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

Winding device, mandrel replacement method, and mandrel

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

[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.

[0004] Korean Patent No. 102200891 Korean Patent No. 3902292

[0005] Mandrel segments are subject to wear and deterioration of surface roughness due to contact with metal strips, resulting in shorter replacement cycles, typically every two to three years, compared to other mandrel components. Therefore, mandrels are required to be easily replaceable for maintenance purposes. However, in the mandrel disclosed in 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 (composed of segments) and the main shaft that supports the segments are separated. Therefore, the winding device disclosed in Patent Document 1 does not easily allow the removal and replacement of the mandrel, including the cylinder. Furthermore, in Patent Document 2, the mandrel must be removed after removing the equipment behind (the back of) the mandrel, which requires the removal of the equipment prior to removal of the mandrel. Therefore, the winding device disclosed in Patent Document 2 also does not allow easy replacement of the mandrel.

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

[0007] The winding device of the present disclosure includes a mandrel that rotates about its axis and has a winding barrel, a casing to which the mandrel is attached, 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 inserted into and removed from the retaining cylinder in the axial direction, as an integral part of the expansion / contraction mechanism.

[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 axially 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. With this winding device, when replacing the mandrel, the fluid pressure cylinder and rod can be removed together with the mandrel without interfering with the retaining tube, allowing for easy replacement 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 tube, making it possible to easily replace the mandrel in a short time.

[0010] The winding device of the present disclosure preferably includes a torque imparting unit that transmits torque 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 torque imparting unit. The mandrel's main shaft includes a first shaft portion that is cylindrical in appearance at the 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. With this winding device, the cylindrical appearance of the first shaft portion supported by the bearings lengthens the moment arm against the tipping moment acting on the mandrel winding barrel, thereby reducing the reaction force acting on the cylindrical first shaft portion and the resulting surface pressure. This significantly reduces the risk of wear and tear, such as wear and tear, on the first shaft portion.

[0011] In the present disclosure, replaceable bushings are preferably fitted to the first shaft portion of the mandrel at positions facing each of the pair of bearings. According to this winding device, by periodically replacing the bushings, for example 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 bearings is subject to high loads and is prone to wear, so by providing replaceable bushings in 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 in which multiple internal teeth provided on the inner circumference of the retaining tube mesh with multiple external teeth provided on the outer circumference 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 can 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 adopting a function-sharing system in which the bushing holds the radial load and the spline transmits torque, the gap between the main shaft and the retaining tube can be minimized.

[0013] The retaining tube in the present disclosure preferably includes a rotational force receiving portion to which the rotational force is transmitted, and the spline is positioned close to the bearing on the winding drum side of the set 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 portion. This torsional force is applied to the spline, but if the position at which the torsional force is applied is farther from the winding drum, the torsion angle generated in the second shaft portion where the winding drum is mounted increases. Therefore, the spline is moved closer to the winding drum to suppress the torsion angle. Furthermore, if the spline is provided in a portion of the retaining tube with a larger diameter, as described below, the torsional rigidity of that portion is high. This suppresses the torsional stress generated in the second shaft portion.

[0014] In the winding device disclosed herein, the mandrel is preferably supported in the axial direction relative to the holding tube by fastening a separable fixing ring to the holding tube. With this winding device, simply releasing the fastening of the separable fixing ring releases the axial constraint on the mandrel used for maintenance, 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 steps 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 steps from the front to the rear. With this winding device, the outer diameter of the first shaft portion 11 and the opening diameter of the storage space taper toward the rear, making it easy to insert the first shaft portion of the mandrel into the retaining tube 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 winding device preferably includes a coil removal mechanism that pushes the end face of the coil made of metal strip wound around the mandrel from rear to front along the axial direction of the mandrel. With this winding device, when the wound coil is removed 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 forming 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.

[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.

[0019] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a winding device according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a front view showing a winding device according to an embodiment. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a mandrel of the winding device according to an embodiment alone. FIG. 4 is a plan sectional view of the winding device according to an embodiment. FIG. 5 is a partial enlarged view of FIG. 6, showing the area around a first shaft portion of the main shaft. FIG. 5 is a partial enlarged view of FIG. 6, showing the area around a second shaft portion of the main shaft. FIG. 7 is a plan sectional view showing the removal of the mandrel in the winding device according to an embodiment. FIG. 8 is a plan view showing a fixing ring for axially supporting the mandrel according to an embodiment.

[0020] The present disclosure will be described based on preferred embodiments. A winding device 1 according to the embodiment includes two mandrels 3A, 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 composed of a combination of segments 30. This insertable and removable configuration is achieved by providing retaining cylinders 53A, 53B as elements of the first rotation mechanism 5 between the first rotation mechanism 5 and the mandrels 3A, 3B. This insertable and removable configuration of the winding device 1 allows for easy replacement of the mandrels in a short time. Below, the configuration of the winding device 1 will be described, 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 components of the winding device 1 will be described with reference to Figures 1, 2, and 4. 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 necessary properties such as mechanical strength.

[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 the metal strip SR, the other mandrel 3B is waiting without winding, and when winding by the mandrel 3A is finished, the mandrel 3B then winds the metal strip SR. 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 FIG. 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 FIG. 1 and other figures. The length direction (L) and width direction (W) are aligned horizontally, and the height direction (H) is aligned vertically.

[0024] [Mandrels 3A, 3B: See Figures 3, 5, 6, and 7] The configurations of the mandrels 3A and 3B will be described with reference to Figures 3, 5, 6, and 7. Because the mandrels 3A and 3B have the same configuration, they may be collectively referred to and described below as the mandrel 3. Furthermore, when it is not necessary to distinguish between the two, other elements such as the retaining cylinders 53A and 53B will also be collectively referred to as the retaining cylinder 53 in the following description. The mandrel 3 includes a main shaft 10 that rotates upon receiving a 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 the metal strip SR.

[0025] [Spindle 10: See FIGS. 3, 5, and 6] The spindle 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 spindle 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 for positioning the mandrel 3 in the direction of the axis C relative to the first rotation mechanism 5. The direction of the axis C may also be 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 spindle 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 a 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 Variation of the Outer Diameter of the First Shank 11: See FIGS. 5 and 6 ] The outer diameter of the first shank 11 gradually decreases from the front (F) to the rear (R). This is to facilitate the removal of the previously used mandrel 3 and the insertion of a new mandrel 3 for maintenance. That is, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 , the outer diameter gradually decreases in the order of the first region A1 forward (F) of the bushing 13, the second region A2 rearward (R) of the bushing 13, and the rearward (R) of the second region A2. Corresponding to this variation in the outer diameter of the first shank 11, the opening diameter of the accommodation space AS of the retaining tube 53 in which the first shank 11 is disposed is gradually decreased from the front (F) to the rear (R). Note that, although an example of stepwise reduction in the outer diameter and opening diameter is shown here, continuous reduction in the outer diameter and opening diameter may also be employed. In this way, the outer diameter of the first shaft portion 11 is gradually reduced, and 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 is generated is excluded from the object of management of the dimensional tolerance between the first shaft portion 11 and the retaining tube 53.

[0027] [Driven-side splines 12A, 12B: see Figures 5 and 6] The first shaft portion 11 includes driven-side splines 12 (12A, 12B) and bushings 13, 16. In Figure 5, the spline corresponding to the mandrel 3A is labeled as the driven-side spline 12A, and the spline corresponding to the mandrel 3B is labeled as the driven-side spline 12B, but since both have the same configuration, they will be referred to as the driven-side 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 cylinder 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 cylinder 53, constitutes an example of a rotational force applying portion of the present disclosure that is formed by 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 close to 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 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 keyway can be used instead of a spline fit, a spline fit is advantageous for transmitting a larger rotational force. The spline 12 and the driving spline 55 can have 10 or even 20 teeth, depending on the diameter, which allows for the transmission of a larger rotational driving force. A larger number of teeth facilitates circumferential alignment of 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. While either type can be applied to this embodiment, an involute spline is advantageous for transmitting a larger rotational force, and can reduce radial play or, even if there is some play, allow for smooth rotation.

[0031] [Bushes 13, 16: see FIGS. 5 and 6] The bushes 13, 16 are fitted onto 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 bushes 13, 16 at the front (F) and rear (R) ends, respectively, and both ends of the first shaft portion 11 are radially supported by the two bushes 13, 16 relative to the retaining cylinder 53. Since the first shaft portion 11 is unrotatable with respect to the retaining cylinder 53, the main shaft 10 cannot rotate relative to the retaining cylinder 53 in principle. However, due to the presence of 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 retaining cylinder 53. Therefore, bushes 13 and 16 are provided on the first shaft portion 11, and the bushes 13 and 16 slide against the retaining cylinder 53, causing wear on the bushes 13 and 16.

[0032] The bushings 13, 16 are replaceably attached to the first shaft portion 11 by shrink fitting, for example. Therefore, when replacing the mandrel 3, the bushings 13, 16 are removed from the winding device 1 together with the mandrel 3, and are then replaced with new bushings 13, 16. The bushings 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, 16 are provided at positions corresponding to a pair of bearings BB1, BB2 that support each of the retaining tubes 53 (53A, 53B), which will be described later. The winding device 1 also includes bearings in addition to the bearings BB1, BB2, but the reference numerals for the other bearings have been omitted to avoid cluttering the drawings.

[0033] [Second Shaft 15: See Figures 5, 6, and 7] Next, the second shaft 15 will be described. The second shaft 15 is a hollow member that is connected to the first shaft 11 and extends forward (F). A wedge 25 that expands or contracts the diameter of the segment 30 is provided around the second shaft 15, which has a smaller outer diameter than the first shaft 11. The wedge 25 is slidably fitted to the outer peripheral surface of the second shaft 15 and is fixed to the rod 23 of the expansion / contraction mechanism 20 via the fixing ring 17, further forward (F) than the forward (F) end of the second shaft 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 constitutes 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 constituting 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, which has a larger diameter, and the rod 23 is disposed inside the first shaft portion 11, which extends 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 / Compression Mechanism 20: See FIGS. 5, 6, and 7] Next, the expansion / compression mechanism 20 will be described. The expansion / compression 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 includes a plurality of cam projections 26 that are 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), i.e., to retract, the wedge 25 fixed to the front (F) end of the rod 23 also retracts. As a result, the cam projection 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, i.e., advanced, the diameter of the segment 30 contracts.

[0039] [Segments 30: see FIGS. 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 is 90°. However, when the outer peripheral 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 displaces radially outward, the outer diameter of the winding drum, as determined by the outer peripheral surface of the segment 30, increases, and when the segment 30 displaces 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 a plurality of 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 of the diameter. The inner peripheral surface 32 of this increasing diameter portion forms the cam surface 37 that comes into contact with and slides against the cam surface 27 of the wedge 25 when the diameter increases or decreases.

[0041] [First rotation mechanism 5: see FIGS. 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 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 respective retaining cylinders 53A and 53B. The main pinions 54A and 54B are an example of a rotational force receiving portion in the present disclosure.

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

[0043] The holding cylinder 53A removably holds the mandrel 3A, and the holding cylinder 53B removably holds the mandrel 3B. 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, 53B are radially supported on the casing 51 by bearings BB1, BB2, which are rotatable relative to the casing 51. Each retaining cylinder 53A, 53B is provided with a pair of bearings BB1, BB2 at its front (F) and rear (R) ends. 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, which 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 are removed, and the mandrels 3A and 3B are no longer constrained in the forward direction (F), so that the mandrels 3A and 3B can 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). Furthermore, the retaining cylinder 53A is formed with a main spline 55A that meshes with the driven spline 12A, and the retaining cylinder 53B is provided with a main spline 55B that meshes with the driven spline 12B.

[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 splines 12A, 12B are disposed close to the bearing BB1 of the pair of bearings BB1, BB2 that support the retaining cylinders 53A, 53B, which is located on the winding drum side and is made up of segments 30 away from the main pinions 54A, 54B. This position corresponds to the region where the diameters of the first shaft portion 11 and the retaining cylinder 53 are large.

[0048] [Second rotation mechanism 6: see FIGS. 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 mandrel 3A reaches the position of mandrel 3B and mandrel 3B reaches the position of mandrel 3A.

[0049] The second rotation mechanism 6 includes a base 61, a driving gear 63, and an idler roller 65 that are provided on the base 61 with a gap in the width direction (W). The driven gear 59 of the first rotation mechanism 5 is mounted on the driving gear 63 and the idler roller 65. The driving gear 63 rotates, 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 idle 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] [Reduction Gears 7A, 7B: See FIGS. 1 and 4] Next, the reduction gears 7A, 7B will be described. The reduction gear 7A reduces the rotation speed of the main drive source 9A and transmits it to the holding tube 53A, and the reduction gear 7B reduces the rotation speed 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 third reduction gear 75A rotatably supported by the gear case 71A via a bearing. 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 74B rotatably supported by the gear case 71B via a bearing. 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, 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 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 Operation: See FIG. 6] Next, the operation of replacing the mandrel 3 will be described. To replace the mandrel 3B, for example, for maintenance, first remove the fixing ring 58. When the fixing ring 58 is removed, the mandrel 3B is no longer constrained toward the front (F). Therefore, the mandrel 3B can be removed from the retaining cylinder 53B of the first rotation mechanism 5 by moving the mandrel 3B toward the front (F). A new replacement mandrel 3B is inserted into the retaining cylinder 53B of the first rotation mechanism 5, and then the fixing ring 58 is fastened to the retaining cylinder 53B by a fastening means, completing the mandrel 3B replacement operation. The removed mandrel 3B is then subjected to maintenance, such as replacement of the segments 30.

[0058] [Removing the coil CL from the mandrel 3: see FIGS. 4 and 5] The coil CL formed by winding the metal strip SR around the mandrel 3 is removed from the mandrel 3. To remove the coil CL from the mandrel 3, a carriage (not shown) is used, for example. That is, the carriage is moved 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 the carriage is then 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 it is sometimes difficult to remove the coil CL 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 dotted line.

[0059] When the coil CL is to be 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 can deal 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 that changes the outer diameter of the mandrel 3 can be inserted into and removed from the retaining tube 53 in the axial direction as a single 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 lengthened, 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, 16 are removably fitted to the first shaft portion 11 of the mandrel 3 at positions facing the pair of bearings BB1, BB2. Therefore, according to the winding device 1, by periodically replacing the bushings 13, 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, BB2 are subject to high loads and are prone to wear, so by providing replaceable bushings 13, 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 applying section. The spline has a high transmission torque. Furthermore, when replacing the mandrel 3, the internal teeth of the retaining tube 53 can be engaged with the external teeth of the first shaft portion 11 by simply rotating the retaining tube 53 slightly in the circumferential direction, making it easy to attach the main shaft 10 to the retaining 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 retaining tube 53 can be minimized.

[0065] According to the winding device 1, the retaining tube 53 includes a main pinion 54, which is a rotational force receiving portion to which rotational force is transmitted. The driven spline 12 is disposed close to the bearing BB1 of the pair of bearings BB1 and BB2, which is located on the winding drum side and is made up of the segment 30. Because the segment 30 (winding drum) is heavy, including the weight of the metal strip SR being wound, 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 winding device 1 moves the driven spline 12 closer to the segment 30 to suppress the torsion angle. Furthermore, the driven spline 12 is disposed in a region of the retaining tube 53 with a larger 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 surface 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 Substitutions, etc.] While preferred embodiments of the present disclosure have been described above, the configurations described in the above embodiments may be selected or replaced with other configurations without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. For example, in the expansion / contraction mechanism 20, the fluid pressure cylinder 21 is used as the drive source for expanding or contracting the segments 30. However, in the present disclosure, there are no restrictions on the drive source as long as it can expand or contract the segments 30, and other drive sources, such as direct-acting electric motors, may 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 a drive source having a function equivalent to that of the reducers 7A and 7B may also be used.

[0069] REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 Winding device 3, 3A, 3B Mandrel 5 First rotation mechanism 6 Second rotation mechanism 7A, 7B Reducer 9A, 9B Main drive source 10 Main shaft 11 First shaft portion 12 Driven side spline 13, 16 Bush 14 Locking groove 15 Second shaft portion 17 Fixing ring 19 Accommodation chamber 19A Cylinder chamber 19B Rod chamber 20 Expansion / contraction mechanism 21 Fluid pressure cylinder 23 Rod 25 Wedge 26 Cam protrusion 27 Cam surface 30 Segment 31 Outer peripheral surface 32 Inner peripheral surface 36 Cam groove 37 Cam surface 51 Casing 53, 53A, 53B Retaining cylinder 54A, 54B Main pinion 55A, 55B Driven side spline 57, 58 Fixing ring 59 Driven gear 61 Frame 63 Drive gear 65 Idler roller 71, 71A, 71B Gear case 73A, 73B First reduction gear 74A, 74B Second reduction gear 75A Third reduction gear 77A, 77B Main drive shaft 79 Support shaft 81A, 81B Main gear 91A, 91B Drive shaft 100 Extraction assist mechanism 101 Press plate 103 Drive source A1 First region A2 Second region A3 Third region BB1, BB2 Bearing C Axis F Front R Rear H Height direction L Length direction 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 mandrel is configured integrally with the expansion / contraction mechanism so as to be axially insertable into and removable from the retaining tube.

2. In claim 1, The mandrel is 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; A winding device, wherein the fluid pressure cylinder including the rod has a radial dimension that falls within the range of an outer diameter of the main shaft.

3. In claim 2, A winding device, wherein the fluid pressure cylinder including the rod is provided inside the main shaft.

4. In claim 2 or 3, a rotational force applying portion that transmits a rotational force from the retaining 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 has a cylindrical appearance at a portion facing the pair of bearings, A winding device configured so that an outer periphery of the first shaft portion and an inner periphery of the retaining cylinder are in contact with each other.

5. In claim 4, A winding device, wherein bushes (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, A winding device, wherein the rotational force imparting 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 disposed close to the bearing on the winding drum side of the pair of bearings.

8. In claim 1, A winding device in which support of the mandrel with respect to the retaining tube in the axial direction is achieved by fastening a fixing ring having a split structure to the retaining tube.

9. In claim 4, If the side from which the mandrel is removed is defined as the front and the opposite side as the rear, The first shaft portion of the main shaft is configured so that an outer diameter thereof becomes smaller continuously or stepwise from the front to the rear, A winding device, wherein the accommodation space for the first shaft portion in the retaining cylinder is configured so that an opening diameter thereof becomes smaller continuously or stepwise from the front to the rear.

10. In claim 1, If the side from which the mandrel is removed is defined as the front and the opposite side as the rear, A winding device comprising a coil removal assist mechanism that pushes an 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 for inserting and removing a mandrel having a winding barrel, the mandrel rotating about an axis, into and from a casing in an axial direction, comprising the steps of: 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 and removed axially from the retaining cylinder 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 reduces 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.

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