WO2012156829A1 - System for winding and packaging abrasive tapes - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention is a system (1) for automatically winding and packaging abrasive tapes (N) in rings, comprising a winding unit (3) suited to wind said tapes (N) on themselves so as to form a package (C) in a substantially cylindrical shape. Said winding unit (3) comprises a machine body (31) rotating around a rotation axis (33) and at least two winding elements (34, 35) mounted on said machine body (31), and wherein said machine body (31) rotates around said axis (33) alternatively positioning one of said winding elements (35) in a position (Y) in which it is loaded with one or more of said tapes (N) and another one of said winding elements (34) in a winding position (Z) in which said one or more tapes (N) are wound to form said cylindrical package (C).

Description

SYSTEM FOR WINDING AND PACKAGING ABRASIVE TAPES

DESCRIPTION

The present patent concerns machinery for packaging abrasive tapes and in particular it concerns a new system for winding and packaging abrasive tapes.

Flexible abrasive tapes are known, comprising a flexible support, for example made of a paper-based material, fabric, rigid polyester cloth, rigid cotton, flexible cotton, synthetic fibres or other materials, on which a layer of abrasive grain is spread, said layer being bonded to the support by means of a bonding agent.

Abrasive tapes are used for several types of processing applications on various types of materials, for example natural wood and wood derivatives, metals and their derivatives, rubber, plastic, leather and its derivatives, glass, synthetic or natural materials in general, in order to smooth their surface, eliminate or reduce its roughness or polish it.

Abrasive tapes are produced by means of machines whose finished product is a large tape closed to form a ring.

The machines that manufacture abrasive tapes in rings of the known type comprise at least one unloading fork consisting of one pair of horizontal rods on which the finished tape ring is fitted.

The tapes in rings must then be prepared and packaged for transport, storage and any further processing step.

At present, once they have left the machine, the abrasive tapes in rings are placed on inside the other, rolled up and packaged so as to form a compact cylindrical package, which can be tied or wrapped in a plastic film or placed into cartons.

For this purpose automatic winding and packaging devices are known which comprise a machine body and two or more parallel horizontal rods having a free end suitable for the insertion of the tape rings.

Said tape rings can be positioned on said rods one inside the other, so as to form the package.

Moving the rods automatically causes the package of tape rings to be wound on itself so as to form a cylindrical package, which is then tied or wrapped in a plastic film or placed into cartons.

The package is then withdrawn from the rods and placed, for example, in boxes or other types of packaging, ready to be stored and transported or conveyed to further processing stations.

In particular, automatic winding units are known which comprise one pair of close parallel horizontal rods, constrained to a wheel that rotates around a horizontal rotation axis, parallel to said rods and substantially interposed between them.

The winding unit also comprises a third horizontal rod spaced from said pair of rods and translating on a plane that is orthogonal to the same rods.

The abrasive tape rings are fitted inside one another on said third rod and on one of said rods of the pair and arranged so as to substantially form a U. Rotating said wheel and therefore translating the third rod substantially means rolling the tape ring package on itself around said pair of rods, until obtaining a cylindrical shape.

A drawback posed by said winding units of the known type lies in that the operations of positioning the individual tapes on said rods must be carried out manually. The operator, in fact, must collect the tape which comes out of the machine and fit it on said rods. The operation must be repeated for several tapes that must be inserted in one another until forming a package that is then rolled up.

At this point the operator must withdraw the rolled package, wrap it or tie it and then store it. Therefore, the steps of loading the tapes on the winding unit and the step of winding them must be carried out in two different moments, unless two or more distinct winding units are available.

Furthermore, the tape winding step must be performed in different moments and with different operating times with respect to the tape manufacturing step, which slows down the abrasive tape hourly production rate.

The winding unit must be placed in a position that is spaced from and independent of the position of the tape manufacturing machine, which further increases the overall dimensions and the complexity of the system. The object of the present patent is a new system for automatically winding and packaging abrasive tapes.

The main object of the present invention is to automate the abrasive tape loading and winding operations.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a system suited to carry out both the tape loading and the tape winding operations at the same time, considerably reducing production times.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a system that can be placed immediately downstream of the abrasive tape manufacturing machine and connected to it without affecting its hourly production rate. Another object of the present invention is to provide a system that does not require the intervention of the operator when it is necessary to load the winding unit, since this step is performed automatically by directly collecting the tapes by means of a loading turntable when they leave the abrasive tape manufacturing machine.

These and other direct and complementary objects are achieved by the new system for automatically winding and packaging abrasive tapes, comprising, in its main parts, a winding unit with at least two winding elements, with moving rods for rolling up the tapes, and a loading turntable for said winding elements.

In particular, said turntable comprises a rotating structure, comprising a chain or belt provided with a plurality of tape loading forks, each fork in turn comprising one pair of parallel rods arranged side by side in a substantially horizontal position.

Each one of said forks is suited to load a tape leaving the tape manufacturing machine, positioned on the unloading fork of the machine. Said turntable also comprises at least one movable loading arm suited to collect the tape from the unloading fork of the machine and pull it to the loading fork of the turntable.

In greater detail, said turntable places a loading fork in the loading position, that is, in a frontal position and aligned with the unloading fork of the machine, so that said movable arm, mounted on said turntable, collects the tape, making it translate along the unloading fork until it reaches the loading fork.

Then the turntable rotates the loaded fork, while a second loading fork comes to be in said loading position, in order to load another tape that is leaving the tape manufacturing machine.

The new system also comprises means suited to load the tapes from the turntable to the winding unit.

Said operation is performed in a specific position, called exchange position here below, in which said turntable rotates and thus successively positions said loaded forks one by one in a frontal position and aligned with the winding unit rods, the winding unit in turn comprising a machine body, mounted on a structure that rotates around a vertical axis, and at least two winding elements installed on said machine body, each winding element in turn comprising three parallel horizontal rods, of which one pair of rods are arranged side by side and rotate integrally around an axis that is parallel to them and a third rod is parallel to the first two rods and translates on a plane that is orthogonal to said rods.

In said exchange position, one of said rods belonging to the pair of rods and said third rod of a winding element are substantially aligned and in front of a loaded fork of the turntable.

Said system also comprises a further movable arm suited to translate the tape loaded on the loading fork on the rods that are aligned with the fork itself and a moving device suited to act on the tape from below, pushing it upwards in order to extend the horizontal diameter of the tape ring, and thus facilitating the loading operation on the fork rods.

As the turntable rotates and moves the loaded forks one by one to said exchange position, several tapes, one inside the other, are successively loaded one by one on the same winding element, until forming a tape package.

The new system comprises also a vertically translating device that, getting in from top to bottom between the two rods on which the tapes are fitted, gives the tape package a U-shaped configuration.

After said operation, said winding unit rotates around said axis, moving to said exchange position the second winding element, which is loaded with other n tapes arranged one inside the other.

In the meantime, the first winding element provides for winding the tape package by rotating the pair of rods with respect to the third rod, and consequently translating the third rod itself.

According to the invention, before the tape package is wound, one or more intermediate protection sheets can be positioned and then wound together with the tapes.

Once the cylindrical package has been formed, this is tied and packaged, for example placed in boxes. According to the invention, the new system may comprise also a device for collecting the final package, for example a translating carriage that withdraws the package, even by means of a further movable arm, and places it somewhere else, for example on a work surface.

The characteristics of the new system will be highlighted in greater detail in the following description, with reference to the drawings attached as non- limiting examples.

Figure 1 schematically shows a three-dimensional view of the new system, while Figure 2 schematically shows a plan view of the same.

Figures la, lb and lc schematically show the operation of a winding element (34, 35).

The invention is a new system (1) for automatically winding and packaging abrasive tapes (N) of the type wound in a ring, as shown in Figure 1.

The new system (1) comprises a winding unit (3), a turntable (2) for loading the winding unit (3) and a supporting frame (6).

Said turntable (2) comprises a rotating ring-shaped structure (21), comprising a chain or belt (211) on which a plurality of forks (22) for loading tapes (N) are uniformly distributed.

Each one of said loading forks (22) comprises one pair of parallel rods (23) arranged side by side and substantially horizontal.

Each one of said loading forks (22) is suited to load a tape (N) leaving the tape manufacturing machine and positioned on the unloading fork of the machine, not illustrated in the figure.

Said turntable (2) also comprises at least one movable loading arm (24), suited to collect the tape from the unloading fork of the machine, pulling it on the loading fork (22) of the turntable (2) that is in loading position (X), meaning in frontal position aligned with the unloading fork of machine. Said movable loading arm (24) comprises, in the preferred solution, a rail or guide (241) arranged in a substantially parallel direction and close to the loading fork (22) that is in said loading position (X), and a device or clamp or thrust element (242) translating on said rail (241) and also orthogonally to the rail (241), so as to be positioned at the same height as the tape (N) which is positioned on the unloading fork of the machine, and thrust it up to said loading fork (22).

Once a fork (22) has been loaded in said loading position (X), said turntable (2) rotates the loaded fork, while a second fork (22) comes to be in said loading position (X), so that one or more tapes are individually and progressively loaded on each one of said loading forks (22).

In order to load the tapes (N) from the loading forks (22) of the turntable (2) on the winding unit, said turntable (2) progressively rotates the forks (22), one by one, to an exchange position (Y).

Said winding unit (3) comprises a machine body (31), mounted on a structure (32) that rotates around a vertical axis (33), and at least two winding elements (34, 35) mounted on said machine body (31).

Each winding element (34, 35) in turn comprises three parallel horizontal rods (36, 37, 38), of which one pair of rods (36, 37) are positioned side by side and rotate integrally around an axis (39) parallel to them and a third rod (38) is parallel to the first two rods.

Said third rod (38) in turn translates in a guide (381), visible in Figures laic, on a plane substantially orthogonal to the rods (36, 37, 38) themselves. In the preferred solution, said winding unit (3) comprises two of said winding elements (34, 35) arranged one opposite the other, symmetrically with respect to said vertical rotation axis (33) of the rotating structure (32) and at the same height.

To load the tapes (N) from the turntable (2) on the winding unit (3), one of said winding elements (35) is located in said exchange position (Y), so that one of said rods (36) belonging to the pair and said third rod (38) of the winding element (35) are substantially aligned and in front of a fork (22) of the turntable (2) where a tape (N) is fitted, as schematically shown in Figure la.

In order to load the tape (N) from the loading fork (22) of the turntable (2) on the rods (36, 38) of the winding element (35), the new system also comprises a further movable loading arm (25) mounted on said frame (6), comprising a rail or guide (251) arranged in a substantially parallel direction and close to the loading fork (22) that is in said exchange position (Y), and a device or clamp or thrust element (252) translating on said rail (251) and also orthogonally to the rail (251), so as to be positioned at the same height as the tape (N) which is located on the loading fork (22), and thrust it up to said rods (36, 38) of the winding element (35).

The system also comprises a further moving device (28) mounted on said frame (6), suited to act from below on the tape (N) fitted in the loading fork (22) of the turntable (2) in the exchange position (Y), said device (28) comprising a foot or plane (281) translating on a substantially vertical rail (282), and wherein said foot (281) pushes from bottom to top on the lower part (Nl) of the tape (N) in order to widen the horizontal width of the ring of tape (N), thus facilitating the loading operation on the rods (36, 38) of the winding element (35).

As said turntable (2) rotates and moves the loaded forks (22) one by one to said exchange position, several tapes (N), one inside the other, are successively loaded one by one on the same winding element (35), until forming a package of n tapes (N), as schematically shown in Figure la. The new system (1) also comprises an auxiliary device (26) mounted on said frame (6) and comprising a substantially vertical bar (261) with a foot or fork (262) at its lower end, said bar being suited to translate vertically, that is, orthogonally with respect to said rods of the winding element (35) in the exchange position (Y), so that said foot or fork (262) can be inserted from top to bottom between the two rods (36, 38) on which said tapes (N) are fitted, so as to give the package of tapes (N) a U-shaped configuration useful for the following package winding operation, as shown in Figure lb. After said operation, said winding unit (3) rotates around said axis (33) moving the second winding element (34), with no tape (N), to said exchange position (Y), ready to be loaded with other n tapes (N), while the first winding element (35), loaded with tapes, rotates to the winding position (Z), where it provides for winding the tape package (N).

Said winding operation takes place through the integral rotation of said pair of rods (36, 37) around said rotation axis (39), so that the tape package (N) is substantially wound on itself, while said third rod (38) translates correspondingly in the respective guide (381), as schematically shown in Figure lc.

A cylindrical package (C) is thus formed, ready to be wrapped and tied and/or placed in boxes, for example, in a packaging (B) and withdrawn from the winding element (34).

The withdrawal can be carried out in the same winding position (Z) or in a further withdrawal position, not shown in the figures.

The new system (1) also comprises a device (4) for collecting the package (C), even wrapped and tied and/or placed in boxes, mounted on said frame (6) and comprising a carriage or forks (41) translating on a rail (42) in a direction parallel to said rods (36, 37, 38) of the winding element (34) on which the package (C) is placed and suited to support and translate the package (C), placing it somewhere else, for example on a work surface (5). According to the invention, to withdraw the wound package (1) from the winding element (34), the new system may comprise a further movable arm (27) mounted on said frame (6), comprising a rail or guide (271) parallel to said rods (36, 37, 38) of the winding element (34) in a winding and withdrawal position (Z), and a device or clamp or thrust element (272) suited to translate on said rail (271) and also orthogonally to the rail (271), so as to be positioned at the height of the tape (N) located on the winding element (35) and to thrust it on said carriage or forks (41).

The new system also preferably comprises a safety fence (7), surrounding at least part of said turntable (2) and said winding unit (3).

Therefore, with reference to the above description and the attached drawings, the following claims are expressed.

Claims

1. System (1) for automatically winding and packaging abrasive tapes (N) in rings, comprising a winding unit (3) suited to wind said tapes (N) on themselves so as to form a package (C) in a substantially cylindrical shape, characterized in that said winding unit (3) comprises:

• at least one machine body (31) rotating around a rotation axis (33);

• at least two winding elements (34, 35) installed on said machine body (31), wherein each winding element (34, 35), in turn, comprises at least three substantially horizontal parallel rods (36, 37, 38), of which one pair of rods (36, 37) are positioned side by side and integrally rotate around an axis (39) parallel to them, and a third rod (38) is parallel to the first two and, in turn, translates on a plane that is substantially orthogonal to the same rods (36, 37, 38),

and wherein said machine body (3) rotates around said axis (33) alternatively positioning one of said winding elements (35) in a position (Y) in which it is loaded with one or more of said tapes (N) and another one of said winding elements (34) in a winding position (Z) in which said one or more tapes (N) are wound so as to form said cylindrical package (C).

2, System (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises at least one turntable (2) for automatically loading said tapes (N) in rings on said winding elements (34, 35), said turntable (2) in turn comprising:

• a rotating structure (21), comprising a chain or belt (211) that slides on a substantially horizontal plane;

• a plurality of forks (22) mounted on said sliding chain or belt (211), each fork (22) comprising, in turn, one or more horizontal rods (23) and being suited to load at least one tape (N) leaving the tape manufacturing machine (N), positioned on the unloading fork of the machine;

and wherein the rotation of the turntable (2) places each one of said forks (22) in succession in a loading position (X), that is, in a frontal position aligned with said unloading fork of the machine where the tape (N) is loaded on the fork (22), and then in an exchange position (Y), that is, in a frontal position aligned with the rods (36, 38) of said winding element, where the tape (N) is loaded on said winding element (35).

3. System (1) according to claims 1, 2, characterized in that said winding unit (3) comprises two of said winding elements (34, 35) positioned one opposite the other, symmetrically with respect to said vertical rotation axis (33) of the rotating structure (32) and at the same height, and wherein when one of said winding elements (35) is in said exchange position (Y), the second of said winding elements (34) is in said winding position (Z).

4. System (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that said turntable (2) also comprises at least one movable loading arm (24) in turn comprising a rail or guide (241) arranged in a substantially parallel direction and close to the loading fork (22) that is in said loading position (X), and a device or clamp or thrust element (242) translating on said rail (241) and also orthogonally to the rail (241), so as to be positioned at the same height as the tape (N) which is located on the unloading fork of the machine, and thrust it up to said loading fork (22) of the turntable (2).

5. System (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that in said exchange position (Y), one of said rods of the pair (36) and said third rod (38) of a winding element (35) are at the same height and substantially in front of and aligned with a loaded fork (22) of the turntable (2), and wherein said tape (N) is loaded on said rods (36, 38) aligned at the same height.

6. System (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that it comprises a further movable loading arm (25) comprising a rail or guide (251) arranged in a substantially parallel direction and close to the loading fork (22) that is in said exchange position (Y), and a device or clamp or thrust element (252) translating on said rail (251) and also orthogonally to the rail (251), so as to be positioned at the same height as the tape (N) which is located on the loading fork (22), and thrust it up to said rods (36, 38) of the winding element (35).

7, System (1) according to claims 5, 6, characterized in that it comprises a further moving device (28) suited to act from below on the tape (N) fitted on the loading fork (22) of the turntable (2) in the exchange position (Y), said device (28) comprising a foot (281) translating on a substantially vertical rail (282), and wherein said foot or plane (281) pushes from bottom to top on the lower part (Nl) of the tape (N) in order to widen the horizontal width of the ring of tape (N), thus facilitating the loading operation on the rods (36, 38) of the winding element (35).

8, System (1) according to claims 5, 6, 7, characterized in that more tapes (N) are loaded, one inside the other, on the same winding element (35) in said exchange position (Y), in succession and one by one, until forming a package of n tapes (N) in rings.

9, System (1) according to the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises an auxiliary device (26) comprising a substantially vertical bar (261) with a foot (262) at its lower end, said bar (26) being suited to translate vertically, that is, orthogonally with respect to said rods of the winding element (35) in the exchange position (Y), so that said foot (262) can be inserted from top to bottom between the two rods (36, 38) on which said tapes (N) are fitted, so as to give the package of tapes (N) a U-shaped configuration useful for the following package winding operation.

10, System (1) according to the preceding claims, characterized in that in said winding position (Z) said winding element (35) winds the package of tapes (N) on itself by rotating said pair of rods (36, 37) around their own rotation axis (39) and correspondingly translating said third rod (38), thus forming a cylindrical package (C) suited to be wrapped and tied and/or placed in boxes.

11, System (1) according to the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a collection device (4) suited to support and translate said cylindrical package (C) fitted on said winding element (34), said collection device (4) in turn comprising a carriage or forks (41) translating on a rail (42) in a direction parallel to said rods (36, 37, 38) of the winding element (34) in a winding and withdrawal position (Z).

12, System (1) according to claim 11, characterized in that it comprises a further movable arm (27) comprising a rail or guide (271) parallel to said rods (36, 37, 38) of the winding element (34) in a winding and withdrawal position (Z), and a device or clamp or thrust element (272) suited to translate on said rail (271) and also orthogonally to the rail (271), so as to be positioned at the height of the tape (N) located on the winding element (34) and to thrust it on said carriage or forks (41).