Toggle Lever Spindle Support for Plastic Film Winding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current winding machines for plastic film onto spools face issues of time loss during core and spool changes, vibrations, and flexions due to unstable spindle support systems, which hinder high-speed production of thin films and small-diameter spools.
Innovation Solution
A holding and supporting group for the winding spindle featuring a toggle lever mechanism with a star-shaped plate and pneumatic actuators, providing secure and rapid spool exchange by eliminating the need for axial movement of tip and tailstock, ensuring stable spindle blockage and minimizing vibrations and flexions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If tip and tailstock are axially moved towards and away from each other for spool change, then spool can be removed and new core inserted, but time loss occurs during the moving operation
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the spool from the winding machine by freeing one end of the reel, allowing the spool to be pulled out without moving the supporting structures. This eliminates the time-consuming axial movement of tip and tailstock while maintaining the ability to perform spool changes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary blocking of the spindle at one end only, allowing the spool to be freely accessed and removed from the other end. This preliminary positioning enables rapid spool extraction without requiring movement of the supporting structures during the change operation.
2Reliability
If tip and tailstock are used to axially block the spindle, then the spindle is supported, but vibrations are created due to imperfect clasp and unstable axial blockage
Solution Approach 1:
The invention segments the spindle support function into two independent parts: one fixed blocking element and one movable blocking element. This segmentation allows each element to be optimized for its specific function, with the fixed element providing stable positioning and the movable element providing secure clamping, thereby eliminating vibrations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a movable blocking element that can dynamically adjust to secure the spindle firmly. This dynamic element, actuated by a pneumatic cylinder, provides stable and vibration-free support by firmly clamping the spindle while allowing for rapid release when needed.
3Reliability
If spindle is positioned between facing front end supports, then axial blockage is provided, but flexions arise in the spindle arrangement
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the support approach from frontal axial support to lateral support. By positioning blocking elements at the ends of the spindle rather than facing each other frontally, the spindle is prevented from flexing while maintaining stable axial blockage.
4Loss of time
If rapid spool change is implemented by freeing end of reel, then spool extraction time is reduced, but secure support and blockage of spindle must be maintained
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a movable blocking element that can rapidly transition between blocking and non-blocking positions. This dynamic element, controlled by a pneumatic cylinder, allows the spool to be freely extracted when repositioned while maintaining secure support during winding operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses a pneumatic cylinder to actuate the movable blocking element, enabling rapid and reliable spool extraction. The pneumatic system provides fast response time for moving the blocking element between positions, significantly reducing spool change time while maintaining secure support when engaged.
Data Source
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Figure 3a
AI summary
A holding and supporting group of a winding spindle in a machine for winding plastic film onto spools, said machine comprising a winding reel positioned between two uprights (12, 13), wherein a first upright (12) carries a rotating plate (14) which cantilever-supports three spindles (16, 17, 18) and a central shaft (15) which complete the winding reel, wherein the central shaft (15) is supported at the other end at the second upright (13), wherein, in correspondence with a free end of the central shaft (15), there is a star-shaped plate (19) with three supporting arms of each free end of the three spindles (16, 17, 18) through a respective toggle lever mechanism (21, 22, 25) driven by an actuator (30) carried on a lever (20) articulated with respect to the star-shaped plate (19), and in turn caused to oscillate between an operative blocking position of the respective spindle (16, 17 or 18) and a rest position for releasing the respective spindle (16, 17, 18) by means of a further actuator (32).