Rotating Bar Winding Device for Tire Strip Pancakes

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Solution Overview

Problem

The current methods for winding and unwinding flexible strips, such as those used in tire manufacturing, require multiple handling steps and intermediate mandrels, leading to operator risks and product integrity issues due to the need for manual handling of heavy and fragile pancakes.

Innovation Solution

A device featuring a bar with rotating sections and free wheels allows for simultaneous winding and unwinding of strips, eliminating the need for intermediate mandrels and manual handling by enabling continuous processing between wide and narrow cutting machines.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If manual handling of heavy pancakes is used for transport between cutting machines, then flexibility in handling is maintained, but operator safety risks and product damage risks increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehandling flexibilityVSAvoidproduct integrity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the winding function and unwinding function into a single integrated bar assembly that can be directly transferred between cutting machines. The bar with mounted reels serves as both the winding support and the unwinding support, eliminating the need for separate handling operations and intermediate mandrels, thus ensuring product integrity while maintaining operational flexibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The bar assembly is designed as a universal component that can perform multiple functions: winding strips into pancakes, serving as an intermediate carrier, and unwinding pancakes at the next processing stage. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for specialized intermediate handling equipment and manual intervention, thereby protecting product integrity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Productivity

If intermediate mandrels and multiple bars are used for winding and unwinding strips, then winding and unwinding operations can be performed, but device complexity and handling time increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewinding and unwinding capabilityVSAvoidnumber of bars and mandrels
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention combines the winding bar and unwinding bar into a single reusable bar assembly. The same bar that winds the strips into pancakes is directly used for unwinding those pancakes at the next cutting station, eliminating the need for multiple separate bars and intermediate mandrels, thus reducing device complexity while maintaining full winding and unwinding capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The bar is designed as a universal carrier that performs both winding and unwinding functions. By mounting multiple reels on a single bar and enabling direct transfer between machines, the system achieves multi-functionality that eliminates redundant equipment, reducing overall system complexity without compromising productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Ease of operation

If intermediate mandrels made of cardboard, plastic or metal are used for transporting wafers, then transport is enabled, but material consumption and operator risks increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransport capabilityVSAvoidconsumption of intermediate mandrels
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The bar assembly is self-sufficient and reusable. It winds the strips into pancakes and then directly transports them to the unwinding station without requiring any intermediate mandrels or consumable carriers. The bar itself serves as the transport medium, eliminating material consumption associated with disposable mandrels while maintaining transport capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The invention extracts and eliminates the need for intermediate mandrels from the process. By enabling direct use of the winding bar as the transport carrier, the system removes the entire category of intermediate consumable components (cardboard, plastic, or metal mandrels), thereby eliminating material consumption and associated operator risks.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP3746388B1Device for winding up and unwinding a plurality of reels of strips
Publication Date: 2024.04.03 SPOOLEX
  • EP3746388B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3746388B1 patent drawingFigure 3~5

AI summary

The invention relates to a device (1) for winding up or unwinding a plurality of reels (2), each reel (2) being formed by a wound strip. According to the invention, the device comprises a bar (3) comprising a shaft (4) about which a plurality of sections (5) are mounted in a manner spaced apart from one another, each section (5) being intended to support a reel (2), the sections (5) are mounted so as to be free to rotate in one and the same direction in order for it to be possible to unwind the reels (2) one by one, and are able to be driven in rotation by the shaft (4) in an opposite direction in order for it to be possible to simultaneously wind up all of the strips on the reels (2).