Device and method for switching between materials

Abstract

Method and device for switching between web formed materials that are to be separately processed in a following process step, wherein each material ( 3 ) is supported and substantially enclosed by a separate feeder cassette ( 2 ) that is individually driven and controlled for shifting the materials individually, the feeder cassettes being formed so as to permit drive rollers ( 12 ) arranged downstream of the shifter device to engage the material through the feeder cassette for feeding the material through the feeder cassette.

1 . A shifter ( 1 ) for two or more web materials ( 3 ) that are separately brought into engagement with drive rollers ( 12 ) for feeding the material through a process step performed downstream of the shifter ( 1 ), characterized in that each web material ( 3 ) is supported and substantially enclosed by a separate feeder cassette ( 2 ) that is driven and controlled for shifting materials in a shifting motion wherein the material is brought into engagement with the drive rollers such that the drive rollers reach through the feeder cassette to engage and to feed the material forward through the feeder cassette.  
     
     
         2 . The shifter of  claim 1 , characterized in that a holder means ( 11 ) is associated with the feeder cassette and operable for preventing a relative motion between the material and the feeder cassette during shifting motion, and releasable in the feed position for allowing the drive rollers to feed the material forward through the feeder cassette.  
     
     
         3 . The shifter of  claim 1 , characterized in that each feeder cassette comprises two plates ( 20  and  21 ) arranged with an intermediate spacing there between, and the web material being received between horizontal guides ( 22 ) that are mutually adjustable transversally to the feed direction (X) in said spacing.  
     
     
         4 . The shifter of  claim 1 , characterized in that two or more feeder cassettes are movably supported in a frame structure, triangularly spaced and associated with drive and control means for moving each feeder cassette separately towards the apex of the triangle in a shifting motion.  
     
     
         5 . The shifter of  claim 4 , characterized in that each feeder cassette, as seen in the feed direction, has a first end ( 4 ) which is mechanically supported in the frame structure, the interspaced plates being supported in the first end and freely extending in the feed direction towards a second end ( 5 ), the second end being flexible in a Z-direction transversally to the plane of the web material  
     
     
         6 . The shifter of  claim 3 , characterized in that the lower plate ( 21 ) connected in the first end of the feeder cassette rests in supporting contact on the frame structure, and the upper plate ( 20 ), likewise connected in said first end of the feeder cassette, rests in supporting contact on an upper side of the horizontal guides ( 22 ), the horizontal guides resting on the lower plate.  
     
     
         7 . The shifter of  claim 3 , characterized in that grooves ( 23 ) are formed in mutually opposing sides of the horizontal guides, and the web material being received and guided in said grooves during the feeding.  
     
     
         8 . The shifter of  claim 7 , characterized in that at least a portion of the horizontal guides is flexible in a direction transversally to the plane of the web material.  
     
     
         9 . The shifter of  claim 6 , characterized in that the horizontal guides are formed from an inherently flexible material, or comprising elements assembled to provide a certain relative motion in the longitudinal direction of the horizontal guides, said elements having pins, heels ( 23 ) or cams that alternately extend from an upper plate  22 ′ and a lower plate  22 ″ of each horizontal guide, respectively, said formations having a length adapted to the thickness of the web material and allowing the longitudinal margins of the web material to be received between the plates for guidance in sliding contact with said pins, heels or cams.  
     
     
         10 . The shifter of any previous claim, characterized in that each feeder cassette has slots or openings ( 13 , 14 ) formed on the upper or on the lower side thereof for the drive rollers to engage at least one side of the material through said slots or openings.  
     
     
         11 . The shifter of any previous claim, characterized in that the feeder cassette has openings ( 14 ) formed in the upper and lower sides thereof, respectively, for the drive rollers to engage both sides of the material through said openings.  
     
     
         12 . A method for switching between two or more web formed materials that are to be separately processed in a following process step, characterized in that 
 each material is assigned a separate feeder cassette that substantially encloses the material for guidance;    the feeder cassettes are alternately driven and controlled for shifting and inserting each web material individually between drive rollers arranged downstream of the feeder cassettes, and    the feeder cassettes being formed with slots or openings through which the drive rollers are allowed to engage the subject material for feeding the material through the feeder cassette.    
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , characterized in that 
 the feeder cassettes are arranged above each other, triangularly spaced in a fan shaped configuration;    the feeder cassettes are formed to be flexible in a direction transversally to the plane of the web material, and    the feeder cassettes being driven and controlled in a partially arc-shaped shifting motion towards the apex of the triangle for directing the feeder cassette and the web material in adjustment to a process plane of a following process step.    
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , characterized in that 
 the feeder cassettes are arranged above each other, triangularly spaced in a fan shaped configuration;    the feeder cassettes being driven and controlled for a substantially linear shifting motion towards the apex of the triangle, and    all feeder cassettes being pivoted about a common axis for angular adjustment of the subject feeder cassette and web material relative to the process plane of a following process step.    
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , characterized in that 
 the feeder cassettes being arranged above each other in parallel;    the feeder cassettes being driven and controlled for a substantially linear shifting motion, and    all feeder cassettes being simultaneously controlled for bringing the subject feeder cassette and web material in alignment and adjustment to the process plane of a following process step.