AN APPARATUS FOR WINDING AN INSULATION PLY

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for winding a ply of an insulating material on to a core (8) to form a chute. The apparatus comprises a movable, endless belt (1) which is bent around the core for the time of the winding, so that the insulating material ply is wound between the core and the belt. In order to wind insulating chutes of greatly varying diameter within a space as small as possible, a turnable means (10) is provided outside both edges of the belt in the winding area of the belt, so that they turn perpendicularly to the plane of the belt between a position of readiness and a winding position. The belt (1) is arranged to pass via a roll (19) mounted between said turnable means (10) so as to follow their movement. The roll (19) is displaceable between a receiving/delivering position and a winding position of the core (8). Means (15, 16) are provided in connection with the turnable means (10) for displacing an empty core (8) from the receiving position to the winding position and for displacing a wound core (9) from the winding position to the delivering position.

Description: An apparatus for winding an insulation ply This invention relates to an apparatus for winding a ply of an insulating material on to a core to form a chute, comprising a movable, endless belt arranged to be bent around the core for the time of the winding so that the insulating material ply can be wound on to the core between it and the belt. The winding of insulating material plies often forms part of a process for the manufacture of insul¬ ating chutes, wherein cores with insulation material wound thereon are cured; the cured insulation is poss- ibly coated with an aluminium foil, for instance; the insulation is sawed open into a chute; and the chutes are removed from the cores, whereafter the empty cores are recycled to the winding step. In general, the cores are transported by an endless conveyor. In prior art apparatuses, the winding is carried out while the core is positioned on the con- veyor. Previously, the lever movements required for bending the belt of the winding means around the core have been long and have required plenty of space. Variation in the chute diameter has been possible within very narrow limits only. The object is to provide a new insulation wind¬ ing apparatus which eliminates the above-mentioned drawbacks and, in particular, is suitable for winding insulation chutes of widely varying diameters. The winding apparatus according to the inven- tion is mainly characterized in that in the winding area of the belt, outside both edges of the belt, is provided a means turning perpendicularly to the plane of the belt between a position of readiness and a winding position; that the belt is arranged to pass via a roll mounted on the turnable means so as to follow their movement, said roll being displaceable between two positions at different distances from the turning shaft of the turnable means, the position closer to the turning shaft being the winding position of said roll; and that means are provided in connec¬ tion with the turnable means for displacing an empty core from a receiving position to a winding position and for displacing a wound core from the winding posi¬ tion to a delivering position. In a preferred embodiment, the winding position of the core is in alignment with the turning shaft of the turnable means, whereat the diameter of the wound core can be varied conveniently within wide limits. Further preferred embodiments of the winding apparatus are defined in greater detail in claims 2 to 6; they also appear from the following description, in which a preferred embodiment shown schematically in the attached drawing is referred to, by way of example. Figure 1 is a side view of the winding appar¬ atus. Figure 2 is a vertical section along the line II-II in Figure 1. Figures 3 to 13 show the main steps of the winding process seen from the side. In the drawing, the reference numeral 1 desig¬ nates an endless winding belt; and 2 designates a drive roll for the belt 1. The reference numerals 3 and 4 designate fixedly mounted turning rolls which rotate passively; 5 designates a working cylinder the piston rod of which is provided with a turning roll 6 for maintaining the desired tightness of the belt. The single drive roll 2 could be replaced with, e.g., three drive rolls provided with a common chain drive and arranged principally in the same way as the rolls 2, 6 and 4 shown in the drawing, whereby an improved friction transmission is provided when the belt 1 is loose. The reference numeral 7 designates a so called main conveyor commonly used in the manufacture of chutes; 8 designates an empty core transported to the winding apparatus; and 9 designates a core with an in¬ sulation wound thereon when it is being transported to a curing step, for instance. The reference numeral 10 designates two discs rotatable on a bearing 12 of a shaft 11 by means of a chain transmission 14 driven by a motor 13. A pneu¬ matic or hydraulic cylinder 15 is fastened to each disc 10, and a support 16 engageable with a journal 8' of the core 8 is provided in the end of the piston rod of each cylinder 15. While resting on the supports, the core 8 is displaceable from the plane of the main conveyor 7 to the plane of the shaft of the discs 10; the last-mentioned position is designated with the reference numeral 8a. Two rolls 17 and 20 are mounted in bearings to the discs 10, and arms 18 are attached to the ends of the shaft of the roll 17. Further, a roll 19 movable between a position close to the periphery of the disc 10 and a position close to the centre of the disc is mounted in bearings to one end of each arm 18. When the roll 19 moves, the roll 17 acts as a joint; the position of the movable roll 19 close to the centre of the disc is indicated with broken lines in Figure 1. The belt 1 moves between the discs. In the following, the main steps of the wind¬ ing process are described with reference to Figures 3 to 13. In Figure 3, the situation is the same as in Figure 1, that is, an empty core 8 has arrived at the winding means and it has been displaced on to the sup¬ ports 16 at the end of the piston rods of the lifting cylinders 15, whereafter the cylinders 15 start to displace the core towards the centre of the discs 10. After the core 8 has been displaced to the po¬ sition shown in Figure 4, it is stopped momentarily, whereafter the discs 10 start to turn anti-clockwise, while the movement of the core towards the centre of the discs is continued. In Figure 5, the discs 10 have turned through 90°, and the core 8 is positioned about midway between the periphery and the centre of the discs. The belt 1 makes contact with the core 8, and the roll 17 like¬ wise makes contact with the belt 1. In Figure 6, the discs have turned through 180°, and the core 8 has been displaced to the centre of the discs 10, that is, preferably in alignment with the turning shafts 11 of the discs. The roll 20 mount¬ ed to the discs 10 makes contact with the belt 1. In Figure 7, the roll 19 has been displaced to¬ wards the centre of the discs, into contact with the core 8. Thereafter the winding of a ply 22 of a wool material is started as shown in Figure 8, whereby the roll 19 yields. The roll 19 can be moved, e.g., by means of a pneumatic cylinder not shown in the draw¬ ing, and a predetermined counterpressure may prevail in the pneumatic cylinder. The winding is continued until a desired thickness is achieved, whereafter the ply is cut off. The desired thickness can be de¬ termined, e.g., on the basis of the displacement of the belt, or if a thin chute is to be obtained, the ply can be cut into a determined length in advance. In Figure 9, the winding process has been co - pleted, and the discs 10 start to turn clockwise, and the cylinders 15 displace the core with an insulation 9' back towards the periphery of the discs 10, as ap¬ pears from Figures 10 to 13. In the position of Figure 12, the displacing movement stops momentarily, and the discs 10 stop, whereafter the cylinders 15 lift the core 8 with the insulation 9' back on to the conveyor 7. The turning angle of the discs 10 varies with the diameter of the core. If the diameter of the core 8 is small, the turning angle of the discs varies from about 130° to about 150° when the core is in the wind¬ ing position near to or in alignment with the shafts 11 of the discs 10. With large-diameter cores, the turning angle of the discs 10 correspondingly varies from about 210° to about 240°. The turning angle of 180° of the discs in the drawing is possible with one specific core diameter only. The turning angle of the discs is a determined function of the core diameter, and the turning angles for different core diameters can be precomputed. Further, the stopping of the discs at the right position in each particular case can be ensured by means of an angle gauge known per se.

Claims: Claims : 1. An apparatus for winding a ply of an insula¬ ting material on to a core to form a chute, comprising a movable, endless belt arranged to be bent around the core for the time of the winding so that the insu¬ lating material ply can be wound on to the core be¬ tween it and the belt, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that in the winding area of the belt (1) , out- side both edges of the belt, is provided a means (10) turning perpendicularly to the plane of the belt be¬ tween a position of readiness and a winding position; that the belt (1) is arranged to pass via a roll (19) mounted on the turnable means (10) so as to follow their movement, said roll (19) being displace¬ able between two positions at different distances from the turning shaft (11) of the turnable means (10), the position closer to the turning shaft being the winding position of said roll (19); and that means (15, 16) are provided in connection with the turnable means (10) for displaci-ng an empty core (8) from a receiving position to a winding position and for displacing a wound core (9) from the winding position to a delivering position. 2. An apparatus according to claim 1, c h a r¬ a c t e r i z e d in that said roll (19) mounted on the turnable means (10) is displaceable between its two positions on pivotable arms (18) supported on a roll (17) mounted between the turnable means (10) and serving as a turning joint. 3. An apparatus according to claim 2, c h a r¬ a c t e r i z e d in that said roll (19) is arranged to be displaced close to the turning shafts (11) of the turnable means (10) into contact with the core (8) when the turnable means (10) reach the winding posi- tion. 4. An apparatus according to claim 1, c h a r¬ a c t e r i z e d in that said means (15, 16) for displacing the core to the winding position and away from it are fastened to the turnable means (10) and arranged to operate during their turning movement. 5. An apparatus according to claim 4, c h a r¬ a c t e r i z e d in that the winding position of the core (8) is in alignment with the turning shaft of the turnable means (10). 6. An apparatus according to claim 1, c h a r¬ a c t e r i z e d in that the magnitude of the turn¬ ing angle between the position of readiness and the winding position of the turnable means (10) depends on the diameter of the core (8) so that the turning angle increases with increasing core diameter.

Inventors: SOIKKELI OSMO, SOIKKELI, OSMO
Applicants: PARTEK AB, OY PARTEK AB
Application year: 1989
Main classification: F16L59
IPC codes: B29C53, F16L59