Apparatus for changing film reels

The invention relates to an apparatus for changing film reels, in particular films made of extendible plastics, automatically in a wrapping machine arranged for wrapping with said film a product or a plurality of products placed on a bed or pallet.

Wrapping machines are known comprising a frame provided with one or two vertical columns suitable for supporting a load- bearing structure, bearing an unwinding unit. The load-bearing structure, which is movable along a vertical axis, supports a rotating ring rotated around a said vertical axis and arranged for supporting the unwinding unit. In this way, the latter rotates around the product with an alternating movement in a vertical direction, so as to wrap the product with bands of crossed film for the entire height thereof.

The rotating ring is replaced in some machines by a rotating arm rotatably fixed to the frame of the machine and slidably supporting the unwinding unit at a free end. Wrapping machines are further known in which the unwinding unit is fixed to the load-bearing structure and is the product that is rotated around a vertical axis, by a suitable platform or turntable. Apart from the various types of wrapping machine, the unwinding unit substantially comprises a supporting element, fixed to the rotating ring or to the structure, to which there are fixed in a rotatable manner a supporting shaft of the reel of film, at least a pair of prestretching rollers, a plurality of deviating or idling rollers, and possibly a roller, a so-called dandy roll, for controlling the unwinding and tensioning of the film.

The film of plastics is unwound from the reel and is suitably wound around the aforesaid rollers according to a curvilinear path that enables the film to be correctly unwound and enables the film to be prestretched or elongated as desired.

In the event of the film being finished, the reel has to be replaced with a new reel. This replacement operation is generally performed manually by one or more operators who, after stopping the machine and positioning the unwinding unit at a suitable height from the ground, remove the finished reel from the corresponding supporting shaft, and then insert and block the new reel of film.

At this point it is necessary to remove from the new reel an initial portion of the film and wind the film around prestretching and idling rollers according to the winding curvilinear path required, as far as a grasping gripper fixed to the load-bearing structure and intended to retain the film in the initial step of wrapping around the product. This plurality of manual interventions are not only tiring for the operator but are also extremely slow and require long periods of machine downtime, with a noticeable reduction in machine productivity.

In order to overcome this drawback, apparatuses are known for changing reels comprising a carriage bearing one or more new reels and which is movable away or towards the machine. During replacement of the reel, the carriage is near the machine to receive the finished reel and to release the new reel, which is inserted into the supporting shaft of the unwinding unit automatically. In some machines, together with the reel the corresponding supporting shaft is replaced, as suitable seats are provided on the unwinding unit that are suitable for supporting the shaft and at the same time enabling said shaft to be extracted and inserted. In this way the reel can be replaced automatically, nevertheless it is necessary to wind manually the initial edge of film around the rollers of the unwinding unit. This operation is laborious and slow, and increases the time that is necessary for replacing the reel . In order to overcome this drawback, unwinding units are known that are provided with a plurality of tensioning

rollers movable between an opening position and a closing position.

In the opening position these tensioning rollers enable an initial edge of the film of the reel to be unwound, positioned above the prestretching and idling rollers until it is blocked at a stop gripper. In the closing position the tensioning rollers are inserted between said prestretching and idling rollers, tensioning the film between the reel and stop gripper and making the required unwinding curvilinear path of the film.

A drawback of such apparatuses lies in the fact that it is necessary to stop the machine at least for the time required to unwind the initial edge of film, fix the film to the arrest gripper, and open and close the tensioning rollers in position.

In addition thereto, the latter and the corresponding supporting and moving means make the unwinding unit more complex and therefore costly, which is further more cumbersome and heavier. European patent demand EP 1655225 discloses an apparatus for changing film reels in a wrapping machine, comprising a movable carriage moving towards/and or away from the machine on which they are mounted, in addition to the reel of new film, a plurality of sleeves or hollow cylinders around which an initial edge of the film is wound by an operator. This edge is locked in an extended position by an arrest gripper fixed to the carriage. The sleeves are dimensions and arranged so as to receive respective prestretching and idling rollers of the unwinding unit, when the latter is lowered onto the carriage that is movable in a reel-change configuration.

In this way, by means of a plate provided with teeth that are insertible into respective grooves of the sleeves, it is possible to move the film from the latter to the prestretching and idling rollers.

This apparatus, which enables the initial edge of film of

the new reel to be wound around the prestretching and idling rollers in a relatively short time and without the need for movable tensioning rollers mounted on the unwinding unit, nevertheless has some drawbacks. A first drawback consists of the need to position the unwinding unit with extreme precision in order to enable the prestretching and idling rollers to become inserted into the respective sleeves without colliding with the edges of the latter. This positioning is particularly delicate and complex, especially in the case of wrapping machines with a rotating ring, due to the play and dimensional tolerance in machines of such dimensions and which generally increase over time and with use. Safety sensors have to be provided to block the descent of the unwinding unit and prevent damage to the latter and/or to the machine if even one roller is not aligned with the respective sleeve. If this occurs, it is necessary to stop the machine, check the fixing of the rollers and sleeves and check driving means and positioning of the rotating ring, with a consequent increase in costs and decrease of productivity .

A further drawback of this apparatus consists of the fact that the film of plastics tends to adhex-e to the external surface of the sleeves on which it is wound, thus making lifting and moving thereof onto the rollers of the unwinding unit by the transferring plate difficult. The teeth of the plate, engaging in the corresponding grooves of the sleeves, during lifting may also not be able to move the film, or cause cuts and/or lacerations thereupon that compromise the correct winding thereof on the prestretching and idling rollers .

Still another drawback of the aforesaid apparatus is the need to rotate the prestretching rollers to partially rewind and tension films to prevent the film being able to unwind during lifting of the unwinding unit due to the difference in the diameter of said rollers and the sleeves. This

operation is laborious and delicate and carries the concrete risk of enabling the film to unwind from one or more rollers and/or of leading to breakage of the film.

Another drawback of known apparatuses for automatic changing of a reel lies in the complexity and therefore the cost of removing means arranged for grasping and extracting a finished reel from the supporting shaft of the unwinding unit . Such known removing means comprises, for example, a movable arm that is provided with a gripping device that is able to grasp the finished reel, remove the finished reel from the shaft, and move it outside the wrapping machine. Such a movable arm, which requires a plurality of actuators and ■ a control device to perform the sequences of movements necessary for replacing the reel, is generally very costly. In European patent application EP 1655225 a reel change apparatus is provided comprising a fixed pin mounted on the movable carriage and suitable for receiving the finished reel unhooked and removed from the supporting shaft of the unwinding unit by means of suitable unhooking and extracting means .

During operation, the supporting shaft is arranged coaxially to the fixed pin and the unhooking and extracting means is driven to transfer the reel to said pin. A drawback of this apparatus consists of _. the fact that the unhooking and extracting means that respectively comprises stopping jaws and pushing elements is driven by a pneumatic actuator by means of transmission and kinematic mechanisms such as levers, tie rods, cams that are very complex that in addition to being costly to produce and assemble may be subject to malfunctions.

In addition to this, as the unhooking and extracting means and part of these transmission and kinematic mechanisms are mounted on the supporting shaft, the unwinding unit is more cumbersome and heavy.

Apparatus are known for changing reels comprising a

plurality of reel-holding carriages that are suitably moved towards and away from a respective wrapping machine for performing a plurality of reel changes automatically, in order to maintain almost continuous operation of the machine and/or not to require constant intervention by an operator. For this purpose said carriages are fitted on linear guides that are generally arranged longitudinally, adjacent to the wrapping machine, to enable each carriage to be arranged in a reel-change operating position. Further transverse linear guides are sometimes provided that enable each single carriage to be moved towards or away from the machine, thus preventing cumbersome longitudinal guides being placed next to the machine . Apparatuses are further known comprising a carriage that is movable linearly away from/towards the wrapping machine provided with a plurality of new reels, mounted on a carousel or rotatable support and which by rotating places each reel in the reel-change operating position. A drawback of such apparatuses consists of the encumbrance of the moving means and devices of the carriages which, arranged adjacent to the wrapping machine, limit accessibility to the latter and to the carriages. These moving means and devices, which comprise linear sliding guides, actuators, position sensors, transferring means, etc, are further generally complex and costly, and require suitable control and management systems for commanding and coordinating the operation thereof.

An object of the invention is to improve known apparatuses for changing film reels in a wrapping machine, in particular by increasing simplicity and versatility of use.

Another object is to devise an apparatus that enables a finished reel of film to be replaced substantially automatically with a new reel in a wrapping machine, with minimum manual interventions and in a relatively rapid time. A further object is to obtain an apparatus that is able to set up in an optimal manner an initial portion of film of a

new reel and to enable a rapid and safe transfer onto rollers of a reel-holding unit of the wrapping machine. Still another object is to devise an apparatus that does not require particularly precise positioning of the reel-holding unit of the wrapping machine to enable the finished reel to be replaced, and in particular a new reel to be picked up and the corresponding initial portion of film to be wound on the rollers. A still further object is to obtain an apparatus that enables an initial portion of film to be unwound and tensioned on the rollers of the reel-holding unit without the need to rotate the latter.

Still another object is to obtain an apparatus that enables a finished reel to be both detached and extracted from the reel-holding unit, and a new reel to be inserted and locked on the reel-holding unit in a rapid, simple and effective manner .

Another further object is to make an apparatus having limited overall dimensions and a structure that is compact, simple and cheap to make.

In a first aspect of the invention there is provided an apparatus comprising a reel-holding unit for a wrapping machine for wrapping a product with a film unwound by a plurality of rollers from said reel and a reel-changing unit for replacing a finished reel with a new reel, said reel- holding unit and said reel-changing unit being mutually positionable in a reel-change configuration in such a manner that said new reel can be positioned instead of said finished reel, said reel -changing unit being provided with elements that define a curvilinear path for an initial portion of said film of said new reel, characterised in that said elements are positionable in said reel-change configuration such that when a roller of said plurality of rollers is positioned at a curve, at least one of said elements is completely interposed between said film and said roller.

The elements are further movable, between a work position, in which they are completely interposed between said film and said roller, and a disengagement position, in which they are not interposed between said film and said roller to enable said film to wound on said roller.

Owing to this aspect of the invention it is possible to transfer in a rapid and easy manner a new reel of film and a corresponding properly unwound initial portion, onto a reel- holding unit of a wrapping machine, without the need for the operator to intervene. The elements on which the initial portion of film has been previously wound define, in fact, a winding curvilinear path provided with curves into which the rollers of the reel-holding unit can be inserted at the reel change procedure. Movable gripping means of an edge of said initial portion enables the film to be wound automatically around the elements and, at the same time maintains said film tensioned to avoid possible detachments from the rollers during the transfer. This enables the elements to be maintained, interposed entirely between the film and rollers, relatively spaced by the rollers, avoiding the need to position the reel-holding unit and/or the reel-changing unit in a precise and accurate manner. Further, it is not necessary to rotate the rollers to tension the initial portion of film.

The reel-changing unit also comprises supporting means for supporting the new reel and of elements, which are mounted movably so as to enable the reel and/or the elements to be moved in the case of contact of said reel and/or of said elements with the reel-holding unit.

It is thus possible, in a simple and effective manner, to preserve the apparatus and the wrapping machine from breakages and damage following errors or positioning imprecisions of the reel-holding unit and/or of the reel- changing unit. In the event of a collision, for example, of a supporting shaft of the reel-holding unit with the new

reel arranged on the supporting means of the reel-changing unit, said supporting means for example rotating to enable the reel to be lowered, thereby avoiding a stiff shock. By virtue of the presence of suitable elastic means, said rotation in fact occurs elastically so as to enable the shock to be absorbed. Sensor means is provided for detecting the rotation or lowering undergone by the supporting means and generating a corresponding alarm signal for a control unit of the wrapping machine so as to cause the immediate arrest thereof . This prevents the lowering movement of the reel-holding unit continuing and being able to cause damage and breakages .

In a second aspect of the invention there is provided an apparatus comprising a reel-holding unit for a wrapping machine for wrapping a product with a film unwound from said reel and a reel-changing unit for replacing a finished reel with a new reel, said reel-holding unit and said reel- changing unit being mutually positionable in a reel-change configuration in such a manner that said new reel can be positioned instead of said finished reel, said reel-changing unit being movable between a first operating position, wherein said reel-holding unit is spaced from said wrapping machine, and a second operating position, wherein said reel- holding unit is adjacent to said wrapping machine in said reel-change configuration, characterised in that said reel- changing unit is rotatable between said operating positions around a respective axis.

Owing to this aspect of the invention, it is possible to make an apparatus provided with at least a reel-changing unit associated with the wrapping machine so as to simplify the movements of approaching and or moving away from the latter and, thus, the devices and means necessary for moving the latter. Owing to the rotatable connection with a frame of the wrapping machine, longitudinal and/or transverse linear sliding guides are not necessary for rectilinear movement of the unit. This enables the total dimensions of

the machine to be reduced and a pair of reel-changing units to be inserted on the same operating side of said machine. The two units are further moved so as to take up the same operating position adjacent to the machine to perform reel changing, whilst in the further operating position they are spaced from one another and from the wrapping machine to enable an operator to access both the units and the machine comfortably. In a third aspect of the invention there is provided an apparatus comprising a reel-holding unit for a wrapping machine for wrapping a product with a film unwound from said reel supported by a supporting shaft, and blocking means associated with said supporting shaft for constraining to said supporting shaft said reel, characterised in that said blocking means comprises lever means and pin means, said pin means being interposed between, and engaged with, said lever means so as to enable said lever means to be arranged selectively in a supporting operating position, wherein said lever means constrains said reel to said supporting shaft, or in an extraction operating position, wherein said lever means enables a finished reel to be extracted from said supporting shaft.

Owing to this aspect of the invention, it is possible to obtain an apparatus that enables a reel of film to be constrained reversibly to a supporting shaft of a reel- holding unit, in a simple and effective way without requiring moving means, such as actuators and complex and cumbersome transmission and motion mechanisms . The lever means controlled by the pin means by means of coupling between respective contact portions can in fact assume various operating positions, respectively for supporting and locking the reel on the supporting shaft, to enable a finished or new reel to be extracted from or inserted into said supporting shaft. The invention can be better understood and implemented with reference to the attached drawings that illustrate some

embodiments thereof by way of non- limitative embodiment, in which:

Figure IA is a schematic plan view of the apparatus of the invention associated with a wrapping machine, showing two reel-changing units in a first operating position;

Figures IB and 1C are respectively frontal and lateral schematic views of the apparatus in Figure IA, in which a reel-changing unit is in a first operating position and a further reel-changing unit is in a second operating position;

Figure 2A, 2B, 2C are partial schematic respectively frontal and lateral plan views of the apparatus and of the machine in Figure IA, in a finished reel extracting configuration; Figures 3a, 3B, 3C are partial schematic respectively frontal and lateral plan views of the apparatus and of the machine in Figure IA in an operating position of the reel- holding unit;

Figure 4A, 4B are partial schematic respectively frontal and lateral plan views of the apparatus and of the machine in Figure IA in a reel-change configuration;

Figure 5A, 5B are partial schematic respectively frontal and lateral plan views of the apparatus and of the machine in Figure IA in a work position of the reel-holding unit; Figure 6A is a schematic plan view of a reel-changing unit in Figure IA, showing elements engaged by an initial portion of film, first gripping means of said portion in a respective gripping position, transferring means shown by a dotted line; Figure 6B is a view like that in Figure 6A showing the first gripping means in a tensioning position and rollers of the reel-holding units inserted into curves of the film; Figure 7 is an enlarged front view of a reel-changing unit of the apparatus in Figure IA; Figure 8A is an enlarged front view of second gripping means of said edge in a rest position;

Figure 8B is an enlarged view of the second gripping means

in a respective gripping position;

Figure 9 illustrates an enlarged perspective view of a supporting shaft of the reel-holding unit, showing reel blocking means and reel pushing means; Figure 10 illustrates a fragmentary cross section of the supporting shaft in Figure 9;

Figure HA is an enlarged section of the supporting shaft in

Figure 10, showing lever means in a supporting position;

Figure HB is a section like that in Figure HA, showing lever means in a reel inserting position;

Figure HC is a section like that in Figure HA, showing lever means in a reel extracting position;

Figure 12 illustrates extracting means for extracting a finished reel in different successive operating positions; Figure 13A is a schematic plan view of an embodiment of the apparatus in Figure IA, showing moving means of abutment elements of an initial portion of film in an inserting configuration of said film;

Figure 13B is a view like that in Figure 13A, showing moving means of abutment elements in a wrapping configuration for wrapping said film;

Figure 14, 15 are respectively frontal and lateral partial schematic views of another embodiment of the apparatus and of the machine in Figure 1, showing a reel-changing unit in a first operating position and a further reel-changing unit in a second operating position;

Figure 16 is a lateral partial schematic view of the apparatus and of the machine in Figure 14 in a reel-change configuration; Figure 17 is a lateral partial schematic view of the apparatus and of the machine in Figure 14 in a work position of the reel-holding unit;

Figure 18A is a schematic plan view of a reel-changing unit in Figure 14, showing elements engaged by an initial portion of film in a work position and first gripping means of said initial portion in a respective gripping position;

Figure 18B is a view like that in Figure 18A, in which supporting means is represented in a partial manner for showing element lifting means better, first gripping means in a tensioning position and rollers of the reel-holding unit inserted into curves formed by the elements in the initial portion of film;

Figures 19 and 20 are respectively lateral and frontal enlarged views of the reel-changing unit in Figure 18A; Figure 21A is a lateral partial view of the reel-changing unit and of the reel-holding unit in a reel-change configuration, in which the elements engaged by the film are in the work position;

Figure 21B is a view like that in Figure 21A, showing said elements in a disengaged position; Figure 22 is a schematic partial view of a further embodiment of the apparatus of the invention. With reference to Figures IA to 7, there is illustrated an apparatus 1 comprising a reel-holding unit 22 for a wrapping machine 20 arranged for wrapping a product with a film 40 unwound by a plurality of rollers from a reel 10 and a reel- changing unit 2 suitable for replacing a finished reel 110 with a new reel 10.

The reel-holding unit 22 and the reel-changing unit 2 are in particular reciprocally positionable in a reel-change configuration A so that the new reel 10' can be positioned instead of the finished reel 110.

The wrapping machine 20 comprises frame means 21 suitable for rotatably supporting the reel-holding unit 22, which rotates around a wrapping axis Z of said film 40 around said product 100.

In the configuration illustrated in the figures, the wrapping machine 20 is provided with movable frame means comprising first ring means 31 and second ring means 32. The first ring means 31, slidably supported by the frame means 21, is vertically movable according to a direction that is virtually parallel to the wrapping axis Z.

The first ring means 31 rotatably supports second ring means 32 to which the reel-holding unit 22 is connected. The second ring means 32 is rotated around the wrapping axis Z. The wrapping machine 20 may also be of the rotating arm type, i.e. provided with an arm rotatably fixed to the frame of the machine and bearing at an end a portion elongated vertically, on which the reel-holding unit 22 is slidably fixed. The latter comprises a supporting element 30 to which the supporting shaft 24 of a reel 10 and a plurality of rollers 25, 26, 27, 28, 29 are fixed that are arranged for unwinding and stretching the film 40 from the reel 10.

The apparatus 1 further comprises grasping means 50 fixed to the first ring means 31 and arranged for grasping and retaining an edge of the film 40 to enable the product 100 to be wound with said film in an initial work step. The grasping means 50 includes an arm 51 rotatably supported on said first ring means 31 and provided at a free end 51a with a grasping gripper 52 provided with a pair of jaws 52a, 52b (Figure 8A and 8B) .

The arm 51 is driven by respective driving means 54, for example comprising a pneumatic linear actuator, between a rest position J, in which it is raised and adjacent to the first ring means 31, and a respective gripping position K, in which said arm is extended and lowered to grasp the film 40.

The reel-holding unit 22 comprises a first prestretching roller 25 and a second prestretching roller 26, rotating at different speeds so as to unwind the extendible film and stretch or elongate the film by a set percentage and a plurality of deviating or idling rollers 27, 28, 29 provided for deviating the film 40 such that that it winds around the prestretching rollers 25, 26 (Figure IA) . The apparatus 1 comprises a pair of reel-changing unit 2, 2' placed on the same operating side as the wrapping machine 20.

Each reel-changing unit 2, 2' is movable between a respective first disengaged operating position C, in which it is relatively spaced ¹ from the machine 20, and a second reel-change operating position D, in which it is on the other hand adjacent to the machine 20 to interact with the reel-holding unit 22 in the reel-change configuration A. In particular, each unit 2, 2' is rotatably supported by a respective connecting plate 23, 23' to the frame means 21 of the machine 20, so as to rotate partially around a respective rotation axis X, X', substantially parallel to said wrapping axis Z.

As shown in Figures IB and 1C, when one of the units 2, 2' is in the respective second operating position D, the other unit 2', 2 is in the first operating position C. The two units 2, 2' are identical, but are rotatably mounted on the respective connecting plates 23, 23' at different points so that during rotation, respectively clockwise and anticlockwise, from the respective first operating position C to the respective second operating position D, the new reels 10' are placed in the same position for subsequent mounting on the first supporting shaft 24.

Driving means 19, 19' is provided for rotating each unit 2, 2' between the two operating positions C, D. The driving means 19, 19' comprises, for example, respective pneumatic or electric linear actuators that connect the respective units 2, 2' to the frame means 21.

Each reel-changing unit 2, 2' is provided with a further supporting shaft 3 of the new reel 10' of film 40 and a plurality of elements 4 that define a curvilinear path P along an initial portion 41 of the film 40 of said new reel 10' .

The initial portion 41 is intended to wind the prestretching rollers 25, 26 and the deviating rollers 27, 28, 29 of the reel-holding unit 22 in the reel-change configuration A. More precisely, in this reel-change configuration A, the rollers 25, 26, 27, 28, 29 of the reel-holding unit 22 are

positioned at respective curves Pl, P2, P3 , P4 formed on the initial portion 41 by the elements 4.

The arrangement of the elements 4 is such that at each curve at least one thereof, preferably two or more, is completely interposed between the film 40 and the respective roller.

The unit 2, 2' comprises a supporting frame structure 13 connected to the respective connecting plate 23, 23' and arranged for supporting means 6, 7 of the further supporting shaft 3 and of the elements 4. The supporting means comprises a first supporting plate 6 and a second supporting plate 7 connected by a connecting element, fixed to upper portions of the supporting structure 13 and arranged respectively for providing a resting surface for the new reel 10' and for enabling the elements 4 to be fixed.

The further supporting shaft 3 is fixed, for example by a bracket or shelf 14, to the supporting structure 13, so as to protrude partially through a respective passage opening 6a of the first plate 6 (Figure 7) . In this way, the new reel 10' rests on said first plate 6 and is kept in position as it is inserted into said further supporting shaft 3. The latter is further able to slide along its own substantially vertical longitudinal axis Y2 to enable the first supporting shaft 24 to be inserted into the reel 10' in the reel-change configuration A, as explained more in detail further on in the description.

The further supporting shaft 3 is in fact elastically shortenable, between an extended position in which it protrudes from the passage opening 6a, and a retracted position in which it is arranged below the first plate 6, because pushed by the first supporting shaft 24 (Figure 4B) . The further supporting shaft 3 is, for example, of telescopic type and comprises a first portion 3a fixed to the bracket 14 and a second portion 3b that is able to slide axially on said first portion 3a. Elastic means is interposed between the two portions of the further

supporting shaft 3 to maintain the latter in the extended position.

The second portion 3b can also be arranged for rotating freely around the longitudinal axis Y2 with respect to the first portion 3a.

The elements 4, comprising for example elongated cylindrical pins, are connected to the second plate 7 in a fixed manner or are mounted thereupon free to rotate around respective longitudinal axes Yl (Figure 7) . Movable gripping means 8 is provided to block a free edge 41a of the initial portion 41 of the film 40 and maintain the latter unwound and correctly extended on the elements 4. The gripping means 8 comprises an arm 9 rotatably connected to the second plate 7 and having on the free end a grasping gripper 11. The gripping means 8 is driven by first actuating means 16, comprising for example a pneumatic linear actuator, between a gripping position E in which the gripper 11 is nearer the elements 4 to receive and block the free edge 41a, and a tensioning position F, in which the gripping means 11 is more distant from the elements 4 so as to tension the film 40.

The tensioning position F is defined geometrically by a mechanical limit stop. This ensures not only that the film 40 is wound correctly around the elements 4, but also the correct subsequent wrapping around the rollers of the reel- holding unit 22, as shown in detail in the continuation of the description.

In an alternative embodiment of the apparatus that is not illustrated, the tensioning position F is not defined by the mechanical limit stop, but is reached when the gripping means 8 exerts on the initial portion 41 of film 40 a set tensioning force.

The reel-changing unit 2, 2' further comprises transferring means 12 suitable for transferring the initial portion 41 of film wound on the elements 4 to the rollers of the reel- holding unit 22, in the reel-change configuration A (Figures

6A and 6B) .

The transferring means 12 comprises a shaped plate provided with openings for the passage of the elements 4 and of the rollers 25, 26, 27, 28, 29. Said plate is moved by respective second actuating means 17 in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis Y2 of the further supporting shaft 3, so as to abut on and thus move the initial portion 41 of film 40 from the elements 4 to the aforesaid rollers. The second plate 7 of the unit 2 is provided with a plurality of openings 7a, 7b, 7c, 7d that enable the prestretching rollers to be inserted in position in the reel-change configuration A. Alternatively, the second plate 7 can be provided with these openings and be substantially coplanar, or be in a monobloc, with the first plate 6. In this case, the elements 4 are relatively smaller.

The apparatus 1 further comprises extracting means 33 of a finished reel 110 positioned at the base of the wrapping machine 20 so as to be reached by the reel-holding unit 22 in a reel-change configuration B (Figure 2A- 2C) . The extracting means 33 comprises an extracting pin 34 having a diameter and a length such as to receive and support the finished reel 110, i.e. a core thereof made of cardboard or plastics .

The extracting pin 34 is rotatably fixed, by a bracket 35, to a supporting arm 36, which is in turn fixed to the frame means 21 of the machine 20. Third actuating means 37, comprising for example a pneumatic linear actuator, is interposed between the bracket 35 and the arm 36 to rotate the pin 34 between an upright position H, in which it is substantially vertical and aligned with the first supporting shaft 24 of the reel-holding unit 22 so as to receive the finished reel 110, and a tilted position L, in which said extracting pin 34 is lowered so as to enable the finished reel 110 to disengage therefrom and

slide by gravity into a collecting container (Figure 12) . The extracting pin 34 further comprises a conical push rod 38 mounted elastically on said pin 34 and slidable axially by a defined quantity. The conical push rod 38 is arranged for opening blocking means 45 provided on a free end of said first supporting shaft 24.

With reference to Figures 9 to HC, the blocking means 45 substantially comprises a pair of blocking levers or jaws 46 fixed rotatably at an end portion 24a of the first supporting shaft 24, diametrically opposite one another. The levers 46 are provided with elongated portions 46a suitable for abutting on and supporting in an operating condition a core 10a of the reel 10. The blocking means 45 further comprises a control pin 47 slidably mounted inside said end portion 24a, substantially coaxial with said supporting shaft 24, and interposed between the two levers 46. In particular, the control pin 47 is inserted into a hole 48a of a ring 48 of the supporting shaft 24. The control pin 47 has a first abutting portion 47a comprising a cylindrical external surface and a second tapered terminal abutting portion 47b having a substantially conical shape . The control pin 47 is elastically connected to the end portion 24a of the first supporting shaft 24 by first elastic means 49, for example comprising a coil spring, so as to slide between an extended position M and a retracted position N. Similarly, the two levers 46 are connected together by second elastic means 44, for example comprising one or more coil springs .

Each lever 46 has contact portions 46b, 46c shaped so as to engage the abutting portions 47a, 47b of the control pin 47. In this way, each lever 46 may have a plurality of operating positions, in function of the position assumed by the control pin 47, as illustrated in Figures HA, HB, HC.

When the control pin 47 is in the extended position M, maintained by the respective elastic means 49, the levers 46 are arranged, owing to the action of the second elastic means 44 and to the weight of the reel 10, in a supporting position R, substantially orthogonal to a longitudinal axis Y3 of the supporting shaft 24 (Figure HA) . In this position, the levers 46 abut on the first cylindrical abutting portion 47a of the control pin 47 with respective flat contact portions 46b, that prevent further rotation downwards of the levers and thus ensure a stable and solid rest for the reel 10.

With the control pin 47 in the extended position M, it is nevertheless possible to rotate the levers 46 upwards, into a reel insertion position S (Figure HB) , was in this case the first cylindrical abutting portion 47a of the control pin 47 and is abutted by respective cylindrical contact portions 46c of said levers 46. In this way, as explained in detail in the rest of the description, it is possible to easily insert the supporting shaft 24 into a new reel 10' . The levers 46 are replaced in the resting position R by the second elastic means 44.

When the control pin 47 is in the retracted position N, pushed by the conical push rod 38 of the extracting pin 34 of the extracting means 33 into the reel extraction configuration B, the levers 46 are arranged tilted downwards in an extraction position T to enable a finished reel to be removed. This is made possible by the action of the second elastic means 44 and by the fact that the flat contact portions 46c of the levers 46 are in contact with the second tapered portion 47b of the control pin 47.

Pushing means 55 is further provided that is elastically connected to a further end portion 24b of the supporting shaft 24, opposite the end portion 24a, and arranged so as to push the reel 10 in the direction of the blocking means 45, so as to facilitate the extraction thereof.

The pushing means 55 comprises a plate 56 suitable for

abutting on the reel and slidably connected to the further end portion 24b by a plurality of guide pins 57. In particular, the guide pins 57 have an end fixed to the plate 56, the other free end being slidably inserted in a corresponding seat 59 made on the end portion 24b. Interposed between pins and seats, there is provided third elastic means 58, for example comprising coil springs, arranged for maintaining the plate 56 adjacent to said end portion 24b, i.e. for exerting an elastic force on said reel .

With particular reference to Figures 2A to 5B, operation of the apparatus 1 and of the wrapping machine 20 during an operation of replacing a finished reel 110 with a new reel 10' positioned on one of the two reel-changing units 2, 2' will now be described.

When the reel 110 mounted on the reel-holding unit 22 finishes, the first ring means 31 and the second ring means 32 are moved respectively rectilinearly and rotationally so as to arrange the reel-holding unit 22 in a first reel- change position Bl (Figure 2A- 2C) .

In this position, the first supporting shaft 24 of the reel- holding unit 22 is substantially aligned with the extracting pin 34 of the extracting means 33 that is in the upright position H. The reel-holding unit 22 is taken to the reel extraction configuration B, i.e. it is further lowered by a quantity that is such as to enable the conical push rod 38 to abut on and push the control pin 47 of the blocking means 45 to the retracted position N, which enables the levers 46 of the blocking means 45 to be rotated downwards. As a consequence, the finished reel 110, through the effect of the weight thereof and owing to the exerted thrust of the plate 56, which is in turn pushed by the third elastic means 58, removes from the first supporting shaft 24 to insert itself into the extracting pin 34.

The reel-holding unit 22 is then raised and taken to a

second reel change B2 position through the movement of the first and second ring means 31, 32.

At the same time, the extracting pin 34 is rotated to the tilted position L, so as to enable the finished reel 110 to disengage therefrom and drop through gravity, for example into a collecting container.

In the second reel-changing position B2 the reel-holding unit is above one of the two reel-changing units 2, 2' that is in the second operating position D adjacent to the machine 20.

In particular, the reel-holding unit 22 is positioned in such a way that the first supporting shaft 24, now devoid of reel, is substantially aligned with the further supporting shaft 3 of the reel-changing unit 2, i.e. aligned with the new reel 10' to be removed (Figures 3a, 3B, 3C) .

In this way, this subsequent lowering of the reel-holding unit 22 to a third reel-change position B3 enables the further supporting shaft 3 to be inserted into the new reel 10' , pushing down the further supporting shaft 3, arranging the apparatus 1 and the wrapping machine 20 in the reel- change configuration A.

In particular, whilst the first supporting shaft 24 is progressively inserted into the new reel 10' , the levers 46 of the blocking means 45 are free to fold upwards to enable the first supporting shaft 24 to slide inside the reel 10' . When the end portion 24a of the first supporting shaft 24 is inserted into the opening 6a of the first plate 6 of the reel-changing unit 2, the levers 46 are free to return to the resting position R. In this way, by successively raising the reel-holding unit 22, the levers 46 are able to abut on and raise the new reel 10' .

In the aforesaid reel-change configuration A, the prestretching rollers 25, 25 and the deviating rollers 27, 28, 29 are positioning at the respective curves Pl, P2 , P3 , P4 that the initial portion 41 of the film 40 forms in virtue of the elements 4.

The elements 4 are entirely interposed between the film 40 and rollers 25, 25, 27, 28, 29 and located by the latter at a distance so as to prevent collisions even in the case of positioning and/or alignment errors. In the third reel-change position B3 the prestretching rollers and deviators of the reel-holding unit 2 are partially inserted inside the respective openings 7a, 7b, 7c, 7d of the second plate 7 of the reel-changing unit 2. The reel-holding unit 22 is maintained in the third reel- change position B3 for a time required necessary to drive the transferring means 12, with a substantially vertical lifting movement, to enable the initial portion 41 of belt wound on the elements 4 to be transferred to the prestretching rollers 25, 26 and to the deviating rollers 27, 28, 29 (Figure 4B) .

The correct transfer of the portion 41 of film 40 onto the rolls is also ensured by the gripping means 8 that in the tensioning position F exerts on the initial portion 41 of film a set tensioning force. Alternatively, the gripping means 8 can be driven from the by the gripping position E to the tensioning position F whilst the transferring means 12 moves the film 40 from the elements 4 to the prestretching rollers and deviators. Once the initial portion 41 of film has been transferred the second gripping means 50 is lowered into the respective gripping position K to grasp and retain the free edge 41a of the film, which can then be released by the first gripping means 8. At this point the reel-holding unit 22 is lifted and returned to a work position W ready to start a new operating cycle of wrapping a product 100, whilst the reel-changing unit 2 is returned to the first operating position C to receive a new reel 10' . It should be observed that loading a new reel 10' onto the unit 2, 2' can be performed whilst the wrapping machine 20 I operational.

The operation of mounting a new reel 10' onto the unit 2 is performed manually by an operator who fits the new reel 10' onto the further supporting shaft 3 and unwinding an initial portion 41 of film 40 therefrom. This portion has to be positioned between the elements 4 so as to form a broken- line curvilinear path P.

The terminal edge 41a of the initial portion 41 is retained by the first gripper means 8 that is then driven and taken to the tensioning position F so as to make the initial portion 41 adhere to the elements 4.

The operation of winding onto the latter is significantly eased and simplified by the reduced overall dimensions of the elements 4 and by the fact that they offer minimal resistance to sliding of the film during winding thereof as they are free to rotate around the longitudinal axis Yl thereof .

With reference to figures 2OA and 2OB, there is illustrated an embodiment of the apparatus 1 in which the elements 4' are movable, supported and driven by respective moving means 61, 62, 63, 64.

First moving means 61 is provided, comprising a lever rotatably fixed to a lower surface 7a of the second plate 7 and arranged for supporting two elements A' . Second moving means 62, comprising a respective lever, which is also rotatably fixed to the lower surface of the second plate 7, is provided for supporting respective three elements 4 ' .

Third moving means 63, comprising an element slidably fixed to the lower surface of the second plate 7, supports respective further three elements 4'.

Lastly, fourth moving means 64 comprising a respective lever rotatably fixed to the lower surface of the second plate 7, is provided for supporting two respective elements 4' . The shape of the moving means 61, 62, 63, 64 and the slidable or rotating method of fixing the latter to the second plate 7 can vary according to specific constructional

needs equal to the number of elements A' and to the distribution thereof on each of such moving means. The latter are movable, driven manually or by respective actuator means, for example by pneumatic linear actuators, between two respective operating positions.

In a respective first operating position, to which an inserting configuration U of the initial portion 41 of the film 40 (Figure 20A) corresponds, the moving means 61; 62, 63, 64 is arranged so as to enable the initial portion 41 of the film 40 to be unwound rapidly and easily from the new reel 10' and the end edge 41a to then be fitted to the first gripping means 8. In this inserting configuration U, the elements 4' are generally spaced from the film 40 so as not to hamper the movements of the operator. Once the edge 41a has been blocked on the first gripping means 8 it is possible to arrange the moving means 61, 62, 63, 64 in the respective second operating position, to which a wrapping configuration V corresponds, in which the elements A' abut on and are partially wound by the initial portion 41.

The first gripping means 8 is moved from the first gripping position E to the tensioning position F, so that the film 40 winds the elements 4 so as to form the curvilinear path P with a desired tensioning force. This embodiment of the apparatus enables the film 40 preparation procedure on the reel-changing unit 2, 2' to be facilitated and accelerated, at the same time enabling the film 40 to be wound in an optimal manner on the elements A' for a correct transfer of the latter to the rollers of the reel-holding unit 22.

With reference to Figures 14 to 21, there is illustrated another embodiment of the apparatus 1 comprising reel- changing units 2, 2' in which the elements 4 are mounted movably so as to be movable between a work position Ll, in which they are completely interposed between said film 40 and the rollers of the reel-holding unit 22 (Figure 19,

21A) , and a disengaging position L2, in which they are disengaged and are not interposed between rollers and film 40, so as to enable the latter to adhere to said rollers (Figure 21B) . The supporting means comprising the first supporting plate 6 and the second supporting plate 7, connected by the connecting element 67 is fixed to upper portions of the supporting structure 13 for supplying a resting surface for the new reel 10' and for enabling the lifting means 200 to be fixed. The latter is arranged for moving the elements 4 in a linear manner between the work position Ll and the disengaging position L2 and vice versa. In particular, the lifting means 200 moves the elements 4 along a direction substantially parallel to the wrapping axis Z of the wrapping machine, i.e. along a virtually vertical direction. The elements 4, which comprise, for example, elongated cylindrical pins, are fixed to connecting means 201, for example so as to be free to rotate around respective longitudinal axes Yl . The connecting means 201 is arranged below the second plate 7 and is moved by the lifting means 200, so that the elements 4 can protrude from respective passage holes of the second plate 7, in the work position Ll, or be completely retracted, inside the unit 2, under the second plate 7, into the disengaging position L2.

The lifting means 200 comprises supporting and guide means that includes, for example, an upright 202 fixed to a first end 202a thereof, in a substantially vertical manner, to the second plate 7, and a sliding guide 203, fixed to the upright and slidably supporting the connecting means 201. The latter is driven along a linear direction by a respective actuator 204, that comprises, for example, a pneumatic piston or an electric linear motor. The latter is fixed to a second end 202b of the upright 202. The connecting means 201 comprises a first connecting member 205 to which are fixed the elements 4 and having a

substantially flat shape, and a second connecting member 206, for example having an elongated profile section shape, fixed substantially orthogonally to the first connecting member 205 and shaped so as to engage slidably in the sliding guide 203. An end of said second connecting member 206 opposite the first connecting member 205 is connected to the actuator 204.

The lifting means 200 may alternatively comprise a screw- nutscrew unit rotated/moved rectilinearly by a rotating actuator .

The free ends of the elements 4 in groups of variable number by means of shaped connecting elements 210 in order to increase the stiffness and structural resistance of the elements 4 (Figure 19, 20) . Roller means 215 is fixed to the second plate 7 at the new reel 10' to facilitate the unwinding of the initial portion 41 of film 40. The roll means 215 is mounted free to rotate around a respective longitudinal axis, substantially parallel to the second plate 7. Reference means 216, comprising for example a shaped blade, is fixed to the second plate 7 at gripping means 8. The reference means 216 is provided for maintaining the free edge 41a of the initial portion 41 of film raised and detached from the surface of the second plate 7 so as to encourage better grasping of said edge by the gripping means 8 (Figure 19) .

The second plate 7 of the unit 2 is provided also in this case with a plurality of further openings that enable the prestretching rollers and deviators to be inserted and positioned in the reel-change configuration A.

The operation of this version of the apparatus during the reel-change operation, in which a new reel 10' positioned on one of the two reel-changing unit 2, 2' is mounted on the reel-holding unit 22, is substantially similar to what was previously disclosed.

The reel-holding unit 22 is positioned in such a way that

the first supporting shaft 24, devoid of reel, is substantially aligned with the further supporting shaft 3 of the reel-changing unit 2, i.e. aligned with the new reel 10' to be removed (Figure 14, 15) . In this way, this subsequent lowering of the reel-holding unit 22 enables the first supporting shaft 24 to be inserted into the new reel 10' , pushing down the further supporting shaft 3, ai-ranging the apparatus 1 and the wrapping machine 20 in the reel-change configuration A (Figure 16, 21A, 21B) . In the aforesaid reel-change configuration A, the prestretching rollers 25, 26 and the deviating rollers 27, 28, 29 ai'e positioned at the respective curves Pl, P2 , P3 , P4 that the initial portion 41 of the film 40 forms in virtue of the elements 4 (Figure 18B) . The elements 4 are arranged in the work position Ll, entirely interposed between film and rollers and in particular positioned by the latter at a distance such as to prevent collisions even in the case of positioning errors and/or of alignment of the reel-holding unit 22 (Figure 18A) .

The rollers of the reel-holding unit 2 are partially inserted inside respective openings of the second plate 7 of the reel-changing unit 2 (Figure 21A) . The lifting means 200 is then driven so as to lower the connecting means 201, i.e. the elements 4 in the disengaging position L2 , below the second plate 7. In this way, the initial portion 41 of film can adhere to wind around the prestretching rollers 25, 26 and on the deviating rollers 27, 28, 29 in a fast and effective manner (Figure 21B) . The dimensions of the passage holes provided for the elements 4 on the second plate 7 are such as not to permit the plastics of the film 40 to be "pinched" or remain trapped between the hole and the element . The correct transfer of the film 40 portion 41 on the rollers is also ensured by the gripping means 8 that in the tensioning position F exerts a set tensioning force on the

initial portion 41 of film (Figure 18B) .

Once the initial portion 41 of film has been transferred, the second gripping means 50 is lowered to the respective gripping position to grasp and retain the free edge 41a of the film, which may thus be released by the first gripping means 8.

At this point the reel-holding unit 22 is raised and returned to a work position that is ready for starting a new product 100 winding operating cycle, whilst the reel- changing unit 2 is returned to the first operating position C to receive a new reel 10' .

The mounting operation for mounting a new reel 10' on the reel-changing unit 2 is performed manually by an operator who inserts the new reel 10' on the further supporting shaft 3 and unwinds therefrom an initial portion 41 of film 40. This portion must be positioned between the elements 4 extracted in the work position Ll, so as to form a curvilinear path P in a broken line. The terminal edge 41a of the initial portion 41 is retained by the first gripper means 8, which is then driven and taken to the tensioning position F so as to make the initial portion 41 adhere to the elements 4.

The operation of winding on the latter is significantly facilitated and simplified by the reduced dimensions of the elements 4 and by the fact that they provide minimal resistance to sliding of the film during winding thereof as they are free to rotate around the longitudinal axis Yl thereof . With reference to Figure 22, there is illustrated a further embodiment of the reel-changing unit 2 of the apparatus 1 in which the supporting means 6, 7, instead of being fixed stiffly to the supporting structure 13 , is mounted thereupon so as to be shiftable to enable the reel 10' and the elements 4 to be moved in the case of contact or a blow of said reel and/or of said elements 4 respectively with the supporting shaft and/or with the rollers of the reel-holding

unit 22 .

In particular, the supporting means 6, 7 is mounted rotatably on the supporting structure 13. The second plate 7, to which the first plate 6 is stiffly connected by the connecting element 67, is in fact fixed by hinge means 220 to an upper first portion 13a of said supporting structure 13, so as to be able to rotate partially in the direction indicated by the arrow Rl in Figure 8 , for example around an oscillating axis Y3. The oscillating axis Y3 is substantially horizontal and orthogonal to the wrapping axis Z of the machine, i.e. orthogonal from a lowering/raising direction Vl of the reel- holding unit 22 approaching, or moving away from, said reel- changing unit 2. Rotating ^' the plates 6, 7 anticlockwise with reference to Figure 8 determines a movement in the direction indicated by the arrow V2 of the new reel 10' , supported by the first plate 6, and of the elements 4, connected to the second plate 7. In particular, by positioning the hinge means 220 on the upper portion 13a of the supporting structure 13 that is more distant from the first plate 6, it is possible to obtain from a minimum rotation of the supporting means 6, 7 a significant movement of the reel 10' . The elements 4 can be fixed directly to the second plate 7 or supported by the lifting means 200, the latter being connected to said second plate 7 by means of the upright means 202. Respective elastic means 221 is interposed between the first plate 6 and a second upper portion 13b of the supporting structure 13 to maintain the supporting means 6, 7 in a preset reel change operating position L3 , and to maintain and/or return the latter to said position in the event of lowering. The elastic means 221 substantially comprises one or more coil springs acting to compress and having respective internal guiding stems.

Further elastic means can be interposed between the second plate 7 and the first upper portion 13a of the supporting structure 13.

The hinge means 200 may comprise one or more belleville washers of known type that, in addition to enabling partial rotating of the supporting means 6, 7, cooperate with the elastic means 221 to maintain said supporting means 6, 7 in said preset operating position L3. Sensor means 222 is provided for detecting the position of the first plate 6, in particular a movement or lowering thereof with respect to the reel-change operating position L3. The sensor means 222 comprises, for example, an electronic sensor of capacitive or inductive type that is able to detect the position of suitable cam means 223 fixed to the first plate 6.

This embodiment of the apparatus 1 enables possible positioning imprecisions of the reel-changing unit 2 to be avoided with respect to the reel-holding unit 22, and vice versa, which may cause in the reel-change step undesired and equally dangerous collisions and blows between the various elements and components .

During operation, if the supporting shaft 24 of the reel- holding unit 22 is not aligned - within a certain degree of tolerance - with the longitudinal axis Y2 of the further supporting shaft 3, it collides with the reel 10' in the descent movement Vl of the reel-holding unit 22 on the reel- changing unit 2. This collision causes a downward movement of the new reel 10' and thus causes the supporting means β, 7 to rotate from the reel-change operating position L3 to a lowered position L4. This rotation, contrasted elastically by the elastic means 221 and possibly by the hinge means 220, is detected by the sensor means 222 that sends a corresponding alarm signal to an electronic control unit of the wrapping machine 20. The electronic control unit readily blocks the descent movement of the reel-holding unit 22, preventing damage and breakages to the structure of the

reel-holding unit 22 and/or to that of the reel-changing unit 2. In fact, the amount of lowering required to activate the sensor means 222 is greatly reduced. Consequently, even the extent of the rotation that the supporting means 6, 7 has to be able to perform is very modest.

As the same time, the elastic means 221 enables the blow to be absorbed that is generated by the collision, preserving from anomalous and potentially dangerous stress both the supporting shaft 24 of the reel-holding unit 22 and the supporting structure 13 of the reel-changing unit 2

When the reel-holding unit 22 is raised and removed from the reel-changing unit 2, the elastic means 221 returns the supporting means 6, 7 and thus the new reel 10' and the elements 4 to the reel change L3 operating position. It is clear that this embodiment of the reel-changing unit 2 enables the apparatus 1 and the wrapping machine 20 to be preserved from breakages and damage following errors or positioning imprecisions of the reel-holding unit 22 and/or of the reel-changing unit 2. In the event of a collision of the supporting shaft with the new reel, the supporting means 6, 7, by rotating elastically, enables the shock to be absorbed. As the same time the sensor means 222 by detecting this rotation or lowering generates a stop signal for the wrapping machine . In still another embodiment of the apparatus 1 that is not illustrated, the supporting means 6, 7 of the reel-changing unit 2 is connected slidably to the supporting structure 13, so as to be movable, in the event of a contact, along a linear direction substantially parallel to the lowering/lifting position Vl of the reel-holding unit 22. In particular, the supporting means 6, 7 is mounted slidably on respective fixed linear guides to the supporting structure 13 and maintained and/or returned to the reel-changing operating position L3 by further elastic means.