# Patent

## Title
Wire winding apparatus

## Abstract

A wire winding apparatus can reduce the burden of momentum on the side of the nozzle cooperated with the spindle shaft in winding operation, thereby enabling an effective winding operation. The winding apparatus comprises a carrier carrying at least one bobbin to be wound with wire, a nozzle for supplying the wire to be wound around the bobbin, a spindle shaft for rotating the bobbin, a working table disposed opposite to the nozzle and spindle shaft so as to introduce the carrier into between the nozzle and spindle shaft, wherein the spindle shaft is retractable relative to the bobbin carried on the carrier fed onto the working table so as to allow the bobbin to move between the carrier and nozzle.

## Background
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to the technical field of a wire winding apparatus for winding wires on bobbins continuously supplied in a state mounted on a carrier.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A recent automatic wire-winding system using bobbins continuously supplied to a wire winding apparatus is provided with a carrying device for carrying the bobbins while being carried on a carrier (palette). Thus, this system requires means for effectively transferring the bobbin or carrier between the carrying device and the winding apparatus.
The following technique is one known example for transferring the bobbin or carrier.

    
    
        [Patent Literature 1] Japanese Published Unexamined Application HEI 06-302453(A)

Patent Literature 1 discloses a wire winding system in which a winding bobbin carried on a bobbin carrier when being carried by a carrying device is introduced along with the bobbin carrier from the carrying device into a winding apparatus so as to prevent the carrier emptied during winding operation from staying in the carrying device.

    
    


A plurality of wire winding apparatuses are installed along the carrying device in the winding system disclosed in Patent Literature 1, so that each winding apparatus can perform winding operations while the carrier carrying the bobbin is transported to the other winding apparatus in order for saving waiting time in which the other winding apparatus stands by until winding operation in the winding apparatus working in the system is finished. This winding system has a spindle shaft connected to the bobbin sent to the winding apparatus to rotate the bobbin and a retractable nozzle for feeding wire to be wound on the bobbin.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
Problems to be Solved by the Invention
The conventional wire winding system disclosed in Patent Literature 1 has a problem that the cooperative nozzle and spindle shaft bear a substantial burden of momentum on the side of the nozzle connected to complicated mechanism such as a dimension moving mechanism, consequently to preclude an effective winding operation in the winding apparatus.
In light of this disadvantage of the conventional winding system as described above, it is an object of the present invention to provide a wire winding apparatus having a nozzle and a spindle shaft cooperated in winding wire so as to reduce the burden of momentum on the side of the nozzle, thereby enabling an effective winding operation.
Means for Solving the Problems
The winding apparatus according to the invention made for solving the foregoing problems is set forth in the claims and described in the specification.
To be specific, according to the invention, there is provided a winding apparatus using a carrier carrying at least one bobbin to be wound with wire, comprising a nozzle for supplying the wire to be wound around the bobbin, a spindle shaft for rotating the bobbin, a working table disposed opposite to the nozzle and spindle shaft so as to introduce the carrier into between the nozzle and spindle shaft, wherein the spindle shaft is retractable relative to the bobbin carried on the carrier fed onto the working table so as to allow the bobbin to move between the carrier and nozzle.
According to the winding apparatus, since the spindle shaft is moved back and forth toward the bobbin carried by the carrier fed to the working table placed between the opposed nozzle and spindle shaft so as to allow the bobbin to move between the carrier and nozzle, a part of momentum on the side of the nozzle can be shifted to the side of the spindle shaft.
The winding apparatus of the invention is further featured in that the bobbin is detachably supported by a support member so as to have its axis directed to the direction in which the nozzle and spindle shaft are opposite to each other, and the carrier is provided with an insertion holes for allowing the spindle shaft to pass therethrough relative to the bobbin supported by the support member.
According to this structure as described above, the spindle shaft causes the bobbin to pass through the insertion hole in the carrier and support member and move between the carrier and nozzle.
The winding apparatus of the invention is further featured in that the support member of the carrier is formed in a cylindrical shape having a prescribed cross section so as to detachably attach the bobbin thereinto in the axial direction.
According to this invention, the bobbin can be attached and detached relative to the support member of the carrier with such a simple structure.
The winding apparatus of the invention is further featured in that the carrier is provided with one support member.
In this winding apparatus according to the invention, one carrier is used exclusively for feeding one bobbin.
The winding apparatus of the invention is further featured in that carrier is provided with a plurality of support members.
In this winding apparatus according to the invention, one carrier is used for feeding the plurality of bobbins.
The winding apparatus of the invention is further featured in that the bobbin is formed in a hollow shape so as to allow the leading end of the spindle shaft to be fitted thereinto, and the spindle shaft is provided with a chuck mechanism for internally holding the bobbin fitted to the spindle shaft.
According to this structure, the bobbin can be positively held by the chuck mechanism disposed at the leading end of the spindle shaft.
The winding apparatus of the invention is further featured in that the bobbin is formed in a non-hollow shape so as not to allow the leading end of the spindle shaft to be fitted thereinto, but has an auxiliary jig so as to be engaged with the leading end of the spindle shaft, and the spindle shaft is provided with a chuck mechanism for internally holding the auxiliary jig engaged with the spindle shaft.
According to this structure, the bobbin can be positively held by the chuck mechanism disposed at the leading end of the spindle shaft through the auxiliary jig.
EFFECT OF THE INVENTION
Since the winding apparatus of the invention is constructed so as to move the spindle shaft back and forth toward the bobbin carried by the carrier fed to the working table placed between the opposed nozzle and spindle shaft, thus to allow the bobbin to move between the carrier and nozzle, a part of momentum on the side of the nozzle can be shifted to the side of the spindle shaft so as to reduce the burden of momentum on the side of the nozzle cooperated with the spindle shaft in winding operation, thereby enabling an effective winding operation.



BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a cross section of one embodiment of a winding apparatus according to the invention.
FIG. 2 is a sequence diagram showing the operation of FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view showing the principal part of FIG. 1.
FIGS. 4(A) through 4(D) are cross sections showing the operation of the principal part of FIG. 1 in sequence of the operation.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing one embodiment of a wire winding system provided with the winding apparatus of the invention.
FIG. 6 is a sequence diagram showing a sequence of operation for feeding and recovering bobbins in the system of FIG. 5.
FIGS. 7(A) through 7(C) show the operation of the principal part of FIG. 5 in sequence of the operation.
FIGS. 8(A) and 8(B) show the operation of the other principal part of FIG. 5 in sequence of the operation.
FIGS. 9(A) and 9(B) show the operation of the other principal part of FIG. 1 in sequence of the operation.
FIGS. 10(A) and 10(B) show the subsequent operation of FIG. 6.
FIG. 11 is a cross section showing the deformed state of the bobbin and carrier.



EXPLANATION OF REFERENCE MARKS


    3 Winding apparatus
    3a Working table
    3b Main frame of winding apparatus
    3ba Nozzle
    3c Spindle
    3ca Spindle shaft
    B Bobbin
    C Carrier
    Cb Support member
    Cc Insertion hole
    W Wire


DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
An exemplary embodiment of the invention will be described hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a cross section of the one embodiment of the wire winding apparatus according to the invention. FIG. 2 is a sequence diagram showing the operation of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view showing the principal part of FIG. 1.
The embodiment using a carrier C carrying six hollow bobbins B with vertical axes is shown in FIG. 3.
This embodiment forms a wire winding system having a wire winding apparatus 3 between a feed carrying device 1 and a retrieval carrying device 2, which are arranged in parallel, as shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6.
The feed carrying device 1 serves to convey (feed) the carrier C carrying the bobbins B to the winding apparatus 3. The feed carrying device 1 is formed by having a belt-like conveyor belt 1a held by a plurality of rollers 1b in an endless form and distances spreading upward and downward so as to form a two-stage circulation type structure of a forward path X and a return path Y. In the forward path X placed upside, the upper side of the conveyor belt 1a is used as a conveyor surface for the carrier C carrying the bobbins B. The lower return path Y is defined on the under side to which the upper side of the conveyor belt 1a in the forward path X is placed facedown in the return path Y. At least one of the rollers 1b is connected as a driving roller to a not-shown motor acting at a driving source so as to rotate intermittently.
The retrieval carrying device 2 serves to cause the carrier C carrying the bobbins B around which wires are wound by the winding apparatus 3 to be conveyed (fed) out of the winding apparatus 3. The retrieval carrying device 2 is formed by having a belt-like conveyor belt 2a held by a plurality of rollers 2b in an endless form and distances narrowing upward and downward so as not to form the forward path X and the return path Y in the feed carrying device 1. Thus, the conveyor surface along which the carrier C carrying the bobbins wound with wires is transferred and the upper side of the conveyor belt 2a are used. At least one of the rollers 2b is connected as a driving roller to a not-shown motor (which may be the same motor in the feed carrying device 1 or different therefrom) acting at a driving source so as to rotate intermittently.
The forward path X of the feed carrying device 1 and the retrieval carrying device have the same common conveyor surface.
The wire winding device 3 serves to wind the wire W on the bobbin B as shown minutely in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. The winding device 3 is placed in an area reserved substantially in the middle relative to the feedforward direction between the feed carrying device 1 and retrieval carrying device 2 and provided with a working table 3a, a main frame 3b, a spindle 3c and a bobbin retainer 3d. The working table 3a is provided with a support face 3aa formed in the shape of a window frame partly having an opening in the same surface on which the carrier C is placed carrying the bobbins B as the conveyor surface of the forward path X of feed carrying device 1 and the conveyor surface of the retrieval carrying device 2, and a box 3ab for holding the spindle 3c thereinside. The main frame 3b of the winding apparatus is placed above the working table 3a and provided with a nozzle 3ba from which the wire W to be wound on the bobbin B is fed out and a three-dimension moving mechanism 3bb connected to the nozzle 3ba for moving the nozzle 3ba in the three dimensional direction. The spindle 3c is placed below the working table 3a and provided with a spindle shaft 3ca for rotating the bobbin B, a chuck mechanism 3cb disposed at the leading end of the spindle shaft 3ca and inserted into the hollow bobbin B to retain the bobbin thereinside, a spindle motor 3cc for rotating the spindle shaft 3ca, a chuck cylinder 3cd for driving the chuck mechanism 3cb, a lifting frame 3ce for supporting the chuck cylinder 3cd, and a driving cylinder cf held by the box 3ab of the working table 3a to move the lifting frame 3ce up and down. The bobbin retainer 3d is mounted on the support face 3aa of the working table 3a and has an arm lightly depressing the bobbin B on the carrier C.
Between the feed carrying device 1 and the support face 3aa of the working table 3a, a supply/transfer mechanism 4 is provided. By the supply/transfer mechanism 4, the carrier C carrying the bobbins B is sent from the feed carrying device 1 to the working table 3a in the winding apparatus 3 by using appropriate sliding and lifting means.
Between the support face 3aa of the working table 3a of the winding apparatus and the retrieval carrying device 2, a retrieval moving device 5 is placed. The retrieval moving device 5 serves to retrieve the carrier C carrying the bobbins B wound with wire in the winding apparatus 3 from the working table 3a of the winding apparatus 3 into the retrieval carrying device 2 by using appropriate sliding and lifting means.
The supply/transfer mechanism 4 and the retrieval moving device 5 may be operated in an integrated and consistent manner by making use of a common mechanism or synchronously by using individual mechanisms so as to make fine adjustments in operation timing and operating speed.
In the vicinity of the terminal end of the retrieval carrying device 2, a bobbin retrieving device 6 is placed. The bobbin retrieving device is provided with a lifting handle and others so as to retrieve the bobbins B wound with the wire from the carrier C.
Between the terminal end (more to the side of the terminal end than the bobbin retrieving device 6) of the retrieval carrying device 2 and the terminal end of the return path Y of the feed carrying device 1, a transferring device 7 is placed. The transferring device 7 has a drive means 7b comprising a driving cylinder or the like for slidably moving a lifting slider 7a for carrying the empty carrier C in the vertical direction, an upper transfer means 7c comprising a driving cylinder or the like for transferring the empty carrier C from the retrieval carrying device 2 to the lifting slider 7a, and a lower transfer means 7d for transferring the empty carrier C from the lifting slider 7a to the feed carrying device 1. By the transferring device 7, the empty carrier C from which the bobbin B wound with the wire is retrieved is transferred from the terminal end of the retrieval carrying device 2 to the return path Y of the feed carrying device 1.
Between the terminal end of the return path Y and the starting end of the forward path X of the feed carrying device 1, a refeeding mechanism 8 is placed. The refeeding mechanism 8 has a drive means 8b comprising a driving cylinder or the like for vertically moving a lifting board 8a carrying the empty carrier C, a lower transfer means 8c comprising a driving cylinder or the like for transferring the empty carrier C from the return path Y of the feed carrying device 1 to the lifting board 8a, and an upper transfer means 8d for transferring the empty carrier C from the lifting board 8a to the forward path X of the feed carrying device 1. By the refeeding mechanism 8, the empty carrier C from which the bobbin B wound with the wire is retrieved is fed again from the forward path X of the feed carrying device 1.
The carrier C has fix support projections Cb arranged in line along the longitudinal center of the upper surface of the rectangle basal plate Ca and through holes Cc opening into the support projections Cb. The support projection Cb is formed in a cylindrical shape in the illustrated embodiment, but not limited to this shape. For instance, the support projection may have a rectangular cross section. The through hole Cc has a diameter for allowing the leading end of the spindle shaft 3ca of the spindle 3c in the winding apparatus 3 to pass therethrough.
According to the embodiment as noted above, the carrier C carrying the bobbins B to be wound with wires is transferred to the winding apparatus 3 by the feed carrying device 1 as shown in FIG. 6. The carrier C carrying the bobbins B is then sent to the working table 3a located at the intermediate position between the main frame 3b and spindle 3c, which are cooperated during winding operation in the winding apparatus 3, by means of the supply/transfer mechanism 4 as shown in FIG. 8(A). Thus, the bobbins B are fed close to the starting point for winding operation in the winding apparatus 3, so that the time and labor spent on advance preparations for winding operation in the winding apparatus 3 can be reduced to effectively carry out the winding operation.
In the winding operation by the winding apparatus 3, the spindle shaft 3ca of the spindle 3c is moved upward relative to the bobbins B (carrier C) placed on the support face 3aa of the working table 3a by the driving cylinder 3cf as shown in FIG. 1 and FIGS. 4(A) and 4(B). The spindle shaft 3ca of the spindle 3c moves upward through the window-like support face 3aa of the working table 3a and the insertion hole Cc formed in the carrier C and is fitted into the hollow bobbin B. At this time, the bobbin retainer 3d has a function of preventing the bobbin B from uplifting unnecessarily. Consequently, the bobbin B can be effectively pulled out from the support projection Cb of the carrier C by the spindle shaft 3ca of the spindle 3c and forwarded toward the nozzle 3ba of the main frame 3b. In the meantime, the bobbin B is steadily retained by the chuck mechanism 3cb of the spindle 3c. Thus, the time and labor spent on advance preparations for winding operation in the main frame 3b having the relatively complicated structure can be reduced to effectively carry out the winding operation by means of the spindle 3c having the simple structure relative to the winding apparatus 3.
As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 4(C), the winding operation in the winding apparatus 3 is carried out by the three-dimensional movement of the three-dimension moving mechanism 3bb of the nozzle 3ba of the main frame 3b and the rotation produced by the spindle motor 3cc of the spindle shaft 3ca of the spindle 3c, thus to wind the wire W around the shank Ba of the bobbin B while twisting the leading end Wa and tail end Wb of the wire around a lead pin Bc protruding from a flange Bb before and after the winding operation. The bobbin B is firmly retained by the chuck mechanism 3cb of the spindle shaft 3ca of the spindle 3c so as not to be dislocated unexpectedly from the prescribed position in the winding operation.
When finishing the winding operation performed by the cooperative movement of the main frame 3b and the spindle 3c in the winding apparatus 3, the spindle shaft 3ca of the spindle 3c moves downward by the driving cylinder 3cf, to place the bobbin B on the support projection Cb of the carrier C, as shown in FIG. 4(D).
The carrier C carrying the bobbins B wound with the wires is sent to the retrieval carrying device 2 from the support face 3aa of the working table 3c in the winding apparatus 3 by the retrieval moving device 5 as shown in FIG. 8(B). At this time, the carrier C carrying bobbins B to be newly wound with wires is fed from the feed carrying device 1 to the working table 3 in the winding apparatus, as shown in FIG. 6.
Consequently, device downtime of the winding apparatus 3 caused by feeding and retrieving the bobbins B can be surely shortened, thereby enabling a substantially continuous winding operation in the winding apparatus 3.
The bobbins B wound with the wires are effectively retrieved from the carrier C by the bobbin retrieving device 6 in the process of being transferred to the retrieval carrying device 2. The empty carrier C is transferred to the return path Y of the feed carrying device 1 by the transferring device 7 as shown in FIG. 9 and FIG. 10, and then transferred to the forward path Y of the feed carrying device 1 by the refeeding mechanism 8, thereby to be again fed to the winding apparatus 3. Before the winding apparatus 3, there is placed a bobbin supply device 9 for supplying the bobbin B onto the empty carrier C.
FIG. 11 shows the carrier C which is connected to a hollow auxiliary jig 10 for receiving the solid bobbin B fitted into the support projection Cb in another embodiment.
The bobbin B illustrated in FIG. 11 is retained by the chuck mechanism 3cb of the spindle shaft 3ca of the spindle 3c fitted into the auxiliary jig 10 in the winding apparatus 3.
In the other embodiment than the foregoing embodiments, a single bobbin B may be mounted on one carrier C.
It is optional to use a soldering device for soldering the leading end Wa and tail end Wb of the wire W twisted around the lead pin Bc of the bobbin B, a taping device for preventing winding crumble of the wire W wound on the shank Ba of the bobbin B, an inspection device for performing a conductivity test of the wire wound on the bobbin B and/or other devices.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
This invention can be used for the purpose of effectively performing the operation of winding wire in the wire winding apparatus.

## Claims

1. A winding apparatus using a carrier carrying a bobbin to be wound with wire, the winding apparatus comprising:
a nozzle for supplying wire to be wound around said bobbin;
a spindle shaft for rotating said bobbin;
a working table opposing said nozzle and said spindle shaft so as to introduce said carrier into a space between said nozzle and said spindle shaft; and
a support member for detachably supporting said bobbin, said support member being arranged such that a longitudinal axis of said bobbin is substantially parallel to a direction in which said nozzle and said spindle shaft oppose each other,
wherein said carrier is provided with an insertion hole for allowing said spindle shaft to pass therethrough as said spindle shaft moves relative to said bobbin supported by said support member, and
wherein said spindle shaft is placed below said working table and is retractable relative to said bobbin carried on said carrier fed onto said working table so as to allow said bobbin to move between said carrier and said nozzle.

2. The winding apparatus set forth in claim 1, wherein said carrier includes said support member, and wherein said support member of said carrier is formed in a cylindrical shape having a prescribed cross section so as to detachably attach said bobbin therein in the axial direction.

3. The winding apparatus set forth in claim 2, wherein said carrier does not include another support member.

4. The winding apparatus set forth in claim 2, wherein said carrier further includes at least one additional support member for detachably supporting at least one additional bobbin.

5. The winding apparatus set forth in claim 2, wherein said bobbin is formed in a hollow shape so as to allow a leading end of said spindle shaft to be fitted therein, and
wherein said spindle shaft includes a chuck mechanism for internally holding said bobbin.

6. The winding apparatus set forth in claim 2, wherein said bobbin is formed in a non-hollow shape, and
wherein said bobbin has an auxiliary jig so as to be engaged with a leading end of said spindle shaft, and said spindle shaft includes a chuck mechanism for internally holding said auxiliary jig.

7. The winding apparatus set forth in claim 1, wherein said support member is included in said carrier, and wherein said carrier does not include another support member.

8. The winding apparatus set forth in claim 7, wherein said bobbin is formed in a hollow shape so as to allow a leading end of said spindle shaft to be fitted therein, and
wherein said spindle shaft includes a chuck mechanism for internally holding said bobbin.

9. The winding apparatus set forth in claim 7, wherein said bobbin is formed in a non-hollow shape, and
wherein said bobbin has an auxiliary jig so as to be engaged with a leading end of said spindle shaft, and said spindle shaft includes a chuck mechanism for internally holding said auxiliary jig.

10. The winding apparatus set forth in claim 1, wherein said carrier includes said support member, and said carrier further includes at least one additional support member for detachably supporting at least one additional bobbin.

11. The winding apparatus set forth in claim 10, wherein said bobbin is formed in a hollow shape so as to allow a leading end of said spindle shaft to be fitted therein, and
wherein said spindle shaft includes a chuck mechanism for internally holding said bobbin.

12. The winding apparatus set forth in claim 10, wherein said bobbin is formed in a non-hollow shape, and
wherein said bobbin has an auxiliary jig so as to be engaged with a leading end of said spindle shaft, and said spindle shaft includes a chuck mechanism for internally holding said auxiliary jig.

13. The winding apparatus set forth in claim 1, wherein said bobbin is formed in a hollow shape so as to allow a leading end of said spindle shaft to be fitted therein, and
wherein said spindle shaft includes a chuck mechanism for internally holding said bobbin.

14. The winding apparatus set forth in claim 1, wherein said bobbin is formed in a non-hollow shape, and
wherein said bobbin has an auxiliary jig so as to be engaged with a leading end of said spindle shaft, and said spindle shaft includes a chuck mechanism for internally holding said auxiliary jig.

15. The winding apparatus set forth in claim 1, wherein said carrier includes said support member, and further includes at least one additional support member for detachably supporting at least one additional bobbin, and
wherein said carrier is provided with an insertion hole extending through each support member for allowing said spindle shaft to pass therethrough as said spindle shaft moves relative to said carrier.

16. A winding apparatus using a carrier for carrying a bobbin to be wound with wire, the winding apparatus comprising:
a nozzle for supplying wire to be wound around the bobbin;
a spindle shaft for rotating the bobbin;
a working table opposing said nozzle and said spindle shaft so as to introduce said carrier into a space between said nozzle and said spindle shaft; and
a support member for detachably supporting the bobbin, said support member being arranged such that a longitudinal axis of the bobbin is substantially parallel to a direction in which said nozzle and said spindle shaft oppose each other,
wherein said carrier is provided with an insertion hole for allowing said spindle shaft to pass therethrough as said spindle shaft moves relative to the bobbin supported by said support member, and
wherein said spindle shaft is movable to a position below said working table and is retractable and extendable relative to said carrier fed onto said working table so as to move the bobbin between said carrier and said nozzle.

17. The winding apparatus set forth in claim 16, wherein said carrier includes said support member, and wherein said support member of said carrier is formed in a cylindrical shape having a prescribed cross section so as to detachably attach the bobbin therein in the axial direction.

18. The winding apparatus set forth in claim 16, wherein said support member is included in said carrier, and wherein said carrier does not include another support member.

19. The winding apparatus set forth in claim 16, wherein said carrier includes said support member, and further includes at least one additional support member for detachably supporting at least one additional bobbin.

20. The winding apparatus set forth in claim 16, wherein said carrier includes said support member, and further includes at least one additional support member for detachably supporting at least one additional bobbin, and
wherein said carrier is provided with an insertion hole extending through each support member for allowing said spindle shaft to pass therethrough as said spindle shaft moves relative to said carrier.