Winding device, mandrel replacement method, and mandrel

Abstract

A winding device 1 comprises: a mandrel 3 including a winding drum composed of a combination of segments 30; a casing 51 in which the mandrel 3 is mounted; a holding cylinder 53, between the casing 51 and the mandrel 3, that holds the mandrel 3 and rotates coaxially with the mandrel 3; and an expanding / contracting mechanism 20 that changes an outer diameter of the winding drum 30. The mandrel 3 is integrated with the expanding / contacting mechanism 20 and configured to be insertable into and removable from the holding drum 53 in the axial direction thereof.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an apparatus for winding metal strip. [Background technology]

[0002] For example, metal strip obtained through hot rolling and cold rolling is wound on a winding device called a carousel reel and transported or stored in the form of a coil. In this winding device, the mandrel is directly involved in winding the metal strip. The mandrel has a winding drum made up of a plurality of members called segments, and the metal strip is wound around the winding drum made up of a combination of these segments.

[0003] A conventional technique for changing the outer diameter of a winding drum by expanding or contracting multiple segments of a winding device is disclosed, for example, in Patent Document 1. Also, a conventional technique for removing a mandrel during maintenance of a rotary table coiler for winding a metal strip is disclosed, for example, in Patent Document 2. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Korean Patent No. 102200891 [Patent Document 2] Patent No. 3902292 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] The mandrel segments are subject to wear and deterioration of surface roughness due to contact with the metal strip, and therefore have a shorter replacement cycle of, say, 2 to 3 years compared to the other components that make up the mandrel. Therefore, mandrels are required to be easily replaceable for maintenance purposes. However, in the mandrel of Patent Document 1, it is understood that the main shaft can only be removed when the fluid pressure cylinder that expands or contracts the diameter of the winding drum made up of segments and the main shaft that supports the segments are separated. Therefore, in the winding device disclosed in Patent Document 1, it is not easy to remove and replace the mandrel, including the cylinder. Furthermore, in Patent Document 2, it is necessary to remove the equipment behind (the back side of) the mandrel before removing the mandrel, which requires the work of removing the equipment prior to removing the mandrel. Therefore, it is not easy to replace the mandrel in the winding device disclosed in Patent Document 2 either.

[0006] Therefore, an object of the present disclosure is to provide a winding device that includes an easily replaceable mandrel. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The winding device of the present disclosure comprises a mandrel that rotates around an axis and has a winding barrel, a casing in which the mandrel is mounted, a retaining cylinder that holds the mandrel between the casing and the mandrel and rotates coaxially with the mandrel, and an expansion / contraction mechanism that changes the outer diameter of the mandrel. The mandrel in the present disclosure is configured to be integral with the expansion / contraction mechanism and be insertable into and removable from the retaining cylinder in the axial direction.

[0008] In the winding device of the present disclosure, the mandrel preferably includes a main shaft that rotates coaxially with the winding drum and extends in the axial direction, and a fluid pressure cylinder whose rod moves in the axial direction to expand or reduce the outer diameter of the winding drum. In this expansion / contraction mechanism, the fluid pressure cylinder including the rod preferably has a radial dimension that falls within the range of the outer diameter of the main shaft. According to this winding device, when replacing the mandrel, the fluid pressure cylinder and the rod can be removed together with the mandrel while avoiding interference with the retaining cylinder, so that the mandrel can be easily replaced in a short time.

[0009] In the winding device of the present disclosure, the fluid pressure cylinder including the rod is preferably provided inside the main shaft. In this winding device as well, when replacing the mandrel, the fluid pressure cylinder and the rod can be removed together with the mandrel without interfering with the retaining cylinder, so the mandrel can be easily replaced in a short time.

[0010] The winding device of the present disclosure preferably includes a rotational force applying unit that transmits rotational force from the retaining tube to the mandrel, and a pair of bearings provided between the casing and the retaining tube and on both axial sides of the rotational force applying unit. The main shaft of the mandrel includes a first shaft portion that has a cylindrical appearance at a portion facing the pair of bearings, and is configured so that the outer periphery of the first shaft portion contacts the inner periphery of the retaining tube. In this winding device, the first shaft section supported by the bearing has a cylindrical exterior, which lengthens the moment arm for the tipping moment acting on the winding drum of the mandrel, thereby reducing the reaction force acting on the cylindrical first shaft section and the resulting surface pressure. This significantly reduces the risk of wear and tear, such as wear and tear on the first shaft section.

[0011] In the present disclosure, bushings are preferably replaceably fitted to the first shaft portion of the mandrel at positions facing the pair of bearings. With this winding device, for example, by periodically replacing the bushing when replacing the mandrel, the first shaft portion is not damaged and the winding device 1 can be maintained with low maintenance costs. In particular, the portion facing the bearing is subject to high load and is prone to wear, so by providing a replaceable bushing for this portion, wear on the mandrel can be reduced and durability can be improved.

[0012] The rotational force applying portion in the present disclosure preferably includes a spline formed by meshing a plurality of internal teeth provided on the inner periphery of the retaining cylinder with a plurality of external teeth provided on the outer periphery of the first shaft portion of the mandrel. This winding device can transmit high torque to the mandrel. Furthermore, when replacing the mandrel, a small circumferential rotation is all it takes to mesh the internal teeth of the retaining tube with the external teeth of the first shaft portion, making it easy to attach the main shaft to the retaining tube. Furthermore, by using a function-sharing system in which the bushings support the radial load and the splines transmit torque, the gap between the main shaft and the retaining tube can be minimized.

[0013] The retaining cylinder in the present disclosure preferably includes a rotational force receiving portion to which the rotational force is transmitted, and the spline is disposed close to the bearing on the winding drum side of the pair of bearings. The winding drum has a considerable weight, including the weight of the metal strip being wound, so a considerable torsional force is required to rotate the first shaft section. This torsional force is applied to the spline, but if the position where the torsional force is applied is farther from the winding drum, the torsion angle generated in the second shaft section where the winding drum is attached increases. Therefore, the spline is moved closer to the winding drum to reduce the torsion angle. Also, if the spline is located in the large-diameter part of the retaining cylinder (described below), the torsional rigidity of that part is high. This reduces the torsional stress generated in the second shaft section.

[0014] In the winding device of the present disclosure, the mandrel is preferably supported in the axial direction relative to the holding tube by fastening a fixing ring having a split structure to the holding tube. With this winding device, the axial restriction on the mandrel used for maintenance is released by releasing the fastening of the separable fixing ring, allowing the mandrel to be easily removed from the holding tube. Conversely, when a new mandrel is to be held in the holding tube, the mandrel can be attached to the holding tube simply by inserting the mandrel into the holding tube and fastening the separable fixing ring to the holding tube.

[0015] In the winding device of the present disclosure, if the side from which the mandrel is removed is defined as the front and the opposite side as the rear, preferably, the first shaft portion of the main shaft is configured so that its outer diameter decreases continuously or in stages from the front to the rear, and the storage space for the first shaft portion in the retaining tube is configured so that its opening diameter decreases continuously or in stages from the front to the rear. According to this winding device, the outer diameter of the first shaft portion 11 and the opening diameter of the accommodation space are tapered toward the rear, so that the first shaft portion of the mandrel can be easily inserted into the holding cylinder 53.

[0016] In the winding device of the present disclosure, if the side where the mandrel is removed is defined as the front and the opposite side as the rear, the device preferably includes a coil removal mechanism that pushes the end face of the coil made of metal strip wound around the mandrel from the rear to the front along the axial direction of the mandrel. With this winding device, when removing the wound coil from the mandrel, the end face of the coil can be pushed from rear to front along the axial direction of the mandrel, thereby preventing the coil from unwinding and taking on a telescopic shape.

[0017] The present disclosure also provides a mandrel replacement method for inserting and removing a mandrel, which rotates about its axis and has a winding drum, into and from a casing in the axial direction. This replacement method involves inserting and removing the mandrel into and from a retaining cylinder that holds the mandrel between the casing and the mandrel and rotates coaxially with the mandrel. The mandrel is integrated with an expansion / contraction mechanism that changes the outer diameter of the winding drum and is configured to be insertable and removable axially from the retaining cylinder. [Effects of the Invention]

[0018] According to the winding device of the present disclosure, the mandrel and the expansion / contraction mechanism that changes the outer diameter of the mandrel can be inserted and removed axially as a unit into and from the retaining cylinder. Therefore, according to the winding device of the present disclosure, when replacing the mandrel, the expansion / contraction mechanism can be removed together with the mandrel, making it possible to easily replace the mandrel in a short time. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0019] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a winding device according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a front view showing a winding device according to an embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a mandrel of the winding device according to the embodiment alone. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a plan cross-sectional view of the winding device according to the embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a partially enlarged view of FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a partially enlarged view of FIG. 5, showing the first shaft portion of the main shaft and its surroundings. [Figure 7] 6 is a partially enlarged view of FIG. 5, showing the periphery of the second shaft portion of the main shaft. [Figure 8] FIG. 4 is a plan cross-sectional view showing how the mandrel is removed from the winding device according to the embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is a plan view showing a fixing ring for axially supporting the mandrel according to the embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0020] The present disclosure will be described based on preferred embodiments. The winding device 1 according to the embodiment includes two mandrels 3A and 3B, each of which is configured to be insertable and removable together with an expansion / contraction mechanism 20 that expands or contracts the outer diameter of the winding drum, i.e., the expansion or contraction mechanism 20 is configured to expand or contract the outer diameter of the winding drum, which is made up of a combination of segments 30. This insertable and removable configuration is achieved by providing retaining cylinders 53A and 53B as elements of the first rotation mechanism 5 between the first rotation mechanism 5 and the mandrels 3A and 3B. The winding device 1 has this insertable and removable configuration, which allows for easy replacement of the mandrels in a short amount of time. The configuration of the winding device 1 will be described below, followed by a description of the effects achieved by the winding device 1.

[0021] [Components of the winding device 1: see Figures 1, 2, and 4] The elements that make up the winding device 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. The winding device 1 includes a pair of mandrels 3A and 3B, each of which winds up the metal strip SR; a first rotation mechanism 5 that supports and rotates each of the mandrels 3A and 3B to wind up the metal strip SR; and a second rotation mechanism 6 that rotatably supports the first rotation mechanism 5. The winding device 1 also includes a pair of speed reducers 7A and 7B that transmit reduced rotational force to the first rotation mechanism 5, and main drive sources 9A and 9B that provide rotational force to each of the speed reducers 7A and 7B. In the winding device 1, the rotational force output by each of the main drive sources 9A and 9B is reduced by each of the speed reducers 7A and 7B and transmitted to the first rotation mechanism 5. The rotational force transmitted to the first rotation mechanism 5 is converted into rotation of the mandrels 3A and 3B required to wind the metal strip SR. The above elements of the winding device 1 are made of metal materials that have the necessary mechanical strength and other properties.

[0022] Although the rotation of the mandrels 3A and 3B has been described together above, in reality, for example, while one mandrel 3A is rotating to wind up the metal strip SR, the other mandrel 3B is waiting without winding, and when winding by the mandrel 3A is finished, winding of the metal strip SR by the mandrel 3B takes place. In other words, the winding device 1 alternately winds the metal strip SR by the mandrel 3A and the mandrel 3B.

[0023] The front (F) and rear (R) of the winding device 1 are defined as shown in Figure 1 and other figures. That is, in the winding device 1, the side where the mandrels 3A and 3B are provided is called the front (F), and the opposite side where the main drive sources 9A and 9B are provided is called the rear (R). The front (F) corresponds to the side where the coil CL is removed, and the rear (R) corresponds to the opposite side. However, the front (F) and rear (R) have relative meanings. The length direction (L), width direction (W), and height direction (H) of the winding device 1 are defined as shown in Figure 1 and other figures. The length direction (L) and width direction (W) are horizontal, and the height direction (H) is vertical.

[0024] [Mandrels 3A and 3B: See Figures 3, 5, 6, and 7] The configuration of mandrels 3A and 3B will be described with reference to Figures 3, 5, 6, and 7. Because mandrel 3A and mandrel 3B have the same configuration, they may be collectively referred to and described below as mandrel 3. Furthermore, when it is not necessary to distinguish between other elements such as retaining cylinders 53A and 53B, they will be collectively referred to as retaining cylinder 53 in the following description. The mandrel 3 includes a main shaft 10 that rotates upon receiving rotational force from the first rotation mechanism 5, an expansion / contraction mechanism 20 supported by the main shaft 10 that expands or contracts the diameter of the segments 30, and a plurality of segments (winding drums) 30 that wind up the metal strip SR.

[0025] [Spindle 10: See Figures 3, 5, and 6] The main shaft 10 includes a first shaft portion 11 supported by a retaining tube 53, which is an element of the first rotation mechanism 5, and a second shaft portion 15 that supports the segments 30 and is involved in expanding or contracting the diameter of the segments 30. The main shaft 10 includes a locking groove 14 at the boundary between the first shaft portion 11 and the second shaft portion 15, into which a fixing ring 58 is inserted to position the mandrel 3 in the direction of the axis C relative to the first rotation mechanism 5. The direction of the axis C is sometimes referred to as the axial direction C. The first shaft portion 11 is located rearward (R) from the locking groove 14, and the second shaft portion 15 is located forward (F) from the locking groove 14. The main shaft 10 is a cylindrical member in which a gap is formed around the axis C from the first shaft portion 11 to the second shaft portion 15. Except for the portion that houses the fluid pressure cylinder 21, the opening diameter of this gap is uniform from the first shaft portion 11 to the second shaft portion 15. However, the outer diameter of the main shaft 10 is smaller in the second shaft portion 15 than in the first shaft portion 11. A rod 23 of the expansion / contraction mechanism 20 is inserted into this gap. The first shaft portion 11 and the second shaft portion 15 may be integrally formed from the beginning, or may be fabricated separately and then joined together to form an integral structure. The main shaft 10 is fixed so as not to rotate relative to the retaining cylinder 53, which is rotated by the rotational force of the main drive sources 9A and 9B, and rotates together with the retaining cylinder 53. As the main shaft 10 rotates, the metal strip SR is wound around the segments 30 provided on the main shaft 10.

[0026] [Stepwise change in the outer diameter of the first shaft portion 11: see Figures 5 and 6] The outer diameter of the first shaft portion 11 gradually decreases from the front (F) to the rear (R). This is to facilitate the removal of the mandrel 3 that has been used and the insertion of a new mandrel 3 for maintenance purposes. That is, as shown in Figures 5 and 6, there are a first region A1 in front of the bush 13 (F), a second region A2 in rear of the bush 13 (R), and a third region A3 in rear of the second region A2 (R). Third area A3 The outer diameter is set to become smaller in stages from the front (F) to the rear (R) in response to the variation in the outer diameter of the first shaft portion 11. The opening diameter of the accommodation space AS of the retaining tube 53, in which the first shaft portion 11 is disposed, is set to become smaller in stages from the front (F) to the rear (R). Note that although an example of a stepwise reduction in the outer diameter and opening diameter is shown here, a continuous reduction in the outer diameter and opening diameter may also be adopted. In this way, by the stepwise reduction in the outer diameter of the first shaft portion 11, when the first shaft portion 11 is attached to the first rotation mechanism 5, a gap is generated between the outer peripheral surface of the first shaft portion 11 and the inner peripheral surface of the retaining tube 53. The portion where this gap occurs is not subject to management of the dimensional tolerance between the first shaft portion 11 and the retaining tube 53.

[0027] [Driven side splines 12A and 12B: see Figures 5 and 6] The first shaft portion 11 includes driven splines 12 (12A, 12B) and bushings 13, 16. In Fig. 5, the spline corresponding to the mandrel 3A is labeled as driven spline 12A, and the spline corresponding to the mandrel 3B is labeled as driven spline 12B, but since both have the same configuration, they will be referred to as driven spline 12 below. The designations A and B may also be omitted for other components.

[0028] The driven spline 12 transmits the rotational force from the retainer tube 53 to the first shaft portion 11 of the main shaft 10. The driven spline 12, together with the driving spline 55 of the retainer tube 53, constitutes an example of a rotational force applying portion of the present disclosure that uses spline fitting. The driven spline 12 comprises a plurality of external teeth provided on its outer periphery, and the driving spline 55 comprises internal teeth provided on its inner periphery. Ideally, there is no sliding between the driven spline 12 and the driving spline 55 in the axial direction C, so there is no need to consider the lifespan due to wear.

[0029] The driven spline 12 is located adjacent to the bush 13 between the bush 13 and the bush 16 in the direction of the axis C. In other words, the spline 12 is located near the segment 30 on which the metal strip SR is wound. The segment 30 has a considerable weight, including the weight of the wound metal strip SR, so a considerable torsional force is required to rotate the first shaft portion 11. This torsional force is applied to the driven spline 12, but if the position at which the torsional force is applied is farther from the segment 30, the torsion angle generated in the second shaft portion 15 on which the segment 30 is mounted increases. Therefore, the spline 12 is moved closer to the segment 30 to suppress the torsion angle. Furthermore, the driven spline 12 is located where the diameter of the retaining tube 53 is large, as described below, and therefore has high torsional rigidity. This suppresses the torsional stress generated in the second shaft portion 15. Since the bushes 13 and 16 are provided at positions corresponding to the bearings BB1 and BB2, respectively, the spline 12 is disposed close to the bearing BB1, which is closer to the segment 30.

[0030] Although a key and key groove can be used instead of a spline fit, a spline fit is more advantageous for transmitting a large rotational force. The spline 12 and the driving spline 55 can have 10 or even 20 teeth or more, depending on the diameter, which allows for the transmission of a larger rotational driving force. Having a large number of teeth makes it easier to circumferentially align the teeth of the spline 12 with the teeth of the driving spline 55 when replacing the mandrel 3. For example, if the number of teeth is 12, the teeth of the spline 12 can be aligned with the teeth of the driving spline 55 by rotating the spline 12 by a maximum of 15 degrees. The cross-sectional shape of the teeth, consisting of concaves and convexes, distinguishes between square splines and involute splines. Either type can be applied to this embodiment, but involute splines are advantageous for transmitting larger rotational forces, and can reduce radial backlash or, even if there is some backlash, allow for smooth rotation.

[0031] [Bushes 13 and 16: See Figures 5 and 6] The bushings 13 and 16 are fitted to the first shaft portion 11 of the main shaft 10, and are provided between the first shaft portion 11 and the retaining cylinder 53. The first shaft portion 11 is provided with the bushings 13 and 16 at the front (F) and rear (R) ends, respectively, and both ends of the first shaft portion 11 are supported radially relative to the retaining cylinder 53 by the two bushings 13 and 16. Since the first shaft portion 11 is unable to rotate with respect to the retainer tube 53, the main shaft 10 cannot rotate relative to the retainer tube 53 in principle, but because there is a circumferential gap between the external teeth of the spline 12 and the internal teeth of the driving-side spline 55, in other words, backlash in gear terms, a small amount of sliding can occur between the first shaft portion 11 and the retainer tube 53. Therefore, bushings 13, 16 are provided on the first shaft portion 11, and the bushings 13, 16 slide against the retainer tube 53, causing wear on the bushings 13, 16.

[0032] The bushes 13, 16 are replaceably attached to the first shaft portion 11 by, for example, shrink fitting. Therefore, when the mandrel 3 is replaced, the bushes 13, 16 are removed from the winding device 1 together with the mandrel 3, and then replaced with new bushes 13, 16. The bushes 13, 16 are used as sliding bearings, and are preferably made of a metal material with excellent sliding properties, such as a copper alloy or an aluminum alloy, but may also be made of a resin material or a ceramic material. The bushings 13 and 16 are provided at positions corresponding to a pair of bearings BB1 and BB2 that respectively support a retaining cylinder 53 (53A and 53B) described later. Note that the winding device 1 is provided with bearings in addition to the bearings BB1 and BB2, but the reference numerals of the other bearings are omitted to avoid cluttering the drawings.

[0033] [Second shaft portion 15: see Figures 5, 6, and 7] Next, the second shaft portion 15 will be described. The second shaft portion 15 is a hollow member that is connected to the first shaft portion 11 and extends forward (F). A wedge 25 that expands or contracts the diameter of the segment 30 is provided around the second shaft portion 15, which has an outer diameter smaller than that of the first shaft portion 11. The wedge 25 is slidably fitted onto the outer peripheral surface of the second shaft portion 15, and is fixed to the rod 23 of the expansion / contraction mechanism 20 via a fixing ring 17, further forward (F) than the front (F) end of the second shaft portion 15.

[0034] The wedge 25 is one of the elements of the expansion / contraction mechanism 20, and moves in the axial direction C in accordance with the operation of the expansion / contraction mechanism 20. The wedge 25 is a member having multiple tapered protrusions in the axial direction of the second shaft portion 15, and a plurality of wedges 25 are combined in the circumferential direction of the second shaft portion 15 to form a hollow member. The wedge 25 forms a linear cam together with the segment 30, and the segment 30, which corresponds to the follower, expands or contracts in diameter as the wedge 25, which corresponds to the driver, moves in the axial direction C. The configuration of the wedge 25 will be referred to in detail in the following explanation of the expansion / contraction mechanism 20. Movement in the axial direction C includes movement from the front (F) to the rear (R) and movement from the rear (R) to the front (F).

[0035] The main spindle 10 is provided with an accommodation chamber 19, which is a space along the axis C, in which a fluid pressure cylinder 21 and a rod 23 connected to the fluid pressure cylinder 21 that constitute the expansion / contraction mechanism 20 are disposed. The accommodation chamber 19 includes a cylinder chamber 19A in which the fluid pressure cylinder 21 is disposed, and a rod chamber 19B in which the rod 23 is disposed. The rear (R) end of the cylinder chamber 19A is closed, but the front (F) end is connected to the rod chamber 19B. The front (F) end of the rod chamber 19B is open, and the front (F) end of the rod 23 protrudes. As described above, the fluid pressure cylinder 21 and the rod 23 are disposed inside the main spindle 10. The fluid pressure cylinder 21 is disposed inside the first shaft portion 11, which has a larger diameter, and the rod 23 is disposed inside the first shaft portion 11, extending from the first shaft portion 11 to the second shaft portion 15, which has a smaller diameter. Therefore, the fluid pressure cylinder 21 including the rod 23 has a radial dimension that falls within the range of the outer diameter of the main shaft 10.

[0036] [Expansion / contraction mechanism 20: see Figures 5, 6, and 7] Next, the expansion / contraction mechanism 20 will be described. The expansion / contraction mechanism 20 includes a fluid pressure cylinder 21 as a drive source for moving the wedge 25 in the axial direction C, and a rod 23 that moves in the axial direction C relative to the fluid pressure cylinder 21. The fluid pressure cylinder 21 is housed in the cylinder chamber 19A, and the rod 23 is inserted into the rod chamber 19B. The rod 23 protrudes from the front (F) end of the rod chamber 19B, and this protruding portion is connected to and fixed to the wedge 25 via a fixing ring 17. The hydraulic or pneumatic fluid pressure cylinder 21 is merely one example of a drive source for moving the wedge 25 in the axial direction C, and other drive sources for moving the wedge 25, such as a direct-acting electric motor, can also be used.

[0037] The wedge 25 has a plurality of cam projections 26, each connected in the circumferential direction. The plurality of cam projections 26 are provided over substantially the entire length of the wedge 25 in the direction of the axis C. As an example, each cam projection 26 has a shape in which the diameter continuously increases from the rear (R) to the front (F) and then decreases sharply from the peak of the diameter. The outer peripheral surface of this increasing diameter portion forms the cam surface 27 that comes into contact with and slides against the cam surface 37 of the segment 30 when the diameter increases or decreases.

[0038] When hydraulic oil is supplied to the fluid pressure cylinder 21, for example, to move the rod 23 rearward (R), that is, to move it backward, the wedge 25 fixed to the front (F) end of the rod 23 also moves backward. As a result, the cam protrusion 26 pushes up the segment 30, thereby expanding the diameter of the segment 30. When the rod 23 is moved forward (F) from the expanded diameter state, that is, moved forward, the diameter of the segment 30 is reduced.

[0039] [Segment 30: See Figures 3 and 7] The segments 30 are arranged to surround the periphery of the second shaft portion 15, with the wedge 25 sandwiched between them. In this embodiment, as an example, the winding drum is formed by four segments 30 surrounding the periphery of the second shaft portion 15. Each segment 30 has an arc-shaped cross section, and the central angle of the segments 30 is 90°, but when the outer circumferential surfaces of the four segments 30 are joined together, the cross section forms a circle. Each segment 30 is connected to the second shaft portion 15 of the main shaft 10 so as to be displaceable in the radial direction. When the segment 30 is displaced radially outward, the outer diameter of the winding drum defined by the outer peripheral surface of the segment 30 increases, and when the segment 30 is displaced radially inward from that position, the outer diameter of the winding drum decreases.

[0040] In the segment 30, the outer peripheral surface 31 forms an arcuate surface of equal diameter along the axis C, while the inner peripheral surface 32 is formed with multiple cam grooves 36 into which the cam protrusions 26 of the wedge 25 fit. As an example, each cam groove 36 has a shape in which the diameter continuously increases from the rear (R) to the front (F) and then decreases sharply from the peak. The inner peripheral surface 32 of this increasing diameter portion comes into contact with the cam surface 27 of the wedge 25 and forms the cam surface 37 that slides against it when the diameter increases or decreases.

[0041] [First rotation mechanism 5: see Figures 1, 5, and 6] Next, the first rotation mechanism 5 will be described. The first rotation mechanism 5 holds the mandrels 3A and 3B and transmits the rotational force from the main drive sources 9A and 9B to the mandrels 3A and 3B. The first rotation mechanism 5 includes a casing 51, a pair of retaining cylinders 53A and 53B spaced apart in the width direction (W) of the casing 51, and main pinions 54A and 54B provided on the retaining cylinders 53A and 53B, respectively. The main pinions 54A and 54B are an example of a rotational force receiving portion in the present disclosure.

[0042] Main drive shafts 77A and 77B, which transmit rotational force from the reducers 7A and 7B, are arranged to penetrate the casing 51 from front to back. The main drive shafts 77A and 77B are arranged in the center of the casing 51 in the width direction (W), and retaining cylinders 53A and 53B are arranged on both sides of the main drive shafts 77A and 77B in the width direction (W). The main drive shafts 77A and 77B are supported by multiple bearings so as to be rotatable relative to the casing 51.

[0043] The holding cylinder 53A holds the mandrel 3A in a removably insertable manner, and the holding cylinder 53B holds the mandrel 3B in a removably insertable manner. When replacing the mandrels 3A and 3B, they are removed from the holding cylinders 53A and 53B, and new mandrels 3A and 3B that have undergone maintenance are attached to the holding cylinders 53A and 53B.

[0044] The retaining cylinders 53A and 53B are supported in the radial direction of the casing 51 by bearings BB1 and BB2, respectively, which are rotatable relative to the casing 51. A pair of bearings BB1 and BB2 is provided at the front (F) and rear (R) of each retaining cylinder 53A and 53B. The mandrels 3A, 3B are constrained in the front-to-rear direction by a cylindrical fixing ring 57 fixed to the casing 51 at their rear (R) ends in the axial direction C, and are constrained in the front-to-rear direction by a cylindrical fixing ring 58 that is insertable into and removable from the casing 51 at their front (F) ends in the axial direction C. In this manner, the mandrels 3A, 3B are constrained from moving in the front-to-rear direction by the fixing rings 57 and 58. As shown in FIG. 9 , the fixing rings 58, 58, each having a split structure, are inserted into the locking grooves 14 and fixed to the front (F) ends of the retaining cylinders 53A, 53B by fastening means BL such as bolts. When replacing the mandrels, the fastening means BL and the fixing rings 58, 58 are removed. This removes the front (F) constraint on the mandrels 3A, 3B, allowing them to be removed.

[0045] A main pinion 54A is fitted into the retaining cylinder 53A, and a main pinion 54B is fitted into the retaining cylinder 53B. The main pinion 54A meshes with a main gear 81A fitted to the main drive shaft 77A at its rear (R), and the main pinion 54B meshes with a main gear 81B fitted to the main drive shaft 77B at its front (F). In addition, a main spline 55A that meshes with the driven-side spline 12A is formed in the retaining cylinder 53A, and a main spline 55B that meshes with the driven-side spline 12B is formed in the retaining cylinder 53B.

[0046] As the main drive shafts 77A, 77B rotate, the retainer tube 53A rotates via the main pinion 54A and the main gear 81A, or the retainer tube 53B rotates via the main pinion 54B and the main gear 81B. Rotating the retainer tube 53A rotates the mandrel 3A via the main spline 55A and the driven spline 12A, and rotating the retainer tube 53B rotates the mandrel 3B via the main spline 55B and the driven spline 12B.

[0047] The main pinions 54A, 54B of the retaining cylinders 53A, 53B receive rotational force from the main drive shafts 77A, 77B. The driven-side splines 12A, 12B are disposed close to the bearing BB1 on the winding drum side, which is made up of the segment 30 and away from the main pinions 54A, 54B, of the pair of bearings BB1, BB2 that support the retaining cylinders 53A, 53B. This position corresponds to the area where the diameters of the first shaft portion 11 and the retaining cylinder 53 are large.

[0048] [Second rotation mechanism 6: see Figures 1 and 2] Next, the second rotation mechanism 6 will be described. The second rotation mechanism 6 rotatably supports the first rotation mechanism 5. When winding of a predetermined amount of metal strip SR around one mandrel 3A is completed, the second rotation mechanism 6 rotates the first rotation mechanism 5 so that winding of metal strip SR around the other mandrel 3B can begin. Specifically, in FIG. 1 , the first rotation mechanism 5 is rotated by 180° so that the mandrel 3A reaches the position of the mandrel 3B and the mandrel 3B reaches the position of the mandrel 3A.

[0049] The second rotation mechanism 6 includes a base 61, and a driving gear 63 and an idler roller 65 that are provided on the base 61 with an interval in the width direction (W). The driven gear 59 of the first rotation mechanism 5 is placed on the driving gear 63 and the idler roller 65. The driving gear 63 is rotated, for example, clockwise by a rotating electric machine (not shown). The driving gear 63 has a plurality of teeth on its outer circumferential surface, and the teeth of the driving gear 63 mesh with the teeth of the driven gear 59. The idler roller 65 is rotatably supported on the base 61 via a bearing (not shown). The idler roller 65 has a flat outer circumferential surface.

[0050] When winding of the metal strip SR onto the mandrel 3A is completed and the driving gear 63 is rotated, the first rotation mechanism 5 is rotated via the driven gear 59 that meshes with the driving gear 63. At this time, the idler roller 65 is rotated in conjunction with the rotation of the driven gear 59. When the mandrel 3B reaches the position of the mandrel 3A, the rotation of the driving gear 63 is stopped.

[0051] [Reducers 7A and 7B: see Figures 1 and 4] Next, the reducers 7A and 7B will be described. The reducer 7A reduces the speed of the rotation of the main drive source 9A and transmits it to the holding tube 53A, and the reducer 7B reduces the speed of the rotation of the main drive source 9B and transmits it to the holding tube 53B.

[0052] The reducer 7A includes a gear case 71A, a first reduction gear 73A rotatably supported by the gear case 71A via a bearing, a second reduction gear 74A rotatably supported by the gear case 71A via a bearing, and a second reduction gear 75A rotatably supported by the gear case 71A via a bearing. A and a third reduction gear 75A rotatably supported by the first reduction gear 73A. The first reduction gear 73A meshes with the second reduction gear 74A, and the second reduction gear 74A meshes with the third reduction gear 75A. A drive shaft 91A of the main drive source 9A is coaxially fixed to the first reduction gear 73A, and a main drive shaft 77A extending to the first rotation mechanism 5 is coaxially fixed to the third reduction gear 75A. As described above, the main pinion 54A is coaxially fixed to the main drive shaft 77A.

[0053] The reducer 7B includes a gear case 71B, a first reduction gear 73B rotatably supported by the gear case 71B via a bearing, and a second reduction gear 73B rotatably supported by the gear case 71B via a bearing. B and a second reduction gear 74B rotatably supported by the first reduction gear 73B. The first reduction gear 73B and the second reduction gear 74B mesh together. A drive shaft 91B of the main drive source 9B is coaxially fixed to the first reduction gear 73B, and a main drive shaft 77B extending to the first rotation mechanism 5 is coaxially fixed to the second reduction gear 74B. As described above, the main pinion 54B is coaxially fixed to the main drive shaft 77B.

[0054] Both main drive shafts 77A and 77B are cylindrical, with main drive shaft 77A provided in the internal space of main drive shaft 77B. A support shaft 79, both ends of which are fixedly supported, is provided in the internal space of main drive shaft 77A. Main drive shaft 77B is rotatable around support shaft 79, and main drive shaft 77A is rotatable around main drive shaft 77B.

[0055] [Main drive sources 9A and 9B: see Figures 1 and 4] When the metal strip SR is wound around the mandrel 3A, the main drive source 9A is driven, and the rotational force is transmitted to the reducer 7A via the drive shaft 91A. The rotational force transmitted to the reducer 7A is transmitted to the main drive shaft 77A, and further rotates the mandrel 3A via the main pinion 54A and the main spline 55A. At this time, the main drive source 9B is stopped.

[0056] When the metal strip SR is wound around the mandrel 3B, the main drive source 9B is driven, and the rotational force is transmitted to the reducer 7B via the drive shaft 91B. The rotational force transmitted to the reducer 7B is transmitted to the main drive shaft 77B, and further rotates the mandrel 3B via the main pinion 54B and the main spline 55B. At this time, the main drive source 9A is stopped.

[0057] [Mandrel 3 replacement: see Figure 6] Next, the operation of replacing the mandrel 3 will be described. To replace the mandrel 3B for maintenance purposes, for example, first remove the fixing ring 58. When the fixing ring 58 is removed, the mandrel 3B is no longer constrained in the forward (F) direction, and the mandrel 3B can be removed from the retaining cylinder 53B of the first rotation mechanism 5 by moving the mandrel 3B in the forward (F) direction. The replacement work for the mandrel 3B is completed by inserting a new replacement mandrel 3B into the retaining cylinder 53B of the first rotation mechanism 5 and then fastening the fixing ring 58 to the retaining cylinder 53B with a fastening means. The removed mandrel 3B can then be used for maintenance such as replacing the segments 30.

[0058] [Removing coil CL from mandrel 3: See Figures 4 and 5] The coil CL formed by winding the metal strip SR around the mandrel 3 is then removed from the mandrel 3 . To remove the coil CL from the mandrel 3, for example, a carriage (not shown) is used. That is, the carriage is moved up to the mandrel 3 to receive the coil CL, and then the mandrel 3 is contracted to release the coil CL from its restraint, and then the carriage is moved to remove the coil CL from the mandrel 3. During this removal, it is necessary to prevent the coil CL from telescopically moving, and sometimes the coil CL is difficult to remove from the mandrel 3. To address these problems, the winding device 1 is provided with a coil CL removal assist mechanism 100. The removal assist mechanism 100 includes a pressure plate 101 that contacts the rear (R) side of the coil CL and presses the coil CL, and a drive source 103 that moves the pressure plate 101 from a standby position indicated by a solid line to an extraction position indicated by a dashed dotted line.

[0059] When the coil CL is removed from the mandrel 3, the removal assist mechanism 100 operates the drive source 103 to move the pressing plate 101 forward from the standby position to the removal position. In this way, the removal assist mechanism 100 deals with problems that may occur when the coil CL is removed from the mandrel 3.

[0060] [Effects of the winding device 1] According to the winding device 1, the expansion / contraction mechanism 20, which changes the outer diameter of the mandrel 3, is capable of being inserted into and removed from the retaining tube 53 in the axial direction as a unit with the mandrel 3. Therefore, according to the winding device 1 of the present disclosure, when replacing the mandrel 3, the expansion / contraction mechanism 20 can also be removed together with the mandrel, making it possible to easily replace the mandrel 3 in a short amount of time.

[0061] According to the winding device 1, the fluid pressure cylinder 21 including the rod 23 has a radial dimension that falls within the range of the outer diameter of the main shaft 10, and the fluid pressure cylinder 21 including the rod 23 is provided inside the main shaft 10. Therefore, according to the winding device 1, when replacing the mandrel 3, the fluid pressure cylinder 21 and the rod 23 can be removed together with the mandrel 3 while avoiding interference with the retaining tube 53, so that the mandrel can be easily replaced in a short time.

[0062] According to the winding device 1, the first shaft portion 11 supported by the bearings BB1 and BB2 via the retaining cylinder 53 has a cylindrical appearance. Therefore, according to the winding device 1, the moment arm of the overturning moment acting on the winding drum made up of the segments 30 of the mandrel 3 is longer, and the reaction force acting on the cylindrical first shaft portion 11 and the resulting surface pressure can be reduced. This significantly reduces the risk of wear and tear, such as wear and tear, of the first shaft portion 11.

[0063] According to the winding device 1, bushings 13 and 16 are removably fitted to the first shaft portion 11 of the mandrel 3 at positions facing the pair of bearings BB1 and BB2. Therefore, according to the winding device 1, by periodically replacing the bushings 13 and 16, for example when replacing the mandrel 3, the first shaft portion 11 is not damaged, and the winding device 1 can be maintained with low maintenance costs. In particular, the portions facing the bearings BB1 and BB2 are subject to high loads and are prone to wear, so by providing replaceable bushings 13 and 16 for these portions, wear on the mandrel 3 can be reduced and durability can be improved.

[0064] According to the winding device 1, a spline consisting of a driven-side spline 12 and a driving-side spline 55 is used as the rotational force imparting section. The spline has a high transmission torque. Furthermore, when replacing the mandrel 3, the internal teeth of the retainer tube 53 can be engaged with the external teeth of the first shaft portion 11 by simply rotating the retainer tube 53 slightly in the circumferential direction, making it easy to attach the main shaft 10 to the retainer tube 53. Furthermore, by adopting a function sharing system in which the bushings 13 and 16 retain the radial load and the spline transmits the torque, the gap between the first shaft portion 11 of the main shaft 10 and the retainer tube 53 can be minimized.

[0065] According to the winding device 1, the retaining tube 53 is provided with a main pinion 54, which is a rotational force receiving part to which the rotational force is transmitted, and the driven side spline 12 is positioned close to the bearing BB1 on the winding drum side consisting of the segment 30, out of a set of bearings BB1 and BB2. Here, since the weight of the metal strip SR being wound is added to the weight of the segment 30 (winding drum), a considerable torsional force is required to rotate the first shaft portion 11. This torsional force is applied to the driven spline 12, and the farther the position at which the torsional force is applied is from the segment 30, the larger the torsion angle that occurs in the second shaft portion 15 on which the segment 30 is mounted. Therefore, the winding device 1 moves the driven spline 12 closer to the segment 30 to suppress the torsion angle. Furthermore, the driven spline 12 is mounted in an area of ​​the retaining tube 53 with a large diameter, and therefore has high torsional rigidity.

[0066] According to the winding device 1, the outer diameter of the first shaft portion 11 and the opening diameter of the storage space AS taper toward the rear (R), making it easy to insert the first shaft portion 11 of the mandrel 3 into the retaining tube 53 when replacing the mandrel 3.

[0067] The winding device 1 is provided with a coil removal assist mechanism 100 that presses the end face of the coil CL, which not only prevents the coil CL from unwinding and becoming telescopic when the coil CL is removed from the mandrel 3, but also prevents the coil CL from becoming difficult to remove.

[0068] [Configuration replacement, etc.] The preferred embodiments of the present disclosure have been described above, but the configurations given in the above embodiments can be selected or replaced with other configurations without departing from the spirit of the present disclosure. For example, in the expansion / contraction mechanism 20, a fluid pressure cylinder 21 is used as a drive source for expanding or contracting the diameter of the segment 30. However, in the present disclosure, there are no restrictions on the drive source as long as it can expand or contract the diameter of the segment 30, and other drive sources such as a direct-acting electric motor can be used. Furthermore, in the winding device 1, the reducers 7A and 7B are interposed between the main drive sources 9A and 9B and the first rotation mechanism 5, but it is also possible to use a drive source having a function equivalent to that of the reducers 7A and 7B. [Explanation of symbols]

[0069] 1 Winding device 3, 3A, 3B Mandrel 5 First rotation mechanism 6 Second rotation mechanism 7A,7B Reducer 9A, 9B Main drive source 10 spindle 11 First shaft 12 Driven side spline 13,16 Bush 14 Locking groove 15 Second shaft 17 Retaining ring 19 Containment Room 19A Cylinder chamber 19B Rod Room 20. Expansion / contraction mechanism 21 Fluid pressure cylinder 23 Rod 25 Wedge 26 Cam protrusion 27 Cam surface 30 segments 31 Outer surface 32 Inner surface 36 Cam groove 37 Cam surface 51 Casing 53,53A,53B Holding cylinder 54A, 54B Main pinion 55A, 55B Drive side spline 57,58 Fixing ring 59 Driven gear 61 Mounting stand 63 Main gear 65 Idler roller 71, 71A, 71B gear case 73A, 73B 1st reduction gear 74A, 74B Second reduction gear 75A 3rd reduction gear 77A, 77B Main drive shaft 79 Support shaft 81A, 81B Main gear 91A, 91B drive shaft 100 Extraction assistance mechanism 101 Pressing plate 103 Power Source A1 1st area A2 2nd area A3 3rd area BB1, BB2 bearings C axis F forward R rear H Height direction L lengthwise W width direction SR Metal Strip CL coil

Claims

1. a mandrel that rotates about an axis and has a winding drum and an expansion / contraction mechanism that changes the outer diameter of the winding drum; a casing in which the mandrel is mounted; a retaining cylinder that holds the mandrel between the casing and the mandrel and rotates coaxially with the mandrel, The winding device is characterized in that the mandrel is configured to be inserted into and removed from the holding cylinder in the axial direction thereof, integrally with the expansion / contraction mechanism.

2. In claim 1, The mandrel a main shaft that rotates coaxially with the winding drum and extends in the axial direction; The expansion / contraction mechanism includes: a fluid pressure cylinder having a rod that moves in the axial direction to increase or decrease the outer diameter of the winding drum; The fluid pressure cylinder including the rod has a radial dimension that falls within the range of the outer diameter of the main shaft.

3. In claim 2, The fluid pressure cylinder including the rod is provided inside the main shaft.

4. In claim 2 or claim 3, a rotational force applying portion that transmits a rotational force from the holding cylinder to the mandrel; a pair of bearings provided between the casing and the retaining cylinder and on both sides of the rotational force applying portion in the axial direction, The main shaft of the mandrel is a first shaft portion having a cylindrical appearance at a portion facing the pair of bearings; The winding device is configured so that the outer periphery of the first shaft portion and the inner periphery of the holding cylinder are in contact with each other.

5. In claim 4, A winding device, wherein bushings (13, 16) are replaceably fitted to the first shaft portion of the mandrel at positions facing the pair of bearings, respectively.

6. In claim 4, the rotational force applying portion includes a spline formed by meshing a plurality of internal teeth provided on the inner circumference of the retaining tube with a plurality of external teeth provided on the outer circumference of the first shaft portion of the mandrel.

7. In claim 6, the retaining cylinder includes a rotational force receiving portion to which a rotational force is transmitted, A winding device, wherein the spline is arranged close to the bearing on the winding drum side of the set of bearings.

8. In claim 1, The winding device wherein the mandrel is supported in the axial direction relative to the holding tube by fastening a fixing ring having a split structure to the holding tube.

9. In claim 4, If the side from which the mandrel is removed is the front side and the opposite side is the rear side, The first shaft portion of the main shaft is configured so that its outer diameter decreases continuously or stepwise from the front to the rear, The storage space for the first shaft portion in the holding cylinder has an opening whose diameter decreases continuously or stepwise from the front to the rear.

10. In claim 1, If the side from which the mandrel is removed is the front side and the opposite side is the rear side, A winding device comprising a coil removal assist mechanism that pushes the end face of a coil made of a metal strip wound around the mandrel from the rear toward the front along the axial direction of the mandrel.

11. A mandrel replacement method in which a mandrel that rotates around an axis and has a winding drum is inserted into and removed from a casing in an axial direction, The mandrel is held between the casing and the mandrel, and the mandrel is inserted into and removed from a holding cylinder that rotates coaxially with the mandrel; A mandrel replacement method, characterized in that the mandrel is configured to be inserted into and removed from the retaining cylinder in the axial direction thereof, as one unit with an expansion / contraction mechanism that changes the outer diameter of the winding drum.

12. A mandrel that rotates about an axis and has a winding drum, an expansion / contraction mechanism having a fluid pressure cylinder that expands or contracts the outer diameter of the winding drum by moving a rod in the axial direction; a main shaft that rotates coaxially with the winding drum and extends in the axial direction, The mandrel is characterized in that the fluid pressure cylinder including the rod has a radial dimension that falls within the range of the outer diameter of the main shaft and is provided inside the main shaft.

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