Apparatus and method for removing packaging material from web roll

Abstract: An apparatus for removing a packaging material (C) covering an outer peripheral surface of a web roll (R) includes a device (10) for rotatably supporting the web roll and a device (K) for widthwisely cutting at least the packaging material. The cutting device is disposed to move along a widthwise direction of said web roll and includes a first cutting blade (32) for cutting the packaging material. The apparatus further includes a device (50) for feeding out the cut packaging material. The feeding out device engages the outer peripheral surface of the packaging material adjacent to and rearward of the cut portion. In cooperation with the web roll, the feeding out device operates to separate the cut packaging material from the web roll progressively from its cut portion. A method for removing a packaging material covering an outer peripheral surface of a web roll includes the steps of supporting the web roll so as to be rotatable about its axis, cutting widthwisely the packaging material from one end of the web roll to the other end thereof, and feeding out the cut packaging material progressively from the cut portion thereof by rotating the web roll.

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for removing packaging material from a web roll around which a web is wound. More specifically, the present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for automatically removing packaging material covering the outer peripheral of the web roll. Description of the Related Art Rolls in which long sheets of single-piece webs, such as paper and metal foil, or composite sheets, such as laminated film, are wound around a hollow core. These rolls have been used in a variety of ways in a variety of different fields. For example, in rotary offset presses and rotary letter presses, the web to be printed is wound as a web roll and mounted in a web feeding device for feeding the web off the web roll. A packaging material is wound around an outer peripheral surface of the web roll to cover it. This packaging material prevents the web roll from becoming damaged or dirty when it is transported from a paper plant to a printing plant. When the web roll arrives at the printing plant, the packaging material must be removed before the web is used. The removal of the packaging material from the web roll is performed manually by a worker. The manual removal of the packaging material from the web roll takes time and thus reduces efficiency. The worker also must perform the complicated and tedious task of rolling up the packaging material removed from the web roll and disposing of it. DE 196 07 541 C1 discloses a machine for unpacking web rolls in accordance with the preamble of claim 1. The machine comprises a cutting device for cutting the packing layer and a peeling device for removing the packing layer from the web roll. The peeling device is arranged in a position offset by about 120° to the cutting device along the circumference of the web roll. JP 63-317 431 discloses a further apparatus for unpacking a web roll. The apparatus comprises a cutting device arranged substantially above the web roll. The web roll is driven by two drive rollers arranged at the lower part of the web roll opposite to the position where the packaging material is cut. The cut packaging material is fed out by turning the drive rollers. It is the object of the invention to provide an improved apparatus for removing packaging material from a web roll capable of automatically removing the packaging material and smoothly feeding out the packaging material. This object is fulfilled by an apparatus having the features disclosed in claim 1. Preferred embodiments are defined in the dependent subclaims. The above and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals designate the same elements. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a cross-sectional side view of the packaging material removal device according to the present invention. Figure 2 is a plan view showing the cutting device of Figure. 1. Figure 3 is a schematic front view showing the cutting device of Figure. 1. Figure 4 is a schematic side view showing roll-up means and transporting means according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 5 is a schematic front view showing roll-up means and transporting means according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 6 is a perspective view showing a web roll whose outer peripheral surface is covered with a packaging material. Figure 7 is an explanatory view showing the first cutting blade cutting the packaging material widthwisely. Figure 8 is an explanatory view showing the roll-up means rolling up the packaging material. Figure 9 is an explanatory view showing a second cutting blade cutting the web widthwisely. Figure 10 is an explanatory view showing the rolled-up packaging material being transported by a feed conveyor and a lower transport belt conveyor. Figure 11 is an explanatory view showing how the rolled-up packaging material is flattened by a press. Figure 12 is an explanatory view showing the flattened packaging material being transported by the lower transport belt conveyor. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to Figure 1, a device M for removing packaging material from a web roll has a support device 10 rotatably supporting a web roll R. An outer peripheral surface of the web roll R is covered by a packaging material C. A movable table 13, disposed on a base 11, is raised and lowered by a lift device 12. The lift device 12 uses any of the well known lifting means, such as a parallel linkage mechanism. Rollers 14 are rotatably installed at the upper front and rear portions of the movable table 13. The web roll R is rotatably mounted between rollers 14. The web roll R is raised and lowered to align its center substantially with the level of a cutting device K. Abase 15 located adjacent to the support device 10 has a pair of guide rails 16 (only one is shown ). The guide rails 16 extend along the longitudinal axis of the support device 10. The guide rolls 16 are separated in the widthwise direction of the web roll R. A main unit 17 is slidably mounted on the guide rails 16. A piston rod 18a of a hydraulic cylinder 18 provided on the base 15 is connected to the main unit 17. The forward and reverse energization of the cylinder 18 causes the main unit 17 to move toward and away from the web roll R supported by the support device 10 in a direction parallel to the horizontal diameter of the web roll R. Cutting device for packaging material The cutting device K is provided on the front side of the main unit 17 facing the web roll R for widthwisely cutting the packaging material C. As shown in Figure. 2 and 3, an attachment plate 19 positioned at a top front surface of the main unit 17 extends parallel to the widthwise direction of the web roll R. A pair of guide rails 20 run parallel to each other on a front vertical surface of the attachment plate 19. A carrier 21 is slidably provided on the guide rails 20. A screw shaft 23 is rotatably interposed between a pair of opposed bearings 22 located adjacent to end regions in the widthwise direction of the attachment plate 19. The screw shaft 23 screws into a nut member 24 fixed to the carrier 21. The screw shaft 23 is also connected to a motor 25 disposed on the attachment plate 19. The motor 25 is adapted for the dual directional rotation of the screw shaft 23. Thus, when the motor 25 rotates the screw shaft 23, the threaded engagement between the screw shaft 23 and the nut member 24 causes the carrier 21 to move back and forth along the guide rails 20. The guide rails 20 and the screw shaft 23 have lengths greater than the length of the web roll R, so that the carrier 21 can move from one widthwise end of the web roll R to the other end. A pair of position sensors 26 (only one is shown in Figure 1) are separated from each other along the widthwise direction of the main unit 17. A dog 27 detectable by the sensors 26 is located on the carrier 21. The motor 25 is controlled to move the carrier 21 back and forth between the position sensors 26. When the carrier 21 is in a standby state, the carrier 21 is positioned adjacent to the right end of the guide rails 20, as shown in Figure 2. When the carrier 21 moves to the left from this standby position, a first cutting blade 32 described below widthwisely cuts the packaging material C. A first fixing member 28 is located on a front surface of the carrier 21. A pair of guide rods 29 are provided on the first fixing member 28 to be separated in the widthwise direction of the fixing member 28 so as to move to and fro (in a direction perpendicular to the carrier 21). A first holder 30 is located on the front end of the guide rods 29. A hydraulic cylinder 31 located on the first fixing member 28 has a piston rod 31a which is connected to the first holder 30. The forward and reverse energization of the cylinder 31 causes the first holder 30 to move to and fro. The disk-shaped first cutting blade (cutting blade for packaging ) 32 is rotatably disposed on the front surface of the first holder 30 with its axis oriented vertical. The first cutting blade 32 is rotated by an air motor 33. As shown in Figures 2 and 3, a separating member 35 is mounted on the front surface of the first holder 30 via a bracket 34 disposed to the right of the first cutting blade 32. The separating member 35 extends a prescribed widthwise distance in front of the first cutting blade 32. The tip end of the separating member 35 is formed like a wedge to have a thick end extending behind the first cutting blade 32. As the carrier 21 moves to the left from the standby position, the tip end of the separating member 35 is introduced into an end face of the web roll R between the packaging material C and the web ( inner web ) W, thus separating the packaging material C from the web roll R. A groove 35a is formed on the rear surface of the separating member 35 facing the first cutting blade 32 so that the separating member 35 does not obstruct the first cutting blade 32. The packaging material C guided to the rear surface of the separating member 35 is reliably cut by the first cutting blade 32. Since the packaging material C covering the web roll R is wound relatively tightly around the inner web W, it is difficult to insert the separating member 35 between packaging material C and the web W immediately inside the material C. In this embodiment of the present invention, the separating member 35 can be inserted between two layers of the web W inside the packaging material C. In other words, the first cutting blade 32 cuts multiple layers of the web W in addition to the packaging material C. A positioning roller 37 attached to the first fixing member 28 via a bracket 36 is rotatably disposed on the opposite side of the first cutting blade 32 from the separating member 35. The hydraulic cylinder 31 applies a prescribed pressure to the outer peripheral surface of the web roll R ( outer surface of packing material C). The positioning roller 37 is adjustable to control the depth to which the tip of the separating member 35 is inserted into the web roll R. With the positioning roller 37 in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the web roll R, the tip of separating member 35 is reliably inserted either between the packaging material C and the web W immediately inside the material C, or between layers of the web W. A second fixing member 38 is provided on the front surface of the carrier 21 to the right of the first fixing member 28. A second holder 40 is provided on a hydraulic cylinder 39 attached to the second fixing member 38 and can be moved to and fro by forwardly and reversely energizing the cylinder 39. A guide plate 41 extending in the direction of movement of the carrier 21 is provided on the front end of the second holder 40. A disk-shaped second cutting blade (web cutting blade) 42 located behind the guide plate 41 has an axis of rotation which is oriented substantially the same way as that of the first cutting blade 32. The second cutting blade 42 projects forward by a prescribed amount through a slit 41a ( see Figure 3) formed in the guide plate 41. The second cutting blade 42 is configured so as to move between the standby position, which is situated behind a feed path along which the packaging material C and the web W cut by the first cutting blade 32 are fed to second feed rolls described later, and an operation position, which is situated adjacent to the feed path, by forwardly and reversely energizing the hydraulic cylinder 39. When the carrier 21 is moved from the left end to the right end (the standby position ) with the second cutting blade 42 located in the operational position, the web W that has been drawn out from the web roll R into the feed path is widthwisely cut, thus cutting and separating the packaging material C and the web W. Guide plate for packaging material A pair of widthwisely separated hydraulic guide cylinders 43 (only one is shown in Figure 1) are vertically located on the main unit 17 below the cutting device K. A lifting member 44 is raised and lowered by piston rods 43a of the guide cylinders 43. A pair of widthwisely separated support plates 45 project forward from the lifting member 44. A fixing plate 46 is provided between front ends of the support plates 45 and a first guide plate 47 is mounted on the fixing plate 46 to project upward by a prescribed amount. The first guide plate 47 tilts forward and backward within an appropriate range at the upper-end of the fixing plate 46. The free upper end of the first guide plate 47 is kept constantly tilted forward under its own weight so that the free upper end is brought near the web roll R (see Figure 1). A second guide plate 48 is mounted on the main unit 17 to slope downwardly toward the fixing plate 46. The packaging material C and web W cut by the cutting device K are guided downward and passed between the guide plates 47 and 48. When the second cutting blade 42 cuts the web W, the first guide plate 47 (Figure 1) is raised to a position near the front surface of the second cutting blade 42 and thus supports the front side of the web W so that the second cutting blade 42 can reliably cut the web W. As the first guide plate 47 is raised, it comes into contact with an outer peripheral surface of the web roll R. The first guide plate 47 then gradually tilts backward so that its raised end becomes substantially vertical. Feed roll for packaging material Referring to Figure. 1, a pair of widthwisely separated support plates 49 (only one is shown) extending forward to a prescribed distance are provided on the upper portion of the main unit 17. A first feed roller 50 is rotatably disposed between the extended ends of the support plates 49. The first feeding roller 50 is connected to a feed motor 51 provided on the main unit 17. The feed motor 51 rotates the feeding roller 50 in a prescribed direction. When the packaging material C is being cut and unwrapped, the main unit hydraulic cylinder 18 moves the main unit 17 forward ( to the left in Figure 1) up to a position where the first feed roller 50 contacts the web roll R supported by the support device 10. Then, when the first feed roller 50 is in contact with the web roll R, the web roll R is rotated on the support device 10 by rotating the roller 50. The cut packaging material C and web W are fed between the first guide plate 47 and the second guide plate 48. A pair of widthwisely extending front and rear second feed rollers 52 are rotatably positioned below the first and second guide plates 47 and 48. The second feed rollers 52 are rotated in opposite directions by the feed motor 51. By forwardly and reversely energizing a hydraulic cylinder (not shown ) disposed in the main unit 17, the rear second feed roller 52 can be moved between a feed position where it is in contact with the front second feed roller 52 and a standby position where the rear second feed roller 52 is away from the front second feed roller 52. The packaging material C and web W guided by the first and second guide plates 47 and 48 are guided downward as sandwiched between the second feed rollers 52. Rolling up device for packaging material Referring to Figures 1 and 5, a widthwisely extending drive shaft 55 is rotatably supported by the main unit 17 below the second feed rollers 52. The drive shaft 55 is rotated in a prescribed direction by a roll-up motor 56 provided on the main unit 17. Multiple widthwisely separated first roll-up conveyors 57 and second roll-up conveyors 58 (two each in this embodiment of the invention) located below second feed rollers 52 serve as means for rolling up the packaging material C and web W fed by the rollers 52. The multiple roll-up conveyors 57 and 58 are driven in tandem by the drive shaft 55. Referring to Figure.4 and 5, each first roll-up conveyor 57 has multiple first driven pulleys 60 rotatably disposed in an appropriate arrangement between a pair of widthwisely separated first frames 59. The drive shaft 55 is rotatably inserted through the first frames 59. A first drive pulley 61 is provided on the drive shaft 55 at a location between the frames 59 so as to rotate in tandem with the drive shaft 55. An endless belt 62 is wound around the first drive pulley 61 and the multiple first driven pulleys 60. A rear edge 59a of each of the first frames 59 has an arcuate shape. A rear transport section of the first endless belt 62 is run upward substantially along the arcuate rear edge 59a by rotation of the first drive pulley 61 through the drive shaft 55. As shown in Figure 5, the two second roll-up conveyors 58, which are disposed inward and adjacent to the first roll-up conveyors 57, each includes a pair of widthwisely separated second frames 63 rotatably provided on the drive shaft 55 and extending rearward. A second driven pulley 64 is rotatably provided between the extended ends of each pair of the frames 63. A second drive pulley 65 is provided on the drive shaft 55 between each pair of the frames 63 as to be rotated integrally with the drive shaft 55. An endless belt 66 is wound around the second drive pulley 65 and the second driven pulley 64. The transport section on an upper side of the second endless belt 66 is run from the driven pulley 64 to the drive pulley 65 ( from the rear to the front) by rotation of the drive pulley 65 through the drive shaft 55. Namely, both the transport sections on the upper side of the endless belt 66 and on the rear side of the endless belt 62 travel clockwise. Thus, this causes the packaging material C and web W, which are fed from second feed rollers 52 and contact each of the transport sections, to be rolled up clockwise. ( see Figure 8) Piston rods 67a of roll-up hydraulic cylinders 67 are rotatably supportedby the main unit 17. Each piston rod 67a is pivotally connected to one of the second frames 63 of one of the second roll-up conveyors 58. The roll-up conveyors 58 are pivoted about the drive shaft 55 by forwardly and reversely energizing the roll-up hydraulic cylinders 67, so that their upper transport sections can-be positioned between an active position and a retracted position, which positions arc respectively above and below the upper transport sections of first lower transport belt conveyors 68 described below. Device for transporting rolled-up packaging material Multiple lower transport belt conveyors 68 extending from the front to the rear over a prescribed length are provided adjacent to the first and second conveyors 57 and 58. In this embodiment of the present invention, as shown in Figure 5, two lower transport belt conveyors 68 are disposed between the pair of second roll-up conveyors 58, while a single lower transport belt conveyor 68 is disposed outside each of the first roll-up conveyors 57. The four lower transport belt conveyors 68 are connected to a transport motor 69 provided on the main unit 17. The rolled-up packaging material C 1 (not shown) can be transported rearward by running the upper transport sections of the lower transport belt conveyors 68 from the front to the rear of the main unit 17. Multiple (two in this embodiment) widthwisely separated upper transport belt conveyors 70 extend from the front to the rear over a prescribed length at a prescribed distance above the upper transport sections of the lower transport belt conveyors 68. The upper transport belt conveyors 70 are connected to the transport motor 69 by which lower transport sections thereof are conveyed from the front to ' the rear of the main unit 17 (from left to right in Figure 4). The distance between the upper and lower transport belt conveyors 68 and 70 is set smaller than the height of the rolled-up packaging material C 1 (not shown) rolled up by the roll-up conveyors 57 and 58. The rolled-up packaging material C 1 can be reliably transported rearward as held between belt conveyors 70 and 68 from above and below, respectively. The upper transport belt conveyors 70 are positioned with their front ends rearward of the feed path of the packaging material C, which is fed downward by the second feed rolls 52. Such positioning of the upper transport belt conveyors 70 prevents obstruction of packaging material C feeding. When the front ends of the upper transport belt conveyors 70 are positioned as described above, the packaging material C 1 rolled up by the roll-up conveyors 57 and 58 is transported rearward to upper transport belt conveyors 70 solely by the lower transport belt conveyors 68. Since the rolled-up packaging material C 1 is light, transport of the rolled-up packaging material C 1 is unstable. Therefore, in this embodiment of the present invention, feed conveyors 71 are positioned at the front ends of the upper transport belt conveyors 70. Each feed conveyor 71 is movable between a retracted position where it does not obstruct the feed path of the packaging material C and an active position where it comes into contact with the top of the rolled-up packaging material C 1 resting on the upper transport sections of the lower transport belt conveyors 68. Therefore, the rolled-up packaging material C 1 is reliably conveyed rearward as held between the transport conveyors 71 and the lower transport belt conveyors 68. As shown in Figure 5, each feed conveyor 71 includes a widthwisely separated pair of frames 73 positioned inward from the associated upper transport belt conveyor 70. The frames 73 are rotatably connected to a front rotating shaft 72 of the belt conveyors 70. When the frames 73 are in a retracted position, the frames 73 stand upright with their extended ends oriented as indicated by solid lines in Figure 4. When the frames 73 are in the active position, the frames 73 lie horizontal. A drive pulley 74 is provided on the rotation shaft 72 between each pair of the frames 73 to rotate together with the rotation shaft 72. A driven pulley 75 is rotatably positioned between extended ends of each pair of the frames 73. An endless belt 76 extends between the drive pulley 74 and the driven pulley 75. The rotating shaft 72 is rotated by actuating the upper transport belt conveyors 70, whereby the transport sections in the lower portions of the endless belts 76 of the feed conveyors 71 positioned at the active position are run from the front to the rear ( in the same direction as the upper transport belt conveyors 70). One of the frames 73 of each feed conveyor 71 is connected to a piston rod 77a of a feed hydraulic cylinder 77 which is disposed above the associated upper transport belt conveyor 70. Each feed hydraulic cylinder 77 is pivotally connected to the main unit 17, thereby causing the feed conveyor 71 to pivot about the rotating shaft 72, whereby the lower transport section of the endless belt 76 is moved between the upright retracted position and the horizontal active position, as described above. W hen the feed conveyors 71 are in active position, the rolled-up packaging material C 1 rolled up by the first and second roll-up conveyors 57 and 58 can be transported rearward as held between the feed conveyors 71 and the lower transport belt conveyors 68. Pressing Device A press 78 is provided between the pair of upper transport belt conveyors 70 for flattening the rolled-up packaging material C 1 . As shown in Figure 5, the press 78 includes a hydraulic press cylinder 79 disposed upright in the main unit 17, and a press plate 80 connected to a piston rod 79a extending downward from the cylinder 79. The rolled-up packaging material C 1 resting on the lower transport belt conveyors 68 can be flattened from the above by repeatedly conducting forward and reverse energization of the hydraulic press cylinder 79 (see Figure 12). When in the standby position, the press plate 80 is set above the lower transport sections of the upper transport·belt conveyors 70. The number of times the rolled-up packaging material C 1 is compressed can be selectively set. A rearward-extending exit belt conveyor 81 is disposed inward from each of the outermost lower transport belt conveyors 68. The packaging material C 2 flattened by the press 78 is fed out of the main unit 17 by the exit belt conveyors 81. The operation of the apparatus for removing packaging material according to this embodiment will be now described. First, the web roll R covered on its outer peripheral surface with the packaging material C is mounted on the movable table 13 of the support device 10. Then, as shown in Figure 1, the table 13 is raised by the lift device 12 until the center of the web roll R is roughly aligned with the height of the cutting device K. The main unit hydraulic cylinder 18 is activated to make the main unit 17 approach the web roll R. The main unit 17 is stopped when the first feed roller 50 contacts the outer peripheral surface of the web roll R. At this time, the carrier 21 of the cutting device K is positioned at the standby position (the right end of the main unit 17 in Figure 2) with the tip of the separating member 35 extending into the end face of the web roll R. The first holder hydraulic cylinder 31 of the cutting device K is activated to move the first holder 30 forward, causing the positioning roller 37 to contact and apply a prescribed pressure to the outer peripheral surface of the web roll R. Then, when the motor 25 is activated to move the carrier 21 along the widthwise direction of the web roll R ( leftward from the standby position), the tip of the wedge-shaped separating member 35 is inserted between two layers of the web W inside the packaging material C, whereby the packaging material C and multiple layers of the web W are separated from the main roll. The separated packaging material C and multiple layers of the web W are guided toward the rear side of the separating member 35. The first cutting blade 32 is rotated by the air motor, 33. As the carrier 21 is moved, the packaging material C and multiple layers of the web W guided to the rear side of the separating member 35 are cut widthwisely by the first cutting blade 32, as shown in Figure 7. Once the first cutting blade 32 finishes cutting the web W and the packaging material C and the dog 27 disposed on the carrier 21 is detected by the left side position sensor 26, the carrier 21 is stopped, while at the same time the first feed roll 50 is rotated in an appropriate direction (the direction to cause the web roll R to rotate clockwise in Figure 8). As a result, the web roll R supported on the support device 10 is rotated clockwise, so that the cut ends oriented downward of the packaging material C and the web W are stripped from the web roll R and fed between the pair of guide plates 47 and 48 positioned below. At an appropriate time, the hydraulic cylinder for the rear second feed roller 52 is activated, so that the rear second feed roller 52 moves toward the front second feed roller 52 to reach the feed position. Such a position of the feed roller 52 allows the packaging material C and the web W to be interposed between the rollers 52. When the first feed roller 50 is rotated, the second feed rollers 52 are also rotated so that the packaging material C and the web W guided between the rotating second feed rollers 52 by the first feed roller 50 are fed further downward by the rotation of the rollers 52. The cut end of the packaging material C and the web W fed from the second feed rollers 52 contacts the second endless belts 66 of the second roll-up conveyors 58, which are in the active position. As the belts 66 are run, the cut end is transported toward the first roll-up conveyors 57. Then, as the belts 62 are run, the cut end of the packaging material C and the web W contacting the first endless belts 62 of the first roll-up conveyors 57 is transported upward along the arcuate rear edges 59a of the first frames 59. Namely, the packaging material C and the web W are fed to the roll-up conveyors 57 and 58 rotating clockwise, as shown in Figure 8. This rotation results in the packaging material C and the web W being rolled up. In this embodiment of the present invention, the packaging material C and the multiple layers of web W are rolled up with these being stacked against each other. When an appropriate detecting means detects that the packaging material C has been completely removed from the web roll R, the second holder hydraulic cylinder 39 is activated to move the second cutting blade 42 to the active position. The guide plate hydraulic cylinders 43 are activated so that the first guide plate 47 is raised to grasp the web W drawn out from the web roll R, and then move to a position facing the second cutting blade 42 at the active position. In this situation, the carrier 21 is moved leftward from the right end ( to the standby position). As shown in Figure 9, such a movement of the carrier 21 results in the web W being widthwisely cut and separated from the main roll by the second cutting blade 42. The carrier 21 is controlled to stop when the position sensor 26 (see Figure 1) on the right side detects the dog 27. When an appropriate detection means detects that the cut terminal end of the web W cut by the second cutting blade 42 is rolled up, the roll-up hydraulic cylinders 67 and feed hydraulic·cylinders 77 are activated. This causes the second roll-up conveyors 58 to move from their active positions to their retracted positions and the feed conveyors 71 from their retracted positions to their active positions, as shown in Figure 10. The transport motor 69 is activated to move the lower transport belt conveyors 68, the upper transport conveyors 70, and the feed conveyors 71 in the prescribed directions. As a result, the rolled-up packaging material C 1 rolled up by the roll-up conveyors 57 and 58 is reliably transported rearward being supported from the below by the lower transport belt conveyors 68 and from the above by the feed conveyors 71. When the rolled-up packaging material C 1 has been transferred from the feed conveyors 71 to the upper transport belt conveyors 70, it can be reliably transported rearward as supported from above and below by the upper and the lower transport belt conveyors 68 and 70. When the rolled-up packaging material C 1 has been departed from the feed conveyors 71, the rolled-up hydraulic cylinders 67 are reversely activated to move the second roll-up conveyors 58 from their retracted positions to their active positions and feed conveyors 71 from their active positions to their retracted positions (see Figure 11). When an appropriate detecting means detects that the packaging material C 1 rolled-up being transported rearward by the upper and lower transport belt conveyors 68 and 70 has reached a position under the press 78, as shown in Figure. 11, the upper and lower transport belt conveyor 68 and 70 are then stopped. The press hydraulic cylinder 79 of the press 78 is then activated to be reciprocated a prescribed number of times. As a result, the press plate 80 flattens the rolled-up packaging material C 1 mounted on the lower transport belt conveyor 68. Referring to Figure 12, when the press 78 completes the above-described flattening operation, the lower transport belt conveyor 68 is reactivated to further backwardly transport the flattened packaging material C 2 by the belt conveyor 68. The flattened packaging material C 2 is then passed from the lower transport belt conveyor 68 to the exit belt conveyor 81. The flattened packaging material is finally sent out of the main unit 17 through the conveyor 81. In this embodiment of the present invention, the packaging material removal device M, which allows cutting, rolling , and disposing of the packaging material C to be carried out, accomplishes its labor-saving goal. Furthermore, since the rolled-up packaging material C 2 is flattened, it takes up a minimum amount of space. The present invention is not restricted to the embodiment described above, and other configurations can be implemented. For example, instead of a screw and nut combination, the displacement mechanism for the carrier in the cutting device can be a rack and pinion combination or a chain and sprocket combination. Also, an electric motor or the like can be used to drive the first cutting blade instead of an air motor. In the embodiment described above, the first feed roller and the second feed rollers are driven by the same motor. However, it is also possible to have the first and second rollers driven by a separate motor. In that case, when the packaging material fed by means of the rotation of the first feed roller is interposed between the pair of second feed rollers, the first feed roller is stopped while the second feed rollers are rotated. This allows a prescribed tension to be applied to the web, thus allowing the second cutting blade to cut the web reliably. Even if the first roller and the second rollers are driven by the same motor, clutches and the like can be used in the drive transfer system so that an effect similar to that which occurs when the rollers are driven by separate motors can be provided by engaging and disengaging the clutches when driving the rollers. In the embodiment described above, the separating member is inserted between webs disposed inward from the packaging material due to the difficulty of reliably inserting the separating member between the packaging material and the web positioned immediately inward from the packaging material. However, it is possible to insert the separating member between the packaging material and the web by improving the manner in which the web roll R is covered with the packaging material or by positioning the cutting device more precisely. Also, if the first cutting blade can cut only the packaging material, the second cutting blade can be eliminated since the web is not drawn out from the web roll when rolling up the packaging material. The hydraulic cylinder described above can be oil-based, air based, or the like, and it is also possible to use combinations of motors, linking mechanisms, and the like in place of hydraulic cylinders. Furthermore, it is preferable to dispose optoelectronic sensors and the like in the feed or transport paths. As described above, with the packaging material removal device for web rolls according to the present invention, packaging material covering the outer peripheral surface of web rolls can be removed automatically, thus saving labor. Also, the removed packaging material is automatically rolled up and ejected. This reduces the time required for operations and saves labor. Since the rolled-up packaging material is flattened by a press, the packaging material to be disposed does not take up an excessive amount of space. Having described preferred embodiments of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to these precise embodiments, and that various changes and modifications may be effected therein by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims: An apparatus for removing a packaging material (C) covering an outer peripheral surface of a web roll (R) comprising: means for rotatably supporting the web roll (R); means for widthwisely cutting at least the packaging material (C), which is disposed to move along a widthwise direction of said web roll (R) and includes a first cutting blade (32) for cutting the packaging material (C); means (50) for feeding out the cut packaging material (C), characterized in that said feed-out means (50) engages the outer peripheral surface of the packaging material (C) adjacent to and upstream of the cut portion with respect to the direction of rotation of the web roll (R) and operates to rotate in said direction the web roll (R) to thereby separate the cut packaging material (C) from the web roll (R) progressively from its cut portion; and further characterized by wedge means (35) for, before the packaging material (C) is cut by said cutting means, separating a portion of the packaging material to be cut from a rolled-up portion of the web roll (R) inside by being inserted into the rolled-up portion at an end face of the web roll (R) and being widthwisely moved. An apparatus for removing a packaging material according to claim 1, further comprising means (57, 58) for rolling up the packaging material (C) fed out by said feed-out means (50) about an axis substantially parallel to an axis of the web roll (R). An apparatus for removing a packaging material according to claim 2, further comprising means (78, 80) for pressing the packaging material (C) rolled-up by said roll-up means (57, 58) into a flat shape. An apparatus for removing a packaging material according to claim 2 or claim 3, wherein said roll-up means (57, 58) consists of transport conveyor means which moves the packaging material (C) fed out by said feed-out means (50) along an arcuate transport path matching a curl direction of the web roll (R) to form a rolled-up packaging material. An apparatus for removing a packaging material according to one of the preceding claims, wherein said cutting means further comprises a second cutting blade (42) for web (W), whereby, in a case where the web (W) is widthwisely cut along with the packaging material (C) by said first cutting blade (32) for the packaging material (C) during the widthwise movement of said cutting means, the web (W) fed out from the web roll (R) by said feed-out means (50) is widthwisely cut by said second cutting blade (42) to be separated from the roll body during a return movement of said cutting means.

Inventors: KAWAMURA MASANORI, KAWAMURA, MASANORI
Applicants: ISOWAHOOPERSWIFT KK, KABUSHIKI KAISHA ISOWAHOOPERSWIFT
Application year: 1999
Main classification: B65B69
IPC codes: B65B69