindle structure 23, which causes the lever 21 to tilt, will cause the arms of the roll holder 5; 6 concerned to tilt about the axis of the pivot shaft 15; 16. In this manner, a roll received in the roll holder can be moved up and down in the vertical direction. A drive belt unit 25 or 26, respectively, is situated near each roll holder between the two arms 11, 12 or 13, 14, respectively, for driving a roll 9 or 10, respectively, received in the roll holder. Each drive belt unit 25; 26 consists of a yoke which is formed from two essentially C-shaped plate parts 27, 28 which are situated essentially in parallel at some distance from each other and are rigidly connected to each other. A drive roller and several guide rollers, which are parallel to each other, are fitted between the C-shaped plate parts. A drive belt 29; 30 for driving the roll 9; 10 runs round the rollers, which drive belt can be pressed partially against a section of the circumference of the roll 9; 10. Each drive belt unit 25; 26 is secured in the frame 1 by the pivot shaft 15; 16 of the associated roll holder 5; 6 and a guide bar 31; 32 which extends above it parallel to the pivot shaft and is received in the frame 1. At the same time the pivot shafts 15, 16 and the guide bars 31, 32 project through suitable cutouts made in the C-shaped plate parts 27, 28. The drive roller of each drive belt unit 25; 26 is mounted on a drive shaft 33; 34, extending parallel to the pivot shaft 15; 16 and mounted in the frame 1, which drive shaft is coupled to an electric motor generator unit 35; 36 fitted on the frame. As a result, the drive belt unit can also be used for braking an expiring feed-roll. The motor generator units 35, 36 further serve to maintain the dancer function of the festoon. A guide roller 37 fitted in the bottom leg of the C-shaped yoke of each drive belt unit is designed as a tensioning roller. For this purpose, the guide roller 37 is displaceable mounted in the bottom leg of the yoke. A roll received in a roll holder can be pressed against the drive belt by tilting the arms of the roll holder towards the drive belt. The structure of the embodiment of the device shown in figures 3 and 4 is in general similar to that of the device shown in figures 1 and 2. In figures 3 and 4 similar parts are indicated by the same reference numerals, with an accent. These parts will not be described again with reference to figures 3 and 4. Only different parts will be described below In the embodiment of figures 3 and 4 the lever 21′ rigidly attached to the pivot shaft 15' is actuated by means of a cylinder 38 and a piston rod 39 fitted between the end 22′ of the lever 21′ and the frame 1′. The pivot shaft 15' can be provided with a rotating mechanism at both sides, as is shown in figure 3. Each drive belt unit 40; 41 comprises a yoke formed from two essentially C-shaped plate parts 42, 43 and 44, 45, respectively, having a shape which is different from that of the plate parts 27, 28 of the embodiment of figures 1 and 2. The drive belt units 40 and 41 are guided in the frame 1′ by means of transverse guide bars 46, 47 and 48, 49, respectively, which extend parallel to the shaft 15' and which are received in the frame 1′. As is shown in figure 5, the electric motor generator unit 50 for driving the driven belt is mounted on top of the drive belt unit 40 and coupled with the drive roller 51 via the drive shaft 52. A guide roller 53 fitted in the lower part of the C-shaped yoke is vertically displaceable in the yoke and serves as a tensioning roller. In the embodiment of figures 3 to 5 each chuck 7′, 8′, 7″, 8″ is mounted coaxially and non-rotatably on a pulley 54, 55, 56, 57. The pulleys are rotatably supported in the ends of the arms 11′, 12′, 13′, 14′ of the two roll holders 5′, 6′. Each pulley can cooperate with an axilliary drive belt unit. One of the auxilliary drive belt units 58 is shown in figure 5. The auxilliary drive belt unit 58 consists of an arm 59 which is pivotable at one end about a horizontal axis, in this case the drive shaft 52 of the main drive belt unit 40. The arm 59 is provided with a drive roller (not shown) and a guide roller 60, having axes parallel to the pivot axis of the arm 59. A drive belt 61 is running around these rollers. The drive pulley is mounted on the drive shaft 52 of the main drive belt unit and therefore driven by the same electric motor generator unit 50 as the drive roller 51 of the main drive belt unit. When during unrolling the diameter of a roll received in the roll holder 5′ and pressed against the drive belt 42 by means of the arms 11′, 12′ decreases to a certain value the circumferential force on the roll exerted by the drive belt 42 will no longer be sufficient to provide the torque necessary to overcome the frictional forces exerted on the rotating roll (radius of the roll is too small). Increasing the pressing forces between the drive belt 42 and the roll will in most cases not be possible as the stiffness of the roll has decreased strongly so that the roll would be bent too much. At that moment the roll is lifted from the drive belt 42 of the main drive belt unit 40 and the drive belt 61 of the auxilliary drive belt unit 58 is brought into contact with the pulley 55 by swinging the arm 59 by means of the cylinder 62. The roll is then driven via the chuck 8′. The operation mode of the electric motor 50 is changed from constant speed to variable speed. It will be clear that it is also possible to drive the pulley 54 with the chuck 7' by means of another auxilliary drive belt unit. The auxilliary drive belt unit or units can also be used for braking a roll received in the roll holder 5′. Auxilliary drive belt units may also be mounted at the other side of the device to cooperate with the pulleys 56, 57 of the roll holder 6′. The invention is not limited to the embodiments of the device described above. Thus, other designs of the roll holder and the drive belt unit are possible within the scope of the invention.

Claims: 1. A device for splicing the trailing (downstream) end of a first web of material (the expiring web) originating from a first web roll to the leading (upstream) end of a second web of material (the new web) originating from a second web roll, during stoppage, comprising a supporting frame (1; 1′) accommodating at least a festoon, a web splicing unit (4; 4′), two horizontal web roll holding units (5, 6; 5′,6′) and at least one drive belt unit (25, 26; 40, 41) near each web roll holding unit, each web roll holding unit comprising two rotatable chucks (7, 8; 7′, 8′) for supporting a web roll (9, 10; 9′, 10′), said chucks being situated coaxially opposite each other and at least one chuck being movable in the axial direction, and the at least one drive belt unit being situated between the two chucks of a web roll holding unit and comprising a main drive belt (29, 30; 42) arranged so as to cooperate with a portion of the outer circumference of a web roll supported by the chucks for rotationally driving the web roll, characterized in that the supporting frame (1; 1′) includes a horizontal upper frame part and two downwardly-extending vertical frame parts, each vertical frame part accomodating a web roll holding unit (5, 6; 5′, 6′), each web roll holding unit comprising two arms (11, 12; 13, 14; 11′, 12′; 13′, 14′) being pivotable about a horizontal axis extending parallel to the axis of the chucks (7, 8; 7′, 8′) and being movable in the direction of said axis, the chucks of each web roll holding unit are rotatably mounted in the free ends of the arms and the at least one drive belt unit (25, 26; 40, 41) is mounted stationarily in a vertical plane in the supporting frame (1; 1′). 2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that each web roll holding unit (5, 6; 5′, 6′) comprises a horizontal pivot shaft (15, 16; 15′ 16′) rotatably mounted in one of said vertical frame parts, the two arms (11, 12; 13, 14; 11′, 12′; 13′, 14′) being non-rotatably and slidably mounted on the pivot shaft, a rotating mechanism being coupled to the pivot shaft. 3. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the rotating mechanism consists of at least one lever (21; 21′) rigidly attached to the pivot shaft (15, 16; 15′, 16′) and a linear actuating device (23) fitted between the end (22; 22′) of the lever (21; 21′) and the supporting frame (1; 1′). 4. Device according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the arms (11, 12; 13, 14; 11′, 12′; 13′, 14′) of the web roll holding unit (5, 6; 5′, 6′) are displaceable along the pivot shaft (15, 16; 15′, 16′) by means of at least one rack (17; 17′) mounted in the longitudinal direction of the pivot shaft. 5. Device according to anyone of claims 1-4, characterized in that each drive belt unit (25, 26; 40, 41) consists of a yoke which is formed from two spaced apart, essentially C-shaped plate parts (27, 28; 42 to 45) situated essentially in parallel at some distance from each other and rigidly connected to each other, a drive roller and several guide rollers which are mounted in parallel between the C-shaped plate parts and a main drive belt (29, 30; 42) running around the rollers. 6. Device according to claim 5, characterized in that one of the guide rollers (37;53) is fitted displaceably in the lower part of the C-shaped yoke so as to act as a tension roller for the main drive belt (29, 30; 42). 7. Device according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the drive roller of each drive belt unit (25, 26; 40, 41) is mounted on a drive shaft (33, 34; 52) extending parallel to the pivot shaft (15, 16; 15′, 16′) and coupled to an electric motor generator unit (35, 36; 50). 8. Device according to anyone of claims 1-7, characterized in that each chuck (7′, 8′; 7″, 8″) is mounted coaxially and non-rotatably on a pulley (54, 55, 56, 57) which is rotatably supported in the free end part of the respective arm (11′, 12′, 13′, 14′) of the respective web roll holding unit (5′, 6′) and which can cooperate with an auxilliary drive belt unit (58). 9. Device according to claim 8, characterized in that the auxilliary drive belt unit (58) consists of an arm (59) pivotable about a horizontal axis at one end and provided with a drive roller and a guide roller (60) having axes parallel to the pivot axis of the arm (59) and an auxilliary drive belt (61) running around the rollers, the auxilliary drive belt unit being driven by the same electrical motor generator unit (50) as the associated main drive belt unit (40).

Inventors: SCHOONDERBEEK, HUBERTUS JOHANNES
Applicants: STORK BRABANT B.V.
Application year: 1987
Main classification: B65H19
IPC codes: B65H19, B65H16