Wind-up System Pick-and-Place for Strip Leading End
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Solution Overview
Problem
Elongated elements, such as strips for tire breaker plies, behave unpredictably on conveyors, making it difficult to accurately deposit them onto collection reels of varying specifications, which can be hazardous due to sharp edges and requires manual intervention, disrupting the winding process.
Innovation Solution
A wind-up system with a pick-and-place member and manipulator that automatically picks up and places the strip's leading end onto a liner, using retaining elements like magnets or vacuum, and a feed-through member to control the strip's placement and feeding onto the collection reel, eliminating the need for manual repositioning and ensuring accurate engagement with the collection reel.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If manual repositioning of the strip leading end is performed, then accurate placement onto the collection reel is achieved, but operator safety is compromised and process continuity is disrupted
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses a pick-and-place member with retaining elements that automatically pick up the strip leading end from the conveyor and place it onto the collection reel without operator intervention. The retaining elements securely hold the strip during transfer, enabling the system to serve itself rather than requiring manual positioning by an operator exposed to sharp edges
Solution Approach 2:
The pick-and-place member acts as an intermediary between the conveyor and the collection reel. It includes a retaining element that picks up the strip leading end from the conveyor and another retaining element that places it onto the collection reel, mediating the transfer process and eliminating direct operator contact with the hazardous strip
2Manufacturing precision
If manual intervention is used to reposition the strip, then placement accuracy is improved, but productivity is reduced due to process interruptions
Solution Approach 1:
The automated pick-and-place member continuously transfers the strip leading end from the conveyor to the collection reel without requiring process interruptions for manual repositioning. The system maintains continuous operation, picking up the strip leading end as it arrives on the conveyor and immediately placing it on the collection reel, thereby eliminating downtime and maintaining high productivity
Solution Approach 2:
The system ensures continuous winding operation by automatically managing the strip transfer process. The pick-and-place member operates continuously to pick up and place the strip leading end, eliminating the interruptions that would occur with manual intervention and maintaining uninterrupted productive action
3Device complexity
If the strip is allowed to move freely on the conveyor, then the system remains simple, but placement precision deteriorates due to unpredictable strip behavior
Solution Approach 1:
The pick-and-place member serves as an intermediary device between the conveyor and collection reel. Although it adds some complexity to the system, it provides the necessary control to accurately pick up the strip leading end from the conveyor and place it precisely onto the collection reel, overcoming the unpredictable strip behavior that occurs when the strip moves freely
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces the simple mechanical conveyor system with an automated pick-and-place mechanism that uses retaining elements to securely hold and precisely position the strip leading end. This substitution of the mechanical transfer method enables accurate placement while managing the strip's unpredictable behavior
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 system automates the winding process, reducing operator intervention, ensuring precise control and safety by retaining the strip during transfer and adjusting feed-through speed to match the collection reel's wind-up speed, thereby improving accuracy and efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
the one or more retaining elements comprises at least one magnet
Implementation Method 2
the one or more retaining elements comprises at least one vacuum element
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
The invention relates to a wind-up system (1) and a method for winding-up a strip (91), wherein the wind-up system (1) comprises a first work station (Wl) and a first supply member (21) for supplying the strip (91) to sa id first work station (Wl), wherein the first work station (Wl) comprises: • a first col lection area (Al) for hold ing a first col lection reel (31) to col lect and wind-up the strip (91); • a first l iner area (A2) for holding a first l iner reel (32) to unwind a l iner (91); and • a first gu ide area (A3) extend ing from the first l iner area (A2) into the first col lection area (Al), wherein the unwound l iner (91) is unwound from the first l iner reel (32) through the first gu ide area (A3) onto the first col lection reel (31); • wherein the wind-up system (1) further comprises a pick-and-place member (5) for picking-up a leading end ( LE) from the first supply member (21) and for placing the picked-up lead ing end ( LE) of the strip (91) onto the l iner (92) within the first guide area (Al).