WO2003010078A1

WO2003010078A1 - Method and device for the automatic removal of coils from a coil-forming machine

Info

Publication number: WO2003010078A1
Application number: PCT/ES2001/000299
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ramon XIFRA I PAGÈS; Ricard Argiles Rodriguez
Original assignee: Enviroxi, Sl
Priority date: 2001-07-26
Filing date: 2001-07-26
Publication date: 2003-02-06

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and device for the automatic removal of coils from a coil-forming machine comprising a unit (4) for winding strip material on a mandrel (2a, 2b) which is disposed on a coil-supporting shaft (7, 12). The coil-supporting shaft is supported in the unit (4) at the ends thereof by means of coupling elements (8). The shaft (7, 12) supporting a mandrel (2b) with a full coil (1) is replaced by a coil-supporting shaft (7, 12) with an empty mandrel (2a), said method consisting in: gripping the coil-supporting shaft (7, 12) and the mandrel (2b) with the full coil (1) by the ends thereof in the unit (4), unfastening the coupling elements (8) and removing the assembly; freeing one of the ends (7b, 12b) of the coil-supporting shaft (7, 12) in order to support same by the other end thereof (7a, 12a) while the mandrel (2b) with the full coil (1) is replaced with an empty mandrel (2a) by means of axial insertion/removal movements, the full coil (1) being supported during such operations; and once again gripping the end (7b, 12b) of the coil-supporting shaft (7, 12) with the empty mandrel (2a), positioning the shaft with the empty mandrel (2a) in line with the coupling elements (8) of the unit (4), fastening said coupling elements (8) and letting go of the shaft.

Description

PROCEDURE AND DEVICE FOR AUTOMATIC EVACUATION OF

COILS IN A MACHINE FORMING MACHINE

Field of the technique The present invention concerns an automatic winding evacuation process, applicable to machines of the type comprising a winding unit in which a material in the form of a continuous band is wound in a hollow cylindrical core or core which it is fixed on a bobbin holder axis by means of a fluid dynamic fixing device, in which procedure an axis carrying a mandrel on which a complete coil is wound is replaced by an axis carrying an empty mandrel.

The present invention also concerns a device for carrying out said process.

Technical background

Machines, for example, flexographic or extruder printers, are known from the state of the art, comprising a winding unit of a continuous sheet material in which a replacement operation of a complete coil by an empty coil core is regularly carried out, or vice versa. Generally, the core of the coil is a hollow cylindrical body, of a lightweight material, such as cardboard or plastic, commonly called "mandrel" in the sector technique, strung and fixed on a bobbin holder shaft suitable for operation in the winding unit . The mandrel is fixed to the shaft by means associated with the latter, whose means usually comprise an inflatable member that operates retractable supports distributed regularly along the cylindrical surface of the bobbin holder shaft. The swelling and deflation of said member is carried out through a hole, located radially in a position close to one end of the shaft, whose hole is provided with a check valve. In active arrangement, the bobbin holder shaft protrudes from both ends of the mandrel and comprises final configurations suitable for being received in respective couplings associated with rotating drive means of the winding unit. In a conventional embodiment, at least one of the said couplings, or both, are capable of opening by moving in axial direction, moving away from the respective ends of the shaft, to allow the placement or removal of the bobbin holder shaft in a radial horizontal direction thereto or of closing to effect the support, guidance and drive of shaft rotation during a duty cycle. For the extraction of the shaft, before opening the aforementioned couplings it is necessary to support said shaft or the complete coil with external means to prevent its fall and, for placement, the shaft must be placed with an empty mandrel, suitably supported by said external means, in a coaxial position with the axes of the couplings in the winding unit and cannot be released until said couplings have been closed. There are machines in which only one of the couplings is axially opened while the other remains fixed, in which case it is also necessary to make a small displacement in the axial direction of the shaft to release or couple the shaft end corresponding to the fixed coupling while the open mobile coupling.

The aforementioned replacement of a complete coil with an empty mandrel implies, as a general rule, to remove from the winding station the whole assembly formed by the shaft, the mandrel fixed thereto and the complete coil wound on said mandrel; remove the shaft inside the mandrel on which the coil is formed, having previously deflated the pneumatic fixing means; place an empty mandrel on the shaft, now free; fixing said mandrel by swelling said fixing means; and place the shaft carrying the empty mandrel again in the winding unit.

To minimize the downtime necessary to carry out the evacuation of coils in the winding unit, two or more interchangeable bobbin case shafts are advantageously used. During the time that the unit is winding the sheet material on a mandrel fixed to a first axis an empty mandrel is prepared on a second axis. When the coil has been completed, the machine is stopped and the said first axis is removed from the winding unit, which is the carrier of the mandrel on which the complete coil is wound, and the second axis is immediately placed in said unit The empty mandrel, prepared in advance. Then, while the unit is winding the sheet material on the mandrel fixed to the second axis, It performs the extraction operation of the first axis of the mandrel with a full coil and is prepared with an empty mandrel fixed on it for the next replacement operation, and so on.

In order to completely eliminate said dead time, machines equipped with two axes for changing coils are also known in the state of the art, in which the winding unit comprises a rotating axle exchange device provided with two sets of supports or couplings , one for each of said two axes. These two sets of couplings are arranged so that the device can cyclically change the positions of said shafts between a working position in the winding unit and a position suitable for replacement operations. This device has means for transversely cutting the sheet material at the end of the complete coil and fixing the free end generated to the empty mandrel to start the formation of a new coil at the same time as it performs the permutation of the axes positions without stopping the gear, which completely eliminates the dead time necessary for the evacuation of the coils.

However, in the state-of-the-art machines, the aforementioned operations of evacuation or introduction of coils, whether with momentary stop of the unit or without downtime therein, are carried out completely manually or, taking into account the great weight that can reach the bobbin holder axles and complete coils, with the help of cranes, forklifts, shifters, etc. This way of operating generally requires the intervention of more than one operator and a space attached to the machine enabled to comfortably allow the axial extraction of the bobbin holder shaft inside the coil, etc., which translates into a high economic cost. In addition, the use of cranes and moving cars in combination with manual operations by operators carries a risk of accidents for them.

Brief exposition of the invention

The objective of the present invention is to provide a method and an automatic coil evacuation device, applicable to machines of the type described above, in which all the previous operations are carried out automatically and without the intervention of an operator.

This objective is achieved, in accordance with the present invention, by providing a method applied to a winding unit, in a machine such as a flexographic printer or an extruder, in which a bobbin holder shaft is replaced by carrying a mandrel with a complete coil formed on it by a bobbin holder shaft carrying an empty mandrel. The method of the invention comprises performing the following sequence of steps cyclically and automatically. First of all, after the exchange device, if any, has placed the full coil carrier shaft in a position suitable for replacement operations, fastening means hold said coil holder shaft carrying said mandrel with full coil at its two ends in the winding unit before decoupling the couplings. Once the shaft is secured, the couplings are decoupled and the entire shaft, mandrel and coil assembly is removed to an area outside the operating area of the winding unit by means of translation means associated with said clamping means. Then, in said area, one of the ends of said bobbin holder shaft is released so that the shaft is held by its other end while automatic operations of replacing the mandrel are carried by carrying the entire coil with the empty mandrel by means of axial movements extraction of the coil through the free end of the bobbin holder shaft and insertion of the empty mandrel through the same end. Such axial movements are performed automatically, the entire coil being supported below during its extraction by suitable means. Finally, once the empty mandrel is inserted and fixed on the shaft, reattach the end of the bobbin holder shaft carrying said empty mandrel, place the shaft with empty mandrel thus fastened in alignment with the axis of the winding unit couplings, attach said couplings and release the shaft therein. If the winding unit is of the type in which only one of the couplings opens axially while the other remains fixed, the translation means associated with the clamping means make a small displacement in the axial direction when the bobbin holder axis is aligned with the axis of said couplings in the winding unit in order to introduce or remove the end of the shaft corresponding to the fixed coupling while the mobile coupling is open.

Preferably, in order to minimize dead time in the winding unit, first and second interchangeable bobbin axes are used, the steps being performed such that said first axis carrying an empty mandrel is reinstalled in the unit couplings of winding as soon as they are free after said second axis has been removed by carrying a mandrel with a full coil, which then allows the aforementioned replacement of mandrels on said second axis while the sheet material is wound on the mandrel of the first Bobbin holder shaft in the winding unit. Thus, the first and second reel axes alternate their positions and functions in successive cycles and the winding unit only remains idle for the minimum time necessary to perform such replacement. The method and device of the present invention is also intended to function in the event that the winding unit includes said axle-swap device to quickly swap the two bobbin-holder axes between the winding position and a position suitable for replacement operations. of coils without stopping the winding process, so that the dead time is completely eliminated.

The aforementioned area where outside the operating area of the winding unit is divided into a discharge station, where the operations of removing the complete coil, together with the corresponding mandrel, from the bobbin holder shaft and a charging station, where The operations of inserting an empty mandrel on it are then carried out. The translation means move the shaft held by the clamping means between one and the other stations.

As stated above, the mandrels are fixed to the shaft by means of a fluid dynamic fixing device, known per se, incorporated in the latter and comprising an inflatable member connected to a hole radially located in an area close to one of the ends of the shaft through a check valve. Associated with the aforementioned means for securing the shaft is a filling / emptying nozzle connected to a source of fluid a pressure, preferably pressurized air. When the clamping means are secured to said shaft, it has been previously rotated so that said orifice is facing the filling / emptying nozzle which is actuated to deactivate said check valve allowing the flow of the fluid and with it the deactivation of the fixing device in the unloading station, or to inject fluid into said fixing device to fix the empty mandrel to the axis in the loading station.

For the operation of loading mandrels to the bobbin holder axis, the method comprises loading an empty mandrel from an empty mandrel delivery station to a mobile support provided with at least one axial displacement aligned with the bobbin holder axis when it is held in cantilever by the fastening means in the charging station. With this, said empty mandrel is skewered by the free end of the clamping shaft and released on it in a predetermined position. Then, said fixing device is activated by actuating said filling / emptying nozzle.

In accordance with the present invention a device is also provided for carrying out the automatic coil replacement procedure set forth above. The device comprises fastening means capable of holding said bobbin holder shaft, initially, when the shaft carries the mandrel with full coil, by its two ends and later, during the unloading of the coil and subsequent operations, only by one of its ends maintaining the cantilever shaft. Said clamping means are associated with translation means capable of displacing the bobbin holder shaft supported by the clamping means. In a first phase, when the shaft carries a mandrel with a full coil, from a position aligned with the couplings of said winding unit to a discharge station, where said coil is discharged. When said axis is bare, it is moved from said discharge station to a loading station, where an empty mandrel is placed on the axis. Finally, the shaft carrying the empty mandrel is moved from said loading station to said position aligned with the winding unit couplings. At least in the said discharge station, vertically movable supports are arranged to support the entire coil below while the clamping means release one of the ends of the shaft to allow, once the corresponding fluid dynamic device for fixing the mandrel to the shaft is deactivated. , transfer means transfer said complete coil jfchhto with the corresponding mandrel from the discharge station to an outlet conveyor means, which is carried out by an axial displacement of the coil on said supports. Finally, in said loading station, loading means are guided and actuated to take an empty mandrel from an empty mandrel delivery station and skewer it, by means of an axial displacement, on said bobbin holder axis, while it is held in cantilever by one of its ends by the fastening means. Said loading means release the empty mandrel on the shaft in a predetermined position and by activating said fixing device the mandrel is fixed to the shaft in such position.

It should be noted that, although in general the placement of an empty mandrel or the removal of a mandrel with a full coil is mentioned, the device of the present invention is adapted, for example in those cases in which the machine has an apparatus for longitudinally cutting the sheet material at the entrance of the winding unit in order to simultaneously form several adjacent partial coils, for the placement of several partial mandrels, one after the other in the axial direction, on the same axis of the bobbin holder in order of providing an individual mandrel for each of said partial coils. The device handles both the several empty partial mandrels and the several complete partial coils as if they were a single mandrel and a single complete coil respectively. In an exemplary embodiment, the mandrel loading means includes individualized clamping means for each partial mandrel, thanks to which they are also able to place the several adjacent partial mandrels on the bobbin holder axis by making small displacements after each one has been released of them to leave a preselected separation distance between them. The device of the present invention has the advantage that all coil evacuation operations are carried out in a fully automatic manner, without labor intervention, governed by centralized and programmable control means according to the operation of the machine. to which the device is associated. In addition, the device of the invention carries out the said coil evacuation operations in a small, bounded and protected space, which makes the risk of accidents for the operators practically nil. On the other hand, the device is easily adaptable to existing machines in which the change of coils is carried out completely manually or manually assisted by mechanical elements.

Brief explanation of the drawings

These and other advantages of the present invention will be better understood from the following detailed description of an exemplary embodiment thereof, which has only an illustrative and non-limiting nature, the description of which is made with reference to the attached drawings, in which: Figs. 1A-1F are three-dimensional schemes illustrating the steps of the process of the present invention applied to a winding unit provided with bobbin shaft exchanger; Fig. 2 is a general perspective view of the device according to the present invention; Figs. 3A-3C are side elevation views showing the construction and operation of the fastening means of a first end of the bobbin holder shaft; Figs. 4A-4C are side elevation views showing the construction and operation of the fastening means of a second end of the bobbin holder shaft; Fig. 5 is a profile view of the fastening means of the first end of the bobbin holder shaft shown in Figs. 3A-3C; and Fig. 6 is a view of an enlarged detail in side elevation showing the loading means of empty mandrels to the bobbin holder shaft. Detailed description of a preferred embodiment

The following description designates a mandrel in general with the numerical reference 2, an empty mandrel with the numerical reference 2a and a mandrel on which a complete coil with the numerical reference 2b is formed, although physically there is no difference between them . Two bobbin-holder axes are also designated with numerical references 7 and 12, respectively, although they are physically identical and their situations and functions in the device cyclically permute, so that the designated axis, for example, as axis 7 in a given position is replaced later along axis 12 in the same position.

Referring now to Figs. 1A-1F, the steps of the coil replacement procedure of the present invention applied to a winding unit of a machine working with a flexible laminar material 1a in the form of a continuous band are illustrated sequentially, such as, for example, a flexographic printing machine or an extruder. Said machine comprises a winding unit 4 provided with a device for exchanging bobbin case shafts of a type known per se.

In Fig. 1A a laminar material 1a is shown, which begins to be wound on a mandrel 2 fixed to a first bobbin holder axis 7 placed in a first position 28 of the axis exchange device, in whose first position 28 the axis 7 is aligned with the axis of rotation of the winding unit 4. A second bobbin holder shaft 12 bearing a mandrel 2b on which a complete winding 1 is wound just has been placed in a second position 29 of the bobbin shaft exchange device by means of a rotation of 180 ° thereof, said second position 29 being suitable for replacing coils themselves. While said permutation of the positions of the axes 7, 12 is carried out, a clamping means 9, 10 mounted on translation means 3, 5 are inactive, removed from the operation area of the winding unit 4. As already stated above, this axis exchange device is of the conventional type and is capable of exchanging axes 7 and 12 between said first and second positions 28, 29 while performing an automatic cross-cutting operation of the sheet material 1a and fixation of free edge generated to the empty mandrel 2a to start the formation of the next coil without stopping the operation of the machine, so its use is very advantageous. However, as will be apparent to one skilled in the art, the method and device of the present invention is equally applicable to a machine devoid of such an exchange device.

In Fig. 1 B the coil evacuation procedure of the present invention is properly initiated with the steps of securing both ends 12a, 12b of the bobbin holder shaft 12 carrying the mandrel 2b with complete coil 1 while said axis 12 is still coupled to the couplings 8 in the second position 29 of the winding unit 4 by means of said clamping means 9, 10, which have been placed in position by said means of translation 3, 5, which are moved by guides 45. Once both ends 12a, 12b of the shaft 12 are secured by the clamping means 9, 10 the couplings 8 are decoupled therefrom. Although the clamping means 9, 10 are designed to support the shaft 12 carrying the complete coil 1, a vertically mobile platform 5 associated with the translation means 3, 5 is raised until supports 6 fixed thereto contact the lower face of the complete coil 1 to assist in its support .

Next, the shaft assembly 12, mandrel 2a and complete coil 1 are moved, by means of said translation means 3, 5, to a discharge station 23 outside the operating area of the winding unit 4 maintaining both ends 12a , 12b of the shaft 12 held by the clamping means 9, 10.

In said discharge station 23 (Fig. 1 C) while the complete coil 1 is supported below by means of the supports 6, one of the ends 12b of the bobbin holder axis 12 is released so that it is secured in a cantilever by the other of its ends 12a by means of said fastening means 9, 10. Next, said dynamic fluid fixing device is deactivated by means of a nozzle associated with the fastening means 9 and axially extracting the mandrel 2b with coil 1 from the free end 7b, 12b of the axis sliding the coil 1 on said supports 6. Then said clamping means 10 again hold the free end 12b of the axis 12, which it is now without mandrel, and the translation means 3, 5 move said axis 12 to a loading station 24.

In said charging station 24 (Fig. 1 D), clamping means 10 again release the end 12b of the bobbin holder shaft 12 so that it is cantilevered by its other end 12a, and then an empty mandrel is axially strung 2a on said axis 12 by said free end 12b and to activate the dynamic fluid fixing device to fix the empty mandrel 2b to the axis 12. Next, the clamping means 10 once again hold the free end 12b of the axis 12 carrying the empty mandrel 2a ( Fig. 1 E). Finally, as illustrated in Fig. 1F, the translation means 3, 5 transfer the axis 12 with an empty mandrel 2a held by its two ends 12a, 12b to the winding unit where said bobbin holder axis 12 carrying the mandrel Vacuum 2a is placed in alignment with the couplings 8 in the second position 29 of the axis exchange device of the winding unit 4. In this situation, said couplings 8 are coupled to the axis 12 with empty mandrel 2a and finally the clamping means 9, 10 release the ends 12a, 12b of the axis 12 and are removed to return to a situation analogous to that of Fig. 1A.

Note that during the sequence of steps in Figs. 1A-1 F, a new coil has been formed on the mandrel 2 fixed to the axis 7 in the first position 28 of the axis exchange device of the winding unit 4 and the said steps have been developed at a rate such that the new coil 1 has been completed on the mandrel 2a fixed to the axis 7 as soon as the axis 12 carrying the empty mandrel 2b has been placed in the second position 29 of the axle exchange device of the winding unit 4 (Fig. 1 F). This allows said device to perform again a permutation of the positions of the axes 7, 12 as described in relation to Fig. 1A, only now that the axis 7 with full coil 1 will pass to the second position 29 and the axis 12 with empty mandrel 2b will occupy the first position 28 aligned with the winding unit 4. From here the same steps will be cyclically repeated now on an axis 7, now on the other 12. It is evident that one works with a plurality of initially empty mandrels, which are supplied to a mandrel delivery station and subsequently split together with the complete coils. They are detailed below, with reference to the following Figs. 2 to 6, the means incorporating the device of the present invention to carry out the procedure described above in relation to Figs. 1A-1F.

Thus, in Fig. 2 an axis exchange device is shown that is part of a winding unit 4 integrated or associated with a machine (for example, a flexographic printer or an extruder, not shown) where a flexible sheet material 1a in the form of a continuous band it is wound in a hollow cylindrical core 2, which is fixed on a bobbin holder shaft 7 by means of a dynamic fluid fixing device, which is itself known by what is not illustrated in detail in the figures. This conventional fixing device comprises an inflatable member that operates retractable supports distributed regularly by the cylindrical outer surface of the bobbin holder axis 7, and which are hinted in Fig. 5 with the numerical reference 49. The swelling and deflation of said member is carried out. through a hole, located radially close to one end of the shaft 7, whose hole communicates with the inflatable member through a check valve.

When a mandrel 2 is fixed to an axis 7, 12 by means of the fixing device in active situation, ends 7a, 7b, 12a, 12b of the bobbin holder shaft protrude from both ends of the mandrel 2. These ends 7a, 7b, 12a, 12b of the shaft have a configuration suitable to be received in respective couplings 8 of the axle exchanger of the winding unit 4, which includes rotary drive means of said bobbin holder shaft 7 connected to said couplings 8. Both couplings 8, or at least one of them is capable of opening automatically by means of an axial withdrawal movement to allow the placement or removal of the bobbin holder axis in a radial horizontal direction thereto, or of being closed by an axial coupling movement to constitute the support, guided and shaft rotation drive 7, 12 during a duty cycle. Therefore, to place the shaft 7, 12 it must be held and placed in alignment with the couplings 8, then close said couplings and finally release the shaft 7, 12 therein. When only one of the couplings 8 makes an opening movement, to place or remove the shaft 7, 12 is also necessary to make a slight axial movement thereof to introduce the end corresponding to the fixed coupling 8.

Returning to Fig. 2, the said axle exchange device of the winding unit 4 of the illustrated machine is of a conventional type, and acts to permute the positions of two bobbin holder axes 7, 12 between a first position 28, aligned with the axis of rotation of the winding unit 4, and a second position 29, located in an accessible place to carry out the evacuation of the coil. This exchange device is formed by a pair of arms 26, facing each other, mounted on a rotating shaft 27. At each of the two ends of each of said arms 26 one of said couplings 8 is fixed and each arm 26 is connected to said rotating shaft 27 on its middle part, equidistant from the corresponding couplings 8, so that there are two pairs of couplings 8 mutually facing and aligned symmetrically arranged with respect to the rotating shaft 27. This axle-swap device is arranged so that a of said pairs of aligned couplings 8, bearing one of the bobbin case axes, is in said first position 28, aligned with the axis of rotation of the winding unit 4, while the other pair of aligned couplings 8 is in said second position 29, suitable for the other of the bobbin holder shafts to be operated by the device of the invention to effect the change of the mandri l 2b with full coil 1 by an empty mandrel 2a on it. Thus, when the coil that is being formed on the mandrel 2 fixed on the axis that is in the first position 28 has been completed, the rotating shaft 27 performs a 180 ° rotation to exchange the positions between the axis 7 carrying the mandrel 2b with the complete coil and the shaft 12 with the empty mandrel 2a, previously placed in the pair of couplings 8 located in the second position 29. This exchange of positions is carried out, together with the cross-section of the continuous band and edge fixing Free front on the empty mandrel 2a, automatically and without stopping the machine. In Fig. 2 a coil in formation is shown on the mandrel 2 fixed to the axis 7 located in the first position 28 while the axis 12 carrying the mandrel 2a with a complete coil 1 is already in the discharge station 23. It should be noted that the device of the present invention would be able to act using a single bobbin holder shaft, that is, the mandrel bearing shaft 2b with full coil 1 that is removed from the winding unit 4 and the shaft with empty mandrel 2a which is put in place could be the same bobbin holder axis from which the mandrel 2b with the complete coil 1 is removed and to which an empty mandrel 2a is fixed before being repositioned in the winding unit 4. However, with In order to minimize the dead time in the winding unit 4, it is preferable to have two identical, interchangeable axes 7, 12, which cyclically alternate their positions in the device. The device of the present invention comprises clamping means 9, 10 capable of holding said bobbin holder shaft 7, 12 by its two ends 7a, 12a, 7b, 12b or by only one of its ends 7a, 12a keeping the shaft in cantilever. These fastening means comprise first and second arms 9, 10, different from each other, topped by respective jaws 13, 15 and adapted to respectively hold the ends 7a, 12a and 7b, 12b, which will be explained in detail below by doing reference to Figs. 3 to 5

The clamping means 9, 10 are associated with translation means 3, 5 to move the bobbin holder shaft 7, 12, the same being supported by the clamping means 9, 10, either bearing a mandrel 2a with complete coil 1, an empty mandrel 2b or said bare shaft being, between a position aligned with the couplings 8 of said winding unit 4, said discharge station 23 and a loading station 24. These translation means comprise a mobile carriage 3 driven to move guided by horizontal guides 45, in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the winding unit 4, between a location below said second position 29 in the winding unit 4, said unloading station 23 and said loading station 24. On said mobile carriage 3 is mounted a platform 5, which is guided and driven, for example by means of fluid dynamic cylinders 68, to move vertically in both directions, and on whose platform 5 said supports 6 fixed are constituted by two rows of determining rollers of a cradle prepared to support the complete coil 1 wound on the mandrel 2b. On said carriage 3, on the side and side of the platform 5, the first and second arms 9, 10 are fixed, the first being fixed arm 9 and the second arm 10 (not visible in Fig. 2) foldable to allow the exit of the complete coil 1 at the discharge station 23 and the entrance of the empty mandrel 2b at the loading station 24. To this, as will be seen with reference to Figs. 4A-4C, the arm 10 is capable of holding the shaft 7, 12 cantilever at its end 7a, 12a. However, during translation movements it is always preferred to secure the shaft 7, 12 at its two ends 7a, 7b, 12a, 12b and, when the shaft is carrying the mandrel 2a with the complete coil 1, it is also preferred to attach the supports 6 to the bottom of the complete coil 1 during the movement in order to better ensure the consolidation of the assembly.

Thus, in said unloading station 23, the supports 6 support the entire coil 1 below while a nozzle 16 associated with the fixed arm 9 deactivates the corresponding fluid dynamic fixing device of the mandrel 2a to the axis 12. Then the second arm 10 releases the end 12b of the shaft 12, and transfer means formed by a drive nail 34 driven by a rodless cylinder 17 fixed to the platform 5 (Fig. 5) push the entire coil 1 wound on the mandrel 2b to transfer it from said station of unloading 23 to an output conveyor means 11 by an axial displacement of the coil 1 on the support rollers 6. In said charging station 24 are provided loading means

21, 22, which are guided and actuated to take an empty mandrel 2a from a delivery station 20 of empty mandrels 2a, axially skewer it on said bobbin holder axis 12, while it is held in cantilever by its end 12a by the first arm 10, and release it on the shaft in a predetermined position in which the empty mandrel 2a is fixed by activating said fluid dynamic fixing device by the nozzle 16.

The carriage 3 comprises a base 55 on which the first and second arms 9, 10 and the platform 5 carrying the support rollers 6 are fixed, the base of which is mounted so that it can slide horizontally guided in a direction parallel to the axis of the winding unit 4, being driven by fluid dynamic cylinders 56 to effect displacements of the shaft 7, 12 in such direction when it is held by both ends 7a, 7b, 12a, 12b by the first and second arms 9, 10 in alignment with couplings 8 in the second position 29 of the axis exchange mechanism of the winding unit when only one of said couplings makes an axial opening / closing movement.

In Figs. 3A-3C shows arm assembly 9 at three different times in an operating sequence.

The first arm 9 is formed by a foot finished off by said jaw 13, which comprises a fixed jaw 60 and a mobile jaw 61 driven by a dynamic fluid cylinder 62. As shown in Fig. 3A, the mobile jaw 61, in position open, it allows the approach or withdrawal of the jaw 13 to / from the end of the corresponding axis, for example, the end 7a of the axis 7, in a horizontal direction radial to it while the axis is supported by the couplings 8 in the unit of winding 4. In Fig. 3B the jaw 13 has approached the maximum end 7a of the shaft 7 and the movable jaw 61 has been closed by trapping said end of the shaft against the fixed jaw 60 and the platform 5 has been raised to contact the support rollers 6 with the bottom of the complete coil 1. This first fixed arm 9 further comprises a reinforcement clamp mounted on a collapsible auxiliary arm 63 articulated to the first fixed arm 9 and actuated by a cylinder or dynamic fluid 67. This claw is formed by a fixed finger 64 disposed at the end of said folding auxiliary arm 63, whose fixed finger 64, when rotating the auxiliary arm 63, is capable of being attached to the upper part of a smaller end portion diameter of the end 7a of the shaft 7, as shown in Fig. 3C. The claw includes a sliding latch 65 actuated by a dynamic fluid cylinder 66 to clamp the end 7a of the shaft 7 into the cavity formed by the fixed finger 64. The said filling / emptying nozzle 16 associated with said first arm 9 is fixed to said arm folding auxiliary 63 in a position suitable for coupling with said radial inlet / outlet opening of the chuck fixing device to the dynamic fluid shaft. It should be noted that said hole (not shown) has been automatically placed in the required angular position during the decoupling operation of the couplings 8 in the winding unit 4.

The purpose of the folding auxiliary arm 63 is to provide a pair of forces at the end of the corresponding axis, for example the end 7a of the axis 7, sufficient to counteract the moment produced by the axis 7 when the It is cantilevered by said end 7a by means of the arm assembly 9, as illustrated in Fig. 5.

Referring now to Figs. 4A-4C, in them the second arm 10 is shown in different positions during an operation sequence thereof.

As shown in Fig. 4A, said jaw 15 of said second folding arm 10 comprises a fixed jaw 50 and a mobile jaw 51 actuated by a dynamic fluid cylinder 52, whose mobile jaw 51, in an open position, allows the approach / removal of the jaw 13 to / from the end of the corresponding shaft, for example the end 7b of the shaft 7, in a radial horizontal direction thereto. The second folding arm 10 is articulated with respect to a fixed support 53 and actuated by a dynamic fluid cylinder 54 to effect a folding movement. In Fig. 4B, the jaw 15 has been maximally close to the end 7b of the shaft 7 and the movable jaw 51 has been closed by trapping said end of the shaft against the fixed jaw 50. Obviously, this action is carried out simultaneously with the analogous action described above in relation to Fig. 3B, and also here it is observed that platform 5 has been raised until contacting the support rollers 6 with the bottom of the complete coil 1. In Fig. 4C the arm 10 struck down by the effect of the dynamic fluid cylinder 54 in a plane transverse to the axis of the winding unit 4 at an angle sufficient at least to allow the entire coil 1 to pass through the free end 7b of the axis 7 sliding on the support rollers 6 in the unloading station 23 while the shaft 7 is cantilevered by its other end 7a by the first arm assembly 9. The action illustrated in Fig. 4C is carried out simultaneously with the different action of the first arm 9 described above in relation to Figs. 3C and 5, so it is also observed here that platform 5 has been raised until contacting the support rollers 6 with the bottom of the complete coil 1. Finally, in Fig. 6, said delivery station 20 of empty mandrels 2a, which comprises an inclined plane with a slope towards a moving carriage 21, whose plane is determined, for example, by parallel rods 35, held in a frame 39 which is articulated by one of its edges with respect to a frame of the device and supported by its opposite edge by adjustable straps 42, for example tubes provided with two tensioning ends 46 threaded respectively left and right, by which a desired inclination can be set. On said inclined plane empty mandrels 2a are deposited which descend, by gravity, towards the lower edge of said inclined plane, where there is a retention device 43 provided with a pivoting element, properly actuated, provided with two retaining arms 44 arranged so that, by means of an alternate rotation of said retention device 43, they allow the passage of the empty mandrels 2a, one at a time, rolling by gravity from said inclined plane to parallel rollers 36 forming the base of said traveling car 21.

The shifting carriage 21 is mounted on a carriage 47 driven and guided to effect both a displacement on an upright 48, in an axial direction with respect to the bobbin holder shaft 7, 12 while it is held in a cantilever at said loading station 24, as a radial displacement with respect to axis 7, 12. Said axial displacement is made between a position in front of said delivery station 20 of empty mandrels 2a and said predetermined position on axis 7, 12, while the radial displacement is carried out with the in order to center the mandrel 2a with the bobbin holder axis during the introduction and to prevent the parallel rollers 36 from rubbing the mandrel or mandrels 2a during the return of the shifting carriage to its position in front of the delivery station 20. The shifting carriage 21 includes vertical guides 38 and a linear actuator, for example an electric gearmotor 40 and a spindle 41 (Fig. 2), to effect said displacement in radial direction to the axis.

As mentioned, the displacer carriage 21 comprises a base support formed, in the example illustrated, by a pair of parallel rollers 36 separated from each other a suitable distance to offer a suitable cradle for the empty mandrel 2a, and a ram 22 in the form of an angular profile arranged with its concavity at the bottom, and actuated by linear actuators, such as fluid dynamic cylinders 37, to effect a displacement vertical between a lower clamping position of the mandrel 2a and an upper releasing position thereof.

As noted above, the device of the present invention is adapted for the placement of several empty mandrels 2a, one after the other, on the same axis of bobbin holder, in those cases in which the machine has an apparatus for longitudinally cut the sheet material 1a at the entrance of the winding unit. For this, the inclined plane of the delivery station 20 includes (although not illustrated) some separations for said partial chucks and the tamper is formed by independent segments, actuated separately, each tamper segment corresponding to one of the multiple aligned mandrels on the shaft. Thus, by proper coordination of the axial displacement of the displacer carriage 21 with a successive release of the mandrels on the axis 7, 12, it is possible to place the mandrels on the axis all together or leaving predetermined spaces between them.

Having sufficiently described the invention so that one skilled in the art can carry it out, it should be noted that the described embodiment only has an illustrative and non-limiting nature, considering all those variations that fall within the scope of the attached claims.

Claims

1.- Procedure of automatic evacuation of coils in a machine forming them, whose machine is of the type comprising a winding unit (4) where a material in the form of a continuous band is wound in a mandrel or hollow cylindrical core (2a , 2b) fixed on a bobbin holder shaft (7, 12) by means of a fluid dynamic fixing device, said bobbin holder shaft (7, 12) being supported at its ends by means of couplings (8) in said winding unit (4), where a bobbin holder shaft (7, 12) carrying a mandrel (2b) with a complete coil (1) formed on it is replaced by a bobbin holder shaft (7, 12) carrying an empty mandrel (2a), characterized in that it comprises: holding said shaft bobbin holder (7, 12) carrying said mandrel (2b) with full coil (1) at its two ends (7a, 12a, 7b, 12b) in the winding unit (4), decouple the couplings (8) and remove the assembly to an area (23, 24) outside the operating area of the u winding unit (4); releasing one of the ends (7b, 12b) of said bobbin holder shaft (7, 12) in said area (23, 24) so that the shaft is supported by its other end (7a, 12a) while performing automatic replacement operations of the mandrel (2b) carrying the entire coil (1) by the empty mandrel (2a) by axial movements of insertion / extraction thereof by the free end (7b, 12b) of the bobbin holder shaft (7, 12), the coil being complete (1) supported below during such operations; and reattach the end (7b, 12b) of the bobbin holder shaft (7, 12) carrying said empty mandrel (2a), place the shaft with empty mandrel (2a) thus held in alignment with the couplings (8) of the unit winding (4), couple said couplings (8) and release the shaft therein.

2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises cyclically performing the following sequence of steps: securing both ends (7a, 12a, 7b, 12b) of the bobbin holder shaft (7, 12) carrying the mandrel (2b) with complete coil (1) while said shaft is coupled to the couplings (8) in the winding unit (4) by means of fastening means (9, 10) mounted on mobile translation means (3, 5) and decoupling said bobbin holder shaft (7, 12) from the couplings (8) of the winding unit (4); transfer the assembly by means of said translation means (3, 5) to a unloading station (23) outside the operating area of the winding unit (4) keeping both ends (7a, 12a, 7b, 12b) of the shaft ( 7, 12) are held by the clamping means (9, 10), support the entire coil (1) below by means of vertically movable supports (6), release one of the ends (7b, 12b) of the bobbin holder shaft (7 , 12) so that it is secured in cantilever by the other of its ends (7a, 12a) by means of said fastening means (9, 10), deactivating said dynamic fluid fixing device, axially extracting the mandrel (2b) with coil ( 1) through the free end (7b, 12b) of the shaft by sliding the coil (1) on the mentioned supports (6) and then reattach the free end (7b, 12b) of the shaft (7, 12) without mandrel by said fastening means (9, 10); transfer said axis by means of the translation means (3, 5) to a loading station (24), again releasing the end (7b, 12b) of the bobbin holder shaft (7, 12) so that the bobbin holder shaft (7 , 12) empty is secured in cantilever by said fastening means (9, 10), axially skewer an empty mandrel (2a) on said axis (7, 12) by said free end (7b, 12b), activate the fixing device dynamic fluid and then reattach the free end (7b, 12b) of the shaft (7, 12) with an empty mandrel (2a) by means of said clamping means (9, 10); finally transfer the shaft (7, 12) with empty mandrel (2a) held by its two ends (7a, 12a, 7b, 12b) by means of said means of translation (3, 5) to the winding unit, position the bobbin holder shaft ( 7, 12) carrying the empty mandrel (2a) in alignment with the couplings (8) in the winding unit (4), coupling said couplings (8) to said shaft (7, 12) with empty mandrel (2a) and release and remove said fastening means (9, 10).

3. Method according to claim 2, characterized in that said sequence of steps is performed using interchangeable first and second axes (7, 12), capable of being held by said fastening means (9, 10) in different moments of the sequence, being reinstalled said first axis (7) carrying an empty mandrel (2a) in the couplings (8) of the winding unit (4) as soon as they are free after said second axis (12) has been removed carrying a mandrel ( 2b) with full coil (1), the aforementioned substitution of mandrels (2a, 2b) being carried out on said second axis (12) while the sheet material (1a) is wound on the mandrel (2a) of the first bobbin holder axis (7 ) in the winding unit (4), alternating the first and second reel axes (7, 12) their positions and functions in successive cycles.

4. Method according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the operation of activating / deactivating said fluid dynamic fixing device comprises coupling a filling / emptying nozzle (16) to a radial orifice located close to said end (7a, 12a) of the bobbin holder shaft (7, 12) while it is held by said clamping means (9, 10) in said charging station, to inject a fluid into an inflatable member associated with the shaft (7, 12) that It forms part of said fixing device, and removing said filling / emptying nozzle (16) leaving said fluid retained under pressure inside said inflatable member by a check valve.

5. Method according to claim 4, characterized in that it includes, before decoupling the bobbin holder shaft (7, 12) bearing the mandrel (2b) with full coil (1) of the couplings (8) of the winding unit (4), the additional step of rotating the said complete coil (1) together with its corresponding axis (7, 12) by means of an auxiliary device associated with the winding unit (4) until the ends (7a, 12a) of said shaft (7, 12) reaches a predetermined release position and the radial hole located near said end (7a, 12a) is in a position suitable for being coupled by said filling / emptying nozzle (16).

6. Method according to claim 2, characterized in that said operation of axially skewering an empty mandrel (2a) on the shaft (7, 12) held by the clamping means (9, 10) cantilevered in the station Loading (24) comprises loading at least one empty mandrel (2a) from a delivery station (20) of empty chucks (2a) to a mobile support (21) capable of performing at least one axial displacement aligned with the bobbin holder shaft (7, 12) to thread the empty mandrel (2a) by the free end of the shaft (7b, 12b) and release it in a predetermined position.

7. Method according to claim 6, characterized in that it comprises loading several empty mandrels (2a), aligned one after the other, on said mobile support (21) to skewer them by the free end of the shaft (7b, 12b) and selectively release each empty mandrel (2a) in a predetermined position on the shaft (7, 12).

8. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that said substitution of a bobbin holder shaft (7, 12) carrying a mandrel (2b) with a complete coil (1) formed on it by a bobbin holder shaft (7, 12) carrying an empty mandrel (2a) is made being said couplings (8) located in a second position (29) of an axle exchanger device integrated in the winding unit (4), whose exchanger device is dedicated to quickly swap the two bobbin holder shafts (7, 12) between a first position (28), or winding position, and said second position (29), or replacement position, without stopping the winding process.

9.- Automatic coil evacuation device in a machine forming them, whose machine is of the type comprising a winding unit (4) where a material in the form of a continuous band is wound on a hollow cylindrical core or core ( 2a, 2b) fixed on a bobbin holder shaft (7, 12) by means of a fluid dynamic fixing device, said bobbin holder shaft (7, 12) being supported by its ends by means of couplings (8) in said winding unit (4), where A bobbin holder shaft (7, 12) carrying a mandrel (2b) with a complete coil (1) formed on it is replaced by a bobbin holder shaft (7, 12) carrying an empty mandrel (2a), characterized in that it comprises:

- fastening means (9, 10) capable of holding said bobbin holder shaft (7, 12) by its two ends (7a, 12a, 7b, 12b) or by only one of its ends (7a, 12a) keeping the axis in cantilever - translation means (3, 5) associated with said fastening means

(9, 10) to move the bobbin holder shaft (7, 12) supported by the clamping means (9, 10), either carrying a mandrel (2a) with full coil (1), an empty mandrel (2b) or being said bare axis, between a position aligned with the couplings (8) of said winding unit (4), a discharge station (23) and a charging station (24);

- supports (6), arranged at least in said discharge station (23), to support the entire coil (1) below while the clamping means (9, 10) release one of the ends (7b, 12b) of the axis, and transfer means (17) for transferring said complete coil (1) wound on the mandrel (2b), after deactivating the corresponding device for fixing to the axis (7, 12), from said discharge station (23) up to an exit conveyor means (11) by an axial displacement of the coil (1) on said supports (6); Y

- loading means (21, 22) arranged in said charging station (24), which are actuated to take an empty mandrel (2a) from a delivery station (20) of empty mandrels (2a), insert it axially into said bobbin holder shaft (7, 12), while it is held in cantilever by one of its ends (7a, 12a) by the clamping means (9, 10), and release it on the shaft in a predetermined position in which they are fixed by activating said fixing device.

10. Device according to claim 9, characterized in that it comprises a filling / emptying nozzle (16) connected to a source of a pressurized fluid and actuated to engage a hole located in a radial position close to said end (7a) , 12a) of said bobbin holder shaft (7, 12) while it is held by said clamping means (9, 10) in the unloading station (23) and in the loading station (24), whose hole communicates with a inflatable member of the fixing device through a check valve, and whose nozzle (16) includes an element to deactivate said valve.

11. Device according to claim 9, characterized in that said fastening means (9, 10) and translation (3, 5) comprise: a mobile carriage (3) driven to move horizontally guided in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the winding unit (4) between a position below said winding unit (4), said unloading station (23) and said loading station (24); a platform (5) mounted on said mobile carriage (3) and actuated to move vertically in both directions, on whose platform (5) said supports (6) are fixed, which comprise two rows of determining rollers of a cradle prepared for supporting the entire coil (1) wound on the mandrel (2b); first and second arms (9, 10) mounted on the mobile carriage (3) and provided with respective jaw mechanisms (13, 15) adapted to respectively hold the ends (7a, 12a and 7b, 12b) of the bobbin holder shaft ( 7, 12), said first arm (9) being fixed and said second arm (10) foldable in a plane transverse to the axis of the winding unit (4) at an angle sufficient at least to allow the passage of the entire coil ( one).

12. Device according to claim 11, characterized in that said jaw (13) of said first arm (9) comprises a fixed jaw (60) and a mobile jaw (61) actuated by a dynamic fluid cylinder (62), whose mobile jaw (61), in an open position, allows the jaw (13) to be approached / removed from / to the end (7a, 12a) of the shaft (7, 12) in a radial horizontal direction thereto.

13. Device according to claim 12, characterized in that said first fixed arm (9) comprises a reinforcement clamp mounted on a folding auxiliary arm (63) associated with the first arm (9) and actuated by a dynamic fluid cylinder ( 67), whose claw is formed by a fixed finger (64) disposed at the end of said folding auxiliary arm (63) capable of being attached to the upper part of a final portion of smaller diameter of the end (7a, 12a) of the shaft ( 7, 12) and a latch (65) actuated by a dynamic fluid cylinder (66).

14. Device according to claim 13, characterized in that said filling / emptying nozzle (16) is associated with said first arm (9).

15. Device according to claim 13, characterized in that said filling / emptying nozzle (16) is associated with said auxiliary folding arm (63) associated with the first arm (9).

16. Device according to claim 11, characterized in that said jaw (15) of said second folding arm (10) comprises a fixed jaw (50) and a mobile jaw (51) actuated by a dynamic fluid cylinder (52), whose mobile jaw (51), in an open position, allows the jaw (13) to be approached / removed from the end (7b) , 12b) of the shaft (7, 12) in a radial horizontal direction thereto, said second folding arm (10) being articulated with respect to a fixed support (53) and actuated by a dynamic fluid cylinder (54).

17. Device according to claim 11, characterized in that said transfer means (17) for transferring said complete coil (1) wound on the mandrel (2b) from said discharge station (23) to said transporting means of The outlet (11) comprises a dynamic fluid cylinder without external rod (17) associated with the platform (5), whose dynamic fluid cylinder (17) drives a nail (34) that travels along said platform (5) making contact with a end of the complete coil (1), dragging it.

18. Device according to claim 11, characterized in that said platform (5) and said first and second arms (9, 10) are mounted on a second mobile carriage (55) mounted in turn guided in a sliding manner in a direction parallel to the axis of the winding unit (4) on the mobile carriage (3), at least one linear actuator, such as a dynamic fluid cylinder (56), for moving the shaft (7, 12) held by the first and second arms (9, 10) in alignment with the axis of the couplings (8) in the winding unit (4) in order to axially introduce one of the ends (7a, 12a, 7b, 12b) of the shaft (7 , 12) in its corresponding coupling (8) and allow the subsequent axial closure of the other coupling (8) on the other end (7a, 12a, 7b, 12b) of the shaft (7, 12).

19. Device according to claim 9, characterized in that said loading means (21, 22) comprise a moving carriage (21) that includes a base support (36) and a ram (22) actuated to carry out a displacement vertical between a lower position of holding the mandrel (2a) against said base (36) and an upper position of releasing it, whose sliding carriage (21) also includes drive and guide means (38, 40, 41) for effecting displacements of the displacer carriage (21) both radially and axially with respect to the axis (7, 12) between a position in front of a delivery station (20) of empty chucks (2a) and said predetermined position on the shaft (7, 12) in the loading station (24).

20. Device according to claim 19, characterized in that said delivery station (20) of empty chucks (2a) comprises an inclined plane with slope towards said displacement carriage (21), provided with means (42) for regulating the degree of said inclination, on whose inclined plane the empty mandrels (2a) are deposited which descend, rolling by gravity, towards the lower edge of said inclined plane, where there is a retention device (43, 44) provided with a pivoting element that allows the passage of the empty mandrels (2a), one by one, by gravity, from the said inclined plane to the base (36) of said moving carriage (21).

21. Device according to claim 20, characterized in that said tamper (22) is formed by independent segments actuated separately, each segment of tamper corresponding to each of a group of empty mandrels (2a), short, mutually aligned , the moving carriage (21) being able to take at the same time a group of said empty chucks (2a) from said delivery station (20) and to be released successively on the axis (7, 12) leaving predetermined spaces between the same.

22. Device, according to any one of claims 9 to 21, characterized in that it includes interchangeable first and second axes (7, 12) that are handled by the clamping means (9, 10) and the translation means (3, 5) to successively alternate their positions in the winding unit (4), in the unloading station (23) and in the loading station (24).

23. Device according to claim 22, characterized in that said winding unit (4) comprises an axle exchange device for quickly swapping the positions of said first and second bobbin carrier shafts (7, 12) between a first position ( 28), or winding position, and a second position (28) in which the aforementioned substitution operations of one of said bobbin holder axes (7, 12) are carried out carrying a mandrel (2b) with a complete coil (1) formed thereon on the other of said bobbin holder shaft (7, 12) carrying an empty mandrel (2a).