Assembly for Handling Reel Spools and a Reel-up - Unwinder System for a Fiber Web Production Line

Abstract

An assembly for handling reel spools (55) has spaced parallel horizontal support rails (12) and parallel vertical support elements (13; 15). Each of the horizontal support rails (12) extends between two of the vertical elements (13, 15) such that one vertical support element (13; 15) is arranged at each end of the support rail (12). Hoisting devices (30) are mounted to vertical elements at an unwinder end for raising reel spools above the rails for transfer to a reel spool transfer device (40) arranged on the support rails (12) which is movable to transport a hoisted reel spool to an opposite end where the reel spools are received by lowering devices (70). The invention also relates to a reel-up-unwinder system for a fiber web production line.

Description

CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority on Finnish Application No. 20245075, filed Jan. 26, 2024, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein.

STATEMENT AS TO RIGHTS TO INVENTIONS MADE UNDER FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates generally to production of fiber webs and to reel-up-unwinder systems for reeling-up and unwinding of parent rolls of fiber web production lines. Especially, the invention relates to an assembly for handling reel spools.

It is known that fiber webs, e.g., paper and board webs, are manufactured in devices and machines which together constitute a fiber web production line, which can be hundreds of meters long. As known from the prior art in fiber web production lines typically comprise an assembly formed by a number of devices and machines arranged consecutively in a process line. A typical production line for fiber web comprises a forming section comprising a head box and a wire section, a press section and a drying section and a reel-up. The production line can further comprise other sections and devices for treatment and/or finishing the fiber web, for example a sizer, a coating device, or a calender. The production and treatment line also typically comprises at least one slitter-winder for forming customer rolls as well as a roll packaging apparatus. Modern running speeds of fiber web production lines, especially for certain fiber web grades, for example for fluting and liner web grades, are so high that two slitter-winders are needed for slitting and winding the fiber web produced in the fiber web production lines.

In fiber web production lines, the manufacture of the fiber web takes place as a continuous process. A fiber web completing in the fiber web production line is reeled by a reel-up around a reeling shaft i.e., a reel spool, into a parent roll the diameter of which can be more than 5 meters and the weight more than 160 tons. The purpose of reeling is to modify the fiber web manufactured as planar and continuous to a more easily processable form. On the reel-up located in the main fiber web production line, the continuous process of the fiber web production line breaks for the first time and shifts into periodic operation. Reel-ups are thus used in fiber web production for reeling the fiber web coming from the fiber web production line into a parent rolls, which can be transferred to further processing, but reel-ups are also used to reel fiber web coming from a coating machine, a calender or a corresponding finishing device. In reel-ups of a fiber web, a continuous fiber web passed from a previous section of the fiber web production line, from an off-line coating section or a corresponding fiber web processing apparatus is wound around a reel spool (a reeling shaft) to form a parent roll. The fiber web is brought onto the parent roll via a reeling cylinder which is arranged rotatable and against which the parent roll is pressed by means of a loading device provided in connection with the reel spool or in connection with the reeling cylinder. Thus, the fiber web enters the parent roll so that it is pressed in between the preceding layers of the parent roll and the mantle surface of the reeling cylinder, i.e., in a reeling nip.

The fiber web wound in the reel-up onto the parent roll is full-width so it must be slit in the longitudinal direction into partial webs with suitable width and the partial webs are wound to partial fiber web rolls (customer rolls) with suitable length of fiber web and/or of suitable diameter for the customers. The slitting and winding take place as known from prior art in an appropriate separate machine i.e., in a slitter-winder. Slitter-winders comprise an unwinder, in which the parent roll is unwound, a slitting section, in which from the parent roll unwound fiber web is slit, i.e., cut in the longitudinal direction, to partial webs with desired widths, and a winding section for winding the customer rolls. When the customer rolls are completed, the slitter-winder is stopped and the wound rolls, i.e., the so-called set, is removed from the winder. Then, the process is continued with the winding of a new set. These steps of so-called set change are repeated in sequences periodically until the paper runs out of the parent roll, whereby a parent roll change is performed and the operation starts again as the unwinding of a new parent roll. The empty reel spool is then returned back to the reel-up. The reel-up must be provided with an empty reeling shaft before the previous one is full, i.e., at the time when the parent roll is ready for roll change. Usually, a number of empty reel spools is stored at a so-called reel spool storage. There is a circulation of reel spools between the reel-up and the unwinder, where the parent rolls with the reel spools are transferred to the unwinder and empty reel spools are returned from the unwinder back to the reel-up. Corresponding reel spool circulation can also be located for example, between a fiber web producing and an off-line coater or other fiber web finishing machine.

In JP patent application publication H0395003A is disclosed a storage apparatus for winding rolls comprising a transport carriage which can be attached to the outside of the roll storage position and a storage device with a pair of left and right pairs of pillars and at least two stages or more from the bottom at intervals corresponding to the spacing between both end portions of the winding core and a supporting arm with a holding arm which is engaged with both end portions of the winding core of the winding roll and holds the winding roll and an elevator frame having a pair of left and right conveying arms for respectively supporting the end portions of the winding core in a downward direction, a lifting frame provided above the winding roll storing position and above the winding roll conveying space on the side thereof a traveling beam that moves in the front-rear direction, and a hoisting frame that hangs the elevation frame.

In WO patent application publication 2010097515A1 is disclosed a movable storage supported on a floor and movable between at least two target stations for receiving, moving and handing over rolls, winding shafts and/machine reels intended for the handling of a fiber web, and the movable storage comprising reception members for receiving a load being handled and holding it up at both its support ends, which movable storage comprises at least one vertical support member supported on the floor for supporting the reception members at a fixed height or in a manner enabling adjustable height and for holding up the load so that, during operation, the movable storage and the at least one roll, winding shaft and/or machine reel being handled is moved supported on the floor by means of at least one vertical support member above a fiber web manufacturing device and/or a finishing device.

In EP patent application publication 4124597A1 is disclosed an assembly for handling reel spools and a reel-up-unwinding arrangement for a fiber web machine. This known assembly for handling reel spools comprises linear support rails, having a first end and a second end, arranged parallel to each other, a reel spool cart comprising a transverse bridge, arranged on the support rails. In the assembly the support rails are arranged at a first distance from each other, which first distance is greater than axial length of the reel spool. The cart of the assembly is provided with a hoisting device, which is configured to hoist the highest point of the reel spool vertically from beneath of at least one of the support rails to at least partly above the at least one of the support rails, and with lay-down support for the reel spool at its both ends wherein the lay-down support is provided with a drive by means of which the lay-down support can be moved under a bearing housing of the reel spool, after the reel spool has been lifted to a vertical position above the lay-down support. In this publication is disclosed a reel-up-unwinding arrangement for a fiber web machine, which comprises a reel-up station at a first end of the arrangement, configured to produce parent rolls from a running web on a reel spool supported from bearing housing at its ends, and an unwinding station at a second end of the arrangement, configured to controllably unwind web from the parent rolls produced in the reel-up station, and the arrangement comprises an assembly for handling reel spools configured to operate between the reel-up station and the unwinding station and also configured to return empty reel spools from the unwinding station to the reel-up station. The arrangement comprises parallel transfer rails between the reel-up station and the unwind station for transporting the parent rolls from the reel-up station to the unwind station, the transfer rails are arranged at a second distance from each other, the second distance being less than the first distance between the support rails of the assembly for handling the reel spools. The support rails are arranged vertically higher than the transfer rails. In this known assembly for handling reel spools and a reel-up the configuration of the assembly is rather complicated as the hoist is arranged in the reel spool cart, especially in view of power supply arrangements for the movements of the hoist and the cart and in view of the space requirements. Additionally, as the hoist and the reel spool cart are combined their operational functionality is rather restricted as they cannot be used separately.

An object of the present invention is to create an assembly for handling reel spools, in which the disadvantages of prior art are eliminated or at least minimized.

A further object of the present invention is to create a reel-up-unwinder system, in which the disadvantages of prior art are eliminated or at least minimized.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention in the assembly for handling reel spools comprises parallel horizontal support rails extending at a distance from each other and parallel vertical support elements, in which assembly each of the horizontal support rails extend between two vertical elements such, that one vertical support element is arranged at each end of the support rail, which assembly further comprises hoisting devices, reel spool transfer device and lowering devices, wherein the reel spool transfer device is arranged on the support rails movably between the ends of the support rails and the vertical support elements are located such, that their position is at area of the respective end of the reel spool.

According to an advantageous feature of the invention the hoisting device and the lowering device comprise a hook member configured to attach and support an end of the reel spool and the hook member extends in the machine direction.

According to an advantageous feature of the invention the hoisting device and the lowering device comprise a sliding support configured to slide along the respective vertical support element.

According to an advantageous feature of the invention the hook member of at least the hoisting device comprises a tilting mechanism.

According to an advantageous feature of the invention the hoisting device is located in vertical area between the support rails.

According to an advantageous feature of the invention the hoisting devices and the lowering devices have a similar construction.

According to an advantageous feature of the invention the hoisting device and the lowering device comprise a hook member and that the hook members (32) of the hoisting device and the lowering device extend towards each other.

According to an advantageous feature of the invention the reel spool transfer device comprises an integrated rotation device for reject removal, i.e. for removal of the so called bottom broke possibly remaining around the reel spool after unwinding.

According to an advantageous feature of the invention in the assembly the reel spool transfer device comprises a cross directional support beam extending between support parts of the reel spool transfer device and that the cross directional support beam is arranged in the middle area of the reel spool transfer device, preferably only in the middle area of the reel spool transfer device, i.e. in the middle area viewed from side.

According to an advantageous feature of the invention the distance between the support rails of the assembly for handling reel spools is longer than the length of the reel spool, preferably at least 500 mm longer.

According to an advantageous feature of the invention the reel spool transfer device comprises moving elements and body parts movably supported on the moving elements, which moving elements are supported on the support rail.

According to an advantageous feature of the invention the reel spool transfer device comprises support parts, preferably provided with a notch, for receiving and supporting the ends, preferably at a bearing in the ends of the reel spool, and support arms connected to the support parts and to the body parts of the reel spool transfer device.

According to an advantageous feature of the invention the reel spool transfer device is constructed as one piece.

According to the invention the hoisting devices are arranged in a vertical direction movable respectively to the vertical support elements at one end of the support rails and the lowering devices are arranged in the vertical direction movable respectively to the vertical support elements at the other end of the support rails.

According to the invention the reel-up-unwinder system for a fiber web production line comprises parallel substantially horizontal transfer rails arranged at a distance from each other in the horizontal direction, which system further comprises a reel spool station, a reel up, a parent roll storage and an unwinder arranged on the transfer rails, wherein the system comprises an assembly for handling reel spools according to the invention.

According to an advantageous feature of the invention the system further comprises a reject removal station located on the support rails of the assembly for handling reel spools.

According to an advantageous feature of the invention the transfer rails are located in the vertical direction at a lower level than the support rails of the assembly for handling reel spools.

According to an advantageous feature of the invention the distance between the transfer rails in horizontal direction is less than the distance in horizontal direction between the support rails of the assembly for handling reel spools.

According to an advantageous feature of the invention the distance between the support rails of the assembly for handling reel spools is longer than the length of the reel spool, preferably at least 500 mm longer. This makes it possible to lift full parent rolls from the transfer rails, if needed.

According to an advantageous feature of the invention the system comprises a reel spool storage arranged on the support rails of the assembly for handling reel spools.

In this description and the claims by the term machine direction is meant the general process direction i.e., main process direction, as generally used in connection with fiber web production technology. By the term cross direction is meant direction perpendicular to the machine direction, a horizontal direction. Further in this description and the claims the term end is used to indicate the axial ends of the reel spool comprising bearings, i.e. the longitudinal end areas of the reel spools for support outside the longitudinal area onto which the fiber web is to be wound. When in the assembly and in the system each end of the reel spool is supported at the area of the end. In the assembly and the system the vertical support elements are located such that their position is at an area of the respective end of the reel spool such that the hoisting device, the reel spool transfer device and the lowering device can directly reach the end of the reel spool.

By the invention and its advantageous features several advantages are achieved: The configuration of the assembly for handling reel spools provides that the hoisting device and the reel spool transfer device and the lowering device can be operated separately. Further, the construction of the reel spool transfer device is simple. Additionally, the reel spool transfer device can be used for a reject removal station on the support rails. This provides also increased capacity, as during reject removal from one reel spool in the reel spool transfer device, another reel spool can already be hoisted by the hoisting device. Also, extra storage locations are provided for reel spools, as one can be located in the hoisting device and one can be located in the reel spool transfer device, and further, if needed, one can be located also in the lowering device. This provides that the reel spool station can be constructed to have less locations for reel spools and/or the reel spool storage can be constructed to have less locations for the reel spools, which in turn decreases the space needed for the assembly and the construction costs of the assembly. Even one extra storage position for a reel spool provides more flexibility to the operation of the reel-up-unwinder system. The positioning of the vertical support elements such that their position is in the area of the respective end of the reel spool provides that the reel spools can be picked up directly from the unwinder without additional transfer moves, which also ensures that possible reject fiber web on the reel spool does not unwind at this point. The hoisting devices and the lowering devices provide simplified constructions and cost savings in production as well as in respect of spare parts.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Aspects of the invention, however, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of some example embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings and in the following the invention is described in more detail referring to the accompanying drawings.

In FIGS. 1A-1F is schematically shown an example of an assembly for handling reel spools in a reel-up-unwinder system as a side view in the machine direction of the unwinder end of the system.

In FIGS. 2A-2B is schematically shown an example of an assembly for handling reel spools in a reel-up-unwinder system as an end view in the cross direction, in FIG. 2A in the middle of the system and in FIG. 2B of the reel-up end or of the unwinder end of the system.

In FIGS. 3A-3B is schematically shown an example of a hoisting device and a transfer device of an assembly for handling reel spools in a reel-up-unwinder system as a three-dimensional view.

In FIGS. 4A-4F is schematically shown an example of an assembly for handling reel spools in a reel-up-unwinder system as a side view in machine direction.

In FIGS. 5A-5D is schematically shown an example of an assembly for handling reel spools in a reel-up-unwinder system with a reel spool storage as a side view in machine direction of the reel-up end of the system.

In FIG. 6 is schematically shown an example of an assembly for handling reel spools in a reel-up-unwinder system with a reel spool storage as a side view in machine direction.

In FIG. 7 is schematically shown an example of an assembly for handling reel spools in a reel-up-unwinder system as a side view in machine direction of the unwinder end of the system with a hook member of a hoisting device of the assembly in a tilted position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In the following description the same reference signs designate similar components unless otherwise mentioned and it should be understood that the examples are susceptible of modification in order to adapt to different usages and conditions within the frames of the invention. Repetition of some reference signs may have been omitted in figures for clarity reasons.

In FIGS. 1A-4F is schematically shown an example of an assembly 50 for handling reel spools 55 in a reel-up-unwinder system 10. The example shown in FIGS. 5A-6 corresponds to the example shown in FIGS. 1A-4F and comprises additionally a storage system 60 for reel spools 55.

The reel-up-unwinder system 10 comprises a reel-up RU and an unwinder UW as well as a reel spool station RS and a parent roll storage PRS. The reel-up-unwinder system 10 may also comprise a reject removal station RUS. The reject can be removed to a pulper of the unwinder UW or to a pulper of the parent roll storage PRS or to a pulper of the reel-up RU. In FIGS. 4A-4F is very schematically indicated the locations of the reel-up RU, the unwinder UW, the reel spool station RS and the reject removal station RUS of the reel-up unwinder system 10. As shown in the example of FIGS. 5A-6 the reel-up-unwinder system 10 may further comprise a reel spool storage 70.

The reel spool station RS, the reel-up RU, the parent roll storage PRS and the unwinder UW are constructed along horizontally or slightly towards the unwinder UW inclined, in machine direction extending, parallel transfer rails 11. The transfer rails 11 are arranged spaced apart in horizontal level. A bearing 52 of each end 51 of the reel spool 55 is respectively arranged on support of the support rail 11 at each end of the reel spool 55. In the operation of the reel-up-unwinder system 10 at first from the reel spool station RS a reel spool 55 is transferred along the transfer rails 11 to the reel-up RU, in which fiber web is reeled around the reel spool 55 to a parent roll 100. Completed parent roll 100 is moved along the transfer rails 11 to the parent roll storage PRS, wherefrom a parent roll 100 is moved along the transfer rails 11 to the unwinder UW for unwinding the fiber web from the parent roll 100 for further processing of the fiber web. These sequences are continuously repeated as long as there is incoming fiber web to be reeled up and/or need for unwound fiber web. It should be noted that as known the sequences of operation of the reel-up-unwinder system 10 are at least partially simultaneous providing for continuous operation of the reel-up-unwinder system 10.

The reel-up-unwinder system 10 further comprises the assembly 50 for handling the reel spools 55, in which vertical support elements 13, 15 are located such that their position is at the area of the respective end of the reel spool 55 such that the reel spools 55 can be picked up directly from the unwinder without additional transfer moves, which also ensures that possible reject fiber web on the reel spool 55 does not unwind. Between the vertical support elements 13, 15 parallel support rails 12 extending in the machine direction are located. In addition to the vertical support elements 13, 15. Further vertical supports 14 may be located to support the support rails 12. In the reel-up-unwinder system the support rails 12 are located above the transfer rails 11, preferably above the highest point of the parent rolls 100 supported on the transfer rails 11. The distance between the parallel support rails 12 is preferably greater than the distance between the parallel transfer rails 11. This provides, that for example by a ceiling-mounted crane or like lifting device can be used to lift a parent roll 100 from the transfer rails 11. The distance between the support rails 12 is longer than the length of the reel spool 55, preferably at least 500 mm longer. This makes it possible to lift full parent rolls 100 from the transfer rails 11 if needed.

The assembly 50 for handling the reel spools 55 comprises thus, the two support rails 12 extending apart in horizontal cross direction from each other and between the corresponding vertical support elements 13, 15. Two 13 of the vertical support elements, first vertical support elements 13, are located at one end of the assembly 50 and configured to provide support for a vertically movable hoisting device 30 configured to hoist reel spools 55 from the unwinder UW to the support rails 12. The hoisting device 30 is located in a vertical area between the support rails 12. Along the support rails 12 the reel spools 55 are transferred from a first end of the support rails 12 by a reel spool transfer device 40 to the second end of the support rails 12 i.e. to the other end of the assembly 50 provided with the other two vertical support elements 15, second vertical support elements 15 configured to provide support for a lowering device 70 configured to lower reel spools from the support rails 12 to the reel spool station RS. The support rails 12 may comprise a reject removal station RUS, in which possible reject fiber web, so called bottom broke, around the reel spool 55 is removed, for example by unwinding. The reel spool transfer device 40 advantageously comprises an integrated rotation device 47, shown in FIGS. 1A-IF, for removal of the reject fiber web, i.e., bottom broke. The support rails 12 may also comprise a reel spool storage 60 at the second end of the support rails 12, shown in FIG. 5A, in which case the reel spools 55 are transferred from the reel spool transfer device 40 to the reel spool storage 60, wherefrom the lowering device 70 lowers the reel spools 55 to the reel spool station RS to be provided to the reel-up RU for reeling parent rolls 100.

It should be noted that the assembly 50 comprises similar constructional parts for each end of the reel spool 55, even though it might be described in respect of one end of the reel spool 55 only.

It should further be noted that the reel spool 55 after receipt from the unwinder may comprise reject fiber web around it. The reject fiber web can be removed at the reject removal station RUS on the support rails 12 and thus, when the reel spool 55 is delivered to the reel spool storage 60/the reel spool station RS and further to the reel-up RU, it is empty of fiber web.

In FIGS. 1A-IF is schematically shown the operational steps of the assembly 50 for handling reel spools 55. In the stage shown in FIG. 1A the hoisting device 30 is located at its down position for receiving the reel spool 55 from the unwinder after the unwinding of the parent roll is finished and the fiber web has been cut. The respective ends 51 of the reel spool 55 are received by respective hook members 32 of the respective hoisting devices 30. The end 51 is the axial end of the reel spool comprising bearing 52, i.e. the longitudinal end area of the reel spool outside the longitudinal area onto which the fiber web is to be wound. The hoisting device 30 moves up the sliding support 32 along the vertical support element 13. In the uppermost position the hoisting device is located above the support rail 12 positioning the reel spool 55 above the level of the reel spool transfer device such that the reel spool transfer device 40 can be moved under the reel spool 55 to receive the reel spool 55. In the stage of FIG. 1B the reel spool transfer device 40 is moving towards the first end of the support rail 12. In FIG. 1C the hoisting device 30 lowers the reel spool 55 towards the reel spool transfer device 40 and, as shown in FIG. 1E. the hook member 32 of the hoisting device is detached and the reel spool 55 is transferred to the reel spool transfer device 40. In the stage shown in FIG. 1F the reel spool transfer device 40 starts moving the reel spool 55 along the support rails 12 towards the other end of the support rails 12 and the hoisting device 30 is ready to return down to fetch next reel spool 55.

In FIGS. 2A-2B is shown the assembly 50 for handling reel spools 55 in the reel-up-unwinder system 10 as an end view in cross direction, in FIG. 2A from middle of the system and in FIG. 2B of the reel-up end or of unwinder end of the system. As can be seen the reel spool transfer device 40 is further supported in the middle area, preferably only in the middle area, viewed from the side by a cross-directional support beam 46 extending between the two support parts 45 of the reel spool transfer devices 40.

As can be seen from the figures, especially in more detail in FIGS. 3A-3B, the hoisting device 30 comprises a hook member 32 for receiving respective end 51 of the reel spool 55. The hook member 32 extends in machine direction. The hook member 32 is positioned on the end 51 of the reel spool 55 at a distance from the very end surface of the end 51 of the reel spool 55. The hoisting device 30 further comprises a sliding support 31 configured to slide along the respective sliding surface of the vertical support element 13. The reel spool transfer device 40 comprises body parts 41 movably supported on moving elements 42, 43, such as wheels 42, 43, on the support rails 12. The reel spool transfer device 41 is constructed as one piece. The body part 41 is by a support arm 44 connected to a support part 45. The support arms 44 provide that the support rails 12 can be located in cross direction outside the length of the reel spool 55. Thus, if needed the parent rolls 100 and/or reel spools 55 on the transfer rails 11 are reachable for operation, for example by a crane or a separate hoist. The end 51 of the reel spool 52 is provided with a bearing 52, to which the support part 44 is preferably located to provide steady support. In FIG. 3A the end 51 of the reel spool 55 is in support of the hook member 32 of the hoisting device 30 and in FIG. 3B the bearing 52 of the end 51 of the reel spool 55 is in support of the support part 45 of the reel spool transfer device 40. As shown in FIG. 7, the hook member 32 of the hoisting device 30 has preferably a tilting mechanism 33, which is mounted between the hook member and a vertical base element 69 of the hoisting device. The tilting mechanism 33 is operable to pivot the hook member 32 downwardly, such that the hoisting device can be lowered to bring the hook member below the bearing ends of the reel spool, the tilting mechanism thus provides for lowering the hoisting device 30 even when there is a reel spool 55 occupying the unwinder UW. The lowering device 70 is advantageously constructed as the hoisting device 30 and thus, provided with corresponding constructional parts, the operation of the lowering device 70 only vice versa. In the hoisting device 30 and the lowering device 70 thus the hook members 32 extend towards each other. The tilting mechanism 33 is advantageous in the hoisting device 30 but can also be constructed to the lowering device 70 to provide movement space. In FIG. 7 the hook member 32 is shown in the tilted position.

In FIGS. 4A-4F the assembly 50 for handling reel spools 55 in the reel-up-unwinder system 10 is shown as a side view in machine direction. In the stage of FIG. 4A the hoisting device 30 is picking up the reel spool 55 from the unwinder and ready to hoist the reel spool 55 upwards to be delivered to the reel spool transfer device 40. In the stage of FIG. 4B the reel spool 55 is transferred along the support rails 12 in the reel spool transfer device 40 towards the end with the reel spool station RS. In the stage of FIG. 4C the reel spool 55 is delivered to the end with the reel spool station RS and in the stage of FIG. 4D transferred from the reel spool transfer device 40 to the lowering device 70. In the stage of FIG. 4E the reel spool 55 is lowered in the lowering device 70 to the reel spool station RS and in the stage of FIG. 4F the reel spool 55 has been delivered and the lowering device has been moved up and is ready to receive the next reel spool, the reel spool transfer device 40 has been returned towards the end of the hoisting device 30, which is in upper position.

In FIGS. 5A-5D is the reel-up-unwinder system 10 with the reel spool storage 60 as a side view in machine direction of the reel-up end of the system. The reel spool storage 60 is arranged at this end of the support rails 12 on support of the support rails 20. The reel spool storage 60 can be slightly inclined towards the delivery end, in which the lowering device 70 picks up the reel spool 55. The reel spool storage 60 is supported by a vertical support beam 16. The operation of the assembly 50 for handling reel spools 55 corresponds to the operation described above but instead of delivering the reel spool 55 to the lowering device 70, the reel spool transfer device 40 delivers the reel spool 55 to the reel spool storage 60. From the reel spool storage 60 the lowering device 70 picks up the reel spool and delivers it to the reel spool station RU, as described above. In the stage FIG. 5A the reel spool transfer device 40 is transferring the reel spool 55 towards the reel spool storage 60, in which three reel spools 55 are stored. In the stage of FIG. 5B the reel spool transfer device 40 is ready to deliver the reel spool 55 to the reel spool storage 60 and the lowering device 70 is fetching the next in order reel spool 55 from the reel spool storage 60. In the stage of FIG. 5C the next in order reel spool 55 has been transferred to the lowering device 70 and there is space in the reel spool storage 70 for transferring the reel spool 55 from the reel spool transfer device 55 to the reel spool storage 70. In stage of FIG. 5D the reel spool transfer device 40 has delivered the reel spool 55 to the reel spool storage 60.

Additionally, the assembly 50 provides for an extra storage location, as one reel spool 55 can be in the reel spool transfer device 40 while one reel spool is in the hoisting device 30.

In FIG. 6 is shown the assembly 50 for handling reel spools 55 in a reel-up—unwinder system 10 with the reel spool storage 60 as a side view in machine direction, in the stage described above in connection with FIG. 5A.

In FIG. 7 is shown the assembly 50 for handling reel spools 55 in the reel-up-unwinder system 10 as a side view in machine direction of the unwinder end of the system 10 with the hook member 32 of the hoisting device 30 of the assembly 50 in the tilted position, which provides for lowering the hoisting device 30 even when there is a reel spool 55 occupying the unwinder UW.

In view of the above the assembly 50 has the hoisting device 30 for lifting the reel spools 55 from the unwinder UW and the lowering device with similar construction for delivering the reel spools 55 to the reel spool station RS for the reel-up RU. The lifting device 30 has the hook member 32 for lifting the reel spool 55 from the unwinder UW. The hook member 32 lifts the reel spool 55 from reel spool end 51, which prevents the possible bottom fiber web i.e., the possible reject fiber web on the reel spool 51 from unwinding. The sliding support 31 of the hoisting device 30 takes the reel spool 55 high enough to make it possible for the reel spool transfer device 40 to surpass the reel spool 55 end. As shown in FIG. 3A, the reel spool cart 40 has the support part 45, preferably provided with a notch, for supporting and carrying the reel spool 55. As shown in FIG. 3B, the hoisting device 30 lowers the reel spool 55 to the support part 45 in the reel spool transfer device 40 and goes low enough so that the reel spool transfer device 40 can move away freely from the hoisting device horizontally. The reel spool transfer device 40 moves to the other end of the horizontal support rails 12 with the reel spool 55 supported in the support element 45, preferably in the notch. On the other end of the horizontal support rails 12 the process is performed in reverse order so that the hook element 32 of the lowering device 70 is under the end 51 of the reel spool 55 and between the reel spool transfer device 40 and the very end of the end 51 of the reel spool 55. The reel spool transfer device 40 moves away from the lowering device 70 and lowering of the reel spool 55 can be performed.

In the description in the foregoing, although some functions have been described with reference to certain features, those functions may be performable by other features whether described or not. Although features have been described with reference to certain embodiments or examples, those features may also be present in other embodiments or examples whether described or not. Above the invention has been described by referring to some advantageous examples only to which the invention is not to be narrowly limited. Many modifications and alterations are possible within the invention as defined in the following claims.

Claims

1. An assembly for handling reel spools having engagement ends, the assembly comprising:

parallel vertical support elements positioned at a first end and a second end of the assembly, the vertical support elements being positioned in an area for access of engagement ends of the reel spool, wherein the first end is spaced in a machine direction from the second end;

parallel spaced horizontal support rails extending between the vertical support elements, the horizontal support rails being spaced from one another in a cross-machine direction which is perpendicular to the machine direction;

a reel spool transfer device movably arranged on the horizontal support rails for movement between the first end and the second end for engagement and transfer of the reel spools from the first end to the second end;

hoisting devices mounted to each of the parallel support elements at the first end of the assembly, and movable vertically thereon, the hoisting devices configured to engage the engagement ends of the reel spools and move the reel spool engagement ends above the horizontal support rails; and

lowering devices mounted to each of the parallel support elements at the second end of the assembly and movable vertically thereon, the lowering devices arranged to engage the reel spool engagement ends and transport the reel spools to a position below the horizontal support rails.

2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein each of the hoisting devices and the lowering devices further comprises a hook member which extends in the machine direction and which is configured to attach and support one of the engagement ends of one of the reel spools.

3. The assembly of claim 2 wherein the hook member of each of the hoisting devices further comprises a tilting mechanism.

4. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the hoisting device is located in a vertical area between the support rails.

5. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the hoisting devices and the lowering devices have a similar construction.

6. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the hoisting device and the lowering device each comprise a hook member, and wherein the hook member of each hoisting device extends towards the hook member of an opposed lowering device.

7. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the reel spool transfer device further comprises an integrated rotation device for reject removal.

8. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the reel spool transfer device comprises:

two support parts, one engaged with each of the horizontal support rails; and

a cross directional support beam extending between the two support parts, wherein the cross directional support beam is arranged in a middle area of the reel spool transfer device.

9. The assembly of claim 8 wherein the cross directional support beam is positioned to underlie a reel spool transported by the reel spool transfer device and there is only a single cross directional support beam in the middle area of the reel spool transfer device and no other cross directional beam extending between the two support parts.

10. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the reel spool has a first length, and wherein the distance between the horizontal support rails is greater than the first length.

11. The assembly of claim 10 wherein the distance between the horizontal sport rails is at least 500 mm greater than the first length.

12. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the reel spool transfer device comprises:

moving elements connected to body parts, the body parts supported on the moving elements, wherein the moving elements are supported on the support rail;

support parts having portions defining a notch, for receiving and supporting ends at a bearing of the reel spool; and

wherein each support part is connected to one of the body parts.

13. The assembly of claim 12 wherein the body parts and support parts of the reel spool transfer device are constructed as one piece.

14. The assembly of claim 1 wherein a tilting mechanism is mounted between the hook member and a vertical base element of the hoisting device, the tilting mechanism being operable to pivot the hook member downwardly, such that the hoisting device can be lowered to bring the hook member below the bearing ends of the reel spool, the tilting mechanism thus providing for lowering the hoisting device when there is a reel spool occupying an unwinder at the first end of the assembly.

15. The system of claim 1 wherein the system is part of a fiber web production line, and further comprising:

two parallel substantially horizontal transfer rails spaced from each other in a horizontal direction and extending between the vertical elements;

a reel spool station at the second end;

a reel up;

a parent roll storage; and

an unwinder arranged on the transfer rails at the first end.

16. The reel-up-unwinder system of claim 15, wherein the system further comprises a reject removal station located on the support rails.

17. The reel-up-unwinder system of claim 15, wherein the transfer rails are located beneath the support rails.

18. The reel-up-unwinder system of claim 15 wherein the distance between the transfer rails in the horizontal direction is less than the distance in the horizontal direction between the support rails.

19. The reel-up-unwinder system of claim 15 wherein the system further comprises a reel spool storage arranged on the support rails.