Abstract:
A pair of drawing members, separated by a prescribed distance, are rotated toward each other in contact with an end packaging material covering the ends of a web wrapped on a web roll. The drawing members are brought toward one another, creating an insertion section by gathering the end packaging and separating the end packaging from the web on the web roll. A cutting member is inserted into the insertion section. The web roll is then rotated, whereby the end packaging is cut and removed from an end of a web roll without damaging the web wrapped thereon. Similar drawing members and cutting members are preferably located at each end of an end packaging removal device, thereby simultaneously removing the end packaging material from both ends of the web roll. The resulting end packaging removal device saves time and labor involved in removing end packaging from a web roll.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a device for removing end packaging from web rolls. More specifically, the present invention relates to a device that automatically removes end packaging material covering axial ends of a web roll. 
     Rolls having a hollow core wrapped with a single-piece web, e.g., long sheets of paper, film, or metal foil, or composite sheets such as laminated film, have been widely used in various fields of industry for different uses. For example, in offset rotary printing presses and letter presses, a roll (hereinafter referred to as a “web roll”), consisting of a rolled-up web to be printed upon, is mounted on a web feeding device. The web is drawn out from the feeding device into the printing press. 
     In order to prevent the web roll from being damaged or dirtied as it is transported from a paper plant to a printing plant, a perimeter-surface packaging material (wrapper) is wrapped around an outer perimeter surface. End packaging material covers both axial ends. When a web roll is shipped to the printing plant, both types of packaging material must be removed. Currently, a worker must manually remove the packaging material from the web roll. This is an obstacle to the implementation of labor-saving measures. Furthermore, in removing the end packaging material covering the axial ends of the web roll, the worker must slide a cutter or knife between the end packaging material and the perimeter surface packaging material to cut along the entire perimeter of the packaging material. This is a very complicated procedure. Also, the cutter or the knife can damage the web when cutting the end packaging material and the perimeter surface packaging material. 
     OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a device for removing end packaging from web rolls which overcomes the foregoing problems. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to automate removal of the end packaging material covering axial ends of a web roll. 
     It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a labor-saving device for removing end packaging material of a web roll. 
     Briefly stated, the present invention provides a pair of drawing members, separated by a prescribed distance, which are rotated toward each other in contact with an end packaging material covering the ends of a web wrapped on a web roll. The drawing members are brought toward one another, creating an insertion section by gathering the end packaging and separating the end packaging from the web on the web roll. A cutting member is inserted into the insertion section. The web roll is then rotated, whereby the end packaging is cut and removed from an end of a web roll without damaging the web wrapped thereon. Similar drawing members and cutting members are preferably located at each end of an end packaging removal device, thereby simultaneously removing the end packaging material from both ends of the web roll. The resulting end packaging removal device saves time and labor involved in removing end packaging from a web roll. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a device for removing end packaging from a web roll comprising cutting means for cutting the end packaging, drawing means for creating an insertion section of the end packaging, insertion means for inserting the cutting means into the insertion section, and rotating means for rotating the web roll with the cutting means into the insertion section, whereby the rotating means begins rotation of the web roll after the cutting means is inserted into the insertion section, thereby cutting the end packaging from the web roll without damaging a web wrapped thereupon. 
     According to another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a device for removing end packaging from a web roll comprising a support device rotatably supporting the web roll, the support device including means for rotating the web roll, first and second cutting units separated by a distance greater than the length ofthe web roll, first and second drawing members separated by a distance greater than the length of the web roll, the first and second drawing members moving in a first direction perpendicular to an axis of rotation of the web roll, the first and second drawing members moving in a second direction along the axis of rotation, whereby movement in the first and second directions permits the first and second drawing members to contact the end packaging material at a point on both ends of the web roll near an outer perimeter surface of the web roll, each of the first and second drawing members include first and second drawing rollers, separated by a prescribed distance, gripping the end packaging of the web roll, the first and second drawing members include means for moving the first and second drawing rollers toward each other, whereby the end packaging is gathered and separated from a web on the web roll to create an insertion section, and moving means for moving at least one of the first and second cutting units and the web roll to permit the cutting unit to cut the end packaging at the insertion section, whereby rotation of the web roll causes the first and second cutting units to cut and remove the end packaging from the web roll. 
     According to still another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for removing an end packaging from a cylindrical object comprising first and second spaced-apart drawing members, means for moving the first and second drawing members into contact with the end packaging and then moving the first and second drawing members toward each other to distort a portion of the end packaging therebetween into an outwardly projecting insertion section, a knife, means for inserting the knife into the insertion section, thereby penetrating the end packaging, and the knife being effective, when the cylindrical object is rotated therepast, to separate the end packaging from the cylindrical object. 
     In order to overcome the problems described above and to achieve the objects described above, the present invention provides a device for removing an end packaging material covering both axial ends of a web roll including a support device rotatably supporting the web roll, further including rotating means rotating the roll, a pair of cutting units which can be brought close together and far apart from each other along the axis of the web roll, a pair of drawing members disposed at positions facing the ends of the web roll at the cutting units which can be brought close together and far apart from each other, activating means disposed at each ofthe cutting units and having the pair of drawing members moved toward each other so that a knife insertion section is formed by drawing out the end packaging material between the drawing members and separating the end packaging material from the end of the web roll, the drawing members being in contact with the end packaging material covering the ends of the web roll, and a knife disposed on each of the cutting units capable of being projected in and recessed from the knife insertion section of the end packaging material formed by the pair of drawing members, wherein the end packaging material is cut and removed by rotating the web roll while the knife is inserted in the knife insertion section. 
    
    
     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 
     FIG. 1 is a partial front-view of a device for removing end packaging material according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a close-up drawing of the right cutting unit of the device of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 3 is a vertical partial cross-sectional front-view of the right cutting unit of FIG.  2 . 
     FIG. 4 is a plan-view cross-sectional drawing of a horizontal cross-section of the right cutting unit of FIG.  2 . 
     FIG. 5 is a side-view showing the position of the drawing rollers in the right cutting unit of FIG.  2 . 
     FIG. 6 is a side-view drawing of the right cutting unit of FIG.  2 . 
     FIG. 7 illustrates the process of forming a knife insertion section using a pair of drawing rollers. 
     FIG. 8 illustrates how the knife cuts the end packaging material. 
     FIG. 9 is a perspective drawing of a web roll covered by packaging material. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The terms “lateral” and “longitudinal” are used in the following detailed description with reference to directions as shown in FIG.  1 . 
     Referring to FIG. 1, a device M for removing end packaging material from a web roll includes a cutting device  11  positioned between a pair of frames  10 . Frames  10  are separated by a prescribed lateral distance. A support device  12 , installed on a mounting floor surface below cutting device  11 , supports a web roll R. An outer perimeter surface of web roll R is covered with a perimeter surface packaging material C 1  Axial ends of web roll Rare covered with end packaging material C 2 . 
     Support device  12  includes a pair of rollers  14  (only one is shown in the figure), serving as rotating means. A base  13 , mounted on the installation floor surface, supports rollers  14 . Rollers  14  are parallel to an axis of rotation (the lateral axis) and are longitudinally separated, i.e., separated along a direction perpendicular to an axis along which frames  10  are separated (a lateral axis). Web roll R is mounted between rollers  14  with a lateral axis of web roll R parallel to an axis of rotation of rollers  14 . A rotation motor  15 , serving as rotating means, is disposed on base  13 . Motor  15  rotates each of rollers  14  in the same direction. When end packaging material C 2  is being cut away and removed, web roll R, supported by support device  12 , is rotated in a prescribed direction. Cutting device  11  then cuts along an entire perimeter of end packaging material C 2 . 
     A pair of longitudinally separated connecting beams  16  (only one is shown in the figure) extend between frames  10 . A longitudinal center beam  17  extends at the lateral center between connecting beams  16 . Longitudinal side beams  18  extend along the left and right of longitudinal center beam  17 . A hydraulic lifting cylinder  19  projects from longitudinal center beam  17 . A piston rod  19   a , pointing downward from cylinder  19  toward web roll R, connects to a central section of a support frame  20  of cutting device  11 . Support frame  20 , having a prescribed lateral length, is positioned directly above web roll R. Activation of hydraulic lifting cylinder  19  raises and lowers support frame  20  toward and away from web roll R. Bottom ends of a pair of guide rods  21  connect to left and right ends of support frame  20 . Longitudinal side beams  18  include means to permit guide rods  21  to slide up and down, allowing support frame  20  to be raised and lowered with a level orientation. 
     Multiple positioning rollers (not shown) are rotatably disposed on a lower surface of support frame  20 . Lowering position detection sensors (not shown) detect when the positioning rollers come into contact with web roll R. As the hydraulic lifting cylinder  19  lowers support frame  20 , the position detection sensors detect contact between the positioning rollers and an upper portion of web roll R. Cylinder  19  is stopped when contact is detected. When support frame  20  is in an active position (where it is lowered and has stopped), a pair of drawing rollers  32  (see FIG.  3 ), positioned respectively on cutting units  22  and  23 , face an upper section of the ends of web roll R. Axes of rotation of the positioning rollers are perpendicular to an axis of rotation of web roll R. When end packaging material C 2  is being cut and removed, the positioning rollers rotate with the rotation of web roll R. 
     Cutting units  22  and  23 , disposed on support frame  20 , cut and remove end packaging material C 2  covering axial ends of web roll R. Since the structure of cutting units  22  and  23  are identical (symmetrical), the following description describes right cutting unit  22 , toward the right side of the figure. Left cutting unit  23  has like elements assigned like numerals. 
     Referring to FIGS. 2 and 6, a pair of longitudinally separated guide rails  24  extend laterally over a prescribed length at a lower surface of support frame  20 . A moving body  25  is slidably disposed on guide rails  24 . On a front surface of support frame  20 , a screw shaft  26  is rotatably disposed parallel to guide rails  24 . Screw shaft  26  screws into a nut member  27 . Screw shaft  26 , connected to a displacement motor  28 , can be rotated in either direction. Displacement motor  28  is positioned at a laterally central region of support frame  20 . When displacement motor  28  rotates screw shaft  26 , engagement of screw shaft  26  and nut member  27  causes moving body  25  to move laterally (along the axis of the web roll R) along guide rails  24 . Displacement motors  28  of left and right cutting units  22  and  23  are activated in tandem and cutting units  22  and  23  move toward each other and apart relative to the lateral center of support frame  20 . 
     Referring to FIGS. 3 through 5, support plate  29  projects perpendicular to a lower surface of moving body  25 . An outer surface of support plate  29 , away from left cutting unit  23 , rotatably supports a pair of vertical active shafts  30 . In each active shaft  30 , drawing roller  32  is eccentrically disposed as a drawing member. Rubber rings  31 , preferably having high friction coefficients, are fitted to an outer perimeter of each drawing roller  32 . Support plate  29  has an opening  29   a  corresponding to the position of drawing rollers  32 . Drawing rollers  32  are projected and retracted from opening  29   a.    
     Each end of a pair of linking members  33  connects to a lower end of each active shaft  30 . A slot  33   a  is located near the other end of each linking member  33 . A pin  34  is inserted through slots  33   a  of both linking members  33 . Pin  34  is positioned on a piston rod  37   a  of a hydraulic drawing cylinder  37 . An attachment plate  36 , connected via a plurality of connecting members  35  to an outer side of support plate  29 , supports hydraulic drawing cylinder  37 . When hydraulic drawing cylinder  37  operates, each linking member  33  pivots around pin  34  in opposite directions within a prescribed angular range. Active shafts  30 , which pivot integrally with each linking member  33 , move each drawing roller  32  in an arcuate path between a standby position (indicated by the solid line in FIG.  4 ), where they are moved away from each other and recessed inwardly (toward attachment plate  36 ) from opening  29   a , and a drawn position (indicated by the dotted lines in FIG.  4 ), where they are drawn toward each other and project outward (toward left cutting unit  23 ) from opening  29   a . As drawing rollers  32  move from a standby position to a drawn position, rollers  32  contact the end a packaging material C 2  of web roll R. 
     Referring to FIGS. 7 a  and  7   b , a drawing operation from either side causes end packaging material C 2  to separate from ends of web roll R to form an insertion section CG. In one embodiment of the present invention, active shafts  30 , linking members  33 , pins  34 , and hydraulic drawing cylinder  37  serve as means for activating drawing rollers  32 . 
     Referring back to FIG. 4, a hydraulic detection cylinder  38  is horizontally positioned on attachment plate  36 . An end detection bar  39  connects to a piston rod  38   a  of cylinder  38 . End detection bar  39  laterally inserts through support plate  29 . Hydraulic detection cylinder  38  maintains a prescribed pressure on end detection bar  39 , causing end detection bar  39  to extend inward (toward web roll R) from support plate  29 . When right cutting unit  22  is moved by displacement motor  28 , detection bar  39  contacts the end of web roll R. Hydraulic detection cylinder  38  permits detection bar  39  to be recessed toward attachment plate  36 . A reed switch (not shown), detects when end detection bar  39  is recessed to a prescribed position, stopping further movement of cutting unit  22  by displacement motor  28 . The reed switch can be set up to detect the displacement position of end detection bar  39 , the displacement position of piston rod  38   a  of hydraulic detection cylinder  38 , or the like. 
     Referring to FIG. 5, a support roller  41  is rotatably disposed on a lower end of support plate  29  with a vertical shaft  40 . When the end detection bar  39  is recessed to a prescribed position by contact with the end of web roll R, the movement of right cutting unit  22  is stopped. Support roller  41  contacts the end of web roll R, rotating in tandem with the rotation of web roll R during cutting and removal of end packaging material C 2 . 
     Referring to FIGS. 3 and 6, a support shaft  42  projects from an upper surface of moving body  25 . A vertically extending guide rail  43 , at an inner vertical surface of support shaft  42 , faces left cutting unit  23 . A lifting member  44  slides on guide rail  43 . A hydraulic knife cylinder  45 , serving as displacement means, is vertically positioned at an upper end of support shaft  42 . A piston rod  45   a , pointing downward from hydraulic knife cylinder  45 , connects to lifting member  44 . Activation of cylinder  45  causes lifting member  44  to move vertically along guide rail  43 . A knife  47  is removably disposed on lifting member  44  with an attachment tool  46 . Knife  47  projects downward by a prescribed length from an inner position above support plate  29 . Knife  47  is a double-edged knife with a pointed lower end and a continuous blade. When knife  47  is lowered with hydraulic knife cylinder  45 , knife  47  inserts into insertion section CG (see FIG. 7 b ) of end packaging material C 2 . Moving body  25  has an opening  25   a  allowing vertical movement of knife  47 . 
     Attachment tool  46  moves laterally along guide rods  48  on lifting member  44 . An adjustment screw  50 , rotatably disposed on lifting member  44 , engages with a nut member  49 , disposed on attachment tool  46 . Rotation of adjustment screw  50  laterally displaces attachment tool  46  and knife  47 , allowing for the accurate insertion of knife  47  into insertion section CG of end packaging material C 2 , without damaging the web of web roll R. 
     When support frame  20  is positioned with the positioning roller (not shown) contacting an upper section of web roll R, hydraulic knife cylinder  45  moves knife  47  between an upper standby position, where knife  47  does not obstruct web roll R, and a lower projected position, where a prescribed length of knife  47  is inserted into insertion section CG. 
     Referring to FIGS. 6 and 8, in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, hydraulic knife cylinder  45  activates to reciprocate knife  47  once inserted into insertion section CG. The reciprocal movement of knife  47  is along a prescribed stroke between a projected position and a reciprocating position above the projected position where knife  47  remains engaged with insertion section CG. The vertical motion of knife  47  allows end packaging material C 2  to be reliably cut. A reed switch (not shown in the figures), on hydraulic knife cylinder  45 , detects the position of piston rod  45   a  when piston rod  45   a  is in a standby position, a projected position, and a reciprocating position. 
     The following is a description of the use of device M for removing end packaging material according to the above embodiment. 
     Referring to FIG. 1, cutting units  22  and  23  are disposed at a standby position, where cutting units  22  and  23  are separated by a prescribed distance greater than a radius of a web roll R. Knife  47  is positioned at a upper standby position. First, web roll R is mounted on rotating rollers  14  disposed on base  13  of support device  12 . When device M is activated, hydraulic lifting cylinder  19  activates piston rod  19   a , lowering support frame  20  in a level orientation guided by guide rods  21 . Next, a lowering position detection sensor (not shown) detects when the positioning rollers (not shown) disposed at a lower surface of support frame  20  contact an upper section of web roll R. Hydraulic lifting cylinder  19  halts. Support frame  20  is now positioned at an active position. While hydraulic lifting cylinder  19  moves cutting device  11  toward web roll R, cutting units  22  and  23  are positioned outward from axial ends of web roll R so that cutting units  22  and  23  do not obstruct the downward movement of support frame  20 . 
     Displacement motors  28  of cutting units  22  and  23  rotate in an appropriate direction. Engagement between screw shaft  26  and nut member  27  causes cutting units  22  and  23  to approach each other. Since cutting units  22  and  23  operate in the same manner, the description below describe only right cutting us unit  22 . 
     As right cutting unit  22  approaches an end of web roll R, end detection bar  39  contacts the end of web roll R, pushing back end detection bar  39 . A reed switch then detects the recession of piston rod  38   a  of hydraulic detection cylinder  38  to a prescribed position. Displacement motor  30  is then halted. 
     Referring to FIG. 3, the end of web roll R contacts support roller  41 , leaving a small gap between web roll R and support plate  29 . Next, hydraulic drawing cylinder  37  activates in a prescribed direction, displacing drawing roller  32  from a standby position to a drawn position with linking members  33 . 
     Referring to FIGS. 7 a ,  7   b , and  8 , drawing rollers  32 , starting at the standby position, move along an arcuate path, approaching each other while approaching the end of web roll R. During this process, drawing rollers  32  contact end packaging material C 2  covering the end of web roll R, drawing end packaging material C 2  toward drawing rollers  32 . End packaging material C 2  drawn between drawing rollers  32  is separated outward from web roll R, forming a roughly triangular knife insertion section CG. When hydraulic drawing cylinder  37  stops, hydraulic knife cylinder  45  activates to lower knife  47  from a standby position to a projected position. Knife  47  inserts from above into knife insertion section CG of end packaging material C 2  formed by drawing rollers  32 . Thus, knife  47  is now inserted between the end of web roll R and end packaging material C 2 . At this point, there is adequate space at knife insertion section CG between the end of web roll R and end packaging material C 2 . This adequate space prevents knife  47  from damaging the web on web roll R. Once the insertion of knife  47  is complete, hydraulic drawing cylinder  37  operates in reverse, restoring drawing rollers  32  from the drawing position to the standby position. 
     When the reed switch detects that knife  47  is lowered to its projected position, hydraulic knife cylinder  45  reverses, moving knife  47  vertically between a projected position and a reciprocating position along a prescribed stroke. Rotation motor  15  of support device  12  rotates, rotating web roll R. The rotation of web roll R while knife  47  reciprocates along a prescribed stroke, cuts end packaging material C 2  along the entire perimeter of web roll R. End packaging material C 2  that has been cut away is ejected outside device M through a chute (not shown in the figures). 
     Rotation motor  15  is stopped when web roll R has made at least one rotation. Each of the different members are then brought back to their respective initial standby positions, thus completing the cutting and removing of end packaging material C 2 . 
     With end packaging material removal device M according to this embodiment, end packaging material C 2  covering axial ends of web roll R is automatically cut and removed, resulting in saved labor. When knife  47  is inserted into end packaging material C 2 , adequate space is provided between the end of web roll R and end packaging material C 2 , preventing knife  47  from damaging the web on web roll R. Furthermore, since end packaging material C 2  covering both ends of web roll R is cut and removed simultaneously, the time required for the operation is reduced. 
     The present invention is not restricted to the embodiment described above. Other structures may be implemented. For example, instead of the combination of a screw shaft and a nut member, the displacement mechanism for moving body  25  can include a rack and pinion mechanism or a chain and sprocket mechanism. Also, in the embodiment described above, end packaging material C 2  is cut by moving knife  47  up and down while web roll R rotates. However, it is also possible to have end packaging material C 2  cut by simply rotating web roll R while knife  47  is kept at the projected position. In this case, the blade of knife  47  is preferably linear and is not required to have a double edge. 
     In the embodiment described above, cutting units  22  and  23  are moved close to and away from web roll R supported by support device  12 . However, it is also possible to use an opposite arrangement. A liftable table can be installed on the base a support device so that web roll R is lifted by a lifting device. The lifting device can use any conventional lifting means, such as a parallel linking mechanism. Web roll R is rotatably supported between a pair of rotating rollers disposed on the liftable table. Through the support device, web roll R is brought close to and away from a cutting device, which is disposed at a fixed position. It is also possible to have the cutting device move close to and away from web roll R, or to have web roll R move laterally close to or away from the cutting device. 
     In the embodiment described above, drawing rollers  32  form an arcuate path. However, it is also possible to have drawing rollers  31  move along a linear path to approach each other while contacting end packaging material C 2 . In this alternate embodiment, the drawing members can be of any suitable shape, such as rectangles, triangles, and the like. For the activating means of the drawing members, a combination of a screw shaft and a nut member or a rack and pinion mechanism can be used as appropriate. It is also possible to have each drawing member directly activated by a hydraulic cylinder. 
     As described above, the device for removing end packaging material from web rolls according to the present invention allows end packaging material covering axial ends of a web roll to be automatically removed, thus saving labor and providing for automation. Furthermore, since the end packaging material is removed simultaneously from both ends, the time required for the operation is reduced while the amount of work required by the workers is decreased. Also, when the knife is inserted in the end packaging material, an adequate space is created between the end of the web roll and the end packaging material, preventing the web from being damaged by the knife. Since the web roll is rotated while the knife is moved in a reciprocating manner along an appropriate stroke, the end packaging material is cut reliably. 
     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 those precise embodiments, and that various changes and modifications may be effected therein by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.