Winding Machine and Method for Controlling the Winding Machine

Abstract

The invention relates to a winding machine. Winding material is continuously fed along feeding paths to two wound packages. A control signal is generated for actuating actuators. The actuators change the pressing force pressing a pressure roller at at least one wound package. The control signal depends on a tension of the winding material. In case that the tension of the winding material in a path to a wound package exceeds a predetermined tension the pressing force of the pressure roller at the associated wound package is increased. Accordingly the radius of the outer surface of the associated wound package is reduced. This reduction is intended for counteracting the undesired increase of the tension in the winding material.

1 . A method for controlling a winding machine comprising:
 a) parallel winding of winding material continuously fed along two parallel feeding paths to two wound packages wherein
 aa) said wound packages are supported by a common spindle and 
 ab) said wound packages are simultaneously driven by said spindle, 
   b) generating a control signal,   c) actuating at least one actuator by said control signal, wherein said at least one actuator changes a pressing force pressing a pressure roller at at least one of said wound packages dependent on said control signal, wherein   d) said control signal is determined dependent on a tension of said winding material and/or a deflection of a dancer roller located in one of said feeding paths such that
 da) in case that the tension exceeds a desired or predetermined tension and/or in case that the deflection exceeds a desired or predetermined deflection, the pressing force of said pressure roller at the associated wound package is increased for reducing a radius of an outer surface of said associated wound package at a position where said winding material is taken off and wound onto said wound package and/or 
 db) in case that the tension falls below a desired or predetermined tension and/or in case that the deflection falls below a desired or predetermined deflection, the pressing force of said pressure roller at the associated wound package is reduced for increasing a radius of an outer surface of said associated wound package at the position where said winding material is taken off and wound onto said wound package. 
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the tension is determined by sensing a bias of a supporting means of said dancer roller. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein additional to the tension or the deflection another tension of the winding material in the other of said feeding paths or another deflection of another dancer roller located in the other of said feeding paths is sensed. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a rotational speed of said wound packages is controllable dependent on the tension or dependent on the deflection. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the rotational speed of said wound packages is controlled dependent on said tensions or dependent on said deflections. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the rotational speed of said wound packages is controlled dependent on an average value of said tensions or said deflections. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least two pressure rollers are provided, wherein a change of the pressing force is effected by a movement of at least one of said pressure rollers in radial direction relative to a rotational axis of said wound packages or of said spindle, wherein the movement is effected by said at least one actuator. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein for different deflections of said dancer rollers in feeding paths of said winding material to said wound packages, an adjustment of the deflections is effected by
 a) moving one of said pressure rollers in radial direction relative to the rotational axis of said wound packages towards said spindle for increasing the pressing force and for decreasing the deflection of said dancer roller in the corresponding feeding path,   b) wherein the other one of said pressure rollers is moved in a radial direction relative to the rotational axis of said wound packages away from said spindle for decreasing the pressing force and for increasing the deflection of said dancer roller in the corresponding feeding path.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a change of the pressing force is effected by a change of an angle of the rotational axis of the pressure roller relative to the rotational axis of said winding packages or said spindle, wherein the change of the angle is effected by said at least one actuator. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein a change of the pressing force is effected by a change of an angle of the rotational axes of the at least two pressure rollers relative to the rotational axis of said winding packages or said spindle, wherein the change of the angles is effected by said at least one actuator. 
     
     
         11 . A winding machine for parallel winding of continuously fed winding material to wound packages comprising
 a) a spindle driving said wound packages at at least two winding stations,   b) at least one pressure roller,   c) at least one actuator,
 ca) wherein said at least one actuator is controllable via a control signal, 
 cb) wherein by means of said at least one actuator it is possible to adjust
 a distance of said at least one pressure roller from said spindle, 
 an angle of said at least one pressure roller and/or 
 a pressing force of said at least one pressure roller for pressing said at least one pressure roller at at least one of said wound packages 
 
   
       with the result that a radius of an outer surface of at least one of said wound packages is adjusted at least at a position where said winding material is wound onto said wound packages,
 d) at least two feeding paths for continuously feeding winding material to said at least two winding stations 
 e) at least one sensor for sensing a tension of said winding material and/or for sensing a deflection of a dancer roller at at least one of said feeding paths, 
 f) a control unit with control logic for controlling the tension of said winding material and/or for controlling the deflection of said dancer roller, 
 g) wherein said control unit comprises control logic for determining a control signal dependent on the tension of said winding material and/or dependent on the deflection of said dancer roller, wherein said control signal controls the actuator for counteracting the tension of the winding material and/or for counteracting the deflection of said dancer roller. 
 
     
     
         12 . The winding machine of  claim 11 , wherein sensors are provided in each of said feeding paths for sensing the tensions in said winding material and/or for sensing the deflections of dancer rollers located in said feeding paths. 
     
     
         13 . The winding machine of  claim 11 , wherein said dancer roller for said winding material is supported by a supporting means, and said sensor senses a bias in said supporting means caused by the tension of said winding material. 
     
     
         14 . The winding machine of  claim 12 , wherein said control unit is provided with control logic which determines a control signal wherein said control signal is supplied via a control line to a drive mechanism for said spindle, wherein said control signal depends on a measurement signal of said sensor which senses the tension and/or deflection. 
     
     
         15 . The winding machine of  claim 13 , wherein said control unit is provided with control logic which determines a control signal wherein said control signal is supplied via a control line to a drive mechanism for said spindle, wherein said control signal depends on a measurement signal of said sensor which senses the tension and/or deflection. 
     
     
         16 . The winding machine of  claim 14 , wherein said control unit is provided with control logic which determines said control signal for said drive mechanism dependent on an average value of the tension or deflection of said dancer roller and a tension or a deflection of another dancer roller located in the other of said feedings paths. 
     
     
         17 . The winding machine of  claim 15 , wherein said control unit is provided with control logic which determines said control signal for said drive mechanism dependent on an average value of the tension or deflection of said dancer roller and a tension or a deflection of another dancer roller located in the other of said feedings paths. 
     
     
         18 . The winding machine of  claim 11 , wherein at least two pressure rollers are provided wherein said pressure rollers are separately displaceable by said at least one actuator relative to each other parallel to the rotational axis of said spindle. 
     
     
         19 . The winding machine of  claim 11 , wherein an angle of the rotational axis of said pressure roller relative to the rotational axis of said spindle is adjustable by said at least one actuator.