Wire winding device and electron beam irradiation system

Abstract

To provide a wire winding device capable of readily adjusting a pitch of wires, when changing a wire that is wound around a pair of drums.SOLUTION: A wire winding device 4 includes: a pair of drums 3A and 3B around which a wire 2 is wound; and alignment mechanisms 20A and 20B arranged between the drums 3A and 3B. Each alignment mechanism 20A, 20B includes a shaft 31 and a plurality of sets of combs 32. The plurality of comb groups 32 are composed of a series of combs 40 protruding from the outer surface of the shaft 31. An interval between combs 40 differs in each comb group 32. An intermediate position of the wire 2 is passed between adjacent combs 40, 40 in any one of the comb groups 32. By rotating the shaft 31, it is possible to change the comb set 32 through which the wire 2 passes between combs 40, 40.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a wire winding device and an electron beam irradiation system equipped with the wire winding device. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, there has been known an apparatus in which a wire is wound around a pair of drums arranged opposite each other with their rotation axes parallel, and the portion of the wire located between the pair of drums is irradiated with an electron beam, for example, to crosslink the wire (see, for example, Patent Document 1). One such apparatus has an alignment member provided with a row of combs arranged in a line between the pair of drums. The combs are arranged side by side at intervals in a direction parallel to the rotation axis of the drums, and the pitch of the wire extending between the pair of drums is adjusted by passing a portion of the wire between the combs. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 4-119920 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the above-mentioned conventional device, when the wire wound around the drum is changed to another wire of a different type or size, the alignment member placed between the pair of drums must be replaced with another alignment member with a different comb spacing in order to adjust the pitch of the other wire, which is time-consuming.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and aims to provide a wire winding device that can easily adjust the pitch of the wire when changing the wire wound around a pair of drums, and an electron beam irradiation system equipped with the wire winding device. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] A wire winding device according to one aspect of the present invention includes a pair of drums arranged opposite to each other with their rotation axes parallel to each other and around which a wire is wound, and at least one alignment mechanism arranged between the pair of drums, wherein the wire is extended from one of the drums to the other drum and wound around the other drum, and then the wire is extended from the other drum to the one drum and wound around the one drum, and this process is repeated multiple times from one side to the other side in the direction of the rotation axes of the drums, and the alignment mechanism is arranged so that its rotation axis is parallel to the rotation axes of the drums. The shaft has a shaft body that is rotated by a rotating shaft, and a plurality of comb groups that are arranged at predetermined angular intervals around the shaft body, and each of the plurality of comb groups has a plurality of combs that protrude from the outer surface of the shaft body and are arranged at intervals in the direction of the rotation axis of the shaft body, and the intervals at which the combs are arranged vary for each of the plurality of comb groups, and the intermediate position of the wire extending between the pair of drums is passed between the combs in any one of the plurality of comb groups, and by rotating the shaft body, the comb group that passes the intermediate position of the wire between the combs can be changed in relation to the wire.

[0007] An electron beam irradiation system according to one aspect of the present invention includes the wire winding device and an electron beam irradiation device that irradiates the wire wound around the pair of drums with an electron beam. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present invention, when the wire wound around the drum is changed to another wire of a different type or size, the other wire can be easily passed between the combs. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view showing an electron beam irradiation system according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of the electron beam irradiation system according to the embodiment. [Figure 3]FIG. 3 is a schematic side view showing one drum and one alignment mechanism included in the wire winding device according to the embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a schematic side view showing the other drum and the other alignment mechanism provided in the wire winding device according to the embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 5(A) is a schematic plan view showing one drum and one alignment mechanism included in the wire winding device according to the embodiment, and FIG. 5(B) is an enlarged view of the range a in FIG. 5(A). [Figure 6] FIG. 6(A) is a schematic plan view showing the other drum and the other alignment mechanism provided in the wire winding device according to the embodiment, and FIG. 6(B) is an enlarged view of the range a in FIG. 6(A). [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a schematic side view showing the positional relationship between the scattering range of the electron beam and the shaft body and comb group provided in the alignment mechanism. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a schematic side view of an electron beam irradiation system according to a modified example of the present invention. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a schematic side view of an electron beam irradiation system according to a modified example of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] <Embodiment> Fig. 1 is a schematic plan view showing an electron beam irradiation system 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a schematic side view of the electron beam irradiation system 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0011] The electron beam irradiation system 1 according to this embodiment includes a wire winding device 4 having a pair of drums 3A and 3B around which a wire 2 is wound, an electron beam irradiation device 6 that irradiates the wire 2 wound around the pair of drums 3A and 3B with an electron beam 5, an external supply device 7 (FIG. 2) that supplies the wire 2 to the wire winding device 4 and collects the wire 2 after being irradiated with the electron beam 5, and a control device 8 (FIG. 2) that controls the wire winding device 4 and the external supply device 7. The wire 2 may be, for example, an electric wire, an optical cable, a wire, a rubber hose, or a tube.

[0012] The pair of drums 3A, 3B are disposed opposite each other so that their rotation axes are parallel. In this specification, "parallel" refers not only to cases where two lines, sides, surfaces, etc. do not intersect even when extended, but also to cases where the angle between the two lines, sides, surfaces, etc. is within a range of 10°. In this specification, the "direction in which the rotation axes extend" is referred to as the "rotation axis direction."

[0013] In the wire winding device 4, the wire 2 is extended from one drum 3A to the other drum 3B and wound around the other drum 3B, and then the wire 2 is extended from the other drum 3B to one drum 3A and wound around the other drum 3A, and this process is repeated multiple times from one side to the other side in the rotation axis direction of the drums 3A and 3B.

[0014] In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the wire 2 is wound around the pair of drums 3A and 3B in a so-called cross-winding manner, in which the wire 2 is wound from the upper end of one drum 3A to the lower end of the other drum 3B, and then from the upper end of the other drum 3B to the lower end of the one drum 3A.

[0015] (External feeding device 7) The external feeding device 7 includes a let-off device that sends out the wire rod 2 to the wire rod winding device 4 by rotation of a pulley, and a winding device that recovers the wire rod 2 from the wire rod winding device 4 by rotation of a pulley. In the illustrated example, the external feeding device 7 is disposed outside the drum 3A (to the right of the drum 3A in FIGS. 1 and 2), so that the let-off device lets out the wire rod to one end of the drum 3A in the rotation axis direction, and the winding device recovers the wire rod 2 extending from the other end of the drum 3A in the rotation axis direction. However, the external feeding device 7 may be disposed outside the drum 3B (to the left of the drum 3B in FIGS. 1 and 2). In this case, the let-off device sends out the wire rod to one end of the drum 3B in the rotation axis direction, and the winding device recovers the wire rod 2 extending from the other end of the drum 3B in the rotation axis direction.

[0016] The control device 8 controls the rotation speed of the pulleys of the let-off device, the rotation speed of the pulleys of the winding device, and the rotation speed of the drums 3A and 3B of the wire rod winding device 4 so that the speed at which the let-off device lets out the wire rod 2, the speed at which the winding device collects the wire rod 2, and the transport speed of the wire rod 2 in the wire rod winding device 4 are the same. The control by the control device 8 can be realized by, for example, inverter control.

[0017] (Electron beam irradiation device 6) The electron beam irradiation device 6 has an opening surface below the scanning tube 10 covered with an electron beam irradiation window foil 11, and emits an electron beam 5 toward the area between the pair of drums 3A and 3B located below the electron beam irradiation window foil 11.

[0018] (Wire winding device 4) Fig. 3 is a schematic side view showing one drum 3A and one alignment mechanism 20A provided in the wire winding device 4. Fig. 4 is a schematic side view showing the other drum 3B and one alignment mechanism 20B provided in the wire winding device 4. Fig. 5(A) is a schematic plan view showing one drum 3A and one alignment mechanism 20A provided in the wire winding device 4, and Fig. 5(B) is an enlarged view of range a in Fig. 5(A). Fig. 6(A) is a schematic plan view showing the other drum 3B and other alignment mechanism 20B provided in the wire winding device 4, and Fig. 6(B) is an enlarged view of range a in Fig. 6(A).

[0019] The wire winding device 4 includes the pair of drums 3A, 3B and alignment mechanisms 20A, 20B arranged between the pair of drums 3A, 3B. The alignment mechanism 20A is arranged near one of the drums 3A. The alignment mechanism 20B is arranged near the other drum 3B. "Near one of the drums 3A" means "closer to one of the drums 3A than to the other drum 3B," and "near the other drum 3B" means "closer to the other drum 3B than to one of the drums 3A."

[0020] The outer peripheries of the pair of drums 3A, 3B are circular and have the same diameter, and both ends of each drum 3A, 3B are rotatably supported by support members 21. The outer peripheries of the drums 3A, 3B may have different diameters. Each drum 3A, 3B is connected to a motor 23 via a power transmission member 22 (FIG. 2), such as a belt. The rotation of the motor 23 connected to each drum 3A, 3B rotates the drums 3A, 3B. The rotation of the drums 3A, 3B transports the wire 2 wound around the drums 3A, 3B from one side to the other in the direction of the drums' rotation axis. During this transport, the electron beam irradiation device 6 emits an electron beam 5 to the region between the pair of drums 3A, 3B, thereby irradiating the entire length of the wire 2 with the electron beam 5. The control device 8 controls the motor 23 connected to the drums 3A, 3B to control the rotational speed (angular velocity) of the drums 3A, 3B.

[0021] Each of the alignment mechanisms 20A and 20B includes a shaft 31 arranged such that its rotation axis is parallel to the rotation axis of the drums 3A and 3B, a plurality of comb groups 32 (comb groups 32A, 32B, 32C, and 32D in the illustrated example) provided at predetermined angular intervals around the circumference of the shaft 31, a support plate 34 supporting an end 33 of the shaft 31 in the direction of the rotation axis of the shaft 31, a fastening plate 35 fastened to the support plate 34 so as to sandwich the end 33 of the shaft 31 together with the support plate 34, and a coolant supply mechanism 37 that supplies coolant to a cavity 36 extending in the direction of the rotation axis of the shaft 31. In the illustrated example, the support plate 34 is fixed to the support member 21, but the member that fixes the support plate 34 may be any object.

[0022] Both end portions 33, 33 of the shaft 31 in the direction of the rotation axis of the shaft 31 (see FIGS. 3, 4, 5(A), and 6(A)) each have a cross section whose outer periphery is composed of multiple pairs of parallel sides. An intermediate portion 38 of the shaft 31 extending between the both end portions 33, 33 (see FIGS. 3 to 6) has a cross section whose outer periphery is circular. In the illustrated example, the cross section of the end portion 33 of the shaft 31 is rectangular, but the cross section of the end portion 33 of the shaft 31 may have a "polygon other than a rectangle" whose outer periphery is composed of multiple pairs of parallel sides. Furthermore, the cross section of the intermediate portion 38 of the shaft 31 of the alignment mechanisms 20A, 20B does not necessarily have to have a circular outer periphery and may have any shape.

[0023] Each of the plurality of comb groups 32 (comb groups 32A, 32B, 32C, and 32D in the illustrated example) has a plurality of combs 40 protruding from the outer surface of the shaft 31 and arranged at intervals in the direction of the rotation axis of the shaft 31. The intervals at which the combs 40 are arranged vary among the plurality of comb groups 32. That is, each of the plurality of comb groups 32 has a plurality of combs 40 protruding from the outer surface of the shaft 31 arranged at equal intervals in the direction of the rotation axis of the shaft 31, and the intervals between adjacent combs 40, 40 in the direction of the rotation axis of the shaft 31 vary among the plurality of comb groups 32 (the intervals between adjacent combs 40, 40 in comb group 32A, the intervals between adjacent combs 40, 40 in comb group 32B, the intervals between adjacent combs 40, 40 in comb group 32C, and the intervals between adjacent combs 40, 40 in comb group 32D are different). Then, an intermediate portion of the wire 2 extending between the pair of drums 3A and 3B is passed through each of the spaces between adjacent combs 40, 40 in any one of the comb groups 32 (hereinafter referred to as spaces between the combs 40, 40). More specifically, in the alignment mechanism 20A, an intermediate portion of the wire 2 extending from one drum 3A to the other drum 3B is passed through each of the spaces between the combs 40, 40 in any one of the comb groups 32 (comb group 32A in the illustrated example). In addition, in the alignment mechanism 20B, an intermediate portion of the wire 2 extending from the other drum 3B to one drum 3A is passed through each of the spaces between the combs 40, 40 in any one of the comb groups 32 (comb group 32A in the illustrated example). Note that in the alignment mechanism 20A, an intermediate portion of the wire 2 extending from the other drum 3B to one drum 3B may also be passed through each of the spaces between the combs 40, 40 in any one of the comb groups 32. In the alignment mechanism 20B, the wire 2 extending from one drum 3A to the other drum 3B may be passed through a gap between the combs 40, 40 in any one of the comb groups 32 at an intermediate position.In the illustrated example, the multiple combs 40 included in each of the multiple comb groups 32 (comb groups 32A, 32B, 32C, 32D) protrude from the outer surface of the middle portion 38 of the shaft 31, but the present invention also includes cases where the cross section of the shaft 31 has a constant shape along the entire length of the shaft 31 in the direction of the rotation axis (i.e., where the cross-sectional shape of the middle portion 38 of the shaft 31 is the same as the cross-sectional shape of the end portion 33 of the shaft), and therefore the present invention also includes cases where it is not possible to determine whether the multiple combs 40 included in each comb group 32 protrude only from the middle portion 38 of the shaft 31.

[0024] In the illustrated example, each of the alignment mechanisms 20A, 20B includes four comb groups 32A, 32B, 32C, and 32D arranged at angular intervals of 90° around the shaft 31 (the intervals between the combs 40 in the comb groups 32A, 32B, 32C, and 32D are different). However, the number of comb groups 32 arranged on the shaft 31 is not limited to four as shown in the illustrated example and may be any number as long as there is no interference between the wire 2 and unused comb groups 32 (comb groups 32 in which no wire is threaded between the combs 40 (corresponding to comb groups 32B, 32C, and 32D in the illustrated example)). The angular intervals around the shaft 31 on which the comb groups 32 are arranged may also be any angle depending on the number of comb groups 32. For example, the angular intervals around the shaft 31 on which the comb groups 32 are arranged may be 360° divided by the number of comb groups 32 arranged on the shaft 31.

[0025] In addition, in order to prevent the wire 2 from wearing down due to contact between the wire 2 and the combs 40, it is preferable to apply a ceramic coating or a DLC (Diamond-Like Carbon) coating to the surface of the combs 40 included in each comb group 32, thereby making the surface of each comb 40 a low-friction surface.

[0026] In each of the alignment mechanisms 20A and 20B, a pair of the support plate 34 and fastening plate 35 is provided for each end 33 of the shaft 31. In each of the alignment mechanisms 20A and 20B, at each end 33 of the shaft 31, the end 33 is sandwiched between the support plate 34 and the fastening plate 35 so that one side 33a of the end 33, of two opposing sides 33a and 33b (FIGS. 3 and 4) of the end 33, contacts the support plate 34 and the other side 33b contacts the fastening plate 35, and the fastening plate 35 is fastened to the support plate 34, thereby fixing the shaft 31. In addition, in each of the alignment mechanisms 20A and 20B, the fastening plate 35 can be released from the support plate 34 at each end 33 of the shaft 31, thereby rotating the shaft 31. When changing the wire wound around the drums 3A and 3B to a wire of a different type or size, the comb group 32 through which the wire 2 passes between the combs 40 can be changed by rotating the shaft 31. (In the illustrated example, the comb group 32 through which the wire 2 passes between the combs 40 can be changed from comb group 32A to any of comb groups 32B, 32C, and 32D by rotating the shafts 31 of the alignment mechanisms 20A and 20B.) After changing the comb group 32 through which the wire 2 passes between the combs 40, 40, the shaft 31 is fixed again by fastening the fastening plate 35 to the support plate 34 so that the end 33 is sandwiched between the support plate 34 and the fastening plate 35. The shaft 31 remains fixed while the wire 2 is irradiated with the electron beam 5.

[0027] The means for fastening the fastening plate 35 to the support plate 34 is not particularly limited as long as it allows the fastening plate 35 to be released from the support plate 34. For example, a bolt or a clamp can be used as the means for fastening the fastening plate 35 to the support plate 34. When a bolt is used, the fastening plate 35 can be fastened to the support plate 34 by screwing the shank of the bolt that has passed through the fastening plate 35 into the support plate 34. Furthermore, the fastening of the fastening plate 35 to the support plate 34 can be released by removing the bolt from the support plate 34 and the fastening plate 35. When a clamp is used, the fastening plate 35 can be fastened to the support plate 34 by clamping the fastening plate 35 and the support plate 34. Furthermore, the fastening of the fastening plate 35 to the support plate 34 can be released by releasing the clamp from clamping the fastening plate 35 and the support plate 34.

[0028] In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, the shaft 31 and each comb group 32 provided in the alignment mechanisms 20A and 20B are located in the scattering range X of the electron beam 5, and in order to cool the shaft 31 and each comb group 32 which are heated by irradiation with the electron beam 5, a coolant supply mechanism 37 (FIGS. 1, 5(A), and 6(A)) is provided in the alignment mechanisms 20A and 20B.

[0029] The coolant supply mechanisms 37 of the alignment mechanisms 20A and 20B each include a coolant supply pipe 50, a first joint 51, a second joint 52, a coolant discharge pipe 53, and a pump (not shown). The first joint 51 connects one end of the supply pipe 50 to one end of the shaft 31 in the rotational axis direction. The second joint 52 connects one end of the discharge pipe 53 to the other end of the shaft 31 in the rotational axis direction. The coolant supply mechanism 37 can pump coolant through the cavity 54 of the supply pipe 50, the cavity 55 of the first joint 51, the cavity 36 of the shaft 31, the cavity 56 of the second joint 52, and the cavity 57 of the discharge pipe 53 in this order. The coolant passes through the cavity 36 of the shaft 31, thereby cooling the shaft 31 and each comb group 32 (comb groups 32A, 32B, 32C, and 32D in the illustrated example) that have been heated by the irradiation of the electron beam 5. (In FIGS. 2 to 4 and FIG. 7, which will be described later, the components of the alignment mechanisms 20A and 20B are omitted in order to show the cavity 36 of the shaft 31.) The coolant can be, for example, water or a liquid coolant (antifreeze). Alternatively, a cavity may be provided in each comb 40 of each comb group 32, and the coolant that has passed through the cavity 36 of the shaft 31 may be introduced into the cavity of each comb 40. In this way, each comb group 32 can be cooled to a lower temperature.

[0030] From the viewpoint of enabling the shaft 31 to rotate without releasing the connection between the supply pipe 50 and the shaft 31, it is preferable that the first joint 51 be configured as a rotary joint that connects one end of the supply pipe 50 to one end of the shaft 31 in the direction of the rotation axis so that the shaft 31 can rotate without rotating the supply pipe 50. "Enables the shaft 31 to rotate without rotating the supply pipe 50" is achieved, for example, by inserting one of the first joint 51 and the supply pipe 50 into the other and fitting an annular protrusion formed on the outer circumferential surface of one into an annular groove formed on the inner circumferential surface of the other, thereby connecting the first joint 51 and the supply pipe 50 so that they can rotate relative to each other, or by inserting one of the first joint 51 and the shaft 31 into the other and fitting an annular protrusion formed on the outer circumferential surface of one into an annular groove formed on the inner circumferential surface of the other, thereby connecting the first joint 51 and the shaft 31 so that they can rotate relative to each other.

[0031] Furthermore, from the viewpoint of enabling the shaft body 31 to rotate without releasing the connection between the discharge pipe 53 and the shaft 31, it is preferable that the second joint 52 be configured as a rotary joint that connects one end of the discharge pipe 53 to the other end of the shaft body 31 in the rotational axis direction so that the shaft body 31 can rotate without rotating the discharge pipe 53. "Enables the shaft body 31 to rotate without rotating the discharge pipe 53" is realized, for example, by inserting one of the second joint 52 and the discharge pipe 53 into the other and fitting an annular protrusion formed on the outer circumferential surface of one into an annular groove formed on the inner circumferential surface of the other, thereby connecting the second joint 52 and the discharge pipe 53 so as to be capable of relative rotation, or by inserting one of the second joint 52 and the shaft body 31 into the other and fitting an annular protrusion formed on the outer circumferential surface of one into an annular groove formed on the inner circumferential surface of the other, thereby connecting the second joint 52 and the shaft body 31 so as to be capable of relative rotation.

[0032] The coolant supply mechanism 37 may also include a tank (not shown) that stores the coolant. In this case, the coolant supply mechanism 37 is configured to be able to send the coolant by driving a pump in the following order: inside the tank, the cavity 54 of the supply pipe 50, the cavity 55 of the first joint 51, the cavity 36 of the shaft 31, the cavity 56 of the second joint 52, the cavity 57 of the discharge pipe 53, and inside the tank. The coolant supply mechanism 37 may also be provided with a cooling means that cools the coolant passing through the cavity 57 of the discharge pipe 53, and the cooled coolant is sent to the inside of the tank. In this way, the coolant heated by the heat of the shaft 31 is cooled while passing through the cavity 57 of the discharge pipe 53 and sent to the inside of the tank, thereby maintaining a low temperature of the coolant stored in the tank. The cooling means may be, for example, a means that cools the coolant by heat exchange between the coolant and a refrigerant.

[0033] In addition, the coolant supply mechanism 37 may be configured to send the coolant by gravity flow without using a pump, in the following order: cavity 54 of the supply pipe 50, cavity 55 of the first joint 51, cavity 36 of the shaft 31, cavity 56 of the second joint 52, and cavity 57 of the discharge pipe 53.

[0034] Furthermore, the coolant supply mechanism 37 is not limited to the one having the above-described configuration, but may be any of various mechanisms capable of supplying coolant to the cavity 36 of the shaft body 31.

[0035] According to the above-described embodiment, the comb group 32 through which the intermediate position of the wire 2 passes between the combs 40, 40 can be changed by rotating the shaft body 31. Therefore, when changing the wire 2 wound around the pair of drums 3A, 3B, the pitch of the wire 2 can be adjusted without the need to replace the alignment member disposed between the pair of drums with another alignment member having a different comb spacing as in the conventional technology. Therefore, the pitch of the wire 2 can be easily adjusted.

[0036] Furthermore, according to the embodiment described above, the shaft body 31 can be rotated by the simple operation of releasing the fastening plate 35 from the support plate 34, so that the shaft body 31 can be easily rotated.

[0037] According to the embodiment described above, the shaft 31 is fixed by fastening the fastening plate 35 to the support plate 34 so that one side 33a of the two opposing sides 33a, 33b of the end 33 of the shaft 31 contacts the support plate 34 and the other side 33b contacts the fastening plate 35. This makes it possible to suppress rotation of the shaft 31 while the shaft 31 is fixed, and therefore the pitch of the wire 2 adjusted by the comb 40 can be stably maintained.

[0038] According to the above-described embodiment, the coolant supply mechanism 37 supplies coolant to the cavity 36 of the shaft 31, thereby cooling the shaft 31 and each comb group 32 that have been heated by the irradiation of the electron beam 5. This minimizes the impact on the wire 2 caused by contact between the shaft 31 and the comb group 32. This eliminates the need to provide a large distance between the alignment mechanisms 20A and 20B and the electron beam 5 emission position to prevent the electron beam 5 from irradiating the shaft 31 and each comb group 32. This allows the alignment mechanisms 20A and 20B to be positioned close to the electron beam 5 emission position, thereby preventing the wire 2 from flapping during transport and reducing the tension applied to the wire 2, thereby improving the quality of the wire 2. Furthermore, when a shield surrounding the electron beam irradiation device 6 and the wire winding device 4 is provided in the electron beam irradiation system 1 to suppress scattering of the electron beam 5, the size of the shield can be reduced, thereby reducing facility costs.

[0039] <Modification> The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment and can be modified in various ways. Modifications of the present invention are described below. Differences from the above-described embodiment will be described below, and parts that are common to the above-described embodiment will be assigned the same reference numerals as in the above-described embodiment and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0040] For example, if the shaft 31 and each comb group 32 of the alignment mechanisms 20A and 20B are not located in the scattering range X of the electron beam 5, the coolant supply mechanism 37 and the cavity 36 of the shaft 31 may not be provided. Note that the present invention does not exclude a case where the coolant supply mechanism 37 and the cavity 36 of the shaft 31 are provided even though the shaft 31 and each comb group 32 of the alignment mechanisms 20A and 20B are actually located in the scattering range X of the electron beam 5 because it is unclear whether or not the shaft 31 and each comb group 32 of the alignment mechanisms 20A and 20B are located in the scattering range X of the electron beam 5.

[0041] In the above embodiment, the number of alignment mechanisms 20 arranged between the pair of drums 3A and 3B is two, but the number of alignment mechanisms 20 arranged between the pair of drums 3A and 3B may be any number other than two. For example, an electron beam irradiation system 60 according to a modified example of the present invention shown in Fig. 8 includes a wire winding device 61 in which one alignment mechanism 20 is arranged between the pair of drums 3A and 3B. In the wire winding device 61, a wire 2 extending between a pair of drums 3A and 3B is passed between the combs 40, 40 in one of a plurality of comb groups 32 (comb groups 32A, 32B, 32C, and 32D in the illustrated example) arranged at predetermined angular intervals around the shaft 31, and by rotating the shaft 31, the comb group 32 through which the wire 2 is passed between the combs 40, 40 can be changed (in the illustrated example, the comb group 32A can be changed to any of comb groups 32B, 32C, and 32D). In the wire winding device 61, the intermediate position of the wire 2 being extended from one drum 3A to the other drum 3B, or the intermediate position of the wire 2 being extended from the other drum 3B to one drum 3A, may be passed between the combs 40, 40 of the comb group 32, or the intermediate position of the wire 2 being extended from one drum 3A to the other drum 3B and the intermediate position of the wire 2 being extended from the other drum 3B to one drum 3A may be passed between the combs 40, 40 of the comb group 32, respectively.

[0042] In the above embodiment, an example has been shown in which the wire 2 is wound around the pair of drums 3A and 3B by a cross-winding method. However, as shown in FIG. 9, as in a wire winding device 71 provided in an electron beam irradiation system 70 according to a modified example of the present invention, the wire 2 may be wound around the pair of drums 3A and 3B by a so-called circumferential method in which the wire 2 is wound so as to pass through the upper end of one drum 3A, the upper end of the other drum 3B, the lower end of the other drum 3B, the lower end of one drum 3A, and the upper end of one drum 3A in that order. Even in this case, the intermediate position of the wire 2 extending between the pair of drums 3A and 3B is passed between each of the combs 40, 40 in one of the multiple comb groups 32 (comb groups 32A, 32B, 32C, and 32D in the illustrated example) of the multiple comb groups 32 provided in the alignment mechanism 20, and by rotating the shaft 31, the comb group 32 through which the intermediate position of the wire 2 passes between the combs 40, 40 can be changed, thereby making it possible to easily adjust the pitch of the wire 2 for the same reasons as in the above embodiment.

[0043] Furthermore, if the wire 2 can be transported by the rotation of the drums 3A and 3B while maintaining the state in which the wire 2 is wound around the drums 3A and 3B due to friction between the wire 2 and the drums 3A and 3B, the external supply device 7 and the control device 8 are not necessarily required and may be omitted.

[0044] In the above embodiment, an example is shown in which the wire winding device 4 is applied to the electron beam irradiation system 1 that irradiates the wire 2 with the electron beam 5, but the system to which the wire winding device of the present invention is applied is not limited to the electron beam irradiation system, and may be various systems that require winding the wire 2 around a pair of drums 3A, 3B. [Explanation of symbols]

[0045] 1,60,70 Electron beam irradiation system 2 wire rod 3A, 3B drums 4,61,71 Wire rod winding device 5. Electron beam 6 Electron beam irradiation device 20A, 20B Alignment mechanism 31 Axial body 32,32A,32B,32C,32D comb group 33 End of shaft 34 Support plate 35 Fastening plate 36 Axial cavity 37 Coolant supply mechanism 40 Comb 50 Supply pipe 51 First Joint 52 Second Joint 53 Discharge pipe 54 Supply pipe cavity 55 First joint cavity 56 Second joint cavity 57 Discharge pipe cavity

Claims

1. a pair of drums arranged opposite each other with their rotation axes parallel to each other, around which the wire is wound; at least one alignment mechanism disposed between the pair of drums; a wire rod is extended from one of the drums to the other of the drums and wound around the other of the drums, and then the wire rod is extended from the other of the drums to the one of the drums and wound around the one of the drums, and this process is repeated multiple times from one side to the other side in the rotation axis direction of the drums; the alignment mechanism includes a shaft body whose rotation axis is arranged parallel to the rotation axis of the drum, and a plurality of comb groups provided at predetermined angular intervals in the circumferential direction of the shaft body, each of the plurality of comb groups includes a plurality of combs protruding from an outer surface of the shaft body and arranged at intervals in a rotation axis direction of the shaft body, and the intervals at which the plurality of combs are arranged are different for each of the plurality of comb groups; an intermediate portion of the wire extending between the pair of drums is passed through a gap between the combs in any one of the plurality of comb groups; The wire winding device is configured such that the group of combs, between which the intermediate position of the wire passes, can be changed with respect to the wire by rotating the shaft body.

2. the alignment mechanism includes a support plate that supports an end of the shaft in a rotation axis direction of the shaft, and a fastening plate that is fastened to the support plate so as to sandwich the end of the shaft together with the support plate, The wire winding device according to claim 1, wherein the shaft can be rotated by releasing the fastening plate from the support plate.

3. The end of the shaft has a cross section whose outer periphery is formed by multiple sets of two opposing sides, 3. The wire winding device according to claim 2, wherein the shaft can be fixed by fastening the fastening plate to the support plate in a state where the end of the shaft is sandwiched between the support plate and the fastening plate so that one of two opposing sides of the end of the shaft is in contact with the support plate and the other is in contact with the fastening plate.

4. 2. The wire winding device according to claim 1, further comprising a coolant supply mechanism for supplying a coolant to the cavity extending in the direction of the rotation axis of the shaft body.

5. the coolant supply mechanism includes a supply pipe for the coolant, a first joint, a second joint, and a discharge pipe for the coolant; the first joint connects one end of the supply pipe to one end of the shaft in the rotation axis direction, the second joint connects one end of the supply pipe to the other end of the shaft in the rotation axis direction, 5. The wire winding device according to claim 4, wherein the coolant supply mechanism is capable of supplying the coolant to the cavity of the supply pipe, the cavity of the first joint, the cavity of the shaft, the cavity of the second joint, and the cavity of the discharge pipe in this order.

6. the first joint is a rotary joint that connects one end of the supply pipe and one end of the shaft in the rotation axis direction so that the shaft can be rotated without rotating the supply pipe, 6. The wire winding device according to claim 5, wherein the second joint is configured by a rotary joint that connects one end of the supply pipe to the other end of the shaft in the rotational axis direction so that the shaft can be rotated without rotating the discharge pipe.

7. The wire winding device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, an electron beam irradiation system including an electron beam irradiation device that irradiates the wire wound around the pair of drums with an electron beam;

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