Winding Apparatus Orbital Core Motion and Hollow Shaft Utilities

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing winding apparatuses for power storage devices face challenges in maintaining consistent and homogeneous material motion due to non-circular core shapes, and the integration of electrical or pneumatic utilities on the rotating head is complex, leading to increased costs and structural complexity.

Innovation Solution

A winding apparatus with a torque motor-driven rotor and support system that allows for orbital motion of the core, enabling uniform material winding and simplified utility connection through a hollow shaft, reducing wear and turbulence, and allowing for pneumatic utilities on board to prevent cable entanglement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Extent of automation

If sliding electrical contacts are used to provide utilities on the rotating head, then electrical power and signals can be transmitted, but the structure becomes extremely complex, heavy, expensive and subject to wear

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveautomation of gripping deviceVSAvoidstructural complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Extent of automationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the utilities (electrical contacts, pneumatic lines) from the rotating head and places them on the stationary support structure. The rotating head becomes a simple mechanical component without embedded utilities, eliminating the complexity and wear issues of sliding contacts while maintaining full automation capability through the orbital motion mechanism

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a hollow shaft as an intermediary structure that allows utilities to pass through the rotating support without being attached to the rotating head. This mediator enables power and signal transmission through the rotating support while keeping the head itself simple and utility-free

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Extent of automation

If utilities are placed on board the rotating head, then automation and control are improved, but cable entanglement and connection breakage occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveautomation of winding processVSAvoidconnection reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Extent of automationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes all utilities from the rotating head, placing them instead on the stationary support structure. This extraction eliminates the fundamental cause of cable entanglement and connection breakage while preserving automation through the orbital motion of the utility-free head

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical cable connection system (prone to entanglement and breakage) with a pneumatic utility system that passes through the hollow shaft of the rotating support, providing more reliable connections for automated operation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Volume of moving object

If a non-circular core is used for winding, then the winding structure is compact, but the motion of input material becomes inconsistent and inhomogeneous

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewinding compactnessVSAvoidmaterial motion consistency
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transforms the static non-circular core into a dynamic system where the support carrying the core performs orbital motion. This dynamic movement compensates for the non-circular geometry, maintaining consistent material feed rate and homogeneous tension throughout the winding process while preserving the compact winding structure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the motion parameters of the support system by introducing orbital motion with specific radius and velocity characteristics. This parameter change compensates for the geometric irregularities of the non-circular core, ensuring consistent material motion and tension during winding

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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

The apparatus ensures regular and uniform material feeding, maintains constant tension, and simplifies utility installation, resulting in high-quality power storage devices with reduced operational complexity and increased automation.

Implementation Method 1

a torque motor-driven rotor (5) and support system (9) that allows for orbital motion of the core

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentEP4094280B1Winding apparatus and method for the production of power storage devices
Publication Date: 2023.06.28 MANZ ITAL
  • EP4094280B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4094280B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4094280B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A winding apparatus (1) for the production of power storage devices comprising: a frame (3), a first actuator device (4) supported by the frame (3) and comprising a rotor (5) and a first drive element (6), a support (9) which is driven in rotation by the first actuator device (4) through the first drive element (6), a second actuator device (10) comprising a second drive element (11) and a non-circular core (14) on which to wind a material (2); said core being arranged on the support (9) in a rotary manner and being driven in rotation by the second actuator device (10) through the second drive element (11). The second drive element (11) passes at least partially through the rotor (5).