The present invention relates to a device for the handling of logs, and more in particular for the handling of logs during the trimming of the same.
It is known that a log is made of web-like material wound around a tubular core made of cardboard or similar material. It is also known that logs are formed by “rewinding” machines, downstream from which usually there are a storage unit for logs and, further still, one or more cutting machines. The latter cut the logs into shorter units, that is into retail size rolls, for example into toilet tissue rolls. A so-called “trimming” is provided since, after the rewinding phase, the logs are never perfectly cylindrical, meaning that the two extremities of each rewound log are never perfectly orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the log. Such operation, which may be provided before the logs enter the cutting machines or within the operational area of the same, consists of the removal of reduced amounts of material from each log in correspondence of each extremity by means of two simultaneous cuts made by blades cutting the log as it is transported.
In order to obtain an effective trimming, it is necessary to ensure a functional handling of the logs, the lack of which would result in imprecise cuts made in correspondence of each extremity.
The main objective of the present invention is to provide a device that ensures the most effective handling of the logs to be trimmed.
This result has been achieved, according to the invention, by adopting the idea of making a device having the characteristics disclosed in claim 1. Further characteristics of the present invention are dealt with in the dependent claims.
Thanks to the present invention, logs, of any diameter, are effectively handled and guided during the trimming phase, therefore maximizing the precision of the trimming operation. Moreover, a device according to the invention is easy to make, cost-effective and still reliable after extended use.
These and other advantages and characteristics of the invention will be best understood by anyone skilled in the art from a reading of the following description in conjunction with the attached drawings given as a practical exemplification of the invention, but not to be considered in a limitative sense, wherein:
FIG. l is a schematic rear-lateral perspective of a device according to the invention;
Reduced to its basic structure, and reference being made to the figures in the attached drawings, a guided handling device, according to the invention, is comprised of:
Said handling means for logs are supported, at least in part, by a structure (4, 5) which, in turn, is supported by said fixed structure and interlocked with relative movement means in order to allow it to make a traverse movement parallel to the sides (1) of the fixed structure, that is along the longitudinal development of the girders (2).
In more detail, and with reference being made to the examples shown in the attached drawings, said handling means of logs (3) are comprised of two series (H, K) of “L” shaped guide blades (see
Practically, in the attached drawings, the guide blades (6, 7, 6′, 7′) of the first series (H) are the lower ones, whereas the guide blades (8, 9, 8′, 9′) of the second series (K) are the upper ones.
Moreover, the guide blades (6, 7, 8, 9) of the first group (J) are those to the left of said plane (Q), whereas the guide blades (6′, 7′, 8′, 9′) of the second group (L) are those to the right.
Finally, the guide blades of a same series and of a same group are subdivided into two subgroups set on opposite sides of the action plane of a corresponding cutting blade belonging to said cutting means: the guide blades (6, 7) of the first series (H) and of the first group (J) are on opposite sides of the action plane (TJ) of a first cutting blade (10) intended to provide a corresponding trimming of the incoming logs, as more clearly described below; the guide blades (8, 9) of the second series (K) and of the first group (J) are also on opposite sides of said plane (TJ); the guide blades (6′, 7′) of the first series (H) and of the second group (L) are on opposite sides of the action plane (TL) of a second cutting blade (11) positioned opposite the first blade on the other side of said plane (Q) in order to provide a corresponding trimming of the incoming logs and, analogously, the guide blades (8′, 9′) of the second series (K) and, simultaneously, of the second group (L) are on opposite sides of the action plane (TL) of the second cutting blade (11).
The guide blades (6, 8, 6′, 8′) are external to the cutting planes (TJ, TL), whereas the guide blades (7, 9, 7′, 9′) are internal, that is they are included between these two planes.
The guide blades (6, 7, 8, 9, 6′, 7′, 8′, 9′) are integral with corresponding endless belts (60, 70, 80, 90, 60′, 70′, 80′, 90′) put onto respective drive and snub pulleys (600, 700, 800, 900, 600′, 700′, 800′, 900′): said belts are positioned along the same direction of the path of logs (3) from the entrance front (I) to the exit front (U), and are arranged, analogously to the guide blades being conveyed, into two series (H, K) on opposite sides of the trajectory of logs (3) and into two groups (J, L) on opposite sides of said plane (Q).
Each one of said endless belts is put onto two corresponding pulleys, one driving and the other one idle. According to the example shown in the attached drawings, the drive pulleys are located in the front, that is by the entrance front (I) of the logs (3) to be trimmed, and the idle pulleys are located in the back, that is by the exit front (U) of the trimmed logs (3′). The drive pulleys for the blades (6, 7, 6′, 7′, 8, 9, 8′, 9′) of a same series (H; K) are coaxial. Analogously, the idle pulleys of a same series (H; K) are coaxial.
The diagram in
Each one of said belts (60, 70, 80, 90, 60′, 70′, 80′, 90′) carries a plurality of corresponding guide blades (6, 7, 8, 9, 6′, 7′, 8′, 9′), so that the guide blades on each belt are set at a preset distance from one another.
The guide blades (8, 9, 8′, 9′) of the second series (K) and the guide blades (6, 6′) of the first series (H) external to the cutting planes (TJ, TL) are all of the same width, whereas the guide blades (7, 7′) of the first series (H) are of a greater width and, therefore, they are advantageously mounted onto corresponding pairs of endless belts (70, 70′) put onto respective pairs of pulleys (700, 700′) located at the two extremities of same guide blades (7, 7′).
Moreover, the guide blades (6, 7, 6′, 7′) of the first series (H) are mounted onto respective belts (60, 70, 60′, 70′) in a reverse position compared to the position of the guide blades (8, 9, 8′, 9′) of the second series (K) on the relative belts (80, 90, 80′, 90′).
In more detail, the guide blades (8, 9, 8′, 9′) of the second series (K) are mounted onto corresponding belts so that, when passing through the space covered by the logs (3), the respective concavities face the exit front (U) of the trimmed logs (3′), whereas the guide blades (6, 7, 6′, 7′) of the first series (H) are mounted onto corresponding belts so that, when passing through said space, the respective concavities face the entrance front (I) of the logs (3) to be trimmed.
In other words, the guide blades (6, 7, 6′, 7′) of the first series (H) are mounted onto the respective belts (60, 70, 60′, 70′) so as to result specular to the guide blades (8, 9, 8′, 9′) of the second series (K). In such way, as shown in
The pulleys (600′, 700′) of the guide blades (6′, 7′) belonging to the first series (H) and to the second group (L) (the guide blades in the lower right corner in the diagram in
Said internal side (14) is parallel to the external sides (1) of the structure (1, 2) and may be used as datum point to define said plane (Q), which virtually separates the guide blades (6, 7, 8, 9, 6′, 7′, 8′, 9′) into two groups (J, L).
The pulleys (800′, 900′) of the guide blades (8′, 9′) belonging to the second series (K) and to the second group (L) (the guide blades in the upper right corner) are assembled onto two corresponding parallel shafts (15, 16) with each axis of rotation at a preset distance from one another and oriented orthogonally to the pulleys (800′, 900′). Said shafts (15, 16) are cantilevered by a corresponding plate (17) set next to the external right side (1) of the structure (1, 2): the plate (17) is bound to said side (1) by means of two vertical guides (18) and is connected to means of vertical movement which allow movement to and from the underlying guide blades (6′, 7′) of the first series (H) in relation to the diameter of the logs (3) to be treated (see
Said movement means of the plate (17) are comprised of, as shown in the example in the attached drawings, a pinion (19) mounted onto a respective and appropriately motorized shaft (20), engaging with a rack (21) integral with a vertical appendix (170) of the plate (17): the rotation of the shaft (20) in a direction or in the other determines the approach of the plate (17), and thus of the corresponding guide blades (8′, 9′), to the underlying guide blades (6′, 7′) of the same group (L) and of the first series (H), or, vice versa, their distancing from the same.
The shaft (15), onto which the front pulleys (800′, 900′) of the guide blades (8′, 9′) are fitted, is equipped with a pulley (22) and an endless serrated belt (230) put onto the same pulley (22) and three other pulleys (23, 24, 25) set below, that is, about at the same height of the guide blades of the first series (H), one guide blade (23) being fitted onto the extremity of a shaft (26) interlocked with a respective motor (27), another one (24) being fitted onto the extremity of a shaft (12) onto which the front pulleys (600′, 700′) of the guide blades (6′, 7′) of the first series (H) and of the second group (J) are mounted, and the third one (25) being joined to a pneumatic tightener (28) by means of a lever (29).
The latter is located on the internal face of the corresponding side (1) of the structure (1, 2) and is connected to the pulley (25) by means of a shaft (30), orthogonally traversing the same side (1): said tightener (28) is located, like the lever (29), on the internal face of said side (1).
The pulleys (22, 23, 24, 25), on which the belt (230) is put, are located on the external face of said side (1) (external right side in the attached drawings).
The guide blades (6, 7, 8, 9) of the first group (J) are supported by the internal mobile sides (4, 5) in the same way as those (6′, 7′, 8′, 9′) of the second group are supported by the fixed sides (1) and (14).
In more detail, the pulleys (600, 700), on which the belts (60, 70) with the guide blades (6, 7) of the first series (H) and of the first group (J) are put, are fitted on said driving shaft (26), which traverses the internal mobile sides (4) and (5). The latter, set at a fixed and preset distance from one another, rest on the girders (2) of the fixed structure (1, 2) by means of corresponding sliding blocks (40, 50) and interlock with corresponding means suited to control their traverse to and from the fixed internal side (14) in relation to the length of the logs (3) to be treated.
Said first cutting blade(10) interlocks with an electrical motor (100) which, as more clearly illustrated in the diagram in
Said second cutting blade (11) interlocks with a corresponding electrical motor (110) which is supported by the right side (1) of the fixed structure (1, 2) so as to result in an external position in relation to the path followed by the corresponding guide blades (6′, 7′, 8′, 9′) of the second group (L).
As stated above, the sides (4) and (5) are mobile. In more detail, said sides are rigidly connected to one another and interlocked with relative movement means, which allow appropriate positioning of said sides in relation to the length of the logs to be treated. Such movement means are comprised of, as shown in the construction example in the attached drawings, a horizontal rod (500) fastened to the external face (left side 4e in the detail in
The pulleys (800, 900) of the upper guide blades (8, 9) belonging to the first group (J) are fitted onto respective shafts (32, 33) cantilevered by a plate (180) set next to the mobile left side (4): the plate (180) is bound to said mobile side (4) by means of two vertical slide ways (34) and interlocks with means of vertical movement which allow the movement to and from the underlying guide blades of the first series (H), in relation to the diameter of the logs (3) to be treated. Said movement means are comprised of, as shown in the example in the attached drawings, a pinion (190) mounted onto said shaft (20) interlocked with a rack (210) integral with a vertical appendix (181) of the plate (180).
Practically, said plates (17) and (180) are identical: the plate (17) is bound to the external right side (1), whereas the plate (180) is bound to the mobile left side (4).
The shaft (35), onto which the front pulleys (800, 900) with the guide blades (8, 9) of the second series (K) and of the first group (J) are fitted, is equipped with a pulley (36) and an endless serrated belt (37) put onto the same pulley (36) and three other pulleys (38, 39, 42) set below, that is, about at the same height of the guide blades of the first series (H), one guide blade (38) being fitted onto a corresponding extremity of said shaft (26), another one (39) being fitted onto the extremity of a shaft (41) onto which the pulleys (600, 700) of the underlying guide blades (6, 8) are mounted, and the third one (42) being joined to a hydraulic tightener (43) by means of a lever (44). The latter is located on the internal face of said side (4) and is connected to the pulley (42) by means of a shaft (400), orthogonally traversing the same side (4). The tightener (43) is located, like the corresponding lever (44), on the internal face of said side (4,), that is on the face of the side (4) facing the mobile side (5). Said pulleys (36, 38, 39, 42) are instead located on the external face of the side (4).
In conclusion, the guide blades (6, 7, 8, 9) of the first group (J) may be moved closer to or further apart from the guide blades (6′, 7′, 8′, 9′) of the second group (L) (in the example, by means of the traverse of the mobile sides 4, 5 along the girders 2), in relation to the length of the logs (3).
Moreover, the guide blades (8, 9, 8′, 9′) of the second series (K) may be closer to the guide blades (6, 7, 6′, 7′) of the first series (H), or further apart, in relation to the diameter of the logs (3).
The conveying of all the guide blades is made possible by the motor (27) that puts into rotation all the respective front pulleys (600, 700, 800, 900, 600′, 700′, 800′, 900′) by means of the belts (37) and (230).
When the plates (17, 180), supporting the groups of guide blades (8, 9) and (8′, 9′) of the second series (K), are raised (during this phase the motor 27 is deactivated), and since the belts (37, 230) are supported by the fixed pulleys (39, 38, 23, 24) as well as by the shafts of the front pulleys (800, 900, 800′, 900′), the pulleys (36) and (22), simultaneously, also rotate (clockwise) and, therefore, the respective guide blades (8, 9, 8′, 9′) move backwards.
Vice versa, when the rotation of the shaft (20) is such that it forces said plates (17, 180) into a lower position, since the tighteners (28) and (43) exert a downwards pull on the pulleys (42, 25) with which they interlock, the shafts of said pulleys (800, 900, 800′, 900′) are correspondingly made to rotate (counterclockwise) and, therefore, the respective guide blades (8, 9, 8′, 9′) of the second series (K) move forwards.
In such way, that is due to the combined movements of raising (lowering) and moving backwards (moving forwards) of the guide blades (8, 9, 8′, 9′) of the second series (K), the entire apparatus makes an effective and precise adjustment to the diameter of the logs (3) to be treated, which, while being cut by the blades (10) and (11), are always in contact both with the guide blades of the first series (H) and with the guide blades of the second series (K).
In correspondence of the entrance front (I) of the logs (3), two planes (45, 46) are set, along which the logs (3) roll, after arriving from a feed system (already known and, therefore, not described in further detail). In more detail, one of said planes (45) is integral with the mobile sides (4, 5), and the other (46) is integral with the fixed sides (1) and (14). In addition, two corresponding planes (47, 48) are set in correspondence of the exit front (U) of the trimmed logs (3′).
As shown in the attached drawings, said planes (45, 46, 47, 48) correspond to the guide blades (6, 7, 6′, 7′) of the first series (H) and exhibit a plurality of appendices oriented towards the same guide blades (6, 7, 6′, 7′). The length of the exit planes (47, 48) corresponds to the length of the guide blades (7, 7′) of the first series (H) included between the cutting planes (TJ, TL). Said guide blades (7, 7′) are interrupted in correspondence of the appendices on the entrance and exit planes (45, 46, 47, 48) of the logs, so that they may traverse the logs without interference, that is so that the transit of the guide blades in correspondence of the planes is unobstructed.
Below the guide blades (6, 7, 6′, 7′) of the first series (H), that is in correspondence of and below the space between said guide blades and the exit planes (47, 48) of the trimmed logs (3′), means to collect and remove the trim ends (300), resulting from the operation, are disposed and functional. As shown in the example in the attached drawings, said means are comprised of an endless belt (49) put onto two corresponding axles set on a sub-structure (52) integral with the external sides (1) of said fixed structure (1, 2) and interlocked with a corresponding electric motor (51). Both said belt (49) and the sub-structure (52) are parallel to the girders (2) of the fixed structure (1, 2) and are set into motion by the relative motor (51), so that the trim ends (300), which fall thereon, are removed (in reference to the drawings, the forward direction of the belt 49 is indicated by a broken line arrow).
The device described above functions as follows. Firstly, in relation to the length and diameter of logs (3), the position of the mobile sides (4, 5) and of the plates (17, 180) is adjusted by bringing the mobile sides (4, 5) closer to or further apart from the internal fixed side (14), in relation to the length the logs (3), and by lowering or raising the plates (17, 180), in relation to the diameter of the logs (3). Then the motors (100, 110) of the blades (10, 11) and the motor (27), which controls the movement of all the guide blades (6, 7, 8, 9, 6′, 7′, 8′, 9′) by means of the shaft (26), are set into motion. As the logs (3) arrive onto the entrance planes (45, 46), they first come into contact with the guide blades (6, 7, 6′, 7′) of the first series (H) and then they are engaged, on the diametrically opposite side, by the upper guide blades (8, 9, 8′, 9′) of the second series (K), thus, they are made stable and transported throughout the zone of action of the blades (10, 11), and then they are released by the same guide blades and dropped onto the exit planes (47, 48).
Since the logs (3), during the trimming phase, are thus guided and blocked by the guide blades (6, 7, 8, 9, 6′, 7′, 8′, 9′), the trimming results of the maximum precision. The trim ends (300), produced in correspondence of the blades (10, 11), come into contact with the guide blades (6, 8, 6′, 8′) which are external to the cutting planes (TJ, TL), and, since the removal planes (47, 48) extend exclusively below the guide blades (7, 9, 7′, 9′) included between said cutting planes, and the trimmed logs (3′) are directed to the removal planes (47, 48), the trim ends (300) fall onto the underlying belt (49), which carries them away from the device.
Advantageously, as more clearly visible in the diagrams in
The above description makes clear that the means for the handling of logs also block and hold the logs along said path, without having to rely on supplementary blocking members, which would be distinctly separate from the handling means, thus eliminating any difficulty related to the relative control of such specific members during the handling of logs.
Practically, the construction details may vary in any equivalent way as far as the shape, dimension, disposition of elements, nature of the used materials are concerned, without nevertheless departing from the scope of the adopted solution idea and, thereby, remaining within the limits of the protection granted to the present patent.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
FI2004A000084 | Apr 2004 | IT | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
---|---|---|---|---|
PCT/IT05/00151 | 3/22/2005 | WO | 9/20/2006 |