Method for managing production and packaging lines of logs of tissue paper and line using said method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10941012-B2
Application number	US-201716336574-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 26, 2017
Priority date	Sep 27, 2016
Publication date	Mar 9, 2021
Grant date	Mar 9, 2021

Abstract

The method provides for detecting a temporary stop request by a machine of the line, for example to replace a member subject to wear or a consumable. In view of this stop, the speed of the line is modulated so as to increase, for example, the level of filling of an accumulator, and makes sure that the subsequent temporary stop has a minimum effect on the overall productivity of the line.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method for managing a production and packaging line of tissue paper products, comprising: at least one log accumulator; upstream of the log accumulator, a first line section comprising at least one unwinder and at least one rewinder; downstream of the log accumulator, a second line section comprising at least one processing station; the method comprising steps of:
unwinding a parent reel by the at least one unwinder and feeding a ply of tissue paper toward the at least one rewinder;
in the at least one rewinder, winding the ply of tissue paper and sequentially forming logs of tissue paper;
accumulating logs produced by the at least one rewinder in the log accumulator;
detecting, by one or more detecting member(s), one or more predetermined parameter(s) indicative of a need for at least one temporary stop or temporary slowdown request by the first line section or by the second line section;
before carrying out the at least one temporary stop or temporary slowdown request, providing temporarily a change of rate of production of at least one machine of the line to minimize impact on the rate of production of a line of a subsequent temporary stop or temporary slowdown, the change of the rate of production also providing a change in level of filling of the log accumulator;
after said providing temporarily the change of rate of production of said at least one machine of the line, carrying out the at least one temporary stop or temporary slowdown request.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising steps of:
providing a prediction of a future condition or event that has not yet occurred based upon said one or more parameter(s) detected, and
based on said prediction, before the further condition or event occurs, changing operation of a machine or section of the line in order to reduce impact that a future stop will have on overall operation of the line.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said providing temporarily the change of rate of production of the at least one machine of the line comprises changing the level of filling of the log accumulator so as to:
(a) temporarily increase an amount of logs present in the log accumulator, if the at least temporary stop or temporary slowdown request comes from the first line section; or
(b) temporarily reduce the amount of logs present in the log accumulator if the at least one temporary stop or temporary slowdown request comes from the second line section;
and wherein the at least one temporary stop or temporary slowdown request is carried out after having changed the level of filling of the log accumulator.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said providing temporarily the change of rate of production of said at least one machine of the line comprises:
(a) slowing down at least one machine of the second line section, when the at least one temporary stop or temporary slowdown request comes from the first line section, so as to increase an amount of logs accumulated in the log accumulator before the temporary stop or temporary slowdown;
(b) accelerating at least one machine of the second line section, when the at least one temporary stop or temporary slowdown request comes from the second line section, so as to reduce the amount of logs accumulated in the log accumulator before the temporary stop or temporary slowdown.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein when the at least one temporary stop or temporary slowdown request comes from the first line section, said providing temporarily the change of rate of production of said at least one machine of the line comprises accelerating at least one machine of the first line section so as to increase the amount of logs accumulated in the log accumulator before the temporary stop or temporary slowdown.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the at least one temporary stop or temporary slowdown request is caused by a need to replace or replenish a material subject to wear or consumption.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising steps of: detecting, by said one or more detecting members, said one or more parameter(s) indicating a need to replace a parent reel in the unwinder;
and generating the at least one temporary stop or temporary slowdown request for the first line section.

8. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the second line section comprises at least one cutting machine having at least one blade for cutting logs of tissue paper; and further comprising steps of:
cutting each log coming from the log accumulator into a plurality of rolls by said cutting machine;
detecting by said one or more detecting member(s) a parameter correlated to wear of the blade;
generating a request for a temporary stop or temporary slowdown by the second line section when the wear of the blade is such as to require a replacement of the blade.

9. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the second line section comprises at least one packaging machine; and further comprising steps of:
packaging groups of products of tissue paper with a sheet material coming from a stock of sheet material associated with the packaging machine;
detecting by said one or more detecting member(s) a parameter correlated to consumption of the stock of sheet material;
generating a request for temporary stop or temporary slowdown by the second line section when the stock of sheet material require replenishment.

10. The method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising steps of:
in said second line section, dividing a flow of logs coming from the log accumulator into two partial flows;
feeding the two partial flows to two branches arranged in parallel, each branch comprising at least one machine;
modulating an operating speed of the at least one machine in each of the two branches in parallel so as to cause temporary stop or temporary slowdown requests in a manner staggered in time for the two branches in parallel.

11. The method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising steps of:
generating a temporary stop or temporary slowdown request when a need for replacement of the parent reel approaches;
reducing speed of machines of the second line section or increasing speed of machine of the first line section, thereby increasing the number of logs accumulated in the log accumulator;
following increase of the number of logs in the log accumulator, stopping or slowing down the rewinder and replacing the parent reel.

12. The method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising steps of:
detecting, by said one or more detecting member(s), said one or more parameter(s) indicating a need for a plurality of temporary stop or temporary slowdown requests for a plurality of machines of the line;
coordinating with one another in time the temporary stop or temporary slowdown requests coming from several machines of the line to carry out at least two temporary stops or temporary slowdowns at least partially overlapping in time.

13. The method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising steps of:
detecting, by said one or more detecting member(s), said one or more parameter(s) indicating a need for a plurality of temporary stop or temporary slowdown requests for a plurality of machines of the line;
temporarily stopping or temporarily slowing down in a sequence staggered in time two or more branches in parallel with one another.

14. The method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising communicating, from a control unit of the line to one or more mobile electronic devices, information relating to the at least one temporary stop or temporary slowdown request.

15. The meth

Assignees

• Perini Fabio Spa

Inventors

• Paganelli Luca
• Ghiselli Davide
• Frasnetti Luca

Classifications

• B65H18/08 Primary

  Web-winding mechanisms · CPC title

• B65H2301/41702

  management and organisation of stock and production · CPC title

• B65H2701/1924

  Napkins or tissues, e.g. dressings, toweling, serviettes, kitchen paper and compresses · CPC title

• B65H26/00 Primary

  Warning or safety devices, e.g. automatic fault detectors, stop-motions, for web-advancing mechanisms (safety devices in general F16P; investigating chemical or physical properties of materials in general G01N; indicating devices in general G08B) · CPC title