Winding machine for unwinding ribbon or strip-shaped material and associated dancer arm

Abstract

Winding machine (10) for unwinding ribbon- or strip-shaped material (12) from at least one spool (20) with, - a rotary drive for rotating at least one coil (20) about a rotary axis (hh, vv) depending on the requirements of a downstream processing machine, - a guiding device for guiding the strip-shaped material (12) to the downstream processing machine with an adjustable dancer arm (50) on which a deflecting element (54) is pivotally arranged, which deflects the material (12) about a further axis of rotation (aa), and with a strip take-up device which provides the material deflected by the deflecting element (54) depending on the requirements of the processing machine, wherein the further axis of rotation (aa) of the deflecting element (54) on the dancer arm (50) is pivotable with respect to its angular position and can be adapted to the respective angular position of the axis of rotation (hh, vv) of the coil (20) and fixed in this position, characterized in that the winding machine is configured to unwind coils (20) whose respective axes of rotation (hh, vv) have different angular positions α to the horizontal of 0° ≤ α ≤ 90° during unwinding.

Description

Field of invention

[0001] The invention relates to a winding machine for unwinding ribbon- or strip-shaped material from at least one spool according to the preamble of claim 1 and a dancer arm according to the preamble of claim 12. State of the art

[0002] Machines such as punches, presses, and similar equipment often require a supply of strip-shaped material for further processing. This strip material can be used to manufacture, for example, connector contacts for the automotive industry. The material can be unwound from a spool rotating around a horizontal axis, forming a drum. However, beyond a certain size, such spools become so heavy that horizontal storage is preferable. For this purpose, so-called horizontal unwinders are attached to the machine, enabling the strip-shaped material to be unwound from the horizontal spools rotating around a vertical axis.

[0003] Such a horizontal unwinder, which forms the basis of the preamble of claim 1 or 12, is known from DE 202 03 476 U1. In this device, the material is unwound from the spool, deflected around a deflecting element on a dancer arm, and then transferred to a tape take-off unit. A sensor device is arranged after the tape take-off unit, which scans the loop of material present between the processing machine and the unwinder and, depending on its position, sends a corresponding signal to the tape take-off unit and the rotary drive for rotating the spools, signaling further feed and thus unwinding of the material. The deflecting element is arranged on a dancer arm, which is held in its position by a controlled or regulated elastic element. This keeps the material under tension. If the tape take-off unit requests more material, the rotary drive is engaged as soon as the deflecting element has passed a certain position. Summary of the invention

[0004] Based on this prior art, the present invention aims to create a winding machine for unwinding band- or strip-shaped material with a dancer arm, as well as a dancer arm that is versatile and can also be used in operation with spools whose axes of rotation have varying angular positions during unwinding.

[0005] This problem is solved by a winding machine having the features of claim 1 and by a dancer arm having the features of claim 12.

[0006] Advantageous further developments are the subject of the dependent patent claims. The features listed individually in the patent claims can be combined with one another in a technologically meaningful way and can be supplemented by explanatory facts from the description and by details from the figures, thereby showing further embodiments of the invention.

[0007] A winding machine for unwinding ribbon or strip material has at least one rotary drive for rotating the spool around a rotary axis as required by a downstream processing machine. The ribbon material is fed to the processing machine via a guide device using an adjustable dancer arm. A deflecting element is provided on the dancer arm to redirect the material around another rotary axis. Furthermore, the guide device includes a tape take-up unit that then supplies the material to the processing machine as required.

[0008] To increase the machine's versatility when unwinding various materials with different coil arrangements, the winding machine is designed to unwind coils whose respective axes of rotation have different angular positions α relative to the horizontal during unwinding, ranging from 0° ≤ α ≤ 90°. This enables combined operation, meaning coils with diverse arrangements and differently oriented axes of rotation can be unwound. To adapt the guide mechanism with the dancer arm accordingly, the additional axis of rotation of the deflection element on the dancer arm can be pivoted to match the angular position of the coil's axis of rotation and locked in this position. This allows the same winding machine to unwind material from different coils with varying axis orientations.

[0009] In a preferred embodiment, during unwinding, the axis of rotation of the spool and the axis of rotation of the deflecting element are essentially parallel to each other, whereby slight angular deviations from parallel in the range of up to 10°, preferably up to 5°, may be necessary to gently and precisely guide the material from the spool, over the dancer arm, to the tape take-off point. Such an arrangement ensures reliable and, above all, gentle unwinding, especially for delicate parts.

[0010] Preferably, the dancer arm has an arm that is articulated and lockable in operative connection with a holding element for the deflecting element. The axis of rotation of the deflecting element is preferably transferable to a substantially horizontal or a substantially vertical position. This ensures an arrangement of the deflecting element's axis of rotation that corresponds primarily to an arrangement of the spool, if the latter has either a horizontal or a vertical axis of rotation. This ensures parallelism of the axes to each other and guarantees reliable and gentle operation during material unwinding.

[0011] Preferably, the arm is arranged to be longitudinally adjustable on the dancer arm, allowing the distance of the deflection element to the central axis of the dancer arm to be adjusted. Appropriate release mechanisms can be provided to detachably fix the arm in its respective position. This enables an arrangement that ensures a suitable enclosing angle of the deflection element while simultaneously taking into account the maximum permissible bending of the material.

[0012] Preferably, the arm is also adjustable transversely to its longitudinal direction and can be fixed in its respective position. This allows the trigger angle to be advantageously adapted to the respective material.

[0013] Preferably, the arm can be mounted on a sliding element that is slidable in a guide block extending transversely to the longitudinal extent of the arm. This advantageously allows for precise adjustment in a simple manner.

[0014] Preferably, the arm is articulated to the holding element via a ball joint, whereby the position of the ball of the ball joint between parts of the arm can be fixed. This allows the holding element to be fixed in almost any desired angular position, which can be adapted to the respective angular position of the spool or drum.

[0015] Advantageously, the retaining element can be designed to lock into recesses in the arm via a spring-loaded detent device. This has the advantage that predefined detent positions for the retaining element can be adopted in a technically simple manner, adapted to the usual position of the drum or spool.

[0016] Preferably, a sleeve is slidably mounted on the elongated retaining element against the force of an elastic element in the longitudinal direction of the retaining element, forming a releasable functional connection with the recesses. A technically reliable yet easily releasable locking mechanism advantageously allows for quick adjustment of the retaining element with a single movement.

[0017] In another embodiment, the dancer arm is preferably pivotable about its vertical central axis by at least 180°. This pivoting movement preferably occurs such that the dancer arm pivots outwards from the perspective of the turntable for the spool. The dancer arm can thus allow the deflection element to be arranged on either side, which is particularly advantageous when a change between clockwise and counterclockwise rotation is required during unwinding of the spool.

[0018] Advantageously, the winding machine is configured to unwind at least one spool arranged on a pallet in pallet mode, and thus around a vertical axis of rotation, as well as a spool designed as a drum in drum mode, and thus around a horizontal axis of rotation. Since these are the most common arrangements of the strip or ribbon material to be unwound, these positions are preferably maintained and positioned, enabling versatile operation and reliable, gentle unwinding.

[0019] The invention is also solved by a dancer arm for a winding machine for unwinding material around a rotary axis, wherein a deflecting element, which redirects the material around a further rotary axis, is articulated on the dancer arm. If the winding machine is configured to unwind coils with different angular positions, the further rotary axis of the deflecting element on the dancer arm is pivotably arranged with respect to its angular position so that it can be adapted to the changing angular position of the coil's rotary axis and fixed in this position. This allows the dancer arm to be used in a variety of ways to unwind coils with different arrangements of the rotary axis without requiring a separate device.In this case, a preferred operating method is possible with a combination unwinder, which allows unwinding around a horizontal axis as well as around a vertical axis of the spool, with all angular positions in between also being possible.

[0020] Preferably, the dancer arm has an arm that is articulated and lockable in operative connection with a holding element for the deflection element, wherein the further axis of rotation of the deflection element is preferably to be moved into a substantially horizontal or a substantially vertical position. Such a design of the dancer arm with these inclined surfaces allows for precise positioning of the axes of rotation by the operator. This ensures that the material is guided around the deflection element in a suitable manner and with a suitable wrap angle. Gentle operation is thus guaranteed.

[0021] Preferably, the arm is arranged on the dancer arm in a longitudinally adjustable manner, whereby the distance between the deflecting element and the central axis of the dancer arm can be detachably adjusted by longitudinally adjusting the arm. This allows for easy optimization of both the feed angle of the ribbon or strip-shaped material to the deflecting element and the discharge angle from the deflecting element by adjusting the distance accordingly. The distance also influences the tensile stress to which the material is subjected.

[0022] Preferably, the arm of the dancer's arm is adjustable transversely to its longitudinal direction and can be fixed in its respective position. This allows the trigger angle to be advantageously adapted to the respective material.

[0023] Preferably, the arm on the dancer arm can be mounted on a sliding element that is slidable in a guide block extending transversely to the longitudinal extent of the arm. This advantageously allows for precise adjustment in a simple manner.

[0024] Preferably, if the arm on the dancer arm is articulated to the holding element via a ball joint, whereby the position of the ball of the ball joint between parts of the arm can be determined, the holding element can be fixed in almost any angular position that can be adapted to the respective angular position of the spool or drum.

[0025] Advantageously, the retaining element on the dancer arm can be designed to lock into recesses in the arm via a spring-loaded detent mechanism. This has the advantage that predefined detent positions for the retaining element can be adopted in a technically simple manner, adapted to the usual position of the drum or reel.

[0026] Preferably, a sleeve is slidably mounted on the elongated retaining element against the force of an elastic element in the longitudinal direction of the retaining element, forming a releasable functional connection with the recesses. A technically reliable yet easily releasable locking mechanism advantageously allows for quick adjustment of the retaining element with a single movement.

[0027] In a preferred embodiment, the dancer arm is pivotable about its vertical central axis by at least 180°. This allows the coil to be switched from counterclockwise to clockwise rotation depending on the coil's arrangement on a winding machine.

[0028] In principle, the dancer arm can be sold and used independently of the winding machine.

[0029] Further advantages arise from the dependent claims and the following description of a preferred embodiment. Brief description of the characters

[0030] The invention will now be explained in more detail using an exemplary embodiment. The figures shown are: Fig. 1 a winding machine with a dancer arm in a three-dimensional representation in drum mode, Fig. 2 a representation of the winding machine according to Fig. 1 in palette mode, Fig. 3, Fig. 4 an enlarged three-dimensional representation of the upper part of the dancer's arm with the holding element arranged on it in different positions, Fig. 5, Fig. 6 side views of the illustrations according to Fig. 3, Fig. 4, Fig. 7, Fig. 8 an enlarged sectional view in the area of ​​the articulated connection of the retaining element to the arm in different locking positions. Description of preferred embodiments

[0031] Before the invention is described in detail, it should be noted that it is not limited to the respective components of the device or the respective process steps, as these components and processes can vary. The terms used here are intended solely to describe particular embodiments and are not used restrictively. Furthermore, where the singular or indefinite articles are used in the description or in the claims, this also refers to the plural of these elements, unless the overall context clearly indicates otherwise.

[0032] The figures show a winding machine 10 for unwinding ribbon- or strip-shaped material 12 from at least one spool 20. To convey the ribbon-shaped material 12, a rotary drive (not shown in the drawing) is used to rotate a [missing information - likely a specific component or element]. Fig. 2 recognizable turntables 16 are used, which are in Fig. 1 is pivoted into an upright position. In this upright position, the rotary drive drives a drum 28. The rotary drive operates depending on the requirements of a downstream processing machine, which is not shown in the drawing.

[0033] According to Fig. 1 and Fig. 2. The strip-shaped material 12 is conveyed from the spools 20 or coils via a guide device to the downstream processing machine. The guide device initially comprises a dancer arm 50, to which a deflecting element 54 is attached via an articulated bearing by means of an arm 56 and a holding element 52. The rotary drive for the turntable 16 is actuated as soon as a corresponding demand is reported by the downstream processing machine. For this purpose, a preferably non-contact sensor device is provided on the tape take-up unit 60, of which only the supporting portal is visible in the figures. This sensor device measures the sag of the loop between the tape take-up unit and the downstream processing machine. If the distance between the material and the sensor device becomes too small, the tape take-up unit 60 initially requests more material. This results in tension in the tape, causing the dancer arm 50 to... Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 is rotated around its central axis by mm. From a certain position, which is scanned by a sensor, the rotary drive receives a signal, so that the rotary table 16 is rotated and further material is fed in.

[0034] According to Fig. 1, Fig. 2 The winding machine is configured to unwind spools 20 whose respective axes of rotation hh, vv have different angular positions α to the horizontal during unwinding, ranging from 0° ≤ α ≤ 90°. The exemplary embodiment shows Fig. 1 a drum mode in which a drum 28 is used as at least one spool 20 on which the material is located. This drum rotates about a horizontal axis hh during unwinding. Fig. Figure 2 shows a pallet mode in which at least one coil 20 is located on a pallet 14. In this mode, the coil rotates around a vertical axis vv.

[0035] The deflecting element 54, which is drum-shaped and serves to deflect the tape- or strip-shaped material coming from the spool 20 towards the tape take-up 60, has a further axis of rotation aa. This further axis of rotation aa is pivotable on the dancer arm 50 with respect to its angular position and, as a comparison between Fig. 1 and Fig. Figure 2 clearly shows that the coil 20 can be adjusted to the respective angular position of the axis of rotation hh, vv and fixed in this position. In the exemplary embodiment, the fixing is achieved by means of various locking levers 62, 64, which are manually operated in this embodiment. However, a corresponding motorized actuation and locking mechanism is also conceivable.

[0036] In principle, adjustment and fixing in any angular position is conceivable, although the axes are usually arranged either approximately horizontally or approximately vertically. In the exemplary embodiment, for example, the axis of rotation hh is located according to Fig. 1 or vv according to Fig. The spool 20 and the other axis of rotation aa of the deflecting element are arranged in a substantially parallel configuration during unwinding. Substantially parallel means that deviations of up to 10°, preferably less than 5°, are quite reasonable and possible, depending on the design of the arrangement of the spool 20 or drum 28, the deflecting element 54, and the tape take-up 60. The aim is to achieve unwinding that is as gentle on the material as possible while simultaneously ensuring a suitable wrap angle around the deflecting element 54.

[0037] The in Fig. 3 and Fig. Figure 4, a preferred embodiment, shows an upper part of a mechanism attached to the dancer arm 50. A guide block 58 with a guide 58a is visible, in which a sliding element 66 is slidably mounted transversely to the longitudinal extent of the arm 56. The arm 56 is also slidably mounted transversely to the guide 58a within this sliding element 66. The sliding element 66 and the arm 56 can be fixed in their respective positions relative to the guide block 58 by actuating the locking element 64.

[0038] By comparing Fig. 3 and Fig. Figure 4 shows that the retaining element 52 for the deflecting element 54 is articulated and lockable in operative connection with the arm 56. While in Fig. 3 the axis of rotation of the deflecting element 54 is in a substantially vertical position, the deflecting element 54 is located with its axis of rotation aa in Fig. 4 in a substantially horizontal position. The deflection element 54 can be moved into the respective positions relative to the arm 56 in a manner to be described later.

[0039] To position the dancer arm 50 even more precisely with respect to the reel 20 and tape take-up 60, the arm 56 is longitudinally adjustable on the dancer arm 50. By longitudinally adjusting the arm 56, the distance of the deflecting element 54 from the central axis of the dancer arm 50 can be detachably adjusted. A locking lever 64 is provided for this purpose.

[0040] By releasing the locking element 64 and moving the sliding element 66 relative to the guide block 58, the arm 56 can be adjusted transversely to its longitudinal direction and, after actuating the locking element 64, can also be fixed in its respective position. This allows for adjustment, particularly with regard to the take-off angle of the material 12 from the spool 20, as required. The interaction of the longitudinally adjustable arm 56 and the adjustable sliding element 66 enables a planar adjustment of the deflection element 54 – in the exemplary embodiment in a horizontal plane – relative to the central axis mm of the dancer arm. As particularly Fig. 7 and Fig. As can be seen from Figure 8, the arm 56 is articulated to the retaining element 52 via a ball joint. The ball 90 of the ball joint is located between parts 56a and 56b of the arm 56. The ball can be fixed in its respective position between parts 56a and 56b by means of the locking element 62. The interaction of parts 56a and 56b with the arm 56 and the locking element 62 is particularly evident from Fig. 5 and Fig. 6 recognizable.

[0041] Fig. 7 and Fig. Figure 8 shows that the retaining element 52 can be locked onto recesses 86, 88 of the arm 56 via a spring-loaded locking device. This applies in particular to the [reference to the following]. Fig. Figure 8 shows a horizontal representation in which an engagement 84a of a bearing 84 in the Fig. 7. The recognizable recess 88 engages. In this case, the engagement can be positively locked in the recess 88 to ensure the horizontal position of the retaining element 52 and thus of the deflecting element 54.

[0042] To adjust the retaining element 52, a sleeve 80 is slidably mounted on the elongated retaining element against the force of an elastic element 82, which is supported on the retaining element with respect to one end position. The sleeve 80 is slidably mounted in the longitudinal direction of the retaining element 52 for a releasable operative connection with the recesses 86, 88, whereby the engagement 84a according to Fig. 7 in the vertical position does not necessarily have to engage with the recess 86. To ensure the locking mechanism according to Fig. To solve 8, the sleeve 80 must be inserted. Fig. 8 is pushed to the right, whereby the bearing 84 simultaneously compresses the elastic element 82 and thus moves the engagement 84a out of the recess 88. In this position, the retaining element 52 can then be moved into any other angular position and in particular into the position according to Fig. 7 will be transferred.

[0043] Preferably, the dancer arm 50 is additionally pivotable about its vertical axis mm by at least 180°. For this purpose, for example, a rotating ring (not shown in the drawing) is located inside. The unit is held in position by a bolt 70, for example, with conical precision positioning. If this is moved into the Fig. With 3 to 6 visible locking pins pulled upwards, the upper part of the dancer arm 50 can be pivoted, for example, by 180°, preferably outwards from the perspective of the turntable 16. On the opposite side, there is again a conical bushing into which the pin 70 engages. This arrangement is particularly necessary when a change from counterclockwise to clockwise rotation is required in order to unwind the ribbon or strip-shaped material 12 from the spool 20 in a suitable manner.

[0044] The position of the dancer arm 50 is determined by the balance of forces between the tensile force of the band- or strip-shaped material 12 acting at least on the deflection element 54, on the one hand, and the force of at least one elastic element, on the other. This elastic element is preferably located in the machine frame beneath the dancer arm 50 and is not shown in the drawing. It may be a spring, a piston-cylinder unit, a pneumatic cylinder, or the like. Preferably, the force of this elastic element is controlled or regulated. This elastic element allows the tension to be set at which the dancer arm 50 releases material for the tape take-up 60 or continues to actuate the rotary drive, as soon as the sensor detects its movement.

[0045] Preferably, the winding machine 10 is configured to wind at least one coil 20 arranged on a pallet 14 in a pallet mode about a vertical axis of rotation vv according to Fig. 2 as well as a coil designed as a drum 28 around a horizontal axis of rotation hh according to Fig. 1 to unwind in a drum mode.

[0046] The invention relates not only to the winding machine with the dancer arm, but also to the dancer arm 50 itself, as it can be used and sold independently of the winding machine. The dancer arm 50, as shown in the figures, is designed for a winding machine 10 for unwinding ribbon- or strip-shaped material from at least one spool 20 rotatable about a pivot axis. A deflecting element 54, which redirects the material 12 about a further pivot axis aa, is pivotally arranged on the adjustable dancer arm 50. Because the winding machine is configured to unwind spools 20 whose respective pivot axes hh, vv have different angular positions α to the horizontal during unwinding (0° ≤ α ≤ 90°), the dancer arm 50 is designed accordingly.For this purpose, the further axis of rotation aa of the deflecting element 54 on the dancer arm 50 is pivotably arranged with respect to its angular position so that it can be adapted to the variable angular position of the axis of rotation hh, vv of the spool 20 and fixed in this position. All angular positions are conceivable for the further axis of rotation aa.

[0047] Preferably, the arm 56 is provided on the dancer arm 50, which is articulated and lockable in operative connection with the holding element for the deflecting element 64, wherein the further axis of rotation aa of the deflecting element 54 is preferably in a substantially horizontal position ( Fig. 4, Fig. 6, Fig. 8) or into a substantially vertical position ( Fig. 3, Fig. 5, Fig. 7) is transferable. This allows the position of the deflecting element 54 to be adapted to the respective position of the coil 20 with respect to the axes of rotation. Preferably, this results in a substantially parallel arrangement of the axis of rotation aa of the deflecting element 54 to the axes of rotation of the coil hh, vv.

[0048] In the exemplary embodiment, the arm 56 is arranged longitudinally adjustable on the dancer arm 50, whereby the distance of the deflecting element 54 from a central axis mm of the dancer arm 50 can be detachably adjusted by longitudinal adjustment of the arm 56. This allows for adjustment of the feed and take-off angles and thus an adaptation of the angle to the properties of the respective band- or strip-shaped material.

[0049] It is advantageous if the arm 56 of the dancer arm 50 can also be adjusted and fixed in its respective position transversely to its longitudinal direction. In the exemplary embodiment, this is achieved via the guide block 58, on which a sliding element 66 is guided in a guide 58a, which in turn supports the arm 56.

[0050] As already explained above with regard to the winding device, the arm 56 of the dancer arm 50 is articulated to the holding element 52 via a ball joint, whereby the position of the ball 90 of the ball joint between parts 56a, 56b of the arm 56 can be determined by the locking element 62.

[0051] The retaining element 52 can be locked onto recesses 86, 88 of the arm 56 by means of a spring-loaded locking device. This is preferably achieved via a sleeve 80 which is longitudinally displaceable on the retaining element 52 against the force of an elastic element 82.

[0052] In a preferred embodiment, the dancer arm 50 is also pivotable about its vertical axis mm by at least 180°. This movement typically occurs outwards from the perspective of the rotary table 16 of the winding machine 10. This pivotability, in which only parts of the dancer arm 50 can be pivoted relative to each other, allows the deflection element 54 to be moved from one side, e.g., Fig. 1 to the left of the dancer's arm 50, to the other side, e.g. in Fig. 2 can be pivoted to the right of the dancer arm. This also makes it possible to switch the turntable 16 or the spool 20 from left-hand to right-hand rotation.

[0053] Overall, a versatile winding machine 10 and a versatile dancer arm 50 are created, which can be used especially when materials have to be unwound from a drum and from a pallet on a winding machine. Reference symbol list 10 winding machine 12 Material 14 pallets 16 turntables 20 coils 28 Drum 50 dancer's arm 52 retaining element 54 Deflection element 56 Arm 56a, 56b Parts of 56 58 Guide block 58a Guided Tour 60 tape print 62, 64 Locking lever 66 sliding element 70 bolts 80 sleeve 82 elastic element 84 warehouses 84a Procedure 86, 88 recess 90 balls aa axis of rotation of 54 hh horizontal axis of rotation mm center axis vv vertical axis of rotation

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