EP1633630B1 - Bundles of rolls and method for production thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

A bundle ( 8 ) of rolls made from a strip of insulation of a fibrous material, comprising several rolls, arranged side by side with the axes thereof parallel in several superimposed layers with a wrapping film wrapping each layer in a compressed state in a first direction perpendicular to the axes of the rolls and a sleeve enclosing the superimposed layers in a state with the layers compressed one against the other in a second direction (F 3 ) perpendicular to the axes of the rolls and perpendicular to the first direction and covering the first and second ends of the rolls of the bundle.

Description

• plusieurs rouleaux susdits présentant chacun un axe, une surface périphérique et des première et deuxième extrémités, et disposés l'un à côté de l'autre avec leurs axes parallèles, en plusieurs rangées superposées,
• un film d'emballage qui recouvre au moins ladite surface périphérique de chaque rouleau de la bande d'isolation, qui, enroulée sur elle-même, présente une densité supérieure à ladite densité initiale, et
• un film d'enveloppement qui enveloppe chaque rangée de plusieurs rouleaux, dans un état comprimé des rouleaux l'un contre l'autre suivant une première direction perpendiculaire aux axes des rouleaux, et qui couvre au moins une partie de la surface périphérique des rouleaux de la rangée.

The present invention relates to a pack of rolls formed of an insulation tape made of a fibrous product, having an initial density, comprising

• a plurality of aforesaid rollers each having an axis, a peripheral surface and first and second ends, and arranged one beside the other with their parallel axes, in several superimposed rows,
• a packaging film which covers at least said peripheral surface of each roll of the insulation tape, which, rolled up on itself, has a density greater than said initial density, and
• a wrapping film which wraps each row of a plurality of rolls in a compressed state of the rollers against each other in a first direction perpendicular to the axes of the rollers and which covers at least a portion of the peripheral surface of the rolls of the row.

These packages are in particular intended to be stacked and then houssés, to be stored and transported on various vehicles. The fibrous product of the rolls may for example be glass wool or mineral wool. These are low density products which therefore occupy a large volume in the state where they are to be used, which is a problem in storage and transport.

These packets have been known for a long time, which are described, for example, in EP-B-0 220 980 and EP-B-0 524 062.

These known packages, however, have the disadvantage that the rows of rolls have a diabolo shape, because the effect of compression is concentrated in the middle of the rollers. After straightening the packages in the vertical position, they must have a larger storage area. Moreover, when stacking the packages, it is necessary to wrap the stacked packets which is superimposed on the wrapping film already applied to each of the packets, the band used for this purpose overlapping itself partially during the wrapping which implies excessive use of packaging material.

Finally, the rollers, after winding the fibrous web on itself, have a density value determined according to the diameter of the roll, and the quality of the wool which must meet certain physical properties after unwinding the roll . After the pack is made, because of the formation of empty spaces between the rolls arranged in stacked rows, the overall density of the pack has a noticeable loss with respect to the density of the product which was acquired during the roll winding. To get a package of a standard volume for transport and storage, we can not play on the parameter represented by the diameter of the rollers, because it must be fixed.

Also known are packets of cylindrical rolled articles which are packaged in this form. The density of the material at the base of these items, such as paper, cloth, etc. does not have to be modified during package formation and the cylindrical shape of the articles is maintained throughout the process (see for example US-A-5,129,211 and US-A-6,021,890).

The object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems and to develop a package of rolls formed of an insulation tape into a fibrous product which is mechanically strong, of stable and standardized dimensions, and a method of simple and inexpensive manufacturing, allowing the realization of such packages.

For this purpose, there is provided, according to the invention, a pack of rollers as indicated at the beginning, which further comprises a sleeve which wraps the wrapped rows of rollers, superimposed, in a compressed state of rows one against the other in a second direction perpendicular to the axes of the rollers and perpendicular to said first direction, and which covers the first and second ends of the rolls of the bundle and at least a portion of the peripheral surface of the rolls of an upper row and a lower row of said superposed rows of the pack, the pack thus formed having a final density of at least 90%, preferably 95%, of said density greater than the initial density.

The very special advantage of this package is that the rolls are packaged, not only peripherally, but also over their entire length so that their ends are held compressed by the sleeve and that the rollers do not take a diabolo shape, which requires a larger pallet area, and thus storage and transport. The rolls become more resistant in the length direction and the packaging is even better and more regular than the wrapping films and the sleeve are respectively crossed.

The two successive compressions in two perpendicular directions have the effect of maintaining, in the packaged product, the density acquired during the winding of the rolls.

By the two successive compressions, the rollers advantageously acquire a rounded square section at the corners which reduces the intervals between rolls to a minimum. The rollers are applied against each other on almost all of their peripheral surface deformed by the compressions.

Whereas at present, by stacking the rows of rolls, the realized package loses a large part of its density by creating empty spaces between the stacked rollers, the following package the invention compressed in two mutually perpendicular directions and maintained in this compressed state recovers this loss of density. The packets obtained are of standard volume, substantially independently of the diameters of the rolls and therefore of the length of rolled tape.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the sleeve extends over the entire first and second ends of all the rolls of the package.

In this way, during the straightening of the pack so that the rollers are arranged vertically for the stacking of several packets, the rollers can not be in contact with a substrate, in particular a floor, or with the external atmosphere of their upper side. . They are no longer at risk of damaging the wool by contact with dirt or moisture.

According to an improved embodiment of the invention, the wrapping film, wrapping film and / or the sleeve are made of a non-extensible plastic material. The compression of the rows of rolls and the package can thus be obtained and maintained by a single wrapping film and a single sleeve, respectively. For example, a high density polyethylene is preferably used.

The present invention relates not only to a pack of rollers according to the invention, but also to a stack of such packs, generally two in number, sometimes more.

The present invention also relates to a method of manufacturing such a package, or stack of packets.

• un enroulement d'une bande d'isolation en un produit fibreux, présentant une densité initiale, de manière à former des rouleaux présentant alors une densité supérieure à ladite densité initiale,
• un premier enveloppement de chaque rouleau par un film d'emballage, qui recouvre au moins leur surface périphérique susdite,
• un agencement en rangées de plusieurs rouleaux susdits l'un à côté de l'autre avec leurs axes parallèles,
• une première compression l'un contre l'autre des rouleaux de chaque rangée suivant une première direction perpendiculaire aux axes des rouleaux,
• un deuxième enveloppement par un film d'enveloppement de chaque rangée de plusieurs rouleaux, à un état comprimé résultant de la première compression, de façon à couvrir au moins une partie de la surface périphérique des rouleaux de la rangée,
• une superposition de plusieurs rangées de rouleaux ainsi enveloppées, et
• une deuxième compression l'une contre l'autre de rangées de rouleaux enveloppées, superposées, suivant une deuxième direction perpendiculaire aux axes des rouleaux et perpendiculaire à ladite première direction,

ce procédé comprenant en outre

• un troisième enveloppement par un manchon des rangées de rouleaux enveloppées, superposées, à un état comprimé résultant de la deuxième compression, de façon à couvrir les deux extrémités des rouleaux du paquet et au moins une partie de la surface périphérique des rouleaux d'une rangée supérieure et d'une rangée inférieure desdites rangées superposées du paquet, le paquet ainsi formé présentant une densité finale au moins égale à 90 %, de préférence à 95 %, de ladite densité supérieure à la densité initiale.

According to the invention, there is provided a method for manufacturing roll packs according to the invention, which comprises

• winding an insulation strip into a fibrous product, having an initial density, so as to form rollers having a density greater than said initial density,
• a first wrapping of each roll by a wrapping film, which covers at least their aforementioned peripheral surface,
• an arrangement in rows of a plurality of rollers above said one beside the other with their parallel axes,
• a first compression against each other rolls of each row in a first direction perpendicular to the axes of the rollers,
• a second wrapping by a wrapping film of each row of several rolls, in a compressed state resulting from the first compression, so as to cover at least a portion of the peripheral surface of the rollers of the row,
• a superposition of several rows of rolls thus wrapped, and
• a second compression one against the other wrapped rows of rollers, superimposed, in a second direction perpendicular to the axes of the rollers and perpendicular to said first direction,

this method further comprising

• a third wrapping by a sleeve of wrapped rows of wrapped rolls, in a compressed state resulting from the second compression, so as to cover both ends of the rolls of the pack and at least a portion of the peripheral surface of the rolls of a row upper and lower row of said superposed rows of the packet, the resulting package having a final density of at least 90%, preferably 95%, of said density greater than the initial density.

Other embodiments of packets and stackings of packets according to the invention, as well as other embodiments of the method according to the invention are indicated in the appended claims.

Other details and particularities of the invention will emerge from the description given below without limitation and with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Figures 1 to 4 show a perspective view of the steps of a package forming method according to the invention, up to the stacking of the rows of rollers.

Figure 5 shows a schematic side view of the compression and packaging by a sleeve of the stack of rows of rolls.

Figure 6 shows a perspective view of the stack of rows of rollers in the compressed state.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a pack of rollers according to the finished invention.

Figures 8 to 10 show a perspective view of the straightening steps of the packets according to the invention, their stacking and the foaming stacked packets.

In the various drawings, identical or similar elements are indicated by the same references.

Figure 1 schematically illustrates a known roll 1 formed of an insulation strip (24) of a fibrous, compressible product, such as glass wool or mineral wool. This roller has an axis 2, a peripheral surface 3 and two end surfaces 4 and 5. The fibrous material has undergone during the winding of the roll a compression determined according to the physical properties that the wool must present to the unrolled state. Its peripheral surface 3 was then wrapped in a manner known per se by a packaging film (25). The formed roll thus has a first determined density and a given end surface diameter d. In the illustrated example, the diameter d mentioned above may, for example, vary from 380 to 500 mm and the rollers may have a width 1, for example of 1,200 mm. This width can obviously be variable according to the needs.

The rollers 1 thus formed are arranged next to each other with their parallel axes so as to form a row of rollers 6 (see FIG. 2). In the illustrated example, the length L1 of the row is for example from 1.400 to 2.000 mm. It will be understood that, depending on the diameter of the end surfaces 4 and 5 of the rollers 1, any suitable number of rolls, preferably three or four, may be arranged as shown.

This row 6 of rollers 1 is, as illustrated in FIG. 3, packaged in a wrapping film 7, after the rollers have been compressed against each other in a direction illustrated by the arrows F1, which is perpendicular to the axes 2 of the rollers. The rollers have, as a result of a compressive force, for example of the order of 1.5 tons, an oval section and the length L2 of the compressed row becomes, in the illustrated example, 1.330 mm. The wrapping film 7 is preferably formed of a non-stretchable plastic tape, for example high density polyethylene, so that the wrapping film holds the rolls of the row 6 in their compressed state. Very advantageously, the film 7 extends from one end to the other of the rollers on a portion of their peripheral surface 3, leaving the end surfaces 4 and 5 of the rollers free.

In a package according to the invention, several rows of rollers as illustrated in FIG. 3 are then stacked as shown in FIG. 4. A stack of any suitable number of rows of rolls 6, compressed and wrapped, can be provided. , and for example, as illustrated, three rows. Thus 12 rolls are obtained in the pack 8 illustrated, and for example 9 rolls if each row has only 3 rolls. In the state shown in FIG. 4, the package has, in the illustrated example, a width l of 1,200 mm, a length L2 of 1,330 mm and a height h1 of 1,600 mm.

All manufacturing steps up to the formation of the package shown in Figure 4 are known in a very general manner in the prior art. By way of example, reference can be made more particularly to EP-B-0 220 980. It would of course be possible to envisage other methods of manufacturing such a package, for example by pushing stacked, compressed rows. , in the opening of a preformed sheath.

It should be noted at this stage that, by the presence of empty spaces 9 between the rollers and the rows of rolls in the package, the latter has, with respect to the density of a roll which has just been wound, a loss of density that can rise to 30% and sometimes more.

It should also be noted that in packets according to the prior art where vertical compression does not take place, the diameter of the rollers must always be fixed at the beginning, if we want to obtain a package always having approximately the same volume. This represents a disadvantageous restriction, when one must meet the different requirements of users, for example in terms of tape length in each roll.

The pack according to the invention has, as illustrated in FIG. 6, rows of rollers stacked in a compressed state of the rows one against the other in a direction illustrated by the arrow F2. A compression force of the order of 2 tons can thus be applied. The direction F2 is not only perpendicular to the axis 2 of the rollers 1, but also to the direction of the first compression illustrated by the arrows F1 in FIG. 3. This second compression has the effect of suppressing the ovalization of the rollers, but also to remove largely empty spaces 9, giving the rollers a rounded square section at the corners (see Figure 6).

As illustrated in FIG. 7, a sleeve 10 envelops the rows of wrapped rolls, superimposed, in the state tablet thus obtained. This sleeve covers the end surfaces 4 and 5 of the rollers, preferably extending over all of these surfaces. This sleeve, advantageously a non-extensible plastic material, such as high density polyethylene, keeps the rollers in their compression state obtained after the second compression. In the exemplary embodiment illustrated, the package according to the invention shown in FIG. 7 has a width l of 1,200 mm, a length L2 of 1,330 mm and a height h2 of 1,200 mm. The volume obtained from the package is standard even if the diameter of the rollers used is variable, and therefore the length of strip per roll. The package according to the invention further has a density equivalent to that obtained after winding rollers. The loss of density generally does not exceed 5% and may even be equal to or greater than that obtained after winding of the rolls.

Advantageously, the width of the band 1 can be variable without requiring modification of the method according to the invention, since the sleeve is applied over the length of the rollers.

To produce a package according to the invention illustrated in FIG. 5, from a known packet as illustrated in FIG. 4, various appropriate means, known per se of the average skilled person, can be implemented. .

By way of example there is provided an apparatus usable for this purpose, which is shown schematically in Figure 5. The pack of rolls illustrated in Figure 4 is introduced between two conveyors 11 and 12. The conveyor 11 is formed of a belt rotating around a frame movable upwards and downwards along the double arrow F3 with the aid of a control member 13 of the motor-rack type, hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder, etc. The package is introduced, while the conveyor 11 is in the upper position indicated in broken lines. The axes 2 of the rollers are arranged parallel to the direction of travel illustrated by the arrow F4. Once that the package is completely between the two conveyors 11 and 12, the upper conveyor 11 is moved downwardly so as to compress the package until it obtains the desired package height value.

In the exemplary embodiment illustrated, in front of the exit of the conveyors 11 and 12, two strips of packing material 13 and 14 welded end-to-end 21 extend. The end surfaces are still exposed on one side of the rollers are applied against these strips 13 and 14 and drive them from the reels 15 and 16, in the direction of advance F4. During this time the package advances between two new conveyors 17 and 18 which are spaced the same distance as the conveyors 11 and 12, when the conveyor 11 is in the low position. Then the package 8 is completely passed between the two conveyors 17 and 18 as shown in broken lines. At this time, jaws 19 and 20 moving back and forth in a direction indicated by the double arrows F5 and F6 pinch strips 13 and 14 against each other. In the exemplary embodiment illustrated, these jaws in the tight position make it possible to perform two horizontal welds, close and parallel, so as to ensure the closure of the sleeve, while welding the two strips 13 and 14 end to end for the next package . These jaws also have, between the two welding elements, means for cutting the elastic material between the two welds and detach the package, for example an electrically heated wire or a knife that moves transversely. The sleeve thus maintains the effects of the second compression even when it leaves the conveyors 17 and 18.

It is understandable for a person skilled in the art that other suitable means make it possible to effect this compression and this packaging. For example, there could be only one reel and one band. Other methods of welding strips 13 and 14 could be provided. The forward direction of the packets could be oblique or even vertical.

One could also consider advancing the band rather than the package, to obtain the package shown in Figure 7.

The package according to the invention is then, in a manner known per se, straightened so that the axes 2 of the rollers are arranged vertically. As can be seen in FIG. 8 neither the lower end surfaces of the rolls nor the upper ones are directly in contact with the ground or the environment, hence a marked improvement in the preservation of rolls against dirt and moisture.

FIG. 9 illustrates the stack known per se of two packs 8. The stack 22 thus formed is very resistant and protected on all sides against bad weather and dirt. Finally, it is possible to further provide a cover 23 which covers the whole, as shown in FIG.

Tests were carried out using various rollers.

In the examples according to the invention 1 to 8, the rollers are arranged in rows, each row being compressed, wrapped, then stacked, and the stacked rows undergo additional compression and wrapping in a sleeve as previously described.

The test results are shown in the table below.

It appears from this table, on the one hand, the very great flexibility of the length of tape to be wrapped for the packets according to the invention and, on the other hand, the absence of loss of density, while the dimensions of the package remain perfectly standard.

It should be understood that the present invention is in no way limited to the above-mentioned embodiments and that many modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

Claims (17)

1. A bundle (8) of rolls (1) formed of an insulation strip (24) made of a fibrous product having an initial density, said bundle comprising

   - several aforementioned rolls (1), each having an axis (2), a peripheral surface (3) and first and second ends (4, 5), and being arranged one next to the other with their axes parallel, in a number of superposed rows (6),

   - a packaging film (25) which covers at least said peripheral surface (3) of each roll of the insulation strip which, when wound up on itself, has a density which is greater than said initial density, and

   - a wrapping film (7) which wraps each row (6) of several rolls, in a compressed state of the rolls against one another in a first direction (F1) perpendicular to the axes (2) of the rolls, and which covers at least part of the peripheral surface (3) of the rolls of the row,

   characterized in that said bundle furthermore comprises

   - a sleeve (10) which encloses the wrapped and superposed rows (6) of rolls (1), in a compressed state of the rows against one another in a second direction (F2) perpendicular to the axes (2) of the rolls and perpendicular to said first direction (F1), and which covers the first and second ends (4, 5) of the rolls of the bundle and at least part of the peripheral surface (3) of the rolls of a top row and of a bottom row of said superposed rows of the bundle (8),

   the bundle thus formed having a final density which is at least equal to 90%, preferably 95%, of said density which is greater than the initial density.
2. The bundle as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the final density of the bundle is greater than or equal to said density which is greater than the initial density.
3. The bundle as claimed in either of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that, in the bundle, the rolls have a square cross section which is rounded at the corners.
4. The bundle as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the wrapping film (7) extends, on said at least part of the peripheral surface of the rolls which it covers, from the first end (4) of the rolls to the second end (5).
5. The bundle as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the sleeve (10) extends over all of the first and second ends (4, 5) of all of the rolls (1) of the bundle.
6. The bundle as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the packaging film (25), the wrapping film (7) and/or the sleeve (10) are made of a non-extensible plastics material.
7. A stack (21) of at least two bundles (8) of rolls (1) as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6.
8. The stack as claimed in claim 7, in which the rolls (1) of each bundle (8) are arranged with their axes (2) in the vertical position and the stack has a bottom surface and a top surface which are covered by an aforementioned sleeve (10).
9. The stack as claimed in either one of claims 7 and 8, characterized in that it comprises a cover (22) which surrounds said at least two stacked bundles.
10. A method for producing a bundle of rolls as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, comprising

    - a winding-up of an insulation strip made of a fibrous product, having an initial density, so as to form rolls (1) having then a density which is greater than said initial density,

    - a first wrapping of each roll (1) with a packaging film which covers at least their aforementioned peripheral surface,

    - an arrangement of several aforementioned rolls one next to the other with their axes parallel to form rows,

    - a first compression one against the other of the rolls of each row (6) in a first direction perpendicular to the axes of the rolls,

    - a second wrapping with a wrapping film of each row (6) of several rolls, in a compressed state resulting from the first compression, so as to cover at least part of the peripheral surface of the rolls of the row,

    - a superposition of several rows of rolls thus wrapped, and

    - a second compression one against the other of wrapped and superposed rows of rolls in a second direction perpendicular to the axes of the rolls and perpendicular to said first direction,

    characterized in that said method furthermore comprises

    - a third wrapping with a sleeve (10) of the wrapped and superposed rows of rolls, in a compressed state resulting from the second compression, so as to cover the two ends of the rolls of the bundle and at least part of the peripheral surface of the rolls of a top row and of a bottom row of said superposed rows of the bundle (8),

    the bundle (8) thus formed having a final density which is at least equal to 90%, preferably 95%, of said density which is greater than the initial density.
11. The production method as claimed in claim 10, characterized in that the third wrapping comprises advancing the wrapped and superposed rows (6) of rolls in a direction of advance which is parallel to the axes of the rolls.
12. The method as claimed in claim 11, characterized in that

    - during this advance, a pressing of one of the ends of the rolls of the superposed rows (6) against two strips of packaging material which are sealed end to end, and a covering with these strips of said one of the ends of the rolls and then of at least part of the peripheral surfaces of the rolls of said top and bottom rows,

    - a joining of the two strips by applying them along the other of the ends of the rolls of the superposed rows, with the strips being sealed together, and

    - a cutting of the sealed strips so as thus to form, on the one hand, a sleeve (10) which covers the superposed rows of rolls and, on the other hand, once again two strips of packaging material which are sealed end to end.
13. The method as claimed in claim 10, characterized in that the third wrapping comprises advancing a strip of packaging material around the bundle (8) of rolls, in a direction of advance which is parallel to the axes of the rolls, so as to form said sleeve (10).
14. The method as claimed in one of claims 11 to 13, characterized in that the aforementioned direction of advance is horizontal and in that the method furthermore comprises, after said third wrapping, setting the bundle (8) upright so that the axes of the rolls are arranged vertically, and so that each bundle has a bottom surface and a top surface which are covered by the aforementioned sleeve (10).
15. The method as claimed in claim 14, characterized in that it furthermore comprises a stacking of at least two bundles (8) of rolls so as to form a stack having a bottom surface and a top surface which are covered by an aforementioned sleeve.
16. The method as claimed in claim 15, characterized in that it furthermore comprises a covering of the stack of bundles (8) of rolls.
17. The method as claimed in any one of claims 11 to 16, characterized in that, during the second compression, the rolls (1) acquire a square cross section which is rounded at the corners.

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