Patent Publication Number: US-7717147-B2

Title: Apparatus for refurbishing used cores for rolls of material

Description:
This application is a national stage entry of PCT/GB04/04069, filed Sep. 23, 2004. 
   This invention relates to apparatus for refurbishing used cores of material. The material may be printing paper for the printing industry or other material for other industries. 
   Cores for rolls of material have traditionally been thrown away after the material on the core has been used up. The cores that are used in industry are often of a large size and/or are such that their production represents a significant cost item. The disposal of the cores is wasteful, both in terms of the need to dispose of the old cores, and in terms of the need to provide new cores. In addition, in the printing industry, developments in technology have provided reel tracking systems for tracking the rolls of paper as they progress from paper mills to warehouses, docks, customer paper stores and printing machines. These tracking systems involve tagging the cores with identity tags. The identity tags are a significant cost item, and users are not satisfied at having to pay for the cost of the identity tags if they are thrown away with the used cores when the printing paper on the cores has been used up. 
   It is an aim of the present invention to reduce the above mentioned problems. 
   Accordingly, the present invention provides apparatus for refurbishing used cores for rolls of material, which apparatus comprises:
         stripper means for stripping remaining material from the used cores:   feed means for feeding the used cores to the stripper means;   cleaning means for cleaning the used cores after they have been treated by the stripper means;   adhesive applicator means for applying adhesive to the used cores whereby the used cores are then ready for re-use as refurbished cores for new rolls of material; and   sensor means for measuring and recording the length of the material stripped from each used core.       

   The cores are preferably made of a plastics material. The cores may be made of other suitable and appropriate materials, for example plastics materials and treatable cardboard. The material on the cores may be any suitable and appropriate material including printing paper, wallpaper, cardboard, plastics film, foil or fabric. The plastics film may be for use in the wrapping industry. The foil may be made of a plastics material or a metal, for example aluminium. The fabric may be for use as clothing, cloth or curtains. 
   The sensor means preferably measures in metric units so that the sensor means may measure in meters and/or millimeters. If desired however the sensor means may measure in imperial units so that the sensor means may then measure in feet and inches. 
   The apparatus may include a waste bin or a pallet for receiving the material stripped from each used core. 
   The apparatus advantageously includes tag reader means for reading identity tags, there being one identity tag on each used core. The apparatus may then be one in which the identity tags are radio frequency identity tags, and in which the tag reader means is adapted to read the radio frequency identity tags. The tag reader means thus enables the identification of each used core. Remaining material that was on each used core can then be identified, along with other information on the progress of each core during the life of its roll of material, for example from a paper mill to a warehouse, docks, a customer paper store and eventually to a printing machine. 
   The stripper means may comprise rollers for rotating the cores, end-obtaining means for obtaining a free end of the remaining material on each used core, and pull means for pulling the remaining material off each used core. Other types of stripper means may be employed if desired. The stripper means may be a single unit or a plurality of units arranged in line. 
   The rollers for rotating the cores are preferably a pair of reversible drive rollers. The end-obtaining means is preferably a roller. The end-obtaining means in the form of the roller may rotate in an opposite direction to a direction of rotation of each one of the used cores by the rollers for rotating the cores. The end-obtaining means in the form of the roller is preferably a brush roller. Rollers having other types of surfaces for picking up the free-end of the remaining material on each used core may be employed. 
   The feed means is preferably a conveyor feed means. Other types of feed means may be employed so that, for example, the feed means may be a hopper feed means. 
   The cleaning means is preferably a roller cleaning means. Other types of cleaning means may however be employed. 
   Preferably, the roller cleaning means has at least one scrubbing roller, and a wash station. Preferably, the apparatus is one in which there are more than one of the scrubbing rollers, and in which the wash station is a hot wash station. The wash station preferably includes a container for containing cleaning water. 
   The adhesive applicator means preferably comprises at least one roller for applying the adhesive. Preferably there are two of the rollers for applying the adhesive. The adhesive applicator means may also include a container for containing the adhesive. Other types of adhesive applicator means that do not use rollers may be employed if desired so that, for example, the adhesive applicator means may be a spray adhesive applicator means. 

   
     Embodiments of the invention will now be described solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 
       FIG. 1  shows first apparatus for refurbishing used cores for rolls of material; and 
       FIG. 2  shows second apparatus for refurbishing used cores for rolls of material. 
   

   Referring to  FIG. 1 , there is shown apparatus  2  for refurbishing used cores  4  for rolls of material in the form of printing paper. The apparatus  2  comprises stripper means  6  for stripping remaining printing paper  8  from the used cores  4 . The apparatus  2  further comprises feed means  10  for feeding the used cores  4  to the stripper means  6 . Cleaning means  12  is provided for cleaning the used cores  4  after they have been treated by the stripper means  6 . Adhesive applicator means  14  is provided for applying adhesive  16  to the used cores  4 , whereby the used cores  4  are then ready for re-use as refurbished cores for new rolls of printing paper. 
   The apparatus  2  includes sensor means  18  for measuring and recording the length of the printing paper  8  stripped from each used core  4 . The sensor means  18  measures the length of the printing paper  8  in meters. 
   The apparatus  2  also includes a waste bin  20  for receiving the printing paper  8  stripped from each used core  4 . The printing paper  8  in the waste bin  20  is then available for re-use or disposal as may be suitable and appropriate. 
   The apparatus  2  further includes tag reader means  22  for reading identity tags (not shown). There will be one identity tag on each used core  4 . The identity tags are radio frequency identity tags. The tag reader means  22  is adapted to read the radio frequency identity tags. Thus each used core  4  can be individually identified. Particulars applicable to that core such for example as the amount of printing paper  8  remaining on the core, and the passage of the entire roll of printing paper supported on the used core from a paper mill to a printing press can be logged. 
   The stripper means  6  comprises two rollers  24  for rotating the used cores  4 . The two rollers  24  are reversible drive rollers  24 . The stripper means further comprises end-obtaining means in the form of a roller  26 . The roller  26  obtains a free-end of the remaining printing paper on each used core  4 . The roller  26  is a brush roller. 
   The stripper means  6  further comprises pull means  28  for pulling the remaining printing paper  8  off each used core  4 . The pull means  28  comprises two pairs of rollers  30 ,  32  as shown. A transfer arm  34  helps to transfer the free end of the printing paper  8  from the used core  4  being treated by the rollers  24  to the rollers  30 . 
   The feed means  10  is a conveyor feed means  10  as shown. The conveyor feed means  10  comprises a conveyor  36  and dividers  38  for forming compartments  40 . There is one compartment  40  for each used core  4  as shown. 
   The cleaning means  12  is a roller cleaning means  12 . The roller cleaning means  12  has scrubbing rollers  42  and a hot wash station  44 . Two support rollers  46  support the used cores  4  one at a time as they pass through the cleaning means  12 . The support rollers  46  are then able to move the cleaned used cores  4  to the adhesive applicator means  14 . Hot water  48  from the hot wash station  44  is collected in a container in the form of a tray  50 . 
   The adhesive applicator means  14  comprises a pair of rollers  52  for applying the adhesive  16  to the cores  4 . The cores  4  then become refurbished cores ready for receiving new rolls of paper. 
   The apparatus  2  may be such that the various parts are mounted on a frame  54 . Refurbished cores may leave the apparatus  2  via a sloping outlet  56 . The rollers  26 ,  46  may be supported as shown on a pivoting arm  58  mounted on a piston  60 . The piston  6  operates in a cylinder  62  of a hydraulic lifter  64 . A similar but smaller hydraulic lifter  66  having a piston  68  operating in a cylinder  70  supports the scrubbing rollers  42  and the hot wash station  48 . 
   Referring now to  FIG. 2 , there is shown apparatus  72  for refurbishing used cores  74  for rolls of material in the form of printing paper. The apparatus  72  comprises stripper means  76  for stripping the remaining paper  78  from the used cores  74 . The apparatus  72  further comprises feed means  80  for feeding the used cores  74  to the stripper means  76 . Cleaning means  82  is provided for cleaning the used cores  74  after they have been treated by the stripper means  76 . Adhesive applicator means  84  is provided for applying adhesive  86  to the used cores  74 , whereby the used cores  74  are then ready for re-use as refurbished cores for new rolls of printing paper. 
   The apparatus  72  may include sensor means (not shown) for measuring and recording the length of the printing paper  78  stripped from each used core  74 . The sensor means may measure the length of the printing paper  78  in metres or yards as may be required. 
   The apparatus  72  is such that cut printing paper  78  is provided as a stack  89  on a pallet  90 . The printing paper  78  on the pallet  90  is then available for re-use or disposal as may be suitable and appropriate. 
   The apparatus  72  further includes tag reader means  92  for reading identity tags (not shown). There will be one identity tag on each used core  74 . The identity tags are radio-frequency identity tags. The tag reader means  92  is adapted to read the radio-frequency identity tags. Each used core  74  can then be individually identified. Particulars applicable to that core such for example as the amount of printing paper  78  remaining on the core, and the passage of the entire roll of printing paper supported on the used core from a paper mill to a printing press can be logged. 
   The stripper means  76  comprises a plurality of in-line stripper means  76 . There may be, for example, from two-ten of the stripper means  76 . In  FIG. 2 , three of the stripper means  76  have been shown. Each stripper means  76  comprises a roller  94  and a brush roller  96 . The brush roller  96  acts to feed paper  78  (shown only in the two right hand stripper means  76  as shown in  FIG. 2 ) through a pair of endless conveyor belts  98 . The conveyor belts  98  rotate in the direction of the illustrated arrows on rollers  100 . The rollers  100  are mounted on bearings  102 . 
   The feed means  80  is a container  104  which pivots about a pivot  106  from a core load position shown by the container  104  being in broken lines, to a running position shown by the container  104  being in solid lines. The used cores  74  with their printing paper  78  may be side loaded into the container  104 . This may be done manually, for example by hand or using an appropriate loading machine. Pivoting of the container  104  from the load position shown in the broken lines to the running position shown in the full lines may be effected by a pneumatic or hydraulic device (not shown). A stop  108  is employed for ensuring that the paper cannot come out from above the brush roller  96 . 
   The paper from the conveyor belts  98  passes onto a main web conveyor belt  110  which is supported on rollers  112  mounted on bearings  114 . The paper  78  then passes between cutting and stitch cylinders  116 . A blade (not shown) mounted on one of the cylinders  116  cuts the paper  78 . The cut paper  78  then passes onto the conveyor belt  118  and then between conveyor belts  120 ,  122  where it emerges as cut sheets  78  for the stack  89 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 2 , the used cores  74  which have been stripped of paper are fed, for example manually, to a core conveyor  124 . The cores then pass to the cleaning means  82  which is an in-line core washer. The washed cores  74  then pass to the adhesive applicator means  84 . 
   The used cores  4  used in the apparatus of the present invention are made of a material suitable for being refurbished by the apparatus. Thus, for example, the used cores may be made of a plastics material. The used cores may comprise a body portion, a bore through the body portion, a first end member which is removably secured to a first end of the body portion, and a second end member which is removably secured to a second end of the body portion. The cores can each be provided with an identity tag such as a radio frequency identity tag. The identity tags are able to be recycled with the cores, and thus wastage of cores in throwing them away is avoided. If handling of a roll of paper should cause the first end member and the second end member to become damaged, then the damaged member can easily be replaced while still retaining the remainder of the core. The core may be one in which the first end member is inserted into the bore at the first end of the body portion, and in which the second end member is inserted into the bore at the second end of the body portion. The core may be one in which the first end of the body portion receives an insert portion on the first end member, and in which the second end of the body portion receives an insert portion on the second end member. The first end member may be a push-in friction fit in the first end of the body portion, and the second end member may be a push-in friction fit in the second end of the body portion. 
   It is to be appreciated that the embodiments of the invention described above with reference to the accompanying drawings have been given by way of example only and that modifications may be effected. Thus, for example, different types of stripper means  6 , cleaning means  12  and adhesive applicator means  14  to those shown in the drawings may be employed. The cores for may be for rolls of material other than printing paper.