Abstract:
An unwinding device for wound rolls includes a bearing element, a first support element and a second support element mounted on the bearing element. The first and second support elements are adapted to rotatably hold the wound roll on opposed sides. The first support element and the second support element are movable along the bearing element with respect to one another, such that a distance between the first support element and the second support element changes. The unwinding device also includes a drive mechanism adapted to move the first support element and the second support element along the bearing element. The drive mechanism includes a tensioner movable along the bearing element, and a first engagement member disposed on the first support element. The first engagement member is adapted to releasably lock the first support element to the tensioner.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the priority of Germany Patent Application No: 10 2007 053 588.2, filed on Nov. 8, 2007, the subject matter of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    The invention relates to an unwinding device for wound rolls, with a bearing element, two support elements disposed on the bearing element for rotatably holding a wound roll on both sides, and a drive mechanism for moving the two support elements along the bearing element. The two support elements are mounted so that they can move along the bearing element such that, when the two support elements move relative to one another, the spacing between these changes. 
         [0003]    Material webs, in particular paper webs in the paper processing industry, are generally delivered and stored in the form of large, heavy wound rolls. When processing material webs of this kind on appropriate machines, these webs are drawn off the wound rolls. 
         [0004]    These processing machines are therefore provided with appropriate unwinding devices in which the wound rolls are rotatably held on both sides on two support elements disposed on a bearing element. In this case the wound roll is usually clamped without a shaft between the two support elements and held by these during unwinding. The support elements are mounted on the bearing element so that they can move towards and away from one another for loading with a new wound roll, for removing the core of the wound roll following complete unwinding and for setting to different roll widths and adjusting the position in relation to the material web path. 
         [0005]    EP 0 909 253 B1 and the corresponding U.S. Pat. No. 6,042,047 A, which constitute the closest prior art on which the present invention is based, disclose an unwinding device for large paper rolls which comprises a frame with four stands and two longitudinal girders, as well as at least one unwinding beam and two support arms each with a clamping head. The support arms are mounted on the unwinding beam so that they can move horizontally and transversely, and are coupled together via a common threaded spindle. A first drive provides for a joint contradirectional transverse displacement of the support arms, and a resultant change in their spacing from one another in order to pick up wound rolls of differing width. A second drive provides for a joint equidirectional transverse displacement of the support arms without changing their spacing from one another, for the relative positioning of the wound roll in the processing machine. Also provided on the frame on both sides for a vertical displacement of the unwinding beam are tension means, preferably in the form of cables, belts or chains, which are fastened to two spindle nuts of a second horizontally disposed threaded spindle, so that the unwinding beam is suspended from the frame via the tension means. This second threaded spindle is rotated by means of a third drive. 
         [0006]    EP 0 289 749 B1 and the corresponding U.S. Pat. No. 4,895,314 A disclose a device for unwinding a material web from a roll, in particular a large paper roll for the paper processing industry. In order to rotatably hold a wound roll, this known device also comprises two support arms which are mounted together on a pivot shaft. In order to enable rolls of differing width to be picked up, this known device is also provided with a drive mechanism comprising a threaded spindle by means of which the support arms can be moved in the transverse direction. Also provided is a pivot drive for pivoting the support arms about the pivot shaft, as well as a further drive in order to move the pivot shaft together with the support arms horizontally in the web travel direction. DE 38 25 673 A1 describes a similar unwinding device for large paper rolls which comprises two support arms which are mounted together on a pivot shaft. The support arms are provided with clamping heads which are of a retractable construction in order to be able to pick up new wound rolls. 
         [0007]    DE 42 19 518 A1 discloses a device for feeding roll-shaped material to a gluing preparation station. This known device, which is intended in particular for accommodating large paper rolls which are to be unwound, comprises a frame with at least four stands which are connected together by two longitudinal girders. At least one crossmember which can travel in the transverse direction is provided between the longitudinal girders, on which crossmember two support arms are disposed so that they can move horizontally and transversely by means of two trolleys. 
         [0008]    The known unwinding devices require in particular a highly complex drive mechanism in order to be able to implement all the desired displacement functions. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0009]    An object of the invention, in a device of the type initially mentioned, is to implement the drive mechanism using a simple design which nevertheless affords all the displacement possibilities. 
         [0010]    This object is achieved by an unwinding device for wound rolls with a bearing element, two support elements disposed on the bearing element for rotatably holding a wound roll on both sides, and a drive mechanism for moving the two support elements along the bearing element. The two support elements are mounted so that they can move along the bearing element such that, when the two support elements move relative to one another, the spacing between the support elements changes. The drive mechanism comprises at least one tension means which is mounted so that it can move along the bearing element, and at least one engagement means which is disposed on at least one support element and locks the support element to the tension means in a releasable manner. The solution according to the invention affords a mechanically simple and inexpensive construction of the drive mechanism, with complete functionality of a so-called pick-up unwinder, which therefore affords all the displacement possibilities. This is achieved according to the invention in that at least one tension means is disposed on the bearing element and is mounted so that it can move along the bearing element, and at least one support element either moves along the tension means or can be disposed so as to be stationary with respect to the latter. For this purpose at least one engagement means is provided on each support element, which means locks the support element to the tension means in a releasable manner. This results in the support element being mechanically anchored to the tension means, which produces a stationary arrangement of the support element on the tension means. Additional safety precautions are not required, as the support elements can only travel together on account of a movement of the tension means along the bearing element and therefore cannot open unintentionally. If, however, the engagement means is released, the associated support element can move with respect to the tension means and along the bearing element and therefore be displaced, the displacement being possible independently of the other support element. The fact that the support elements can only travel together when the tension means moves along the bearing element due to being locked to the tension means results in the further advantage that the spacing between the support elements remains constant during a movement of this kind and therefore a displacement of this kind can also be used to advantage for adjusting the position of the picked-up wound roll in relation to the desired material web path in a machine. The invention accordingly enables both the possibility of setting to different roll widths and adjustment of the position of the picked-up wound roll in a way which is particularly simple in structural terms yet at the same time effective. 
         [0011]    The invention essentially requires just simple and inexpensive mechanical elements. When compared with conventional designs, the invention enables a significant cost reduction to be achieved, also in particular in a basic construction in which manual operation is possible in a simple manner and all automation and the cost-intensive assembly and maintenance of electronic components which this entails are eliminated. The design according to the invention nevertheless affords the advantage of upgrading to the point of complete automation. The level of automation which is most frequently required today is constituted by the automatic lateral edge control, whereby the position of the wound roll, already picked up, in relation to the material web path is adjusted, while the accommodation of the wound roll and the setting of the spacing of the support elements from one another, which is required for this, take place manually. Automatic lateral edge regulation of this kind can be adapted with a low expenditure by means of the invention, as just one single drive is required. 
         [0012]    Although EP 0 909 253 B1 discloses the use of tension means, these are provided in a way different to that of the invention for a suspended mounting of the unwinding beam on the frame. As opposed to this, in this prior art a threaded spindle is provided for the transverse displacement of the two support arms, which spindle is driven by a motor and has contradirectional pitches in the region of the first support arm mounting and of the second support arm mounting. Individual displacement of the support arms, as is possible with the design according to the invention, is not provided in this prior art and also not even possible on account of the contradirectional pitch of the threaded spindle. This means that this prior art also cannot suggest the invention. 
         [0013]    Preferred constructions and developments of the invention are presented in the dependent claims. 
         [0014]    The invention can therefore primarily be constructed in two variants, that is in a first variant, in which one of the two support elements is provided with the rotatably mounted engagement means and the other support element is firmly coupled to the tension means, and in an alternative second variant, in which at least one rotatably mounted engagement means is provided on each of the support elements. The last-mentioned second variant permits more flexibility in terms of the setting to different roll widths. Generally speaking, however, all the displacement possibilities can also be implemented with the first-mentioned variant. 
         [0015]    A particularly preferred construction of the invention is distinguished by the fact that the engagement means is mounted so as to be rotatable about an axis of rotation which extends at an angle, preferably approximately a right angle, to the direction of movement of the tension means and is in engagement with the tension means such that, upon rotation, the engagement means moves along the tension means and a relative movement of the support element is thereby produced and the support element is locked to the tension means during a standstill. The rotatable mounting of the engagement means accordingly allows the support element to move with respect to the tension means, with the engagement means running along the tension means. If the engagement means is rotated by an external action, whether manually or through a drive, this causes the engagement means to abut against the tension means and therefore the support element to move with respect to the tension means. Through the rotation of the engagement means and the movement, to which this gives rise, of the support element with respect to the tension means, the spacing of this support element from the other support element can be changed and easily set to the width of the wound roll which is to be picked up. In contrast, by bringing the engagement means to a standstill, this, and therefore the support element, is locked to the tension means, which takes place in particular after a wound roll has been picked up. Consequently in this construction the releasable locking is implemented by the engagement means on the one hand either rotating freely or being driven so as to rotate and on the other being held at a standstill for locking. 
         [0016]    The tension means is preferably formed as a flexible tension means which in one development of this construction continuously rotates. The tension means can thus not only be formed particularly easily in structural terms, but also disposed in a particularly space-saving manner. 
         [0017]    The engagement means can preferably be a pulley, and a portion of the tension means can always be in engagement with at least one portion of the circumference of the pulley. The tension means can wrap around the pulley in portions for particularly effective engagement. 
         [0018]    The tension means can be a cable or belt, for example. 
         [0019]    However it is alternatively also conceivable for the tension means to be a toothed belt and the engagement means a gear wheel or pinion whose teeth engage in the spaces between the teeth of the toothed belt. 
         [0020]    As a further alternative, it is conceivable for the tension means to be a chain and the engagement means a gear wheel or pinion whose teeth engage in the chain links of the chain. 
         [0021]    The tension means should expediently be mounted so that it can move at least in portions along a substantially straight line. As the two support elements are usually provided to rotatably hold a wound roll on both sides about its axis of rotation, that substantially straight line along which the tension means can move at least in portions should expediently be directed approximately parallel to that axis of rotation. 
         [0022]    It is of advantage, in particular for a remote-controlled or automated operation, for the drive mechanism to comprise at least one drive disposed on the bearing element for a driven movement of the tension means along the bearing element. The drive mechanism can alternatively or additionally comprise, for a driven rotation of at least one engagement means, at least one drive which is disposed on the associated support element and which, in one embodiment of this construction, comprises a brake in order to be able to hold the engagement means at a standstill if required. Electric motors are expediently used as drives of this kind. 
         [0023]    The support elements preferably each comprise a pivot pin for rotatably mounting a wound roll, the pivot pins being directed towards one another with their free ends and being disposed coaxially with one another. In one development of this construction the pivot pins are formed for insertion or introduction into a core or a sleeve of a wound roll. The pivot pins are therefore guide heads or can be part of guide heads formed on the free end of the support elements. 
         [0024]    The support elements are expediently formed as support arms which are usually suspended from the bearing element. The support arms can in each case be provided at their free end with a bearing means for rotatably mounting one side of a wound roll, which bearing means is usually the above-mentioned pivot pin. It is to be observed at this point, for the sake of completeness, that the wound roll may be held on the support elements so as to be optionally releasable not just on account of the spacing-variable displacement of the support elements, but also due to additional structural measures in order to be able to easily exchange the wound rolls. 
         [0025]    The bearing element is preferably formed as a crossmember which is disposed substantially horizontally. 
         [0026]    Furthermore, a frame on which the bearing element is disposed is preferably provided. In one expedient embodiment of this construction the bearing element is disposed on the frame so as to be vertically displaceable, for which purpose a lifting drive mechanism can preferably be provided. A hydraulic or pneumatic piston-cylinder arrangement, for example, can be used as the lifting drive mechanism. In this construction the wound roll which is held by the support elements can therefore be displaced not just in the axial direction, which usually corresponds approximately with the horizontal, but additionally also in the vertical direction. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0027]    A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in detail in the following on the basis of the accompanying FIGURE, in which a preferred construction of the unwinding device according to the invention is shown schematically. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0028]    The preferred construction represented schematically in the accompanying FIGURE of an unwinding device for wound rolls which is primarily used in the paper-processing industry in order to draw paper webs for further processing of a wound roll comprises a frame, of which only two spaced, vertical stands  2  are shown schematically in portions in the accompanying FIGURE. Four vertical stands of this kind which are connected together by way of longitudinal and cross girders, which are likewise not represented in the FIGURES, are usually provided to form the frame. 
         [0029]    As shown by the FIGURE, a crossmember  4 , which extends approximately horizontally, is disposed between two spaced vertical stands  2 . In the represented embodiment the crossmember  4  is mounted with its two lateral ends  4   a  on the respective stands  2  so that it can move in the vertical direction, the mounting being formed in the represented embodiment by a rail guide system which acts in the vertical direction and is represented schematically and marked with the reference character  6  in the FIGURE. In the represented embodiment pneumatic or hydraulic piston-cylinder arrangements  8  are provided as drives for the vertical height adjustment, these being supported with one of their ends, preferably the cylinder, on the associated stand  2  and acting with their other end, preferably the end of the piston rod, on the corresponding end  4   a  of the crossmember  4 . 
         [0030]    As the FIGURE also shows, two support arms  10  are suspended from the crossmember  4  in the represented embodiment. The support arms  10  serve to hold a wound roll, which is not represented in the FIGURE, in a releasable manner. For this purpose each support arm  10  is provided at its bottom free end  10   a  with a guide head  12  comprising a pivot pin  14 . The guide heads  12  serve to engage in a releasable manner with a sleeve or a core of a wound roll which is to be picked up through the introduction or insertion of the pivot pins  14  into the open side of the sleeve or the core of the wound roll which is to be picked up. In order to hold the wound roll, the two support arms  10  therefore take up the wound roll between them and hold the wound roll at its two sides. At the same time the pivot pins  14  ensure that the wound roll is rotatably mounted about an axis  16 , for which purpose the pivot pin  14  or even the entire guide head  12  can also be accordingly rotatably mounted on the respective support arm  10 . As the wound roll is picked up between the support arms  10 , the guide heads  12  are directed with their pivot pins  14  towards one another and disposed coaxially with one another due to their axes of rotation lying together on the common axis  16  which, when a wound roll is held, substantially coincides with the axis of rotation thereof. 
         [0031]    For removing the core of the wound roll following complete unwinding, for subsequently loading the device with a new wound roll and for setting to the width of the wound roll which is used, the spacing between the two support arms  10  must be variable in order to release the pivot pins  14  from the core of the used wound roll and to place a new wound roll between the support arms  10  without obstruction. The support arms  10  are therefore mounted on the crossmember  4  so as to be displaceable transversely. For this purpose the crossmember  4  is provided with a guide rail system which is represented schematically and marked with the reference character  18  in the FIGURE. The support arms  10  are mounted in a suspended fashion with their top end  10   b , which is adjacent to the crossmember  4 , at this guide rail system  18 , which allows the support arms  10  to move in the direction of the arrows A represented in the FIGURE and therefore horizontally and transversely to their longitudinal extent along the crossmember  4 . 
         [0032]    The length of the crossmember  4  and the resultant spacing of the two stands  2  is determined by the desired maximum width of the wound roll which is to be used, also called the working width. 
         [0033]    Whereas for loading with a new wound roll and removing the core of a used wound roll the spacing between the support arms  10  must be changed accordingly, a change in the spacing between the support arms  10  is not desired when the wound roll is held on the support arms. Simply for reasons of safety it should not be possible to open the support arms  10  unintentionally. Moreover, in order to adjust the position in relation to a desired material web path for further processing of the material which is to be drawn off the wound roll, it must be possible to displace the wound roll in the axial direction when this is already held on the support arms  10 . A special drive mechanism, which is illustrated in detail in the following, is required to enable these various displacement possibilities to be implemented. 
         [0034]    In the represented embodiment one component part of this mechanism is formed by a chain  20  which is mounted so as to circulate continuously on the crossmember  4 . As shown by the FIGURE, in which the chain  20  is represented schematically as a dotted line, the chain  20  extends with its two halves in the longitudinal direction of the crossmember  4 . An appropriate return pulley  22  is rotatably mounted at each end  4   a  of the crossmember  4  in order to deflect the continuously circulating chain  20 . In the represented embodiment the bottom half  20   a , adjacent to the support arms  10 , of the chain  20  is deflected in the region of the adjacent end  10   b  of both support arms  10  about a first pulley  24 , which is rotatably mounted at each end  10   b  of the support arms  10 , from a substantially horizontal direction through approximately 90° downwards into a substantially vertical direction onto a gear wheel or pinion  26 , which is likewise rotatably mounted at each end  10   b  of the support arms  10 . The teeth, which cannot be distinguished in the FIGURE, of the pinion  26  engage in the chain links, which likewise cannot be distinguished in detail, of the chain  10 , whereby the pinion  26  is in each case in engagement with a portion of the bottom half  20   a  of the chain  20 . In the represented embodiment the bottom half  20   a  of the chain  20  wraps around the pinion  26  through approximately 180° and then runs approximately in the vertical direction to a second pulley  28 , which is likewise rotatably mounted at each end  10   b  of the support arms  10 , where the half  20   a  is again deflected into an approximately horizontal direction and leaves the support arms  10 . As the FIGURE also shows, the first and second pulleys  24 ,  28  lie approximately at the same height in relation to the crossmember  4  and, according to the representation of the FIGURE, approximately at the same vertical height, whereas in the represented embodiment the pinion  26  lies below these two pulleys  24 ,  28 , so that the above-mentioned wrap of the bottom half  20   a  of the chain  20  through approximately 180° can be achieved. The axes of rotation of the pulleys  24 ,  28  and of the pinion  26  extend parallel to one another and in the represented embodiment are directed at a right angle to the axis  16  or the direction of movement A of the support arms  10 . 
         [0035]    Furthermore, an immobilising mechanism, which is not represented in the FIGURE, is provided in the region of the top end  10   b  of the support arms  10  in order to enable the pinion  26  to be retained at a standstill. This immobilising mechanism is preferably constructed as a brake. The respective support arm  10  is locked to the chain  20  by retaining the pinion  26  at a standstill. As a result, a transverse displacement of the respective support arm  10  is only possible by moving the chain  20  in its longitudinal direction, while the respective support arm  10  remains stationary with respect to the chain  20 . 
         [0036]    The locking described above by means of the immobilising mechanisms or brakes, which are not represented in the FIGURE, is of particular advantage when the two support arms  10  are locked to the chain  20 . For this results in the spacing between the two support arms  10  also remaining constant when the chain  20  is displaced, which leads to a common transverse displacement of the overall arrangement of the two support arms  10 . No additional safety precautions are required. 
         [0037]    The simultaneous locking of the two support arms  10  is in particular of importance for automatic lateral edge control, whereby the position of the wound roll, already held on the support arms  10 , in relation to a defined material web path is adjusted for further processing of the material drawn off the wound roll, the centre axis of a material web path of this kind being marked schematically in the FIGURE as a dash-dot line M. A drive must be provided for the chain  20  for automatic lateral edge control of this kind. An electric motor is preferably used for this purpose, this driving one of the two return pulleys  22  and being mounted on the crossmember  4 . A drive of this kind is not represented in the FIGURE. 
         [0038]    It is sufficient, in particular for automatic lateral edge control, for the immobilising mechanisms or brakes to be constructed so that they can only be operated manually. The immobilising mechanism or brake must be released manually at least at one support arm  10  for loading and unloading in order to increase the spacing between the two support arms  10  for removing the used wound roll and accommodating a new wound roll before the pivot pins  14  of the guide heads  12  are introduced into the two open sides of the new wound roll, while reducing the spacing between the two support arms  10 . For this operation the immobilising mechanisms or brakes should preferably be released at both support arms  10 . After the new wound roll has been picked up, the immobilising mechanisms or brakes are activated again in order to prevent the support arms  10  from being unintentionally opened. 
         [0039]    During loading and unloading the crossmember  10  can be adjusted in height by means of the lifting drive mechanism  8  described above. Of course the lifting drive mechanism  8  can also be used while the operation is running in order that the position of the held wound roll in the vertical direction in relation to the material web path can be adjusted. 
         [0040]    It becomes clear from the above statements that, with the immobilising mechanisms or brakes released or deactivated, the two support arms  10  can be displaced independently of one another in the transverse direction according to the arrow A. 
         [0041]    For a fully automatic construction it is conceivable to provide each of the two pinions  26  with their own drive, which is mounted on the respective support arm  10 . An electric motor which drives the shaft of the respective pinion  26  should preferably also be provided in this connection. The drives of the pinions  26  at the two support arms  10  are to be activated independently of one another for independent displacement. 
         [0042]    Finally, it should also be pointed out that a toothed belt, for example, can also be used instead of a chain  20 , in which case the teeth of the pinions  26  engage in the spaces between the teeth of the toothed belt. 
         [0043]    However it is alternatively also conceivable to provide a toothless belt instead of the chain  20  and pulleys instead of the pinions  26 , in which case, however, measures must be taken to ensure that the friction between the belt and the pulleys to be used instead of the pinions  26  is great enough to prevent slippage from occurring. 
         [0044]    In this connection it is also pointed out that, instead of a continuously circulating tension means, which in the embodiment described previously is formed as a chain  20 , the tension means preferably formed as a chain or a belt can alternatively also be of a finite length, i.e. be finite and fastened with each of its ends to one of the two return pulleys  22 , so that an arrangement of this kind operates according to the cable winch principle. 
         [0045]    Further advantageous arrangements can also be implemented as alternatives to the suspended arrangement described above of the support arms  10 . For example, a stationary arrangement of the support arms  10  is alternatively conceivable, in which case the crossmember  4  could preferably be disposed under the floor in order to provide a frameless arrangement. In the case of a stationary arrangement of the support elements  10  it is also conceivable to mount the crossmember  4  pivotably on the floor in order to be able to pivot the entire device between a roll take-up position and a working or unwinding position, for example. Finally, however, the support arms  10  can alternatively also be oriented horizontally, in which case the crossmember  4  can either be movable vertically and/or horizontally or mounted in a fixed manner.