Rewinding machine with flanks carrying mating centers moving along a closed path

Abstract

The rewinding machine includes: at least a first and a second winding cylinder ( 3, 5 ), whose axes are parallel, defining a winding cradle ( 7 ) in which said reels of web (N) are formed, and mating centers ( 65 ) for engaging and withholding the winding mandrels (M, M 1, M 2 ) on which the reels are formed in the winding cradle. It is further provided a pair of lateral flanks ( 43 ), on each of which a corresponding guide ( 61 ) defining a closed path is arranged, along which guide a plurality of said mating centers ( 65 ) are mobily arranged. Each mating center associated to one of said flanks is aligned with a corresponding mating center associated to the other of said flanks. It is further provided a drive system to move the mating centers along each of said guides.

1 . A rewinding machine for the production of reels (R) or web (N) comprising: 
 at least a first and a second winding cylinder ( 3 ,  5 ), whose axes are parallel, defining a winding cradle ( 7 ) in which said reels of web (N) are formed, and    mating centers ( 65 ) for engaging and withholding the winding mandrels (M, M 1 , M 2 ) on which the reels are formed in the winding cradle characterized by a pair of lateral flanks ( 43 ), on each of which a corresponding guide ( 61 ) defining a closed path is arranged, along which guide a plurality of said mating centers ( 65 ) are mobily arranged; each mating center associated to one of said flanks being aligned with a corresponding mating center associated to the other of said flanks; a drive system being provided to move the mating centers along each of said guides.    
     
     
         2 . Rewinding machine according to  claim 1 , characterized in that said drive system comprises, for each side, a continuous flexible member ( 68 ) onto which the mating centers ( 65 ) associated to the respective flank are fastened; a drive ( 75 ) being provided to move said flexible member.  
     
     
         3 . Rewinding machine according to  claim 1  or  2 , characterized in that each of said mating centers ( 65 ) is carried by a respective carriage ( 63 ), which slides along the guide ( 61 ) of the corresponding flank.  
     
     
         4 . Rewinding machine according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the path defined by said guides extends from a first mandrel engagement position to a second unloading position of the. completed reels; said winding cradle being arranged between said first and said second, position.  
     
     
         5 . Rewinding machine according to  claim 4 , characterized in that it comprises a taker-in ( 83 ) to insert the winding mandrels moving from a collection position of the winding mandrels to a release position of the winding mandrels, in correspondence with the position in which the mandrels are engaged by the mating centers.  
     
     
         6 . Rewinding machine according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said flanks are vertically mobile and that actuator means ( 45 ) are provided to control the upwards and downwards movements of said flanks.  
     
     
         7 . Rewinding machine according to  claim 6 , characterized in that it comprises synchronizing means ( 47 ,  49 ,  51 ,  53 ) of the vertical movement of the flanks.  
     
     
         8 . Rewinding machine according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said two winding cylinders ( 3 ,  5 ) are reciprocally mobile and can be opened.  
     
     
         9 . Rewinding machine according to  claim 8 , characterized in that said two winding cylinders are reciprocally mobile in a direction which is essentially horizontal of alignment of the respective axis of rotation.  
     
     
         10 . Rewinding machine according to  claim 9 , characterized in that the axis of one of said winding cylinders is fixed while the other of said winding cylinders is mobile and translates in a horizontal direction which is orthogonal to its axis, for approaching and distancing the fixed axis winding cylinder.  
     
     
         11 . Rewinding machine according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a third cylinder ( 21 ) whose axis is parallel to the first and to the second winding cylinder arranged over the winding cradle and mobile to allow for the increasing diameter of the developing reel between said first, second and third cylinders.  
     
     
         12 . Rewinding machine according to  claim 11 , characterized in that said third cylinder ( 21 ) is carried by a pair of oscillating pair of arms ( 17 ).  
     
     
         13 . Rewinding machine according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least three mating centers are arranged along each of said guides.  
     
     
         14 . Rewinding machine according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least five equally distant mating centers are arranged along each of said guides.  
     
     
         15 . Rewinding machine according to at least  claim 5 , characterized in that said taker-in ( 83 ) presents a winding mandrel resting cradle whose geometry corresponds to the geometry of the winding cradle in the initial winding phase.  
     
     
         16 . Rewinding machine according to  claim 15 , characterized in that said resting cradle is defined by at least two straight circular cylindrical surface sections arranged side-by-side.  
     
     
         17 . Rewinding machine according to  claim 6 , characterized in that each of said flanks is associated to a cylinder-piston actuator ( 45 ) which controls the movement in the vertical direction.  
     
     
         18 . Rewinding machine according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that electric and pneumatic distribution means ( 91101 ) are associated to said mating centers on each flank.  
     
     
         19 . Rewinding machine according to  claim 18 , characterized in that said electric and pneumatic distribution means comprise a rotating distributor ( 91 ) arranged inside the path defined by the guide ( 61 ) along which the mating centers move and one or more flexible conduits towards said mating centers.  
     
     
         20 . Rewinding machine according to  claim 18 , characterized in that: an electrical distribution box ( 93 ) and a pneumatic distribution box ( 101 ) slide along each of said guides ( 61 ); that said electrical distribution box and said pneumatic distribution box are connected by means of a flexible member ( 95 ) to a distributor ( 91 ) arranged inside the path defined by the guide ( 61 ) along which the mating centers ( 65 ) and said boxes move; and that said boxes are connected to the mating centers via flexible pneumatic and electric connections ( 95 ,  97 ).  
     
     
         21 . Rewinding machine according to at least one of  claims 8  to  10 , characterized in that sensors are associated to at least some of said mating centers to detect vibrations of the winding mandrel and in that the reciprocal distancing movement of the first and the second winding cylinder is controlled according to the signal of said sensors.  
     
     
         22 . Method for the production of reels (R) of web (N) wound on winding mandrels in which: 
 a first winding mandrel (M) is inserted in a winding cradle ( 7 ) and a predetermined amount of web is wound upon it to form a reel, the ends of said first mandrel being engaged by a pair of mating centers;    the finished reel is unloaded from the winding cradle and    a second winding mandrel (M 1 ) is inserted in said winding cradle characterized by: 
 engaging the first winding mandrel (M) in a collection area by means of a first pair of mating centers;  
 transferring the first winding mandrel by means of said mating centers to said winding cradle;  
 when the reel is finished, transferring the reel with said first pair of mating centers from said winding cradle to an unloading area;  
 after transferring said first winding mandrel to the winding cradle, engaging a second winding mandrel with a second pair of mating centers in said collection area;  
 when said reel is removed from the winding cradle, inserting the second winding mandrel in said winding cradle with said second pair of mating centers;  
 transferring the first pair of mating centers towards the collection area of the winding mandrels.