Reel change systems

Reel change systems are used at an in-line production for cross cutting of the web and for starting a new winding cycle.Reel change systems can also be used for an off-line production in order to shorten the reel change time of a manual reel change or to make such a manual change more safe.

Depending on the type of winding machine different reel change systems are used. Following some common systems are described:

Reel change at turret unwinders

At turret unwinders the splice of the unwound web with the leading edge of a new reel will be prepared by positioning the new reel close below the running web. The leading edge of the new reel has to be prepared with adhesive tape before. For reel change the running web will be cut rectangular by a serrated knife and is pressed then by a pressure roll on the wound new web. Splicing is done by the adhesive tape with a short overlap of the webs.

Reel change at turret rewinders

At turret rewinders the reel change from a fully wound reel to a new empty core is done by cutting the running web by a knife and then applying the web onto the new core. This can be done with an adhesive tape or without tape by an enveloping system.

When using tape, the core has to be prepared with the tape before start of the reel change cycle. Then the core is indexed near to the running web by the machine. For reel change the web is cross-cut by a knife and then taped onto the new core by a brush system mounted on the knife arm. Such systems are used at a speed up to 600 m/min, in special applications up to more than 1000 m/min. SOMATEC offers this a reel change system with the name reel change system TAC .

At a reel change without adhesive tape the core is positioned within the winder in such a position, that it will be wrapped by the web as much as possible. For reel change the web is cross-cut rectangular and the new leading edge is guided by the lay-on system around the core, so that the web is wound on the core.This system is used up to a speed of 300 m/min and is offered from SOMATEC under the name  reel change system NTC.