Assembly for Handling Reel Spools and a Reel-up - Unwinder System for a Fiber Web Production Line

Abstract

An assembly for handling reel spools (55) has spaced parallel horizontal support rails (12) and parallel vertical support elements (13; 15). Each of the horizontal support rails (12) extends between two of the vertical elements (13, 15) such that one vertical support element (13; 15) is arranged at each end of the support rail (12). Hoisting devices (30) are mounted to vertical elements at an unwinder end for raising reel spools above the rails for transfer to a reel spool transfer device (40) arranged on the support rails (12) which is movable to transport a hoisted reel spool to an opposite end where the reel spools are received by lowering devices (70). The invention also relates to a reel-up-unwinder system for a fiber web production line.

I claim: 
     
         1 . An assembly for handling reel spools having engagement ends, the assembly comprising:
 parallel vertical support elements positioned at a first end and a second end of the assembly, the vertical support elements being positioned in an area for access of engagement ends of the reel spool, wherein the first end is spaced in a machine direction from the second end;   parallel spaced horizontal support rails extending between the vertical support elements, the horizontal support rails being spaced from one another in a cross-machine direction which is perpendicular to the machine direction;   a reel spool transfer device movably arranged on the horizontal support rails for movement between the first end and the second end for engagement and transfer of the reel spools from the first end to the second end;   hoisting devices mounted to each of the parallel support elements at the first end of the assembly, and movable vertically thereon, the hoisting devices configured to engage the engagement ends of the reel spools and move the reel spool engagement ends above the horizontal support rails; and   lowering devices mounted to each of the parallel support elements at the second end of the assembly and movable vertically thereon, the lowering devices arranged to engage the reel spool engagement ends and transport the reel spools to a position below the horizontal support rails.   
     
     
         2 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein each of the hoisting devices and the lowering devices further comprises a hook member which extends in the machine direction and which is configured to attach and support one of the engagement ends of one of the reel spools. 
     
     
         3 . The assembly of  claim 2  wherein the hook member of each of the hoisting devices further comprises a tilting mechanism. 
     
     
         4 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein the hoisting device is located in a vertical area between the support rails. 
     
     
         5 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein the hoisting devices and the lowering devices have a similar construction. 
     
     
         6 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein the hoisting device and the lowering device each comprise a hook member, and wherein the hook member of each hoisting device extends towards the hook member of an opposed lowering device. 
     
     
         7 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein the reel spool transfer device further comprises an integrated rotation device for reject removal. 
     
     
         8 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein the reel spool transfer device comprises:
 two support parts, one engaged with each of the horizontal support rails; and 
 a cross directional support beam extending between the two support parts, wherein the cross directional support beam is arranged in a middle area of the reel spool transfer device. 
 
     
     
         9 . The assembly of  claim 8  wherein the cross directional support beam is positioned to underlie a reel spool transported by the reel spool transfer device and there is only a single cross directional support beam in the middle area of the reel spool transfer device and no other cross directional beam extending between the two support parts. 
     
     
         10 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein the reel spool has a first length, and wherein the distance between the horizontal support rails is greater than the first length. 
     
     
         11 . The assembly of  claim 10  wherein the distance between the horizontal sport rails is at least 500 mm greater than the first length. 
     
     
         12 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein the reel spool transfer device comprises:
 moving elements connected to body parts, the body parts supported on the moving elements, wherein the moving elements are supported on the support rail; 
 support parts having portions defining a notch, for receiving and supporting ends at a bearing of the reel spool; and 
 wherein each support part is connected to one of the body parts. 
 
     
     
         13 . The assembly of  claim 12  wherein the body parts and support parts of the reel spool transfer device are constructed as one piece. 
     
     
         14 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein a tilting mechanism is mounted between the hook member and a vertical base element of the hoisting device, the tilting mechanism being operable to pivot the hook member downwardly, such that the hoisting device can be lowered to bring the hook member below the bearing ends of the reel spool, the tilting mechanism thus providing for lowering the hoisting device when there is a reel spool occupying an unwinder at the first end of the assembly. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the system is part of a fiber web production line, and further comprising:
 two parallel substantially horizontal transfer rails spaced from each other in a horizontal direction and extending between the vertical elements; 
 a reel spool station at the second end; 
 a reel up; 
 a parent roll storage; and 
 an unwinder arranged on the transfer rails at the first end. 
 
     
     
         16 . The reel-up-unwinder system of  claim 15 , wherein the system further comprises a reject removal station located on the support rails. 
     
     
         17 . The reel-up-unwinder system of  claim 15 , wherein the transfer rails are located beneath the support rails. 
     
     
         18 . The reel-up-unwinder system of  claim 15  wherein the distance between the transfer rails in the horizontal direction is less than the distance in the horizontal direction between the support rails. 
     
     
         19 . The reel-up-unwinder system of  claim 15  wherein the system further comprises a reel spool storage arranged on the support rails.