Method and apparatus for controlling the winding of an elongated element onto a collection reel with the interposition of a service fabric

Abstract

An apparatus for winding an elongated element onto a collection reel with the interposition of a service fabric, includes a device for feeding the elongated element toward the collection reel, a device for feeding the service fabric toward the collection reel, a device for driving in rotation the collection reel, and a control device for controlling the rotation speed of the collection reel. The control device includes a device for detecting the actual winding diameter of the collection reel and a device for adjusting the rotation speed of the collection reel according to the actual winding diameter of the collection reel.

Claims

1. An apparatus for winding an elongated element onto a collection reel with an interposition of a service fabric, comprising a first work station comprising: a device for feeding the elongated element toward the collection reel; a device for feeding the service fabric toward said collection reel; a device for driving in rotation said collection reel; a control device for controlling the rotation speed of said collection reel, wherein said control device comprises: a device for detecting an actual winding diameter of said collection reel; a device for adjusting the rotation speed of said collection reel according to said actual winding diameter of the collection reel; and a detection device for detecting a variation in length of a portion of elongated element about to be deposited onto said collection reel, said rotation speed of said collection reel also being dependent upon the variation in length of said portion of elongated element; and at least one actuator which is active on said detection device to counterbalance weight of the detection device and of said portion of elongated element weighing onto said detection device.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said device for detecting the actual winding diameter of the collection reel comprises a device for detecting instantaneous peripheral speed of said collection reel.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said device for detecting the instantaneous peripheral speed of the collection reel comprises a device for detecting instantaneous linear speed of the service fabric.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said device for detecting the instantaneous linear speed of the service fabric comprises an encoder associated with at least one roller capable of being adapted to deviate the service fabric toward said collection reel.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said device for feeding the elongated element comprises a first conveyor belt arranged close to said collection reel.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising, upstream of said first conveyor belt, at least one device for detecting variation of advancing speed of the elongated element.

7. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said first work station further comprises a control device for controlling a relative position of said first conveyor belt with respect to said collection reel.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said control device comprises a device for driving movement of said first conveyor belt along a feeding direction of the elongated element.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said driving device is operatively connected to said device for detecting actual winding diameter of the collection reel.

10. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said device for feeding the elongated element further comprises a second conveyor belt operatively arranged between said first conveyor belt and said collection reel.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said second conveyor belt can be moved between a rest position in which a tail end of said second conveyor belt is at a distal position from the collection reel and an operative position in which said tail end is at a proximal position to the collection reel.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said first work station comprises an actuator capable of being adapted to drive the movement of said second conveyor belt toward and/or from said collection reel.

13. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said second conveyor belt comprises two parallel belts which can be moved toward/away from one another.

14. The apparatus according to claim 13, comprising an actuator capable of being adapted to adjust the relative position of said two parallel belts.

15. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said control device for controlling the rotation speed of said collection reel, further comprises: a device for detecting a variation in length of a portion of elongated element about to be deposited onto said collection reel, said rotation speed of said collection reel also being dependent upon the variation in length of said portion of elongated element, wherein said device for detecting the variation in length is arranged downstream of said second conveyor belt.

16. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the service fabric is taken from a storage reel by rotating said collection reel.

17. The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said first work station further comprises a device for controlling rotation of said storage reel.

18. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said control device comprises a device for detecting instantaneous rotation speed of the storage reel and a braking device which is active on said storage reel.

19. The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said braking device comprises a motor capable of being adapted to apply to said storage reel a rotation in an opposite direction with respect to rotation applied by said collection reel.

20. The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said first work station comprises an adjustment device for adjusting a relative position of said collection reel and said storage reel.

21. The apparatus according to claim 20, wherein said adjustment device comprises a device for detecting an instantaneous position of the service fabric with respect to the collection reel along a first direction perpendicular to a feeding direction of the elongated element and a device for moving said storage reel along said first direction.

22. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first work station further comprises a device for detecting passage of a tail end of said elongated element during movement thereof toward said collection reel.

23. The apparatus according to claim 1, comprising at least one second work station substantially identical to the first work station and arranged downstream of said first work station with reference to a feeding direction of the elongated element.

24. The apparatus according to claim 23, comprising a device for driving movement of a first conveyor belt of the second work station toward and from the first conveyor belt of the first work station.

25. An apparatus for winding an elongated element onto a collection reel with an interposition of a service fabric, comprising a first work station comprising: a device for feeding the elongated element toward the collection reel; a device for feeding the service fabric toward said collection reel; a device for driving in rotation said collection reel; and a control device for controlling the rotation speed of said collection reel, wherein said control device comprises: a device for detecting an actual winding diameter of said collection reel, wherein said device for detecting the actual winding diameter of the collection reel comprises a device for detecting instantaneous peripheral speed of said collection reel; and a device for adjusting the rotation speed of said collection reel according to said actual winding diameter of the collection reel.

26. The apparatus according to claim 25, wherein said control device further comprises: a detection device for detecting a variation in length of a portion of elongated element about to be deposited onto said collection reel, said rotation speed of said collection reel also being dependent upon the variation in length of said portion of elongated element.

27. The apparatus according to claim 25, wherein said device for feeding the elongated element comprises a first conveyor belt arranged close to said collection reel.

28. The apparatus according to claim 25, wherein the service fabric is taken from a storage reel by rotating said collection reel.

29. An apparatus for winding an elongated element onto a collection reel with an interposition of a service fabric, comprising a first work station comprising: a device for feeding the elongated element toward the collection reel, wherein said device for feeding the elongated element comprises a first conveyor belt arranged close to said collection reel; a control device for controlling a relative position of said first conveyor belt with respect to said collection reel; a device for feeding the service fabric toward said collection reel; a device for driving in rotation said collection reel; and a control device for controlling the rotation speed of said collection reel, wherein said control device for controlling the rotation speed of said collection reel comprises: a device for detecting an actual winding diameter of said collection reel; and a device for adjusting the rotation speed of said collection reel according to said actual winding diameter of the collection reel.

30. The apparatus according to claim 29, wherein said control device further comprises: a detection device for detecting a variation in length of a portion of elongated element about to be deposited onto said collection reel, said rotation speed of said collection reel also being dependent upon the variation in length of said portion of elongated element.

31. The apparatus according to claim 29, wherein said device for detecting the actual winding diameter of the collection reel comprises a device for detecting instantaneous peripheral speed of said collection reel.

32. The apparatus according to claim 29, further comprising, upstream of said first conveyor belt, at least one device for detecting variation of advancing speed of the elongated element.

33. The apparatus according to claim 29, wherein said control device comprises a device for driving movement of said first conveyor belt along a feeding direction of the elongated element.

34. The apparatus according to claim 29, wherein said device for feeding the elongated element further comprises a second conveyor belt operatively arranged between said first conveyor belt and said collection reel.

35. The apparatus according to claim 29, wherein the service fabric is taken from a storage reel by rotating said collection reel.

36. An apparatus for winding an elongated element onto a collection reel with an interposition of a service fabric, comprising a first work station comprising: a device for feeding the elongated element toward the collection reel; a device for detecting passage of a tail end of said elongated element during movement thereof toward said collection reel; a device for feeding the service fabric toward said collection reel; a device for driving in rotation said collection reel; and a control device for controlling the rotation speed of said collection reel, wherein said control device comprises: a device for detecting an actual winding diameter of said collection reel; and a device for adjusting the rotation speed of said collection reel according to said actual winding diameter of the collection reel.

37. The apparatus according to claim 36, wherein said control device further comprises: a detection device for detecting a variation in length of a portion of elongated element about to be deposited onto said collection reel, said rotation speed of said collection reel also being dependent upon the variation in length of said portion of elongated element.

38. The apparatus according to claim 36, wherein said device for detecting the actual winding diameter of the collection reel comprises a device for detecting instantaneous peripheral speed of said collection reel.

39. The apparatus according to claim 36, wherein said device for feeding the elongated element comprises a first conveyor belt arranged close to said collection reel.

40. The apparatus according to claim 36, wherein the service fabric is taken from a storage reel by rotating said collection.

41. An apparatus for winding an elongated element onto a collection reel with an interposition of a service fabric comprising a first work station comprising: a device for feeding the elongated element toward the collection reel; a device for feeding the service fabric toward said collection reel; a device for driving in rotation said collection reel; and a control device for controlling the rotation speed of said collection reel, wherein said control device comprises: a device for detecting an actual winding diameter of said collection reel; and a device for adjusting the rotation speed of said collection reel according to said actual winding diameter of the collection reel; at least one second work station substantially identical to the first work station and arranged downstream of said first work station with reference to a feeding direction of the elongated element; and a device for driving movement of a first conveyor belt of the second work station toward and from the first conveyor belt of the first work station.

42. The apparatus according to claim 41, wherein said control device further comprises: a detection device for detecting a variation in length of a portion of elongated element about to be deposited onto said collection reel, said rotation speed of said collection reel also being dependent upon the variation in length of said portion of elongated element.

43. The apparatus according to claim 41, wherein said device for detecting the actual winding diameter of the collection reel comprises a device for detecting instantaneous peripheral speed of said collection reel.

44. The apparatus according to claim 41, wherein said device for feeding the elongated element comprises a first conveyor belt arranged close to said collection reel.

45. The apparatus according to claim 41, wherein the service fabric is taken from a storage reel by rotating said collection.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Further features and advantages of the present invention will appear more clearly from the following detailed description of some preferred embodiments of an method and apparatus according to the present invention, made with reference to the annexed drawings. In such drawings:

(2) FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an apparatus according to the present invention, such apparatus being shown in a first operating configuration thereof;

(3) FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of a first portion of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

(4) FIG. 3 is a schematic side view of the portion of apparatus of FIG. 2;

(5) FIG. 4 is a schematic side view of a second portion of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

(6) FIG. 5 is a schematic view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 in a different operating configuration.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(7) In FIG. 1, an exemplary embodiment of an apparatus for depositing an elongated element 1 onto a collection reel 2 with the interposition of a service fabric 3 is globally indicated with reference numeral 10.

(8) Such apparatus 10 is used, in particular, in a process for building a tyre for vehicle wheels, in association with other apparatuses. Such process is intended, in particular, for making the side walls and/or the tread band and/or other tyre components of elastomeric material.

(9) The elongated element 1 is an elongated element of elastomeric material obtained through a conventional drawing process. The drawing process is carried out upstream of apparatus 10 and, preferably, in line with the winding carried out by apparatus 10.

(10) When the elongated element 1 is used for making the side walls of the tread band of a tyre for vehicle wheels, such elongated element 1 preferably has a minimum thickness of 3 mm, more preferably comprised between 4 mm and 15 mm, and a width preferably comprised between 60 mm and 320 mm.

(11) Apparatus 10 comprises two work stations respectively indicated with reference numeral 11 and 11a. The two work stations 11, 11a are substantially identical (except for some construction details that shall appear clearly hereinafter in the present description) and are arranged one downstream of the other with reference to the feeding direction of the elongated element 10 (such direction is indicated in FIG. 1 with arrow A).

(12) Throughout the present description, the work station 11 shall be described in detail, it being understood that the work station 11a has the same structural components as station 11, unless otherwise said.

(13) As schematically indicated in FIG. 1, upstream of the work station 11 there is provided an input belt 5 intended to bring the elongated element 1 from the drawing devices (not shown) provided upstream of apparatus 10 towards the latter.

(14) The movement of the input belt 5 is controlled by a specific motor group 6.

(15) A plurality of photocells 7 is positioned on the input belt 5, preferably four (or other conventional presence sensor/s), adapted to detect the advancing speed variation of the elongated element 1 upstream of the work station 11.

(16) The work station 11 of apparatus 10 comprises a device 20 for feeding the elongated element 1 towards the collection reel 2.

(17) As better shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the feeding device 20 comprises a first conveyor belt 21 arranged downstream of the input belt 5 and close to the collection reel 2 with reference to the feeding direction of the elongated element 1.

(18) The input belt 5 and the conveyor belt 21 are both mounted on a support frame 100.

(19) The tail portion of the input belt 5 is at least partly overlapped to the head portion of the conveyor belt 21 so as to allow the passage of the elongated element 1 from the input belt 5 to the conveyor belt 21. Such passage takes place through the aid of a plurality of rollers (generally indicated with reference numeral 8) suitably arranged downstream of the tail portion of the input belt 5.

(20) The movement of the conveyor belt 21 is controlled by a specific motor group 22.

(21) As shall appear clearly in the following of the present description, the speed of the conveyor belt 21 is adjusted according to the advancing speed of the elongated element 1 upstream of the conveyor belt 21, the latter speed being calculated upon detection of a difference in the advancing speed of the elongated element 1 through the photocells 7.

(22) A second conveyor belt 23 is arranged between the first conveyor belt 21 and the collection reel 2. The movement of conveyor belt 23 is controlled by the same motor group 22 adapted to control the movement of the first conveyor belt 21.

(23) The conveyor belt 23 is pivoted about an axis Fi (FIG. 2) defined at a tail end of the conveyor belt 21. The conveyor belt 23 can thus oscillate between a rest position wherein a tail end thereof is at a distal position from the collection reel 2 (such position being shown in FIG. 5) and an operating position wherein said tail end is at a proximal position to the collection reel 2 (the latter position being shown in FIGS. 1-3). The oscillation of the conveyor belt 23 is indicated, in FIGS. 2 and 3, by arrow B.

(24) The oscillation of the conveyor belt 23 is driven by a pneumatic actuator 24. Such actuator 24 comprises, in particular, a cylinder 25 associated with a crosspiece 26 integral to the support frame 100 and a piston 27 associated with a crosspiece 28 integral to the conveyor belt 23.

(25) In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the conveyor belt 23 comprises a pair of parallel belts 231, 232 that can be moved away from/towards each other through two pneumatic cylinders 291, 292. Such cylinders 291, 292 allow the automatic adjustment of the relative position of the two parallel belts 231, 232 according to the width of the elongated element 1 and to the width of the collection reel 2. The reciprocal movement of the two parallel belts 231, 232 is shown in FIG. 2 by the dual arrow indicated on the two belts 231, 232.

(26) In an alternative embodiment not shown, the conveyor belt 23 comprises a single belt mounted in an oscillating way about the pivot axis Fi. The working position of such belt is the closest possible to the collection reel 2 for minimising the free portion of elongated element 1 about to be deposited onto the collection reel 2.

(27) As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a detection device 30 is arranged between the conveyor belt 23 and the collection reel 2 for detecting the variation in length of the portion 1 of elongated element 1 about to be deposited onto the collection reel 2. Such portion 1 of elongated element 1 is in the practice defined by the portion of elongated element that projects from the conveyor belt 23.

(28) With reference to FIG. 2, the detection device 30 comprises, in particular, two potentiometers 301, 302 (one at the respective belt 231, 232). The two potentiometers 301, 302 are movable away from/towards each other integrally with belts 231, 232. In case the conveyor belt 23 comprises a single belt, a single potentiometer is used.

(29) Potentiometers 301, 302 (or, alternatively, the single potentiometer) are each connected to a pneumatic actuator 321, 322 comprising a cylinder 331, 332 associated with a crosspiece 341, 342 integral to the conveyor belt 231, 232 and a piston 351, 352 associated with a crosspiece 361, 362 associated with the respective potentiometer 301, 302 (or to the single potentiometer). The pneumatic actuators 321, 322 act on potentiometers 301, 302 (or on the single potentiometer) for detecting the variation in length of the portion 1 of elongated element 1 weighing onto potentiometers 301, 302 (or onto the single potentiometer) and are driven through proportional valves for counterbalancing the weight of potentiometers 301, 302 and of portion 1 of elongated element 1 weighing onto potentiometers 301, 302 (or onto the single potentiometer) as the geometrical dimensions (for example, thickness) and the linear weight of the elongated element 1 vary.

(30) In operation, potentiometers 301, 302 (or the single potentiometer) oscillate about the pivot axis F2, as indicated in FIGS. 2 and 3 by arrow C.

(31) Always with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, at the conveyor belt 21 apparatus 10 comprises a device 40 for detecting the passage of a tail end of the elongated element 1 during its movement towards the collection reel 2.

(32) Such device 40 comprises two sensors 411, 412 arranged at the sides of the conveyor belt 21 and a roller 42 arranged above the conveyor belt 21. The ends of roller 42 act in thrust towards the detection surfaces of sensors 411, 412. During winding of the elongated element 1 onto the collection reel 2, roller 42 contacts the top surface of the elongated element 1. The direct contact between ends of roller 42 and sensors 411, 412 indicates the passage of the tail portion of the elongated element 1.

(33) The assembly defined by conveyor belt 21, conveyor belt 23 and detection device 30 may shift with respect to the collection reel 2 along the feeding direction A of the elongated element 1. Such shifting takes place under the control of a motor member 45 (FIGS. 1 and 3) suitable seated on a special support crosspiece 101 provided underneath the conveyor belt 21. For simplicity of representation, the motor member 45 and the support crosspiece 101 are not shown in FIG. 2.

(34) As shall appear clearly in the following of the present description, the above shifting takes place according to the actual winding diameter of the collection reel 2, so as to keep the length of the free portion of elongated element 1 projecting from the detection device 30 constant as the aforementioned actual winding diameter varies. The speeds of the input belt 5 and of the conveyor belts 21 and 23 are in turn corrected according to the above shifting, so as not to create undesired strains or accumulation.

(35) With reference to FIGS. 1 and 4, the rotation of the collection reel 2 is driven by a specific motor group 50. A lever system 51 (FIG. 4), driven by a specific pneumatic actuator 52, allows lifting the collection reel 2 for bringing it to the working position.

(36) The service fabric 3 is taken from a specific storage reel 60. Such storage reel 60 is mounted close to the collection reel 2 on a square bar 61 which is in turn mounted on a support 62.

(37) The service fabric 3 is unwound from the storage reel 60, and wound onto the collection reel 2, by the pulling action exerted by the latter when driven in rotation.

(38) A motor group 65 acts on the storage reel 60 for commanding a rotation in an opposite direction (or, alternatively, in the same direction but at a reduced speed) with respect to the rotation commanded by the collection reel 2. The motor group 65 then acts as a brake. Such motor group 65 is torque-limited and allows adjusting the braking torque and, as a consequence, the tension of the service brake 3.

(39) Between the storage reel 60 and the collection reel 2 there is a plurality of deviating rollers (generally indicated with reference numeral 68) adapted to bring the service fabric 3 from the storage reel 60 to the collection reel 2.

(40) An encoder 70 adapted to detect the instantaneous linear speed of the service fabric 3 during the winding onto the collection reel 2 is mounted at one of such deviating rollers 68.

(41) Once the instantaneous linear speed of the service fabric 3 is known, it is possible to calculate the instantaneous peripheral speed of the collection reel 2 and, as a consequence, the actual winding diameter of the collection reel 2.

(42) Once the instantaneous linear speed of the service fabric 3 is known, it is further possible to calculate the instantaneous rotation speed of the storage reel 60 and, as a consequence, the actual unwinding diameter of the storage reel 60. It is thus possible to manage and instantaneously control the rotation speed of the collection reel 2 and the tension applied to the service fabric 3 as the winding diameter of the collection reel 2 and the unwinding diameter of the storage reel 60 vary.

(43) The storage reel 60 and the motor group 65 can be moved in crosswise direction with respect to the pulling direction of the service fabric 3 so that the service fabric 3 is pulled onto the collection reel 2 along a predetermined pulling direction. This is done in order to keep the service fabric 3 centred and aligned with the elongated element 1 during the winding onto the collection reel 2. Such crosswise movement is driven by an actuator 80 as a result of the signal generated by a position sensor (not shown) adapted to detect the position of a side edge of the service fabric 3.

(44) The collection reel 2, the storage reel 60 and the relative driving and support members described above are all mounted on a base 90 that can be moved, driven by a special motor group 91, in a crosswise direction with respect to the feeding direction A of the elongated element 1. This is done in order to move it to the reel loading/unloading zone.

(45) The work station 11a is totally identical to the work station 11 described above, except as regards the conveyor belt 21a, corresponding to the conveyor belt 21 of the work station 11. The other structural components of the work station 11a are thus indicated with the same numeral references as the corresponding structural components of the work station 11, with the addition of letter a. For clarity of illustration, only some of such numeral references are shown in FIGS. 1 and 5.

(46) With reference to FIGS. 1 and 5, the conveyor belt 21a has a greater longitudinal extension than that of conveyor belt 21 and can be moved away from/towards the conveyor belt 21 under the control of a specific motor group 45a corresponding to the motor group 45 of the first work station 11.

(47) The operation of apparatus 10 is managed by a special control device (not shown). Such control device adjusts the rotation speed of the collection reel 2 according to the actual winding diameter of the collection reel 2 and controls the tension as discussed above.

(48) The method of simultaneous winding of the elongated element 1 and of the service fabric 3 onto the collection reel 2 shall now be described.

(49) In a preliminary step of preparation of apparatus 10, the operator brings the collection reel 2 into the work station 11 rolling it on the ground.

(50) The distance between the opposite levers of the lever system 51 is adjusted according to the width of the collection reel 2. Such adjustment takes place through a specific pneumatic cylinder.

(51) The collection reel 2 is then lifted and moved into the working position by the lever system 51 driven by the pneumatic actuator 52 (FIG. 4).

(52) At that point, the operator winds some turns of fabric service 3 onto the collection reel 2, manually pulling such service fabric 3 from the storage reel 60.

(53) The detection device 30 is disconnected discharging the feeding proportional valve of each pneumatic actuator 321, 322. Potentiometers 301 and 302 (or the single potentiometer) are in this way moved close to the collection reel 2.

(54) The relative position of the two parallel belts 231, 232 of the second conveyor belt 23 is adjusted by actuators 291, 292 according to the width of the collection reel 2 and to the width of the elongated element 1.

(55) The head of the elongated element 1 is then positioned tangent to the core of the collection reel 2. Such positioning is obtained by actuating the motor group 6 adapted to move the input belt 5 and the motor group 22 adapted to move the conveyor belts 21 and 23.

(56) The detection device 30 is then reactivated, charging the feeding proportional valve of each pneumatic actuator 321, 322. Potentiometers 301 and 302 (or the single potentiometer) are in this way lifted up to contacting portion 1 of elongated element 1 that projects from the conveyor belt 23.

(57) The start of the controlled winding of the elongated element 1 and of the service fabric 3 onto the collection reel 2 (configuration shown in FIG. 1 and, more in detail, in FIGS. 2-4) is then driven.

(58) In a starting transient, the collection reel 2 is driven in rotation by the respective motor group 50 at an initial rotation speed calculated according to the initial diameter previously detected by the winding on a portion of only service fabric 3 and according to the linear peripheral speed of the collection reel 2. Such linear peripheral speed is detected by detecting, through the encoder 70, the linear speed of the service fabric 3. The latter is pulled towards the collection reel 2 by rotating such reel, thus winding thereon together with the elongated element 1.

(59) Once the peripheral speed of the collection reel 2 is known, the actual winding diameter of the collection reel 2 is calculated.

(60) In operation after the starting transient, the rotation speed of the collection reel 2 is adjusted, instant by instant, according to the aforementioned actual winding diameter, so that the instantaneous peripheral speed of the collection reel 2 is equal to the instantaneous advancing speed of the elongated element 1. The latter is initially known as a given datum upstream of the input belt 5 and afterwards, it is calculated by the detection carried out by photocells 7 provided onto the same input belt 5.

(61) The rotation speed of the collection reel 2 is further adjusted, instant by instant, by the feedback of the signal generated by the detection device 30 of the variation in length of portion 1 of elongated element 1 about to be deposited. In particular, the rotation speed of the collection reel 2 is increased or decreased according to whether the detection device 30 respectively detects a decrease or an increase in the length of portion 1 of elongated element 1 about to be deposited.

(62) At the same time, the motor member 45 drives the assembly defined by conveyor belt 21, conveyor belt 23 and detection device 30 to make it shifting with respect to the collection reel 2 along the feeding direction A of the elongated element 1, with a motion adjusted according to the actual winding diameter of the collection reel 2, so as to keep the length of the free portion of elongated element 1 projecting from the detection device 30 constant. The speeds of the conveyor belts 21 and 23 are corrected according to the above shifting.

(63) During the winding of the elongated element 1 and of the service fabric 3 onto the collection reel 2, the motor group 65 drives the storage reel 3 in the opposite direction (or, alternatively, in the same direction but at a reduced speed) with respect to the rotation commanded by the collection reel 2, then acting as a brake. Once the rotation speed of the storage reel 3 and its peripheral speed are known (the latter being detected through the encoder 70), the actual unwinding diameter of such reel is then calculated instant by instant.

(64) Once the actual unwinding diameter of the storage reel 60 and the actual winding diameter of the collection reel 2 are known and taking into account the desired tension on the service fabric 3, the torque limit on the motor group 65 is updated so as to control the tension of the service fabric 3 during the entire process.

(65) During the winding of the elongated element 1 and of the service fabric 3 onto the collection reel 2, the storage reel 60 is further moved perpendicularly to the feeding direction A of the elongated element 1 in order to keep the service fabric 3 aligned along a predetermined pulling direction. Such movement is driven by actuator 80 according to the signal generated by a position sensor (not shown) adapted to detect the position of a side edge of the service fabric 3.

(66) Moreover, the base 90 whereon the collection reel 2 and the storage reel 60 are mounted is moved, driven by the motor group 91, in a crosswise direction with respect to the feeding direction A of the elongated element 1. Such crosswise movement moreover, takes place in the initial setting step of apparatus 10 according to the width of the collection reel 2 used, or also in order to move the collection reel out of line in the loading/unloading step, thus facilitating the operator's manual maneuvres.

(67) The winding of the elongated element 1 and of the service fabric 3 onto the collection reel 2 is carried out until sensors 411, 412 generate a respective identification signal of the passage of the tail ends of the elongated element 1. Such signal is generated by the direct contact of the ends of roller 42 (which in operation contacts the top surface of the elongated element 1) with the detection surfaces of sensors 411, 412.

(68) Subsequent to the detection of the above signal, and after a predetermined delay time adapted to allow the completion of the deposition of the elongated element 1 onto the collection reel 2, the detection device 30 and the relevant feedback on the rotation speed of the collection reel 2 are deactivated and the backward shifting of conveyor belts 21 and 23 is driven so as to lay the tail of the elongated element 1 onto the collection reel 2.

(69) The unloading operations of the collection reel 2 and storage reel 60 from the work station 11 are then carried out. Such operations take place according to a procedure opposite that of loading described above.

(70) In the meantime, the conveyor belt 21a of the work station 11a may be brought to the position shown in FIG. 5 so as to proceed with the winding of the elongated element 1 onto the collection reel 2a. Such winding takes place at the same time as that of a service fabric 3a collected in a storage reel 60a arranged on a side of the collection reel 2a.

(71) The setup of apparatus 10 in the operating configuration of FIG. 5 therefore takes place automatically at the end of the winding onto the collection reel 2 of the work station 11 (configuration of FIG. 1), and vice versa.

(72) When the conveyor belt 21a is in the working position of FIG. 5, the conveyor belt 23 and the detection device 30 of the work station 11 are in the respective distal positions with respect to the collection reel 2, so that the head end of the conveyor belt 21a can position underneath the detection device 30. In this operating configuration, the elongated element 1 bypasses the work station 11 and is fed to the collection reel 2a, in order to be wound thereon at the same time as the service fabric 3a. Such winding takes place in a way totally similar to what described above with reference to the work station 11. In a specific embodiment of the present invention, in the starting transient the rotation speed of the collection reel 2, 2a is comprised between 3 and 45 m/min, while in operation after the starting transient it is comprised between 30 and 45 m/min.

(73) From the above description it is clear that the method and the apparatus of the present invention allow carrying out the simultaneous winding of an elongated element 1 onto a collection reel 2, 2a with the interposition of a service fabric 3, 3a, carrying out an automatic control of the winding speed and tension of both the elongated element 1 and the service fabric 3, 3a. An even winding which is free of tensions is thus obtained when changing the operating conditions, such as for example: thickness and/or width and/or weight/amount of the elongated element 1, diameter and/or width of the collection reel 2, 2a. Moreover, it is possible to control the winding of the tail portion of the elongated element 1 and automatically manage the centering of the service fabric 3, 3a with respect to the elongated element 1.

(74) Of course, a man skilled in the art can make further changes and variants to the invention described hereinbefore in order to satisfy specific and contingent application requirements, these changes and variants in any case falling within the scope of protection defined by the following claims.