Tape cartridge for Busbar taping machine

Abstract

The present invention relates to a tape cartridge for a busbar taping device for winding an insulating tape or a protective tape onto a busbar, comprising: a support member (10, 10') that supports one or both ends of a busbar; and a winding member (20) that moves along the busbar supported by the support member (10, 10') and winds an insulating tape or a protective tape onto the busbar; The above winding unit (20) includes a ring gear (200) attached to a robot arm (100) and a tape cartridge (300) attached to the ring gear (200) that rotates around the outer edge of the busbar to supply tape and wind it onto the busbar, wherein the tape cartridge (300) is located on the inner side of the ring gear (200) on the same plane as the cross axis (transverse axis) of the ring gear (200), and the tape cartridge (300) is configured to adjust the tension of the tape in a tension roller type or a torque controller type.

Description

Technology Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a busbar taping device for wrapping insulating tape or protective tape around a busbar of an electric vehicle, and more specifically, to a tape cartridge used in the taping device. Background Technology

[0003] Busbars are used in high-power, high-current environments, so insulation treatment is essential for stable operation. A busbar taping device is a device that winds special insulating tape and protective tape onto the surface of a busbar to prevent leakage of internal electrical signals or current and to protect it from external environments such as corrosion, high temperature, and high pressure.

[0004] Prior art related to the present invention includes busbar taping devices disclosed in Patent Documents 1 to 5, etc. Patent Document 1 provides a taping unit that moves freely by a multi-axis robot to tape an insulating tape and a protective tape to a busbar mounted on a workbench, wherein the taping unit has two ring gears installed in an overlapping manner between two front and rear plates, with a portion of which is open to the same size as the opening, and the two ring gears are configured to rotate by respective servo motors, and an insulating tape supply device is installed on one ring gear and a protective tape supply device is installed on the other ring gear so that the insulating tape and the protective tape can be taped simultaneously with different pitches and densities.

[0005] Patent Document 2 is a busbar insulation taping device comprising a support member that supports a busbar, a taping member that moves along the busbar and wraps an insulating sheet around the busbar, a taping member, a multi-axis frame, and a taping ring connected to the multi-axis frame that rotates around the busbar and wraps an insulating sheet around the busbar.

[0006] The busbar insulation taping device of Patent Document 3 includes a taping ring that moves along the busbar and rotates around the busbar to wrap an insulating sheet around the busbar, and the taping ring includes a guide ring having a space through which the busbar passes and an insulating sheet respectively arranged thereon, and a plurality of taping rollers that are movably connected on the guide ring and move along the guide ring.

[0007] Patent Documents 4 and 5 describe the applicant's busbar tape coating device, which is also mounted on a robot arm and comprises a winding part configured to wind a tape onto a busbar and movable according to the motion of the robot arm, and a gripping part configured to be separated from the robot arm and grip the busbar.

[0009] Meanwhile, in the conventional busbar taping device described above, no particular problems occurred in the case of straight busbars or buses with gentle curvature. However, when taping busbars with complex curves, the robot arm must follow the curvature of the busbar so that the insulation or protective tape is wound along the tangent of the radius of curvature of the curved section of the busbar. However, since the tape cartridge is mounted on the outer front or rear of the ring gear attached to the robot arm, accurate following is not achieved, resulting in a problem where the winding condition in the curved section becomes poor. In particular, in a taping device having a winding section composed of multiple (a pair) ring gears that simultaneously wind insulation tape and protective tape, the front insulation tape and the rear protective tape are separated by a large gap in the front and rear directions. Consequently, when the front insulation tape enters the curved section, the rear protective tape is wound in a state as if it had already entered the curved section at a position separated by the gap, causing the rear protective tape to be wound abnormally.

[0010] In other words, if the gap between the front insulating tape and the rear protective tape widens, the rear protective tape deviates significantly from its trajectory in proportion to the gap, resulting in a situation where the winding condition becomes poor.

[0011] In addition, the tape cartridges used in conventional busbar taping devices do not allow for fine adjustment of the tape tension, that is, the degree to which the tape unwinds. Furthermore, when performing tape replacement, the tape reel must be replaced with the cover removed, and then the cover must be reattached. Therefore, if the cover is designed to be completely detachable, there is a risk of delays occurring because the cover cannot be found immediately, or an accident may occur if the cover is dropped. Prior art literature

[0013] Korean Registered Patent No. 10-2608576 (2023.11.28.) Korean Registered Patent No. 10-2643811 (2024.02.29.) Korean Registered Patent No. 10-2706957 (2024.09.10.) Korean Published Patent No. 10-2024-0157968 (2024.11.04.) Korean Published Patent No. 10-2024-0157987 (2024.11.04.) The problem to be solved

[0014] The present invention was devised to solve the above-mentioned problems, and the objective of the present invention is to provide a tape cartridge for a busbar taping device that is capable of taping busbars in a straight shape as well as a curved shape and can simultaneously wind insulating tape and protective tape, and to provide a tape cartridge for a busbar taping device with an improved structure that allows for easy tape replacement, a simple structure, and convenient adjustment of tape tension. means of solving the problem

[0016] To achieve the above objective, one embodiment of the present invention provides a tape cartridge for a busbar taping device comprising a support member that supports one or both ends of a busbar, and a winding member that moves along the busbar supported by the support member and winds an insulating tape or a protective tape onto the busbar, wherein the winding member comprises a ring gear attached to a robot arm and a tape cartridge attached to the ring gear that rotates around the outer edge of the busbar to supply tape and wind it onto the busbar, wherein the tape cartridge is located on the inner side of the ring gear and is coplanar with the transverse axis (transverse axis) of the ring gear, and the tape cartridge comprises a holder bracket attached to the ring gear, a tape plate having a drum and a quick-release pin on its front surface, the back surface of which is fixed to the holder bracket and on which a tape reel is rotatably fitted, and a cover detachably coupled to the tape plate and detachably coupled to the tape plate, wherein a torque controller is connected to the axis of the drum fitted with the tape reel via a timing belt on the tape plate so that the resistance force when the drum rotates can be adjusted by the torque controller.

[0017] In another embodiment of the present invention, a tape cartridge for a busbar taping device is provided, comprising a support member that supports one or both ends of a busbar, and a winding member that moves along the busbar supported by the support member and winds an insulating tape or a protective tape onto the busbar, wherein the winding member includes a ring gear attached to a robot arm and a tape cartridge attached to the ring gear that rotates around the outer edge of the busbar and supplies the tape to be wound onto the busbar, wherein the tape cartridge is located on the inner side of the ring gear and is coplanar with the transverse axis (transverse axis) of the ring gear, and the tape cartridge includes a holder bracket coupled to the ring gear, a tape plate having a drum and a quick-release pin on its front surface, the back surface of which is fixed to the holder bracket and into which a tape reel is rotatably fitted, a cover detachably coupled to the tape plate by a quick-release pin method, and a tension roller that is in close contact with the outer edge of the tape reel by a tension coil spring.

[0018] Preferably, the ring gear is composed of two ring gears located at the front and rear, and a tape cartridge wound with insulating tape is installed on the front ring gear, and a tape cartridge wound with protective tape is installed on the rear ring gear so that insulating tape and protective tape are wound simultaneously on the busbar. Effects of the invention

[0020] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the tape cartridge is positioned on the same plane as the transverse axis of the ring gear attached to the robot arm, so that the tape is accurately wound as the robot arm moves along the curvature of the busbar. In particular, in a taping device equipped with a plurality of ring gears, the distance between the front insulating tape cartridge and the rear protective tape cartridge is minimized, so the insulating tape and the protective tape are stably wound along the curvature of the busbar, thereby preventing winding defects and making it suitable for taping busbars with complex curved shapes. Furthermore, depending on the type of tape cartridge, namely whether it is adhesive or not, a suitable type of tape cartridge is used, and by using a torque controller or a tension roller type, the tension can be stably maintained, and the tape roll replacement work can be done quickly and easily, among other useful effects. Brief explanation of the drawing

[0022] FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a busbar taping device according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of the winding section of the busbar taping device shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the ring gear and the inner tape cartridge portion shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a tape cartridge according to a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 5 is a rear perspective view of the tape cartridge shown in FIG. 4, FIG. 6 is a ring gear with a tape cartridge installed according to a second embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 7 is a rear view of Fig. 6. Specific details for implementing the invention

[0023] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention that do not limit the invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings.

[0024] FIGS. 1 to 3 illustrate a busbar taping device according to the present invention, which includes a support member (10, 10') that supports one or both ends of a busbar, and a winding member (20) that moves along the busbar supported by the support member (10, 10') and winds an insulating tape or protective tape onto the busbar. The winding member (20) includes a ring gear (200) attached to a robot arm (100) and a tape cartridge (300) attached to the ring gear (200) that rotates around the outer edge of the busbar and supplies tape to be wound onto the busbar. The tape cartridge (300) is positioned on the inner side of the ring gear (200) on the same plane as the transverse axis (transverse axis) of the ring gear (200).

[0025] In the drawing, symbol 400 is a support roller for auxiliaryly supporting the busbar.

[0027] In this embodiment, the ring gear (200) is composed of two ring gears located at the front and rear, and a tape cartridge (300) with an insulating tape wound on it is installed on the front ring gear (200), and a tape cartridge (300) with a protective tape wound on it is installed on the rear ring gear (200) so that the insulating tape and the protective tape are wound simultaneously on the busbar, but the present invention is not limited thereto and can be applied to a taping device composed of a single ring gear.

[0028] The taping device according to the present embodiment has the advantage that the tape cartridge (300) is positioned inside the ring gear (200), and as the tape of the tape reel mounted on the tape cartridge (300) is unwound, it is wound onto the busbar (not shown) in the center of the ring gear. Since the distance between the tape reel and the busbar is minimized, the insulating tape and the protective tape are wound in close contact with the busbar without stretching. Additionally, since the distance between the tape cartridges installed inside the front and rear ring gears is also minimized, when the insulating tape and the protective tape are wound onto a busbar with many curves, the front insulating tape is wound along the curvature of the busbar, and immediately behind it, the rear protective tape is wound following the curvature of the busbar. Consequently, in the case where the distance between the front insulating tape and the rear protective tape is relatively long, the robot arm bends along the curvature of the busbar, and even if the front insulating tape is wound normally along the curvature of the busbar, the rear protective tape cannot accurately follow the curvature of the busbar and is protected in a state where it bends relatively more. Unlike cases where the protective tape's winding condition becomes unsightly and abnormal because the tape is wound, there is an advantage in that the best winding condition can be maintained even when the front and rear insulating tapes and the protective tape are wound simultaneously.

[0029] In other words, similar to how, in the case of automobiles, when the track width between the front and rear wheels widens, the rear wheels fail to fully follow the trajectory of the front wheels when steering on curves and frequently deviate from the track—that is, the phenomenon of understeer—occurs significantly. In this scenario, multiple ring gears are installed at the front and rear, and insulation tape cartridges and protective tape cartridges are attached to each ring gear. When the tape is wound while moving along the curvature of the busbar relative to the front ring gear, the front insulation tape is wound normally along the curvature of the busbar. However, since the track of the rear protective tape is oriented outward compared to the front insulation tape, unlike the front insulation tape which is wound normally onto the busbar, the rear protective tape fails to properly follow the curvature and is wound while deviating from the curved track, resulting in an abnormal and unsightly wound condition. The present invention resolves this problem of the rear protective tape being wound unsightly by minimizing the gap between the front insulation tape and the rear protective tape, thereby ensuring that the protective tape is wound in an optimal state. It has been improved so that it can be wound.

[0031] FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate a tape cartridge (300) according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The tape cartridge (300) according to this embodiment is configured as a type of torque controller. It basically comprises a holder bracket (310) attached to a ring gear (200), a tape plate (320) having a back surface fixed to the holder bracket (310) and a front surface to which a tape reel (R) is rotatably fitted, and a quick release pin (324), and a cover (330) detachably coupled to the tape plate (320) and detachably coupled to the tape plate (320). A torque controller (350) is connected to the axis of the drum fitted with the tape reel on the tape plate (320) via a timing belt (362) so that the resistance force when the drum rotates can be adjusted by the torque controller (350).

[0032] In this embodiment, the torque controller (350) is referred to as a "magnetic damper" or "winding machine tensioner," and although not shown in the drawing, it is equipped with a regulator for adjusting the torque in multiple stages.

[0033] The torque controller (350) may be directly connected to the drum shaft of the tape plate (320), but in this embodiment, as shown in the drawing, the shaft of the torque controller (350) and the shaft of the drum are manufactured separately and connected by a timing belt (352). The diameters of the pulley (P1) connected to the shaft of the torque controller (350) and the pulley (P2) connected to the shaft of the drum are different; that is, the diameter of the pulley (P2) connected to the shaft of the drum is made relatively larger to reduce the torque possessed by the torque controller (350) to a higher level and thus make the rotational speed of the drum slower.

[0034] In the drawing, symbol 354 is a belt tensioner.

[0036] FIGS. 6 and 7 show a ring gear equipped with a tape cartridge of the first embodiment described above and a tension roller type tape cartridge according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, a tension roller (360) supported by a tension coil spring (362) at the tangent of the point where the tape is unwound, rather than on the left or right side of the tape reel, exerts a compressive force to provide resistance to the rotational force of the tape reel, thereby generating a predetermined tension in the unwound tape. It also shows that a tape cartridge made of a simple magnetic type or a simple pinch roller type without a pinch roller can be applied.

[0037] The tape cartridge according to the above-described embodiments can be selected and used as a suitable one by taking into account the type of insulating tape or protective tape, that is, whether it is adhesive, as well as the thickness and material characteristics of the tape.

[0039] As described above, according to the busbar taping device and the tape cartridge used therein according to the present invention, the tape cartridge is positioned on the same plane as the horizontal axis of the ring gear attached to the robot arm, so that the tape is accurately wound as the robot arm moves along the curvature of the busbar. In a taping device equipped with a plurality of ring gears, the distance between the front insulating tape cartridge and the rear protective tape cartridge is minimized so that the insulating tape and the protective tape follow the curvature of the busbar and are wound as intended, making it suitable for taping busbars with complex curved shapes. Furthermore, depending on the type of tape, the tape cartridge can be selectively used as a torque controller, a tension roller type, or a combination thereof to stably maintain the tension of the tape, and the tape cartridge with a hinge-type cover can perform the tape roll replacement work quickly and safely, among other advantages. Explanation of the symbols

[0041] 1 : Busbar taping device 10,10' : Support 20 : Winding section 30: Auxiliary support 100 : Robotic Arm 200 : Ring gear 300: Tape cartridge 310 : Holder bracket 320 : Tape plate 330 : Cover 350: Torque Controller 352: Timing belt 354: Belt tensioner 360 : Tension roller 400 : Support roller P1, P2 : Pulley T : Tape R: Tape reel

Claims

Claim 1 The device includes a support member (10, 10') that supports one or both ends of a busbar, and a winding member (20) that moves along the busbar supported by the support member (10, 10') and winds an insulating tape or protective tape onto the busbar. The winding member (20) includes a ring gear (200) attached to a robot arm (100) and a tape cartridge (300) attached to the ring gear (200) that rotates around the outer edge of the busbar to supply tape and wind it onto the busbar. The tape cartridge (300) is located on the inner side of the ring gear (200) on the same plane as the transverse axis (transverse axis) of the ring gear (200). The tape cartridge (300) includes a holder bracket (310) attached to the ring gear (200), a drum with a back surface fixed to the holder bracket (310), and a quick release on which a tape reel (R) is rotatably fitted on the front surface. A tape cartridge for a busbar taping device, comprising a tape plate (320) equipped with a pin (324) and a cover (330) detachably coupled to the tape plate (320), wherein a torque controller (350) is connected to the axis of a drum fitted with the tape reel (R) on the tape plate (320) via a timing belt (362) so that the resistance force when the drum rotates can be adjusted by the torque controller (350). Claim 2 The device includes a support member (10, 10') that supports one or both ends of a busbar, and a winding member (20) that moves along the busbar supported by the support member (10, 10') and winds an insulating tape or protective tape onto the busbar. The winding member (20) includes a ring gear (200) attached to a robot arm (100) and a tape cartridge (300) attached to the ring gear (200) that rotates around the outer edge of the busbar to supply tape and wind it onto the busbar. The tape cartridge (300) includes a holder bracket (310) coupled to the ring gear (200), a tape plate (320) having a drum (322) and a quick-release pin (324) on which a tape reel (R) is rotatably fitted and which has a back surface fixed to the holder bracket (310) and a front surface, and a tape plate (320) that is detachably coupled to the tape plate (320) by a quick-release pin method. A tape cartridge for a busbar taping device characterized by including a cover (330) and a tension roller (360) that is in close contact with the outer edge of the tape reel (R) by a tension coil spring.

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