Device for feeding reels into a packaging machine

In a device for feeding reels of tape material into a packaging machine, a bridge structure straddling said packaging machine, wherein said bridge structure comprises:

• a post element defining an ascending path;
• a buffer magazine defining a transverse path along which said reels are advanced after one another, a support plane of said buffer magazine laying along said transverse path;
• and a reel guiding channel defining a descending path,
• said reels being respectively fed along said ascending, transverse and descending path from a lower loading point up and along said buffer magazine and down said guiding channel to a device for changing the reel to be unrolled in the packaging machine, and wherein
• said post element supports a loading device for moving said reels along said ascending path from said lower loading point to an inlet of said buffer magazine,
• said buffer magazine is provided at an outlet thereof with distribution means for guiding a first one of said reels into a removal position, said distribution means comprising a distribution element having a front portion and a rear portion, said distribution element being movable about a pivot mounted at a position between said front portion and said rear portion, said pivot having an axis which is perpendicular to a vertical plane of said buffer magazine, whereby said distribution element being oscillatable about said pivot between a first position, wherein said front portion thereof retains said first reel, and a second position, wherein said distribution element allows said first reel to descend into said removal position while said rear portion thereof retains a subsequent reel, said front portion being curved so as to form a ledge seating element for gently receiving and retaining said first reel when said distribution element is in said first position, and said rear portion being substantially straight, said front portion and said rear portion being arranged such as to alternatively provide, in cooperation with said support plane of said buffer magazine either a continuous plane surface along which, when said distribution element is in said first position, said first reel is allowed to freely move to, and be received in said curved front portion, or a sloping bridge surface, said first reel being released from said curved front portion and prompted to descend along said bridge surface into said removal position when said distribution element is in said second position,
• shuttle transfer means for transferring said reels, one after the other from said removal position to an underlying receiving position, along said descending path are provided in said reel guiding channel,
• said reel guiding channel comprises a guide element arranged in front of said buffer magazine, and
• a device for changing the reel to be unrolled in the packaging machine is arranged at said receiving position.

Device for feeding reels of tape material into a packaging machine comprising:

• a buffer magazine for said reels having an inlet end for receiving said reels and an outlet end, said buffer magazine defining a support plane thereof extending between said inlet end and said outlet end, said reels being advanced after one another along said support plane between said inlet and said outlet end;
• distribution means for guiding a first one of said reels into a removal position, said distribution means being provided at said outlet end;
• transfer means for transferring said reels one after the other from said removal position to an underlying receiving position;
• a reel guiding channel for guiding said reels being transferred by said transfer means from said removal position to said receiving position, said reel guiding channel comprising a guide element arranged in front of said buffer magazine;
• a device for changing the reel to be unrolled in the packaging machine being arranged at said receiving position;
• wherein said reels have an axially elongated shape extending along a longitudinal axis thereof, said reels being aligned and advanced after one another on said support plane along said longitudinal axis thereof, and said distribution means comprising a pusher element being provided at said outlet end of said buffer magazine, said pusher element pushing laterally a first reel for moving it to said removal position.