Forward feed supply device for a band material

Abstract

A forward feed supply device for feeding band material in a feeding direction. Band material is in contact with a drum contact surface of a forward feed drum. The drum contact surface corresponds to the circumferential jacket of a cylinder and can be a plastic surface. The forward feed drum can be rotatingly driven around a drum axis by a drive unit. The drum axis extends in a transverse direction orientated orthogonal to feeding direction. Multiple pressing units are arranged next to one another in transverse direction and press the band material with a defined pressing force against drum contact surface. Each pressing unit can comprise a pressing roller. The pressing roller has a roller contact surface that can be a plastic surface analog to the drum contact surface. For control of the pressing units and/or the drive unit the forward feed supply device can comprise a control device.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . Forward feed supply device ( 10 ) configured to supply band material ( 11 ) in a feeding direction R by applying a thrust force, wherein the forward feed supply device ( 10 ) comprises:
 a forward feed drum ( 16 ) having a drum contact surface ( 18 ) on which band material ( 11 ) abuts, wherein the forward feed drum ( 16 ) is rotatingly supported around a drum axis (W) extending in a transverse direction (Q) orthogonal to the feeding direction (R),   a drive unit ( 17 ) configured to rotatingly drive the forward feed drum ( 16 ) around the drum axis (W),   multiple pressing units ( 19 ) that are arranged next to one another in transverse direction (Q), wherein each of the pressing units ( 19 ) is configured to press the band material ( 11 ) with a defined pressing force (F) against the drum contact surface ( 18 ) of the forward feed drum ( 16 ),   a control device ( 25 ) that is configured to control the pressing units ( 19 ).   
     
     
         2 . Forward feed supply device according to  claim 1 , further comprising at least one monitoring sensor ( 24 ) assigned to the band material ( 11 ), wherein the monitoring sensor ( 24 ) is configured to produce a monitoring sensor value (U) describing the orientation of the band material ( 11 ) relative to the feeding direction (R) and to provide the monitoring sensor value (U) to the control device ( 25 ). 
     
     
         3 . Forward feed device according to  claim 1 , wherein the control device ( 25 ) is configured to control the pressing units ( 19 ), so that all pressing units ( 19 ) create pressing forces (F) having equal absolute values at least in one operating condition. 
     
     
         4 . Forward feed supply device according to  claim 1 , wherein the control device ( 25 ) is configured to control the pressing units ( 19 ), so that at least two of the present pressing units ( 19 ) create pressing forces (F) having different absolute values at least in one operating condition. 
     
     
         5 . Forward feed device according to  claim 2 , wherein the control device ( 25 ) is configured to control the pressing units ( 19 ), so that all the pressing units ( 19 ) create pressing forces (F) having equal absolute values at least in one operating condition and wherein the operating condition depends on the monitoring sensor value (U) of the at least one monitoring sensor ( 24 ) provided to the control device ( 25 ). 
     
     
         6 . Forward feed supply device according to  claim 1 , wherein the control device ( 25 ) is configured to control the pressing units ( 19 ) so that one, multiple or all provided pressing units ( 19 ) are at least temporarily lifted from the band material ( 11 ) or abut against the band material ( 11 ) at least temporarily with minimum pressing force (F), the pressing force (F) being preferably equal to zero. 
     
     
         7 . Forward feed supply device according to  claim 1 , wherein the drum contact surface ( 18 ) is cylindrically shaped. 
     
     
         8 . Forward feed supply device according to  claim 1 , wherein each pressing unit ( 19 ) comprises at least one pressing roller ( 20 ) rotatably supported around a roller axis (A), wherein the roller axis (A) extends in transverse direction (Q). 
     
     
         9 . Forward feed support device according to  claim 8 , wherein each pressing roller ( 20 ) is movable and/or supported in spring elastic manner orthogonal or radial to the drum axis (W). 
     
     
         10 . Forward feed supply device according to  claim 8 , wherein the pressing roller ( 20 ) comprises a roller contact surface ( 21 ) configured for abutment against the band material ( 11 ). 
     
     
         11 . Forward feed supply device according to  claim 10 , wherein the roller contact surface ( 21 ) is cylindrically shaped. 
     
     
         12 . Forward feed supply device according to  claim 1 , wherein each pressing unit ( 19 ) comprises an actuator device ( 26 ) that can be controlled by means of control device ( 25 ) for setting or adjusting the pressing force (F). 
     
     
         13 . Forward feed supply device according to  claim 12 , wherein the actuator device ( 26 ) is configured as double-acting actuator device ( 26 ). 
     
     
         14 . Forward feed supply device according to  claim 12 , wherein the actuator device ( 26 ) comprises a fluid cylinder ( 27 ) and particularly a pneumatic cylinder ( 28 ). 
     
     
         15 . Forward feed supply device according to  claim 12 , wherein the control device ( 25 ) is configured to control the actuator devices ( 26 ), so that disturbing influences are at least partly automatically compensated during operation. 
     
     
         16 . Forward feed device according to  claim 2 , wherein the control device ( 25 ) is configured to control the pressing units ( 19 ), so that at least two of the present pressing units ( 19 ) create pressing forces (F) having different absolute values at least in one operating condition and wherein the operating condition depends on the monitoring sensor ( 24 ) provided to the control device ( 25 ). 
     
     
         17 . Forward feed supply device according to  claim 9 , wherein the pressing roller ( 20 ) comprises a roller contact surface ( 21 ) configured for abutment against the band material ( 11 ). 
     
     
         18 . Forward feed supply device according to  claim 13 , wherein the actuator device ( 26 ) comprises a fluid cylinder ( 27 ) and particularly a pneumatic cylinder ( 28 ).