Roll changer and method for carrying out a flying roll change

Abstract

A reel changer is used to support rolls of material. A web of the material is unwound from one of the rolls while an additional roll of material is held for use in a roll changer when the first roll is exhausted. The rolls are each supported for rotation by two holding fixtures. Each of these holding fixtures has a supporting journal with gripping jaws. At least four collets are arranged in an axial direction of the supporting journals.

1 - 59 . (canceled)  
     
     
         60 . A roll changer for supplying a web of material comprising: 
 a roll stand adapted to rotatably support at least an unwinding web of material and a fresh web of material prepared for a roll changer;    a first pair of spaced receivers on said roll stand and usable to rotatably support said unwinding web of material;    a second pair of spaced receivers on said roll stand and usable to rotatably support said fresh web of material;    a support journal on each said receiver; and    a plurality of clamping jaws on each said support journal.    
     
     
         61 . The roll changer of  claim 60  wherein at least four of said clamping jaws are arranged in an axial direction of each said support journal, each said clamping jaw having an axial length of at least 80 mm.  
     
     
         62 . The roll changer of  claim 60  wherein a length of each said support journal in an axial direction is at least 250 mm, and a diameter of each said support journal is greater than 140 mm.  
     
     
         63 . The roll changer of  claim 60  wherein a sum of axial lengths of said plurality of clamping jaws is at least 300 mm.  
     
     
         64 . The roll changer of  claim 60  wherein each said support journal has at least two of said clamping jaws arranged one after another in an axial direction of said support journal and aligned circumferentially.  
     
     
         65 . The roll changer of  claim 64  wherein at least four clamping jaws are arranged in said axial direction of said support journals in each said receiver.  
     
     
         66 . The roll changer of  claim 60  wherein an axial length of each said support journal is at least 250 mm.  
     
     
         67 . The roll changer of  claim 60  wherein each said support journal has at least two of said clamping jaws arranged in an axial direction of each said support journal.  
     
     
         68 . The roll changer of  claim 60  wherein a length of each said support journal in an axial direction is at least 300 mm.  
     
     
         69 . The roll changer of  claim 60  wherein a length of each said support journal in an axial direction is at least 330 mm.  
     
     
         70 . The roll changer of  claim 60  wherein a length of each said clamping jaw in an axial direction of each said support journal is at least 95 mm.  
     
     
         71 . The roll changer of  claim 63  wherein said sum of said axial lengths is at least 340 mm.  
     
     
         72 . The roll changer of  claim 63  wherein said sum of said axial lengths is at least 380 mm.  
     
     
         73 . The roll changer of  claim 60  wherein several of said clamping jaws on each said support journal are adjoining each other in a circumferentially extending clamping jaws row.  
     
     
         74 . The roll changer of  claim 73  further including at least first and second circumferentially extending clamping jaw rows.  
     
     
         75 . The roll changer of  claim 60  further including a roll core supporting each said web of material, said clamping jaws being received in said roll core.  
     
     
         76 . The roll changer of  claim 75  wherein a length of each said core is greater than 4000 mm.  
     
     
         77 . The roll changer of  claim 75  wherein a length of each said core is greater than 4200 mm.  
     
     
         78 . The roll changer of  claim 75  further including a core wall thickness greater than 10 mm.  
     
     
         79 . The roll changer of  claim 75  further including a core wall thickness greater than 15 mm.  
     
     
         80 . The roll changer of  claim 75  further including a core wall thickness greater than 17 mm.  
     
     
         81 . The roll changer of  claim 75  further including a core wall thickness greater than 20 mm.  
     
     
         82 . The roll changer of  claim 75  further including a core interior diameter between 150.0 and 150.4 mm.  
     
     
         83 . The roll changer of  claim 60  wherein said web of material is pulled off said unwinding web of material and further wherein said roll changer is usable to perform a flying roll changer.  
     
     
         84 . The roll changer of  claim 60  wherein a diameter of each said support journal is greater than 140 mm.  
     
     
         85 . The roll changer of  claim 60  wherein a diameter of each said support journal is between 145 mm and 155 mm.  
     
     
         86 . The roll changer of  claim 60  wherein a diameter of each said support journal is between 148 mm and 152 mm.  
     
     
         87 . The roll changer of  claim 83  further including a support device adapted to engage a circumferential surface of said unwinding web of material.  
     
     
         88 . The roll changer of  claim 87  wherein said support device includes at least one support belt following a circulating path and being pressed against said circumferential surface of said unwinding web of material.  
     
     
         89 . The roll changer of  claim 88  wherein said support belt is supported by rollers defining said circulating path.  
     
     
         90 . The roll changer of  claim 87  further including a plurality of said support devices arranged side-by-side on said roll changer.  
     
     
         91 . The roll changer of  claim 87  wherein said support device is driven by said unwinding web of material by friction.  
     
     
         92 . The roll changer of  claim 87  further including a support device drive motor adapted to drive said support device.  
     
     
         93 . The roll changer of  claim 92  wherein said support device drive motor is an electric motor.  
     
     
         94 . The roll device of  claim 87  wherein said unwinding web of material has a circumferential speed and further wherein said support device is driven at a speed synchronized with said unwinding web circumferential speed.  
     
     
         95 . The roll changer of  claim 87  wherein said support device is movable between at least first and second functional positions, when in said first functional position said support device engages said circumferential surface of said unwinding web of material and wherein said second functional position said support device is out of contact with said circumferential surface of said unwinding web of material.  
     
     
         96 . The roll changer of  claim 87  wherein said support device is fastened on said roll stand of said roll changer.  
     
     
         97 . The roll changer of  claim 96  wherein said roll stand is pivotable and includes first and second lateral support arms, at least one of said support devices being fastened between said first and second lateral support arms.  
     
     
         98 . The roll changer of  claim 87  wherein said roll stand includes a base, said support device being fastened to said base below said unwinding web of material.  
     
     
         99 . The roll changer of  claim 98  wherein said support device is lowerable into said base.  
     
     
         100 . The roll changer of  claim 87  further including a support process parameter sensor on said support.  
     
     
         101 . The roll changer of  claim 60  wherein said roll changer is arranged before, in a direction of web travel, a rotary rotogravure printing press.  
     
     
         102 . A method of operating a roll changer for supplying a web of material including: 
 providing a roll stand;    using said roll stand for supporting at least an unwinding web of material and a fresh web of material usable in a flying roll change;    supporting said roll stand for pivotable movement between a first functional position and a second functional position;    providing a support device;    placing said support device against a circumferential surface of said unwinding web of material in said first functional position;    pivoting said roll stand into said second functional position suitable for said flying roll change; and    performing said flying roll change.    
     
     
         103 . A method of operating a roll changer for performing a flying roll change, including: 
 providing a first, exhausting web of material of a roll of material to be changed;    providing a second, fresh web of material of a roll of material;    unwinding said first web of material at a first web speed;    reducing said first web speed to a second web speed less than said first web speed; and    connecting said first web and said second web at said reduced web speed.    
     
     
         104 . A method of operating a roll changer for performing a flying roll change, including: 
 providing a first, exhausting web of material of a roll of material to be changed;    providing a second, fresh web of material of a roll of material;    unwinding said first web of material at a first web speed;    determining a minimum diameter of said exhausting web of material roll using a width of said web of material; and    connecting said first web to said second web when said minimum diameter is reached.    
     
     
         105 . A method for performing a flying roll change including: 
 providing a first web of material in a first roll of material to be changed;    providing a second fresh web of material in a second roll;    rotating said first roll of material at a first web speed;    reducing said first web speed of said first roll of material to a second, lower first roll of material speed;    connecting said first web of material to said second web of material at said lower speed;    supporting said first web of material on a first web core; and    determining said second lower speed of said first roll of material as a function of properties of said first web core.    
     
     
         106 . The method of  claim 103  further including fixing a minimum diameter of a leftover roll of said first web of material as a function of said first web speed and maintaining said minimum diameter during said connecting of said first web and said second web.  
     
     
         107 . The method of  claim 103  further including fixing a minimum diameter of a leftover roll of said first web of material as a function of a width of said web of material prior to connecting said first web and said second web.  
     
     
         108 . The method of  claim 104  further including reducing said first web speed to a second web speed less than said first web speed and connecting said first web and said second web at said reduced web speed.  
     
     
         109 . The method of  claim 103  further including controlling said reducing of said first web speed to said second web speed using a program.  
     
     
         110 . The method of  claim 103  further including determining a width of said first web of material and selecting said second web speed as a function of said width of said first web of material.  
     
     
         111 . The method of  claim 103  further including providing a core of said roll of material to be changed, determining properties of a material constituting said core and determining said second web speed of said first material as a function of said properties.  
     
     
         112 . The method of  claim 103  further including providing a core of said roll of material to be changed, determining geometric dimensions of a material constituting said core and determining said second web speed of said first material as a function of said geometric dimensions.  
     
     
         113 . The method of  claim 112  further including selecting an inner diameter of said core as said geometric dimension.  
     
     
         114 . The method of  claim 112  further including selecting a wall thickness of said core as said geometric dimension.  
     
     
         115 . The method of  claim 103  further including providing a receiver of said roll changer, determining geometric dimensions of said receiver of said roll changer, using said receiver for receiving said first exhausting web of material of said roll of material and determining said second web speed as a function of said geometric dimensions of said receiver.  
     
     
         116 . The method of  claim 115  further including providing clamping jaws having clamping jaw lengths in said receiver and using said clamping jaw lengths as said geometric dimensions of said receiver.