Bobbin loading and unloading apparatus

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

This invention relates to improvements in apparatus for loading bobbins or reels of convoluted web material into web consuming machines and for unloading expired or consumed bobbins from such machines. More particularly, the invention relates to improvements in apparatus for replacing expired rotary bobbins with fresh rotary bobbins containing supplies of convoluted flexible web or strip material. As a rule, or at least in many instances, an expired bobbin consists of a tubular core or shell which is ready to be discarded or to receive a fresh supply of convoluted paper or the like. Typical examples of web or strip material which is stored on the core or shell of a bobbin is cigarette paper, so-called tipping paper which is used in machines for making filter cigarettes or like products, metallic foil, plastic foil or other web-like materials which are utilized in the tobacco processing industry for the making of tubular wrappers for tobacco, filter material for tobacco smoke or both, for conversion into blanks which are ready to be draped around arrays of plain or filter cigarettes or the like, and for analogous purposes.

As a rule, a conventional fresh bobbin loading or replacing machine (e.g., in a cigarette rod or filter rod making machine, in a filter tipping machine or in a cigarette packing machine) comprises one or more supports or carriers for fresh and expiring bobbins, a reservoir for storage of at least one fresh bobbin at the loading station, a station for the storage of a supply of fresh bobbins, means for conveying fresh bobbins from a larger source or from a maker to the aforementioned station, means for conveying fresh reels at the station and to the reservoir, and means for delivering (when necessary) discrete fresh bobbins or reels from the reservoir to the carrier which supports a reel during withdrawal of web from the core of the expiring bobbin of course, it is equally necessary to withdraw the expired (spent) bobbins (i.e., the empty cores or spools) and to dispose of such remnants of fresh bobbins.

A drawback of the aforedescribed conventional bobbin loading (expired bobbin replacing) apparatus is that they occupy inordinately large amounts of space as well as that they comprise a large number of in part bulky, in part complex and/or in part expensive component parts. This holds particularly true for the various conveyor systems which must be provided to deliver loaded (fresh) bobbins relatively close to, thereupon nearer to and ultimately all the way to (onto) the devices (such as stub shafts or the like) which support the bobbins during withdrawal of web material therefrom.

An apparatus of the above outlined character is disclosed, for example, in European patent No. 0 820 944. The patent discloses a turntable which supports an expiring bobbin, a frame which supports a fresh bobbin behind the turntable, and endless belts or bands which are mounted on or in the frame and which serve to advance fresh bobbins along the frame and nearer to the rear side of the turntable. Additional conveyor means serve to take over filled bobbins from the aforementioned belts or bands and to advance such bobbins to the front side of the is turntable, namely into the range of bobbin-supporting means on the turntable.

Published German patent application Serial No. 41 13 193 discloses a different bobbin loading apparatus wherein the endless belts or bands are replaced with means for lifting loaded bobbins from a lower level to a higher level. A drawback of each of the aforedescribed conventional apparatus, especially of that disclosed in the aforementioned European patent, is that the combinations of various bobbin delivering, storing and additional transporting means contribute excessively or at least appreciably to the bulk, complexity and cost of a production line in a cigarette making and packaging plant. Moreover, such apparatus must be installed at locations where space is at a premium and wherein the elimination of malfunctions is likely or bound to involve prolonged interruptions in the operation of a production line and attendant enormous losses in output. Therefore, it is highly desirable that the operation of each unit or subassembly in such complex machinery be simplified as much as possible,

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

An object of the invention is to provide a simple, compact and relatively inexpensive apparatus for loading fresh rotary bobbins or reels and for evacuating expired bobbins in situations when an uninterrupted supply of paper strips or other web material is of importance for proper operation of a mass-producing machine or an entire production line.

Another object of the invention is to provide the apparatus with novel and improved means for delivering fresh bobbins to the web dispensing station or stations.

A further object of the invention is to provide the above outlined apparatus with a novel and improved arrangement for the evacuation of expired bobbins from the web feeding station.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a machine which employs one or more bobbin processing apparatus of the above outlined character.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a tobacco processing or a tobacco smoke filtering material processing machine which embodies one or more bobbin manipulating apparatus of the above outlined character.

A further object of the present invention is to provide the above outlined apparatus with novel and improved means for manipulating accumulations of fresh and/or expired bobbins or reels at the locale of use of web material.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved method of manipulating fresh and expired bobbins or reels at a location where fresh bobbins are compelled to dispense their supplies of convoluted web or strip material in the form of paper, metallic foil, plastic foil, coherent blanks for conversion into packets or the like.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a method of treating fresh bobbins gently and at a required frequency or speed to ensure the delivery of convoluted web or strip material to one or more consumers at a required rate and invariably in optimum condition for further processing.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved combination of a reservoir for fresh bobbins and conveyor means for moving fresh bobbins or reels within as well as outside of the reservoir in a novel and improved manner.

A further object of the instant invention is to reduce the total of down times of mass-producing machines which must receive uninterrupted supplies of webs or strips of flexible material in the form of paper, metallic foil, plastic foil or the like.

Another object of the invention is to automatically regulate the distribution of filled and/or expired bobbins in the reservoir or reservoirs of a bobbin loading/unloading machine.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One feature of the present invention resides in the provision of an apparatus for replacing expired rotary bobbins with fresh rotary bobbins containing supplies of convoluted web material. The improved apparatus comprises a mobile carrier (such as a turntable which is indexible about a substantially horizontal axis) for expiring bobbins (i.e., for bobbins which are about to rotate or in the process of rotating to become expired bobbins as a result of withdrawal of the supplies of convoluted web material from their cores, normally in the form of hollow spools), a reservoir or storage facility for temporary storage of fresh bobbins, and means for conveying fresh bobbins from the reservoir directly to the carrier.

The turntable is provided with one or more supports (such as two stub shafts which are located diametrically opposite each other with reference to the axis with respect to which the turntable is indexible and which can be received in the hollow cores of bobbins to drive or to be driven by the bobbins).

In accordance with a presently preferred embodiment, the conveying means comprises an elevator which can raise or lower at least one selected fresh bobbin to any one of a plurality (e.g., an infinite number) of different levels with respect to the carrier to thus facilitate the transfer of a fresh bobbin onto the single support or onto one of two or more plural supports, and means for advancing the elevator toward and away from the carrier.

The reservoir preferably comprises means (e.g., in the form of two rails which are parallel and flank the axis of rotation of the carrier) for storing a plurality of coaxial bobbins The axis or axes of the fresh bobbin(s) in the reservoir is or are parallel to the axis or axes of the rotary carrier and/or its support or supports for fresh, expiring and expired bobbins.

The guide or guides of the reservoir is or are or can be at least substantially horizontal. In accordance with one presently preferred embodiment, the storing means for fresh bobbins comprises two parallel guide members (e.g., in the form of facetted horizontal rails) for outermost convolutions of convoluted web material on the stored coaxial bobbins, and the elevator of the conveying means is movable up and down between the guide members to lift selected fresh bobbins off the guide members. The turntable of the mobile carrier is indexible about an axis which is parallel to the guide members, and the conveying means of such apparatus further comprises means for transporting the elevator at a level such that the fresh bobbin or bobbins on the elevator is or are movable above and in parallelism with the guide members toward or away from the turntable. Such elevator is transportable to deliver at least one fresh bobbin from a given or desired or only remaining position in the reservoir directly onto a single support or onto one of several supports of the indexible carrier.

Regardless of whether the turntable carries one or more supports (such as one or more stub shafts), each support is preferably eccentric (i.e., its axis can be parallel to but need not coincide with the axis of the turntable), and the apparatus can further comprise means for releasably clamping the core of a fresh bobbin on the shaft or a shaft of the turntable.

The clamping means can comprise means for holding the core of a bobbin against movement axially of the shaft and away from the turntable.

If the reservoir comprises at least one elongated guide for fresh bobbins, the conveying means can comprise means for lifting a first fresh bobbin off any one of a plurality of selected portions of the at least one guide and for depositing a fresh bobbin on any one of a plurality of second selected portions of the at least one guide. The second selected portions include or can include a portion in which a fresh bobbin is maintained in a position of readiness for transfer directly onto the carrier. The position of readiness is or can be that position of the second plurality which is nearest to the carrier.

In order to automate the operation of the improved apparatus, the latter preferably further comprises one or more sensors and/or other signal generating means for monitoring the positions of fresh bobbins in the reservoir. The monitoring means is or can be arranged to share the movements of the conveying means, i.e., to share at least those movements of the elevator which take place in directions axially of the turntable toward and away from the support or supports. The signal generating means can comprise or control or cooperate with suitable means for arresting the conveying means in response to detection of a fresh bobbin in the reservoir. The arrangement can be such that the signals which are furnished by the monitoring means are utilized to effect the delivery of successive fresh bobbins from the reservoir to the carrier. The means for delivering can be arranged to deliver successive fresh bobbins to a predetermined position in the reservoir and, in the event that the predetermined position is then occupied, to a position immediately adjacent the predetermined position. If the latter (immediately adjacent) position is also occupied, the delivering means is caused or instructed to deliver fresh bobbins to another selected position, preferably a position nearest to the mobile carrier.

The improved apparatus preferably further comprises a novel and improved arrangement for manipulating hollow rotary cores which constitute expired bobbins. Such arrangement can comprise at least one magazine for cores (expired bobbins) and means for transferring cores from the mobile carrier to the magazine. The transferring means can comprise means for mechanically or otherwise (e.g., pneumatically) gripping cores during transfer from the carrier to the magazine.

The magazine of the improved arrangement for evacuation of expired bobbins can comprise an elongated trough which is arranged to confine expired bobbins in positions in which the expired bobbins are at least substantially coaxial with each other. The transferring means of such arrangement can comprise means for moving expired bobbins in the trough by way of the expired bobbin being transferred from the carrier into the trough.

The just described arrangement for disposing of expired bobbins (i.e., for removing expired bobbins from the mobile carrier) can be utilized with (e.g., incorporated into) the novel apparatus for replacing expired bobbins with fresh bobbins, or independently of such apparatus or any other known apparatus which is adapted to deliver fresh bobbins to one or more supports on an indexible turntable or another suitable carrier.

An important step of the novel method is that of transferring fresh bobbins (e.g., for convoluted webs of cigarette paper, tipping paper or wrapping material for arrays of plain or filter cigarettes or the like) from a reservoir directly to that part of the apparatus which supports an expiring bobbin, i.e., which supports the bobbin that is in the process of dispensing convoluted web or strip material into a web consuming or processing machine. Another important step of the improved method is that of moving a selected fresh bobbin in and from the reservoir in a plurality of directions, e.g., first upwardly to disengage the selected fresh bobbin from the component part or parts of the reservoir, and thereupon horizontally or substantially horizontally toward the mobile carrier, preferably directly into requisite engagement with the support (such as one of the aforediscussed stub shafts) which carries an expiring bobbin, namely a bobbin which is in the process of being relieved of the supply of convoluted web or strip on its core.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic of the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The improved apparatus itself, however, both as to its construction and the modes of assembling, installing and operating the same, together with numerous additional important and advantageous features and attributes thereof, will be best understood upon perusal of the following detailed description of certain presently preferred specific embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1

is a front elevational view of an apparatus which embodies one form of the invention

FIG. 2

is a side elevational view of the apparatus, with the bobbins omitted and with the elevator of the conveying means shown at a level beneath the guide means of the reservoir adjacent the turntable of the mobile carrier for expiring bobbins;

FIG. 3

shows the structure of

FIG. 2 and a

series of fresh bobbins in the reservoir;

FIG. 4

shows the structure of

FIG. 3

but with the elevator located at a level beneath the leftmost filled bobbin in the reservoir for temporary storage of filled bobbins;

FIG. 5

illustrates the structure of

FIG. 4

but with the elevator and the fresh bobbin on top of the elevator moved nearer to the mobile carrier for expiring bobbins;

FIG. 6

shows the structure of

FIG. 5

but with the leftmost filled bobbin in the process of being separably secured to one of the two supports forming part of the mobile carrier for expiring bobbins;

FIG. 7

illustrates the structure of

FIG. 6

but with the leftmost filled bobbin fully mounted on its support and with the elevator transferred to a position beneath the leftmost filled bobbin in the reservoir;

FIG. 8

shows the structure of

FIG. 7

but with the elevator in the process of transferring successive filled bobbins toward positions nearer to the mobile carrier for expiring bobbins;

FIG. 9

shows the structure of

FIG. 8

but with the turntable of the mobile carrier indexed through 90° relative to the angular position of FIG.

1

and with the upper support carrying an expired bobbin, the component parts of the arrangement for removal of expired bobbins being in positions assumed preparatory to removal of the expired reel;

FIG. 10

shows the structure of

FIG. 9

but subsequent to the transfer of several expired bobbins into the magazine of the arrangement for the evacuation of expired bobbins from a location adjacent the mobile carrier for expiring bobbins;

FIG. 11

illustrates the structure of

FIG. 10

but with the parts of the arrangement for evacuation of expired bobbins in different positions;

FIG. 12

shows the structure of

FIGS. 10 and 11

but with the parts of the arrangement for evacuation of expired bobbins in different positions;

FIG. 13

shows the structure of

FIG. 12

but with a device for shifting expired bobbins in their magazine at a different distance from the mobile carrier for expiring bobbins;

FIG. 14

is a front elevational view of an apparatus constituting a modification of the apparatus which is shown in

FIGS. 1

to

13

;

FIG. 15

is a view similar to that shown in

FIG. 14

but with a sensor moved to a different position relative to a fresh bobbin on the adjacent support of the mobile carrier for expiring bobbins; and

FIG. 16

is a side elevational view of the a modified apparatus which is shown in

FIGS. 14 and 15

.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring first to

FIGS. 1 and 2

, there is shown an apparatus

1

which serves to replace expired rotary bobbins or cores

56

(one shown in

FIG. 1

by dotted lines) with fresh rotary bobbins

18

(one indicated in

FIG. 1

by dotted lines) Each fresh bobbin

18

contains a supply

22

of web or strip material

16

which is convoluted onto its core

56

.

The apparatus

1

comprises a housing

6

mounted on floor-contacting legs

8

a

and supporting a mobile carrier or support

2

for fresh bobbins

18

and expiring bobbins

14

. An expiring bobbin

14

is that bobbin which is in the process of paying out its web

16

of flexible material, e.g., into a cigarette packing machine wherein the leader of the web

16

is severed at regular intervals to yield a succession of blanks which are thereupon converted into boxes of cigarette packets, e.g., those known as hinged-lid packets each of which can contain a parallelepiped array of say twenty plain or filter cigarettes in the so-called quincunx formation. A packing machine which can employ the apparatus

1

is known as COMPAS and is distributed by the assignee of the present application.

The illustrated carrier

2

is a turntable which is indexible about a horizontal axis defined by a horizontal shaft

4

and is provided with two horizontal supports

10

a

,

10

b

disposed diametrically opposite each other with reference to the axis of the and each constituting a relatively short horizontal stub shaft. These stub shafts are sufficiently long (see

FIG. 7

) to enter the central opening of a core

56

and to adequately support an expiring bobbin

14

in a position in which the leader of the respective web

16

can be pulled into the packing machine where it is processed into discrete blanks in a manner not forming part of the present invention.

The supports

10

a

,

10

b

are rather closely adjacent the peripheral surface

12

of the turntable

2

so that each thereof can carry a fresh bobbin

18

including a large-diameter supply

22

of convoluted web material

16

. The turntable

2

is held against rotation about the axis of the shaft

4

while the expiring bobbin

14

on one of its shafts

10

a

,

10

b

is in the process of paying out the web

16

into a packing machine or another consuming or processing machine. It is clear that the web

16

need not necessarily be drawn upwardly from the shaft

10

a

or

10

b

which supports the then expiring bobbin

14

.

The left-hand shaft

10

a

of

FIG. 1

is held in a position in which it is ready to accept and to support a fresh bobbin

18

which, when properly accepted, assumes the position shown in

FIG. 1

by dotted lines. The bobbin

18

shown in

FIG. 1

by dotted lines is actually held at a station

20

in front of the turntable

2

in a position corresponding to that of the leftmost fresh bobbin

18

shown in FIG.

3

. At such time, the external surface of the outermost convolution of the supply

22

of web

16

on such fresh bobbin

18

rests on the suitably inclined surfaces

28

of two elongated guide members

26

forming part of a reservoir for a requisite supply of fresh bobbins

18

at the station

20

. The guide members

26

of the illustrated reservoir are rails mounted on pairs of legs

24

provided with floor-contacting legs

8

b.

The guide members

26

are parallel with the rotational axis of the turntable

2

and are mounted at opposite sides of and at a level below the shaft

4

. The surfaces

28

of the members

26

make with each other an angle of approximately 90°; such surfaces can be flat or slightly concave, and their dimensions are preferably selected in such a way that the fresh bobbins

18

occupying the station

20

are compelled to assume positions in which they are coaxial with each other. This renders it possible to simplify the design of the means (including an elevator

30

) for conveying fresh bobbins

18

from the station

20

(i.e., from the reservoir including the guide members

26

) onto that shaft (

10

a

or

10

b

) of the turntable

2

which is then in a position corresponding to that of the shaft

10

a

in FIG.

1

.

The elevator

30

(e.g., a platform having a horizontal top surface) is movable up and down by a reversible feed screw

34

receiving rotary motion from a reversible electric motor

32

or another suitable prime mover and meshing with a nut at the underside of the elevator

30

. Alternatively, the motor

32

can drive a reversible nut which meshes with a feed screw affixed to and extending downwardly from the elevator

30

. All that counts is that the elevator

30

is movable up and down between the guide members

26

to thus lift a selected fresh bobbin off the surfaces

28

of the guide members

26

to a level which is required to ensure that a horizontal movement of the elevator

30

along the members

26

will result in transfer of the selected fresh bobbin

18

onto the shaft

10

a

or

10

b.

The upper side of the elevator

30

carries two parallel elongated horizontal tracks

38

having pairs of mutually inclined top surfaces one of which engages the exposed surface

22

of the outermost convolution of the web

16

on the core

56

forming part of the respective fresh bobbin

18

from below, whereupon the elevator

30

is moved horizontally between and below the guide members

26

toward the exposed surface of the indexible turntable

2

in order to automatically slide the core

56

of the bobbin

18

on the elevator

30

onto the shaft

10

a

or

10

b.

The means for moving the bobbin

18

on the elevator

30

horizontally toward and onto the shaft

10

a

or

10

b

comprises a linear drive

36

, e.g., a feed screw which is rotatable by a reversible motor and mates with a pinion on the elevator

30

or a stationary toothed rack mating with a pinion which is rotatably mounted on the elevator and is adapted to be rotated by a reversible motor. Other types of means for advancing the elevator

30

along the guide members

26

can be utilized with equal or similar advantage.

While the drive

36

causes a full bobbin

18

to advance toward the turntable

2

, such bobbin rests on the tracks

38

which form part of or are connected to the elevator

30

and maintain the exposed surface of the outermost convolution of the supply

22

of web

16

on such horizontal platform or elevator out of contact with the surfaces

28

of the guide members

26

.

The mode of operation of the apparatus

1

is as follows:

Before the shaft

10

a

of the indexible turntable

2

assumes the nine o'clock position of

FIG. 1

, it assumes the six o'clock position of

FIG. 1

in which it is relieved of the expired bobbin (shell

56

) by an arrangement

50

including an elongated magazine

54

in the form of a shallow trough adapted to receive an entire row of coaxial expired bobbins or cores

56

.

The entire arrangement

50

is or can be mounted on an arm

52

which is located at the station

20

and can be affixed to the reservoir including the guide members

26

and/or to the housing

6

for the turntable

2

. The trough

54

of the arrangement

50

is installed at the outer side of the receptacle for the fresh bobbins

18

, i.e., at the right-hand side of the right-hand guide member

26

shown in FIG.

1

.

FIGS. 10-13

show that the trough

54

can accommodate an entire row of coaxial expired bobbins

56

(empty cores) which are coaxial with each other.

A mobile engaging means or gripper

58

of the arrangement

50

serves to slip an empty core

56

off the adjacent stub shaft

10

a

or

10

b

and to slide it within and along the trough

54

whereby the empty core

56

which advances with the gripper

58

shifts the previously deposited empty cores

56

in front of it and toward the remote end of the trough

54

, i.e., toward that end which is remote from the turntable.

The turntable

2

is indexible in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG.

1

. Thus, when the expiring web

14

at the three o'clock position of the turntable shown in

FIG. 1

is converted into an expired bobbin (empty core

56

), the controls of the apparatus

1

transmit a signal (such signal can be generated by a sensor which monitors the diameter of the expiring bobbin

14

) to index the turntable

2

by 90° so that the freshly obtained expired bobbin

56

reaches the six o'clock position of FIG.

1

and comes to rest in the adjacent front portion of the trough

54

. The gripper

58

is then set in motion to move the empty bobbin

56

off the shaft

10

b

and along the upper side of the trough

54

. In other words, the entire horizontal file of empty bobbins or expired bobbins

56

is moved along the trough

54

and away from the front side of the turntable

2

.

FIG. 11

shows the gripper

58

in the process of engaging the expired bobbin

56

on the shaft

10

b

, and

FIG. 12

shows the gripper

58

in the process of pushing such expired bobbin along the upper side of the trough

54

.

It is also possible to modify the arrangement

50

in such a way that, when the turntable

2

of

FIG. 1

is indexed through 90° from the three o'clock to the six o'clock position of

FIG. 1

, the freshly obtained expired bobbin

56

is located at a level somewhat above the trough

54

. The gripper

58

is thereupon actuated to slip the expired bobbin

56

off the shaft

10

b

(at the six o'clock position) so that the bobbin

56

descends onto the trough

54

by gravity, and the gripper

58

is thereupon moved horizontally away from the front side of the turntable to push the entire row or file of expired bobbins

56

along the trough

54

and away from the turntable. The gripper

58

is thereupon ready to return toward the turntable to assume a position of readiness to slip the next expired bobbin of the shaft

10

a

upon clockwise indexing of the turntable through 180° and withdrawal of the web

16

from the expiring bobbin (

14

) then occupying the three o'clock position of FIG.

1

.

The reference character

60

denotes a horizontal guide rail for the gripper

58

. The means for moving the gripper

58

along the guide

60

between the brokenline position

58

′ and the solid-line position of

FIG. 9

is not shown in the drawings; such moving means can comprise a double-acting fluid-operated motor, an electric motor or the like. The gripper

58

assumes the position

58

′ of

FIG. 9

when it is ready to accept a core

56

subsequent to indexing of such core from the three o'clock to the six o'clock position of

FIG. 10

once the core

56

has been removed from the shaft

10

b

(i.e., once the gripper

58

has completed its axial movement from the broken-line position

58

′ to the solid-line position of FIG.

9

), the turntable

2

is again indexed through 90° to thus move the shaft

10

b

to the nine o'clock position of

FIG. 1

so that the shaft

10

b

is ready to accept a fresh bobbin

18

from the reservoir including the guide members

26

. At such time, the fresh bobbin

18

of

FIG. 1

is located at the three o'clock position of FIG.

1

and is ready to pay out its web

16

to the consuming or processing machine.

FIG. 9

further shows that the guide rail

60

for the gripper

58

is parallel with the guide members

26

for fresh bobbins

18

and that the elevator

30

is ready to advance toward the (by then emptied) shaft

10

b

in order to deliver a fresh bobbin

18

which is thereupon indexed with the turntable (twice through 90°) before it reaches the position occupied in

FIG. 1

by the expiring bobbin

14

. The same procedure is thereupon repeated at required intervals (depending upon the rate at which the processing machine consumes web material

16

) and for a required period of time (e.g., during an entire shift).

FIG. 2

shows that the linear guide

40

for the elevator

30

extends close to the front side of the turntable

2

so that the elevator can deliver a fresh bobbin

18

all the way to the axial position in which the stub shaft

10

a

or

10

b

is properly received in the central opening of the core

56

forming part of such fresh bobbin. That position of the elevator

30

which is shown in

FIG. 2

can be said to constitute a predetermined position or a position of readiness; the elevator

30

is then adjacent to and is located at a level beneath the left-hand end portions of the guide members

26

, i.e., beneath those end portions of the guide members which are nearest to the turntable

2

. The elevator

30

is assured to be stationary in its lower end position, i.e., at a level such that its web-contacting or web-engaging members

38

would be out of contact with the web

16

on the core

56

of a fresh bobbin

18

then located above the elevator

30

when the latter occupies the predetermined position of FIG.

2

.

FIG. 3

shows the elevator

30

in the predetermined position (the same as in

FIG. 2

) but the guide members

26

of the reservoir contain a number of randomly distributed (in part abutting and in part spaced-apart) fresh bobbins

18

, The external surfaces of the outermost convolutions of the supplies

22

of web material

16

forming part of the fresh bobbins

18

shown in

FIG. 3

rest on the suitably inclined surfaces

28

of the guide members

26

. The members

38

of the elevator

30

are located beneath the surfaces

28

, i.e., they would be out of contact with the leftmost fresh bobbin

18

of

FIG. 3

even if such bobbin were located directly above the elevator

30

.

The elevator

30

carries or otherwise shares the movements of a suitable sensor

42

serving as a means for monitoring the position of the nearest fresh bobbin

18

. When the elevator

30

is caused to move from the predetermined position of

FIG. 3

in a direction to the right (i.e., away from the turntable

2

), the sensor

42

detects the nearest fresh bobbin

18

on the guide members

26

and generates a signal which is utilized by the controls to arrest the motor

32

when the elevator

30

is located exactly beneath the leftmost bobbin

5

.

For example, the sensor

42

can be installed at that side of the elevator

30

which faces away from the turntable

2

to generate a signal when it detects the presence of a fresh bobbin

18

above it. The intensity and/or other characteristics of the signal change when the sensor

42

is advanced to the right of and beyond the leftmost fresh bobbin

18

of

FIG. 4

so that the motor

32

is brought to a halt by the suitably programmed controls for the mobile components of the apparatus

1

when the elevator

30

is located in an optimum position for lifting and entrainment of the fresh bobbin

18

above it.

Alternatively, the sensor

42

can be installed at that side of the elevator

30

which confronts the turntable

2

. When moved (by the motor

32

) from the predetermined position of FIG.

3

and away from the turntable, the elevator comes to a halt when the sensor

42

generates a signal in response to detection of the leftmost fresh bobbin

18

of FIG.

4

. The controls of the apparatus

1

thereupon cause the motor

32

to move the elevator

30

in the opposite direction (toward the turntable) until the sensor

42

transmits a signal denoting that the sensor is located to the left of the leftmost filled bobbin

18

of FIG.

4

. This ensures that the elevator

30

is then located in an optimum position relative to the leftmost fresh bobbin

18

of FIG.

4

. The extent to which the motor

32

returns the elevator

30

in a direction toward the turntable

2

can correspond to the respective dimension of the sensor

42

(as measured in the longitudinal direction of the guide members

26

).

The sensor

42

can constitute or include a photosensitive detector which emits a beam of radiation adapted to be reflected or to be no longer obstructed in certain positions of the sensor

42

and the elevator

30

.

The control system thereupon causes the elevator

30

to lift the tracks

38

so that such tracks cause the fresh bobbin

18

then located above the elevator to rise above the guide members

26

(see FIG.

4

). The next step involves a movement of the raised elevator

30

along the guide

60

and toward the exposed side of the turntable (see FIGS.

5

and

6

). This causes the stub shaft

10

a

to enter the central opening of the core

56

forming part of the fresh bobbin

18

on the tracks

38

of the elevator

30

.

If the turntable

2

need not receive a fresh bobbin

18

, the movement of the raised elevator

30

from the position of

FIG. 4

toward the turntable can be interrupted when the elevator reaches the predetermined position of FIG.

5

. For example, such interruption of movement of the elevator

30

to and beyond the position of

FIG. 6

can take place in the event of a malfunction of the web consuming machine and/or of the apparatus

1

. If (or once) the elevator

30

has completed its movement toward the turntable

2

so that the thus delivered fresh bobbin

18

assumes the position of

FIG. 7

, the fresh bobbin can be locked to the shaft

10

a

against axial movement away from the turntable

2

in any well known manner, not shown. Such locking action can be initiated by the control system of the apparatus

1

. For example, each of the shafts

10

a

,

10

b

can be provided with suitable clamping or gripping or holding means which is active as long as the shaft

10

a

or

10

b

remains in a position (such as the nine o'clock position of

FIG. 1

) in which the bobbin (

14

or

18

) thereon is ready to pay out web material

16

.

FIG. 6

shows the elevator

30

during actual transfer of a fresh bobbin

18

onto the shaft

10

a

. The elevator maintains the fresh bobbin

18

at such level that the axis of the bobbin coincides with the axis of the shaft

10

a

. Once the elevator

30

reaches the position of

FIG. 7

, i.e., a position nearest to the turntable

2

, the shaft

10

a

is fully received in the core

56

of the fresh bobbin

18

and the elevator can descend to its lower level so that the tracks

38

do not interfere with a return movement of the elevator in a direction away from the turntable, for example, all the way to the position of

FIG. 7

in which the elevator is ready to lift the leftmost fresh bobbin

18

off the guide members

26

of the reservoir at the station

20

. The next step can involve a movement of the raised elevator

30

and of the fresh bobbin

18

above it to the predetermined position of

FIG. 5

where the elevator remains until the control system receives a signal indicating that the fresh bobbin

18

above the elevator occupying the predetermined position should be transferred onto and releasably locked to the shaft

10

a

or

10

b.

The apparatus

1

can be programmed so that the step immediately following the step or steps shown in

FIG. 6

takes place to ensure that the fresh bobbin

18

shown in

FIG. 6

as being only partially transferred onto the shaft

10

a

is moved all the way to the axial position of FIG.

7

and the elevator

30

descends away from contact with the fresh bobbin on the shaft

10

a

and moves away from the turntable all the way to the position of

FIG. 7

, i.e. , to a position beneath the next leftmost fresh bobbin

18

. The elevator

30

comes to a halt in the position of

FIG. 7

in response to a signal (or to a series of signals) from the sensor

42

to the control system of the apparatus

1

.

The shifting of the elevator

30

from the position of

FIG. 5

or

6

back and all the way to the position shown in

FIG. 7

can also (or additionally) serve an additional purpose, namely to provide room for the deposition of one or more fresh bobbins

18

onto the guide members

26

(e.g., between the shaft

10

a

and the leftmost fresh bobbin

18

on the guide members

26

; namely onto the exposed portions of the guide members

26

shown in FIGS.

5

and

6

), or to avoid a collision between the fresh bobbins

18

on the guide rails

26

. For example, a worker might have placed a fresh bobbin

18

onto the guide members

26

adjacent the fresh bobbin

18

which is shown as being at least partially supported by the shaft

10

a

in FIG.

6

and as being supported only by the shaft

10

a

in FIG.

7

. The lowered elevator

30

was free to bypass such freshly deposited bobbin

18

on its way from the position of

FIG. 6

, even nearer to the turnable

2

, and thereupon to the position shown in FIG.

7

. Such situation is shown in FIG.

8

.

Let it be assumed that the elevator

30

has completed the transfer of the leftmost bobbin

18

on the guide members

26

of

FIG. 7

to the position H shown in

FIG. 8

, namely to a predetermined position nearest to the turntable

2

. Thereafter, a workman has deposited a fresh bobbin

18

to a position A (

FIG. 8

) nearest to the turntable after the bobbin H. In the meantime, the elevator

30

is free to descend, to bypass the bobbin H and/or the bobbin A from below, and to move to the position of

FIG. 8

, namely beneath the bobbin

18

on the guide members

26

nearest to the bobbin A. Such bobbin

18

(above the elevator

30

shown in the right-hand portion of

FIG. 8

) can be moved toward the turntable

2

without risking a collision with the bobbin A because the sensor

42

arrests the elevator

30

as soon as it advances to a position sufficiently close to the bobbin H (e.g., beneath the bobbin H) The elevator

30

can thereupon proceed to transfer the fresh bobbins D, E and F seriatim from the positions shown in

FIG. 8

to the positions nearer or nearest to the turntable

2

.

The situation is analogous if the elevator

30

is in the process of advancing the fresh bobbin A toward the turntable

2

while a worker deposits the fresh bobbin onto the guide members

26

of

FIG. 8

in front of the oncoming bobbin. A The sensor

42

then detects the presence of the bobbin H in front of the oncoming bobbin A and brings the elevator

30

to a halt not later than when the bobbin A reaches the position of FIG.

8

.

An important advantage of the improved apparatus

1

is that a fresh bobbin

18

which the elevator

30

picks up at the station

20

(i.e., in the reservoir including the guide members

26

) need not be released until it reaches its ultimate position on the shaft

10

a

or

10

b

at the front side of the turntable

2

. It is assumed here that the purpose of picking up a fresh bobbin

18

by the elevator

30

somewhere, at the station

20

was to deliver such fresh bobbin to the turntable

2

rather than to merely shift the fresh bobbins in the reservoir back and forth as described hereinbefore in connection with fresh bobbins including those shown at

18

, A, D, E, F and H in FIG.

8

.

Thus, it is no longer necessary to transfer fresh bobbins from one conveying means onto one or more additional conveying means because the elevator

30

, in conjunction with the means

32

-

34

and

36

for respectively raising-lowering and reciprocating the elevator suffices to deliver fresh bobbins

18

seriatim from the station

20

onto the shaft

10

a

or

10

b

. This brings about unexpected savings in space, materials initial as well as maintenance cost. Furthermore, the surprisingly simple apparatus

1

is much less prone to malfunction than conventional apparatus and the improved apparatus can treat the fresh bobbins as well as the web material

16

gently for a number of important reasons. Thus, the accumulation or arraying of fresh bobbins

18

in the reservoir including the guide members

26

is highly predictable because such fresh bobbins are compelled to gather into a row of coaxial bobbins and also because the suitably inclined surfaces

28

of the guide members

26

are highly unlikely to damage or deface the outermost convolutions of web material

16

which come into actual contact with the surfaces

28

. The same holds true for the likelihood of damage to the outermost convolution of web material

16

which is being contacted by the tracks

38

forming part of the elevator

30

and serving to actually raise the fresh bobbins

18

above and away from the surfaces

28

of the guide members

26

preparatory to and during transport of discrete fresh bobbins at the station

20

as well as from the station

20

onto the shaft

10

a

or

10

b.

Another important advantage of the improved apparatus

1

is that the station

20

is located directly in front of the exposed side of the turntable

2

. This ensures that a fresh bobbin which is to be delivered is onto the shaft

10

a

or

10

b

need not be transported along a circuitous path. Thus, the only time a bobbin

18

departs from a straight linear path extending in parallelism with the axis of the shaft

4

is when the elevator

30

is caused to move up or down. In addition, the up-and-down movements of the elevator

30

and of the fresh bobbin

18

thereon are very limited so that such movements under the action of gravity and/or as induced by the motor

32

and feed screw

34

are highly unlikely to exert an adverse influence upon the movements of the fresh bobbins

18

toward and onto the shafts

10

a

and

10

b

. The fact that the elevator

30

need not be moved sideways also contributes to pronounced reliability of guidance of a fresh bobbin

18

which has come into the range of the elevator for the purpose of being advanced to the leftmost position of

FIG. 5

(i.e. , as near to the turntable

2

as possible) or directly from the station

20

onto one of the shafts

10

a

,

10

b.

A presently preferred highly desirable and advantageous feature of the improved apparatus

1

is that the elevator

30

need not carry out any angular, helical and/or other movements along one or more arcuate paths. This not only simplifies the mounting of the elevator

30

but also ensures that the means for confining the elevator to its simple linear (up-and-down and/or reciprocatory) movements can stand long periods of use. Thus, all that is actually necessary is to lift a selected fresh bobbin IS off the guide members

26

, to advance the thus raised fresh bobbin toward and beyond the front end portions of the guide members

26

preparatory to moving the fresh bobbin downwardly, forwardly and upwardly to a position of exact axial alignment of the central opening

70

(

FIG. 16

) of its core

56

with the shaft

10

a

or

10

b

. This is followed by an axial movement of the fresh bobbin all the way to the position shown in the left-hand portion of FIG.

7

F.

FIG. 1

shows that the turntable

2

is located between the guide members

26

of the reservoir for fresh bobbins

18

. This contributes to compactness of the apparatus

1

and ensures that the surfaces of the tracks

38

(which share the movements of the elevator and actually contact a lifted bobbin

18

) are less likely to become contaminated. Furthermore, such mounting of the elevator

30

and its tracks

38

enables the elevator to rapidly reach any selected fresh bobbin

18

on the guide members

26

of the reservoir for fresh bobbins

18

. This holds true irrespective of whether the elevator

30

is to serve as a means for shunting the fresh bobbins

18

at the station

20

or as a means for delivering fresh bobbins onto the shafts

10

a

and

10

b

. It will be seen that, quite surprisingly, the placing of the elevator

30

between and at a level below the guide members

26

contributes significantly to the versatility and flexibility of the entire apparatus. Moreover, the simplicity of the paths for the elevator

30

and the versatility of the elevator render it possible to employ rather simple, compact and sturdy controls including the electronic circuitry (if any), the fluid-operated components, and the sensor(s).

An advantage of positioning a fresh bobbin

18

(such as the left-hand bobbin of

FIG. 5

) at a location very close to the turntable

2

is that, if and when necessary, a fresh bobbin can be transferred onto the shaft

10

a

or

10

b

with very little loss in time. The situation is even more satisfactory if the controls for the elevator

30

are set up with a view to ensure that the elevator normally comes to a halt at a level beneath the fresh bobbin which is nearest to the turntable

2

. This, too, is shown in FIG.

5

.

The mounting of the shafts

10

a

,

10

b

on the turntable

2

in such a way that their axes are parallel to the axis

4

of the turntable also contributes to simplicity, compactness and reliability of the apparatus

1

. Thus, this is one of the reasons that the elevator

30

is merely required to perform short upward and downward movements but mainly a linear movement in parallelism with the axes of the turntable and the shafts

10

a

,

10

b.

Another important advantage of the improved apparatus

1

is that its bobbins are not subjected to prononced stresses so that they can employ simple, compact and inexpensive (such as throw-away) cores

56

. Moreover, a throw-away core can be readily affixed to the shaft

10

a

or

10

b

by resorting to adhesive-coated strips and/or to simple clamps which can even deform a throw-away core

56

during retention against axial movement on the shaft

10

a

or

10

b

toward or away from the adjacent surface of the turntable

2

. For example, each of the shafts

10

a

,

10

b

can be provided with projections which are retractible into or movable radially outwadly beyond the peripheral surfaces of the shafts

10

a

,

10

b

to thus possibly deform but to reliably hold the core

56

of a bobbin

18

or

14

in requisite axial and/or angular position relative to the shaft.

Each core

56

can be readily designed in such a way that its radially innermost portion can be deformed by the aforediscussed projections of the shaft

10

a

or

10

b

but that such deformation does not affect the condition of the supply

22

of convoluted web material

16

which is to be fed to a consuming machine.

The advantages of the sensor

42

or equivalent monitoring means will be readily appreciated upon perusal of the preceding parts of this specification. Thus, the sensor

42

reliably prevents collision between neighboring fresh bobbins

18

on the guide members

26

and other fresh bobbins (such as the bobbin

18

above the elevator

30

and the bobbin A shown in FIG.

8

). Furthermore, such sensor renders it possible to readily position neighboring fresh bobbins on the guide members

26

at a desired or required distance from each other. Still further, the sensor

42

or an equivalent sensor can reliably arrest the elevator

30

in an optimum position for most satisfactory engagement with a fresh bobbin

18

which is to be lifted above the guide members

26

preparatory to advancement of such fresh bobbin in the axial direction of the turntable

2

.

Several of the just enumerated advantages of the sensor

42

are achieved due to the fact that the sensor is mounted on the elevator

30

and/or to the fact that the elevator

30

is provided with a single sensor

42

. It is presently preferred to employ a photosensitive detector. If the sensor

42

is mounted at that side of the elevator

30

which confronts the turntable

2

(this is actually shown in the drawings), it is presently preferred to move the elevator

30

away from the turntable

2

until the radiation issuing from a photosensitive sensor or detector

42

is no longer obstructed by the fresh bobbin

18

which is located to the left of the elevator as viewed in

FIGS. 2

to

13

.

An important advantage of the arrangement

50

is that it can remove and gather empty cores (expired bobbins)

56

in a simple and time-saving manner. Though the arrangement

50

can be put to use in certain conventional bobbin manipulating apparatus, it is particularly advantageous to employ it in combination with the apparatus

1

or an equivalent bobbin manipulating apparatus. The gripper

58

not only serves to transfer cores

56

from the shaft

10

a

or

10

b

into the trough

54

of the arrangement

50

but can further serve to move one or more (e.g., an entire row of) cores

56

within the trough

54

. The utilization of a trough

54

which is designed to accept and to temporarily confine one, two or an entire row of coaxial cores

56

also contributes to the simplicity, compactness and lower cost of the arrangement

50

and hence of the novel combination of constituents including the arrangement

50

and the apparatus

1

. Additional savings in space are achieved in that the trough

54

is installed next to the guide members

26

and is parallel or at least substantially parallel thereto. If desired or necessary, one or more spare troughs

54

can be installed in the lower right-hand portion of the apparatus (as viewed in FIG.

1

).

FIGS. 14

to

16

illustrate certain details of a modified apparatus. All such parts which are identical or plainly analogous to those already described with reference to the apparatus

1

of

FIGS. 1

to

13

are denoted by similar characters. The modified apparatus of

FIGS. 14

to

16

employs a gripper or lever

60

which is mounted on the linear guide

40

so that it can be pivoted between the positions shown in

FIGS. 14 and 15

.

FIG. 16

shows that this lever is installed between the shafts

10

a

,

10

b

and the adjacent ends of the guide members

26

. The lever

60

is pivotable about an axis which is parallel to that of the shaft

4

for the turntable

2

.

The lever

60

is idle when it assumes the angular position of

FIG. 14

, namely it does not interfere with the advancement of a fresh bobbin

18

from the reservoir including the guide members

26

onto the shaft

10

a

or

10

b

, whichever is then maintained at the nine o'clock position of the turntable

2

as viewed in FIG.

14

.

Once a fresh bobbin

18

has been advanced from the predetermined (leftmost) position of

FIG. 6

onto the aligned stub shaft

10

a

or

10

b

(namely onto the shaft

10

a

as viewed in FIG.

15

), the lever

15

is pivoted from the inoperative position of

FIG. 14

to the operative position of

FIG. 5

so that it holds the bobbin

18

against axial movement away from the turntable

2

and off the shaft

10

a

. The dimensions of the parts in the apparatus of

FIGS. 14

to

16

are selected in such a way that the lever

60

must be pivoted through approximately 80° in order to move from the inoperative or retracted position of

FIG. 14

to the operative position of

FIG. 15

, or vice versa.

The apparatus of

FIGS. 14

to

16

further comprises a suitable sensor

64

which is shown as being mounted at the free end

62

of the lever. This sensor is located at the level of the lowermost portion

66

of the shaft

10

a

or

10

b

, whichever is located at the nine o'clock position of the turntable

2

shown in

FIG. 14

or

15

. A bobbin

18

and the elevator

30

are located at their predetermined positions of FIG.

16

. The sensor

64

monitors the bobbin

18

on the elevator and transmits a signal when it detects the lowermost portion

68

of the central opening

70

in the core of such bobbin. The elevator

30

then descends and the lever

60

is then pivoted back to the position of FIG.

14

. This. enables the elevator

30

to again move the bobbin

18

to the level of the shaft

10

a

or

10

b.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,974,007 (granted Aug. 10, 1976 to Greve for “METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF FILTER ROD SECTIONS OR THE LIKE”) dicloses a filter rod making machine which can utilize an apparatus (

1

) and an expired bobbin manipulating arrangement (

50

) embodying the present invention. The fresh bobbins

18

then contain supplies

22

of convoluted cigarette paper (

16

) which is fed to a mechanism serving to drape a continuous web of cigarette paper or any other suitable strip-shaped wrapping material around a continuous rod-like filler of fibrous filter material for tobacco smoke.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,281,670 (granted Aug. 4, 1981 to Heitmann et al. for “APPARATUS FOR INCREASING THE PERMEABILITY OF WRAPPING MATERIAL FOR ROD-SHAPED SMOKERS' PRODUCTS”) discloses a cigarette rod making machine which can employ the apparatus

1

and the arrangement

50

of the present invention to supply a continuous web of cigarette paper to a wrapping mechanism wherein the web is draped around a continuous rod-like filler of tobacco and/or other smokable material so that the filler and the web form a continuous cigarette rod which is ready to be subdivided into plain cigarettes of unit length or multiple unit length.

The '670 patent to Heitmann et al. further discloses a filter tipping machine wherein bobbins of convoluted web material are utilized to supply so-called tipping paper one side of which is coated with adhesive paste and the leding end of which is severed at regular intervals to yield a series of so-called uniting bands. The uniting bands are draped around filter mouthpieces and portions of plain cigarettes of unit length or multiple unit length. The thus united products constitute filter cigarettes of unit length or multiple unit length. Filter cigarettes of unit length are ready for packing, e.g., in the aforediscussed machine known as COMPAS 500. Filter cigarettes of multiple unit length must be subdivided (to yield filter cigarettes of unit length) prior to packing.

It is further clear that the improved apparatus

1

and/or the improved arrangement

50

can be utilized, with equal or similar advantage, in numerous machines and/or production lines wherein webs of paper, metallic foil, plastic foil, and/or other webs or strips of flexible material are to be fed to various web consuming and/or processing machines, e.g., for the making and the application of labels, wrapping materials other than those used in cigarette packing machines and/or many others.

All U.S. and/or foreign patents, Utility Models, patent applications and/or other publications adequately disclosing machines, production lines, apparatus and/or other structures which can be utilized in conjunction with and/or which can embody and/or which can be otherwise usefully combined or associated with the aforedescribed novel apparatus and/or novel arrangement are to be considered as having been incorporated herein by reference. This also includes the commonly owned parent German patent application Serial No. 198 47 160.2 filed Oct. 13, 1998.

The method of the present invention can be practiced to supply a series of successive fresh rotary bobbins, each of which contains a supply of convoluted flexible web material (such as paper, metallic foil, plastic foil and/or the like) to an unwinding location (e.g., in a packing, other wrapping, filter tipping, cigarette rod making, filter rod making or other machine or production line) where the bobbins are rotated about a predetermined axis to pay out (i.e., dispense) the convoluted web material.

In accordance with a presently preferred embodiment, the method comprises the steps of establishing for fresh bobbins a station arranged to accommodate a variable number of fresh bobbins, and conveying individual bobbins in parallelism with and transversely of the predetermined axis.

In accordance with a feature of the invention, the conveying step involves (or can involve) moving the bobbins only in parallelism with and transversely of the predetermined axis.

The predetermined axis is, or can be, an at least substantially horizontal axis, and the step of moving the bobbins in parallelism with and transversely of the predetermined axis then preferably includes moving the bobbins horizontally and vertically.

The method can further comprise the step of temporarily arresting at least some of the fresh bobbins together constituting the aforementioned series of bobbins at a predetermined distance from the unwinding location.

The method can also comprise the step of maintaining the fresh bobbins at the aforementioned station in positions in which the bobbins are coaxial with each other.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic and specific aspects of the above outlined contribution to the art of apparatus for loading and unloading bobbins and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the appended claims.

Number	Name	Date	Kind
3974007	Greve	Aug 1976	A
4281670	Heitmann et al.	Aug 1981	A
4798349	Manservisi	Jan 1989	A
4840321	Focke et al.	Jun 1989	A
4896842	Heinz et al.	Jan 1990	A
4953805	Rauh	Sep 1990	A
5031381	Focke	Jul 1991	A
5135103	Focke et al.	Aug 1992	A
5205505	Focke et al.	Apr 1993	A
5248109	Berger et al.	Sep 1993	A
5249757	Draghetti et al.	Oct 1993	A
5285978	Sakano et al.	Feb 1994	A

Number	Date	Country
12 66 094	Aug 1966	DE
37 40 806	Jun 1989	DE
41 13 193	Nov 1991	DE
0 260 453	Mar 1988	EP
0 269 807	Jun 1988	EP
0 487 907	Jun 1992	EP
0 539 983	May 1993	EP
07 081810	Mar 1995	EP
0 820 944	Jan 1998	EP
10 139230	May 1998	EP

Bobbin loading and unloading apparatus

Information

Patent Number

Date Filed

Date Issued

Inventors

Original Assignees

Examiners

Agents

CPC

US Classifications

Field of Search

US

International Classifications

Abstract

Description

Claims

Priority Claims (1)

US Referenced Citations (12)

Foreign Referenced Citations (10)