WINDING MACHINE HAVING A POSITIONABLE REEL

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a § 371 National Phase of International Patent Application No. PCT/IB2023/053218, filed Mar. 31, 2023, which claims priority of Italian Patent Application No. 102022000006395, filed Mar. 31, 2022, the entire contents of all of which are incorporated by reference herein as if fully set forth.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to a winding machine preferably of the type used in the production of low/medium/high voltage windings.

BACKGROUND

The invention relates to a winding machine preferably of the type used in the production of low/medium/high voltage windings. Production of coils or windings is an important step in the transformer manufacturing.

With reference to the enclosed FIG. 1, winding machines of known type substantially consist of: a decoiler unit (A), which allows the conductive material to be unwound from suitable reels or coils (the decoiler unit can be disengaged from the frame of the machine); a central unit (B), for preparing/positioning the conductive and insulating materials in view of the winding step (e.g. cutting of the insulating material); and a winding unit (C), which allows the conductive and insulating materials to be wound around a winding core. In particular, the winding unit (C) includes two assemblies consisting of a tailstock (11) and a winding device (11′) which are rotatably constrained at the ends (121,121′) of a winding reel (12), kept in a parallel direction with respect to the ground (i.e. along the X axis) therebetween. Typically, the axis of the winding reel is placed at a height of 900-950 mm from the ground.

The tailstock (11) includes an opening/closing system, typically a hinged closure, which enables, before and after the winding operation, to introduce the winding core and to extract the winding coil respectively. The winding device (11′) includes a motor (15) to rotate the winding reel (12) generally at high speeds.

The coils wound on the winding machine feature several turns of copper wires (or other conductive material in the form of wire, foil or plate), which are alternated between layers of insulation e.g. paper strips.

It is well-known that the number of layers or, equivalently, the diameter/thickness of the wire has to be varied to obtain different powers according to the use of the transformer.

Consequently, the diameter of the winding varies according to the power of the winding. For common applications the diameter varies between 100 and 1000 mm.

To check that the wire is correctly wound around the winding core, or that the plates are adequately aligned with each other, the winding operation of the conductive/insulating materials around the winding core must be supervised by a worker. In fact, overlapping coils or separate coils and overlapping plates represent serious defects which negatively affect, even irreparably, the performance of the electrical winding and therefore of the transformer.

It should be pointed out that a short worker (e.g. 160-170 cm) finds troublesome to supervise manufacturing of large diameter windings with machines of the known type. Usually, the use of a raised platform is needed. Similarly, in small diameter transformers manufacturing, a tall operator (e.g. taller than 180 cm) is forced to bend down to supervise the winding operation. In both circumstances, safety issues in the workplace arise due to possibly falling off the platform and injuries to the spine.

Furthermore, in winding machines of the known type, the fixed height of the reel inevitably imposes a limit on the diameter of the windings that can be made so that the production of large windings (diameter >1000 mm) may be incompatible with the characteristics of a machine “calibrated” for manufacturing small windings.

Finally, a further limitation of known winding machines arises when a change of the winding diameter is required due to machine reconfiguration which is time-consuming and may be technical unfeasible.

According to the best knowledge of the present inventor, who has been operating in the field for over 20 years, a winding machine capable of overcoming the limitations described above is still not available in the market.

Indeed, winding machines in which the height of the winding reel can be adjusted with respect to the ground are known. However, these known machines are used to produce high-power and hence large transformers. For this reason, the winding reel is vertically-oriented and it is raised or lowered inside a “pit” specially built on the production site. Clearly this known solution is outside the scope of the present invention.

A patent search showed that the problem of varying the height of the reel to improve the quality of the electrical winding has not been properly addressed in the prior-art.

For example, systems for positioning the reel are known in the textile field, in the packaging films industry or in the electric cables industry. However, said systems were developed for totally different technical problems, e.g. spool changing, controlling the cable tension to prevent film or cable breakage (e.g. fiber optic cables), or handling of heavy loads, e.g. winders used in the paper industry. Consequently, these known solutions are mechanically complex and expensive and are not useful for those skilled in the art wishing to overcome limitations of machines for producing windings.

To conclude, at present it is still possible to improve winding machines having the winding reel horizontally oriented, and intended for making windings for electric transformers.

In view of the above, the present invention intends to overcome the existing disadvantages and drawbacks of the prior art by providing an improved winding machine characterized in that it includes a positionable reel.

Therefore, the first and main object of the present invention is to provide a winding machine, particularly for electric transformer windings, having greater flexibility than those known in the art. In particular, it is within this scope to disclose a solution for a winding machine which allows, on the one hand, to broaden the diameter range of the electrical windings that can be produced, and, on the other hand, to control the winding operation even during the production of large diameter windings.

A second important object of the present invention is to provide an ergonomic winding machine which has a greater level of safety for the operators, whatever their height. This purpose includes providing the operators a solution to control the winding operation in a comfortable and safe way whatever the diameter of the electrical winding or of the winding core among those commonly used in the transformer industry.

A third object of the present invention is to provide a winding machine in which the optimum height of the winding reel can be pre-set automatically or varied according to quality control requirements or to the needs of the worker supervising the operation.

A fourth object of the present invention is to provide a winding machine suitable for manufacturing windings made of a conductive material in the form of a wire, foil or strip.

Finally, a further object of the present invention is to provide a winding machine which includes technical measures for achieving the above-mentioned objects which are simple to implement by means of known technologies and at low costs.

SUMMARY

These and still other purposes, which will appear more clearly in the specification which follows, are achieved by a winding machine whose general features are set forth in the appended claims.

The aforesaid claims, to which reference should be made for the sake of brevity, are hereinafter specifically defined and are intended as an integral part of the present specification.

In summary, the winding machine according to the invention is characterized in that it includes a handling unit configured to enable the motion of the winding reel. In turn, said handling unit includes one or more linear actuators, for example jacks or cylinders, which are configured to: displace the winding reel along the axis (Z) from a first position (Z1) to a second position (Z2), or vice versa; or displace the reel along the axis (Y) from a first position (Y1) to a second position (Y2), or vice versa. In both cases, the winding reel is parallel with respect to the axis (X) during motion along the axes (Z,Y).

In this way, the position of the reel along these axes can be optimized according to the diameter of the winding to be manufactured and the height of the operator.

Advantageously, the optimal height of the winding reel can be determined and set automatically by means of servo-actuators in connection with a control unit on the machine. The control unit select the optimal winding reel height on the basis of parameters such as the height of the operator, the diameter of the electrical winding as well as the diameter of the winding core.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The present invention will be more fully understood by reference to the following tables of drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a winding machine of the known type in which the winding reel is placed horizontally at a fixed, non-modifiable, height;

FIG. 2 presents an overall view of the winding machine according to the present invention used in the manufacturing of a large winding;

FIG. 3 is a front and rear view of the winding machine according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, showing the winding unit (on the right) connected to the spot welder (on the left);

FIG. 4 is a front view of the winding unit of the machine according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the winding machine according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the winding machine according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 with reference to the preferred embodiment of the present invention schematically illustrates the user interface which is used for setting and adjusting the reel height of the winding machine.

These figures illustrate and demonstrate various features and embodiments of the present invention but are not to be construed as limiting the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

By way of explanation of the invention, and not meant as a limitation thereof, there are provided in the following a detailed description of five preferred, but not exclusive, embodiments of the winding machine according to the invention.

First Preferred Embodiment

In the first preferred embodiment, herein described with reference to the enclosed FIGS. 2-5, the winding machine is indicated by (1).

Said machine (1) includes the following units, likewise winding machines of the known type intended for the production of windings for electric transformers: a decoiler unit (A) of conductive materials, which are typically available in reels or coils; a central group (B), used to prepare materials which were unwounded by the unit (A), e.g. cutting the insulating material into strips, or coupling the insulating material to the conductor, or correctly orienting and positioning said materials in view of the subsequent winding operation; a winding unit (C) for winding the conductive and/or insulating materials, prepared and positioned/oriented by the central unit (B), around a suitable core integral with a winding reel (12).

In the first preferred embodiment, the electrical winding is intended for low/medium/high voltage transformers and the core of the winding may have a circular, square or more generally polygonal section of. arbitrary dimension.

Therefore, the conducting materials typically consist of copper or aluminum, in the form of a wire, a sheet or a strip, while the insulating materials consist of paper strips or plastic films. However, for the purposes of implementing the present invention, the type of conductive and/or insulating materials, their thickness, the type of winding (e.g. helical or orthocyclic winding), the type of winding core are not relevant elements.

As shall appear more clearly in the following, the present invention concerns the winding unit (C), while the decoiler unit (A) and the central unit (B) are of known type. Even the central group (B) may not be present for the purposes of implementing the present invention. However, in the first preferred embodiment there is a central unit (B) which can be displaced along the three axes (X,Y,Z) with respect to the winding reel (12) so as to optimize the position and orientation of the wire coming from the central group (B) and therefore the quality of the electrical winding.

In the first preferred embodiment, herein provided by way of explanation of the invention, and not meant as a limitation thereof, the winding unit (C) comprises: a structure (10), a tailstock (11) and a winding device (11′), as well as the already cited winding reel (12). Furthermore, in this embodiment the winding unit (C) is characterized in that it comprises a handling unit (13) configured to enable the motion of the winding reel (12) along the axis (Z) from a first height (Z1) to a second height (Z2), or vice versa. When the motion along the axis (Z) takes place, said winding reel (12) is parallel with respect to the axis (X).

In particular, said handling unit (13) comprises means, which will be described in detail below, useful for slidingly constraining the tailstock (11) and the winding device (11′) to the structure (10) of the winding unit (C), in such a way that the handling unit (13) can move the assemblies (11,11′) along axes parallel to the axis (Z) with a synchronous motion, i.e. by keeping the winding reel (12) parallel with respect to the ground (X axis).

The winding operations performed by the machine (1) are managed by a control unit (14), such as a computer next to the machine.

In the first preferred embodiment, herein provided by way of explanation of the invention, and not meant as a limitation thereof, the tailstock (11) comprises a closure (113) e.g. a hinged closure and the winding device (11′) comprises a motor (15) which during the winding operation rotates the reel (12). The first end (121) of the winding reel (12) is rotatably constrained to the hinged closure (113) while the other end (121′) of said reel (12) is rotatably constrained to the shaft of the motor (15).

By opening and closing the closure (113) a winding core, or other accessories, can be inserted and removed before and at the end of the winding operation respectively. In the same way, it is also possible to replace the winding reel (12) if needed.

With reference to the enclosed FIG. 2, the tailstock (11), the first end (101) of the structure (10) and the first end (121) of the winding reel (12) are placed on the right hand side of the machine, while the second end (101′) of the structure (10), the winding device (11′) and the second end (121′) are placed on the left hand side. However, the positions of the two assemblies (11,11′) can be interchanged.

In this regard, for the sake of clarity, in the present description numerical references with superscript and without superscript will indicate assemblies or components which in the enclosed drawings are positioned, respectively, on the left and right hand side. For example, the reference (11,11′) indicates a tailstock (11) on the right hand side which has a winding device (11′) positioned on the left hand side as a “dual” assembly.

In the first preferred embodiment, herein provided by way of explanation of the invention, and not meant as a limitation thereof, the tailstock (11) is integral with a carriage (131) having fixed thereto first sliding shoes (132). These are slidingly constrained to first linear guides (133) directed along the axis (Z) and externally fixed to the first end (101) of the structure (10) of the winding unit (C). Similarly, the winding device (11′) includes a frame (111′) having fixed thereto second shoes (132′). These are slidably constrained to second linear guides (133′) directed along the axis (Z) and fixed externally to the second end (101′) of the structure (10) of the winding unit (C). In this embodiment, the motor (15) is also integral with said frame (111′).

Preferably, in this embodiment the first linear guides (133) and the second linear guides (133′) are two pairs of linear guides (133a, 133b) and (133′a, 133′b) parallel to each other slidingly constrained, respectively, to two pairs of shoes (132a, 132b) and (132′a,132′b).

In this way, the tailstock (11) and the winding device (11′) can be displaced along the first linear guides (133) and the second linear guides (133′) respectively.

Motion of the tailstock (11) and of the winding device (11′) is enabled by one or more linear actuators (134) included in the handling unit (13).

In the first preferred embodiment, herein provided by way of explanation of the invention, and not meant as a limitation thereof, the handling unit (13) comprises two traveling or translating screw jacks (134,134′) and a transmission system (136).

The lead screw of the first jack (134) has the end in contact on top with the carriage (131) and enables motion of the tailstock (11), while the lead screw of the second jack (134′) has the end in contact on top with the frame (111′) and enables motion of the winding device (11′). In this embodiment, the first jack (134) is moved by an electric motor (135) whose shaft is mechanically connected both to the lead screw and the transmission system (136). Preferably said transmission system (136) includes a connecting shaft (1361) and one or more knuckle joints (1362).

In the first preferred embodiment, herein provided by way of explanation of the invention, and not meant as a limitation thereof, the handling unit (13) is managed by a control unit (14) next to the winding machine.

In this embodiment, the positions of the upper ends of the two jacks (134,134′) are detected by means of a pair of linear potentiometers. Since these transducers are connected to the control unit (14), the optimal position of the winding reel (12) along the axis (Z) can be set manually by the operator, through a user interface, or calculated automatically by the control unit (14) according to suitable parameters.

Alternatively, the handling unit (13) can include encoders, servomotors or other position transducers for controlling, and possible adjusting, the position of the winding device (11′) and of the tailstock (11) along the axis (Z).

In the first preferred embodiment, herein provided by way of explanation of the invention, and not meant as a limitation thereof, the control unit (14) includes a memory unit having a computer program stored therein. In addition to the usual functions of the winding machine (1), the computer program is configured to manage the positions of the winding device (11′) and of the tailstock (11) along the axis (Z) through a suitable user interface which is schematically illustrated in the enclosed FIG. 7. Furthermore, in the memory unit, association data between the optimum height of the winding reel (12) and processing parameters can advantageously be stored in table form. For example, the optimal height of the winding reel (13) is approximately 1100 mm for a 1200 mm diameter winding, whose manufacturing process is supervised by an operator of 180 cm height.

By way of explanation of the invention, and not meant as a limitation thereof, processing parameters which affect height setting include one or more of the following: thickness of the wire or other conductive material; thickness of the paper or other insulating material; number of layers; diameter of the winding core; diameter of the reel, height of the operator. In this way, the optimal height of the winding reel (12) can be pre-set automatically through the association data and the control unit (14).

By acting on the computer program and on the user interface it is also possible to adjust the optimal height during, or at the end of, the winding operation. In this way, the operator can easily and comfortably check that the coils are adjacent to each other and do not overlap on both the top and the bottom of the winding.

Anyhow, by suitably adjusting the height of the lead screws of the two jacks (134,134′), and acting on the control unit (14) it is possible to ensure a synchronous motion along the axis (Z) of the winding device (11′) and of the tailstock (11) as well it is possible to ensure that the winding reel (12) is maintained perfectly parallel with respect to the axis (X) when it is displaced along the axis (Z) from a first position (Z1) to a second position (Z2), or vice versa.

From the description of the preferred embodiment it shall be apparent to those skilled in the art that the inventive concept underlying the present invention may be practiced in different but equivalent ways.

First, there exist alternative coupling means, other than sliding shoes in combination with dedicated rails, for slidingly constraining the tailstock (11) and the winding device (11′) to the structure (10) of the winding unit (C).

For example, linear guides (133,133′) can be replaced by two racks directed along the axis (Z) and fixed to the ends (101,101′) of the structure (10). Said racks are coupled to corresponding pinions connected directly, or via a suitable transmission system, to the motor (135) of the winding unit (C).

Secondly, linear actuators (133) of other types can be equivalently used. Known examples includes: a rotary screw jack, a linear motor, a hydraulic cylinder, a pneumatic cylinder, a linear rack and pinion system. Combinations of such linear actuators (133) can also be used.

Finally, configurations of the winding unit (C) are possible, in which the motor (15) is not integral with the frame (111′) and therefore does not translate along the axis (Z) during positioning of the winding reel (12). However, implementation of this embodiment requires a system, for example based on driving belts, to transmit the motion of the motor shaft (15) to the winding reel (12).

Details for implementing further embodiments shall be obvious to those skilled in the art on the basis of the disclosure provided. For example, the use of a hydraulic cylinder in substitution of a motorized coupling system based on sliding shoes and dedicated rails requires a manual or motorized pump and a valve to discharge the fluid from the cylinder chamber to enable the return-movement of the piston.

A brief description of further preferred alternative embodiments is provided in the following.

OTHER EMBODIMENTS

In the second preferred embodiment of the winding machine (1) according to the present invention, the motion of the winding reel (12) along the axis (Z) is achieved without the aid of the dedicated motor (135) as in the previous one. To implement this embodiment, various solutions are possible which we report below by way of explanation of the invention, and not as a limitation thereof.

In a first solution the lead screw of the jack (134) is coupled to a crank of suitable diameter, optionally via a reducer, so that the operator can position the reel (12) without effort.

Alternatively, a common electric or pneumatic drill coupled to a suitable reducer can be used.

A third solution is based on the same motor (15) used to rotate the reel (12) during winding operation. In this way, the motor shaft (15) is coupled to the lead screw of the jack (134), via a suitable transmission which can be engaged and disengaged when the operator intends to vary the height of the winding reel (12).

In the third preferred embodiment of the winding machine according to the present invention each of the jacks (134,134′) is driven by its own dedicated motor (135,135′).

To ensure that during movement along the axis (Z) the winding reel (12) is maintained in a direction parallel to the axis (X), two synchronized motors can be advantageous used, for example two servomotors, or two motors equipped with encoders or equivalent position transducers managed by a PLC or more generally by the control unit (14) next to the machine.

The fourth preferred embodiment of the winding machine according to the invention differs from the previous ones in that the winding reel (12) can be moved along the axis (Y).

In this embodiment, the height on the axis (Z) is therefore fixed and the position along the axis (Y) of the winding reel (12) with respect to the central group (B) can be selected e.g. to optimize the quality of the winding, to increase the range of diameters of the winding itself and to improve ergonomic of the winding machine for workers of different heights. Clearly in this embodiment means for slidingly constraining the tailstock (11) and the winding device (11′) to the structure (10) of the winding unit (C) are chosen, in such a way that the tailstock (11) and the winding device (11′) can be moved along directions parallel to the axis (Y).

Similarly to the preferred embodiment, by way of example and not limitation, the tailstock (11) includes a carriage (131) having two pairs of first sliding shoes (132a,132b) fixed thereto. Said first sliding shoes (132a, 132b) are slidably constrained to a pair of first linear guides (133a,133b) directed along the axis (Y). Furthermore, the winding device (11′) includes a frame (111′) having two pairs of second shoes (132′a,132′b) fixed thereto. Said second shoes (132′a, 132′b) are slidingly constrained to a pair of second linear guides (133′a,133′ b) directed along the (Y) axis.

Preferably, the two pairs of linear guides (133a, 133b) and (133′a, 133′b) are fixed externally, to the first end (101) and to the second end (101′) of the structure (10) of the winding unit (C) respectively.

In the fourth embodiment, herein provided by way of explanation of the invention, and not meant as a limitation thereof, the handling unit (13) comprises two double-acting pneumatic cylinders (134,134′) to enable motion of the winding reel (12) along the axis (Y) from a first position (Y1) to a second position (Y2), or vice versa.

The ends of the rods of the first and second pneumatic cylinders (134,134′) are respectively fixed to the carriage (131), integral with the tailstock (11), and to the frame (111′) of the winding device (11′).

By way of explanation of the invention, and not limitation thereof, similarly to the preferred embodiment, the positions of the upper ends of the two pneumatic cylinders (134,134′), are detected by means of a pair of linear potentiometers or other position transducers managed by a PLC or more generally by the control unit (14) next to the winding machine.

Other technical details for implementing this embodiment can be obtained from the previous embodiments described above or from general knowledge.

Finally, the fifth preferred embodiment of the winding machine according to the invention is a combination of the preferred embodiment and the fourth embodiment.

In this embodiment, the winding reel (12) has two degrees of freedom and can be moved both along the axis (Z) and the axis (Y). In this way, it is possible to position the reel (12) at a suitable height and distance from the central unit (B), to ensure the best inspection conditions for the operator and to optimize the quality of the winding coil.

In the fifth embodiment, herein provided by way of explanation of the invention, and not meant as a limitation thereof, the handling unit (13) comprises: a carriage (131) having fixed thereto two pairs of first shoes (132a,132b) which are slidingly constrained to a pair of first linear guides (133a, 133b) directed along the axis (Z) and fixed to the first end (101) of the structure (10) of the winding unit (C); a frame (111′) having fixed thereto two pairs of second shoes (132′a, 132′b), which are slidingly constrained to a pair of second linear guides (133′a, 133′b) directed along the axis (Z) and fixed to the second end (101′) of the structure (10) of the winding unit (C); two traveling screw jacks (134,134′) which enables motion along the axis (Z), respectively, of the tailstock (11) and of the frame (111′) of the winding device (11′); an electric motor (135) for moving the first jack (134); a transmission system (136) comprising a connecting shaft (1361) and one or more knuckle joints (1362), to transfer the motion of the motor shaft (135) to the lead screw of the second jack (134′); two plates or carriages (137,137′), which can be moved along the axis (Y), and are constrained to those components of the winding machine (1) enabling motion of the tailstock (11) and of the frame (111′) along the axis (Z); two pneumatic cylinders (138,138′) whose rods are constrained to the plates or carriages (137,137′) and move along axes parallel to the axis (Y).

Compared to the preferred embodiment, to provide the winding unit (C) with two degrees of freedom, the first and second ends (101,101′) of the structure (10) of the unit (C) are first disengaged from the rest of the structure (10) and then mounted on the two plates or carriages (137,137′) together with the two jacks (134,134′) and the motor (135).

With reference to the enclosed FIG. 6: the first end (101) of the structure (10), the first jack (134) and the motor (135) are fixed to the first plate (137) positioned on the right hand side; the second end (101′) of the structure (10) and the second jack (134′), which is coupled to the shaft of the transmission system (16), are fixed to the second plate (137′) positioned on the left hand side.

It is thus possible to fix a position (Y1) of the winding reel (12) along the axis (Y) by acting on the two double-acting pneumatic cylinders (138,138′) via the control unit (14), and then translate the reel along the axis (Z) from a first position (Z1) to a second position (Z2), or vice versa. During positioning operation, the winding reel (12) is always maintained perfectly parallel with respect to the axis (X). Obviously, it is also possible first to position the winding reel (12) along the axis (Z) and then along the axis (Y).

Alternatively, the handling unit (13) includes a single plate or carriage (137) having mounted thereto: the first and second ends (101,101′) of the structure (10) of the winding unit (C); the two jacks (134,134′) of said first and second ends (101,101′); the motor (135) and the transmission system (16).

The ends of the carriage (137) can be slidably constrained to linear guides, while said carriage (137) is moved along the axis (Y) by a single double-acting cylinder (138) or by another suitable linear actuator.

Other technical details for implementing the embodiment can be obtained from the previous disclosure or from knowledge known to the person skilled in the art. Furthermore, it shall be apparent that numerous other variants are possible to enable translation of the winding reel (12) along two axes (Z,Y).

Advantages and Industrial Application

The present invention is intended to winding machines of the type having the winding reel directed horizontally i.e. along the axis (X), which are used to manufacture windings, even large windings (e.g. diameter>1000 mm), by wrapping materials in wire, foil or strip around a core of any diameter. Such machine is preferably used in the production of low/medium/high voltage windings e.g. in the electric transformer industry.

From the description given above it shall be obvious that the winding machine according to the present invention achieves several advantages compared to those of the known type.

Clearly, the main advantage derived by the introduction of the handling unit is the improvement of ergonomic particularly when the winding operation is supervised by operators of different heights. In detail, the benefits provided are the following.

First, it facilitates inspection activity, whatever the height of the operator, even in manufacturing of large windings.

Then, it increases the diameters range of the electrical winding that can be manufactured because the range is no longer limited by the fixed height of the reel as in winding machines of the known type. In turn, the handling unit also makes possible to easily manage heterogeneous batches (i.e. consisting of windings having different diameters) and therefore to optimize manufacturing process and to improve flexibility. In addition, potential issues arising from worker' shift are avoided. In fact, through the association data table stored in the memory of the control unit, the optimal height of the winding reel can be automatically and quickly set by selecting the suitable processing parameters which affect positioning of the reel.

Optimization of the reel height does not only facilitate winding inspection by the operator.

It also enables optimization of the distance between the wire coming from the central group and the reel winding whatever the winding diameter. In fact, it is well-known, that in order to improve the quality of the windings (i.e. avoid overlapping or gaps between consecutive coils) the exit point of the thread should be brought as close as possible to the point of contact with the winding core.

Finally, it reduces dead times in machine setting-up, avoids that a platform for the operator is positioned next to the machine, as well as it makes possible for the operator to promptly identify defective windings.

In summary, the winding machine according to the present invention greatly improves productivity, product quality and safety for workers.

It has been found that the invention described hereinabove fully achieves the intended aim and objects. In fact, an adaptable winding machine has been disclosed which thanks to a positionable reel achieves a number of advantages.

It should be understood, however, that the detailed description and the specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the application, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the application will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.

In fact, numerous variations are possible. Furthermore, the description of the preferred embodiments refers to the production of windings for electric transformers, but it shall be apparent to those skilled in the art that the solution disclosed herein can be usefully applied in other industrial fields, e.g. the yarn and textile industry. Therefore, any modifications of the present invention that fall within the scope of the following claims are considered to be part of the present invention.

Where the characteristics and techniques mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, these reference marks have been applied solely for the purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and consequently these reference marks have no limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example from these reference signs.