CA2051934C - Cabling machine - Google Patents
Cabling machine Download PDFInfo
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- CA2051934C CA2051934C CA 2051934 CA2051934A CA2051934C CA 2051934 C CA2051934 C CA 2051934C CA 2051934 CA2051934 CA 2051934 CA 2051934 A CA2051934 A CA 2051934A CA 2051934 C CA2051934 C CA 2051934C
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- laying
- reliever
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Abstract
The present invention relates to a cabling machine for laying optofibres, cables or the like in an oscillating, wavy path around a smooth pull-reliever or into grooves of oscillating, wavy shape extruded around a pull-reliever, so-called S/Z-cabling. The machine includes a pull-reliever reeling-off device, a braking capstan, a fibre reeling-off device or devices, an S/Z-bench for laying the fibre/fibres around the pull-reliever, a yarn spinner for fixating the fibre/fibres on the pull-reliever, and a wheel capstan and a taking-up device for forwardly pulling and taking-up the finished cable respectively, the S/Z-bench including a laying-on tube provided with a laying-on head, wherein the fibre/fibres pass over the laying-on tube and up to and through holes in the laying-on head, where they are laid on the pull-reliever and fixated with yarn taken from the yarn spinner located immediately downstream of the laying-on head. According to a first aspect of the invention, the S/Z-bench (6) includes an aligning mechanism (13) which grips around and guides the pull-reliever (2), and a motor (15) which imparts an oscillating, rotational movement to the aligning mechanism via a transmission (14). The laying-on tube (11) is fixed to or connected to the transmission (14) which imparts an oscillatory, rotational movement to the laying-on tube in a direction opposite to the aligning mechanism (13). A sensor (17) is connected to the transmission (14) and controls rotational movement of the motor (15) and therewith of the laying-on tube (11) and/or the aligning mechanism (13), wherein rotational movement of the laying-on tube is restricted so that the fibre/fi-bres (5) will only be wound onto the laying-on tube (11) to a small extent. According to another aspect of the invention, the pull-reliever reeling-off device (1) and the braking capstan (3) are rotatably mounted and the laying-on tube (11) is freely rotatable and guided by the action of laying the fibre/fibres (5) into the grooves in the pull-reliever (2). The laying-on tube (11) is connected to the transmission (14) and a sensor (17) is connected to the transmission and functions to detect rotation of the laying-on tube (11) caused by the oscillating waveshape of the grooves and causes the reeling-off device (1) and the braking capstan (3) to rotate to perform a correcting function and therewith counteract excessive rotation of the laying-on tube (11) so that the grooves in the pull-reliever (2) in the vicinity of the laying-on head will extend substantially rectilinearly and such that the fibre/fibres (5) extend substantially parallel with the laying-on tube.
Description
~~~~.~~4 A c~.s~art~ rtACxaNx TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a cabling machine for laying optofibres, cables or the like in an oscillating wavy path around a smooth pull-reliever, or down into grooves of oscillating waveshape that have been extruded around a pull-reliever, so-called S/Z°cabling, said machine comprising a pull-reliever reeling-off device, a braking capstan, a fibre/fibres unreeling device, a S/Z-bench for laying the fibrejfibres around the pull-reliever, a yarn spinner for fixating the fibre/fibres on the pull-reliever, and a wheel capstan and a taking-up device for pulling the pull-reliever through the machine and taking-up the finished cable, wherein the S/Z-bench includes fibre-laying-on tube which is provided with a fibre-laying-on head, and wherein the fibre/fibres passes/pass over the laying-on tube up to and through holes provided in the laying-on head, where said fibre ox fibres is or are laid on the pull-reliever and fixated with yarn taken from the yarn spinner located immediately downstream of the laying-on heads Cabling machines for laying optofibres or the like in an oscilla-ting, wavy path around a smooth pull-reliever are known to the art. These cabling machines include an S/Z-bench which includes a laying-on tube or discs which are oscillated backwards and forwards for the purpose of laying the fibres on the pull-relie-ver. The fibres, which pass along the laying--on tube to a laying-on head located on the forward end of said tube, become wound to a greater or lesser extent around the laying-on tube during operation of the machine, which causes the fibres to be subjected to friction forces. These frictional forces will vary in accor-dance with the rotational movement of the laying-on tube at that particular moment in time, and when the fibres are wound to a great extent on the tubs, the frictional forces can be so high as to damage the fibres.
The present invention relates to a cabling machine for laying optofibres, cables or the like in an oscillating wavy path around a smooth pull-reliever, or down into grooves of oscillating waveshape that have been extruded around a pull-reliever, so-called S/Z°cabling, said machine comprising a pull-reliever reeling-off device, a braking capstan, a fibre/fibres unreeling device, a S/Z-bench for laying the fibrejfibres around the pull-reliever, a yarn spinner for fixating the fibre/fibres on the pull-reliever, and a wheel capstan and a taking-up device for pulling the pull-reliever through the machine and taking-up the finished cable, wherein the S/Z-bench includes fibre-laying-on tube which is provided with a fibre-laying-on head, and wherein the fibre/fibres passes/pass over the laying-on tube up to and through holes provided in the laying-on head, where said fibre ox fibres is or are laid on the pull-reliever and fixated with yarn taken from the yarn spinner located immediately downstream of the laying-on heads Cabling machines for laying optofibres or the like in an oscilla-ting, wavy path around a smooth pull-reliever are known to the art. These cabling machines include an S/Z-bench which includes a laying-on tube or discs which are oscillated backwards and forwards for the purpose of laying the fibres on the pull-relie-ver. The fibres, which pass along the laying--on tube to a laying-on head located on the forward end of said tube, become wound to a greater or lesser extent around the laying-on tube during operation of the machine, which causes the fibres to be subjected to friction forces. These frictional forces will vary in accor-dance with the rotational movement of the laying-on tube at that particular moment in time, and when the fibres are wound to a great extent on the tubs, the frictional forces can be so high as to damage the fibres.
Also known to the art are cabling machines which are intended to lay optofibres or the l_ke in grooves of oscillating waveform extruded around a pull-reliever.
These machines also include an S/Z-bench provided with a laying-on tube or discs over which the fibres pass to a laying-on head. The pull-reliever is pulled rectilinearly through the laying-on tube and, because of the oscillating form of the grooves, the tube tends to rotate forwards and backwards as a result of the fibres being guided down into the grooves. This rotational movement or twisting of the laying-on tube will also cause fibres to be wound around the tube and subjected to frictional forces that are liable to damage the fibres, similar to the former case.
Thus, the known cabling machines have the disadvantage of subjecting fibres to large frictional forces with subsequent risk of damage to the fibres. Furthermore, the known machines are intended for laying fibres in an oscillating waveform, so-called S/Z-cabling, solely on one 2o type of pull-reliever, namely either on a smooth pull-reliever or on a pull-reliever on which grooves have been pre-extruded.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a cabling machine which will not subject the fibres to harmful frictional forces and which can also be readily switched between modes in which fibres can be laid on both smooth 3o and grooved pull-relievers.
2a More specifically, the present invention provides a cabling machine for laying a fiber in an oscillating waveform ' around a smooth pull-reliever which i.s travelling i:n a travelling direction, the machine comprising a pull s reliever reeling-off device for reeling off a pull reliever, a braking capstan located downstream from the pull-reliever reeling-off device with respect to the travelling direction, a fiber reeling-off device for reeling off a fiber which is to be laid on the pull-IO reliever, an S/Z-bench located downstream of the braking capstan with respect to the travelling direction for laying the fiber on the pull-reliever, a yarn .spinner for fixating the fiber on the pull-reliever, and a wheel capstan and a taking-up device located downstream of the S/Z-bench with IS respect to the travelling direction for forwardly pulling and taking-up the finished cable, respectively. The S/Z-bench includes a laying-on tube provided with a laying-on head, wherein the fiber passes along the laying-on tube up to and through a hole in the laying-on head, where the 20 fiber is laid on the pull-reliever and fixated with yarn supplied from the yarn spinner. The S/Z-bench also includes an aligning mechanism which grips and guides the pull-reliever, and a motor and transmission for driving the aligning mechanism in an oscillatory, rotational movement, 25 the laying-on tube being connected to the transmission such that an oscillatory, rotational movement is imparted to the laying-on tube by the transmission in a direction opposite to the rotational movement of the aligning mechanism, the fiber reeling-off device being separate from the laying-on 30 tube so that oscillatory rotational movement of the laying-on tube occurs independent of the fiber reeling-off device, and a sensor connected to the transmission for controlling 2b operation of the motor and therewith the rotational movement of the laying-on tube and the aligning mechanism ' so that rotational movement of the laying-on tube is limited such that winding of the fiber with respect to the laying-on tube and frictional forces acting on the fiber are minimized.
The transmission can include two mutually coaxial first toothed wheels through which the pull-reliever passes, two l0 mutually parallel second toothed wheels spaced from and perpendicular to the first toothed wheels, and a toothed belt which extends in a continuous loop around the first and second toothed wheels, wherein the aligning mechanism is connectable to one of the first toothed wheels and the laying-on tube is connectable to the other of the first toothed wheels.
The sensor can be an absolute sensor and can be connected to the transmission via gearing. The motor can be a reversible stepping motor. The alicJning mechanism can include a plurality of rollers which engage the pull-reliever on diametrically opposite .sides thereof. A
banding machine can be positioned up~~tream of the wheel capstan with respect to the travelling direction. The yarn spinner can be a double yarn spinner which lays two yarns in mutually opposite directions. A free length of the pull-reliever between the bra~.ing capstan and the wheel capstan can be of sufficient length to enable the pull-reliever to rotate about its longitudinal axis.
In another embodiment, the present invention provides a cabling machine for laying a fiber in an oscillating 2c waveform on a pull-reliever which it; travelling in a travelling direction, the machine comprising a pull-' reliever reeling-off device for reeling off a pull reliever, a braking capstan located downstream from the pull-reliever reeling-off device with respect to the travelling direction, a fiber reeling-off device for reeling off a fiber that is to be laid on the pull-reliever, an S/Z-bench located downstream of the braking capstan with respect to the travelling direction for laying l0 the fiber on the pull-reliever, a yarn spinner for fixating the fiber on the pull-reliever, and a wheel capstan and taking-up device located downstream of the S/Z-bench with respect to the travelling direction for forwardly pulling and taking-up the finished cable. The S/Z-bench includes a laying-on tube provided with a laying-on head so that the fiber passes along the laying-on tube up to and through holes in the laying-on head where the fiber is laid on the pull-reliever and fixated with yarn from the yarn spinner.
The S/Z-bench also includes a transmission, an aligning mechanism connected to the transmission so that operation of the motor effects rotational movement of the aligning mechanism, and a sensor connected to the transmission for controlling rotational movement of the aligning mechanism such that frictional forces acting on the fiber are minimized, the pull-reliever reeling-off device and the braking capstan being stationary, the transmission including two coaxially aligned first toothed wheels through which the pull-reliever passes, two parallel second toothed wheels that are spaced from and perpendicular to 3o the two first toothed wheels, and a continuous toothed belt that extends around the two first toothed wheels and the two second toothed wheels, the aligning mechanism being 2d connected to one of the first toothed wheels and the laying-on tube being connected to the other of the first toothed wheels.
The laying-on tube can be fixed and can be connected to the transmission to effect oscillatory and rotational movement of the laying-on tube in a direction opposite to the rotational movement of the aligning mechanism, the sensor controlling operation of the motor t.o thereby control rotational movement of the laying-on tube and the aligning mechanism to limit the extent to which the fiber is wound on the laying-on tube. The aligning mechanism can include two rows of opposing rollers that engage the pull-reliever on diametrically opposite sides.
In another embodiment, the present invention provides a cabling machine for laying optofibers,, cables or other elongate elements into oscillating, waveshape grooves extruded around a pull-reliever to produce a finished article, the machine comprising a pull-reliever reeling-off device for reeling-off a pull-reliever in a first direction, a braking capstan located downstream of the pull-reliever reeling-off device in the first direction, a fiber reeling-off device located downstream of the braking capstan in the first direction for reeling-off fibers, an S/Z-bench located downstream of the fiber reeling-off device in the first direction for laying the fibers around the pull-reliever, a yarn spinner located downstream of the S/2 bench in the first direction for fix<~ting the fibers on the pull-reliever, and a wheel capstan and a taking-up device located downstream of the spinner in the first direction for forwardly pulling and taking-up the finished 2e article respectively. The S/Z-bench includes a laying-on tube provided with a laying-on head so that the fibers pass over the laying-on tube up to and through holes in the laying-on head, where the fibers are laid on the pull-s reliever and fixated with yarn taken from the yarn spinner located immediately downstream of the laying-on head, the pull-reliever reeling-off device and t:he braking capstan being rotatably mounted, the laying-on tube being freely rotatable and being guided by way of the fibers being laid into the grooves in the pull-reliever, the laying-on tube being connected to a transmission, and a sensor connected to the transmission for detecting rotation of the laying-on tube caused by the oscillating, waveshape of the grooves in the pull-reliever and for causing the reeling-off device and the braking capstan to rotate and perform a correcting function which counteracts excessive rotation or twisting of the laying-on tube such that the grooves in the pull-reliever in a vicinity of the laying-on head will extend substantially rectilinearly and such th<~t the fibers will extend substantially parallel with the laying-on tube in the absence of friction thereagainst.
The inventive cabling machine has the advantage of being usable for both types of pull-reliever and also of minimizing the risk of damage to the fibres, since the fibres pass over the laying-on tube in a frictionless fashion. This enables the fibres to ~>e laid at a high production rate.
Further objects of the inventive cabling machine and further advantages afforded thereby will be evident from the following, detailed description, in which the invention is described in more detail with reference to a preferred exemplifying embodiment thereof and also with reference to the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DISCLOSURE OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 illustrates schematically the construction of an inventive cabling machine.
Figure 2 illustrates an S/Z-bench included in the cabling machine.
Figure 3 illustrates a part of the S/Z-bench.
BEST MODE OF CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Figure I illustrates schematically the general construction of a cabling machine. The illustrated machine includes a reeling-off device 1 for reeling-off a pull-°reliever 2, a braking capstan 3, unreeling devices 4 far reeling-off fibres 5 which are to be laid around the pull-reliever 2, an S/Z-bench 6, a yarn spinner 7 which is located immediately downstream of the S/Z-bench and which functions to fix the fibres on the pull-reliever, optionally a banding machine 8 for banding the fibre-laid cable to a finished cable, a wheel capstan 9 for drawing the cable forwards, and a coiling device 10 for coiling-up the finished cable. The reeling-off device 1 is provided with a basic braking arrangement, and the braking capstan 3 is provided with sensors far determining and setting the tension in the pull-reliever 2, this being necessary so as to obtain a sufficient fibre surplus which will enable the temperature-cycling requirement to be fulfilled. Both the reeling off device 1 and the braking capstan 3 are ratatably mounted, for reasons made apparent herebelow. The fibre reeling-off devices 4 are arranged in a common station and include, in a known manner, basic braking arrangements, forwardly pulling devices and sensors for measuring and adjusting the tension in the fibres.
The S/Z-bench 6 will now be described in more detail with refe-rence to Figure 2. The S/Z-bench can be said to be the hub ~f the cabling machine and of the invention, and includes z~ fibre-laying-on tube 11 over which the fibres 5 pass from the reeling-off devices 4. The fibres 5 are guided to the S/Z-bench so as to be conducted concentrically over the laying-on tube 11 and up to a laying-on head 12 mounted on the outer end of the tube, where the fibres are guided and conducted down onto the pull-reliever 2 drawn through the laying-on tube. The laying-on head may be of any conventional kind and is only shown schematically in the Figure and will not be described in detail. The S/Z-bench 6 also includes an aligning mechanism 13, a transmission 14 capable of being driven by a reversable stepping motor 15, and an absolute sensor 17 connected to the transmission over gearing 16.
The transmission 14 is illustrated in more detail in Figure 3. The transmission includes two toothed wheels l8 which are in mutual axial alignment and through which the pull-reliever 2 can pass.
The aligning mechanism l3 can be non-rotatably connected to one toothed wheel by means of a key-joint or the like, and the laying-on tube 1l can be non-rotatably connected to the ether toothed wheel. Two further toothed wheels 19 and 20 are mounted perpen-dicularly to and at different distances from the toothed wheels 18, of which further toothed wheels the tooth wheel 19 is connec-ted to the motor 15 and the toothed wheel 20 is connected to the absolute sensor 17, via the gearing 16. An endless toothed belt 21 runs in a continuous loop over the toothed wheels 18, 19 and 20, the arrangement being such that when one toothed wheel 18 rotates in one direction, the other toothed wheel 18 will rotate in the opposite direction.
Tn the illustrated embodiment, the gearing 16 comprises a smaller toothed wheel which is connected to the toothed wheel 20 and which drives a large taothed wheel connected to the sensor 17 via a toothed belt, although it will be understood that other types of gearing can be used. The gearing is intended to prevent the absolute sensor 17 from rotating mare than one revolution.
When cabling smooth pull-relievers 2, the reeling-off device 1 and 'the braking capstan 3 are both stationary, i.e. not rotatable. '.Che aligning mechanism 13, which comprises a number of gripping wheels :~~.~
which grip around the pull-reliever 2 and guide the same through the aligning mechanism, is connected to the transmission 14. The stepping motor 15 is also connected to the transmission 14 and drives the transmission, and consequently also the aligning mechanism 13 and the pull-reliever 2, in an oscillating reciproca-ting rotary movement. This movement is regulated by the absolute sensor 17 via a regulating and controlling device, The fibres 5 will therefare be laid on the pull-reliever 2 in an oscillating waveform and are fixated with the aid of yarn taken from the yarn spinner 7 immediately downstream of the laying-on head 12. The yarn spinner 7 is prefexabl~r a double-yarn spinner with which the two yarns are laid in mutually opposite directions, thus in both an S-direction and a Z-direction. Because the laying-on tube 11 does not rotate when in operation, the fibres 5 will pass parallel through the tube, and hence the frictional forces acting on the fibres will be minimal.
In accordance with an alternative embodiment, for cabling a smooth pull--reliever 2, the laying-on tube 11 may also be connected to the transmission 14. Because of the configuration of the trans--mission, both the aligning mechanism 13 and the laying-on tube 11 will, in this case, be imparted an oscillating, reciprocating rotary movement, although in different directions. Rotation is regulated by the absolute sensor 17 also in this case. Because of these counterdirectional rotary movements, the total rotation of the aligning mechanism 13 may be smaller than in the former case, while still laying the fibres in an oscillating waveform on the pull-reliever. Total rotation of the laying-on tube 11 is equal to the total rotation of the aligning mechanism 13, therewith limiting the extent to which fibres 5 become wound around the laying-on tube 11 and thus also limiting the frictional forces on the fibres.
Cabling of grooved pull-relievers 2 will now be described. In this case, the aligning mechanism 13 is removed, the stepping motor 15 is disconnected, and the laying-an tube 11 is connected to the transmission 14. In this case, the reeling-off device 1 and the braking capstan 3 can be rotated to effect a correcting function.
When the fibres 5 are laid into the oscillating, wave grooves in the pull-reliever 2, the laying-on tube 11 will tend to rotate.
This rotation is detected by the absolute sensor 1? connected to the transmission 14, which now causes the reeling-off device 1 and the braking capstan 3 to rotate in a remedial or correcting fashion in response to the set turning-limits of the laying-on tube 1.1. such that the grooves in the pull-reliever 2 will extend substantially rectilinearly past the laying-on head 22. The laying-on tube 11 will thus only rotate or twist to a limited extent and consequently fibres 5 will not be wound onto the tube or subjected to frictional forces to any appreciable extent.
In all of the aforedescribed alternative embodiments, it must be ensured that the free length of the pull-reliever 2, i.e. the distance between the braking capstan 3 and the wheel capstan 9, is sufficiently great to enable the pull-reliever to rotate about its longitudinal axis.
It will be understood that the invention is not restricted to the aforedescribed and illustrated embodiment, and that modifications can be made within the scope of the accompanying Claims.
These machines also include an S/Z-bench provided with a laying-on tube or discs over which the fibres pass to a laying-on head. The pull-reliever is pulled rectilinearly through the laying-on tube and, because of the oscillating form of the grooves, the tube tends to rotate forwards and backwards as a result of the fibres being guided down into the grooves. This rotational movement or twisting of the laying-on tube will also cause fibres to be wound around the tube and subjected to frictional forces that are liable to damage the fibres, similar to the former case.
Thus, the known cabling machines have the disadvantage of subjecting fibres to large frictional forces with subsequent risk of damage to the fibres. Furthermore, the known machines are intended for laying fibres in an oscillating waveform, so-called S/Z-cabling, solely on one 2o type of pull-reliever, namely either on a smooth pull-reliever or on a pull-reliever on which grooves have been pre-extruded.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a cabling machine which will not subject the fibres to harmful frictional forces and which can also be readily switched between modes in which fibres can be laid on both smooth 3o and grooved pull-relievers.
2a More specifically, the present invention provides a cabling machine for laying a fiber in an oscillating waveform ' around a smooth pull-reliever which i.s travelling i:n a travelling direction, the machine comprising a pull s reliever reeling-off device for reeling off a pull reliever, a braking capstan located downstream from the pull-reliever reeling-off device with respect to the travelling direction, a fiber reeling-off device for reeling off a fiber which is to be laid on the pull-IO reliever, an S/Z-bench located downstream of the braking capstan with respect to the travelling direction for laying the fiber on the pull-reliever, a yarn .spinner for fixating the fiber on the pull-reliever, and a wheel capstan and a taking-up device located downstream of the S/Z-bench with IS respect to the travelling direction for forwardly pulling and taking-up the finished cable, respectively. The S/Z-bench includes a laying-on tube provided with a laying-on head, wherein the fiber passes along the laying-on tube up to and through a hole in the laying-on head, where the 20 fiber is laid on the pull-reliever and fixated with yarn supplied from the yarn spinner. The S/Z-bench also includes an aligning mechanism which grips and guides the pull-reliever, and a motor and transmission for driving the aligning mechanism in an oscillatory, rotational movement, 25 the laying-on tube being connected to the transmission such that an oscillatory, rotational movement is imparted to the laying-on tube by the transmission in a direction opposite to the rotational movement of the aligning mechanism, the fiber reeling-off device being separate from the laying-on 30 tube so that oscillatory rotational movement of the laying-on tube occurs independent of the fiber reeling-off device, and a sensor connected to the transmission for controlling 2b operation of the motor and therewith the rotational movement of the laying-on tube and the aligning mechanism ' so that rotational movement of the laying-on tube is limited such that winding of the fiber with respect to the laying-on tube and frictional forces acting on the fiber are minimized.
The transmission can include two mutually coaxial first toothed wheels through which the pull-reliever passes, two l0 mutually parallel second toothed wheels spaced from and perpendicular to the first toothed wheels, and a toothed belt which extends in a continuous loop around the first and second toothed wheels, wherein the aligning mechanism is connectable to one of the first toothed wheels and the laying-on tube is connectable to the other of the first toothed wheels.
The sensor can be an absolute sensor and can be connected to the transmission via gearing. The motor can be a reversible stepping motor. The alicJning mechanism can include a plurality of rollers which engage the pull-reliever on diametrically opposite .sides thereof. A
banding machine can be positioned up~~tream of the wheel capstan with respect to the travelling direction. The yarn spinner can be a double yarn spinner which lays two yarns in mutually opposite directions. A free length of the pull-reliever between the bra~.ing capstan and the wheel capstan can be of sufficient length to enable the pull-reliever to rotate about its longitudinal axis.
In another embodiment, the present invention provides a cabling machine for laying a fiber in an oscillating 2c waveform on a pull-reliever which it; travelling in a travelling direction, the machine comprising a pull-' reliever reeling-off device for reeling off a pull reliever, a braking capstan located downstream from the pull-reliever reeling-off device with respect to the travelling direction, a fiber reeling-off device for reeling off a fiber that is to be laid on the pull-reliever, an S/Z-bench located downstream of the braking capstan with respect to the travelling direction for laying l0 the fiber on the pull-reliever, a yarn spinner for fixating the fiber on the pull-reliever, and a wheel capstan and taking-up device located downstream of the S/Z-bench with respect to the travelling direction for forwardly pulling and taking-up the finished cable. The S/Z-bench includes a laying-on tube provided with a laying-on head so that the fiber passes along the laying-on tube up to and through holes in the laying-on head where the fiber is laid on the pull-reliever and fixated with yarn from the yarn spinner.
The S/Z-bench also includes a transmission, an aligning mechanism connected to the transmission so that operation of the motor effects rotational movement of the aligning mechanism, and a sensor connected to the transmission for controlling rotational movement of the aligning mechanism such that frictional forces acting on the fiber are minimized, the pull-reliever reeling-off device and the braking capstan being stationary, the transmission including two coaxially aligned first toothed wheels through which the pull-reliever passes, two parallel second toothed wheels that are spaced from and perpendicular to 3o the two first toothed wheels, and a continuous toothed belt that extends around the two first toothed wheels and the two second toothed wheels, the aligning mechanism being 2d connected to one of the first toothed wheels and the laying-on tube being connected to the other of the first toothed wheels.
The laying-on tube can be fixed and can be connected to the transmission to effect oscillatory and rotational movement of the laying-on tube in a direction opposite to the rotational movement of the aligning mechanism, the sensor controlling operation of the motor t.o thereby control rotational movement of the laying-on tube and the aligning mechanism to limit the extent to which the fiber is wound on the laying-on tube. The aligning mechanism can include two rows of opposing rollers that engage the pull-reliever on diametrically opposite sides.
In another embodiment, the present invention provides a cabling machine for laying optofibers,, cables or other elongate elements into oscillating, waveshape grooves extruded around a pull-reliever to produce a finished article, the machine comprising a pull-reliever reeling-off device for reeling-off a pull-reliever in a first direction, a braking capstan located downstream of the pull-reliever reeling-off device in the first direction, a fiber reeling-off device located downstream of the braking capstan in the first direction for reeling-off fibers, an S/Z-bench located downstream of the fiber reeling-off device in the first direction for laying the fibers around the pull-reliever, a yarn spinner located downstream of the S/2 bench in the first direction for fix<~ting the fibers on the pull-reliever, and a wheel capstan and a taking-up device located downstream of the spinner in the first direction for forwardly pulling and taking-up the finished 2e article respectively. The S/Z-bench includes a laying-on tube provided with a laying-on head so that the fibers pass over the laying-on tube up to and through holes in the laying-on head, where the fibers are laid on the pull-s reliever and fixated with yarn taken from the yarn spinner located immediately downstream of the laying-on head, the pull-reliever reeling-off device and t:he braking capstan being rotatably mounted, the laying-on tube being freely rotatable and being guided by way of the fibers being laid into the grooves in the pull-reliever, the laying-on tube being connected to a transmission, and a sensor connected to the transmission for detecting rotation of the laying-on tube caused by the oscillating, waveshape of the grooves in the pull-reliever and for causing the reeling-off device and the braking capstan to rotate and perform a correcting function which counteracts excessive rotation or twisting of the laying-on tube such that the grooves in the pull-reliever in a vicinity of the laying-on head will extend substantially rectilinearly and such th<~t the fibers will extend substantially parallel with the laying-on tube in the absence of friction thereagainst.
The inventive cabling machine has the advantage of being usable for both types of pull-reliever and also of minimizing the risk of damage to the fibres, since the fibres pass over the laying-on tube in a frictionless fashion. This enables the fibres to ~>e laid at a high production rate.
Further objects of the inventive cabling machine and further advantages afforded thereby will be evident from the following, detailed description, in which the invention is described in more detail with reference to a preferred exemplifying embodiment thereof and also with reference to the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DISCLOSURE OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 illustrates schematically the construction of an inventive cabling machine.
Figure 2 illustrates an S/Z-bench included in the cabling machine.
Figure 3 illustrates a part of the S/Z-bench.
BEST MODE OF CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Figure I illustrates schematically the general construction of a cabling machine. The illustrated machine includes a reeling-off device 1 for reeling-off a pull-°reliever 2, a braking capstan 3, unreeling devices 4 far reeling-off fibres 5 which are to be laid around the pull-reliever 2, an S/Z-bench 6, a yarn spinner 7 which is located immediately downstream of the S/Z-bench and which functions to fix the fibres on the pull-reliever, optionally a banding machine 8 for banding the fibre-laid cable to a finished cable, a wheel capstan 9 for drawing the cable forwards, and a coiling device 10 for coiling-up the finished cable. The reeling-off device 1 is provided with a basic braking arrangement, and the braking capstan 3 is provided with sensors far determining and setting the tension in the pull-reliever 2, this being necessary so as to obtain a sufficient fibre surplus which will enable the temperature-cycling requirement to be fulfilled. Both the reeling off device 1 and the braking capstan 3 are ratatably mounted, for reasons made apparent herebelow. The fibre reeling-off devices 4 are arranged in a common station and include, in a known manner, basic braking arrangements, forwardly pulling devices and sensors for measuring and adjusting the tension in the fibres.
The S/Z-bench 6 will now be described in more detail with refe-rence to Figure 2. The S/Z-bench can be said to be the hub ~f the cabling machine and of the invention, and includes z~ fibre-laying-on tube 11 over which the fibres 5 pass from the reeling-off devices 4. The fibres 5 are guided to the S/Z-bench so as to be conducted concentrically over the laying-on tube 11 and up to a laying-on head 12 mounted on the outer end of the tube, where the fibres are guided and conducted down onto the pull-reliever 2 drawn through the laying-on tube. The laying-on head may be of any conventional kind and is only shown schematically in the Figure and will not be described in detail. The S/Z-bench 6 also includes an aligning mechanism 13, a transmission 14 capable of being driven by a reversable stepping motor 15, and an absolute sensor 17 connected to the transmission over gearing 16.
The transmission 14 is illustrated in more detail in Figure 3. The transmission includes two toothed wheels l8 which are in mutual axial alignment and through which the pull-reliever 2 can pass.
The aligning mechanism l3 can be non-rotatably connected to one toothed wheel by means of a key-joint or the like, and the laying-on tube 1l can be non-rotatably connected to the ether toothed wheel. Two further toothed wheels 19 and 20 are mounted perpen-dicularly to and at different distances from the toothed wheels 18, of which further toothed wheels the tooth wheel 19 is connec-ted to the motor 15 and the toothed wheel 20 is connected to the absolute sensor 17, via the gearing 16. An endless toothed belt 21 runs in a continuous loop over the toothed wheels 18, 19 and 20, the arrangement being such that when one toothed wheel 18 rotates in one direction, the other toothed wheel 18 will rotate in the opposite direction.
Tn the illustrated embodiment, the gearing 16 comprises a smaller toothed wheel which is connected to the toothed wheel 20 and which drives a large taothed wheel connected to the sensor 17 via a toothed belt, although it will be understood that other types of gearing can be used. The gearing is intended to prevent the absolute sensor 17 from rotating mare than one revolution.
When cabling smooth pull-relievers 2, the reeling-off device 1 and 'the braking capstan 3 are both stationary, i.e. not rotatable. '.Che aligning mechanism 13, which comprises a number of gripping wheels :~~.~
which grip around the pull-reliever 2 and guide the same through the aligning mechanism, is connected to the transmission 14. The stepping motor 15 is also connected to the transmission 14 and drives the transmission, and consequently also the aligning mechanism 13 and the pull-reliever 2, in an oscillating reciproca-ting rotary movement. This movement is regulated by the absolute sensor 17 via a regulating and controlling device, The fibres 5 will therefare be laid on the pull-reliever 2 in an oscillating waveform and are fixated with the aid of yarn taken from the yarn spinner 7 immediately downstream of the laying-on head 12. The yarn spinner 7 is prefexabl~r a double-yarn spinner with which the two yarns are laid in mutually opposite directions, thus in both an S-direction and a Z-direction. Because the laying-on tube 11 does not rotate when in operation, the fibres 5 will pass parallel through the tube, and hence the frictional forces acting on the fibres will be minimal.
In accordance with an alternative embodiment, for cabling a smooth pull--reliever 2, the laying-on tube 11 may also be connected to the transmission 14. Because of the configuration of the trans--mission, both the aligning mechanism 13 and the laying-on tube 11 will, in this case, be imparted an oscillating, reciprocating rotary movement, although in different directions. Rotation is regulated by the absolute sensor 17 also in this case. Because of these counterdirectional rotary movements, the total rotation of the aligning mechanism 13 may be smaller than in the former case, while still laying the fibres in an oscillating waveform on the pull-reliever. Total rotation of the laying-on tube 11 is equal to the total rotation of the aligning mechanism 13, therewith limiting the extent to which fibres 5 become wound around the laying-on tube 11 and thus also limiting the frictional forces on the fibres.
Cabling of grooved pull-relievers 2 will now be described. In this case, the aligning mechanism 13 is removed, the stepping motor 15 is disconnected, and the laying-an tube 11 is connected to the transmission 14. In this case, the reeling-off device 1 and the braking capstan 3 can be rotated to effect a correcting function.
When the fibres 5 are laid into the oscillating, wave grooves in the pull-reliever 2, the laying-on tube 11 will tend to rotate.
This rotation is detected by the absolute sensor 1? connected to the transmission 14, which now causes the reeling-off device 1 and the braking capstan 3 to rotate in a remedial or correcting fashion in response to the set turning-limits of the laying-on tube 1.1. such that the grooves in the pull-reliever 2 will extend substantially rectilinearly past the laying-on head 22. The laying-on tube 11 will thus only rotate or twist to a limited extent and consequently fibres 5 will not be wound onto the tube or subjected to frictional forces to any appreciable extent.
In all of the aforedescribed alternative embodiments, it must be ensured that the free length of the pull-reliever 2, i.e. the distance between the braking capstan 3 and the wheel capstan 9, is sufficiently great to enable the pull-reliever to rotate about its longitudinal axis.
It will be understood that the invention is not restricted to the aforedescribed and illustrated embodiment, and that modifications can be made within the scope of the accompanying Claims.
Claims (18)
1. A cabling machine for laying a fiber in an oscillating waveform around a smooth pull-reliever which is travelling in a travelling direction, said machine comprising a pull-reliever reeling-off device for reeling off a pull-reliever, a braking capstan located downstream from the pull-reliever reeling-off device with respect to the travelling direction, a fiber reeling-off device for reeling off a fiber which is to be laid on the pull-reliever, an S/Z-bench located downstream of the braking capstan with respect to the travelling direction for laying the fiber on the pull-reliever, a yarn spinner for fixating the fiber on the pull-reliever, and a wheel capstan and a taking-up device located downstream of the S/Z-bench with respect to the travelling direction for forwardly pulling and taking-up the finished cable, respectively, said S/Z-bench including a laying-on tube provided with a laying-on head, wherein the fiber passes along the laying-on tube up to and through a hole in the laying-on head, where the fiber is laid on the pull-reliever and fixated with yarn supplied from said yarn spinner, said S/Z-bench including an aligning mechanism which grips and guides the pull-reliever, and a motor and transmission for driving the aligning mechanism in an oscillatory, rotational movement, said laying-on tube being connected to said transmission such that an oscillatory, rotational movement is imparted to said laying-on tube by said transmission in a direction opposite to the rotational movement of said aligning mechanism, said fiber reeling-off device being separate from said laying-on tube so that oscillatory rotational movement of the laying-on tube occurs independent of said fiber reeling-off device, and a sensor connected to said transmission for controlling operation of said motor and therewith the rotational movement of said laying-on tube and said aligning mechanism so that rotational movement of said laying-on tube is limited such that winding of the fiber with respect to said laying-on tube and frictional forces acting on said fiber are minimized.
2. A cabling machine according to claim 1, wherein said transmission includes two mutually coaxial first toothed wheels through which the pull-reliever passes, two mutually parallel second toothed wheels spaced from and perpendicular to said first toothed wheels, and a toothed belt which extends in a continuous loop around said first and second toothed wheels, wherein said aligning mechanism is connectable to one of said first toothed wheels and said laying-on tube is connectable to the other of said first toothed wheels.
3. A cabling machine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said sensor is an absolute sensor and is connected to said transmission via gearing.
4. A cabling machine according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein said motor is a reversible stepping motor.
5. A cabling machine according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein said aligning mechanism includes a plurality of rollers which engage the pull-reliever on diametrically opposite sides thereof.
6. A cabling machine according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein a banding machine is positioned upstream of said wheel capstan with respect to said travelling direction.
7. A cabling machine according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein said yarn spinner is a double yarn spinner which lays two yarns in mutually opposite directions.
8. A cabling machine according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein a free length of the pull-reliever between said braking capstan and said wheel capstan is sufficiently long to enable the pull-reliever to rotate about its longitudinal axis.
9. A cabling machine for laying a fiber in an oscillating waveform on a pull-reliever which is travelling in a travelling direction, the machine comprising a pull-reliever reeling-off device for reeling off a pull-reliever, a braking capstan located downstream from said pull-reliever reeling-off device with respect to said travelling direction, a fiber reeling-off device for reeling off a fiber that is to be laid on the pull-reliever, an S/Z-bench located downstream of the braking capstan with respect to the travelling direction for laying the fiber on the pull-reliever, a yarn spinner for fixating the fiber on the pull-reliever, and a wheel capstan and taking-up device located downstream of the S/Z-bench with respect to the travelling direction for forwardly pulling and taking-up the finished cable, said S/Z-bench including a laying-on tube provided with a laying-on head so that the fiber passes along the laying-on tube up to and through holes in the laying-on head where the fiber is laid on the pull-reliever and fixated with yarn from the yarn spinner, said S/Z-bench including a transmission, an aligning mechanism connected to the transmission so that operation of the motor effects rotational movement of the aligning mechanism, and a sensor connected to the transmission for controlling rotational movement of the aligning mechanism such that frictional forces acting on the fiber are minimized, said pull-reliever reeling-off device and said braking capstan being stationary, said transmission including two coaxially aligned first toothed wheels through which the pull-reliever passes, two parallel second toothed wheels that are spaced from and perpendicular to the two first toothed wheels, and a continuous toothed belt that extends around said two first toothed wheels and said two second toothed wheels, said aligning mechanism being connected to one of said first toothed wheels and said laying-on tube being connected to the other of said first toothed wheels.
10. The cabling machine according to claim 9, wherein said laying-on tube is fixed.
11. The cabling machine according to claim 9 or 10, wherein said laying-on tube is connected to said transmission to effect oscillatory and rotational movement of said laying-on tube in a direction opposite to the rotational movement of the aligning mechanism, said sensor controlling operation of said motor to thereby control
12 rotational movement of said laying-on tube and said aligning mechanism to limit the extent to which the fiber is wound on the laying-on tube.
12. The cabling machine according to claim 9, 10 or 11, wherein said aligning mechanism includes two rows of opposing rollers that engage the pull-reliever on diametrically opposite sides.
12. The cabling machine according to claim 9, 10 or 11, wherein said aligning mechanism includes two rows of opposing rollers that engage the pull-reliever on diametrically opposite sides.
13. A cabling machine for laying optofibers, cables or other elongate elements into oscillating, waveshape grooves extruded around a pull-reliever to produce a finished article, the machine comprising a pull-reliever reeling-off device for reeling-off a pull-reliever in a first direction, a braking capstan located downstream of the pull-reliever reeling-off device in the first direction, a fiber reeling-off device located downstream of the braking capstan in the first direction for reeling-off fibers, an S/Z-bench located downstream of the fiber reeling-off device in the first direction for laying the fibers around the pull-reliever, a yarn spinner located downstream of the S/Z bench in the first direction for fixating the fibers on the pull-reliever, and a wheel capstan and a taking-up device located downstream of the spinner in the first direction for forwardly pulling and taking-up the finished article respectively, said S/Z bench including a laying-on tube provided with a laying-on head so that the fibers pass over the laying-on tube up to and through holes in the laying-on head, where the fibers are laid on the pull-reliever and fixated with yarn taken from the yarn spinner located immediately downstream of the laying-on head, the pull-reliever reeling-off device and the braking capstan being rotatably mounted; the laying-on tube being freely rotatable and being guided by way of the fibers being laid into the grooves in the pull-reliever; the laying-on tube being connected to a transmission; and a sensor connected to the transmission for detecting rotation of the laying-on tube caused by the oscillating, waveshape of the grooves in the pull-reliever and for causing the reeling-off device and the braking capstan to rotate and perform a correcting function which counteracts excessive rotation or twisting of the laying-on tube such that the grooves in the pull-reliever in a vicinity of the laying-on head will extend substantially rectilinearly and such that the fibers will extend substantially parallel with the laying-on tube in the absence of friction thereagainst.
14. A cabling machine according to claim 13, wherein the transmission includes two mutually coaxial first toothed wheels through which the pull-reliever passes, two mutually parallel second toothed wheels spaced from and axially perpendicular to the first toothed wheels, and a toothed belt which extends in a continuous loop around said first and second toothed wheels, and the laying-on tube being connected to one of said first toothed wheels.
15. A cabling machine according to claim 13 or 14, wherein the sensor is an absolute sensor and is connected to the transmission via gearing.
16. A cabling machine according to claim 13, 19 ar 15, including a banding machine positioned upstream of the wheel capstan.
17. A cabling machine according to any one of claims 13 to 16, wherein the yarn spinner is a double yarn spinner with which the two yarns are laid in mutually opposite directions.
18. A cabling machine according to any one of claims 13 to 17, wherein a free length of the pull-reliever between the braking capstan and the wheel capstan is sufficiently long to enable the pull-reliever to rotate about its longitudinal axis.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2051934 CA2051934C (en) | 1991-09-20 | 1991-09-20 | Cabling machine |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2051934 CA2051934C (en) | 1991-09-20 | 1991-09-20 | Cabling machine |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2051934A1 CA2051934A1 (en) | 1993-03-21 |
| CA2051934C true CA2051934C (en) | 2003-02-11 |
Family
ID=4148409
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2051934 Expired - Fee Related CA2051934C (en) | 1991-09-20 | 1991-09-20 | Cabling machine |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA2051934C (en) |
-
1991
- 1991-09-20 CA CA 2051934 patent/CA2051934C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| CA2051934A1 (en) | 1993-03-21 |
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| EEER | Examination request | ||
| MKLA | Lapsed |