Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
  • B65H23/00—Registering, tensioning, smoothing or guiding webs
  • B65H23/04—Registering, tensioning, smoothing or guiding webs longitudinally
  • B65H23/18—Registering, tensioning, smoothing or guiding webs longitudinally by controlling or regulating the web-advancing mechanism, e.g. mechanism acting on the running web
  • B65H23/188—Registering, tensioning, smoothing or guiding webs longitudinally by controlling or regulating the web-advancing mechanism, e.g. mechanism acting on the running web in connection with running-web
  • B65H23/1888—Registering, tensioning, smoothing or guiding webs longitudinally by controlling or regulating the web-advancing mechanism, e.g. mechanism acting on the running web in connection with running-web and controlling web tension
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
  • B65H23/00—Registering, tensioning, smoothing or guiding webs
  • B65H23/04—Registering, tensioning, smoothing or guiding webs longitudinally
  • B65H23/044—Sensing web tension
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
  • B65H29/00—Delivering or advancing articles from machines; Advancing articles to or into piles
  • B65H29/006—Winding articles into rolls
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
  • B65H2301/00—Handling processes for sheets or webs
  • B65H2301/40—Type of handling process
  • B65H2301/41—Winding, unwinding
  • B65H2301/414—Winding
  • B65H2301/4143—Performing winding process
  • B65H2301/41432—Performing winding process special features of winding process
  • B65H2301/414324—Performing winding process special features of winding process involving interleaf web/sheet, e.g. liner
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
  • B65H2301/00—Handling processes for sheets or webs
  • B65H2301/40—Type of handling process
  • B65H2301/41—Winding, unwinding
  • B65H2301/414—Winding
  • B65H2301/4148—Winding slitting
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
  • B65H2701/00—Handled material; Storage means
  • B65H2701/10—Handled articles or webs
  • B65H2701/18—Form of handled article or web
  • B65H2701/186—Several articles or webs processed together
  • B65H2701/1864—Superposed webs

Definitions

• the present application is directed to an improved method and apparatus for interleafing a liner material between continuous winds of various materials whose nature is such that it is undesirable to have one winding directly applied to or overiay another.
• teachings of the present application allow for high speed winding of various materials, especially those in film or strip form, around a spool, bobbin or like core element whiie simultaneously interleafing a continuous film or strip of a liner material between successive windings or layers of the first material
• the present apparatus and method is especially suited for use in winding of adhesive and/or f!owab!e materials, especially prepreg materials, most especially slit tape.
• windings typically take the form of large rolls, e.g., as with carpeting and newsprint; as pancake coils, e.g., as with bow ribbon and reel-to-reei recording tape; or a helical or transverse winding, e.g., as with binding ribbon, cord, and prepreg slit tape.
• the winding is most often about spool or bobbin whose length is many times the width of the material being wound and the feed of material, as the winding progresses, moves from one end of the spindle to the other, back and forth, gradually building the layers of wound material about the spool or bobbin.
• the aforementioned winding processes are typically performed by laying one layer atop another.
• materials are suitable for or amenable to winding of one layer atop another.
• Winding without a support also poses problems where the material being wound has poor physical integrity or strength and/or high flexural or elongation properties since too much tension in a winding process or, more so, in the unwinding process can cause a break in the material being wound or unwound, respectively.
• a liner material which is inserted or inierieafed between successive windings of the materia! being wound.
• the composition and physical properties of these liner materials are most often chosen to meet the needs of the specific winding process. For example, when one is winding a sticky, tacky and/or adherent material, it is most common to employ a liner that is or serves as a release liner whose composition is of a non-stick material and/or whose surface is treated with a release agent or coated with a release coating; the release properties of the liner, treatment or coating preventing the adherent from binding to the liner material itself.
• the liner may be a woven or non-woven fabric or fabric-like material or a high strength polymer film.
• Apparatus for interleafing the liner materials are also well known, widely available and commercially used. Generally speaking, they integrate an unwinding station having a freely rotating axel and a pluralit of feed and alignment guide elements into a standard winding apparatus.
• the axel is adapted to hold a pancake coil or spool of the liner materia! and the feed and alignment guide elements are configured to direct the liner material from the unwinding station to the winding station to be mated with the material being wound whil concurrently aligning the strip of the liner material with the material being wound so that the two layers overlay one another at a point prior to that at which they make contact with the spool or winding.
• the axel upon which the spool of liner is mounted is freely rotating, i.e., its rotation is caused by the pull or draw of the liner material as it is wound with the first material, and is not motor driven.
• the unwinding station it is also common for the unwinding station to integrate or have associated therewith, especially with the axel, a means, element or component which places or creates a slight resistance in or to the rotation of the axel and/or the spool of liner materia! mounted thereon.
• the resistance is very Sow such that a minimum tension from the winding process enables the unwinding of the liner materia! but sufficient to prevent the axel from continuing to freely rotate with the concomitant unwinding of the liner materia! should the winding process be stopped suddenly.
• a wider liner prevents the materials from flowing past the edges of the !iner to bind and/or morph with underlying !ayers and or adjacent windings.
• an improved method for the interleaf winding of materials wherein the improvement comprises maintaining a substantially constant, if not constant, tension on the liner material at the point at which the iiner materia! is mated with the material being wound (the "mating point") throughout the winding process.
• the improvement involves detecting differences in the tension of the liner material and/or the rate at which the interleaf material is being fed or drawn from the liner suppiy and the rate at which it is being taken up in the winding process and in response thereto, adjusting, at least on a temporary basis, the rate at whic the liner materia!
• Advancement or acceleration in the rate at which the finer material is fed or drawn from the iiner supply may be passive, e.g., the lessening or removal of any hindrance or rate controller associated with the iiner supply, or direct, e.g., motor driven advancement or acceleration in the feed of !iner from the liner supply.
• the source of the liner material is a spool of wound liner and the tension of the liner material is monitored by a sensor or trigger mechanism in the liner pathway which, upon detecting changes in the length and/or tension of the liner between the source and the winding spool, allows for or causes an advancement or temporary acceleration in the rotation of the spool of Iiner material wherein said advancement or temporary acceleration is motor driven.
• the liner pathway includes a tensioning device intermediate the liner supply and the winding spool whereby any slack in the liner caused by the advancement or temporary acceleration is concurrently taken up whereby the tension in the Iiner intermediate the tensioning device and the winding spool is maintained.
• an improved method for the interleaf winding of materials which improvement comprises employing a closed loop winding process and, optionally, double grooved roller elements to align and direct the material being wound with the liner while maintaining a substantially constant, if not constant, tension in the liner material at the mating point throughout the winding operation.
• the process allows for higher winding speeds with greater accuracy, as evidenced by lesser out-of- specification products, as compared to products produced on the same system whic does not employ the double grooved rollers: out-of-specification products being evidenced by, e.g., misalignment of the iiner and wound material or bumps, ridges, crimps, etc., in one of the liner or wound material.
• an improved method for the interleaf winding of materials which improvement manifests in higher winding speeds with greater accuracy and reduced liner needs wherein the improvement comprises maintaining a substantially constant, if not constant, tension of the liner material at the mating point throughout the winding operation, employing double grooved roller elements to align and direct the material being wound with the liner, and employing a liner material thai is of the same or substantially same width as the material being wound,
• the present invention is also directed to an improved apparatus for an interleaf winding process wherein the improvement comprises the presence of elements which are adapted and aligned to maintain a constant tension in the liner material at the mating point throughout the winding process.
• an apparatus adapted for interleaf winding comprising a source of a material to be wound, a source of finer material and a winding element there is provided a detection and adjustment system associated with the liner pathway and intermediate the liner source and the mating point which detection and adjustment system detects differences in the tension of the liner and/or the rate at which the liner material is being fed or drawn from the liner supply and the rate at which it is being taken up in the winding process and in response thereto adjusts, at least on a temporary basis, the rate at which the liner material is fed or drawn from the liner supply.
• the detection and adjustment system comprises, as the detector component, (i) switches or sensors or the like which detect changes in the length of liner from the supply to the mating point or (ii) sensors which detect changes in the tension of the liner material itself and the adjustment component comprises (i) a motor associated with the feed of the liner from the liner supply, which motor is capable of accelerating, at least on a temporary basis, the rate at which the liner is fed from the iiner supply or (ii) a controller which lessens or removes the impact of any device employed to hinder or add resistance to the rate at which the iiner is able to be fed or drawn from the iiner supply.
• the source of the liner material is a spool of wound liner and the tension of the liner material is monitored by a sensor or trigger mechanism in the iiner pathway, inclusive of the finer unwind station itself, which, upon detecting changes in the length and/or tension of the liner, allows for or causes an advancement or temporary acceleration in the rotation of the spooi of Iiner material wherein said advancement or temporary acceleration is motor driven.
• this apparatus further comprises a tensioning device intermediate the liner supply and the winding spool whereby any slack in the iiner caused by the advancement or iemporary acceleration is concurrently taken up whereby the tension in the Siner intermediate the tensioning device and the winding spool is maintained
• the present application is directed to a detection and adjustment system for use in an interieafing winding process comprising a detector adapted to detect differences in the rate at which the interleaf materia! is being fed or drawn from the liner supply and/or the rate at which it is being taken up in the winding process and a rate adjuster which, in response to the detector, adjusts, at least on a iemporary basis, the rate at which the liner materia! is fed or drawn from the liner supply.
• the detection and adjustment system comprises (i) a plurality of rollers defining a liner pathway, two of which are stationary relative to a third, the third being intermediate the other two along the liner pathway and capable of reciprocating motion from a first point removed from the other two rollers and thereby defining a liner pathway of a preset or user determined operational length between the two stationary rollers and a second point which is closer to either or both of the stationary rollers and which defines a liner pathway there between which is of a preset or user determined length that is shorter than that associated with the first point of the reciprocating motion, (is) a detector or sensor which, directly or indirectly, detects movement of the third roller indicative of at least a shortening of the f iner pathway between the two stationary rollers
• the response element may be a mechanical element, such as a lever, associated with the detector which causes, directly or indirectly, the operation of the motor associated with the supply of liner materia!, or an electronic device or system which sends, directly or indirectly, an electronic signal to the motor or, conversely, which triggers operation of the motor when a circuit associated with the detector or sensor and the movement of the third roller is broken or, conversely, linked or completed.
• a mechanical element such as a lever, associated with the detector which causes, directly or indirectly, the operation of the motor associated with the supply of liner materia!
• an electronic device or system which sends, directly or indirectly, an electronic signal to the motor or, conversely, which triggers operation of the motor when a circuit associated with the detector or sensor and the movement of the third roller is broken or, conversely, linked or completed.
• the third roller is capable of reciprocating movement and is preferably biased away from the stationary rollers so that any slack that may arise in the liner material resulting from the advancement or feed rate acceieration thereof is taken up by the movement of the third roller such thai a tension or tautness is maintained in the liner material between the third roller and the subsequent stationary roller.
• This reciprocating motion may also be configured to stop the advancement or acceleration in the feed rate of the liner material.
• the third roller may, in the case of the electronic circuit activation, break the circuit or activate the circuit, as appropriate, which stops the previously triggered operation of the motor.
• a bias means associated with the reciprocating or third rolier which, in the absence of other forces, biases the non-stationary third roller to a point removed from the two stationary second rollers.
• biasing means include, but are not limited to, a helical spring, a coil spring, a pneumatic cylinder, a counter-weight, and the like, in a preferred embodiment, the response element is an electronic signaling means which effects operation of a motor associated with an axel upon which a spool of liner materia! is mounted.
• the improved apparatus further comprises at !east one and preferably a piuraiit of roller elements intermediate the winding element and the reciprocating or third roller of the tensioning apparatus which rol!er or rollers are double grooved rollers.
• the improvement comprises the us of at least two double groove rollers intermediate the second stationary roller of the tensioning system and the winding roller.
• the double groove rollers are employed in a winding system having a dosed loop configuration.
• double grooved rollers has been found to markedly improve the alignment of the wound material on the liner material and the consistency thereof, even at high operatsonal speeds, markedly reducing, if not eliminating, misalignment of the material being wound on the liner as manifested by the wound material extending beyond the edge of the liner and/or twisting of liner material during the winding process, in following, the use of double grooved rollers allows for faster winding processing with fewer defects, manifesting in overall improvements in production rate and quality. Additionally, the use of double grooved rollers has been found to allow for the use of a liner materia! whose width is the same as or substantially the same as that of the materia! being wound, even in a helical or transverse winding, further improving the overa! process, especially from a cost perspective owing to reduced liner requirements.
• the apparatus and processes described herein are applicable to most any winding process where a liner or interliner material is being used. They are especially applicable to those processes wherein the materia! being wound is f Iowa ble and/or manifests adhesive, sticky or tacky properties, !n particular, the present apparatus and processes are especially suited for the winding of prepreg materials, most especially those materials that are of such widths that ihey must be wound in a helical or transverse winding.
• the present teachings are especially applicable and beneficial to the slitting and winding of prepreg materials, i.e., thermoset or thermoplastic impregnated fiber materials, especiaf!y those having longitudinally parallel fibers (along the axis of the tow).
• FIG, 1 is a schematic side view of a four head prepreg tape slitting and winding apparatus integrating the interieafing apparatus of the present teaching.
• Fig. 2A is a schematic side view of a dosed loop interieafing winding apparatus in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present teaching.
• Fsg. 2B is a schematic elevated side view of the closed ioop interleafing winding apparatus of Fig. 2A.
• FIG. 3A is a schematic side view of an alternate alignment of a dosed !oop interleafing winding apparatus in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present teaching.
• Fig. 3B is a schematic elevated side view of the dosed ioop interieafing winding apparatus of Fig, 3A.
• FIG. 4 is cross sectional view of a double grooved rol!er employed in the apparatus of Fig. 2A.
• FIG. 5 is cross sectional view of a single grooved roller employed in tr e apparatus of Fig. 3A.
• FIG. 6 is a schematic side view of a dosed ioop interleafing transverse winding apparatus in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present teaching.
• Fig. 7 is a schematic top view of the closed loop interleafing transverse winding apparatus of Fig. 6 at a first position.
• Fig. 8 is a schematic top view of the closed loop interleafing transverse winding apparatus of Fig, 6 at a second position.
• FIGs. 9A thru 9E are schematic depictions of the movement of the armature of an interleaf tensioning apparatus.
• Fig. 10 is a schematic top view of a helical spring-based interieaf tensioning armature.
• Figs. 1 1A and 1 1 B are schematic side views of the helical spring- based interieaf tensioning armature of Fig. 10 in an extended position and a retracted position, respectively.
• Fig. 12 is a schematic top view of a coil spring based interleaf tensioning armature.
• Fig, 12A is a schematic rear side view of the coil spring based interleaf tensioning armature of Fig, 12.
• Fig. 13 is a cross-sectional view of the coil spring tensioning element of the armature of Fig. 12.
• Fig. 14 is a schematic top view of a pneumatic/hydraulic operated tensioning armature.
• Fig. 15 is a partial schematic rear view of the pneumatic hydraulic operated tensioning armature of Fig. 14.
• Figs. 16A thru 16C are schematic front view depictions of three points of operation of the piston spring/pneumatic operated tensioning armature of Fig, 14.
• FIGs. 17A thru 17E is a schematic sequence drawing of a portion of a tensioning armature as if moves from one extreme to the other in a dual- switched tensioning armature apparatus.
• Fig. 18 shows a "U" shaped guide element
• a 'tiowabte material refers to a solid, semi-solid, gel-like or puttylike materia! which is subject to creep, fiow or movement at temperatures likely to be experience by the materia! during application/use, handling, storage and/or transport ⁇ excluding temperatures intentionally inflicted to induce cure or fiow) and/or under conditions of pressure encountered during application, handling, winding, storage and/or transport (again excluding pressure intentionally applied to induce cure or flow).
• a flowabSe material is one that will creep, fiow or move, most often without a visually apparent physical change, at temperatures below about 120°F, more typically below 100°F and/or will show creep, flow or movement under its own weight in commercial stock windings thereof.
• interleaf winding refers to that process by which a tow of a continuous length of a stock material, especially a thermoset or prepreg stock material, is mated with a continuous length of a liner or interiiner material and wound about a spool, hub, spindle or the like whereby the stock material is isolated or separated from the previously wound stock material in the winding by the liner material.
• a cut through the winding perpendicular to the rotational axis of the winding will reveal two spirals, one of the stock material and one of the liner material, each layer of one sandwiched between successive layers of the other.
• liner and interNner are used synonymously.
• the tension in the liner should not exceed a predetermined level, which may be established by and/or is largely a function of a biasing means associated with the iiner tensioning apparatus, as discussed below, as well as the physical properties of the iiner material.
• the present teachings are directed to an improved method and apparatus for the interleaf winding of materials wherein the improvement comprises integrating a liner tensioning apparatus into the pathway of the iiner material prior to the point at which the Iiner and material being wound are mated (the "mating point") which Iiner tensioning apparatus is adapted to maintain a tautness or positive tension in the liner material at and/or immediately preceding the mating point.
• the tensioning apparatus is adapted to detect a) changes in the tension of the Iiner material as it is being mated with the material being wound and/or b) differences in the rate at which the interieaf materia!
• the tensioning apparatus directly or indirectly, causes or iniiiates a process by whic an adjustment, preferably a temporary acceleration, in the rate at which the finer materia! is drawn from the liner material supply and/or fed to the mating point is effected,
• the apparatus and methods of the present teachings are applicable to any winding process in which a liner is necessary or desirable, it is especially applicable to those winding processes where the material to be wound is a f!owable material and/or manifests adhesive, sticky or tacky properties and is in the form of sheets, strips, ropes, and the like.
• the present apparatus and processes are especially suited for the winding of prepreg materials, i.e., thermoset resin or thermoplastic impregnated fiber materials, including woven and non- woven fibrous materials.
• the present teachings are applicable to the process of s!itting and winding of prepreg materials comprising a "continuous" master sheet, including master rolls (also known as parent rolls), of unidirectional fibers, typically carbon fibers, impregnated with curable resins, including, but not limited to epoxies, cyanate esters, bismaieimides, pheno!ics, po!yimides, and the like: the slit product conventionally known as "slit tape.”
• Fig. 1 depicts an exemplary slitting and winding system 1 having four spooling stations 10.
• the process is a continuous end-to-end process having two key operation centers, a conversion or converting center 2 and a winding center 3,
• the overall process starts with a master roil 5 of the prepreg materia! 21 and, in this depiction, ends with four spools 28 of silt tape 22 having a continuous length of a liner material 24 intermediate each winding of the slit tape, intermediate these two ends are a number of operations and apparatus for converting the prepreg materia!
• the converting center generally comprises two operations, a splicing operation and a slitting operation, preferably in this order. While, as noted videow, the splicing operation is optional it is especially important for the production of slit tape.
• the splicer is employed to allow one to splice the terminal end of one master roll to the beginning end of another as the first is expired: thereby enabling continuous operation as well as the production of spools of siit tape of predetermined length, regardless of the length of the master rolls.
• the splicer typically comprises heating and compression elements (not shown) to facilitate the splicing.
• the splicing station may, and preferably does, also incorporate cutting means, e.g., a knife, cool laser, micro-knife, etc. , in order to provide a clean cut to the tail end and/or leading end of each master roil, to excise a master roll for replacement with a new master roll of the same or a different material to be slit, or to insert a roll of a filler material, e.g., iiner materia!, a polymer film or a non- woven polymer fiber sheet, to complete the slitting and winding operation on the material being slit and wound white concurrently priming the apparatus fo subsequent use, in the latter instance, this is typically done when one is preparing the apparatus for shut down.
• cutting means e.g., a knife, cool laser, micro-knife, etc.
• the splicing station When not conducting a splicing operation, the splicing station is merely a pass-through station with the structure of the splicing station doing nothing more than, perhaps, helping with th proper alignment of the sheet materia! as it enters the slitting station 7. Specifically, those elements of the splicing station associated with the splicing operation or process itself are iypicaliy withdrawn or pulled back from the pathway of the prepreg sheet material and are only advanced to be in contact with the prepreg sheet material when a splice is to be made. Sp!icing techniques and their associated elements and apparatus are well known and commercially available from multiple sources and, therefore, further details and explanation thereof is not necessary,
• the second operation encountered by the prepreg material in the converting center is the slitting operation.
• This is accomplished by a slitter 7 which slits the prepreg materia! into a predetermined number of tows of slit tape 22.
• Slitting may be accomplished by any of the known methods appropriate for the material being slit, e.g., precision, high strength blades, cool lasers, micro-knives, diamond knives, and the like, in the case of prepreg materials, it is preferred that the cutting be accomplished through a knife or b!ade system. Such systems are well known and commercially available and, therefore, further details and explanation thereof is not necessary.
• alignment elements including rollers, guide posts, guide elements, positioning elements, tension controllers, aligners and the like, ail of which are in the public domain and employed in conventional winding systems.
• These alignment elements are responsible for directing each tow of slit tape from the slitting station to its proper winding station and, ultimately, its intended spooi or spindle element and, preferably, while maintaining a constant tension on the slit tape throughout this pathway. Not all systems wiii employ all of these elements.
• slit tape i.e., those wound in a pancake coil, generally 3" or more in width
• Fig. 1 which winds narrow slit tapes, i.e., those that are or must be transverse wound, generally 3" or less in width
• Wide tape is typically wound on spools or reels mounted on a single axel opposite the exit end of the slitter with minimal redirection of the tapes.
• the spoofing or winding stations are typically mounted on one or more vertical walls or support structures, the winding stations on each wall or support structure preferably, coplanar with each other.
• a copianar relationship is preferred, especially for enabling quick access to and removal of the filled spools.
• the alignment elements realign the slit tape tows from the generally horizontal co-planar relationship in which they exit the slitter to a stacked or vertical relationship as they reach the winding center.
• the alignment of the spooling stations shown in Fig, 1 is linear, it is to be appreciated that there is no limit as to the alignment of the spooling stations on the vertical wall or support so long as the positioning of one does not interfere with the operation of another.
• the spooling stations may be present as a plurality of rows, one over another, or they may be staggered, upper and lower, etc.
• the system comprises a number of alignment elements which serve to align the slit tape to provide an efficient, unobstructed pathway from the slitter to the spooling station without damaging the slit tape or causing it to twist along its longitudinal axis.
• the key center of the slitting and winding system 1 as relates to the present improvement is the winding center 3.
• the winding center has two key functions, winding the slit tape 22 on the spool 26 and interleafing a liner material 24 between each winding of the slit tape 22, This process is accomplished at a plurality of spooling stations 10 each of which is typically mounted on or supported by a vertical wall or support structure (not shown).
• Each spooling station generally comprises an axel on which is mounted a spool, spindle, or bobbin and about which the slit tape is wound, which axel is
• a liner apparatus 13 feeds a liner material 24 from a liner materia! supply 12 to and aligns the liner material with the slit tape 22 for mating, in accordance with the present teachings, the liner apparatus further comprises a liner tensioning apparatus 14.
• the specific liner tensioning apparatus shown in Fig. 1 is more clearfy depicted in Figs. 2A and 2B (discussed further below); however, it is to be appreciated that the liner tensioning apparatus may take man other forms and iterations as taught herein.
• the liner tensioning system comprises a detector means, a response means, and a tensioning means.
• the detector means is adapted to detect changes in the tension of the liner material at or before the mating point and/or to detect differences in the rate of upiake of the iiner by the winding spool as compared to the rate at which the same is fed from or drawn from the finer supply.
• the detector means will comprise or have associated therewith preset parameters, limits, or triggers which, upon being met, causes, directly or indirectly, the activation, initiation, signaling, or instructing of the response means, as described below, to accelerate, at least on a temporary basis, the rate at which the Iiner materia! is fed or drawn from the liner supply.
• the detector means and the response means are interconnected so that the acceleration in the feed or draw rate of the Iiner material is stopped once a second preset parameter or trigge is detected by the detector means or the parameter or trigger which initiates the response means to begin with no longer exists, i.e. is rectified by the accelerated feed of the liner material.
• the detector means generally comprises one or more switches, sensors and the like depending upon the specific interleaf winding system into which it is integrated and the specific design and elements of the tensioning apparatus as a whole.
• Suitable sensors include transducers and loaded cell tension detectors, single and triple roller tension transducers, strain gauge sensors, etc. which detect tension in the tow of liner material.
• the sensor may be integrated into the unwinding unit, e.g., the axel on which a spooi of the liner material is loaded, which sensor is configured to defect higher draw rate or pull of the liner material.
• Such a sensor could also be integrated into the spool winding motor or axel to detect an increase in resistance to the winding process; however, this configuration is less desirable as the cause for the increased resistance could also be an issue with the supply of materia! being wound.
• the tensioning apparatus has one or more stationary and one or more, preferably only one, non- stationary elements. These elements may be in the form of rollers, guides, pins, etc. (anything that will allow the liner to pass over or through if without snagging and, preferably, while maintaining its alignment).
• the stationar elements comprise or contain at least one element of the switch and define the limit, or, if there are two, the limits of movement of the non-stationary element. Specifically, one stationary element .
• the primary stationary element is positioned to correspond to the maximum liner tension/shortest length of liner between the liner supply and the mating point allowed, the "advanced" position.
• a second stationary element, the secondary stationary element, if present, is positioned to correspond to the minimum liner tension/maximum length of liner between the liner supply and the mating point allowed, the "retracted" position.
• the retracted position is generally that position which coincides with the system at rest, i.e., in a non- operating mode. Alternatively, the retracted position may, and most typically will, coincide with the system in that operational mode when the length of liner material between the liner supply and mating point is at its maximum in- operation length, which may also be the rest mode.
• the non-stationary element is associated with the tension in and/or length of the liner material and is biased towards the retracted position and may or may not comprise a part of the switch or sensor.
• the tension is low or the length of liner material between the liner supply and the mating point is at or near the maximum length
• the non-stationary element Is positioned at or near the secondary stationary element or the retracted position if no secondary stationary element is present.
• the Iiner tension is high or the length of liner material short
• the non-stationary element is positioned at or near the advanced position.
• th tendency and trend is for the non- stationary element to gradually move towards the advanced position owing to the difficulty in matching the rate of Iiner feed to the take-up rate from the winding process.
• the non-stationary element moves past or contacts the primary stationary element, it triggers the response means to induce or effect an acceleration in the rate at which the liner is fed from or drawn from the iiner supply;
• This acceleration may be for o of a predetermined duration or its duration may be determined by the first or, if present, the second stationary element.
• the response means may be pre-programed to accelerate the release of liner material for a set period of time or until a set length of material has been released.
• the trigger is an electric eye or an electrode or electric contact
• the acceleration in the rate of feed or draw of the liner material may only proceed as long as the interference with the electric eye or the electric contact exists.
• the non-stationary element Owing to the biasing of the non-stationary eiement to the retracted position, as additional liner materia! is released or fed, the non-stationary element will move back towards the retracted position, breaking contact with the electrode or electric contact or removing itself from the "vision" of the electric eye, thereby terminating the acceleration in the liner release rate.
• the acceleration of the release of iiner material may continue until the non-stationary element passes or contacts the secondary stationary eiement. This latter configuration effectively provides separate on and off switches whereas in each of the previous embodiments the primary stationary element comprises a singl on/off switch.
• the stationary elements may contain elements of an electro-mechanical switch, e.g., a toggle or sliding switch, which are moved from one position to another when the non-stationary element passes or contacts that switch.
• an electro-mechanical switch e.g., a toggle or sliding switch
• the switch is physicaily moved or manipulated from an off position to an on position, but is biased towards the off position, in this configuration, when contact is mad and the switch moved to the on position and liner released, the bias of the non-stationary eiement moves the non- stationary element back away from the switch and the bias of the switch element of the stationary element returns the same to the off position.
• the mechanical switch may comprise a slide switch one portion of which is positioned as the primary stationary element and another positioned as the secondary stationary element.
• the non-stationary element moves past the primary stationary eiement, it slides the switch to an on position, concurrently moving the switch element of the secondary stationary element.
• the non-stationary element moves back to the retracted position, contacting and moving the switch eiement of the secondary stationary eiement back to the off position.
• the switch may be a fully mechanical switch whereby the movement of the non-stationary element moves a lever or like device which in turn causes the acceleration in the liner release. This lever would be biased towards the non-active position so as to stop the acceleration in the liner release once the non-stationary element moves back, away from the lever.
• the second critical element of the interilner tensioning apparatus is the response means.
• the response means is a device capable of and/or adapted to bring about an acceleration in the release (i.e., feed or draw) of the liner materia! from the liner supply.
• the specific device depends, in part, upon the nature of the liner material supply. For example, when the liner supply is a loose bale of the liner materia!, most typically a !oose pack of the liner material in a bag, box or barrel, the liner is typically drawn from the supply by a plurality of pinch rollers, one of which is motorized or connected to a motor to cause its rotation. The pinch between the motorized roller and the second roller pulls the liner from the liner supply.
• the pinch roller apparatus typically has a !oop element or eye bolt like element or other similar device having a small pass-through, e.g., a slit, through which the liner passes as it is drawn into the pinch roller.
• a !oop element or eye bolt like element or other similar device having a small pass-through, e.g., a slit, through which the liner passes as it is drawn into the pinch roller.
• the liner materia! is wound about a spool or spindle, either as a pancake coil or a transverse winding, which spool or spindle is mounted on an axel which is connected, directly or indirectly, to a motor.
• the motor may be active or passive. In the former, the motor assists in the unwinding of the liner materia! and is accelerated, increasing the rate of rotation of the axel, when activated or initiated by the detector means. In the latter, the axel is generally in a freely rotating state whereby the liner material is drawn from the liner supply by the pull of the liner material as it Is being wound on the winding element.
• the axel may and preferably does have or is adapted to have a minor drag or resistance to its free rotation.
• the amount of drag or resistance is minimal so as to be readily overcome by the pull associated with the normal uptake of the liner material as the liner and silt tape is wound, in the passive system, when activated or initiated by the detector means, the motor, preferably a servo motor, engages the axel and accelerates its rotation.
• the duration of the acceleration may be predetermined or preset to run for a specified period of lime or until a specified amount of liner material has been expelled. Alternatively, the duration may be responsive to the stimulus or instructions of the detector means, all as discussed in greater detail above.
• the spool or spindle of the line material may be mounted on an axel whose rotation is restricted, requiring a certain pull tension in the liner to unwind the liner material.
• This is a passive liner dispenser in that the draw of the liner from the supply is purely line tension in the liner material arising from the winding process.
• the restriction in the axe! rotation is most typically imposed by the presence of a braking element or like element which acts directiy or indirectly upon the rotation of the axel.
• the drag or resistance is either imposed directly on the liner axel or directly upon spool or spindle of liner material, which indirectly limits the rotation of the axel upon which it is mounted.
• the restriction on the axe! rotation is removed or lessened, i.e., the extent of braking is lessened or removed altogether, whereby the tension in the tensioning means, as noted below, adds pull to the already tensioned liner material, accelerating its draw from the spool.
• the brake is reapplied once the stimulus for the removai or lessening thereof is removed.
• the tensioning means is any device that is adapted to or capable of taking up the "additional 3 liner material expelled in response to the acceleration in the feed rate or draw rate of the liner material while concurrently maintaining a tautness or positive tension in the liner material at or immediately before the mating point in the winding process.
• the tensioning means is positioned in the liner pathway intermediate the liner supply and the mating point, most preferably in close proximity to the winding means, and is biased, typically by way of a helical spring, coil spring, counter-weight, or a pneumatic or hydraulic device, to increase the tension in the iiner material.
• the tensioning means employs a dancer element or armature which reciprocates from a position corresponding to a long iength of liner materia! between the liner supply and the mating point to a position corresponding to a short or shorter length of liner material between the liner supply and the mating point. It is to be appreciated that the tensioning means, or a portion thereof, is associated with or comprises or forms a part of the detector means: particularly the non-stationary eiement of the detector means.
• the tensioning means comprises two stationary guide elements and one non-stationary guide element intermediate the other two with the non -stationary eiement most preferably mounted on a dancer arm or reciprocating armature.
• the non-stationary guide eiement is preferably associated with the non-stationary element of the detector means.
• the stationary guide elements are most typically distinct from th stationary elements of the detector means.
• the second of the stationary guide elements may serve as the mating point of the liner material and slit tape.
• the non-stationary guide element reciprocates from a position in close proximity to one or both stationary guide elements (corresponding to the shortest liner path from the first to the second stationary element - the advanced position as noted above) to a position removed from the stationary guide elements (corresponding to a lengthy or longer liner path from the first to the second stationary element - the retracted position).
• the non-stationary guide element or the armature on which it is mounted is biased to the latter position, ensuring a tautness or positive tension in the liner material between the non-stationar element of the tensioning means and the mating point.
• Suitable guide elements are any device that is capable of positioning and aligning the liner material along a set path.
• the guide elements are rollers over which the liner passes or an eye bolt like element or other shaped element, suc as those having a "J", "If, or ⁇ " shaped portion through which the liner passes, or any combination of the foregoing; most preferably rollers.
• the !iner tensioning system may be incorporated into any apparatus or system used to wind tapes or strips of materials wherein the successive windings are or must be isolated from the prior winding. This is especially applicable to the winding of such tapes and strips made of or comprising a flowabie material or an adhesive, tacky or sticky material, most especially prepreg materials. They may be integrated into the manufacturing process thereof or they may be integrated into converting systems and apparatus which convert master rolls of the sheet materia! into tapes or strips of the material, most especially slit tape.
• the incorporation and employment of the liner tensioning system and apparatus improves yields in terms of both quality and quantity, allowing for faster winding processes with iess or minimal defects or ou t-of-specff ication product.
• Fig. 1 depicts the general diagram of a slit tape system which integrates the interleaf winding apparatus of Figs. 2A and 28.
• Figs. 2A and 2B depict a portion of a closed loop interleaf winding or spooling station 10 integrating a liner tensioning apparatus 27: Fig. 2A depicting a side view and Fig. 2B an elevated side view.
• the liner tensioning apparatus comprises three rollers, two stationar rollers 29 and a non- stationary roller 31.
• the non-stationary roller is mounted on a reciprocating armature 28 which is connected to and rotates about a hub 30: the hub being mounted on a support structure along with the other elements described.
• the spooling station also comprises a plurality of roller and alignment elements including positioning rollers 18, alignment rollers 18 and placement roller 20 for introducing and feeding the slit tape 22 to the mating point at the first of the two alignment rollers 18, passing the mated slit tape and liner through the second alignment roller and to the placement roller and, finally, onto the spool 26.
• the spool in this particular figure is a pancake spool having side walls 34 for help in maintaining the pancake form and alignment of the subsequent windings, one directly overlaying the other.
• the spool 26 is mounted on a spool axe! 32 which is driven or rotated by a motor, not shown.
• the rotation of the axel, and hence the spool, during the winding process is counter-clockwise thereby enabling an inversion of the mated slit tape and liner as it is placed on the spool, i.e., the finer overlays the slit tape as the two approach the spool yet the liner lies under the slit tape as the two are wound on the spool,
• the positioning and alignment rollers are standard rollers 50 having a single groove 51 about the roller core 52, all as shown in Fig. 5.
• the placement roller 20 may be a grooved, but is preferably a flat roller, like a rolling pin. Most preferably, however, give the particular configuration or alignment of the liner tensioning system and the slit tape feed pathway in this embodiment, it is especially desirable to use double grooved rollers, particularly as the alignment rollers 18.
• double groove rollers 40 employ two overlaying recesses 41 , an upper circumferential groove or recess 44 overlaying a narrower circumferential groove or recess 45 about the roller core 42. The depth of each groove is dependent, in part, upon the thickness of the slit tape and liner materials.
• each groove is coordinated such that the narrower groove is the same as or slightly wider than the width of the slit tape and the wider groove is the same as or slightly wider than the width of the liner.
• the width of the upper groove 55 especiai!y by minimizing the difference in widths of the two grooves, one can use a liner material whose width is the same as or nearly the same as that of the slit tape.
• This combination of the double grooved rollers and the liner tensioning system facilitates the use of thinner width liner material, meaning less liner materia! overai! and !ower costs, as vve!i as higher speeds.
• fhis combination provides more accurate and consistent alignment of the slit tape on the liner materia!.
• Figs. 3A and 38 depict an alternate version of the dosed loop winding station 10 shown in Figs. 2A and 2B: Fig. 3A a side view and Fig. 3B an elevated side view.
• This version is identical to that of Figs. 2A and 2B, and hence the same elements and numbering, except that the positioning or alignment of the !iner tensioning apparatus 27 and the slit tape pathway and the rotation of the spoo! 26 are reversed.
• the iiner and slit tape are mated, the slit tape ties on top of the liner rather than the liner on top of the slit tape, consequently, spool 26 must rotate clockwise as opposed to the counterclockwise rotation in the embodiment of Figs. 2A and 2B to accommodate this configuration.
• Figs. 6 thru 8 depict a c!osed loop transverse winding or spooling station 60 which performs a transverse winding of the liner/slit tape combination upon a spindle type spool element 76.
• Transverse winding is a winding process that provides a helical winding by concurrently winding a material circumferentia!ly and longitudinally along the length of the spindle spool wherein one layer of the wound materia! overiays another in a crosswise pattern. Successive layers of the winding are applied as a carriage assembly upon which the winding placement elements are mounted reciprocates along the spool length until the desired length of material is wound.
• the Fig. 6 is a face-on side view of the transverse winding spooling station while Figs. 7 and 8 are top down views.
• the transverse spooling station comprises a plurality of assemblies and elements mounted on a superstructure or wall 61 including a liner supply assembly 92, a winding spool assembly 74, a moveable carriage assembly 67 upon which is mounted an liner tensioning assembly 84 and slit tape/liner placement assemblies 65, and a motorized worm shaft/axel assembly 100 and guide bar 104 upon which the carriage rides as the apparatus winds the slit tape/liner material in a transverse pattern on the spool.
• Fig. 7 depicts the carriage 67 at the starting point of the transverse winding while Fig. 8 depicts the carriage at a point about two-thirds of the way along the transverse winding path: the carriage movement symbolized by the arrows in Fig. 8.
• the iiner tensioning assembly 84 the remainder of the elements and alignment are well known and employed com erciaiiy. For that reason, the following description of the transverse winding station, again with the exception of the description of the iiner tensioning assembly, will be cursory in nature.
• the liner supply assembly 92 comprises a spool 98 of line material 97 mounted on an axei 94 whose rotation is enabled or supplemented by a motor 98 on the opposite side of the superstructure 81.
• the winding spool assembly 74 comprises a spindle type spool element 76 on which the slit tape/liner material is wound.
• the spool is mounted on a spool axel 75 whose rotation is controlled by motor 78.
• Transverse winding of the slit tape/liner combination is accomplished by means of a carriage assembly 67 and a motorized worm shaft/axel assembly 100 on which the carriage rides. Operation of the worm is controlled by motor 102 which is connected, directly or indirectly, e.g., by one or more gear elements, to the worm element (not shown) of the motorized worm shaft axel assembly.
• the worm element has a continuous crisscrossing helical groove in its circumferential surface which engages a non-rotating slide element associated with the carriage assembly whereby as the worm is rotated in response to the action of motor 102, the slide element moves along the groove, carrying with it the carriag assembly.
• the carriage assembly itself is comprised of structural elements and non-structural elements, the latter comprising the iiner tensioning assembly 84 and the slit tape alignment, positioning and placement guides, rollers, and the iike, all of which are mounted on the structural elements.
• the specific embodiment shown in Figs. 6 thru 8 employs a carriage body having a liner tensioning assembly support 82 upon which is mounted the individual elements of the iiner tensioning assembly 84 or the whole of the assembly may be mounted to the support as a singl unit.
• the carriage body also has a slit tape alignment and positioning arm 63 upon which are mounted a plurality of rollers for aligning, positioning and placing the slit tape 99 on the spool 78.
• the alignment and positioning arm 83 has a proximal end corresponding to the feed of silt tape 99 from the source thereof and the fore end corresponding to the point at which the mated silt tape and liner combination are positioned for transfer to or placement on the spooi.
• the liner tensioning support 82 and the positioning arm 63 are each adjoined to a carriage body 62 which is associated with, most preferably directly connected to, the aforementioned slide element which rides on the worm of the motorized worm shaft/axel assembly 100 and is responsible for the reciprocating movement of the carriage assembly as a whole.
• a carriage body 62 which is associated with, most preferably directly connected to, the aforementioned slide element which rides on the worm of the motorized worm shaft/axel assembly 100 and is responsible for the reciprocating movement of the carriage assembly as a whole.
• the carriage assembly as a whole is moveab!y mounted on the worm shaft/axei assembly 100. While the critical connection between the two is the slide element, it is to be appreciated thai there is preferably a secondary connection which prevents the one from disengaging the other, especially during operation, and so that the full force or weight of the carriage assembly is not borne by the slider and worm element. Though not shown, those skilled in the art will appreciate that there are preferably one or more bores through the carriage body 82, the axis of which is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the worm element, and through which extend a similar number of rail elements associated with the worm shaft/axel assembly. These rails bear all or at least the brunt of the weight of the carriage assembly yet allow the carriage assembly to smoothly travel and reciprocate along the length of the rails.
• a second support, guide bar 104 is also employed to maintain the proper orientation of the positioning arm 63.
• This support may be stationary or non-stationary and is positioned near the fore end of the positioning arm, in close proximity to the spooi so as to counteract the pulling force of the spool assembly as the slit tape is being wound, if the guide bar is stationary, it is positioned so that the positioning arm, most notably the piacement roiler 72 on the positioning arm, is removed from the spoof even when the fully wound.
• the guide bar may be adapted to move as the winding on the spool grows so as to maintain a constant distance between the piacement roller and the spool.
• the guide bar is associated with a motorized conveyor means or lift which raises the guide bar, and hence the fore end of the positioning arm, as more and more slit tape is wound and then returns to its starting position when exchanging out the full spool with a new or empty spool.
• the positioning arm 63 is a separate element and is adapted to pivot, preferably about axel 64.
• the positioning arm has mounted thereon a plurality of roller elements including slit tape positioning rollers 64 and 68, liner positioning roller 89, slit tape/liner alignment rollers 70, and placement roller 72.
• Slit tape positioning rollers 64 and 68 and liner positioning roller 69 align and position the slit tape and Siner, respectively, for proper mating at the mating point, i.e., at the first of the two alignment rollers 70.
• Alignment rollers 70 align, i.e., center, the slit tape on the liner materia! (though it is to be appreciated that the two are inverted with the liner on top of the slit tape in the roller).
• the alignment rollers are double grooved rollers as discussed above.
• the combined tow of slit tape and liner is then passed to piacement roiler 72 which positions the winding on the spool 78.
• the liner tensioning apparatus 84 is identical to that shown in Figs. 2A and 2B except that it is mounted on a carriage assembly, notably the liner tensioning support structure 82.
• the liner tensioning apparatus 84 comprises three rollers, two stationary rollers 86 and a non-stationary roller 90.
• the non-stationary roiler is mounted on a reciprocating armature 89 which is connected to and rotates about a hub 88: the hub being mounted on the support structure along with the other elements described.
• Fig. 9A shows a liner tensioning apparatus 114 having two stationary roilers 112, and a non-stationary roiier 117 mounted on reciprocating armature 118 which rotates or reciprocates about hub 1 8, as noted by the double arrow, and which is biased away from the stationary rollers.
• Fig, 9A shows the system at rest with the reciprocating armature fully extended and the non-stationary roller removed from the stationary rollers. This corresponds to the situation where the length of the iiner pathway through the Iiner tensioning apparatus is at a maximum.
• Fig. 9B shows the liner tensioning apparatus in operation with the non-stationary roiier having moved closer to the stationary rollers owing to the operating tension of the system arising from rotation of the spool element and winding of the slit tape and liner and a concurrent shortening of the liner path through the finer tensioning apparatus.
• Fig. 9C depicts that point at which the liner path through the tensioning apparatus reaches a minimum and triggers a response from the response means.
• the Iiner motor 98 (Fig. 6 ⁇ is temporarily activated or accelerated to affirmatively spew out or release a length of liner material. The release is reflected in Fig. 9D where a slackening in the iiner 111 is shown.
• the slack is short lived as it is quickly taken up by the bias and movement of the reciprocating armature 118.
• biasing means associated with the reciprocating armature is such that the slack in the liner tow prior to the non-stationary roller Is not detected or does not materialize or is minimal in the Iiner tow between the non-stationary roiier and the second stationary roiier, as shown in Fig. 9D.
• Fig. 9E shows the iiner tensioning apparatus back in a normal operating state with a positive tension along the whole length of the Iiner pathway, especialiy through the iiner tensioning apparatus.
• the tensioning armature is biased away from the stationary roilers in an effort to maximize or increase the liner pathway through the liner tensioning apparatus.
• Many different means and configuration of components can be used to create this bias as well as detect changes in the position of the tensioning armature, vis-a-vis the stationary rollers.
• Several devices and iterations are shown in Figs. 10, 11 A, 1 B, 12A, 12B f 13, 14 and 15.
• Fig. 10 shows a reciprocating, heiicai spring biased tensioning armature device 120 attached to a support structure 124; the latter of which comprises or is itself attached to the support structure or wali of the pancake winding system or the carriage of the transverse winding system.
• the tensioning armature device is comprised of a tensioning armature 128, a biasing arm 130 and an armature axel 128 connecting the two and to which the two are fixed, i.e., the tensioning armature, armature axei and biasing arm ail rotate or reciprocate together.
• the armature axei passes through a noninterference bore in the support structure 124, thereby holding the tensioning armature and tensioning arm in place whiie allowing for its reciprocation.
• the tensioning armature and the biasing arm are on opposite sides of the support structure 24 with one end of each fixedly attached to opposite ends of the armature axel.
• a roi!er 134 At the opposite end of the tensioning armature 128 is a roi!er 134, the non-stationary roller of the tensioning system, attached by roller axel or spindle 136.
• At or near the opposite end of the biasing arm 30 is an attachment for helical spring 132 whose opposite end 133 is attached to the support structure 124 (as better shown in Figs. 11 A and 1 1 B).
• Figs. 1 1 A and 11 B are face on views of the heiicai spring controlled tensioning armature device 120 of Fig. 10 from the back, i.e. , the biasing arm is in front of the support structure 124 and the tensioning armature is behind the support structure.
• Fig. 1 1A shows the apparatus with the heiicai spring fuily extended, which coincides with the liner path through the tensioning device being at is shortest, ft is at this point that a detector or sensor 38 mounted on the support structure is triggered by the movement of the tensioning armature causing o initiating an acceleration in the rate of expulsion of liner material from the liner supply.
• Fig. 118 shows the helical spring in a retracted state coinciding with a longer liner path through the tensioning device and the tensioning armature having moved back away from the detector or sensor 138.
• Figs. 12A and 128 show a coii spring biased tensioning armature device 140 attached to a support structure 148; the fatter of which comprises or is itself attached to the support structure or wail of the pancake winding system or the carriage of the transverse winding system.
• the tensioning armature device is comprised of a tensioning armature 142 having a roller 48 attached to one end thereof by a roller axel or spindle 150 and is fixed at its opposite end to a spring axel 144 whereby movement of the tensioning armature causes a rotation of the spring axe! 144.
• Fig. 12A and 128 show a coii spring biased tensioning armature device 140 attached to a support structure 148; the fatter of which comprises or is itself attached to the support structure or wail of the pancake winding system or the carriage of the transverse winding system.
• the tensioning armature device is comprised of a tensioning armature 142 having a roller 48 attached to one end thereof by a roller
• the support structure is adapted to contain a coil spring 152 whose core end 154 is affixed or attached to the spring axei 144 and whose terminal end 156 is affixed or attached to a coii spring base mount 155 within or comprising a part of the support structure 146.
• Figs. 14, 5 and 16A thru 16C present yet another type of liner tensioning assembly, a pneumatically or hydraulicaiiy biased tensioning assembly 160 attached to a support structure 162; the fatter of which comprises or is itself attached to the support structure or wall of the pancake winding system or the carriage of the transverse winding system.
• the assembiy comprises a tensioning armature 164 having a roller 168 affixed to one end by an axel or spindle 168 about which the roller rotates, in this embodiment, the opposite end of the tensioning armature has a bore through which an armature axe! or spindle 170 extends and about which the tensioning armature rotates or reciprocates.
• the tensioning armature also has extending therefrom piston plate 172 which is impacted upon by the piston 178 of the pneumatic or hydraulic piston mechanism 174 comprising pneumatic or hydraulic cylinder 176. Pneumatic or hydraulic cylinder 178 pushes the piston against the plate, thereby biasing the tension armature 164 away from the stationary rollers 180 (Fig. 16A).
• activation or acceieration of the liner supply motor is responsive to the sensor whereby the duration of the acceleration of the liner suppl motor is predetermined, i.e., once triggered it expels liner material for a given time or length of material or is a function of the duration of the stimulus triggering or setting off the sensor, i.e., acceleration stops once the tensioning armature loses contact with or moves out of sight of the sensor, the tension in the spring or the pressure in the cylinder is lessened, etc.
• the !iner tensioning system may employ a plurality of sensors or detectors, one of which triggers or initiates the rate acceleration of the liner supply motor and toe other of which terminates the rate acceleration.
• Figs. 17A thru 17E present a schematic representation of the operation of a system employing two sensors, the first, an on sensor 189, whic activates acceleration of the liner supply motor and the second, a stop sensor 187, which terminates the same.
• an on sensor 189 whic activates acceleration of the liner supply motor
• a stop sensor 187 which terminates the same.
• a portion of the tensioning armature 185 that portion which interacts with the sensors, is shown.
• Figs. 17A thru 17E correspond to the positioning of the armature and secondary rollers as presented in Figs. 9A thru 9E, respectively..
• this configuration is applicable to any of the liner tensioning systems described in this specification.
• FIG. 1 A shows the tensioning system at its initial or starting position with the tensioning armature in contact with stop sensor 187.
• Fig. 17B shows the advancement of the tensioning armature 185 towards the on sensor 189 during operation of th winding system.
• Fig. 17C shows the point of advancement of the tensioning armature whereby the armature contacts or passes in front of the on senso 189. This, in turn, activates or initiates the acceleration of the liner supply motor, thereby causing an acceleration in the expulsion of the liner materia! from the finer supply. Consequently, Fig. 17D shows the movement of the tensioning armature away from the on sensor and towards the stop sensor.
• Fig. 17D shows the movement of the tensioning armature away from the on sensor and towards the stop sensor.
• 17E shows the tensioning armature in contact with or passing by the stop sensor which, in turn, signals the liner supply motor to stop the acceleration of the expulsion of feeding of liner material.
• stop sensor 187 and on sensor 189 may be electric eyes, electronic contacts, or toggle type switches. Where the sensors are electronic contact switches, th tensioning armature will have a corresponding electric contact to create or break, as appropriate, the electronic circuit.
• the slitting and winding system as shown in Fig. 1 includes, as necessary, a plurality of guide, alignment and positioning elements, including rollers, guide bars, posts and the like, that for the sake of simplicity are not included in the figures.
• guide, alignment and positioning elements including rollers, guide bars, posts and the like, that for the sake of simplicity are not included in the figures.
• Such elements and their positioning are self-evident to those skilled in the art and employed in currently commercial systems. This is especially so for the transverse winding system where such elements are employed to direct the slit tape to the carriage, even as the carriage reciprocates on the motorized worm shaft/axel assembly and associated guide bar.
• Fig. 18 depicts a portion of a liner tensioning apparatus wherein the tensioning armature 192 has attached thereto a "U" shaped guide element 194 formed of a rod wherein the trough of the il U" 198 serves the same purpose as the groove of the roller, as described above.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Controlling Rewinding, Feeding, Winding, Or Abnormalities Of Webs (AREA)
• Winding Of Webs (AREA)
• Collation Of Sheets And Webs (AREA)
• Laminated Bodies (AREA)
• Lining Or Joining Of Plastics Or The Like (AREA)

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• 2013
  • 2013-04-29 EP EP13782528.7A patent/EP2841372A4/de active Pending
  • 2013-04-29 CN CN201380034246.4A patent/CN104640798B/zh active Active
  • 2013-04-29 JP JP2015509210A patent/JP6622085B2/ja active Active
  • 2013-04-29 CN CN201810622118.6A patent/CN108996338B/zh active Active
  • 2013-04-29 WO PCT/US2013/038565 patent/WO2013163638A1/en active Application Filing
• 2019
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