Fiber Winding Apparatus with Rotatable Handling Device and Cutter
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing apparatuses for winding fiber strands onto bobbins face challenges in achieving high winding rates while maintaining reliability, particularly when dealing with fusible thermoplastic strands, and require complex handling and cutting processes, often necessitating continuous feeding without interruption.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus features a rotatable support for the bobbin, a supply for feeding the fiber strand, and a handling device with a cutter that allows for synchronous rotation and cutting of the strand, enabling continuous winding with interruptions for clamping and cutting, and includes a heater for melting fusible thermoplastic before winding, facilitating efficient and reliable operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If winding rate is increased to improve productivity, then winding speed increases, but reliability of winding operations deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The handling device performs preliminary actions by clamping the fiber strand end onto the bobbin before the winding operation begins, and by positioning the cutter ready to cut the strand at the appropriate moment. This preparation ensures that when high-speed winding occurs, the strand is already secured and the system is ready to handle interruptions reliably, thus maintaining both high productivity and operational reliability.
2Productivity
If continuous feeding of fiber strand is maintained to improve productivity, then winding operation continues without interruption, but handling of fusible thermoplastic ends becomes problematic
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements periodic action by allowing controlled interruptions in the continuous feeding process at predetermined moments when the handling device is in the cutting position. The cutter periodically cuts the fiber strand when the bobbin reaches specific angular positions, enabling the system to handle fusible thermoplastic ends reliably while maintaining high overall productivity through continuous operation between these periodic interruptions.
3Reliability
If elaborate ironing devices are used to remelt and iron ends of fusible thermoplastic strands, then handling reliability improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the need for separate elaborate ironing devices by integrating the strand cutting and handling functions directly into the winding apparatus. The handling device with its cutter and clamping mechanism performs the functions that would otherwise require separate ironing equipment, thereby maintaining handling reliability while significantly reducing overall device complexity.
4Ease of manufacture
If cutting off and removing ends of fiber strands is implemented, then waste disposal becomes simpler, but additional equipment and complexity are required
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the cutting function with the existing handling device, combining the cutter, clamping mechanism, and winding functions into a single integrated unit. This integration allows the system to cut and remove strand ends efficiently while avoiding the need for separate cutting equipment, thus simplifying waste disposal without significantly increasing overall device complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution allows for high-speed, reliable winding of fiber strands, including those with fusible thermoplastics, with reduced waste and simplified handling, maintaining high operating rates and eliminating the need for additional equipment for melting and ironing ends, while ensuring flush cut ends and efficient processing.
Implementation Method 1
a heater arranged upstream in the yarn-travel direction of the bobbin onto which the fiber strand is to be wound is provided for melting the thermoplastic
Implementation Method 2
a gripping roller with which the leading end of the fiber strand to be wound onto a bobbin may be pressed against the bobbin
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for winding a fiber strand onto a bobbin having a longitudinal axis has a support holding the bobbin for rotation about the axis, a supply for feeding the fiber strand in a travel direction generally radially or tangentially to the bobbin, and a drive for rotating the bobbin about the longitudinal axis and for, when a fiber strand is engaged with the bobbin, winding the fiber strand onto the bobbin. A handling device is rotatable about the axis adjacent the bobbin and carries a strand layer for at a start of a winding operation moving into a predetermined angular position and pressing a leading end of the fiber strand against the bobbin. The handler also carries a cutter on the handling device for at an end of a winding operation cutting the fiber strand and thereby forming a trailing end attached to the bobbin and a new leading end.