Method and machine to manufacture windings around respective supports

Abstract

A method and a machine to manufacture windings around respective supports, which includes: at least two different winding stations operating in parallel; a main conveyor configured to feed two supports to the two winding stations; two guide fingers, each arranged in a respective winding station and configured to engage a wire in a sliding manner and, hence, move the wire so as to wind the wire around the respective support in order to manufacture a series of turns making up the winding; a same common operating body which supports both guide fingers; a first actuator device configured to move the operating body so as to subject the two guide fingers to the same law of motion; and a second actuator device configured to move a guide finger relative to the operating body if a respective winding does not have to be manufactured in the corresponding winding station.

1 . A method to manufacture windings ( 2 ) around respective supports ( 3 ); the method comprises the steps of:
 feeding two supports ( 3 ) to at least two different winding stations ( 1 ) operating in parallel;   winding, in each winding station ( 1 ), a wire ( 4 ) around the respective support ( 3 ) to manufacture a series of turns making up the winding ( 2 ); and   moving, in each winding station ( 1 ), the wire ( 4 ) by means of a guide finger ( 9 ), which engages the wire ( 4 ) in a sliding manner so that the wire ( 4 ) slides continuously inside the guide finger ( 9 ) during the manufacturing of the respective winding ( 2 );   moving, by means of a first actuator device ( 13 ), a common operating body ( 12 ) on which the two guide fingers ( 9 ) are mounted, to subject the two guide fingers ( 9 ) to the same law of motion; and   moving, by means of a second actuator device ( 15 ), a guide finger ( 9 ) relative to the operating body ( 12 ) if a respective winding ( 2 ) does not have to be manufactured in the corresponding winding station ( 1 ).   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein each guide finger ( 9 ) is mounted in a movable manner on the operating body ( 12 ) so as to move between a work position, in which the guide finger ( 9 ) is arranged so as to cooperate with a support ( 3 ) that is standing or should be standing in the respective winding station ( 1 ), and a neutral position, in which the guide finger ( 9 ) is arranged so as not to cooperate with a support ( 3 ) that is standing or should be standing in the respective winding station ( 1 ). 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein, in the work position, each guide finger ( 9 ) is closer to the support ( 3 ) so that, by moving, it can rotate around the support ( 3 ), whereas, in the neutral position, each guide finger ( 9 ) is farther from the support ( 3 ) so that, by moving, it cannot rotate around the support ( 3 ). 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein, in the work position, each guide finger ( 9 ) is arranged inside a housing zone of the support ( 3 ), whereas, in the neutral position, each guide finger ( 9 ) is arranged outside of the housing zone of the support ( 3 ). 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein each guide finger ( 9 ) is arranged on a first support body ( 14 ), which moves relative to the operating body ( 12 ) due to the action, in particular the thrust, of the second actuator device ( 15 ). 
     
     
         6 . The method according to claim and comprising the further steps of:
 locking, in each winding station ( 1 ), an initial end of the wire ( 4 ), before starting to wind the wire ( 4 ); and   locking, in each winding station ( 1 ), a final end of the wire ( 4 ), at the end of the winding of the wire ( 4 ).   
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 6  and comprising the further step of holding the two clamps ( 6 ,  7 ) in the same position even if a respective winding ( 2 ) does not have to be manufactured in the winding station ( 1 ). 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 6  and comprising the further step of moving the two clamps ( 6 ,  7 ) by means of a third actuator device ( 17 ), if a respective winding ( 2 ) does not have to be manufactured in the corresponding winding station ( 1 ). 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein, in each winding station ( 1 ), the two clamps ( 6 ,  7 ) are movable so as to move between a work position, in which the two clamps ( 6 ,  7 ) are arranged so as to cooperate with a support ( 3 ) that is standing or should be standing in the respective winding station ( 1 ), and a neutral position, in which the two clamps ( 6 ,  7 ) are arranged so as not to cooperate with a support ( 3 ) that is standing or should be standing in the respective winding station ( 1 ). 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein, in the work position, the two clamps ( 6 ,  7 ) are closer to the support ( 3 ), whereas, in the neutral position, the two clamps ( 6 ,  7 ) are farther from the support ( 3 ). 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein, in each winding station ( 1 ), the two clamps ( 6 ,  7 ) move together between the work position and the neutral position. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein, in each winding station ( 1 ), the two clamps ( 6 ,  7 ) are arranged on a same second support body ( 16 ), which moves due to the action, in particular the thrust, of the third actuator device ( 17 ). 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 1  and comprising the further steps of:
 determining whether in a winding station ( 1 ) there is a defective support ( 3 ) or whether there is no support ( 3 ); and 
 establishing that a respective winding ( 2 ) does not have to be manufactured in a winding station ( 1 ), if in the winding station ( 1 ) there is a defective support ( 3 ) or there is no support ( 3 ). 
 
     
     
         14 . A machine to manufacture windings ( 2 ) around respective supports ( 3 ); the machine comprises:
 at least two different winding stations ( 1 ) operating in parallel;   a main conveyor configured to feed a support ( 3 ) to each winding station ( 1 );   two guide fingers ( 9 ), each arranged in a respective winding station ( 1 ) and configured to engage a wire ( 4 ) in a sliding manner so that the wire ( 4 ) slides continuously inside the guide finger ( 9 ) during the manufacturing of the respective winding ( 2 ) and, hence, move the wire ( 4 ) so as to wind the wire ( 4 ) around the respective support ( 3 ) in order to manufacture a series of turns making up the winding ( 2 );   an operating body ( 12 ) supporting both guide fingers ( 9 );   a first actuator device ( 13 ) configured to move the operating body ( 12 ) to subject the two guide fingers ( 9 ) to the same law of motion; and   a second actuator device ( 15 ) configured to move a guide finger ( 9 ) relative to the operating body ( 12 ) if a respective winding ( 2 ) does not have to be manufactured in the corresponding winding station ( 1 ).