Re-reeling machine for plastic film and the like

Abstract

The re-reeling machine comprises a feed assembly ( 5 ) for feeding tubular winding cores and a re-reeling assembly ( 3 ) with a revolver unit ( 57 ) on which the tubular winding cores (C) are set in order to wind on them predetermined amounts of web-like material and form respective rolls (B) of wound web-like material. The revolver unit rotates about an axis of rotation (A) and has at least two supports ( 101, 102 ) for tubular cores, which are set in two angular positions with respect to said axis of rotation. The tubular-core feed assembly comprises a dispensing path ( 165, 171 ) for dispensing tubular cores to a core loader ( 181 ). The core loader is provided with a motion of approach to the revolver unit and a motion of following of the movement of the revolver unit, in order to transfer the tubular cores from the loader to the revolver unit.

1 . A re-reeling machine for re-reeling a web-like material, in particular plastic film, comprising a feed assembly for feeding tubular winding cores and a re-reeling assembly with a revolver unit on which the tubular winding cores are set for winding thereon pre-determined amounts of web-like material and for forming respective rolls of wound web-like material, said revolver unit rotating about an axis of rotation and being provided with at least two supports for said tubular cores, which are set in two respective angular positions with respect to said axis of rotation, 
 characterized in that said feed assembly for feeding the tubular cores comprises a path for dispensing tubular cores to a core loader, said core loader being provided with a motion of approach to the revolver unit and a motion of following the movement of the revolver unit, in order to transfer the tubular cores form the loader to the revolver unit.    
     
     
         2 . The machine according to  claim 1 , characterized in that said loader comprises a core-launching device for setting the tubular cores in rotation before starting winding of the web-like material on the cores.  
     
     
         3 . The machine according to  claim 2 , characterized in that the core-launching device comprises a motor-driven rotatable member.  
     
     
         4 . The machine according to one or more of the foregoing claims, characterized in that said loader and said revolver unit comprise members for mutual engagement in order to co-ordinate the movement of the revolver unit with the movement of the loader in the step of transfer of the core from the loader to the revolver unit and of launching of the cores.  
     
     
         5 . The machine according to one or more of the foregoing claims, characterized in that said loader has at least one cradle for resting the cores that are to be loaded onto said revolver unit, said resting cradle being movable so as to be removed from the core once the latter has been engaged by the respective support on the revolver unit.  
     
     
         6 . The machine according to one or more of the foregoing claims, characterized in that said loader is provided with a dual motion of translation, namely both in the horizontal direction and in the vertical direction, so as to come up to the revolver unit.  
     
     
         7 . The machine according to  claim 4 , characterized in that said members for mutual engagement comprise, on the loader, a bracket and a first idler wheel, and, on said revolver unit, a second idler wheel, in a position of mutual engagement between said loader and said revolver unit, the second wheel resting on said bracket and on said first wheel so as to exert a thrust on the loader, said loader being in turn pushed against the revolver unit.  
     
     
         8 . The machine according to one or more of the foregoing claims, characterized in that said loader comprises means for centring the cores.  
     
     
         9 . The machine according to one or more of the foregoing claims, characterized in that said path for dispensing the cores to the loader comprises a path for dropping the cores and an oscillating dispenser which enables passage of individual cores from said dropping path to the loader.  
     
     
         10 . The machine according to  claim 9 , characterized in that said oscillating dispenser comprises two distinct seats for receiving individual cores that are to be transferred to the loader, said two seats having different dimensions and being used alternatively according to the size of the diameters of the cores.  
     
     
         11 . The machine according to one or more of the foregoing claims, characterized in that said loader comprises a horizontal cross member, which can slide along vertical guides, and in that supported on said cross member is a carriage which can move horizontally in a direction orthogonal to said cross member, said at least one cradle for resting the cores being supported on said carriage.  
     
     
         12 . The machine according to  claim 11 , characterized in that said cradle for resting the cores is carried by a bracket hinged to said carriage, an actuator being provided for controlling oscillation of said bracket with respect to the carriage.  
     
     
         13 . The machine according to claims  2  and  12 , characterized in that supported on said bracket is said core-launching device, the movement of oscillation of the bracket bringing the launching device into contact with the cylindrical surface of the core when the latter is supported by the revolver unit.  
     
     
         14 . The machine according to  claim 13 , characterized in that said launching device is carried by a pair of oscillating arms hinged to said bracket, an actuator being provided for causing said arms to oscillate with respect to said bracket.  
     
     
         15 . The machine according to one or more of the foregoing claims, characterized in that said revolver unit comprises, for each core support, a winding roller, which turns at a peripheral speed substantially corresponding to the rate of feed of the web-like material, the tubular core, or else the roll being formed on said core, being supported idle by the corresponding support and being pressed by the latter against the cylindrical surface of said winding roller so as to be kept in rotation.  
     
     
         16 . The machine according to  claim 15 , characterized in that each of said core supports comprises a pair of oscillating arms which carry respective heads for frontal engagement of the cores, the oscillating arms being displaced from a position where they take the core from the loader to a position where the core is brought up to the respective winding roller.  
     
     
         17 . The machine according to  claim 15  or  claim 16 , characterized in that said revolver unit has at least one pair of guide rollers over which the web-like material is run, said guide rollers and said winding rollers being set in alternated positions about the axis of rotation of the revolver unit.  
     
     
         18 . The machine according to  claim 17 , characterized in that said guide rollers are motor-driven.  
     
     
         19 . The machine according to  claim 18 , characterized in that said guide rollers and said winding rollers are driven into rotation by means of a single belt which receives motion from the shaft of the revolver unit.  
     
     
         20 . The machine according to one or more of the foregoing claims, characterized in that supported on said revolver unit, for each support for the winding cores, is an assembly for cutting the web-like material and applying the initial or leading edge of the web-like material on the winding core.  
     
     
         21 . The machine according to  claim 20 , characterized in that each of said assemblies for cutting the web-like material and applying the leading edge of the web-like material on the winding core comprises a pair of members over the web-like material is run, which are parallel to one another and set at a distance apart, and between which a cutting member is set.  
     
     
         22 . The machine according to  claim 21 , characterized in that associated to said cutting member is a blower member for pushing the free edge of the web-like material, generated by said cutting member, to wrap round the winding core.  
     
     
         23 . The machine according to  claim 21  or  claim 22 , characterized in that said pair of guide members and said cutting member set between them can move from a position set back within the path of the web-like material around the revolver unit, to an extracted position, in which the guide members deflect the web-like material around a new core on which winding is to start.  
     
     
         24 . The machine according to claims  15  and  23 , characterized in that said pair of guide members and said cutting member are supported by respective oscillating sides, which are hinged about the shaft of the respective winding roller.  
     
     
         25 . The machine according to one or more of  claims 21  to  24 , characterized in that said guide members are made up of bars on which idle sleeves are supported over which the web-like material is run.  
     
     
         26 . The machine according to one or more of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the supports for the cores are double so that each supports one of the two axially aligned winding cores, and in that two parallel paths are provided for two web-like materials that are fed simultaneously to the machine.  
     
     
         27 . The machine according to  claim 26 , characterized in that the loader is double so as to present simultaneously to the revolver unit two winding cores that are substantially axially aligned.  
     
     
         28 . The machine according to one or more of the foregoing claims, characterized in that it comprises a discharge assembly for discharging the cores from said revolver unit, said discharge assembly comprising a mobile slide, provided with a resting cradle for the finished rolls, the mobile slide being approachable to the revolver unit and removable from the latter to a core-discharging area.  
     
     
         29 . The machine according to  claim 28 , characterized in that said slide carries a braking roller for braking the roll.  
     
     
         30 . The machine according to  claim 28  or  claim 29 , characterized in that said cradle has at least one safety bracket for retention of the roll in said cradle, the said safety bracket being associated to an actuator for it to be opened and closed.  
     
     
         31 . The machine according to  claim 30 , characterized in that associated to said slide is a pusher for expelling the roll from said cradle to a discharge conveyor.  
     
     
         32 . The machine according to one or more of the foregoing claims, characterized in that associated to said core loader is a centring system for centring the cores before they are introduced into the revolver unit.  
     
     
         33 . The machine according to  claim 32 , characterized in that said centring system comprises at least one pair of side walls between which said cores are made to pass, the distance between said side walls being approximately equal to or slightly greater than the maximum axial length of the cores.  
     
     
         34 . The machine according to  claim 31  or  claim 32 , characterized in that said centring system comprises at least one pair of actuators for centring of the winding cores.  
     
     
         35 . The machine according to one or more of the foregoing claims, characterized in that it has a modular structure.  
     
     
         36 . The machine according to one or more of the foregoing claims, characterized in that it comprises an unreeler equipped with one or more printing heads.  
     
     
         37 . The machine according to  claim 36 , characterized in that said unreeler has a dual support for two parent reels of web-like material that are to be unwound simultaneously.