Method and device for disposing of flexible material

Abstract

For the disposal of material webs, such as spent support films ( 13 ) of embossing objects ( 19 ) obtained from an embossing device ( 11 ), the material web (film) is introduced via a slip drive into a storage chamber, where it forms freely hanging or spontaneously deposited loops. The latter form a reservoir for a discontinuous or alternating operation of the embossing device. The loops ( 43 ) or packages can be individually cut off in the disposal device or at the storage chamber outlet can be rolled up so as to form rolls. The fill level in the storage device is at least sufficiently large that a retraction of the webs from the storage device is possible without influencing the web tension in the utilization area.

1 . Method for disposing of flexible material in the form of a pluality of moving material webs, being adjacent to each other and moving with different feed rates and being supplied by a slip drive in a supply direction from a utilization area to a disposal device, storage of the material webs taking place allowing discontinuous advancing and partly retracting movement of the material webs, the material webs being stored in loose, but ordered and orderly retractable material web portions, followed by a combined disposal of the portions of all adjacent material webs.  
   
   
       2 . Method according to  claim 1 , wherein the portions are material web loops.  
   
   
       3 . Method according to  claim 1 , wherein each material web portion is severed from the material web after the storage.  
   
   
       4 . Method according to  claim 1 , wherein the material web is secured at a material web end formed following the separation of a preceding one of the material web portions, a material web loop or a package of several largely superimposed, loose loops is formed and is then separated.  
   
   
       5 . Method according to  claim 2 , wherein separation of one of the loops takes place during the formation of a succeeding one of said loops.  
   
   
       6 . Method according to  claim 2 , wherein the loops of one of the material webs are formed successively, the material web forming the loops being moved backwards and forwards at right angles to a plane parallel to a surface of the material web between the formation of two of the successive loops.  
   
   
       7 . Method according to  claim 1 , wherein during storage, the material web is deposited in a package of several superimposed loose loops and said packages are provided for said combined disposal purposes.  
   
   
       8 . Method according to  claim 7 , wherein the material web for the formation of the package is supplied in free falling manner.  
   
   
       9 . Method according to  claim 8 , wherein the material web is supplied from a slip drive.  
   
   
       10 . Method according to  claim 7 , wherein the package is formed on a movable packaging web, which can be rolled up together with the package.  
   
   
       11 . Method according to  claim 10 , wherein a roll formed from the package and the packaging web is a sloping or helical roll and is laterally conveyed and cut to length portionwise.  
   
   
       12 . Method according to  claim 10 , wherein the roll is formed in a jacket in the manner of a sloping stuffing winder.  
   
   
       13 . Method according to  claim 1 , wherein the material web is an embossing film web consumed by transferring embossing objects from the embossing film web to a product web during the operation of an embossing device.  
   
   
       14 . Method according to  claim 1 , wherein the material web leaves the utilization area at a slip drive, which gives the material web tensile stress in the supply direction, but allows a backward movement in the opposite direction.  
   
   
       15 . Device for carrying out the method of  claim 1  comprising a material web storage device being provided in supply direction between the utilization area and the disposal device, the storage device being connected to a separating device for material web portions formed in the storage device.  
   
   
       16 . Device according to  claim 15 , wherein the storage device has at least one holding device for a material web point.  
   
   
       17 . Device according to  claim 16 , wherein the holding device is provided for holding a material web end formed following the separation of a preceding material web portion.  
   
   
       18 . Device according to claims  16 , wherein the holding device is bilaterally adjacent to the separating device.  
   
   
       19 . Device according to  claim 16 , wherein at least one of the devices including the holding device and separating device is movable laterally relative to the material web.  
   
   
       20 . Device according to  claim 15 , wherein the separating device has at least one cutting knive per material web.  
   
   
       21 . Device according to  claim 20 , wherein the separating device has one knife for all of the adjacent material webs.  
   
   
       22 . Device according to  claim 16 , wherein the separating device has at least one knife cooperating with a separating slot between two holding surfaces of the holding device.  
   
   
       23 . Device according to  claim 16 , wherein the holding device is provided on a support provided in each case on two sides for loop formation purposes.  
   
   
       24 . Device according  claim 15 , wherein the storage device has a storage chamber in which are provided the holding device and separating device and which has a discharge port with suction air connection for conveying away the material web portions for disposal purposes.  
   
   
       25 . Device according to  claim 15 , wherein with the separating device are associated lateral, spring-mounted holding posts, which keep the material web taut during separation.  
   
   
       26 . Device according to claims  15 , wherein the storage device contains a rotary star with several storage chambers formed between arms constituting partitions, in which are formed material web portions as packages of several largely superimposed, loose loops and whose partition-forming arms extended beyond the free ends of the material web cooperate with the separating device.  
   
   
       27 . Device according to  claim 26 , wherein the storage chambers are provided with a fold-out ejector for the packages.  
   
   
       28 . Device according to  claim 15 , wherein the storage device has a storage chamber matched to the material web width and having an upper intake port for the substantially vertically supplied material web and a discharge port for a package formed by the automatic depositing of largely superimposed, loose loops.  
   
   
       29 . Device according to  claim 28 , wherein the storage chamber has a bottom, being formed as a guide for a packaging web supplied from a reel on which the package is formed and which can be rolled up accompanied by the formation of a roll formed by the package and the packaging web.  
   
   
       30 . Device according to  claim 28 , wherein between on one hand a supply direction, in which the packaging web and the package formed thereon is moved, and on the other hand the axis of the roll, there is an angle diverging from 90°, so that a sloping or helical roll is formed.  
   
   
       31 . Device according to  claim 29 , further including a cutting-to-length device for forming portions of roll.  
   
   
       32 . Device according to  claim 29 , wherein the storage chamber bottom is inclined towards the discharge port from the storage chamber.  
   
   
       33 . Device according to one of the claims  29 , wherein the rolling up of the package takes place through a stuffing winderwith a conical jacket and an inner rotary and stuffing drive.  
   
   
       34 . Device according to  claim 15 , wherein at the utilization area is terminated by a slip drive comprising at least one slip drive element of a group including a band drive equipped with suction air ports and a suction roller, the at least one slip drive element having a surface which is movable in the supply direction, but allowing slip and a backward movement in the opposite direction for material web.