Wrapping roll-like articles

Abstract: A roll-like article (2) has a core (4) and a sheet roll (6) wound around the core (4) so that each end portion of the core (4) projects beyond a side face of the sheet roll (6). A leading end of a wrapping sheet material (12) is fixed to the outer surface of the sheet roll (6) and a leading end of a side face sealing material (14) is fixed to the outer surface of each side portion of the core (4) at an angularly displaced position. The article (2) is rotated around the core (4) through a predetermined angle so that the wrapping sheet material (12) is wound around the sheet roll (6) and the side face sealing material (14) is wound around the core (4). Each of the side edge portions of the wrapping sheet material (12) projecting from the side face of the sheet roll (6) is folded along the side face of the sheet roll (6) and the outer portion thereof is pressed against the core (4). Then the article (2) is again rotated so that the wrapping sheet material (12) is further wound around the sheet roll (6) and the side face sealing material (14) is wound around the outer portion of each of said side edge portions which has been pressed against the core (4). The last two steps are repeated.

Description: This invention relates to a method of and an apparatus for wrapping roll-like articles which comprise a core and a roll of sheet material wound around the core, with at least one end portion of the core projecting from a side face of the sheet roll. The invention also relates to wrapped roll-like articles. Generally continuous lengths of sheet material are handled as a sheet roll in which the sheet material is wound around a core. In the case of pressure-sensitive sheet material or the like, the sheet material is wound around a core so that both end portions of the core project from respective side faces of the sheet roll in order to facilitate subsequent handling. Such sheet rolls are generally wrapped with a wrapping sheet. In the case of a roll-like article in which an end portion of the core projects from a side face of the sheet roll, it has been difficult to fix the side edge of the wrapping sheet to the side face of the article by an automated system when an automated system has also been employed to wind the wrapping sheet around the article and to fold the side edges of the wrapping sheet along the side faces of the article. Performing some of the wrapping steps manually is not preferred from the viewpoint of improving production efficiency and reducing cost. Fully automated systems have been employed to wrap roll-like articles in which the core does not project from the side faces of the sheet roll. Such fully automated systems are disclosed, for instance, in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication Nos. 48(1973)-33987, 54(1979)-40785 and 59(1984)-74020 and Japanese Unexamined Utility Model Publication Nos. 49(1974)-129967 and 51(1976)-150963. However, it is difficult to wrap roll-like articles in which the end portion of the core projects from the side face of the sheet roll by using a modification of a wrapping system for roll-like articles having non-projecting core end portions, and attempts to wrap roll-like articles having projecting core end portions by modifying such a known wrapping system results in a cumbersome and complicated wrapping system. This is especially true when vinyl sheet, which is cheap but elastic, is employed as the wrapping sheet. US-A-2 962 162 discloses a wrapped roll-like article according to the preamble of claim 10. In view of the foregoing defects of prior art systems, the primary object of the present invention is to provide a method of wrapping a roll-like article, in which the core projects from one or both of the side faces of the sheet roll, the method allowing such an article to be wrapped by an automated system which is relatively simple in structure and which permits the use of cheap wrapping sheet. In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a method of wrapping a roll-like article having a core and a sheet roll wound around the core so that both side portions of the core projects from both side faces of the sheet roll, said method comprising a first step of fixing a leading end of a wrapping sheet material to the outer peripheral surface of the sheet roll so that both side edge portions of the wrapping sheet material project from the both side faces of the sheet roll in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the core, a second step of fixing a leading end of a side face sealing material to the outer peripheral surface of each of said both side portions of the core in a position angularly deviated in one direction from the position in which the leading end of the wrapping sheet material is fixed to the outer peripheral surface of the sheet roll as viewed in the longitudinal axis of the core, a third step of rotating the roll-like article around the longitudinal axis of the core in said one direction by a predetermined angle so that the wrapping sheet material is wound around the sheet roll and the side face sealing material is wound around the core, a fourth step of pressing each of the side edge portions of the wrapping sheet material projecting from the side faces of the sheet roll so that the inner portion of the side edge portion is folded along the side face of the sheet roll and the outer portion thereof is pressed against the core, a fifth step of rotating the roll-like article around the longitudinal axis of the core in said one direction by another predetermined angle so that the wrapping sheet material is further wound around the sheet roll and the side face sealing material is wound around the outer portion of each of said side edge portions which has been pressed against the core, a sixth step of alternately repeating said fourth and fifth steps until the side face sealing material is wound around the outer portion of each of said side edge portions beyond the trailing end of the wrapping sheet material, and a seventh step of fixing the trailing end of the side face sealing material. The first and second steps need not be performed in this order but may be performed simultaneously or the second step step may be performed first. Preferably the method of the present invention further comprises an eighth step of fixing the trailing end of the wrapping sheet material. The sixth and seventh steps need not be performed in this order but may be performed simultaneously or the seventh step step may be performed before the sixth step. In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for wrapping a roll-like article having a core and a sheet roll wound around the core so that both side portions of the core projects from both side faces of the sheet roll, said apparatus comprising a first fixing means which fixes a leading end of a wrapping sheet material to the outer peripheral surface of the sheet roll so that both side edge portions of the wrapping sheet material project from the both side faces of the sheet roll in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the core, a second fixing means which fixes a leading end of a side face sealing material to the outer peripheral surface of each of said both side portions of the core in a position angularly deviated in one direction from the position in which the leading end of the wrapping sheet material is fixed to the outer peripheral surface of the sheet roll as viewed in the longitudinal axis of the core, an intermittent driving means which intermittently rotates the roll-like article around the longitudinal axis of the core in said one direction by a predetermined angle at one time so that the wrapping sheet material is wound around the sheet roll and the side face sealing material is wound around the core, a pair of sheet edge pressing means each of which presses one of the side edge portions of the wrapping sheet material projecting from the side faces of the sheet roll so that the inner portion of the side edge portion is folded along the side face of the sheet roll and the outer portion thereof is pressed against the core, and a pair of third fixing means which fix the trailing ends of the respective side face sealing materials. In accordance with still another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a wrapped roll-like article comprising a core, a sheet roll wound around the core so that both side portions of the core projects from both side faces of the sheet roll, a wrapping sheet material which is wound around the outer peripheral surface of the sheet roll and is folded along both side faces of the sheet roll so that both side edge portions thereof are wound around the both side portions of the core, one side portion of the wrapping sheet material overlaid on the other side portion, and a pair of side face sealing material each of which is wound around one of the side edge portions of the wrapping sheet material, one end of the side face sealing material extending beyond said the other end portion of the wrapping sheet material and fixed to the outer surface of the core and the other end of the side face sealing material extending said one end portion of the wrapping sheet material and fixed to an underlying portion of the side face sealing material. An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figures 1A to 1F are diagrammatic side views each illustrating a stage in wrapping a rollstock in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is a side view of an apparatus in accordance with the invention; Figure 3 is a plan view of the apparatus, and Figure 4 is a perspective view of a rollstock wrapped by the apparatus shown in Figures 2 and 3. In Figures 2 and 3, a rollstock 2 comprises a core 4 and and a sheet roll 6 wound around the core 4 with both side portions of the core 4 projecting from both side faces of the sheet roll 6. A wrapping apparatus 20 for wrapping the rollstock 2 with a vinyl sheet comprises a pair of chucking members 22 which support the rollstock 2 at the respective side faces of the core 4, a driving mechanism 24 which rotates the rollstock 2 around the longitudinal axis of the core 4 30° by 30°, a wrapping sheet feeding mechanism 26 for feeding a vinyl sheet 12 which is larger than the sheet roll 6 in width, a wrapping sheet fixing mechanism 28 which fixes the leading end portion of the vinyl sheet 12 to the outer peripheral surface of the sheet roll 6 with each side edge portion of the vinyl sheet 12 projecting from the side face of the sheet roll 6 by a predetermined width, a pair of sheet edge pressing mechanisms 30 which press the side edge portions of the vinyl sheet 12 projecting from the side faces of the sheet roll 6 against the side portions of the core 4 from the outer surface of the vinyl sheet 12, and a pair of side face sealing member fixing mechanisms 32 for winding the leading end portions of gathering tapes 14, each coated with adhesive on one side thereof, around the side edge portions of the vinyl sheet 12 which have been pressed against the side portions of the core 4. The wrapping sheet feeding mechanism 26 includes a pair of rollers 34 on which a roll of the vinyl sheet 12 is supported and an electric motor 36 which drives one of the rollers 34 by way of a belt and unrolls the vinyl sheet 12. The unrolled leading end portion of the vinyl sheet 12 is suspended downward from between a pair of rollers 38. A sheet cutter 40 for cutting the vinyl sheet 12 to a predetermined length is provided below the rollers 38. The wrapping sheet fixing mechanism 28 comprises a cylinder 44 supported for rotation on a bracket 42 and a suction belt 46 which is mounted on the free end of a piston rod received in the cylinder 44 and extends in parallel to the longitudinal axis of the core 4. The wrapping sheet fixing mechanism 28 draws out a fixing tape 16 to a predetermined length from a fixing tape roll (not shown) with the suction belt 46 in the position shown by the chained lined in Figure 2, and then swings to the position shown by the solid line in Figure 2, where the cylinder 44 is operated to apply the fixing tape 16 to the leading end portion of the vinyl sheet 12 so that the fixing tape 16 partly overlaps with the vinyl sheet 12. Then the wrapping sheet fixing mechanism 28 returns to the position shown by the chained line carrying the leading end portion of the vinyl sheet 12 and the cylinder 44 is operated to apply the part of the fixing tape 16 which does not overlap with the vinyl sheet 12 to the outer peripheral surface of the sheet roll 6, thereby fixing the leading end portion of the vinyl sheet 12 to the outer peripheral surface of the sheet roll 6. A sheet stretching mechanism 50 for facilitating winding the vinyl sheet 12 around the sheet roll 6 is provided near the wrapping sheet fixing mechanism 28. The sheet stretching mechanism 50 includes a pair of sheet stretch levers 52 rotatably mounted on both ends of the sheet roll 6 and a sheet stretch roll 52a connected between the sheet stretch levers 52. When the sheet stretch levers 52 rotates by about 90° in the clockwise direction in Figure 2 to the position shown by the chained line from the position shown by the solid line, the vinyl sheet 12 is wound around the sheet roll 6 to some extent by the sheet stretch roll 52a. There is provided above the sheet roll 6 a holding roller 54 for holding the sheet roll 6 not to be rotated by the tension of the vinyl sheet 12 when the sheet stretch levers 52 rotates to the position shown by the chained line. The holding roller 54 is moved up and down by a cylinder 60. Each of the sheet edge pressing mechanisms 30 is provided above the corresponding side portion of the core 4 and comprises a pressing head 58 having a concave surface which is substantially equal to the core 4 in curvature, and a cylinder 60 which moves up and down the pressing head. Each of the side face sealing member fixing mechanisms 32 comprises a support roller 62 which supports a roll of the gathering tape 14, a holding roller 64 which holds the leading end portion of the gathering tape 14, and a guide roller 66 which is disposed between the rollers 62 and 64. The rollers 62, 64 and 66 are movable to the position shown by the chained line where the holding roller 64 abuts against the core 4. The operation of the wrapping apparatus 20 which carries out the method of wrapping a rollstock in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to Figures 1A to 1F, hereinbelow. As shown in Figure 1A, when a fixing tape 16 of a predetermined length is fed to the suction belt 46 of the wrapping sheet fixing mechanism 28, the suction belt 46 is counterclockwisely rotated together with the cylinder 44 and then the cylinder 44 is operated to apply the fixing tape 16 to the leading end portion of the vinyl sheet 12 suspended from the rollers 38 of the wrapping sheet feeding mechanism 26 so that the fixing tape 16 partly overlaps with the vinyl sheet 12. Then the wrapping sheet fixing mechanism 28 returns to the original position shown by the chained line carrying the leading end portion of the vinyl sheet 12 and the cylinder 44 is operated to apply the part of the fixing tape 16 which does not overlap with the vinyl sheet 12 to the outer peripheral surface of the sheet roll 6, thereby fixing the leading end portion of the vinyl sheet 12 to the outer peripheral surface of the sheet roll 6. At this time, the wrapping sheet feeding mechanism 26 feeds the vinyl sheet 12 so that both side edge portions of the vinyl sheet 12 projects from the side faces of the sheet roll 6 by the same width. Then the holding roll 54 is moved downward to abut against the sheet roll 6 to hold the rollstock 2 not to rotate as shown in Figure 1B, and then the sheet stretching levers 52 rotate clockwisely to move the sheet stretch roll 52a to the position shown by the solid line from the waiting position shown by the chained line, whereby the leading end portion of the vinyl sheet 12 is wound around the sheet roll 6 to a predetermined length. At the same time, the side face sealing member fixing mechanisms 32 operate to apply the leading end portions of the gathering tapes 14 supported on the support roller 64 to the outer surface of the core 4. As can be understood from Figure 1B, the leading end of each of the gathering tapes 14 is applied to the outer peripheral surface of the side portions of the core 4 in a position counterclockwisely deviated from the position in which the leading end of the vinyl sheet 12 is fixed to the outer peripheral surface of the sheet roll 6 as viewed in the longitudinal axis of the core 4. Then the driving mechanism 24 rotates the rollstock 2 by 30° in the counterclockwise direction as shown in Figure 1C, whereby the vinyl sheet 12 and the gathering tapes 14 are drawn and wound around the sheet roll 6 and the core 4 to predetermined lengths. Thereafter, the pressing head 58 of the sheet edge pressing mechanism 30 on each side of the sheet roll 6 is moved downward to fold down the edge portion of the vinyl sheet 12 along the side face of the sheet roll 6 and to press the very edge portion against the outer peripheral surface of the core 4. Then the pressing head 58 returns to the original position. Then the steps described above in conjunction with Figures 1C and 1D are repeated, whereby the gathering tape 14 is wound around the very edge portion of the vinyl sheet 12 on the core 4 on each side of the sheet roll 6 as shown in Figure 1E. After the steps described above in conjunction with Figures 1C and 1D are repeated nine times, the sheet cutter 40 (Figure 2) cuts the vinyl sheet 12 and then the sheet stretch rolls 52a is returned to the original position. When the steps are further repeated several times, the trailing end portion of the vinyl sheet 12 overlaps with the leading end portion over a predetermined length as shown in Figure 1F. Then the wrapping sheet fixing mechanism 28 applies the fixing tape 16 to fix the trailing end of the vinyl sheet 12 to the leading end portion thereof. The rollstock 2 is further intermittently rotated 30° by 30° and the pressing head 58 is moved downward each time the rollstock 2 is stopped, whereby the gathering tapes 14 are further wound until the rollstock is intermittently rotated nineteen times in total. Then the gathering tapes 14 are cut by a cutter (not shown). In this state, the trailing end portion of each gathering tape 14 overlaps with the leading end portion thereof and is bonded thereto. Figure 4 shows the wrapped rollstock thus obtained. As can be understood from the description above, in accordance with the method or the apparatus of this embodiment, a roll-like article to be wrapped can automatically wrapped with a simple mechanism, whereby the productivity in the wrapping step can be improved and the manufacturing cost can be lowered. Further, in accordance with this embodiment, since the wrapping sheet is wound around the article to be wrapped a predetermined angle by a predetermined angle, even a wrapping sheet which is hard to conform to the shape of the article to be wrapped due to elasticity of the sheet can be surely wrapped around the article. Accordingly vinyl sheet which is cheap can be employed as the wrapping sheet. The wrapping sheet need not be limited to vinyl sheet but may be other sheet materials such as polyethylene sheet, polypropylene sheet or the like. Further, though, in the embodiment described above, the gathering tape 14 coated with adhesive on one side thereof is employed as the material for sealing the side face of the rollstock, adhesive rubber, string or the like may be employed as the material. Further, tape, rubber, string or the like having no adhesion may be used as the material for sealing the side face of the rollstock. In this case, the leading end and the trailing end of the material is fixed by suitable means such as welding. In the embodiment described above, the sheet edge pressing mechanism having the pressing head 58 is employed but a compressed-air blower or the like may be used instead of the pressing head 58. Further, the sheet edge pressing mechanism may have two or more such means. Further, though, in the embodiment described above, the core 4 of the rollstock 2 projects from both side faces of the sheet roll 6, the present invention can be applied to a roll-like article in which the core project from only one side face of the sheet roll.

Claims: A method of wrapping a roll-like article (2) having a core (4) and a sheet roll (6) wound around the core (4) so that at least one end portion of the core (4) projects from a side face of the sheet roll (6), said method comprising the steps of fixing a leading end of a wrapping sheet material (12) to the outer peripheral surface of the sheet roll (6) so that both side edge portions of the wrapping sheet material (12) project from both side faces of the sheet roll (6) in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the core (4), fixing a leading end of a side face sealing material (14) to the outer peripheral surface of the or each end portion of the core (4) in a position which is angularly displaced with respect to the core axis from the position in which the leading end of the wrapping sheet material (12) is fixed to the outer peripheral surface of the sheet roll (6), rotating the roll-like article (2) about the core axis in the sense of angular displacement through a predetermined angle so that the wrapping sheet material (12) is wound around the sheet roll (6) and the side face sealing material (14) is wound around the core (4), pressing the or each of the side edge portion of the wrapping sheet material (12) projecting from the side face of the sheet roll (6) so that the inner portion of the side edge portion is folded along the side face of the sheet roll (6) and the outer portion thereof is pressed against the core (4), rotating the roll-like article (2) about the core axis in the sense of angular displacement through a further predetermined angle so that the wrapping sheet material (12) is further wound around the sheet roll (6) and the side face sealing material (14) is wound around the outer portion of the or each side edge portion which has been pressed against the core (4), alternately repeating the pressing and the last-mentioned rotating steps until the side face sealing material (14) is wound around the outer portion of the or each side edge portion (12) beyond the trailing end of the wrapping sheet material (12), and fixing the trailing end of the side face sealing material (14). A method as claimed in Claim 1 and further comprising fixing the trailing end of the wrapping sheet material (12). A method as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein said side face sealing material (14) is an adhesive tape coated with adhesive on one side thereof and the leading end of the side face sealing material (14) is fixed to the outer peripheral surface of the core (4) by the adhesive. A method as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the trailing end of said side face sealing material (14) is fixed to an underlying portion of the side face sealing material (14) by the adhesive. A method as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the leading end portion of said wrapping sheet material (12) is fixed to the outer peripheral surface of the sheet roll (6) with an adhesive tape (16). A method as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the trailing end of said wrapping sheet material (12) is fixed to an underlying portion thereof with an adhesive tape (16). A method as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the first and second fixing steps are performed in that order or simultaneously. A method as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the alternate repetition of the pressing and last-mentioned rotating steps, and the fixing of the trailing end of the side face sealing material (14) are performed in that order or simultaneously. Apparatus for wrapping a roll-like article (2) having a core (4) and a sheet roll (6) wound around the core (4) so that at least one side portion of the core (4) projects from a side face of the sheet roll (6), said apparatus comprising first fixing means (28) which fix a leading end of a wrapping sheet material (12) to the outer peripheral surface of the sheet roll (6) so that both side edge portions of the wrapping sheet material (12) project from both side faces of the sheet roll (6) in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the core (4), second fixing means (32) which fix a leading end of a side face sealing material (14) to the outer peripheral surface of the or each side portion of the core (4) in a position angularly displaced with respect to the core axis from the position in which the leading end of the wrapping sheet material (12) is fixed to the outer peripheral surface of the sheet roll (6), intermittent driving means (249 which intermittently rotate the roll-like article (2) around the core axis in the sense of displacement through a predetermined angle so that the wrapping sheet material (12) is wound around the sheet roll (6) and the side face sealing material (14) is wound around the core (4), sheet edge pressing means (30) which press the or each side edge portion of the wrapping sheet material (12) projecting from the side faces of the sheet roll (6) so that the inner portion of the side edge portion is folded along the side face of the sheet roll (6) and the outer portion thereof is pressed against the core (4), and third fixing means which fix the trailing end of the or each side face sealing material (14). A wrapped roll-like article (2) comprising a core (4), a sheet roll (6) wound around the core (4) so that at least one side portion of the core (4) projects from a side face of the sheet roll (6), wrapping sheet material (12) and side face sealing material, characterised in that the wrapping sheet material is wound around the outer peripheral surface of the sheet roll (6) and is folded along both side faces of the sheet roll (6) such that at least one side edge portion thereof is wound around a side portion of the core and one end portion thereof overlies the other end portion, and the side face sealing material (14) is wound around at least one side edge portion of the wrapping sheet material (12), one end of the side face sealing material (14) extending beyond an end portion of the wrapping sheet material (12) and being fixed to the outer surface of the core (4), and the other end of the side face sealing material (14) extending beyond an end portion of the wrapping sheet material (12) and being fixed to an underlying portion of the side face sealing material (14).

Inventors: NAOYUKI KAMEYAMA C O FUJI PHOT, TAKANORI ENDO C O FUJI PHOTO F, YASUNORI HORI C O FUJI PHOTO F, YOSHIMICHI DOI C O FUJI PHOTO, NAOYUKI, KAMEYAMA, TAKANORI, ENDO, YASUNORI, HORI, YOSHIMICHI, DOI, NAOYUKI, KAMEYAMA, C/O FUJI PHOTO FILM CO. LTD., TAKANORI, ENDO, C/O FUJI PHOTO FILM CO. LTD., YASUNORI, HORI, C/O FUJI PHOTO FILM CO. LTD., YOSHIMICHI, DOI, C/O FUJI PHOTO FILM CO. LTD.
Applicants: FUJI PHOTO FILM CO LTD, FUJI PHOTO FILM CO., LTD.
Application year: 1990
Main classification: B65B25
IPC codes: B65B25, B65D85, B65D75