Machine for winding thin metal ribbon continuously on spools

Abstract

A machine for winding thin metal ribbon continuously on spools comprising a fixed entry chute ( 1 ) to receive the ribbon, a pair of support rollers ( 3, 3′ ) with a dancing roller ( 4 ) between them to support and guide the ribbon delivered through said fixed entry chute ( 1 ). A thickness measuring gauge ( 6 ) is provided in the path of the ribbon for continuously monitoring the thickness of the ribbon, a snubber roller assembly ( 30 ) is provided for pressing the ribbon and a brush assembly ( 31 ) is provided for catching the ribbon. A detachable entry chute ( 7 ) and a spool changing platform having a first position (P 1 ), a second position (P 2 ), a third position (P 3 ), and a fourth position (P 4 ) are provided in which the first position (P 1 ) is a ribbon attaching station ( 15 ) with an empty spool on a winding mandril ( 19 ), a second position (P 2 ) is a ribbon winding station ( 16 ) with the winding spool on a winding mandril ( 20 ), the third position (P 3 ) is a station for unloading the wound spool and loading an empty spool, and the fourth position (P 4 ) is a stand-by station ( 17 ) with an empty spool on a winding mandril ( 21 ). A hitting rod mechanism ( 9 ) is located close to the ribbon attaching station ( 15 ) to attach the ribbon to the empty spool on the mandril ( 19 ). A ribbon support roller ( 10 ) is located between the winding spool at the ribbon attaching station ( 15 ) and the winding spool at the ribbon winding station ( 16 ) for supporting the ribbon and a delivery chute ( 11 ) is provided for removing cut piece of ribbon after attaching the ribbon on the spool.

1 . A machine for winding thin metal ribbon continuously on spools comprising a fixed entry chute ( 1 ) to receive the ribbon, a pair of support rollers ( 3 ,  3 ′) with a dancing roller ( 4 ) between them to support and guide the ribbon delivered through said fixed entry chute ( 1 ), a thickness measuring gauge ( 6 ) in the path of the ribbon for continuously monitoring the thickness of the ribbon, a snubber roller assembly ( 30 ) for pressing the ribbon, a brush assembly ( 31 ) for catching the ribbon and providing better tension control, a detachable entry chute ( 7 ), a spool changing platform having a first position (P 1 ), a second position (P 2 ), a third position (P 3 ), and a fourth position (P 4 ), the first position (P 1 ) being a ribbon attaching station ( 15 ) with an empty spool on a winding mandril ( 19 ), a second position (P 2 ) being a ribbon winding station ( 16 ) with the winding spool on a winding mandril ( 20 ), the third position (P 3 ) being a station for unloading the wound spool and loading an empty spool, and the fourth position (P 4 ) being a stand-by station ( 17 ) with an empty spool on a winding mandril ( 21 ), a hitting rod mechanism ( 9 ) located close to the ribbon attaching station ( 15 ) to attach the ribbon to the empty spool on the mandril ( 19 ), a ribbon support roller ( 10 ) located between the winding spool at the ribbon attaching station ( 15 ) and the winding spool at the ribbon winding station ( 16 ) for supporting the ribbon, a delivery chute ( 11 ) for removing cut piece of ribbon after attaching the ribbon on the spool, a mechanism ( 18 ,  25 ) for wound spool unloading and empty spool loading located at the third position (P 3 ), said spools on mandrils ( 19 ,  20 ,  21 ) being movable between the four positions (P 1 , P 2 , P 3 , P 4 ) on the spool changing platform on a guided path so that an empty spool on the mandril ( 19 ) is located at the ribbon attaching station ( 15 ), a winding spool on the winding mandril ( 20 ) is located at the ribbon winding station ( 16 ) and an empty spool on the mandril ( 21 ) is located at the stand by station ( 17 ) when the winding is in progress.  
   
   
       2 . The machine as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said hitting rod mechanism ( 9 ) comprises a hitting rod operating lever ( 9 . 1 ), an actuating rod ( 9 . 2 ) for actuating said hitting rod actuating lever ( 9 . 1 ) and an electromagnet ( 9 . 3 ) for applying force for hitting.  
   
   
       3 . The machine as claimed in claims  1 , wherein said spool unloading and spool loading mechanism ( 18 ) comprises a base stand ( 18 . 4 ), a pusher plate ( 18 . 1 ) provided with a pushing hydraulic cylinder ( 18 . 3 ), a lifting hydraulic cylinder ( 18 . 2 ) and a platform ( 18 . 5 ).  
   
   
       4 . The machine as claimed in any one of the  claim 1 , wherein said spool changing platform is provided with movable guides ( 27 ) and fixed guides ( 28 ) for guiding the motion of the winding mandrils with spools and hydraulic cylinders ( 14 ,  22 ,  23 ,  24 ) for pulling and pushing the mandrils to the desired positions (P 1  to P 4 ).  
   
   
       5 . The machine as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the said mandrils ( 19 ,  20 ,  21 ) have collapsible tips for loading and unloading spools easily.  
   
   
       6 . The machine as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said spool unloading and spool loading mechanism ( 18 ) is provided with a turn style ( 25 ) having an operating means ( 26 ).  
   
   
       7 . The machine as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the said fixed entry chute ( 1 ) and said delivery chute ( 11 ) are provided with suction by means of blowers.  
   
   
       8 . The machine as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said snubber roller assembly ( 30 ) for pressing of the ribbon comprises a holding structure ( 30 . 1 ) for holding a snubber roller ( 30 . 2 ) and a hydraulic cylinder ( 30 . 3 ) for applying force while pressing.  
   
   
       9 . The machine as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said brush assembly ( 31 ) for catching the ribbon comprises a pair of servo motors ( 31 . 1 ) for driving a pair of brushes ( 31 . 2 ) in opposite directions, a pair of hydraulic cylinders ( 31 . 3 ) for the controlled up and down movement of said pair of brushes ( 31 . 2 ) and applying force to said brushes ( 31 . 2 ) while catching the ribbon and a base ( 31 . 4 ) for holding the entire brush assembly.