Abstract:
A winder has at least two winding assemblies, in which each winding assembly is arranged on its own carriage. This winder is an improvement over conventional winders, such as those used to wind copper pipes.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The invention relates to a winder, such as are used for example to wind copper pipes. Winders of such kind may include two winding assemblies, in which case they are also called double winders and arranged on a turntable so that they may be turned alternatingly towards a corresponding feed device, such as an upstream bending apparatus, which enables winding to be carried out on one of the winding assemblies while intermediate or auxiliary activities, such as tying the bobbin and removing the bobbin from winding assembly, may be performed on the other assembly while it is facing away from the apparatus. In particular, the invention relates to winders having at least two winding assemblies, and which may be shafted between a winding position and an auxiliary work position. Moreover, the invention also relates to winders having at least one movable winding assembly. Additionally, the invention relates to winders having a winding element for winding a workpiece, the winding element including at least one winding flange and at least one workpiece retaining mechanism.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The task of the present invention is to enable faster swapping between winding assemblies on winders with two winding assemblies.  
         [0003]     For this purpose, the invention suggests a winder having at least two winding assemblies, and which differs from other solutions in that each winding assembly is arranged on its own carriage.  
         [0004]     This enables the winding assemblies to be displaced by the smallest possible distances, particularly a rotation through less than 180°, and to move the displacement caused by a turntable, so that assemblies may be swapped faster and machine idle times may be reduced correspondingly.  
         [0005]     The carriages are preferably driven separately. This enables drive units to be used that are smaller overall than if one drive unit were used to move both winding assemblies at the same time. As a result, an exceptional amount of weight and similar may be saved in terms of the drive units, which in turn means that considerably faster displacement speeds may be achieved for comparable drive unit costs, or conversely that less expensive drive units may be used to achieve comparable displacement speeds. The movements of the two carriages may also be carried out at different times and optimized with reference thereto, so that the referenced times may be minimized. In a design of this kind, it is also conceivable to use an identical drive motor, which initializes an acceleration of one carriage with its maximum force at certain times, and governs the acceleration of another carriage at other times, which enables assembly costs to be further cut and in particular also reduces the size of the overall arrangement, which in turn means that smaller forces are required to accelerate and slow them down.  
         [0006]     The carriages may preferably be displaced about different centers of rotation. In this way, very small turning radii may be selected, so that the turning moments occurring during the movement may be minimized. This allows correspondingly smaller carriages and/or correspondingly faster movement speeds.  
         [0007]     In particular, it is also advantageous to arrange the centers of rotation below the winding assemblies, if possible below the center of gravity of the winding assemblies, which enables the moments required for the movement to be considerably reduced, which is correspondingly advantageous.  
         [0008]     On the other hand, it is also possible to move the carriages along linear tracks, particularly along straight tracks. In theory, the tracks may be constructed in almost any form, particularly if complex space constraints are to be considered.  
         [0009]     Additionally or alternatively, the two winding assemblies may be displaceable between a winding position and an auxiliary work position, these two positions being offset by an angle less than 180° with respect to each other. In particular, the two assemblies may be offset by an angle less than 180° with respect to each other when one of the two assemblies is in the winding position and the other of the two assemblies is in the auxiliary work position. This enables to the paths between these two positions to be minimized, depending on the other features of the invention described in the preceding.  
         [0010]     In particular, these two positions may be situated at an angle equal to or less than 90° with respect to each other. Particularly in this case, linear drive units such as hydraulically or pneumatically powered pistons or similar may be used, as they are relatively inexpensive and fast, thereby further reducing retooling times.  
         [0011]     In addition or alternatively to the solutions described in the foregoing, in a winder having at least one displaceable winding assembly the winding assembly may be supported on a sliding bearing. Such a sliding bearing has a relatively low profile and because of the large sliding areas available underneath a winding assembly may operate with relatively low surface contact pressures, so that the displacement may be effected with little consumption of power.  
         [0012]     In this respect, it is advantageous if a sliding surface of the sliding bearing is an base surface, such as a floor panel for example, on which the winding assembly is disposed. If the base surface is used as a sliding surface for a sliding bearing, the installation of the entire winding assembly sliding bearing is particularly simple, with the result that the entire sliding bearing has a particularly low profile. As a result, excessively deep excavations in the factory foundations, such as are required for known bearings of species-related winding assemblies, may advantageously be avoided. Under certain circumstances, particularly with appropriate consideration for the overall floor construction, special excavations may be dispensed with entirely.  
         [0013]     Moreover, a sliding bearing of such kind may be provided in addition or alternatively to the use of a sliding bearing in a winder having at least one displaceable winding assembly if the winding assembly is arranged on a carriage that is supported on a floor or floor panel via an air cushion that may be switched on and off. In fact, other sliding bearings or sliding bearings according to a broader definition may be constructed in a different manner, for example with suitable sliding surfaces, a fluid sliding film or a magnetic bearing or similar. However, with an air cushion that may be switched on and off, it is possible to manufacture a very inexpensive, highly reliable sliding bearing of such kind. Moreover, an air cushion has the advantage that no sticking occurs (stick-slip freedom) when the carriage is set into motion from a resting position. When the air cushion is switched off, the carriage also rests relatively rigidly on a floor.  
         [0014]     Since an air cushion is not the only solution in this context, a winder with at least one displaceable winding assembly in which the winding assembly is arranged on a carriage, the underside of which includes openings through which a fluid medium may be passed, is advantageous for the same reason.  
         [0015]     Regardless of the other features of the invention, a displaceable winding assembly carriage may be secured to the floor via apertures in the underside of the carriage, in which an underpressure is created, thereby creating an extremely solid connection between the winding assembly and the its base and with regard to the rest of the system.  
         [0016]     Of course, apertures in a winding assembly carriage, particularly on the underside of a winding assembly carriage, may be used both to load with a fluid and also for applying an under pressure, so that both of these effects may be used to advantage.  
         [0017]     Other mechanisms that are used in conjunction with a winder, such as a release mechanism, may be supported accordingly.  
         [0018]     In the present context, a winding assembly includes a winding element, onto which the workpiece is wound, and a corresponding drive unit. Preferably, at least one retaining device is present, with which a completed bobbin may be secured temporarily, so that it does not uncoil before it is processed further, for example finally tied.  
         [0019]     In addition or alternatively to the solutions described in the preceding, a winder is suggested having a winding element onto which a workpiece is wound, wherein the winding element includes at least one winding cylinder and at least one winding flange as well as at least one workpiece retaining element, with a workpiece feed provided radially inside the outer radius of the winding flange. This allows the threading operation to be performed considerably more reliably than is the case in the prior art, until the workpiece can be secured in a workpiece retaining arrangement and the actual winding process can be initialized.  
         [0020]     The workpiece guide is preferably removable from the winding area, i.e. from area in which the bobbin is to be created, after the workpiece has been secured, so that it does not further obstruct the winding process.  
         [0021]     All devices that are suitable for securing a workpiece to a winding hub, such as grippers, clamp connections, screw fixtures or similar, may be used to secure the workpiece, before the actual winding process is initialized. A securing mechanism of such kind ensures particularly during the first windings that they do not uncoil again. Even when a larger number of bobbins have been completed, a securing mechanism can prevent the workpiece from slipping, although this may not be necessary depending on the nature of the workpiece, and the workpiece securing mechanism in these cases may be opened again before the end of the winding process.  
         [0022]     Preferably, the workpiece guide is itself mounted on a winding flange, so that it may be retained reliably in its optimum position for a considerable depth into the winding area. In particular, the workpiece guide may be axially movable into and out of a winding flange. In this way, the workpiece guide may easily be removed from the winding area as necessary. Additionally, the distance by which the workpiece guide is movable axially into the winding area may be variable, particularly so that adaptations may be made to various workpiece diameters.  
         [0023]     On the one hand, the workpiece guide may also be equipped with an axial guide, particularly on the side facing away from the side on which the workpiece guide is itself mounted, to ensure secure axial guidance. On the other hand it is known from the related art to bring the two flanges of a winding hub together axially, particularly when threading or winding the first winding, so that only the axial space the workpiece actually needs for the next winding to be arranged axially adjacent the previous one is provided. Similarly, the two winding flanges may be moved towards one another other in the present context as well, so that the workpiece is sufficiently precisely arranged, and in particular guided sufficiently precisely in the axial direction to the workpiece securing mechanism, while the workpiece guide spans the existing radial gap remaining between the two flanges sufficiently to ensure that the workpiece is fed reliably into the workpiece guide. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0024]     Further advantages, objectives and properties of the present invention will be explained in greater detail with reference to the drawing accompanying the following description, in which a winder according to the invention is represented. In the drawing:  
         [0025]      FIG. 1  is a winder according to the invention in a perspective overall view of a processing installation;  
         [0026]      FIG. 2  is an enlarged section of the view of  FIG. 1  with a tying mechanism in a tying position for the first winding assembly;  
         [0027]      FIG. 3  is the arrangement of  FIG. 2  with the tying mechanism moved back in a tying position for the second winding assembly;  
         [0028]      FIG. 4  is a plan view of the arrangement of  FIG. 3  with the centers and directions of rotation for swinging the first winding assembly into its winding position and the second winding assembly into its auxiliary activity position;  
         [0029]      FIG. 5  is the arrangement of FIGS.  2  to  4  in a similar representation to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , wherein the first winding assembly is in its winding position and the second winding assembly in its auxiliary activity position, in which the tying mechanism is disposed in the work opening;  
         [0030]      FIG. 6  is a top view of the arrangement of  FIG. 5  with the centers and directions of rotations for swinging the second winding assembly into its winding position and the first winding assembly into its auxiliary activity position;  
         [0031]      FIG. 7  is a plan view of an alternative embodiment with three winding assemblies, which are movable about a single center of rotation between three working positions;  
         [0032]      FIG. 8  is a further alternative embodiment in similar representation to  FIG. 6 , wherein the winding assemblies are moved in the same direction, not in opposite directions as in  FIG. 6 ;  
         [0033]      FIG. 9  is a top view of a further alternative embodiment with two winding assemblies that are offset with respect to one another and are movable about a shared center of rotation in a first winding position;  
         [0034]      FIG. 10  is a top view to two winding assemblies offset with respect to one another in a second winding position;  
         [0035]      FIG. 11  is an exploded view of a winding hub with a winding cylinder and a winding flange; and  
         [0036]      FIG. 12  is a plan view of the components shown in  FIG. 11 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0037]     The processing installation  1  shown in  FIG. 1  includes on the infeed side a material stock basket  2 , where pipe material  3  is held in stock and may be replaced so that other pipe material, or other long workpieces, such as rods, wire or similar, may be supplied. From the infeed side, pipe material  3  passes through various processing station  4  and at the outfeed side of processing installation  1  reaches a bender  5 , which serves to bend pipe material  3  before it is wound onto a bobbin  6 .  
         [0038]     Bobbin  6  is a part of a winder  7 , to which a first winding assembly  8  and a second winding assembly  9  are attached. Both first winding assembly  8  and second winding assembly  9  are located on a baseplate  10  of winder  7 . In the arrangement shown until  FIG. 4 , first winding assembly  8  is in a winding position  11 , while second winding assembly  9  is in an auxiliary activity position  12 . The main feature of winding position  11  is that in this position pipe it is possible to wind material  3  onto bobbin  6  of first winding assembly  8 . In the present document, bobbins  6  are designated collectively with a single  FIG. 6 , because the accessories for winding assemblies  8  and  9  are essentially of the same construction in this embodiment.  
         [0039]     In order to move both winding assemblies  8  and  9  back and forth between winding position  11  and auxiliary activity position  12 , first winding assembly  8  is secured to a first carriage  13 , and second winding assembly  9  is secured on a second carriage  14 . Both carriages  13  and  14  are arranged independently of one another and movably on base plate  10 . Carriages  13  and  14  may also be coupled and driven together if such a need arises.  
         [0040]     In this embodiment, the sides of both first carriage  13  and second carriage  14  facing base plate  10  are furnished with a plurality of air nozzles (not shown explicitly here), through which compressed air may be forced as needed to form an air cushion between carriages  13  and  14  of winding assemblies  8  and  9  and the base plate  10 , and both winding assemblies  8  and  8  are easily movable over base plate  10 , possibly in guidance tracks, such as a linear displacement track or a straight displacement track, for instance.  
         [0041]     To ensure that pipe material  3  remains wound on a bobbin  6  once it has been wound and does not become at least partly unwound by accident, when it has been wound, pipe material  2  is secured with a tying mechanism  15 .  
         [0042]     As shown in  FIG. 2 , for this purpose tying mechanism  15  is inserted into a tying chuck  16  (for purposes of clarity designated by a number on first winding assembly  8 ). As is shown clearly on second winding assembly  9 , this ensures that tying mechanism  15  is arranged particularly reliably and above all tightly on second winding assembly  9 . When pipe material  3  on bobbin  6  at second winding assembly  9  has been tied (see  FIG. 3 ), tying mechanism  15  is moved to a second tying position  18 , where it is ready to tie bobbin  6 , or pipe material  3  on bobbin  6  of first winding assembly  8 . For this purpose, first winding assembly  8  swings in rotation direction  19  about a center of rotation  20  from winding position  11  to a second, auxiliary activity position  21  (see  FIGS. 5 and 6 ). In second, auxiliary activity position  21 , tying mechanism  15  ties wound pipe material  3  on bobbin  6  of first winding assembly  8 . Meanwhile, second winding assembly  9  is moved to winding position  11  (see  FIGS. 5 and 6 ). For this, winding assembly  9  swings in rotation direction  22  about center of rotation  23 .  
         [0043]     Center of rotation  20  for first winding assembly  8  is located below first winding assembly  8 . The same is true of center of rotation  23  for second winding assembly  9 . This center of rotation  23  is also located below second winding assembly  9 . Rotation direction  19  and rotation direction  22  are both anticlockwise, whereas both return rotation directions  24  and  25  are clockwise.  
         [0044]     Once tying mechanism  15  has been moved away from second winding assembly  9  and is already in second tying position  18 , tied bobbin  6  of second winding assembly  9  may easily be replaced with an empty bobbin, so that second winding assembly  9  is again ready for operation and may be moved back to its winding position  11 .  
         [0045]     Once pipe material  3  has been wound onto bobbin  6  at second winding assembly  9 , second winding assembly  9  is swung back from winding position  11  to auxiliary activity position  12  in reverse rotation direction  24  about center of rotation  23 . Then, second winding assembly  8  is swung back from auxiliary activity position  21  into winding position  11 , again in return rotation direction  24  about center of rotation  20 , and is ready for use.  
         [0046]     The winder  107  shown in  FIG. 7  has a first winding assembly  108 , a second winding assembly  109 , and also a third winding assembly  130 . All three winding assemblies  108 ,  109  and  130  are supported on a base plate  119  and are rotatable about a single center of rotation  131 .  
         [0047]     For this purpose, first winding assembly  108 , second winding assembly  109 , and third winding assembly  130  are all supported separately on a base plate  110  by an air cushion via a first carriage  113 , a second carriage  114 , and a third carriage  136  respectively. Instead of this arrangement, a sliding bearing or a magnetic bearing, or also a blown fluid other than air may be used.  
         [0048]     As shown in  FIG. 7 , first winding assembly  108  is in a winding position  111 , in which pipe material is being wound onto a bobbin  106  via a bender  105 . Second winding assembly  109  is in an auxiliary activity position  112  and third winding assembly  130  is in a second auxiliary activity position  121 . A tying mechanism (not shown here) may be moved up to the second winding assembly  109  or the third winding assembly  130  in both auxiliary activity positions,  112  and  121  to tie pipe material that has been wound onto bobbins  106 . Of course, any other activities, such as removing the wound bobbin, may also be carried out in auxiliary activity positions  112  and  121 . In particular, third winding assembly  130  may already be in a waiting position in the second auxiliary activity position  121  when the pipe material on bobbin  106  has already been tied in auxiliary activity position  112 .  
         [0049]     In particular, it is possible to move the three winding assemblies  108 ,  109  and  130  synchronously via a single drive unit. In this case, it is advantageous if the assemblies are rigidly attached to each other and it is possible to actuate their air cushions together. On the other hand, it may be advantageous to actuate the air cushions or similar of the three winding assemblies  108 ,  109  and  130  separately, particularly if they are being moved asynchronously. In such an operating mode, the two assemblies that are in the auxiliary activity positions, particularly the assembly that is to be moved to the winding position, may already be in motion when the assembly that is currently in the winding position has finished winding and is to be moved away. In this way, considerable time may be saved in changing winding assemblies. If the assemblies are able to be moved independently of each other, it is also possible to provide a smaller drive unit, since the masses to be accelerated and slowed are significantly smaller for one assembly than for all three assemblies at once. In such a case, the energy that must be expended to slow the assemblies may also be used as necessary to accelerate another assembly, thereby enabling the size of the drive unit to be reduced further.  
         [0050]     In an alternative embodiment, each of winding assemblies  108 ,  109  and  130  may also be arranged with respect to the base plate  110  so that it is movable on base plate  110  and axially along its respective displacement axis  133 ,  134  or  135  relative to center of rotation  131 . In this way, additional working space may be gained.  
         [0051]     The winder  207  shown in  FIG. 8  also has a base plate  210 , on which a first winding assembly  208  and a second winding assembly  209  are disposed. In this representation, first winding assembly  208  is in a second auxiliary activity position  221 . In this second auxiliary activity position  221 , a tying mechanism  215  has been moved against first winding assembly  208  in such manner that tying mechanism  215  is tying pipe material  203  that has been wound onto bobbin  206 . Second winding assembly  209  is in a winding position  211 , to that bobbin  206  of second winding assembly  209  communicates with bender  205  such that pipe material  203  is wound onto bobbin  206  for second winding assembly  209 .  
         [0052]     Once bobbin  206  for second winding assembly  209  is full, second winding assembly  209  is rotated about a center of rotation  241  in direction  240 . In this embodiment, center of rotation  241  is not located directly below second winding assembly  209 , but is offset therefrom. Of course, a common center of rotation may also be provided here.  
         [0053]     Once second winding assembly  209  has been swivelled about center of rotation  241  out of winding position  211  and into an auxiliary activity position  212 , first winding assembly  208  may then be swivelled from second auxiliary position  221  into winding position  211  by rotating it in direction  242  about center of rotation  243 . Both directions of motion  240  and  242  rotate clockwise about their respective centers of rotation  242  and  243 , and are rectified accordingly.  
         [0054]     In this embodiment too, the two carriages may be harnessed together and moved synchronously. However, it is also possible to perform the movements consecutively, for example by accelerating the carriage in the auxiliary activity position towards the winding position before the carriage in the winding position is accelerated into its adjacent position.  
         [0055]     Winding assemblies  308  and  309  of the winding assembly pair  350  shown in  FIGS. 9 and 10  have a common center of rotation  351 , which means that first winding assembly  308  and second winding assembly  309  may be rotated about this common center of rotation  351  if necessary, but they are arranged offset by a distance  352  along a common longitudinal axis  353  relative to one another.  
         [0056]     For example, when bobbin  306  for first winding assembly  308  is full, winding assembly pair  350  is rotated in the direction of arrow  354  until second winding assembly  309  is positioned opposite bender  305 , so that empty bobbin  306  of second winding assembly  309  may be wound with pipe material  303  and the wound bobbin from first winding assembly  308  may be tied and removed. As is shown in  FIG. 10 , this arrangement particularly enables the winding assembly to be positioned at an angle to the bender if this is helpful for winding. The air cushion means that this may also be performed in other embodiments if required.  
         [0057]     The bobbin shown in  FIGS. 11 and 12  has a bobbin core  406  and is arranged on a winding assembly  408 . Winding assembly  408  stands on a base plate  410  together with its carriage  413 . A bender  405 , which feeds bent pipe material  403  to bobbin  406 , is arranged above the bobbin  406 .  
         [0058]     The leading edge  460  of the bent pipe material  403  is fed into a pipe securing mechanism  461  on bobbin  406 . To facilitate this, bobbin  406  is equipped with a pipe guide  462 . Whereas pipe securing mechanism  461  is arranged inside winding hub  406 , pipe guide  462  is located on a winding flange  463  that separates winding cylinder  464  from winding assembly  408 . Winding cylinder  464  is also furnished with tying grooves  465 , which extend into winding flange  463  in the form of tying apertures  466 .  
         [0059]     Pipe guide  462  ensures that pipe material  403  reliably reaches pipe securing mechanism  461  and is secured there. After the workpiece is secured, pipe guide  462  is retracted inside winding flange  463 , but in an alternative embodiment it may also be removed in any other suitable manner. In this embodiment, pipe guide  462  has an axial guide (not shown), which forms a channel together with the axial outer side of pipe guide  462  and winding flange  463 , which channel also provides reliable axial guidance for the workpiece.  
         [0060]     Accordingly, while only a few embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it is obvious that many changes and modifications may be made thereunto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.  
       LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS  
       [0000]    
       
           1  Processing installation  
           2  Material stock basket  
           3  Pipe material  
           4  Processing stations  
           5  Bender  
           6  Bobbin  
           7  Winder  
           8  First winding assembly  
           9  Second winding assembly  
           10  Base plate  
           11  Winding position  
           12  Auxiliary activity position  
           13  First carriage  
           14  Second carriage  
           15  Tying machine  
           16  Tying chuck  
           17  First tying position  
           18  Second tying position  
           19  Direction of rotation of the first winding assembly  
           20  Center of rotation of the first winding assembly  
           21  Second auxiliary activity position  
           22  Direction of rotation of the second winding assembly  
           23  Center of rotation of the second winding assembly  
           24  Return direction of rotation of the second winding assembly  
           25  Return direction of rotation of the first winding assembly  
           105  Bender  
           106  Bobbin  
           107  Winder  
           108  First winding assembly  
           109  Second winding assembly  
           110  Base plate  
           111  Winding position  
           112  Auxiliary activity position  
           113  First carriage  
           114  Second carriage  
           121  Second auxiliary activity position  
           130  Third winding assembly  
           131  Central center of rotation  
           132  Central direction of rotation  
           133  Displacement axis of the first winding assembly  
           134  Displacement axis of the second winding assembly  
           135  Displacement axis of the third winding assembly  
           136  Third carriage  
           203  Pipe material  
           205  Bender  
           206  Bobbin  
           207  Winder  
           208  First winding assembly  
           209  Second winding assembly  
           210  Base plate  
           211  Winding position  
           212  Auxiliary activity position  
           213  First carriage  
           214  Second carriage  
           215  Tying machine  
           221  Second auxiliary activity position  
           240  Displacement axis of the second winding assembly  
           241  Center of rotation of the second winding assembly  
           242  Displacement axis of the first winding assembly  
           243  Center of rotation of the first winding assembly  
           303  Pipe material  
           305  Bender  
           306  Bobbin  
           308  First winding assembly  
           309  Second winding assembly  
           310  Base plate  
           350  Winding assembly pair  
           351  Secondary center of rotation  
           352  Offset  
           353  Common longitudinal axis  
           354  Direction of arrow  
           403  Pipe material  
           405  Bender  
           406  Bobbin  
           408  First winding assembly  
           410  Base plate  
           413  Carriage  
           460  Leading edge of pipe  
           461  Pipe securing mechanism  
           462  Ripe guide  
           463  Winding flange  
           464  Winding cylinder  
           465  Tying grooves  
           466  Tying aperture