ROLL CUTTING MACHINE

Abstract: The roll cutting machine includes a receiving means (30) arranged above support rollers (13, 14) for a set of wind­ ing tubes (15) which are dimensioned in their length to correspond to the width of the sub-webs resulting from the longitudinal division and are inserted as complete set for all sub-webs consecutively coaxially from the side of the roll cutting machine. The receiving means (30) forms a tubular magazine (42) which may be constituted by two shells (43) which can be pivoted apart at the bottom. The winding tubes (15) then fall onto shell shaped or stirrup-shaped transfer elements (46, 47) which engage alternately from different sides beneath the tubular magazine (42) and separ­ ate the winding tubes (15) towards the two sides. The transfer elements (46, 47) may be pivoted away downwardly and then discharge the winding tubes onto a roof-shaped guide means (50) which conducts the winding tubes to the two winding rollers (13, 14) so that they can be wound with winding axes transversely spaced apart.

Description: The present invention is directed to a core supply apparatus for a web slitting machine on which a wide roll of a web of paper or the like can be divided into a plurality of narrower rolls. A core supply apparatus of this type is known for example from EP-A-0 176 230. In such a known roll slitting or cutting machine, the individual winding stations for the sub-webs produced by the longitudinal cutting each have associated therewith an own magazine and these magazines contain a number of winding tubes or cores corresponding to the width of the sub-webs. When a change is necessary to another cutting program with a new width of the sub-webs, all the magazines must be cleared and re-equipped. In DE-A-3 540 490, there is described a core supply apparatus according to the preamble of claim 1. In the typical web slitting machine of the type described in DE-A-3 540 490, the machine includes an unwinding station for the wide roll, a cutting station in which the wide web is longitudinally divided into sub-webs by means of at least one longitudinal cutting means, and a take-up station having a plurality of take-up units by means of which the sub-webs are wound into narrower rolls. The take-up units are arranged in different groups of take-up units and the take-up units of a first group having substantially aligning winding axes which are spaced from substantially aligning winding axes of a second group. The core supply apparatus comprises a receiver for holding all winding cores for all take-up units of each group, the receiver holding the winding cores coaxially in series and being adapted for receiving the winding cores inserted from one end, and a transfer mechanism for receiving the winding cores from the receiver, the transfer mechanism being adapted for transferring the winding cores to the respective take-up units of each group. The object of the present invention is to provide an improved core supply apparatus which can handle cores efficiently and in such a manner that a change of the cutting program is possible with less involvement. To achieve this, the core supply apparatus of the invention is characterized by the features set forth in the characterizing part of claim 1. According to the invention, the core supply apparatus comprises a releasing means for dropping the winding cores out of the receiver, the transfer mechanism including transfer elements accepting the cores dropped from the receiver, the transfer elements having curved surfaces over which the cores travel for separating the cores into groups and an actuator means for moving the elements about pivotal connections causing the cores to pass over the curved surfaces toward the free ends and off the free ends of the elements. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are claimed in the subclaims. The receiving means in which as set of winding tubes is introduced is intended for all sub-webs made from the original wide web by the longitudinal dividing operation. The receiving means contains in each case only one such set. The next set can be made during the winding of the sub-rolls outside the roll cutting machine in the desired widths of the sub-webs and pushed up instead of the previous set. Clearing and recharging of several winding tube magazines is therefore no longer necessary. The charging is also simplified in so far as only the particular set is pushed lengthwise into the receiving means and the individual winding tubes subsequently distributed amongst the takeup units of the various axes. In the receiving means the winding tubes or roll reels are still arranged coaxially one behind the other. To initiate the separation of the winding tubes for the takeup units of the one axis from those of the other axis in the preferred embodiment of the invention there is associated with the receiving means a transfer means in which the winding tubes intended for the takeup units of the two axes are separately gripped. The separation is thus initiated. To complete it, the transfer means may have associated there-with in accordance with claim 2 a guide means by means of which the separated reel cores can be brought up to the takeup unit of the two axes, i.e. the guide means performs the actual spatial separation of the winding tubes initially still coaxially arranged in series. In the preferred example of embodiment of the invention, a double winder having two parallel support rollers arranged at the same level is provided and on said rollers the winding is carried out in two groups, the winding axes of one group of takeup units aligning substantially with each other and being arranged above the one support roller and this applying accordingly to the takeup units of the other support roller. In such a roll cutting machine, it is advisable in accordance with claim 3 for the receiving means, the transfer means and the guide means to be arranged in the centre above the two support rollers. This arrangement has a number of constructional advantages and in particular makes it possible to bring the winding tubes under the action of gravity onto the two support rollers so that no special moving means are required for this purpose. The receiving means forms, in the preferred embodiment according to claim 4, a tubular magazine into which the winding tubes can be consecutively inserted lengthwise from the side of the web. In a first possible embodiment such a tubular magazine may be formed in accordance with claim 5. On pivoting the shells apart the winding tubes or cores drop downwardly and are gripped by the suitably constructed transfer means which can initiate the separation. An important alternative to this embodiment of the tubular magazine is the subject of claim 6. Such an embodiment may be preferred because the mounting and rotating of a tube about its longitudinal axis is easier to implement than the pivotal mounting of two long shells. The transfer means may be constructed in the manner set forth in claim 7. The transfer elements are pivoted from different sides beneath the receiving means, take over the winding cores or tubes dropping out and move them apart on pivoting back perpendicularly to their axis, thus initiating the separation. The guide means which takes over the winding tubes from the transfer elements and finally conducts them to the two support rollers can be constructed in accordance with claim 9. The roof-shaped guide element is easy to make and need only be arranged stationary beneath the transfer elements and above the support rollers. The "ridge" of said guide elements forms the apex on the two sides of which the transfer elements on their pivot movement beneath the receiving means transfer or deposit the winding tubes for the two support rollers. These roll over the two inclined faces of the roof-shaped guide element downwardly and are retained at the bottom by the pivotally retractable stop elements until the time for transfer to the support rollers has arrived. To prevent the winding tubes dropping down beyond the support rollers when the stop elements are pivoted away further stops are provided by means of which the winding tubes can be held in a position in which they can be gripped by clamping means which engage from the ends of the winding tubes into the latter and are mounted on pivotal support arms. In this manner the narrower rolls formed from the sub-webs are cleanly guided. The narrower rolls roll on the support rollers or rollers. With increasing roll diameter the support arms with the clamping means are pivoted away. Examples of embodiment of the invention are illustrated in the drawings, wherein: Fig. 1 is a side view of the roll cutting machine according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a partial view along the line II-II of Fig. 1 to a greater scale; Figs. 3 to 10 show view of the part of Fig. 1 above the support rollers from which the various phases of the start of the winding are apparent. The roll cutting machine designated as a whole by 100 in Fig. 1 draws a wide paper web 10 from a roll 1 and leads it via deflection rollers 2, 3, a spreader roller 4, two deflection rollers 5, 6 and a further spreader roller 7 from the bottom to the top through a cutting station which is designated as a whole by 20 and which includes two guide rollers 8, 9 which are disposed one above the other and between which for each longitudinal cut a pair consisting of a lower blade 21 and a pivotally mounted upper blade 22 is disposed. The sub-webs are conducted jointly between a guide roller 11 and a pressure roller 12 and divided above the rollers 11, 12 in that a sub-web or narrower web 10′ is conducted to the left support roller 13 in Fig. 1 and the following narrower web 10″ seen perpendicularly to the plane of the drawing is conducted to the support roller 14 which is disposed on the right in Fig. 1 at the same level as the support roller 13. The sub-web 10′ following the sub-web 10″ perpendicularly to the plane of the drawing is again conducted to the left support roller 13 and the then again following sub-web 10′ to the right support roller and so on. Thus, adjacent sub-webs 10′, 10″ are always conducted to different support rollers 13, 14. The sub-webs 10′, 10″ which are partially wrapped round the support rollers 13, 14, which are constructed as suction rollers and can firmly hold the sub-webs 10′, 10″, are wound onto the winding tubes 15 which bear at the top on the support rollers 13, 14, correspond in their length to the width of the sub-webs 10′, 10″ and are held at their ends by clamping means which are not shown in Fig. 1 and which are arranged on support arms 16, 17 which engage from the outside over the support rollers 13, 14 and are mounted in pairs on carriages 18, 19 which are displaceable transversely of the web 10. The support arms 16, 17 are pivotal about axes 24, 25 mounted parallel to the axes of the support rollers 13, 14 on the carriages 18, 19 to deposit finished sub-rolls 26, 26′ and 27, 27′ respectively, which may have very different diameters, on the tables 28 and 29 respectively, from whence they are removed. Whilst the sub-webs 10′, 10″ are wound onto the winding tubes 15 to form sub-rolls rolling on the support rollers 13, 14, pressure roller pairs 32 mounted on roller cranks 31 pivotal about transverse axes 34 bear on the sub-rolls from above and ensure the formation of firm and uniform rolls. The roller cranks or oscillating arms 31 are pivotable by means of the linear actuators 33 which are constructed for example as pneumatic cylinders and which on the one hand pivot the roller cranks 31 to an inoperative position 31′ indicated in dashed line in Fig. 1 and on the other hand can press the pressure roller pairs 32 during the winding with a predetermined force onto the roller forming. Just like the support arms 16, 17 the roller cranks 31 are pivoted corresponding to the increasing roll diameter. Whereas the cutting station 20 is disposed beneath the support rollers 13, 14 and the material web 10 or the sub-webs 10′, 10″ are brought up to the support rollers 13, 14 from below, the winding tubes or reel cores 15 are supplied by a supply means which is arranged above the support rollers 13, 14 and designated as a whole by 60 and which includes a receiving means 30 for the winding tubes, a transfer means 40 and a guide means 50 which will be described in detail with reference to Figs. 3 to 10. The supply means 60 is arranged beneath a box girder or beam 80 which extends in the centre above the support rollers 13, 14 transversely over the web and comprises guide rails 81, 82 which also carry the roller cranks or oscillating arms 31 with the linear actuators 33. As apparent from the side view of Fig. 2 associated with each sub-web 10′, 10″ is its own takeup unit which depending on the position of the sub-webs 10′, 10″ is displaceable in the transverse direction, i.e. along the box beam 80. The takeup unit for the sub-web 10″ illustrated on the left in Fig. 2 includes the roller crank 31 which like the linear actuator 33 are mounted pivotally about transverse axes on a carriage 35 displaceable along the guide rails 81, 82 of the box beam 80. At the free end of the roller cranks 31 the pairs of pressure rollers 32 are mounted in roller rockers 36 which are pivotal with respect to the roller crank 31 about a transverse axis by means of a linear actuator 37. Associated with the arrangement described above is a pair of support arms 17 which comprise at the free ends clamping means 38 which engage into the winding tube 15 from the ends. The sub-rolls 39′ and 39″ forming from the sub-webs 10′ and 10″ roll on the surface of the support rollers 13 and 14 respectively, being guided by the clamping means 38 and applied by the pressure rollers 32 engaging from above. The sub-rolls 39′ run on the support roller 13 and the sub-rolls 39″ on the support roller 14 with the instantaneous winding axes A and B. Although adjacent sub-rolls 39′, 39″ have different winding axes A and B respectively they adjoin each other in the axial direction. The separating points 41 correspond to the position of the longitudinal cuts or the particular measuring device 21, 22. The purpose of the different winding axes A and B is apparent from Fig. 2: although the sub-rolls 39′, 39″ adjoin each other at the ends there is room for the support arms 17, 17 with the clamping means 38, 38 to be able to engage from both sides from the outside. The position of the separating points 41 may change depending on the number and width of the sub-webs 10′, 10″ into which the wide web 10 is to be divided. The sub-webs 10′, 10″ need not all have the same width. Depending on the position of the separating points 41 or of the sub-webs 10′,10″ the separating points corresponding to the individual sub-webs 10′, 10″ are displaced in the transverse direction of the web or in the longitudinal direction of the box beam 80, the carriages 35 being positioned such that they are arranged in the centre between the associated support arm pair 17, 17. According to Fig. 3 the receiving means 30 includes a tubular tube or reel core magazine 42 which consists of two shells 43 which are curved in a longitudinal plane perpendicular to the web and face each other with their open sides and which at their upper edges are mounted pivotally about transverse shafts 44 and by linear actuators 45 can be pivoted out of the closed position shown in Fig. 3 into the open position shown in Fig. 5. A set of winding tubes 15 can be introduced into the tubular magazine 42 from the side, i.e. parallel to the axes of the support rollers 13, 14, and the lengths of said winding tubes correspond to the widths of the respective sub-webs 10′, 10″, said tubes being arranged one behind the other and inserted in such a manner that in the inserted state the separating points between the individual winding tubes 15 are located at the level of the separating points 41 (Fig. 2) of the sub-webs 10′, 10″. Thus, for each winding operation in each case only one set of winding tubes 15 is inserted into the machine. The changing to a different cutting program requires simply making ready correspondingly cut winding tubes 15 outside the machine and inserting the new set, displacing of course the carriages 35 and the support arm pairs 17, 17 accordingly. The problem is now to distribute the winding tubes 15 supplied to one point, i.e. in the receiving means 30, coaxially in series as it were as one tube automatically amongst the winding axes A, B (Fig. 9) spaced apart transversely of the "tube". This is done by the transfer means 40 and the guide means 50. The transfer means 40 is arranged directly beneath the receiving means 30 and includes in each case shell-shaped or stirrup-shaped upwardly open transfer elements 46, 47 each associated with a sub-web 10′ or 10″. The transfer elements 46 are associated with the support roller 14 and at their left edge in Fig. 3 are pivotal about a transverse shaft 48 which is disposed on the left beneath the tubular magazine 42. Coming from the transverse shaft 48 the transfer elements engage beneath the tubular magazine up to and beyond the centre thereof. Accordingly, the transfer elements 47 are pivotal about a transverse shaft 49 disposed on the right beneath the tubular magazine 42 and extend from there up to beneath the tubular magazine 42. The pivoting of the transfer elements 46, 47 is controlled by linear actuators 51 mounted on the carriages 35. By corresponding actuation of the linear actuators 51 the transfer elements 46, 47 can be opened beyond the position of Fig. 6 into the position of Fig. 7. Provided beneath the transfer means 40 is a guide means 50 which consists of a roof-shaped carrier 52 which extends just above the support rollers 13, 14 over the entire width of the machine. The roof-shaped carrier 52 has a cross-section of substantially the shape of an upright equilateral triangle, the tip 53 forming the ridge of the "roof" being disposed in the centre beneath the tubular magazine 42. The "eaves" of the roof are formed by angle stops 56 pivotal about a transverse shaft 54 by means of linear actuators 55 and having one leg which continues the roof surfaces 57 downwardly and another leg projecting upwardly perpendicularly to the roof surfaces 57. In Fig. 3 a working phase is shown in which the preceding winding operation has just been completed. The finished sub-rolls 39′, 39″ are deposited on the tables 28, 29 (see Fig. 1) which are not shown in Fig. 3. The roller cranks 31 are pivoted upwardly and the roller rockers 36 with the pressure rollers 32 retracted into the position shown. A new set of winding tubes 15 is inserted into the tubular magazine 42. In the working phase shown in Fig. 4 the sub-rolls 39′, 39″ have already been deposited and the support arms 16, 17 indicated only by their centre lines have been pivoted back into the vicinity of the support rollers 13, 14 and are ready for the clamping. The carriages 35 with the roller cranks 31 and the pressure rollers 32 are positioned on the centre of the respective sub-webs 10′, 10″. The roller cranks 31 are pivoted downwardly so that the pressure rollers 32 are disposed in the vicinity of the support rollers 13, 14. The roller rockers are pivoted so that the plane formed by the axes of the respective pressure roller pair 32, 32 extends substantially parallel to the longitudinal extent of the roller cranks 31. In the working phase shown in Fig. 5 the distribution of the winding tubes 15 is initiated. By actuating the linear actuators 45 the shells 43 forming the tubular magazine 42 have been opened by pivoting about the transverse axes 44 so that the winding tubes 15 have dropped out downwardly. The free ends 46′, 47′ of the transfer elements 46, 47 engaging beyond the centre of the tubular magazine 42 grip the respective winding tubes and draw them due to the curvature thereof from the centre outwardly, the separation of the winding tubes 15 into the groups intended for the two support rollers 13, 14 thus being initiated. The winding tubes 15′ intended for the support roller 13 move to the left side, according to Fig. 5, of the apex or ridge 53 of the guide means 50 and the winding tubes 15″ intended for the support roller 14 to the right side. The respective winding tubes are in stable equilibrium in the curvature of the transfer elements 46, 47. In the working phase shown in Fig. 6 the transfer elements 46, 47 have started their pivotal movement outwardly and entrain the winding tubes 15′, 15″, the separation of which can be clearly seen in Fig. 6. In the working phase shown in Fig. 7 the transfer elements 46, 47 have continued their pivotal movement outwardly to the end position and have tipped the winding tubes 15′, 15″ onto the "roof surfaces" 57 of the roof-shaped carrier 52 and these tubes immediately roll downwardly over the roof surfaces 57 in the manner indicated in dot-dash line until they are stopped at the angular stops 56 just above the apex of the support rollers 13, 14. In the working phase according to Fig. 8 the angular supports 56 have been pivoted by the linear actuators 55 outwardly and have tipped the winding tubes 15′, 15″ onto the support rollers 13, 14, whereupon the latter move over the surface of the support rollers 13, 14 until they come to bear on a further stop which is disposed at the outer end of the roller rockers 36 and formed by a rod or the like extending in the transverse direction and which is arranged beneath the pressure rollers 32, 32. The roller cranks 31, since the working phase of Fig. 4, have retained their position which as apparent in particular from Fig. 8 is such that it does not obstruct the rolling of the winding tubes 15′, 15″ over the angular stops 56 and the upper side of the support rollers 13, 14 but nevertheless permits the defined retaining of the winding tubes 15′, 15″ by the further stops 58 beneath the outer pressure roller 32 according to Fig. 8. In the defined end position shown in Fig. 8 the winding tubes 15′, 15″ are gripped by the clamping means 38 disposed at the ends of the support arms 17 and clamped (Fig. 2). The shells 43 forming the tubular magazine 42 have meanwhile again been pivoted together; the transfer elements 46, 47 are still in the open position. In the working phase of Fig. 9 the start of the winding operation is shown. The ends of the sub-webs 10′, 10″ have been secured to the associated winding tubes 15′, 15″. The roller rockers 36 have been pivoted with respect to the roller cranks 31 in such a manner that the two pressure rollers 32 bear from above on the respective winding tubes 15′, 15″ so that said tubes are satisfactorily entrained by the friction at the support rollers 13, 14 and in addition support is provided against the sagging caused by the web tension between the clamping means 38, 38. Since the roller rockers 36 undergo a torque acting differently with regard to the linear actuators effecting the pivoting thereof, in the right linear actuator 59 in Fig. 1 the piston sides 59′ and in the left linear actuator 59 the piston-rod side 59″ must be acted upon. The support rollers 13, 14 and, driven thereby, the winding tubes 15′, 15″ and the pressure rollers 32 start moving at the beginning of the winding in the direction of rotation indicated in Fig. 9 by the arrows. In the working phase according to Fig. 10 the sub-rolls 39′, 39″ are already partially formed on the winding tubes 15′, 15″. With increasing winding diameter of the sub-rolls 39′, 39″ the support arms 17 move upwardly, the winding tubes 15′, 15″ and the instantaneous winding axes A and B formed by their axes moving along the circular arc 61. The roller cranks 31 are likewise pivoted upwardly. The roller rockers 36 adapt themselves in their orientation to the roller cranks 31 so that both pressure rollers 32 always bear on the sub-rolls 39′, 39″. The winding is continued until the sub-rolls 39′, 39″ have reached the desired diameter. In the meantime a new set of winding tubes 15 is inserted into the tubular magazine and the transfer elements 46, 47 are pivoted back into the starting position shown in Fig. 3 beneath the tubular magazine 42. The starting situation corresponding to Fig. 3 is thus again reached. In Figs. 11 and 12 an alternative embodiment is shown in which instead of the two support rollers 13, 14 a single support roller 63 of correspondingly larger diameter is present on which winding is carried out at two points and in which the receiving means 30 is constructed differently to the embodiment according to Figs. 3 to 10. In this case a guide means 50 is also not provided. The function thereof is performed by the upper side of the single support roller 63. With regard to the transfer elements 46, 47, the roller cranks 31 and the parts mounted thereon as well as the carriages 35 and the entire function cycle, the embodiment according to Figs. 11 and 12 corresponds to the previous embodiment. The receiving means 30′ includes downwardly slit bearing rings 65 which are mounted on vertical supports 64 on the lower side of the box beam 80. Instead of the bearing rings 65 a slit bearing tube extending continuously across the web width can also be provided. The slot of the bearing rings 65 is defined by two parallel walls 66 which have a distance apart which is slightly greater than the outer diameter of the winding tubes 15. Several such bearing rings 65 are distributed over the width of the web. In the bearing rings 65 a matching magazine tube 67 is rotatably mounted which extends continuously over the width of the web and which is longitudinally slit at one side, the longitudinal slot 69 having parallel walls 68 spaced apart corresponding to the spacing of the walls 66. The walls 68 lead tangentially up to the inner periphery of the magazine tube 67, the inner diameter of which corresponds to the outer diameter of the winding tubes 15. The magazine tube 67 is pivotal about its longitudinal axis through 90° by a drive which is not shown. With large roll widths the magazine 67 may also be divided in the centre and provided with pivot drives at both ends. The winding tubes 15 are inserted lengthwise consecutively from one side of the roll cutting machine into the magazine tube 67 which is then in the position shown in Fig. 11 in which the slot 69 defined by the walls 68 is directed to the right and against the inner periphery of the bearing means 65. The winding tubes 15 thus cannot fall out of the receiving means 30′ forming a tubular magazine. The working phase of Fig. 11 corresponds to that of Fig. 4 in the previous embodiment. In Fig. 12 working phases are shown which correspond to those of Figs. 5 and 7. To discharge the winding tubes 15 from the tubular magazine 42′ the magazine tube 67 is rotated from the position according to Fig. 11 through 90° clockwise so that the slot 69 points downwardly and the walls 67 of the slot align with the walls 66 of the slot of the bearing rings 65. The winding tubes 15 then drop out of the magazine tube 67 downwardly into the ready-to-receive transfer elements 46, 47 which engage beneath the tubular magazine 42′ and which are shown in full line in Fig. 12 in this position. This phase corresponds to Fig. 5. Thereafter the transfer elements 46, 47 are moved by the linear actuators 45 through an indicated intermediate position in which the separation of the winding tubes 15′, 15″ belonging to the two winding axes has already been completed into a final position shown in dot-dash line in which the winding tubes 15′, 15″ roll down over the upper side of the support rollers 63 of both sides until they come to bear on the further stops 58 at the outer side of the roller rockers 36. This corresponds to the phase according to Fig. 7. The initial winding then takes place in the manner described for the previous embodiment. The magazine tube 67 is then turned into the position shown in Fig. 11 in which the slot 69 defined by the walls 68 points to the right so that when the new set of winding tubes 15 is inserted they cannot prematurely drop out downwardly. The embodiment of Figs. 11 and 12 is somewhat simpler in construction and stability than that of Figs. 3 to 10 because the receiving means 30′ enclose only the rotatable magazine tube 68; it is also more compact because the transfer means 50 is replaced by the upper side of the single support roller 63 and is therefore no longer necessary. If however the embodiment according to Figs. 11 and 12 is used in a winder having two support rollers then a guide means 50 is necessary because the released winding tubes would otherwise drop between the two support rollers.

Claims: A core supply apparatus (60) for a web slitting machine on which a wide roll (1) of a web of paper (10) or the like can be divided into a plurality of narrower rolls (39',39''), which machine includes: an unwinding station for the wide roll (1), a cutting station (20) in which the wide web (10) is longitudinally divided into sub-webs (10',10'') by means of at least one longitudinal cutting means (21,22), and a take-up station having a plurality of take-up units (31-38) by means of which the sub-webs (10',10'') are wound into narrower rolls (39',39''), the take-up units (31-38) being arranged in different groups of take-up units (31-38) and the take-up units (31-38) of a first group having substantially aligning winding axes (A) which are spaced from substantially aligning winding axes (B) of a second group, said core supply apparatus (60) comprising: a receiver (30;30') for holding all winding cores (15) for all take-up units (31-38) of each group, said receiver (30;30') holding the winding cores (15) coaxially in series and being adapted for receiving the winding cores (15) inserted from one end, and a transfer mechanism (40) for receiving the winding cores (15) from said receiver (30;30'), said transfer mechanism (40) being adapted for transferring the winding cores (15) to the respective take-up units (31-38) of each group, characterized in further comprising releasing means (44,45;57,69) for dropping the winding cores (15) out of said receiver (30;30'), said transfer mechanism (40) including transfer elements (46,47) for accepting the winding cores (15) as they are dropped from said receiver (30;30'), said transfer elements (46,47) having curved surfaces along which the cores (15) travel for separating the winding cores (15) into groups, and actuator means (51) for moving said transfer elements (46,47) of said transfer mechanism (40) about pivotal connections (48,49), causing cores (15) thereon to pass over the curved surfaces toward the free ends (46',47') of the transfer elements (46,47) and to fall off the free ends (46',47'). A core supply apparatus as defined in claim 1, characterized in that a guide device (50) is associated with said transfer mechanism (40) for receiving the winding cores (15) falling from said free ends (46',47') of said transfer elements (46,47) and for guiding the winding cores (15) to the respective take-up units (31-38). A core supply apparatus as defined in claim 2, characterized in that the said receiver (30), said transfer mechanism (40), and said guide device (50) are centrally located above two support rollers (13,14) of the web slitting machine. A core supply apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characteirzed in that said receiver (30; 30') is a tubular magazine (42; 42') arranged horizontally and parallel to the winding axes (A, B). A core supply apparatus as defined in claim 4, characterized in that said tubular magazine (42) consists of two elongated shells (43) arranged generally opposed to each other and having pivotable connections (44) at upper longitudinal edges, and said release means (44,45) includes apparatus (45) for pivoting said shells (43) for opening a space between said shells (43) at the bottom thereof through which space cores (15) pass from said magazine (42). A core supply apparatus as defined in claim 4, characterized in that said tubular magazine (42') includes at least one tube (67) having a longitudinal opening (69) therein, said longitudinal opening (69) having a width corresponding to at least the diameter of the winding cores (15), and said release means includes apparatus for rotating said tube (67) about its longitudinal axes from a position in which the longitudinal opening (69) is directed other than downwardly to a position in which the longitudinal opening (69) is directed downwardly. A core supply apparatus according to any one of claims 4 to 6, characterized in that said transfer elements (46, 47) are arranged beneath said tubular magazine (42; 42') for intercepting said winding cores (15) dropping out of the tubular magazine (42; 42'), and each of said transfer elements (46,47) pivotal about one of two shafts (48, 49) which are arranged symmetrically on either side of said tubular magazine (42; 42') at the same height and are transversely spaced from each other and from the respective shaft (48, 49), said tranfer elements (46,47) engaging beneath said tubular magasine (42; 42') A core supply apparatus as defined in claim 7, characterized in that said transfer elements (46, 47) are made shell-shaped or stirrup-shaped and are upwardly open in the initial position so that said winding cores (15) find a stable equilibrium position on said transfer elements (46, 47). A core supply apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 8, characterized in that said guide means (50) comprises a roof-shaped guide element (52) arranged beneath said transfer elements (46, 47), the ridge (53) of said guide element (52) being arranged horizontally and disposed in the center beneath said tubular magazine (42; 42') and the eaves of said guide element (52) being formed by stop elements (56) for the individual winding core (15) rolling down the roof-shaped guide element (52), said stop elements (56) being adjacent the respective take-up units (31-38) and being pivotal downwardly and away from the guide element (52) about a transverse axis. A core supply apparatus according to claim 9, characterized in that said stop elements (56) are arranged above said support rollers (13, 14; 63) and further stops (58) are provided by means of which a winding core (15) discharged by pivoting away of said stop element (56) of said guide element (52) onto the upper side of the support rollers (13, 14; 63) can be held in a position in which said core (15) is grippable by clamping means (38).

Inventors: DOERFEL, GERHARD WALTER
Applicants: BELOIT CORPORATION
Application year: 1988
Main classification: B65H35
IPC codes: B65H19, B65H18