Title of Invention

LAP WINDING APPARATUS

Abstract

A LAP WINDING APPARATUS The present invention relates to a lap winding apparatus (10) for producing a lap (12) in which the batt (14) is wound onto core (H), which is rotatable about a fixed axis (A), driven by a revolving endless belt (18) and is arranged in a belt loop (20), formed between two deflecting rolls (Rl, R2) and increasing in length as the diameter of the lap (12) increases, the belt (18) being tensioned by a tensioning device (22), characterised in that the core (H) rotatable about a fixed axis (A) and the two deflecting rolls (Rl, R2) are dimensioned, and are positioned relative to each other, in such a manner that the loop (20) at the beginning of the lap winding process embraces the core over an initial minimum wrapping angle (wH) equal to, or larger than 120° and preferentially is equal to, or larger than 180°, and that the tensioning device (22) for generating a tensioning force depending on the lap diameter is associated with a control device (28).

Full Text

The present invention concerns a lap winding apparatus for producing a lap in which the batt is wound onto a core which, driven by a revolving endless belt, is arranged rotatable about a fixed axle in a loop formed between two deflecting rolls of the belt tensioned by a tensioning arrangement, the length of which loop increases as the lap diameter increases. In a lap winding apparatus of this type known from GB 329 871 the belt at the be¬ginning of the lap winding process contacts a small portion of the core circumfer¬ence merely. The wrapping angle is less than 60°. Tensioning of the belt is ef¬fected by means of an angled lever at one arm of which a deflecting roll embrac¬ed by the belt is provided and at the other arm of which a weight is provided which for setting the tensioning force can be adjusted manually. In this known lap winding apparatus a kind of fulling effect can occur due to the local strain affecting the batt, which causes the lap layers to be shifted against each other. Due to the friction felting of the batt can occur, which causes prob¬lems, impairing product quality, as the lap unrolls. It thus is the goal of the present invention to create a lap winding apparatus of the above mentioned type which, simple in lay-out, permits production of high quality laps which can be unrolled without problems. This goal according to the invention is achieved in that the core rotatable about a fixed axis and the two deflecting rolls are dimensioned and positioned in such a manner that the belt loop at the beginning of the lap winding process embraces the core over an initial minimum wrapping angle of 120° or larger and preferably of 180° or larger and that the tensioning device for generating a tensioning force depending on the lap diameter is associated with a control device. The core rotatable about a fixed axis already at the beginning of the lap winding process being surrounded over a targe area by the belt, i.e. over a larger wrap¬ping angle, the lap being formed from the beginning is put under a much more even pressure. Furthermore any possible formation of an oval shape of the lap can be effectively counteracted by correspondingly adapting the tensioning force to the current lap diameter. The fixed axis of the core notwithstanding occurrence of a fulling effect can be virtually excluded. In this arrangement also shifting of the batt layers against each other and felting of the batt is prevented. Thus a high quality lap is produced which can be unrolled without problems in subsequent processing of the batt. Particularly in view of negligible formation of blisters and of further improved un¬rolling properties it proves advantageous if the tensioning device is controlled by the control device in such a manner that the tensioning force diminishes as the lap diameter increases until a pre-determinable lap size is reached. In this pro¬cess the tensioning force preferentially diminishes linearly as the lap diameter increases until a pre-determinable lap size is reached. Owing to the harder pres¬sure applied in lap winding during the beginning stages plasticity of the of the lap is reduced and the lap gains more stability in itseif which positively influences the unrolling properties as well as the quality. A further advantage is gained if the pre-determinable lap size is chosen smaller than the final lap size and if the tensioning force is maintained constant until the pre-determinable lap size is reached. In this process it is provided preferentially that while the lap diameter increases the tensioning force is reduced over the major part of the lap winding process and that only towards the end of the lap winding process is maintained constant at a value above zero until the final lap size is reached. The control device, which preferentially is an electronic control device, can be associated with a sensor which scans the lap diameter directly. In principle it also is possible to provide a measuring device which monitors the batt length fed to the lap winding apparatus in order to obtain a signal representative of the lap diameter for the control device. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention the tensioning device com¬prises a tensioning roll associated with a linear guide arrangement. In this ar- rangement the belt is tensioned in a plane parallel to the plane containing the axes of the two deflecting rolls between which the belt loop forms. Particularly if control of the tensioning force is to be effected as precisely as possible it also proves advantageous if the belt embraces the tensioning roll, independently of the position of the later, always over a wrapping angle of 180°. In this case the two belt sections facing each other extend mutually parallel in the area of the tensioning roll, which permits, among other advantages, more precision in the control of the tensioning force. Adjustment of the position of the tensioning roll can be effected using an electric, hydraulic or pneumatic drive associated with the control device, the drive appropriately comprising a cylinder/piston unit. The belt expediently is driven via at least one of the deflecting rolls. For control¬ling the belt drive speed in an open loop or closed loop control system also the belt drive can be associated with the control device. The belt drive speed can be varied in function of the lap diameter and can e.g. decrease as the lap diameter increases. The open or closed loop control system can be laid out in such a man¬ner that the belt drive speed at the beginning of any lap winding process is in¬creased from zero to a predetermined value. The belt drive can be frequency controlled using an invertor or similar devices. It also can be imagined that the belt drive speed be maintained constant at least temporarily. If the core is formed by a tube, this tube can be placed e.g. on an extension each on the two lap disks facing each other between which the tube preferentially is clamped. The two deflecting rolls, between which the belt loop forms, for ejecting the lap can be preferentially moved apart relative to each other while simultaneously the belt is tensioned . According to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention removal of at least one of the lap discs, effected e.g. by extending, traversing or similar movements, ejection of the lap, transfer of the lap to a transporting device or similar steps and/or inserting and clamping of a new empty tube is automated at least partially and again is controlled by means of the control device. In order to avoid electrostatic charges advantageously a belt endlessly wound using Kevlar material is provided. The lap winding apparatus is applicable in particular in combing where a batt or web e.g. delivered by a drafting system via deflecting plates, via calender rolls and/or via similar elements is taken up. The completed lap subsequently is fed to a combing machine. Accordingly, the present invention provides a lap winding apparatus for producing a lap in which the batt is wound onto core (H), which is rotatable about a fixed axis (A), driven by a revolving endless belt and is arranged in a belt loop, formed between two deflecting rolls (Rl, R2) and increasing in length as the diameter of the lap increases, the belt being tensioned by a tensioning device, characterised in that the core (H) rotatable about a fixed axis (A) and the two deflecting rolls (Rl, R2) are dimensioned, and are positioned relative to each other, in such a manner that the loop at the beginning of the lap winding process embraces the core ove- an initial minimum wrapping angle (wH) equal to, or larger than 120° and preferentially is equal to, or larger than 180°, and that the tensioning device for generating a tensioning force depending on the lap diameter is associated with a control device. The present invention is described in more detail in the following with reference to design examples illustrated in the drawings. It is shown in: Figure 1 a schematic view of the basic lay-out of a lap winding apparatus, shown in the beginning phase of the lap winding process as well as in the end phase of the lap winding phase, Figure 2 a simplified view of the lap winding apparatus according to the Figure 1 at the beginning phase of the lap build, Figure 3 a partial section along the line I-I according to the Figure 2, Figure 4 a view corresponding to the one shown in the Figure 2 the wrapping angles being indicated, Figure 5 a simplified view of the lap winding apparatus according to the Figure 1 in the end phase of the lap build, Figure 6 a partial section along the line I-I according to the Figure 5, and in Figure 7 the graph of the tensioning force in function of the lap diameter. In the Figure 1 a lap winding apparatus 10 for producing a lap 12 is shown schematically. In principle a winding apparatus 10 of this type can be used for rolling up a web, a fleece or a batt into a lap before the fibre material is subject to a further processing step. Thus the winding apparatus can be used e.g. in comb¬ing for taking up a web supplied by a drafting system via guide plates, calender rolls or similar elements, the lap produced subsequently being fed to a combing machine, tn the following the material supplied, for the sake of simplicity of the description, is referred to as batt, which, however, is hot to be understood in a restricting sense. To the lap winding apparatus 10 a batt 14 is supplied via a batt supply 16 which in the present case is formed by a plate curved at its downstream end. The batt 14 is wound onto a tube H serving as a core which is supported rotat-abfe about a fixed axis A. This tube H is driven by a revolving endless belt 18 which forms a loop 20 extending between two deflecting rolls R1 and R2 the tube H being taken up in the loop 20. In the present case the lap 12 is driven clockwise by the belt 18 as indicated by the arrow F. The loop 20 of the belt 18 embracing the lap 12 increases in length as the lap 12 builds up the belt 18 being tensioned during the entire lap winding process by a tensioning device 22. This tensioning device 22 comprises a ten¬sioning roll R4 associated with a linear guide arrangement 24. The belt 18 is guided by further deflecting rolls R3 and R5 and by the tensioning roll R4 the position of which can be adjusted along the linear guide arrangement 24 in a plane extending parallel to the plane containing the axes of the two de¬flecting rolls R1 and R2. In the Figure 1 the axis along which the tensioning roll R4 can be adjusted is designated as x axis. tn the design example illustrated in the Figure 1 the deflecting rolls R1, R2, R3 and R5, the tensioning roll R4 and the tube H all are of the same outside diame¬ter H. The axes of the rolls and of the tube H are mutually parallel. The deflecting roll R1 and R2 situated in the upper part of the apparatus are arranged at a verti¬cal distance from a further deflecting roll R5 w^ase distance exceeds the maxi¬mum diameter of the lap 12. The two deflecting rolls R1 and R2 on one hand and the deflecting roll R5 on the other hand have their axes contained in a horizontal plane each. In the position of the rolls, indicated with solid lines, in which during the end phase of the lap winding process the tensioning roll R4 has reached its end position shown at the left hand side and the deflecting roll R2 has not yet been pivoted outwards (the positions of the deflecting rolls R1, R3 and R5 being stationary), the lower deflect¬ing roll R5 shown at the lower left with respect to the upper deflecting roll R2 shown at the left is offset towards the left hand side. The tensioning roll R4 in its end position during the end phase of the lap winding process shown in the Fig¬ure 1 with solid lines is offset with respect to the upper deflecting roll R1 towards the right hand side, the horizontal distance between these rolls R1 and R4 being larger than the one between the rolls R2 and R5. Thus the rolls R1, R2, R4 and R5 are arranged in a trapezoid pattern the horizontal distance between the rolls R4 and R5 exceeding the one between the rolls R1 and R2. The tensioning roll R4 in its position indicated in the Figure 1 with solid lines cor¬responds to its end position. From this end position of the tensioning roll R4 shown on the left hand side the further deflecting roll R3 arranged above it is off¬set towards the left by a distance, which measured from roll centre to roll centre corresponds about to the radius of the rolls R1 through R5 which all are of the same diameter. The vertical distance between the rolls R3 and R4 measured centre to centre corresponds about to the roll diameter. This arrangement en¬sures that the belt 18 contacts the tensioning roll R4 over a wrapping angle of 180° always, independently of the roll position. The belt 18 is driven e.g. via the lower deflecting roll R5 shown at the lower left in the plane in which the belt 18 is tensioned. The upper left deflecting roll R2 is arranged at the upper end of a pivoting arm 26 which at its other end is supported rotatable about the axis of the left lower de¬ flecting roll R5. In the Figure 1 the pivoting arm 26 is shown with dash-dotted lines in its position pivoted to the left hand side, in which position the completed tap 12 is ejected. The tube H arranged rotatable about the fixed axis A and the two deflecting rolls R1 and R2 are so dimensioned, and in the working position in which the pivoting-arm 26 is pivoted towards the right, are ar¬ ranged in relation to each other so . that the loop formed by the belt 18 between the deflecting rolls R1 and R2 at the beginning of the lap winding process embraces the tube H over a minimum initial wrapping angle which pref¬ erentially equals, or exceeds, 120° and in particular equals, or exceeds, 180°, and in the present case equals about 180°. This lay-out of the loop at the begin¬ ning of the lap winding process is indicated with dotted lines in the Figure 1. In this phase of the process the tensioning roll R4 is located in its end position shown at the fight hand side. During the winding process the wrapping angle over which the belt loop 20 embraces the tube H increases. The tensioning roll R4 is shifted towards the left hand side until upon completion of the build-up of the lap 12 it reaches its other end position shown with solid lines at the left hand side. The positions of the two upper deflecting rolls R1 and R2 can be adjusted in all directions for setting the lap winding apparatus before bringing it into service. The deflecting roll R3 is bevelled and its position can be adjusted in lateral direc¬tions. The deflecting roll R5 which serves as drive roll is not bevelled and can not be adjusted. The drive in particular can be effected via a clutch or via a reduction gear. The associated Motor can be frequency controlled. The tensioning device 22 for generating a tensioning force in function of the lap diameter is associated to a preferentially electronic control device 28. In the de¬sign example illustrated in the Figure 1 a sensor 30 is provided directly scanning the lap diameter which supplies a corresponding signal S1 to the control device 28. However, instead of the sensor 30 also a measuring device measuring the batt length fed in could be associated with the control device 28 for supplying the control device with a signal representative of the lap diameter. Adjustment of the position of the tensioning roll R4 along the linear guide ar¬rangement 24 controlled via the control device 28 can be effected using e.g. an electrical, hydraulic or pneumatic drive. This drive can comprise a cylin¬der/piston unit. Also the belt drive effected via the deflecting roll R5 can be controlled via the control device 28 using an open loop or closed loop control system which can be implemented using a frequency-controlled invertor or a similar device. The tube H appropriately is clamped between two lap discs 32, 34 (comp. Figur¬es 3 and 6) which can be removed laterally in the direction of the horizontal ar¬row shown in the Figure 6. These lap discs also can be designed pivotable out¬wardly. As illustrated in particular in the Figure 3 the lap discs 32, 34 are provid¬ed with extensions 36, 38 onto which the tube H can be donned. Also removal of the lap discs 32, 34, ejection of the lap 12 effected by pivoting outwardly the pivoting arm 26, transfer of the lap to a transporting device or simi¬lar devices and/or insertion and clamping of an empty new tube H can be auto¬mated at least partially and can be controlled by the preferably electronic control device 28. In the outlet area of the batt supply element 16 a banana-shaped guide element 40 formed like a tautened bow is provided which determines the width of the batt fed in. The batt supply element 16 designed as a batt infeed plate can be provid¬ed with a lateral guide element afso. In the Figure 2 a simplified view of the lap winding apparatus 10 illustrated in the Figure 1 is shown at the beginning of the winding process during which phase the tensioning roll R4 is in its end position shown at the right hand side. Accord¬ing to this Figure 2 dimensions and positions of rolls relative to each other are given for one design example the values cited, however, are not to be under¬stood in a restricting sense. In the design example illustrated in the Figure 2 dk designates the diameters of the deflecting rolls R1, R2, R3 and R5 as well as of the tensioning roll R4. WD de¬signates the variable diameter of the lap which at the beginning of the winding operation corresponds to a value WDo i.e. to the diameter of the tube H. The dia¬meter dk of the deflecting rolls R1, R2, R3 and R5 and the initial lap diameter WDo and the tube diameter in this design example are equal and are dimension¬ed as follows: dk = 200 mm WDo = 200 mm In this Figure 2 L1 designates the vertical distance between the deflecting rolls R2 and R5 measured from roll centre to roll centre. L2 designates the horizontal distance between the deflecting rolls R2 and R5 measured centre to centre. L3 designates the corresponding horizontal distance between the deflecting rolls R1 and R2. L4 designates the horizontal distance between the centre line between the deflecting rolls R1 and R2 line extending through the centre of the tube H and the centre of the deflecting roll Rl. 1_7 designates the vertical distance between the centres of the deflecting roll R3 and the tensioning roll R4. L8 designates the shifting distance over which the tensioning roll R4 is moved along the linear guide arrangement 24. L9 designates the horizontal distance, measured centre to centre, between the deflecting roll R3 and the tensioning roll R4 located in its end position shown at the left hand side (as shown in the Figure 5). L10 desig¬nates the distance between the two deflecting rolls R2 and R3 measured centre to centre. In the present design example these distances are of the following val¬ues: L1 =■ 700 mm; L2 « 260 mm; L3 « 300 mm; L4 « 150 mm; L7 * 200 mm; L8 a 455 mm; L9 « 100 mm; L10 = 650mm. In the Figure 3 the two lap discs 32, 34 are shown between which the tube H is clamped. In this arrangement the tube is donned onto the extensions 36, 38 pro¬vided on the lap discs 32, 34. The vertical distance between the upper deflecting rolls R1 and R2 and the tube H remains constant as indicated by the vertical ar¬row. In this Figure 3 also the section of the belt 18 extending from the deflecting roll 3 to the tube H is shown. The process phase shown is the phase of the be¬ginning of the lap winding process during which no lap has been built up yet on the tube H. In the Figure 4 the same roll arrangement is shown as in the Figure 2, but with the wrapping angles wi extending over the respective rolls and the lengths Li of the free belt sections extending between the rolls being indicated. In this ar¬rangement wi designates the wrapping angle over which the belt 18 embraces the corresponding roll or the tube H. The corresponding values in the present design example are listed as follows: w1 * 171°; w2 * 167°; w3 « 74°; w4 * 180°; w5= 110°; wH « 194°. In the case illustrated the loop 20 at the beginning of the lap winding process ini¬tially embraces the tube H over a wrapping angle wH of about 194° the initial lap diameter WDrj being 200 mm corresponding to 0 (zero) batt layers and thus to the tube diameter. L11 designates the length of the belt section extending freely between the de¬flecting rolls R2 and R5. L12 designates the length of the belt section extending freely between the deflecting roll R1 and the tube H. A corresponding length also prevails between the deflecting roll R2 and the tube H as the axis of the tube H is located in the centre plane between the two deflecting rolls R1 and R2. L13 des¬ignates the length of the belt section extending freely between the deflecting rolls R1 and R3. L14 designates the length of the belt section extending freely be¬tween the deflecting roll R3 and the tensioning roll R4. L15 finally designates the length of the belt section extending freely between the tensioning roll R4 and the deflecting roll R5. in the present design example these lengths are of the follow¬ing values: L11 * 747 mm; L12 = 403mm; L13 = 577 mm; L14 * 555 mm; L15= 1'465 mm. As the wrapping angle w4 in the area of the tensioning roll R4 is always 180° in¬dependently of the position of the roll R4 the two belt sections facing each other of the length L14 , and L15 respectively, always extend mutually parallel. In the Figure 5 a simplified view, comparable to the Figure 4, of the lap winding apparatus is shown in which arrangement, however, the end phase of the lap winding process is illustrated, i.e. the tensioning roll R4 has reached its end po¬sition shown at the left hand side. In this arrangement the wrapping angles w3, w4 and w5 in the area of the deflecting roll R3, the tensioning roll R4 and the de¬flecting roll R5 have not changed with respect to the phase at the beginning of the lap winding process. But the wrapping angle wH', over which the belt loop 20 embraces the tube H, now is about 282°. The wrapping angle w1' in the area of the deflecting roll R1 now is about 215°. In the area of the deflecting roll R2 the wrapping angle w2' now is about 211°. The length L9 of the belt section freely extending between the deflecting roll R3 and the tensioning roll R4 is of 100 mm, which thus corresponds to the radius of these two rolls, and which is equal to the radius of any one of the other deflecting rolls and of the tensioning roll R4 as well as the one of the tube H. The length L16 of the belt section freely extending between the tensioning roll R4 and the deflect¬ing roll R5isof 1'010mm. The lengths L11 and U3of the belt sections freely extending between the deflecting rolls R2 and R5, and between the deflecting rolls R1 and R3, respectively, remain unchanged. From the Figure 6 it can be seen that the lap winding process now is completed. The diameter of the lap 12 now almost equals the diameter of the lap discs 32, 34. The lap discs now can be removed as indicated by the horizontal arrow. In the design example described above the total belt length was of 5720 mm. The belt applied can be designed as an endless belt wound from aramid or Kevlar material or as a belt made from polyamide or similar materials, the ends of which are butted against each other. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention the tensioning device 24 is influenced by the control device 29 in such a manner that the tensioning force decreases as the lap diameter increases until a pre-setable lap size is reached. This decrease in tensioning force preferentially is linear as indicted in the Figure 7 where the graph of the tensioning force is plotted over the lap diameter. From this Figure 7 it also can be seen that in the preferred design example, after the pre-set lap size, which in the present case is about 560 mm, has been reached, the tensioning force is maintained constant until the final lap size is reached. According to the Figure 7 the tensioning force applied initially at the beginning of the lap winding process is about 24'000 N while the initial lap diameter is 200 mm. This tensioning force thereupon decreases linearly to about 10'000 N as the lap diameter has reached about 560 mm. Subsequently the tensioning force is maintained constant until the final lap size is reached. Owing to this adjustment the formation of blisters is minimised and the unrolling properties of the lap are improved. Owing to the initially harder winding action under higher force plasticity of the lap is reduced and the lap structure in itself is rendered more stable which positively influences the unrolling properties of the lap as well as the quality of the product. As can be seen from the Figure 5 the completed lap 12 is situated within the area defined by the deflecting rolls R1 through R3 and R5 as well as the tensioning roll R4. After the lap discs 32, 34 have been shifted, moved out, pivoted out and/or removed in similar manner, thus setting the lap free, the deflecting roll R2 is to be pivoted out by the pivoting arm 26 into the position indicated in the Figure 1 with dash-dotted lines in order to permit ejection of the lap. Ejection is effected by tensioning the belt 18 simultaneously with the pivoting motion of the pivoting arm 26. As the two upper deflecting rolls R1 and R2 now are moved apart from each other the lap 12 can be taken off upwardly without obstruction. In principle also another arrangement of the rolls can be chosen in which the lap is not taken off upwardly but is taken off, according to the illustration in the Figure 1, towards the left or towards the right. If this is desired, the arrangement shown in the Figure 1 is to be rotated by 90° in the plane of the drawing. In principle it also can be imagined that the lap is taken off downward. According to the Figure 1 the batt 14 is fed in via the batt feed guide 16 from the left hand side into the area 42 between the belt 18 and the tube H, i.e. on the side opposite the linear guide arrangement 24. In principle it also can be imag¬ined that the batt 14 is fed in on the same side on which the linear guide arrange¬ment is located. In this arrangement, however, the sense of rotation of the belt drive is to be reversed in such a manner that the batt is taken in into the gap be¬tween the belt 18 and the tube H. In the Figure 1 the control signal S2 indicates that the tensioning device 22 for controlling the tensioning force in function of the lap diameter, using an open loop or a closed loop system, is influenced by the control device 28. The belt drive speed also preferentially is controlled via said control device 28 in an open loop or a closed loop control system. Also said belt drive speed again can be varied in function of the lap diameter. At the beginning of each lap winding pro¬cess preferentially a relatively fast increase of the drive speed up to a predeter¬mined value can be effected. The belt drive preferentially effected via the deflect¬ing roll R5 furthermore can be controlled in such a manner that at least over a certain time period it decreases as the lap diameter increases. In principle, how¬ever, also a belt drive is possible the drive speed of which is maintained constant at least over a certain period of time. In principle the belt drive also can be effected via a deflecting roll other than the roll R5 or by a plurality of rolls or in any other suitable manner. The open loop or closed loop control of the belt drive speed in this case also is effected preferen¬tially via the control device 28 which advantageously also controls the automatic removal of the lap discs 32, 34, the automatic ejection of the lap 12 effected by pivoting the pivoting arm 26, the automatic transfer of the lap 12 to a transporting device, or to a similar device and/or the automatic insertion and clamping of an empty new tube H. In principle also automation of the start-up of the winding pro¬cess, controlled via the control device 28, can be understood by the person skilled in the art. WE CLAIM 1. A lap winding apparatus (10) for producing a lap (12) in which the batt (14) is wound onto core (H), which is rotatable about a fixed axis (A), driven by a revolving endless belt (18) and is arranged in a belt loop (20), formed between two deflecting rolls (Rl, R2) and increasing in length as the diameter of the lap (12) increases, the belt (18) being tensioned by a tensioning device (22), characterised in that the core (H) rotatable about a fixed axis (A) and the two deflecting rolls (Rl, R2) are dimensioned, and are positioned relative to each other, in such a manner that the loop (20) at the beginning of the lap winding process embraces the core over an initial minimum wrapping angle (wH) equal to, or larger than 120° and preferentially is equal to, or larger than 180°, and that the tensioning device (22) for generating a tensioning force depending on the lap diameter is associated with a control device (28). 2. The lap winding apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tensioning device (22) is influenced by the control device (28) in such a manner that the tensioning force decreases as the lap diameter increases until a pre-determinable lap size is reached. 3. The lap winding apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the tensioning force decreases linearly as the lap diameter increases. 4. The lap winding apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the pre-determinable lap size is smaller than the final lap size and that the tensioning force is maintained constant after the pre-determinable lap size is reached and until the final lap size. 5. The lap winding apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the tensioning force decreases over the major part of the lap winding process as the lap diameter increases and only towards the end of the lap winding process is maintained constant until the final lap size is reached. 6. The lap winding apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the control device (28) is associated with a sensor (30) which directly senses the lap diameter. 7. The lap winding apparatus as claimed in any one of the claims 3 to 5, wherein a measuring device measuring the batt length fed is associated with the control device (28) in such a manner that a signal representative of the lap diameter is supplied to the latter. 8. The lap winding apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the tensioning device (22) comprises a tensioning roll (R4) associated with a linear guide arrangement (24). 9. The lap winding apparatus claim 8, wherein the belt (18) is guided by further deflecting rolls (R3, R5) and by the tensioning roll (R4) in such a manner that the linear guide arrangement (24) associated with the tensioning roll (R4) is laid out in such a manner that the plane in which the belt (18) is tensioned is parallel to the plane containing the axes of the two deflecting rolls (Rl, R2) which form the belt loop (20) between them. 10. The Lap winding apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the belt (18) embraces the tensioning roll (R4) independently of the position of the later always over a wrapping angle (w4) of 180°. 11. The lap winding apparatus as claimed in one of the preceding claims, wherein the position of the tensioning roll (R4) is adjustable along the linear guide arrangement (24) using an electrical, hydraulic or pneumatic drive associated with the control device (28). 12. The lap winding apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the drive associated with the tensioning roll (R4) comprises a cylinder/piston unit. 13. The lap winding apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the loop (20) of the belt (18) taking up the lap (12) is arranged within the area defined by the deflecting rolls (Rl, R2, R3, R5) and the tensioning roll (R4). 14. The lap winding apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the belt (18) is driven through one (R5) of the deflecting rolls (Rl, R2, R3. R5). 15. The lap winding apparatus as claimed in claim 14, wherein the driven deflecting roll (R5) is situated in the plane in which the belt (18) is tensioned. 16. The lap winding apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the belt drive is associated with the control device (28) for controlling the belt drive speed in an open loop or a closed loop control system. 17. The lap winding apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein the belt drive speed is controllable as a function of the lap diameter using a closed loop or an open loop control system. 18. The lap winding apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the belt drive speed at the beginning of each lap winding process increases from zero to a pre-set value. 19. The lap winding apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the belt drive speed during the lap winding process decreases at least temporarily as the lap diameter increases. 20. The lap winding apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the belt drive is frequency controlled using an invertor or a similar device. 21. The lap winding apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the core (H) is arranged between two lap discs (32, 34) at least one of which is removable, e.g. shiftable, movable outward, pivotable and removable in any suitable manner. 22. The lap winding apparatus as claimed in claim 21, wherein the core is formed by a tube (H) and that the lap discs (32, 34) are provided with extensions (36,38) onto which the tube can be donned. 23. The lap winding apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein in the area of one of the two deflecting rolls (Rl, R2) between which the belt loop (20) forms a batt feed guide (16) is arranged via which the batt (14) can be fed into the area between the belt (18) and the core (H). 24. The lap winding apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the batt (14) is fed in from that side of a plane extending through the axis (A) of the core (H) and between the two deflecting rolls (Rl, R2) on which the infeed area of the gap formed between the belt (18) and the core (H) is located. 25. The lap winding apparatus as claimed any one of the claims 1 to 24, wherein the batt (14) is fed in from that side of a plane extending through the axis (A) of the core (H) and between the two deflecting rolls (Rl, R2) on which the outlet area of the gap formed between the belt (18) and the core (H) is located. 26. The lap winding apparatus as claimed in claim 22, wherein in the area of the batt supply element (16) the width of the batt fed in is determined by a banana-shaped guide element (40) formed like a tautened bow. 27. The lap winding apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the two deflecting rolls (RI, R2) forming the belt loop (20) between them for ejecting the lap (12) can be moved apart from each other while simultaneously the belt (18) is tensioned. 28. The lap winding apparatus as claimed in claim 26, wherein one (R2) of the two deflecting rolls (Rl, R2) is arranged at one end of a pivoting arm (26) which at its other end preferentially is supported pivotable about the axis of a further one (R5) of the other deflecting rolls (R3, R5). 29. The lap winding apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein removal of at least one of the lap discs (32,34), ejection of the lap (12), trans- fer of the lap (12) to a transporting device or a similar device and/or insertion and clamping of an empty new tube (H) is at least partially automated and is controlled by means of the control unit (28). 30. The lap winding apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least some of the deflecting rolls (Rl, R2, R3, R5) are adjustable at least in the direction of the roll axis concerned. 31. The lap winding apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein an endless belt wound using an aramid material such as Kevlar in particular is provided. 32. The lap winding apparatus as claimed in one of the claims 1 to 30, wherein a belt (18) made from polyamide material is provided, the ends of which are butted against each other. 33. A lap winding apparatus, substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Documents:

1841-mas-1996 abstract-duplicate.pdf

1841-mas-1996 abstract.pdf

1841-mas-1996 claims-duplicate.pdf

1841-mas-1996 claims.pdf

1841-mas-1996 correspondence-others.pdf

1841-mas-1996 correspondence-po.pdf

1841-mas-1996 description (complete)-duplicate.pdf

1841-mas-1996 description (complete).pdf

1841-mas-1996 drawings.pdf

1841-mas-1996 form-2.pdf

1841-mas-1996 form-26.pdf

1841-mas-1996 form-4.pdf

1841-mas-1996 form-6.pdf

1841-mas-1996 others.pdf

1841-mas-1996 petition.pdf