Winding Device Support Arm for Heavy Spool Handling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing devices for winding strip-shaped materials struggle with handling rigid and heavy materials, which can no longer be managed manually due to increased weight, requiring improved mobility and handling mechanisms to ensure efficient and safe operation.

Innovation Solution

The device incorporates a linearly movable support arm parallel to the spool axis and a height-adjustable mechanism, allowing for lateral movement of filled spools and adjustable insertion channels to maintain consistent material feed direction and angle, enhancing mobility and reducing the need for manual handling or hoists, while ensuring continuous material supply through multiple support arms.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If manual handling of spools is used, then device complexity is reduced, but it becomes impossible to handle heavy and rigid materials safely

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanual handling capabilityVSAvoidsafety risks with heavy materials
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The support arm is designed to automatically perform multiple functions including receiving spools, lateral movement for release, and height adjustment for material feeding. The arm serves itself by integrating the release device function into its movement capability, eliminating the need for separate manual handling operations and reducing safety risks with heavy materials

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Ease of operation

If a separate release device is added, then coil release capability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoil release capabilityVSAvoidnumber of separate components
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The release device functionality is merged with the support arm structure. The support arm's lateral movement parallel to the spool axis simultaneously achieves both the release of the coil and the positioning for material feeding, combining what would traditionally be separate functions into a single integrated component

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The support arm serves multiple functions: it receives spools from the insertion channel, performs lateral movement for coil release, provides height adjustment for material feeding, and enables continuous operation through coordinated movement. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate dedicated release devices

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

3Device complexity

If the insertion channel position is fixed, then device complexity is reduced, but it becomes difficult to maintain consistent feed angle with height changes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadjustability mechanismVSAvoidfeed angle consistency
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The support arm's height is made dynamically adjustable during the winding process. As the spool fills and its diameter increases, the support arm moves vertically to maintain the optimal feed angle and direction, ensuring consistent material feeding precision throughout the entire winding operation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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 enables efficient handling and transportation of heavy spools, maintaining consistent material feed and reducing space requirements, allowing for easier insertion and handling of rigid materials, and ensuring reliable operation even when coils exceed manual handling limits.

Implementation Method 1

the support arm carrying the spool during filling can be moved linearly parallel to the spool axis and transversely to the strip feed device for the strip-shaped material

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLinear motion:

Implementation Method 2

the support arm is also height-adjustable. This makes it possible to move the spool instead of the insertion channel when feeding in the strip-shaped material

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeight adjustment:

Implementation Method 3

a pivotable support arm is provided, which can be rotated through 180° about a vertical axis, in order thereby to exchange a spool in the winding device, while at the same time another spool is released

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSuction: Suction

Data Source

PatentEP3215445B1Device for winding strip-shaped material
Publication Date: 2019.12.25 LEICHT STANZAUTOMATION
  • EP3215445B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3215445B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3215445B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A device for winding strip-shaped material onto at least one reel (10) comprises a support arm (11) that is movable relative to the machine frame (12) and has at least one horizontal reel shaft (13) for holding the reel (10). The reel shaft (13) holding the reel is made to rotate by at least one rotary drive (14). A release mechanism is provided for releasing the reel (10) when the support arm (11) moves relative to the machine frame (12). In order to design a device that is better adapted to the specificities of rigid materials and to greater weights of the strip-shaped material, the support arm (11) supporting the reel when the strip-shaped material is wound onto the reel simultaneously forms the release mechanism, and a linear movement mechanism (15) is provided for moving the support arm (11) parallel to the reel shaft (13) and transversely to a strip feeding mechanism (16) in order for the reel to be released.