Winding Device Height Reduction via Horizontal Stocker Layout

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing winding devices face a height increase issue due to the proximity of the stocker and package storage unit, leading to potential package contact and reduced quality, as well as operational difficulties in replenishing bobbins and retrieving fully-wound packages.

Innovation Solution

The winding device is designed with a cradle that moves between a winding start and release position, featuring a stocker below the package storage unit and a contact roller positioned lower than the stocker, allowing for vertical alignment without package contact, and an independent bobbin supplying unit to minimize height increase.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If the distance between the stocker and the package storage unit in the vertical direction is increased to avoid package contact, then package quality is maintained, but the height of the winding device increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepackage qualityVSAvoidheight of winding device
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transitions from a vertical arrangement to a horizontal arrangement of the stocker and package storage unit. By positioning these components on opposite sides of the cradle's vertical plane rather than stacking them vertically, the design eliminates package contact while maintaining a compact vertical profile, thus resolving the contradiction between package quality and device height.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Length of stationary object

If the stocker is positioned above the package storage unit to save vertical space, then device height is reduced, but fully-wound packages may contact the stocker during movement

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheight of winding deviceVSAvoidpackage quality
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of stationary objectVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent repositions the stocker and package storage unit from a vertical stacking arrangement to a horizontal distribution arrangement. The stocker is placed on one side of the cradle's vertical plane while the package storage unit is placed on the other side, eliminating the risk of package contact during movement while maintaining compact vertical dimensions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The cradle acts as an intermediary element that mediates the spatial relationship between the stocker and package storage unit. By positioning these components on opposite sides of the cradle's vertical plane, the design ensures that packages move away from the stocker rather than toward it, preventing contact while maintaining space efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Productivity

If multiple winding devices are aligned in vertical stages to increase productivity, then output is improved, but the overall machine height and operator accessibility deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewinding outputVSAvoidoperator accessibility
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent reduces the vertical footprint of each winding device by arranging the stocker and package storage unit horizontally rather than vertically. This dimensionality change allows multiple devices to be stacked in vertical stages for increased productivity while maintaining acceptable overall height and preserving operator accessibility to replenish bobbins and retrieve packages.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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 configuration prevents package contact, maintains quality, and reduces the overall height of the winding device, facilitating easier operator access and operation, especially when multiple stages are aligned vertically.

Implementation Method 1

a contact roller which rotates while being in contact with an outer circumferential surface of the at least one package

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentEP4242154B1Winding device and winding system
Publication Date: 2024.12.04 TMT MACHINERY INC
  • EP4242154B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4242154B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4242154B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An object of the present invention is to suppress the increase of height of a winding device. A winding device 21 includes cradle arms 30, a package storage unit 50, a stocker 60 including a first supporting surface 61, and a contact roller 40. The stocker 60 is provided on one side of a vertical plane F while the package storage unit 50 is provided on the other side of the vertical plane F. The contact roller 40 is provided on one side of the vertical plane F, and the position of the contact roller 40 is lower than that of the stocker 60. In the vertical direction, the first supporting surface 61 is below an upper end t1 of a virtual maximum circumferential surface of a wound package Pw supported by the cradle arms 30 at a release position. In the vertical direction, a rotational center 40a of the contact roller 40 is above a lower end t2 of the virtual maximum circumferential surface of the wound package Pw supported by the cradle arms 30 at the release position.