# US 6,425,731 B2 · Apparatus for handling reels

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- Number: US 6,425,731 B2
- Document ID: US6425731B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 09/027,253
- Filed: 1998-02-20
- Published: 2001-08-16
- Granted: 2002-07-30
- Earliest claimed: 1997-03-04
- Assignees: Focke & Co. (GmbH & Co.)
- Inventors: Heinz H. Focke; Wolfgang Gropp
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US6425731B2

## CPC

- B65H 19/30: Lifting, transporting, or removing the web roll; Inserting core
- B65H 19/123: {with cantilever supporting arrangements}
- B65H 75/10: without flanges, e.g. cop tubes
- B65H 2301/413243: parallel to roll axis
- B65H 2301/414327: winding on core irregular inner or outer longitudinal profile, e.g. stepped or grooved
- B65H 2301/4173: by central portion, e.g. gripping central portion
- B65H 2701/534: Stackable or interlockable reels or parts of reels
- Y10S 414/121: Perforated article handling
- Y10S 414/123: Hollow cylinder handlers
- B65H: HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- Y10S: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS

## Abstract

A bearing journal (21), which is introduced into a central opening (22) in the reel (10) and is anchored releasably inside a reel core (11), serves for automatically receiving reels (10). Provided for the connection between the bearing journal (21) and the reel core (11) are clamping webs (23) which are extended laterally and take up a connection with the inner side of the reel core (11) in a non-positive and/or positive-locking manner. The bearing journal (21) is provided with a plurality of mechanical monitoring members which indicate any incorrect position of the bearing journal (21). The movements of the bearing journal (21) are controlled automatically by means of a camera (38).

## Claims

### Claim 1

An apparatus for handling a plurality of reels (10) of material webs of packaging material or cigarette paper, each reel being wound on an essentially cylindrical reel core (11) having a central opening (22) into which an elongate bearing journal (21) of a handling unit (19) downwardly enters to lift and transport the reel (10), said apparatus comprising:
a) means for releasably anchoring the bearing journal (21) in the opening (22) of the reel core (11) in a non-positive and a positive locking manner,
b) said means comprising a plurality of elongate clamping webs (23) arranged along an outer circumference of the elongate bearing journal (21) at a distance from one another, and
c) the elongate clamping webs (23) extending along the outer circumference of the elongate bearing journal (21) in the longitudinal direction thereof; and
d) means for radially extending the clamping webs (23), in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the elongate bearing journal (21), to grip the reel, said webs being pressed against an inner surface (13) of the reel core (11) in a clamping position in such a way that the clamping webs abut the inner surface (13) of the reel core (11) in a region extending within the opening (22),
e) the clamping webs (23) having at least one outwardly directed radial projection (26) which enters a radial groove (14) in the inner surface (13) of the reel core (11).

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:
a) a plurality of lugs (29) forming a parallelogram connection which mounts each clamping web (23) on the bearing journal,
b) wherein the lugs (29) are mounted at one end thereof on the bearing journal (21) in articulated fashion and at another end thereof on the clamping web (23) in articulated fashion, and
c) wherein the lugs (29) are arranged at an acute angle inclined upwards from an inside to an outside of the bearing journal when the clamping members are radially extended.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:
said bearing journal is hollow and cylindrical,
said means for extending comprises a pressure member (32) arranged within the hollow, cylindrical bearing journal (21),
the pressure member (32) is movable downward for extending the clamping webs (23), and
the pressure member (32) is connected to each clamping web (23) by an articulated lug (27) in such a way that the clamping webs (23) are moved in a radial outward direction by the lug (27) during a downward movement of the pressure member (32).

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising:
a compression spring (34) which loads the pressure member (32) in the direction of the outward movement of the clamping webs (23) in their extended positions, and
a compression cylinder (36) which displaces the pressure member (32), into a retracted position against an exerted load of the compression spring (34) to move the clamping webs (23).

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:
a) arranged at the free, lower end of the bearing journal (21), an impact body (44) serving as a scanning member,
b) wherein the impact body (44) is centered on the bearing journal (21), is mounted in an indentation (40) thereof, and is displaceable in the axial direction;
c) supporting springs (45) supporting the impact body (44) on the bearing journal (21) in such a manner that in a normal position the impact body (44) projects beyond a free end of the bearing journal (21) and is moved into the indentation when pressure is applied to the supporting springs (45); and
d) a switching member (50) which is actuated, by the impact body during the movement thereof into the indentation, to generate an error signal.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:
a) at a lower, free end of the bearing journal, a camera (3) for controlling the movements of the bearing journal,
b) the camera (38) being attached in a centered indentation (40) formed at the lower end of the bearing journal (21); and
c) a central evaluation unit connected to the camera (38).

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:
a) the elongate bearing journal (21) is configured, with respect to dimensions thereof in the longitudinal direction, for receiving a plurality of reels (10) vertically stacked on top of one another,
b) the bearing journal downwardly enters the openings (22) of the stacked reels, and
c) the radially extended clamping webs of the bearing journal (21) make a non-positive and a positive connection with at least the lowest reel (10) in the stack of reels.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the stacked reels (10) are automatically centered on each other by a conical projection at one end of each reel core (11) and matching, corresponding indentations at an opposite end of each reel core (11), wherein adjacent reel cores (11) have self-adjusting end surfaces (17) and counter-surfaces (18) which rest against one another.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:
a) outer holding members which additionally hold the reels (10) on the bearing journal (21),
b) wherein the holding members comprise a pivotable bearing bow which in a holding position lies against an underside of the bearing journal (21) or on an underside of the reel (10), with a transverse supporting limb (58), and
c) wherein the bearing bow is connected to the handling unit (19).