Patent Description:
Tape-like strip materials involved in the manufacture of batteries mainly include a positive electrode plate, a negative electrode plate, and a separator. In practical use, the raw materials of the strip materials need to be cut into desired widths, and the cut-out strips are wound separately for ease of storage and transport. A coil of wide strips is usually cut into a plurality of coils of narrower strips. In the prior art, in a case that a cut-out strip is rewound by using a rewinding apparatus, after a length of strip has been rewound around one shaft, the strip needs to be manually switched onto a new shaft for further rewinding. The manual switching onto a new shaft is inefficient. <CIT> is disclosing a rewinding apparatus with two rewinding shafts and a switching mechanism configured to drive the strip such to switch from one shaft to another shaft according to the preamble of claim <NUM>.

Therefore, it is necessary to design a rewinding apparatus to solve the foregoing technical problem.

An embodiment of this application provides a rewinding apparatus and a rewinding method to improve switching efficiency.

According to a first aspect, this application provides a rewinding apparatus according to claim <NUM>. The rewinding apparatus is configured to rewind a strip. The rewinding apparatus includes a rewinding mechanism and a switching mechanism. The rewinding mechanism includes at least two shafts that are spaced out. The two shafts are configured to rewind the strip along different conveyance paths respectively. The switching mechanism includes a moving roller. The moving roller is configured to drive the strip to switch from one shaft to another shaft so that the strip switches from one conveyance path to another conveyance path.

The rewinding apparatus according to this application can switch the strip between shafts through the moving roller, and the switching efficiency is high. During the switching, the position of the shaft does not change, thereby saving a turret involved in the prior art, saving a movement space that needs to be reserved for a position swap of the shafts, and making the entire rewinding apparatus occupy just a small space. During the switching, just the position of the switching mechanism needs to be changed, thereby simplifying the control of the rewinding apparatus. With the moving roller driving the strip to move, the moving roller exerts a uniform force on the strip, thereby avoiding damage of the strip to some extent caused when the strip is pulled by the driving piece during the movement of the strip, and improving quality of the wound strip.

According to the invention, the switching mechanism further includes a cutting unit. The cutting unit is disposed between the shafts. The cutting unit is configured to cut off the strip so that the strip switched to another shaft is unwound from one shaft.

When the strip is rewound around one shaft, the strip is still in contact with another shaft as driven by the moving roller. The strip is slit by the cutting unit. In this way, a part of the strip is rewound onto one shaft, and the strip end connected to an external unwinding apparatus starts to be rewound onto another shaft, thereby completing the switching of the strip between the shafts.

According to the invention, the shaft includes a hollow shaft body and a conduit made in the shaft body. The conduit is disposed along an axial direction of the moving roller. At least a part of the cutting unit is disposed in the shaft body. A tool bit of the cutting unit is configured to protrude from the conduit to cut off the strip.

The tool bit may be accommodated in the shaft body, and protrude out of the conduit to cut the strip only when the strip needs to be cut off; or, the tool bit may keep protruding from the conduit, and move along the conduit to cut the strip only when the strip needs to be cut off.

According to some embodiments of this application, a number of the shafts is two. The two shafts are opposite to each other along a first direction and spaced out. The switching mechanism includes a first translational assembly. The first translational assembly extends along the first direction. The first translational assembly is drivably connected to the moving roller so that the moving roller drives the strip to switch from one shaft to another shaft.

The first translational assembly can drive the moving roller to move along the first direction. In this way, the moving roller can drive the strip to switch from one shaft to another shaft to implement rewinding, so as to implement automatic switching between the shafts.

According to some embodiments of this application, the switching mechanism further includes a second translational assembly. The second translational assembly extends along a second direction. The second direction is an extension direction of the shaft. The second translational assembly is drivably connected to the moving roller so as to drive the moving roller to get inserted between the strip and the shaft along the second direction.

The second translational assembly can drive the moving roller to move along the second direction. In this way, when the rewinding apparatus is in a normal rewinding state, the second translational assembly can drive the moving roller to move along the second direction so that the moving roller is disposed outside the rewinding mechanism to prevent the moving roller from hindering the rewinding mechanism from normally rewinding the strip. When the rewinding apparatus is in a switching state, the second translational assembly can drive the moving roller to get inserted between the strip and the shaft. Therefore, as further driven by the first translational assembly, the moving roller can switch the strip from one shaft to another shaft to implement rewinding.

According to some embodiments of this application, the second translational assembly is slidably connected to the first translational assembly.

With the moving roller directly connected to just one of the first translational assembly or the second translational assembly, the second translational assembly can drive the moving roller to move, and the first translational assembly can drive the moving roller to move.

According to some embodiments of this application, the first translational assembly includes a first driving piece and a first slide rail extending along the first direction. The second translational assembly includes a second driving piece and a second slide rail extending along the second direction. The first driving piece is configured to drive the second slide rail to move along the first slide rail, and the second driving piece is configured to drive the moving roller to move along the second slide rail.

The second slide rail can move along the first slide rail as driven by the first driving piece, and the moving roller can move along the second slide rail as driven by the second driving piece. In this way, the first driving piece and the second driving piece control the moving roller to move along the first direction and the second direction.

According to some embodiments of this application, the switching mechanism further includes a rocker arm. One end of the rocker arm is connected to the moving roller, another end of the rocker arm is connected to the second translational assembly. The rocker arm is configured to drive the moving roller to oscillate.

The second translational assembly can drive the rocker arm and the moving roller to move together along the second direction. The rocker arm can drive the moving roller to oscillate, so as to facilitate avoidance of other components in a process of driving the switching of the strip between the shafts.

According to some embodiments of this application, the rewinding mechanism further includes a plurality of idler rollers. The idler rollers are disposed along the conveyance path. Each shaft fits at least one idler roller to form a different conveyance path.

One or more idler rollers can define different conveyance routes to meet production needs. The idler rollers can also ensure that the strip is in a tensioned state to ensure stable conveyance of the strip.

According to a second aspect, this application further provides a rewinding method according to claim <NUM>, including:.

The rewinding method according to this application switches the strip between the shafts by using a switching mechanism, and the switching efficiency is high. During the switching, the shaft does not need to be moved, thereby saving the turret involved in the prior art, and saving a movement space that needs to be reserved for a position swap of the shafts, and reducing space occupation in the rewinding and switching processes. During the switching, just the movement of the switching mechanism needs to be controlled, thereby simplifying the control.

According to some embodiments of this application, the driving, by a switching mechanism, the strip to approach a second shaft from the first shaft includes: moving the switching mechanism along a first direction so as to approach the second shaft from the first shaft, where the first shaft and the second shaft are opposite to each other along the first direction and spaced out.

The operation of moving the switching mechanism along the first direction to further implement the switching is simple and easy to implement.

According to some embodiments of this application, before the driving, by a switching mechanism, the strip to approach a second shaft from the first shaft, the method includes: moving the switching mechanism along a second direction so that the switching mechanism is inserted between the strip and the shaft along the second direction, where the second direction is an extension direction of the first shaft.

By moving the switching mechanism along the second direction, the switching mechanism can, in a normal rewinding state, be disposed outside the rewinding mechanism by moving along the second direction. In this way, the switching mechanism is prevented from hindering the rewinding mechanism from normally rewinding the strip. When the rewinding apparatus is in a switching state, the switching mechanism can move along the second direction to get inserted between the strip and the shaft, and can further move along the first direction to drive the strip to switch from one shaft to another to implement rewinding.

According to some embodiments of this application, after the moving the switching mechanism along a second direction, the method includes: oscillating the switching mechanism so that a projection of the switching mechanism partly overlaps a projection of the second shaft along the first direction, and driving, by the switching mechanism, the strip to abut on the second shaft.

The oscillation of the switching mechanism makes it convenient for the switching mechanism to avoid other components in a process of driving the strip to switch between the shafts.

According to some embodiments of this application, after moving the switching mechanism along a first direction so as to approach the second shaft from the first shaft, the method includes:.

To describe the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application more clearly, the following outlines the drawings used in the embodiments of this application.

Reference numerals:
<NUM>. Rewinding apparatus; <NUM>. strip; <NUM>. reel; <NUM>. rewinding mechanism; <NUM>. shaft; <NUM>. shaft body; <NUM>. conduit; <NUM>. switching mechanism; <NUM>. moving roller; <NUM>. first translational assembly; <NUM>. first driving piece; <NUM>. first slide rail; <NUM>. first guide rod; <NUM>. second translational assembly; <NUM>. second driving piece; <NUM>. second slide rail; <NUM>. mounting bracket; <NUM>. slide block; <NUM>. slide rail body; <NUM>. rocker arm; <NUM>. moving bracket; <NUM>. third driving piece; <NUM>. supporting arm; <NUM>. idler roller; <NUM>. cutting unit; <NUM>. motor; <NUM>.

The following gives a more detailed description of implementations of this application with reference to drawings and embodiments. The detailed description of the following embodiments and drawings are intended to describe the principles of this application illustratively, but not to limit the scope of this application which is limited by the scope of the appended claims.

In the description of this application, unless otherwise specified, "a plurality of" means at least two in number; the terms such as "up", "down", "left", "right", "in", and "out" indicating a direction or a position relationship are merely intended for ease or brevity of description of this application, but do not indicate or imply that the mentioned apparatus or component is necessarily located in the specified direction or constructed or operated in the specified direction. Therefore, such terms are not to be understood as a limitation on this application. In addition, the terms "first", "second", "third", and so on are merely used for descriptive purposes, but not construed as indicating or implying relative importance. "Perpendicular" does not means exact perpendicularity, but means perpendicularity falling within an error tolerance range. "Parallel" does not mean exact parallelism, but means parallelism falling within an error tolerance range.

Reference to "embodiment" in this application means that a specific feature, structure or characteristic described with reference to the embodiment may be included in at least some embodiments of this application. Reference to this term in different places in the specification does not necessarily represent the same embodiment, nor does it represent an independent or alternative embodiment in a mutually exclusive relationship with other embodiments. A person skilled in the art explicitly and implicitly understands that the embodiments described in this application may be combined with other embodiments.

The directional terms appearing in the following description indicate the directions shown in the drawings, but are not intended to limit specific structures in this application. In the description of this application, unless otherwise expressly specified, the terms "mount", "concatenate", and "connect" are understood in a broad sense. For example, a "connection" may be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integrated connection, and may be a direct connection or an indirect connection implemented through an intermediary. A person of ordinary skill in the art can understand the specific meanings of the terms in this application according to specific situations.

The applicant hereof finds that tape-like strip materials involved in the manufacture of batteries mainly include a positive electrode plate, a negative electrode plate, and a separator. During the manufacture, the raw materials of the strip materials need to be cut into desired widths, and the cut-out strips are wound separately for ease of storage and transport. A coil of wide strips is usually cut into a plurality of coils of narrower strips. A plurality of shafts may be disposed to rewind the plurality of cut-out strips. After a length of strip has been rewound around one shaft, the strip needs to be manually switched onto a new shaft for further rewinding. The manual switching onto a new shaft is inefficient. The applicant hereof finds that two shafts may be placed on a turret. A rocker arm assembly with a cutter is disposed on one side of the turret. When a shaft needs to be replaced for rewinding, the turret rotates to drive the new shaft to rotate toward the rocker arm assembly. The rocker arm assembly is lifted to make the strip fit the new shaft and cut the strip. However, because the two shafts need to rotate through the turret to swap positions during the switching between the shafts, the entire rewinding apparatus occupies a large space. Especially when a coil of unwound strip is cut and rewound onto a plurality of shafts, a plurality of turrets need to be disposed concurrently to rewind the cut-out strips separately. The plurality of turrets cause the entire rewinding apparatus to occupy a larger space.

Based on the foregoing problem found by the applicant hereof, the applicant has improved the structure of the existing rewinding apparatus. The technical solution described in an embodiment of this application is applicable to any scenario in which the strip needs to be rewound. The rewinding apparatus may be stand-alone, or may be disposed in a battery manufacture system and used in conjunction with other apparatuses in the battery manufacture system.

According to some embodiments of this application, referring to <FIG>, this application provides a rewinding apparatus <NUM>. The rewinding apparatus <NUM> is configured to rewind a strip <NUM>. The rewinding apparatus <NUM> includes a rewinding mechanism <NUM> and a switching mechanism <NUM>. The rewinding mechanism <NUM> includes at least two shafts <NUM> that are spaced out. The two shafts <NUM> are configured to rewind the strip <NUM> along different conveyance paths separately. The switching mechanism <NUM> includes a moving roller <NUM>. The moving roller <NUM> is configured to drive the strip <NUM> to switch from one shaft <NUM> to another shaft <NUM> so that the strip <NUM> switches from one conveyance path to another conveyance path.

A person skilled in the art understands that, an unwinding apparatus, a strip processing apparatus, and the like may be disposed upstream of the rewinding apparatus <NUM>. The wound strip <NUM> to be processed is released from the unwinding apparatus and processed by the strip processing apparatus as required, and then conveyed to the rewinding apparatus <NUM> and rewound onto the shaft <NUM> by the rewinding apparatus <NUM>. Specifically, the strip processing apparatus may be an electroplating apparatus, a cutting apparatus, a coating apparatus, or the like. The moving paths of the strips <NUM> rewound onto different shafts <NUM> in the unwinding apparatus and the strip processing apparatus may be the same or different.

It is hereby noted that, the strip <NUM> is usually not directly wound onto the outer wall of the shaft <NUM>. The shaft <NUM> is sheathed in a reel <NUM>. The strip <NUM> is wound on the outer wall of the reel <NUM>. The reel <NUM> rotates together with the shaft <NUM> to implement the rewinding of the strip <NUM>. The reel <NUM> together with the strip <NUM> is removed from the shaft <NUM> upon completion of the rewinding. In this application, the shaft <NUM> rewinding the strip <NUM> may be understood as the shaft <NUM> rotating to drive the strip <NUM> to rewind onto the reel <NUM>. In the embodiments shown in <FIG>, the number of shafts <NUM> is two. Therefore, when one shaft <NUM> rewinds the strip <NUM>, the reel <NUM> on the other shaft <NUM> may be removed together with the strip <NUM>, and a new reel <NUM> is put on the shaft <NUM>, thereby implementing continuous rewinding of the strip and improving the rewinding efficiency of the strip <NUM>. Definitely, in another embodiment, the rewinding mechanism <NUM> may include more shafts <NUM>. The switching mechanism <NUM> moves between two of a plurality of shafts <NUM> whenever switching the strip between the shafts, so as to drive the strip <NUM> to switch onto a new shaft <NUM> to implement rewinding.

The conveyance path may be represented by a moving path of the strip <NUM>. In this application, each different shaft <NUM> corresponds to a different conveyance path. That is, the moving path of the strip <NUM> rewound on a different shaft <NUM> is different. For example, as shown in <FIG>, the left shaft <NUM> rewinds the strip <NUM>. When the right shaft <NUM> rewinds the strip <NUM>, the strip <NUM> moves along the path shown by the dashed line. Optionally, when the moving paths of the strips <NUM> rewound on different shafts <NUM> are compared, the moving paths upstream of the rewinding apparatus <NUM> are the same or at least partly the same. After the strip <NUM> moves to the rewinding apparatus <NUM>, the moving paths of the strips <NUM> rewound on different shafts vary depending on the position of the shaft <NUM>.

The moving roller <NUM> may move as driven by one or more driving pieces. A person skilled in the art may set the connection relationships between a motor, an air cylinder, a lead screw, a guide rail, a gear, and other structures according to actual situation, so that the moving roller <NUM> moves according to the preset moving direction, stroke, and speed. A person skilled in the art understands that the moving roller <NUM> may move in not only a straight line, but also in a curve as required, as long as the moving roller <NUM> is able to push the strip <NUM> to approach a new shaft <NUM> so that the strip can be rewound on the new shaft <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, for ease of description, the shaft <NUM> that is rewinding the strip <NUM> in a switching process is referred to as a first shaft 11a, and the shaft <NUM> that is not rewinding the strip <NUM> is referred to as a second shaft 11b. A person skilled in the art understands that the first shaft 11a and the second shaft 11b may be structurally the same, and are named differently just depending on the status of the strip <NUM> that is being rewound. When the first shaft 11a rewinds the strip <NUM>, one end of the strip <NUM> is limited by the first shaft 11a, and the other end of the strip <NUM> is limited by an upstream apparatus of the rewinding apparatus <NUM>. The moving path of the strip <NUM> coincides with the conveyance path corresponding to the first shaft 11a. For example, as shown in (a), (b), and (c) of <FIG>, when a preset length of the strip <NUM> has been rewound on the first shaft 11a, the moving roller <NUM> moves and contacts the strip <NUM>. The moving roller <NUM> further moves toward the second shaft 11b. In this way, as pushed by the moving roller <NUM>, the strip <NUM> in contact with the moving roller <NUM> gradually approaches the second shaft 11b until the strip <NUM> contacts the reel <NUM> on the second shaft 11b. The moving path of the strip <NUM> deviates from the conveyance path S1 corresponding to the first shaft 11a and reaches the conveyance path S2 corresponding to the second shaft 11b, and then deviates from the conveyance path S2 corresponding to the second shaft 11b and returns to the conveyance path S1 corresponding to the first shaft 11a. When a preset length of the strip <NUM> has been rewound on the original second shaft 11b, the original second shaft 11b may serve as a new first shaft 11a to repeat the above process. After the original first shaft 11a uses a new reel <NUM> to rewind the strip, the original first shaft 11a may serve as a second shaft 11b to repeat the above process.

The rewinding apparatus <NUM> according to this application can switch the strip between shafts through the moving roller <NUM>, and the switching efficiency is high. During the switching, the position of the shaft <NUM> does not change, thereby saving a turret involved in the prior art, saving a movement space that needs to be reserved for a position swap of the shafts <NUM>, and making the entire rewinding apparatus <NUM> occupy just a small space. During the switching, just the position of the switching mechanism <NUM> needs to be changed, thereby simplifying the control of the rewinding apparatus <NUM>. With the moving roller <NUM> driving the strip <NUM> to move, the moving roller <NUM> exerts a uniform force on the strip <NUM>, thereby avoiding damage of the strip to some extent caused when the strip <NUM> is pulled during the movement of the strip, and improving quality of the wound strip <NUM>.

When the strip <NUM> rewound onto one shaft <NUM> contacts another shaft <NUM>, the strip <NUM> may be cut manually or through an automated mechanical mechanism, so that the strip <NUM> output from an upstream apparatus is rewound onto the second shaft 11b along the conveyance path S2 corresponding to the second shaft 11b. According to some embodiments of this application, the switching mechanism <NUM> further includes a cutting unit <NUM>. The cutting unit <NUM> is configured to cut off the strip <NUM> so that the strip <NUM> that is rewound on one shaft <NUM> and in contact with another shaft <NUM> is unwound from the one shaft.

When the strip <NUM> is rewound around one shaft <NUM>, the strip <NUM> is still in contact with another shaft <NUM> as driven by the moving roller <NUM>. The strip <NUM> is slit by the cutting unit <NUM>. In this way, a part of the strip <NUM> is rewound onto one shaft <NUM>, and the strip <NUM> end connected to an external unwinding apparatus starts to be rewound onto another shaft <NUM>, thereby completing the switching of the strip between the shafts.

Referring to <FIG>, in some embodiments, the cutting unit <NUM> may be disposed independently from the rewinding mechanism <NUM> and the switching mechanism <NUM>. When the strip <NUM> needs to be cut, the tool bit <NUM> of the cutting unit <NUM> moves along a width direction of the strip <NUM> to cut through the strip <NUM> to slit the strip <NUM>. Alternatively, the tool bit <NUM> of the cutting unit <NUM> may be rotary, and the tool bit <NUM> of the cutting unit <NUM> moves along the thickness direction of the strip <NUM> to cut through the strip <NUM> to split the strip <NUM>.

According to some embodiments of this application, referring to <FIG>, the shaft <NUM> includes a hollow shaft body <NUM> and a conduit <NUM> made in the shaft body <NUM>. At least a part of the cutting unit <NUM> is disposed in the shaft body <NUM>. A tool bit <NUM> of the cutting unit <NUM> is configured to protrude from the conduit <NUM> to cut off the strip <NUM>.

The tool bit <NUM> may be accommodated in the shaft body <NUM>, and protrudes out of the conduit <NUM> to cut the strip <NUM> only when the strip <NUM> needs to be cut off. The cutting unit <NUM> may further include a motor <NUM> that drives the tool bit <NUM> to stretch or retract in the conduit <NUM>. In order to prevent the motor <NUM> from hindering the moving roller <NUM> from driving the strip <NUM> to move, the motor <NUM> may be disposed at an end of the moving roller <NUM>. The motor <NUM> and the moving roller <NUM> are disposed along the extension direction of the moving roller <NUM>. Definitely, the tool bit <NUM> may keep protruding from the conduit <NUM>. The tool bit <NUM> is correspondingly disposed on both sides of the strip <NUM> along the width direction of the strip to avoid the strip <NUM>. The tool bit <NUM> moves along the conduit <NUM> only when needing to cut off the strip <NUM>. That is, the too bit moves along the width direction of the strip <NUM> to cut the strip <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, according to some embodiments of this application, the number of the moving rollers <NUM> is two. The two moving rollers <NUM> are opposite to each other along a first direction X and spaced out. The switching mechanism <NUM> includes a first translational assembly <NUM>. The first translational assembly <NUM> extends along the first direction X. The first translational assembly <NUM> is drivably connected to the moving roller <NUM> so that the moving roller <NUM> drives the strip <NUM> to switch from one shaft <NUM> to another shaft <NUM>.

In some embodiments, the outer surface of the reel <NUM> may be pre-coated with an adhesive material. The first translational assembly <NUM> pushes the moving roller <NUM> to move along the first direction X. The moving roller <NUM> drives the strip <NUM> to move toward the second shaft 11b. In this way, the strip <NUM> contacts the second shaft 11b. That is, the strip <NUM> fits the reel <NUM> that is put on the second shaft 11b. The second shaft 11b rotates. The strip <NUM> that is cut off may be rewound onto the second shaft 11b.

The first translational assembly <NUM> may drive the moving roller <NUM> to move along the first direction X. In this way, the moving roller <NUM> can drive the strip <NUM> to switch from one shaft <NUM> to another shaft <NUM> to implement rewinding, so as to implement automatic rewinding.

Still referring to <FIG>, according to some embodiments of this application, the switching mechanism <NUM> further includes a second translational assembly <NUM>. The second translational assembly <NUM> extends along a second direction Y. The second direction Y is an extension direction of the shaft <NUM>. The second translational assembly <NUM> is drivably connected to the moving roller <NUM> so as to drive the moving roller <NUM> to get inserted between the strip <NUM> and the shaft <NUM> along the second direction Y.

The second translational assembly <NUM> and the first translational assembly <NUM> may be disposed independently of each other. The second translational assembly <NUM> may be specifically a linear motor disposed at one end of the moving roller <NUM> to drive the moving roller <NUM> to move along the second direction Y as a whole. The second translational assembly <NUM> may also be a linear motor disposed in the moving roller <NUM> to push a partial region in the moving roller <NUM> to stretch and retract. The second translational assembly <NUM> can drive the moving roller <NUM> to move along the second direction Y. In this way, when the rewinding apparatus <NUM> is in a normal rewinding state, the second translational assembly <NUM> can drive the moving roller <NUM> and the rewinding mechanism <NUM> to move along the second direction Y so that the moving roller is disposed outside the rewinding mechanism <NUM> to prevent the moving roller <NUM> from hindering the rewinding mechanism <NUM> from normally rewinding the strip <NUM>. When the rewinding apparatus <NUM> is in a switching state, the second translational assembly <NUM> can drive the moving roller <NUM> to get inserted between the strip <NUM> and the shaft <NUM>. Therefore, as further driven by the first translational assembly <NUM>, the moving roller <NUM> can switch the strip <NUM> from one shaft <NUM> to another shaft <NUM> to implement rewinding.

According to some embodiments of this application, the second translational assembly <NUM> is slidably connected to the first translational assembly <NUM>.

The second translational assembly <NUM> may drive the moving roller <NUM> and the first translational assembly <NUM> to move together along the second direction Y, or, the first translational assembly <NUM> may drive the moving roller <NUM> and the second translational assembly <NUM> to move together along the first direction Y. With the moving roller <NUM> directly connected to just one of the first translational assembly <NUM> or the second translational assembly <NUM>, the second translational assembly <NUM> can drive the moving roller <NUM> to move, and the first translational assembly <NUM> can drive the moving roller <NUM> to move. For example, in the embodiment shown in <FIG>, the first translational assembly <NUM> drives the moving roller <NUM> and the second translational assembly <NUM> to move together along the first direction X. The first translational assembly <NUM> may be disposed opposite to the rewinding mechanism <NUM> along the second direction Y, thereby preventing, to some extent, the first translational assembly <NUM> from hindering the shaft <NUM> from rewinding in a case that the first translational assembly is disposed or moved to a position between the two shafts <NUM>.

Still referring to <FIG>, in an embodiment, the first translational assembly <NUM> includes a first driving piece <NUM> and a first slide rail <NUM> extending along the first direction X. The second translational assembly <NUM> includes a second driving piece <NUM> and a second slide rail <NUM> extending along the second direction Y. The first driving piece <NUM> is configured to drive the second slide rail <NUM> to move along the first slide rail <NUM>. The second driving piece <NUM> is configured to drive the moving roller <NUM> to move along the second slide rail <NUM>.

Optionally, in some embodiments, the first translational assembly <NUM> further includes a first guide rod <NUM>, and the number of the first slide rails <NUM> is two. The two first slide rails <NUM> are disposed on two opposite sides of the first slide rail <NUM> respectively. The first guide rod <NUM> and the two first slide rails <NUM> extend along the first direction X. In order to ensure precise movement of the moving roller <NUM> in the first direction X, the first driving piece <NUM> may be a motor. The second slide rail <NUM> includes a mounting bracket <NUM>, a plurality of slide blocks <NUM> disposed on the mounting bracket <NUM>, and a slide rail body <NUM>. The slide blocks <NUM> and the slide rail body <NUM> are disposed on two opposite sides of the mounting bracket <NUM> respectively. The first guide rod <NUM> and the two first slide rails <NUM> are slidably connected to at least one slide block <NUM> separately, so that the second slide rail <NUM> possesses a plurality of support points on the first translational assembly <NUM>, and the second slide rail <NUM> moves stably when the first driving piece <NUM> drives the second slide rail <NUM> to move along the first direction X. Because the second driving piece <NUM> needs only to control the moving roller <NUM> to extend into or retract from the space between the shaft <NUM> and the strip <NUM>. Therefore, the control precision of the second driving piece <NUM> may be lower than that of the first driving piece <NUM>. The second driving piece <NUM> may be an air cylinder to reduce the manufacture cost.

The second slide rail <NUM> can move along the first slide rail <NUM> as driven by the first driving piece <NUM>. The moving roller <NUM> can move along the second slide rail <NUM> as driven by the second driving piece <NUM>. In this way, the first driving piece <NUM> and the second driving piece <NUM> control the moving roller <NUM> to move along the first direction X and the second direction Y.

According to some embodiments of this application, the switching mechanism <NUM> further includes a rocker arm <NUM>. One end of the rocker arm <NUM> is connected to the moving roller <NUM>, and another end of the rocker arm is connected to the second translational assembly <NUM>. The rocker arm <NUM> is configured to drive the moving roller <NUM> to oscillate.

Optionally, the rocker arm <NUM> includes a moving bracket <NUM> slidably connected to the second slide rail <NUM>, a third driving piece <NUM> disposed on the moving bracket <NUM>, and a supporting arm <NUM> connected to the third driving piece <NUM>. One end of the supporting arm <NUM> is connected to the third driving piece <NUM>, and the other end of the supporting arm is connected to the moving roller <NUM>. The second driving piece <NUM> drives the moving bracket <NUM> to move along the second slide rail <NUM>. The moving roller <NUM> moves together with the moving bracket <NUM> along the second slide rail <NUM>. The third driving piece <NUM> drives the rocker arm <NUM> to rotate along an axis. The axis extends along the second direction Y. The moving roller <NUM> rotates together with the supporting arm <NUM> along the axis.

The second translational assembly <NUM> can drive the rocker arm <NUM> and the moving roller <NUM> to move together along the second direction Y. The rocker arm <NUM> can drive the moving roller <NUM> to move curvilinearly, so as to diversify the directions in which the moving roller <NUM> can move, and facilitate avoidance of other components in a process of driving the switching of the strip <NUM> between the shafts.

Referring to (a), (b), and (c) of <FIG>, in an embodiment, the moving roller <NUM> is located at a position A, and the moving roller <NUM> is located outside the rewinding mechanism <NUM>. The moving roller <NUM> and the rewinding mechanism <NUM> are disposed opposite to each other along the second direction Y. When a preset length of the strip <NUM> has been rewound around the first shaft 11a, the moving roller <NUM> is inserted between the first shaft 11a and the strip <NUM> along the second direction Y under the action of the second driving piece <NUM>. The moving roller <NUM> rotates along the axis of the third driving piece <NUM> until moving to a position B under the action of the third driving piece <NUM>. The position B is on a line connecting the first shaft 11a and the second shaft 11b along the first direction X. Under the action of the first driving piece <NUM>, the moving roller <NUM> approaches the second shaft 11b along the first direction X until the moving roller <NUM> presses the strip <NUM> against the second shaft 11b. The moving roller <NUM> moves to a position C to cut off the strip <NUM>, and the second shaft 11b rotates to rewind the strip <NUM>. Under the action of the second driving piece <NUM>, the moving roller <NUM> retracts along the second direction Y until the moving roller is disposed opposite to the rewinding mechanism <NUM> along the second direction Y. When a preset length of the strip <NUM> has been rewound around the second shaft 11b, the total diameter of the second shaft 11b and the strip <NUM> has increased compared to the second shaft 11b itself. When the second shaft 11b rewinds the strip, the moving roller <NUM> may further rotate along the axis of the third driving piece <NUM> under the action of the third driving piece <NUM>, and move away from the second shaft 11b until a position D, thereby making it convenient to insert the moving roller <NUM> between the second shaft 11b and the strip <NUM> along the second direction Y directly under the action of the second driving piece <NUM> during a switching operation performed subsequently on the second shaft 11b.

Referring to <FIG>, according to some embodiments of this application, the rewinding mechanism <NUM> further includes a plurality of idler rollers <NUM>. The idler rollers <NUM> are disposed along the conveyance path. Each shaft <NUM> fits at least one idler roller <NUM> to form a different conveyance path.

One or more idler rollers <NUM> can define different conveyance routes to meet production needs. The idler rollers <NUM> can also ensure that the strip <NUM> is in a tensioned state to ensure stable conveyance of the strip <NUM>.

The rewinding apparatus <NUM> according to this application may further include a plurality of rewinding mechanisms <NUM> and switching mechanisms <NUM> that are in one-to-one correspondence with the rewinding mechanisms <NUM>. The plurality of rewinding mechanisms <NUM> may rewind the same cut-out strip material separately.

According to some embodiments of this application, referring to <FIG>, this application provides a rewinding apparatus <NUM>. The rewinding apparatus <NUM> includes a rewinding mechanism <NUM> and a switching mechanism <NUM>. The rewinding mechanism <NUM> includes at least two shafts <NUM> that are spaced out. The two shafts <NUM> are configured to rewind the strip <NUM> along different conveyance paths respectively. The switching mechanism <NUM> includes a moving roller <NUM>. The moving roller <NUM> is configured to drive the strip <NUM> to switch from one shaft <NUM> to another shaft <NUM> so that the strip <NUM> switches from one conveyance path to another conveyance path. When the rewinding apparatus <NUM> according to this application switches the strip between shafts, the positions of the shafts <NUM> do not change, thereby saving a turret involved in the prior art, saving a movement space that needs to be reserved for a position swap of the shafts <NUM>, and making the entire rewinding apparatus <NUM> occupy just a small space. During the switching, just the position of the switching mechanism <NUM> needs to be changed, thereby simplifying the control of the rewinding apparatus <NUM>. With the moving roller <NUM> driving the strip <NUM> to move, the moving roller <NUM> exerts a uniform force on the strip <NUM>, thereby avoiding damage of the strip to some extent caused when the strip <NUM> is pulled during the movement of the strip, and improving quality of the wound strip <NUM>.

According to a second aspect, referring to <FIG>, this application further provides a rewinding method, including the following steps:.

The rewinding method according to this application is applicable to the foregoing rewinding apparatus. For the relevant structure of the rewinding apparatus, reference may be made to the rewinding apparatus provided in each embodiment described above. Any one shaft in the rewinding apparatus may be selected as a first shaft, and any one shaft to which the strip can be switched may be selected as a second shaft. In step S200, the first shaft can be controlled to rotate and rewind the strip. Each shaft of the rewinding apparatus is configured to rewind the strip along a different conveyance path. When a preset length of the strip has been rewound on the first shaft, the moving roller of the switching mechanism is controlled to drive the strip to approach a second shaft from the first shaft so that the strip switches from the first shaft to the second shaft, and the strip switches from one conveyance path to another conveyance path.

A plurality of shafts may be disposed in the rewinding mechanism concurrently. The shafts may rewind the strip in sequence. By detecting the length of the strip unwound by an unwinding apparatus, the speed of unwinding, and the like, the length of the strip rewound on the shaft can be calculated, so as to determine whether a preset length of the strip has been rewound. Further, by detecting a total thickness of the strip wound around the shaft, it can be determined whether a preset length of the strip has been rewound. Alternatively, an identifier may be set at preset distance intervals on the strip, and whether a preset length of the strip has been rewound is determined by detecting the identifier. When a preset length of the strip has been rewound on one shaft, it means that a switching operation is required, and the strip needs to be transferred to another shaft for rewinding, and step <NUM> is performed.

Referring to <FIG>, step <NUM> further includes the following step:
S210: Moving the switching mechanism along a first direction so as to approach the second shaft from the first shaft, where the first shaft and the second shaft are opposite to each other along the first direction and spaced out.

The moving roller may be driven by the first translational assembly to move along the first direction to further implement the switching. The operation method is simple and easy to implement.

Further, before step <NUM>, the method includes the following step:
Step S220: Moving the switching mechanism along a second direction so that the switching mechanism is inserted between the strip and the shaft along the second direction, where the second direction is an extension direction of the first shaft.

The second translational assembly can drive the moving roller to move along the second direction. In this way, in a normal rewinding state, the second translational assembly can drive the moving roller to move along the second direction so that the moving roller is disposed opposite to the rewinding mechanism along the second direction to prevent the moving roller from hindering the rewinding mechanism from normally rewinding the strip. When the rewinding apparatus is in a switching state, the second translational assembly can drive the moving roller to get inserted between the strip and the shaft. Further, as driven by the first translational assembly, the shaft drives the strip to switch from one shaft to another shaft to implement rewinding.

Further, after step <NUM>, the method includes the following step:
S230: Oscillating the switching mechanism so that a projection of the switching mechanism partly overlaps a projection of the second shaft along the first direction, and driving, by the switching mechanism, the strip to abut on the second shaft.

The rocker arm of the switching mechanism may be controlled to drive the moving roller to oscillate, thereby making it convenient for the switching mechanism to avoid other components in a process of driving the strip to switch between the shafts.

A person skilled in the art understands that when the switching operation is not required, the rocker arm, the first translational assembly, and the second translational assembly of the switching mechanism can still be controlled to drive the moving roller to move, so that the moving roller is prevented from hindering normal rewinding of the strip.

Referring to <FIG>, in some other embodiments, after step S210, the method includes the following steps:.

Claim 1:
A rewinding apparatus (<NUM>), configured to rewind a strip (<NUM>), characterized in that the rewinding apparatus (<NUM>) comprises:
a rewinding mechanism (<NUM>), comprising at least two shafts (<NUM>) that are spaced out, wherein the two shafts (<NUM>) are configured to rewind the strip (<NUM>) along different conveyance paths separately; and
a switching mechanism (<NUM>), comprising a moving roller (<NUM>), wherein the moving roller (<NUM>) is configured to drive the strip (<NUM>) to switch from one shaft (<NUM>) to another shaft (<NUM>) so that the strip (<NUM>) switches from one conveyance path to another conveyance path;
wherein the switching mechanism (<NUM>) further comprises a cutting unit (<NUM>), the cutting unit (<NUM>) is disposed between the shafts (<NUM>), and the cutting unit (<NUM>) is configured to cut off the strip (<NUM>) so that the strip (<NUM>) switched to another shaft (<NUM>) is unwound from one shaft (<NUM>);
characterized in that the shaft (<NUM>) comprises a hollow shaft body (<NUM>) and a conduit (<NUM>) made in the shaft body (<NUM>), the conduit (<NUM>) is disposed along an axial direction of the moving roller (<NUM>), at least a part of the cutting unit (<NUM>) is disposed in the shaft body (<NUM>), and a tool bit (<NUM>) of the cutting unit (<NUM>) is configured to protrude from the conduit (<NUM>) to cut off the strip (<NUM>).