Patent Description:
It is known that the filler material used in fields such as industrial welding is commonly in the form of a wire or filament consisting of a material, such as copper-coated iron, aluminum, copper, and stainless steel, and which is made available for welding in the condition in which it is wound about a basket, reel, or flanged drum made of metal or plastic material, thus forming a traditional coil.

Indeed, the manufacturers of wire made of filler material (typically, such as welding wire) initially supply the wire itself is wound into heavy skeins (even in the order of several quintals), which is why a rewinding operation of the filler material wire into the aforesaid coil is inevitably needed, which coil being lighter in weight and smaller in size than the initial skein, is suitable for assembly on the machine tools which perform the respective machining (e.g., welding).

The rewinding operation, as a whole, firstly requires unwinding the filler material wire from the skein and subsequently rewinding said wire to form a plurality of coils, each of the desired diameter and weight; in particular, the weight of the coils obtained starting from a skein varies from <NUM> to <NUM> (corresponding to their varying diameters from <NUM> to <NUM>, respectively), according to the needs and demands of the market.

These operations are normally performed using a plurality of operating machines, mutually arranged in a line and separated from each other, each of which is intended to perform a very specific and determined function.

Rewinding lines are known in the prior art which are capable of automatically rewinding the coil and which comprise three main and distinct machines: an initial unwinding unit, on which the starting skein to be unwound is positioned, a final winding and unloading unit of the complete coil of rewound wire (also known as a rewinder), and an intermediate unit, named "take-up", which has the dual function of tensioning the wire between the unwinding and rewinding steps and synchronizing the rotational speed of the motors of the upstream unwinding unit and the downstream winding unit, as well as during the respective acceleration and deceleration ramps.

In addition, the rewinding lines of the prior art comprise a loader (or store or storage station, as noted above), which accommodates the flanged reels (or baskets or drums) on which the filler material wire comes from the skein, from which it was unwound, is to be rewound immediately afterward; the loader is substantially arranged operationally (and in general also physically) upstream of the winding unit to which it supplies the flanged reels, onto which the filler material wire is wound, in an appropriate and cadenced manner.

The empty flanged reels (i.e., still free of rewound filler material wire) are loaded onto the loader each time by the operator who arranges them, in the quantity required for the rewinding step, according to a series of vertical stacks in which flanged reels of the same type and diameter (at least in the same stack) are stacked on top of one another.

For smaller reels - conventionally, having a diameter of between <NUM> and <NUM> and weighing between <NUM> and <NUM>, also considering the material of which they are made - the operator only needs to load the flanged reels into the loader, while for larger reels - conventionally, having a diameter of between <NUM> and <NUM> and weighing between <NUM> and <NUM> - the operator must perform a rather articulated and substantial series of adjustments on much of the winding equipment of the machine (flanges, mechanical stops, tool assembly, mechanical stops and so on).

Examples of loaders of known type relevant in some manner to the present invention are shown in the patent documents published under <CIT>, <CIT>and <CIT>.

Regardless, the vertical arrangement of the flanged reels in the storage unit defined inside the outer frame of the loader inevitably obliges the design of complex mechanical systems for withdrawing the reels and directing them to the winding machine, whose position of the loading zone (practically absent because the flanged reels are passed directly from the storage unit of the loader to the winding machine), tooling and machining spindle is inevitably biased by and directly depends in height on the reel withdrawal zone as configured in the loader.

Substantially, the current loader concept, which requires vertically stacking flanged reels, imposes a specific and determined design of the tools and, in general, of the winding machine components, with all the disadvantages that this implies, exacerbated if the spaces are limited in the manufacturing plant without leaving much margin for maneuvering in the logistical layout and the design.

Furthermore, the current rewinding lines require that, during the loading step of the flanged reels into the loader for subsequently rewinding the filler material wire in reels of the desired size onto them (reels which, as mentioned, are significantly smaller than the skein), the rewinder inevitably remains in a stopped condition (i.e., it stops working), resulting in a significant reduction in efficiency.

A last but not least drawback related to the loaders for rewinding lines of filler material wire derives from the fact that its capacity, understood as the number of flanged reels that can be housed neatly and properly, is still small.

Therefore, being aware of the aforementioned drawbacks of the prior art, the present invention effectively suggests how to remedy them.

Specifically, it is the main purpose of the invention to make a loader for automatic rewinding machines of filler material wire (e.g., welding wire) which has a greater loading capacity of the flanged reels to be sent to the next rewinding step in a winding machine than the loaders currently available on the market.

It is a second purpose of the present invention to make available a loader for automatic rewinding machines of filler material wire which allows the operator to reload flanged reels into the storage unit continuously, seamlessly, and without interrupting the operation of the rewinding machine arranged downstream of it.

In the cognitive scope of said second purpose, it is task of the present invention to disclose a loader for automatic rewinding machines of filler material which allows increasing the performance of these rewinding machines (or rewinders) compared to that achievable with current rewinding lines.

It is a further purpose of the invention to provide a loader for automatic rewinding machines of filler material which allows releasing or making independent the design of some components of the rewinding machine arranged downstream, contrary to the prior art.

Within the scope of this latter purpose, it is task of the present invention to create a loader for automatic rewinding machines of filler material wire which allows simplifying the constructive concept of these rewinding machines compared to the prior art.

It is a last but not least purpose of the present invention to provide a loader for automatic rewinding machines of filler material wire which correctly and efficiently accommodates any type of format of the flanged reels on which the filler wire is still to be wound, regardless of the material which these reels are made of.

Within the scope of this purpose, it is task of the invention to devise a loader for automatic rewinding machines of filler material wire which is thus more versatile and more flexible in use than equivalent loaders of known types being substantially universal.

Similarly, it is a further task of the invention to provide a loader for automatic rewinding machines of filler material wire which, compared with the prior art, makes the maneuvers that the operator must perform to store other flanged reels in the storage unit present inside the outer protection frame easier and faster.

Said purposes are achieved by a loader for automatic rewinding machines of filler material wire (such as welding wire, 3D printer filament) according to appended claim <NUM>, to which reference is made for the sake of brevity of presentation.

Further detailed technical construction features of the loader for automatic rewinding machines of filling material wire of the present invention are contained in the corresponding dependent claims.

Advantageously, the loader of the invention has a rather remarkable loading or storage capacity of empty flanged reels (according to the meaning of the latter word given above), greater than that of similar loaders of the known type; the number of flanged reels which can be stowed in the storage unit present inside the outer protection frame of the loader of the invention reaches even more than <NUM>, which is about twice the current capacity of known loaders.

Again advantageously, the loader of the invention thus has greater operational autonomy than the loaders of the prior art, also simplifying the work of the operators in charge of controlling it in this respect.

Equally advantageously, the loader of the present invention allows making the design of the rewinding machine of filler material wire arranged downstream independent of the design of the loader itself.

This is because, in the loader of the invention, the storage unit and the preloading and withdrawal station of the flanged reels to be sent to the rewinding machine are two clearly defined, distinct, and mutually separate components, in which, in particular, the preloading and withdrawal station faces the tools of the rewinding machine properly intended for directly handling the flanged reels.

Equally advantageously, again as a function of said favorable construction aspect, the loader object of the invention can be continuously reloaded relative to the operation of the rewinding machine arranged downstream, which, therefore, does not need to be stopped while the operator arranges additional flanged reels in the storage unit of the loader exclusively claimed herein.

This advantageously results in a significant increase in the efficiency of the rewinding machine and, in general, of the entire rewinding line compared to the prior art.

Said purposes and advantages will be more apparent from the description that follows, related to a preferred embodiment of the loader for automatic rewinding machines of filler material wire of the current invention, given by way of indicative and non-limiting example, with the help of the appended drawings, in which:.

The loader object of the invention, expressly used on automatic rewinding lines, from skein to reel, of a filler material wire (e.g., welding wire) and arranged upstream of a rewinding machine (also named a winding machine) of such a filler material wire, is shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, in which it is indicated by reference numeral <NUM> as a whole.

As can be seen, such a loader <NUM> comprises:.

According to the invention, the loader <NUM> includes a preloading and withdrawal station <NUM> physically distinct, separate, and independent from the storage unit <NUM>, configured to receive from said storage unit <NUM>, in a progressive manner and at successive intervals, the flanged reels F divided according to a predefined quantity and to convey them by translation to the automatic rewinding machine arranged downstream.

As can be seen in particular in <FIG> and <FIG> (as well as the aforementioned <FIG> and <FIG>), the preloading and withdrawal station <NUM> is at least partially contained inside the outer protection frame <NUM>; indeed, the preloading and withdrawal station <NUM> extends in width, transversely to the extension in height of the outer protection frame <NUM>, mostly within the latter.

More in detail, the preloading and withdrawal station <NUM> is arranged at a first side wall 2a (generally arranged frontally in application conditions) of the outer protection frame <NUM>, which, as shown in the accompanying figures, preferably has a parallelepiped box-like structure.

Appropriately, the preloading and withdrawal station <NUM> communicates with the outside world by means of a through opening <NUM>, better shown in <FIG>, obtained in a second side wall 2b of the outer protection frame <NUM> and configured to face the automatic rewinding machine arranged downstream; the second side wall 2b of the outer frame <NUM> is typically arranged laterally, in application conditions, and is adjacent to the first side wall 2a of the outer frame <NUM> itself.

Precisely, by virtue of the presence of the through opening <NUM>, the preloading and withdrawal station <NUM> partially protrudes from the second side wall 2b of the outer protection frame <NUM> to communicate with the downstream automatic rewinding machine at a height advantageously below the centerline of the outer frame <NUM>.

Preferably but not necessarily, the preloading and withdrawal station <NUM> comprises a conveyor belt <NUM> configured to accommodate from above the flanged reels F unloaded each time by the storage unit <NUM> and operationally connected to second drive means, indicated by reference numeral <NUM> as a whole and shown in <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>, suitable to be actuated to transport the flanged reels F, progressively and sequentially accommodated on an outer surface 6a of the conveyor belt <NUM>, by translation, to the automatic rewinding machine.

In a preferred but not binding manner, the second drive means <NUM> (such as, typically, an electric motor connected to a central processing and control unit, not shown, which controls its operation) are arranged outside the outer protection frame <NUM>, to which they are stably coupled, and are concealed by a protection casing <NUM>, better shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, fixed externally to a third side wall 2c of the outer protection frame <NUM> itself.

As shown in the following figures, the third side wall 2c is symmetrically opposite to the second side wall 2b of the outer frame <NUM>, from which it is separated by the first side wall 2a.

Advantageously and efficiently, in a purely preferred and non-limiting manner, the preloading and withdrawal station <NUM> accommodates consecutive homogeneous groups of flanged reels F, which drop by gravity from the storage unit <NUM>, and which, as shown in particular in an exemplary and diagrammatic manner in <FIG> (given the presence of only one flanged reel F), are mutually side by side other along a common horizontal linear direction X<NUM>.

Again preferably, but not exclusively, the preloading and withdrawal (or collection) station <NUM> also comprises thrust means, indicated by reference numeral <NUM> as a whole, configured to push the pack of flanged reels F already accommodated in the preloading and withdrawal station <NUM> towards the automatic rewinding machine, unloading the flanged reels F one at a time onto the automatic rewinding machine where they will accommodate the filler material wire wound onto the respective central drum T.

Preferably, the thrust means <NUM> comprise, in this case, purely by way of example, a vertical vane <NUM> fixed to the outer surface 6a of the conveyor belt <NUM> moved by the second drive means <NUM>, as better shown in <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG>.

According to the invention described here, the storage unit <NUM> is operatively connected to first drive means, indicated by reference numeral <NUM> as a whole, configured to put such a storage unit <NUM> in rotation following an articulated closed path <NUM> in which a concave flex <NUM> is identified at and above the preloading and withdrawing station <NUM>; this is clearly also shown in <FIG>.

In this case, the storage unit <NUM> defines a plurality of longitudinal seats <NUM>, each configured to accommodate a plurality of flanged reels F to be sent at the same time to the preloading and withdrawal station <NUM> and, furthermore, advantageously comprises adjustment means, indicated by reference numeral <NUM> as a whole, configured to vary the width of each longitudinal seat <NUM> so that the longitudinal seat <NUM> itself stably and effectively accommodates flanged reels F having mutually different size, notably different diameter.

The adjustment means <NUM> which best allow achieving one of the intended objects of the invention described herein - i.e., the ability to properly, usefully, and effectively receive any type of format of the flanged reels on the central drum of which the filler material wire must be wound - are shown better in the enlargement of <FIG> and <FIG>; the constructive concept of the adjustment means <NUM> will be detailed later in the description.

It is understood that in other embodiments of the loader of the invention, not shown below, the storage unit may define several longitudinal seats different from those shown in the accompanying figures, it being possible to vary this number as desired and according to application needs or design choices starting from one.

The storage unit <NUM> also preferably comprises a rotating carousel consisting of:.

In particular, the rotating carousel rotates about a horizontal linear axis X<NUM> parallel to the common horizontal linear direction X<NUM> defined by the flanged reels F on each longitudinal seat <NUM> as well as, inevitably, on the upper surface 6a of the conveyor belt <NUM>.

More specifically and preferably, the main transmission members <NUM>, <NUM> are operationally connected to the first drive means <NUM> by means of the interposition of respective, mutually opposite auxiliary transmission members <NUM>, <NUM>, such as two gear wheels meshing in their respective chains, cooperating mechanically with both the main transmission members <NUM>, <NUM> and with the first drive means <NUM>.

Each main transmission member <NUM>, <NUM> remains constructively distanced from the second side wall 2b and the third side wall 2c of the outer protection frame <NUM>, respectively, and is supported by a respective perimetrical articulated plate <NUM>, <NUM> fixed internally to the outer protection frame <NUM> and determining the path of the respective main transmission member <NUM>, <NUM>.

The first drive means <NUM> are appropriately contained within the outer protection frame <NUM>, to an inner third side wall 2c of which they are stably fixed.

It is understood that other embodiments of the loader of the invention, not illustrated below, may require the rotating carousel to consist of main transmission members different from those described above and shown in the accompanying drawings, e.g., appropriately designed and sized pulleys and belts.

It is further understood that in further embodiments of the loader of the present invention, also not shown in the accompanying figures, the aforesaid rotating carousel may consist of a different number of main transmission members, corresponding auxiliary transmission members, and perimetrical articulated plates, it being possible to vary the number of each of these three components as desired and according to constructive and/or design choices starting from one.

The longitudinal balancing bars <NUM> are mutually parallel and each arranged along a horizontal longitudinal axis X, evidently parallel to both the horizontal linear direction X<NUM> and the horizontal linear axis X<NUM>.

As can be inferred with greater precision from the enlargement of <FIG> and the usual <FIG>, each pair of mutually approached longitudinal balancing bars 18a, 18b is coupled to each of the main transmission members <NUM>, <NUM> by means of a common fork <NUM> consisting of two oblique arms <NUM>, <NUM> mutually side by side, diverging downwards, connected to each other by means of elastically yielding means, indicated by reference numeral <NUM> as a whole, interposed between the oblique arms <NUM>, <NUM>.

In particular, each fork <NUM> is rotationally connected to the respective main mechanical transmission members <NUM>, <NUM>, and this is by means of a central pivot <NUM>, which is arranged at a constrained end 24a, 25a of the oblique arms <NUM>, <NUM> and allows the longitudinal balancing bars <NUM> to either swing or tilt slightly; this is very useful in the step of resting of the various flanged reels F by the operator on the pair of longitudinal bars <NUM> and their effective housing in the longitudinal seat <NUM> defined therebetween.

It is also worth noting that, for each pair of longitudinal bars <NUM>, the opposite ends of the longitudinal bar 18a are coupled to the free end 24b of the oblique arm <NUM> of the respective fork <NUM>, while the opposite ends of longitudinal bar 18b are coupled to the free end 25b of the other oblique arm <NUM> of the respective fork <NUM>.

In effect, in an advantageous but non-limiting manner, the elastically yielding means <NUM> are the aforesaid adjustment means <NUM> because they allow varying the horizontal mutual distance between each pair of longitudinal balancing bars 18a, 18b (in a mechanically automatic manner) as a function of the load (or weight) of the flanged reels F arranged in the longitudinal seat <NUM>, resting on these longitudinal bars 18a, 18b.

This advantageously allows the storage unit <NUM> of the loader <NUM> of the invention to receive flanged reels F of various types, mutually different in diameter, regardless of the material which the flanged reels F are made of, whether metallic or plastic.

This constructive aspect is also a significant innovation of the loader <NUM> of the invention compared to the prior art in which, if it is necessary to change the format of the flanged reels to be sent to the automatic rewinding machine when necessary, requires, on the one hand, considerable, laborious and demanding manual operations to replace the storage unit - in the case of smaller reels as defined above, i.e., between <NUM> and <NUM> in diameter and weighing between <NUM> and <NUM> - or, on the other hand, demanding and prolonged manual operations to set and adjust the tooling of the automatic rewinding machine, in the case of larger reels, as defined above, i.e., between <NUM> and <NUM> in diameter and weighing between <NUM> and <NUM>.

In the specific case (to be understood as purely preferred and non-limiting), the elastically yielding means <NUM> comprise a helical spring <NUM>, which extends along a transverse direction Z perpendicular to the horizontal longitudinal axis X identified by the longitudinal balancing bars <NUM> and incident to an inclined linear direction (K<NUM>, K<NUM>) defined by each of the oblique arms <NUM>, <NUM> of the fork <NUM>.

More in detail, as better shown in the enlargements of <FIG> and <FIG>, the helical spring <NUM> has a first end 27a fixed externally to a first of the oblique arms <NUM>, <NUM> and a second end 27b fixed externally to a second of the oblique arms <NUM>, <NUM>; these fixings are at mutually opposite and facing side surfaces 24c, 25c of each pair of oblique arms <NUM>, <NUM>.

It's understood that further embodiments of the invention loader of the invention, not accompanied by reference drawings, may require the elastically yielding means to comprise more than one helical spring, according to design choices and/or operative requirements.

The loader <NUM> of the invention further preferably comprises hooking means, indicated by reference numeral <NUM> as a whole, arranged at the preloading and withdrawal station <NUM> and operatively connected to actuation means, indicated by reference numeral <NUM> as a whole, configured to arrange these hooking means <NUM> alternately between:.

In this case, in a preferred but not binding way, the hooking means <NUM> are coupled to the preloading and withdrawal station <NUM> so that the actuation means <NUM> move both the hooking means <NUM> and, at the same time, the preloading and withdrawal station <NUM> between the aforesaid resting position and aforesaid releasing position.

In even greater detail, the actuation means <NUM> conveniently move the hooking means <NUM> according to a vertical direction Y, transforming the "preloading and withdrawal station <NUM>/hooking means <NUM>" structural assembly into a sort of vertical short-stroke elevator, understood as a stroke, which extends for a height more than half the height of the outer frame <NUM>.

As better shown in <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG>, the actuation means <NUM> are coupled internally to the first side wall 2a of the outer protection frame <NUM> by means of guiding means, indicated by reference numeral <NUM> generically and as a whole, configured to allow the vertical sliding of the hooking means <NUM>; preferably but not necessarily, the guiding means <NUM> comprise at least one sliding shoe <NUM> made of plastic material, such as POM, and cooperating laterally with a pair of mutually opposed linear rails <NUM>, <NUM> obtained in a molded support plate <NUM> fixed to the first side wall 2a of the outer frame <NUM>.

Furthermore, the molded support plate <NUM> is flanked by the preloading and withdrawal station <NUM>, being interposed between it and the first side wall 2a of the outer frame <NUM>, and identifies a longitudinal recess <NUM> in which the actuation means <NUM> are accommodated and slide.

In a purely preferred but non-limiting manner, the actuation means <NUM> comprise a pneumatic cylinder <NUM> electrically connected to the aforesaid central processing and control unit, which manages its operation and activation.

From an operational point of view, when the actuation means <NUM> arrange the hooking means <NUM> in the lowered resting position, the elastically yielding means <NUM> are in the releasing position, the one determined by the loading of the flanged reels F which are progressively arranged in the longitudinal seat <NUM> and resting on the pair of mutually approached and coplanar longitudinal bars 18a, 18b.

In return, when the actuation means <NUM> arrange the hooking means <NUM> in the raised operating position, the central processing unit stops the operation of the second drive means <NUM>, the storage unit <NUM> ceases to rotate about the horizontal linear axis X<NUM> and the elastically yielding means <NUM> are in the pulling (or loading) position to spread the mutually approached longitudinal bars 18a, 18b arranged on the same horizontal plane.

The hooking means <NUM> preferably comprise a plurality of shaped rods <NUM>, <NUM>, protruding upwards from the preloading and withdrawal station <NUM>.

Each of the shaped rods <NUM>, <NUM> is provided with a first end 32a, 33a fixed to the preloading and withdrawal station <NUM> and with a second free end 32b, 33b in which a terminal recess <NUM> with an open profile is obtained, which, in the operating position of the hooking means <NUM>, accommodates a stretch of one of the longitudinal balancing bars <NUM> directly above and approached closer to it, to mutually spread or distance the two longitudinal bars 18a, 18b which support the flanged reels F and make them drop onto the preloading and withdrawal station <NUM> underneath.

The enlargement of <FIG> also shows that, at the second free end 32b, 33b, each of the aforesaid shaped rods <NUM>, <NUM> is provided with an inner beveled tooth <NUM>, which mutually spreads the longitudinal balancing rods 18a, 18b which support the flanged reels F when the shaped rods <NUM>, <NUM> are forced by the actuation means <NUM> against the longitudinal balancing rods 18a, 18b until they are housed in the terminal recess <NUM>.

In practice, each of the shaped rods <NUM>, <NUM> substantially presents the shape of a wrench in frontal view.

As shown in <FIG>, in this specific case, the hooking means <NUM> comprise six shaped rods <NUM>, <NUM>, three for each side edge 4a, 4b of the preloading and withdrawal station <NUM> (namely, of the conveyor belt <NUM> in the preferred solution of the invention adopted by the applicant) along which they are distributed in a substantially uniform manner to achieve a balanced grip of the longitudinal balancing bars 18a, 18b supporting the flanged reels F, by the hooking means <NUM>. In a particular manner, the shaped rods <NUM>, <NUM> are arranged near mutually opposite ends (when they are considered along the linear direction X<NUM>) of the preloading and withdrawal station <NUM> (of the conveyor belt <NUM>, in this case).

Again, it is understood that in other embodiments of the loader of the present invention, not shown in the accompanying figures, the hooking means may include a different number of shaped rods different from that just described and shown in these figures, according to design choices and/or application requirements.

Advantageously, the outer protection frame <NUM> of the loader <NUM> of the invention further comprises moveable inspection means, indicated by reference numeral <NUM> as a whole, available to the operator to access the storage unit <NUM> not only to perform loading operations of the flanged reels F but also for normal maintenance, repairs, and/or replacement of components and/or mechanical parts present within the outer frame <NUM>.

The movable inspection means <NUM> are arranged in a fourth side wall 2d of the outer frame <NUM>, symmetrically arranged relative to its first side wall 2a and comprised between its second side wall 2b and its third side wall 2c; the movable inspection means <NUM> define a first position, shown in <FIG>, assumed when the loader <NUM> of the invention is, for example, normally operational, in which they hermetically close the outer frame <NUM>, and a second position, assumed when the loader <NUM> of the invention is suitably non-operational, in which they open the outer frame <NUM> and allow access for the aforesaid tasks.

Preferably but not necessarily, the movable inspection means <NUM> are rotatably coupled to the outer frame <NUM> by at least one hinge <NUM> and preferably comprise a pair of microperforated doors <NUM>, <NUM> mutually side by side (as well as coplanar in the aforesaid first position of the mobile inspection means <NUM>), each of which is provided with an operating handle <NUM> conveniently accessible to any operator, being at a height well below <NUM> meters.

It is worth noting that, in the aforesaid second position of the movable inspection means <NUM>, the conveyor belt <NUM> of the preloading and withdrawal station <NUM> advantageously continues (or at least can continue) to convey by translation the flanged reels F on it already released from the storage unit <NUM> (under the action of the hooking means <NUM> and the actuation means <NUM>), and this in conditions of absolute safety for the operators, to the benefit of increasing the efficiency of the automatic rewinding machine arranged downstream.

This is because the preloading and withdrawal station <NUM> in the loader <NUM> of the invention is physically distinct and separate from the storage unit <NUM> and conveys the flanged reels F accommodated on it by translation.

Claim 1:
Loader (<NUM>) for automatic rewinding machines of filler material wire, said loader (<NUM>) comprising:
- an outer protection frame (<NUM>) configured to rest on a reference surface (S);
- a storage unit (<NUM>) contained in said outer protection frame (<NUM>) and configured to accommodate a plurality of flanged reels (F) configured to be moved to an automatic rewinding machine which is operatively and physically arranged downstream of said loader (<NUM>) and which automatically winds a filler material wire about a central drum (T) of each of said flanged reels (F);
- a preloading and withdrawal station (<NUM>) physically distinct, separate and independent from said storage unit (<NUM>), configured to receive from said storage unit (<NUM>), in a progressive manner and at successive intervals, said flanged reels (F) divided according to a predefined quantity and to convey them by translation to said automatic rewinding machine,
characterized in that said storage unit (<NUM>) comprises a rotating carousel consisting of:
- at least one main transmission member (<NUM>, <NUM>) operatively connected to first drive means (<NUM>) configured to rotate said main transmission member (<NUM>, <NUM>) along an articulated closed path (<NUM>) which defines a concave flex (<NUM>) at said preloading and withdrawal station (<NUM>);
- a plurality of longitudinal balancing bars (<NUM>) coupled to said main transmission member (<NUM>, <NUM>) and arranged at least in twos, mutually parallel, distanced, and approached to define, between each pair of said longitudinal bars (18a, 18b), a longitudinal seat (<NUM>) configured to accommodate a plurality of said flanged reels (F) to be sent to said preloading and withdrawal station (<NUM>) at the same time.