Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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PACKAGING UNIT FOR COILS
The present invention refers to a packaging unit for
coils.
Coils, once made at the end of the production process
or treatment, have a packaging problem. Indeed, coils,
generally consisting of rolls of steel, aluminium alloy
or steel alloy sheet, are of a large size (diameter of
up to 2 m, width of up to 2 my and are heavy (from 15
to 27 tons).
Upon the basis of the sizes mentioned above it is easy
to understand how it might be difficult to package
them. Moreover, the packaging of coils is necessary
both for the movement thereof inside the factory and
for the subsequent transportation and storage, to avoid
damage which can harm the value of the product.
Indeed, the rolls of sheet or coils generally derive
from painting or electrozinking treatment lines or
other surface treatment lines which make coils a
product with a higher added value, but which are
subject to deterioration due to surface knocks or due
to oxidation, which is particularly noticeable during
transportation by sea or when it is stored in a
warehouse where there is moisture and heat variations.
Numerous packaging systems made of various materials
(paper, metal crate, circumferential and radial
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bundling, etc.) which, moreover, do not allow the
products to be preserved in an optimal manner are
known. Moreover, it must be noted that these known
systems have high costs and numerous other drawbacks
connected to the dangerousness of the packaging
operations and to the difficulty in disposing of the
materials used.
More specifically, the problem of packaging coils is
currently dealt with mainly according to the two
procedures which are briefly considered hereafter.
A first procedure uses a paper packaging. The packaging
material is made up of a sheet of oleate plasticised
paper coupled with a nylon filling. The packaging
operations foresee the positioning, through an
overhead-travelling crane, of the coil on the
previously cut sheet, the subsequent manual winding and
folding and the encasing with metal "bundles".
A second packaging procedure foresees the use of a
metallic crate. In particular, besides the paper, a
sheet of 0.6 mm thick sheet steel is used which is cut
and folded manually on the outer part of the coil, is
fixed to two side covers, also made of sheet steel and
cut and folded manually. This second method is the most
commonly used one, particularly in cases in which it is
necessary to guarantee a greater protection of the
product.
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It is clear to see what are the problems connected with
the quoted known systems.
A first problem is connected to the material used
(paper, sheet metal, etc.) which is not easy to dispose
of and also is costly to recycle.
Moreover, it is necessary to have a large workforce,
due to the totally manual nature of the operations for
positioning the side covers, the circumferential and
radial bundling, and of other packaging steps.
Consequently, this results in a low productivity even
when there is a large team of operators.
The complicated nature of such known systems, moreover,
requiring operators to be present, carries a high risk
of accidents in the workplace. Indeed, the cutting,
positioning and fixing operation of the large, thin and
sharp sheet of steel is often the source of accidents.
Also the unpacking step iS very dangerous since the
outer sheet must be held until it is completely
unrolled.
It should not be forgotten that, in spite of such a
complex, expensive and dangerous work, a low quality
packaging is created. Indeed, the systems currently
used are not capable of guaranteeing that the product
be protected from oxidation, which can cause serious
losses to the value of the coil. In the case of paper
packaging, there is also a serious risk of deformation
CA 02431132 2003-06-04
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due to surface knocks during transportation.
As already stated, there are problems for packaging
which, once used, are no longer reusable and are
difficult to dispose of, due to their varied
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The purpose of the present invention is, therefore,
that of making a packaging unit for coils which is
capable of avoiding all of the technical problems and
the drawbacks listed above.
A further specific purpose of the present invention is
that of making an efficient automation of every step of
the packaging procedure, in such a way increasing
productivity, reducing the risk of accidents and
guaranteeing an absolute protection of the coil from
knocks and from atmospheric agents.
Another purpose of the present invention is that of
making the materials used for packaging totally
recyclable, avoiding disposal problems.
These purposes according to the present invention are
achieved by constructing a packaging unit for coils
according to claim 1.
The characteristics and advantages of a packaging unit
for coils according to the present invention will
become clearer from the following description, given as
an example and not for limiting purposes, referring to
the attached schematised drawings in which:
AMENDED SHEET
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4A
WO 9810987 discloses - a packaging unit for coils
comprising feed and evacuation transporters and a
treatment group.
AMENDED SHEET
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figure 1 is a plan view from above of a unit according
to the present invention, showing various steps of its
operation,
figure 2 is a plan view from above of the unit of
5 figure 1 in a first work step.
figures 3-8 are plan views of the successive steps up
to the evacuation of the packaged coil according to the
invention,
figures 9-10 show enlarged schematic section views of
an extruder in the deposition step of the continuous
sheet on the outer surface of the coil which is carried
by a cradle, and
figures 11-12 show enlarged schematised section views
of an extruder in the deposition step of the continuous
sheet in the inner surface of the coil.
With reference to fig.1 a plan view from above of a
coil realised according to the present invention is
illustrated in which the individual devices and groups
which comprise them are schematised.
The unit comprises a feeding transporter 11 on which
individual coils 12 are arranged to be put in a
packaging position illustrated with 13 near to the end
of the transporter itself 11 arranged on a motorised
cradle with rollers 10. Before the coil 12 to be
packaged is put into such a position, a size detector
14 is foreseen which detects the maximum size of the
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coil 12 both in terms of its width and diameter, as
well as the size of its inner hole, sending such sizes
to a central computer 15. A control panel of such a
central computer 15 takes care of controlling the
functions of the various devices and groups of the
unit.
In such a packaging position 13 a group of apparatuses
which carry out the treatment of a single coil 12 is
arranged. This is done so as to obtain its packaging in
a material which is easy to recycle and to heat solder,
for example consisting of a film of monocomponent
material or plastic material in general, such as high
density polythene.
Firstly a manipulator 36 of sheets 16 of polythene is
foreseen, such sheets being of a greater size than the
maximum diameter of the coil and being arranged in a
stack. The manipulator 36 takes care of clasping a
single sheet 16 and of the displacement thereof at a
support plate 17 associated with a cutting apparatus
18.
This apparatus 18, for example an apparatus for laser
cutting, milling cutting, water pressure cutting, etc.,
has an arm 19 which can be displaced in the horizontal
plane above the sheet 16 arranged on the support plate
17. The arm 19 carries a cutting element 20 which,
through the command received from the computer 15 upon
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the basis of the measurements detected by the detector
14, takes care of cutting out a flat ring 21 from the
sheet 26.
Each flat ring 21 is then clasped by a further two
manipulators 22 which arrange it on bases or heads 23
opposite the coil 12. Regarding this, it is obvious
that once a first flat ring 21 is made, it is clasped
by a first manipulator 22 and is arranged at a first
head 23 of the coil. At the same time the cutting
apparatus 18 takes care of the preparation of the
second flat ring 21 which must be arranged through the
second manipulator 22 on the other head 23.
The support surface 17, upon which rests a trimming 24
of a sheet 16 from which the flat ring 21 was formed,
can foresee a pair of transporters 25 which take care
of removing the trimmings 24 which form during the
cutting operations.
Once the two manipulators 22 have arranged the flat
rings 21 at the heads 23 of the coils 12 being
packaged, the intervention of a flat-headed extruder 26
is foreseen, arranged so as to be capable of sliding on
a base block 27.
The extruder 26, for example of the single-screw type,
is arranged on a sled 28 capable of sliding on the base
block 27, so as to be capable of being moved between a
position next to the packaged coil 12 and a position
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either inserted in a central hole 29 of the coil 12 or
superposed on the side surface of the coil itself, as
shown in figures 6 and 7 and 9-12. For such a purpose
each manipulator 22 foresees a central hole 30 in its
clasping head 31 to allow the passage of an extruder
head 32 making up part of the extruder 26. The extruder
head 32 has a reduceable nozzle, so that it is possible
to vary the width of the continuous sheet according to
the width of the coil being packaged.
Once the extruder 26 has taken care of arranging a
continuous sheet 33, having a greater width than that
of the coil 12, deviator and folding elements 34
intervene, associated for example with the extruder
head 32, which act upon the edges of the continuous
sheet 33 folding them over above each flat ring 21. As
soon as the sheet material has been extruded, it is
soldered by contact and pressing.
Figures 9 and 10 show how the direct extrusion
operation of the continuous sheet on the outer side
surface of the coil takes place and how the folding
elements 34, in the form of rollers, act on the edge of
the flat sheet. It should, indeed, be noted how the
flat sheet is folded over on each of the two flat rings
21, straight after being extruded on the surface of the
coil.
Figures 11 and I2 show in an equivalent manner how the
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deposition of the continuous sheet inside the hole 29
of the coil takes place with the identical intervention
of the folding elements 34, in the form of rollers, on
the edge of the flat sheet, so as to make it integral
with the central hole of each of the flat rings 21.
At this point the coil 12 is perfectly packaged, is
discharged from the rotating bracket 10 and is
evacuated by an evacuation transporter 35, ready to be
sent on or to be stored away in a warehouse.
l0 Therefore, the advantages of the present invention are
clear, allowing all manual interventions to be
eliminated and avoiding the use of bundling devices,
with a saving of time and resources.
Moreover, it should be noted how the packaging material
can be easily removed from the coil and can be recycled
without any problem.
The central computer 15 allows the activation, thanks
to the detection carried out upstream of the coil being
packaged, of all of the connected devices,
automatically making the size choices relative to the
cutting and the extrusion.
According to the present invention one can thus obtain
a coil packaged in polythene or a similar material
which. is capable of maintaining its integrity for a
long time and also when put under various stresses.
With a unit of the invention and with a procedure
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according to what has previously been revealed it is
possible to obtain a series of notable advantages.
As well as the high protection of the coil against
atmospheric agents and in general against the
5 environment, a high productivity is obtained with an
extremely limited nun~.ber of personnel. This is the case
since, as we have seen, the unit is completely
automated and only requires one operator at the control
panel.
10 Furthermore, a high quality packaging having a certain
robustness is obtained with a lpw-cost material.
Moreover, this monocomponent material, used both as a
support inside the coil and as an outer casing, is
easily available and is environmentally friendly since
it is easy to recycle.
Advantageously, the type of material is such as to
prevent injury and accidents both to the personnel
employed to work with the unit and to the personnel
which will subsequently have to manipulate the packaged
coil once it has been received. The removal of the
protective material is extremely simple and easy and
elements to make it even easier can be foreseen.
