DE212013000090U1 - Wire holder for a welding system - Google Patents

Abstract

A system (100) for packaging and unrolling a roll (106, 108) of welding wire to allow the flow of welding wire from one container to another container, the roll of welding wire including: a coil top (150) and a coil bottom (154 ), a front end (118; 124) of the welding wire extending from the winding top and a rear end (127; 126) of the wire extending from the winding underside, the rear end of one container being connected to the front end of the other container The system comprising: at least two containers (102, 104), each container including: at least one vertically extending side wall, a closed bottom, a top opening for removing the welding wire, and a wire roll receiving cavity within the outer package for Picking up the wire roll, the front end (188; 124) and the rear end (122; 126) can be positioned near the top opening; a wire retaining ring (130) disposed on the coil top in the container and the further container, the wire retaining ring including: a discontinuous inner ring (162) having an inner radius and an inner gap; an outer ring (166) having an outer radius that is greater than the inner radius, the outer ring being substantially concentric with respect to the inner ring; at least two spokes (168) each extending radially from the inner ring to the outer ring, the spokes intersecting the outer ring to form a plurality of segments along a circumference of the outer ring; and a plate (730) extending radially from the inner ring to the outer ring, the plate including a slot (734) having a slot width, the slot defining a break in the inner ring and arching extending from the inner ring to a position radially inward of the outer ring and located in place of one of the plurality of spokes with the rear end of the first roll of wire positioned within the slot.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application incorporates by reference the entire contents of US Patent Application Serial No. 13 / 302,491 filed on Nov. 22, 2011.

TECHNICAL AREA

The present disclosure relates to a system for packaging and unwinding a roll of welding wire, in particular for a welding system, and more particularly to a wire holding ring for dispensing wound wire from a plurality of containers to a welding system.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Wire is often packaged and stored in containers for delivery to an end user. In particular, wire, such as that used for welding or soldering, is rolled into rolls when packaged in drums or containers. When the wire has been shipped to the end user, it is dispensed from the container for use in a variety of processes. In many cases, the wire remains in the container and is metered as needed without removing the entire roll. To aid easy removal, manufacturers often swirl the wire as it is rolled into the drum. This allows the wire to emerge more easily without twisting when pulled out.

However, providing wire from rolls involves (among other things) the challenge of unrolling the wire evenly without tangling or knotting, which can lead to defects or breaks in the wire, which in turn results in costly downtime. The wire can get tangled up in different ways. For example, several loops of wire may lift off the top of the roll, causing the wire to become entangled as it is being pulled by the drum. In other cases, loops of wire may unroll and fall behind the reel, causing the wire to tangle. There is a need for systems and methods for eliminating these and other shortcomings.

SHORT DESCRIPTION

The problem of uniformly unwinding the wire (among other things) is solved by a system for packaging and unwinding a roll of welding wire according to claim 1 or 6 or a wire retaining ring according to claim 12. In one embodiment, a system for packaging and unwinding a roll of welding wire is used to allow uninterrupted flow of the welding wire from one container to another container. The roll of welding wire includes a winding top and a winding bottom, wherein a leading end of the welding wire extends from the winding top and a trailing end of the wire extends from the winding bottom, wherein the rear end of one tank can be linked to the front end of the other tank. The system includes at least two containers, each container including at least one vertically extending side wall, a closed bottom, a top opening for removing the welding wire, and a wire roller receiving cavity within the outer package for receiving the reel of wire, the front end and the rear end near the top opening can be positioned. A wire holder is disposed on the upper side of the winding in the container and another container. The wire retainer includes a discontinuous inner ring having an inner radius and an inner gap. An outer ring has an outer radius that is larger than the inner radius. The outer ring is substantially concentric with respect to the inner ring. A plurality of spokes each extend radially from the inner ring to the outer ring. The plurality of spokes intersect the outer ring to form a plurality of segments along a circumference of the outer ring. A plate extends radially from the inner ring to the outer ring, and the plate includes a slot having a slot width. The slot defines an interruption in the inner ring and extends in an arc from the inner ring to a position radially inward of the outer ring. The slot is located at a position instead of one of the plurality of spokes, and the rear end of the wire is positioned within the slot. It is particularly preferred that the rear end of the wire is disposed at a position closer to the outer ring than the inner ring, and / or that the spokes bend at an angle of approximately 90 degrees in an upward direction at a position outside the outer ring, and / or that a height of the horizontal plane of the inner ring is greater than a height of the horizontal plane of the outer ring, and / or a height of the horizontal plane of the discontinuous intermediate ring is substantially equal to the horizontal plane of the outer ring, especially if the Spokes are generally angled upwardly from the outer ring to the inner ring, and in particular when the upward angle of the spokes from the discontinuous intermediate ring to the discontinuous inner ring is greater than from the outer ring to the discontinuous intermediate ring. It is Further, it is particularly preferred that in other embodiments the rear end of the first roll of wire is located at a position closer to the outer wall than the inner wall, and / or the outer wall is upwardly inclined at an angle of about 90 degrees relative to the outer wall planar body extends.

In another embodiment, a system for wrapping and unwinding a roll of welding wire is used to allow uninterrupted flow of the welding wire from one container to another container. The roll of welding wire includes a winding top and a winding bottom, wherein a leading end of the welding wire extends from the winding top and a trailing end of the wire extends from the winding bottom, wherein the rear end of one tank can be linked to the front end of the other tank. The system includes at least two containers, each container including at least one vertically extending side wall, a closed bottom, a top opening for removing the welding wire, and a wire roller receiving cavity within the outer package for receiving the reel of wire, the front end and the rear end near the top opening can be positioned. A wire-holding member is disposed on the upper side of the winding in the container and another in the container. The wire-holding member includes a planar body having a periphery, an outer wall extending upward from the periphery of the body, an inner wall extending upward from the body and defining an opening in the center of the body, and a slot having a slot width, the slot defining an interruption in the inner wall and extending in an arc from the inner wall to a position radially inward of the outer wall. The rear end of the first wire roll is positioned inside the slot.

In another embodiment, a wire retainer configured to be disposed on a roll of wire includes an inner ring having an inner radius, an outer ring having an outer radius, the outer radius being larger than the inner radius Radius is and the outer ring is arranged substantially concentrically with respect to the inner ring and a plurality of spokes each extending radially from the inner ring to the outer ring. The plurality of spokes intersect the outer ring to form a plurality of segments along a circumference of the outer ring. A plate extends radially from the inner ring to the outer ring. The plate includes a slot having a slot width, the slot defining an interruption in the inner ring and extending in an arc from the inner ring to a position radially inward of the outer ring. The slot is located at a position in lieu of one of the plurality of spokes, and the plate further includes a tab that extends partially across the slot at a position near the break in the inner ring.

This brief description is intended to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form, which are discussed in greater detail below. This brief description is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter. Furthermore, the claimed subject matter is not limited to implementations that eliminate some or all of the disadvantages addressed in one or another part of this disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Turning now to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate specific embodiments and other benefits of the invention, which will be described in more detail in the following description. The drawings show the following:

1 Fig. 10 is a perspective view of an endless-quantity wire system including wire retaining rings for holding a trailing end of wire from a roll in a position that minimizes the risk of entanglement;

2 Fig. 10 is a plan view of a wire roll with a wire holding ring;

3 Fig. 10 is a front elevational view of a wire roll with a first embodiment of the wire retaining ring;

4 FIG. 12 is a top perspective view of the first embodiment of the wire retaining ring; FIG.

5 is a perspective top view of a second embodiment of the wire holder ring;

6 is a front elevation of the second embodiment of the wire holder ring;

7 FIG. 12 is a top perspective view of a third embodiment of a wire retaining ring; FIG. and

8th FIG. 13 is a top perspective view of one embodiment of a wire-holding member. FIG.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Let us now turn to the figures. In the following, various embodiments or implementations of the present invention will be described in conjunction with the drawings in which like reference numerals are always used to designate like elements. The embodiments discussed herein relate to a wire retainer used to move a tail from the center of a wire roll, thereby reducing the risk of entangling the tail with a leading end. To this end, the wire retainer is disposed on the wire reel and includes a slot extending radially outward from the center of the ring to the outer peripheral edge of the reel of wire to position the tail. Although the invention is illustrated and described below in the context of various exemplary welding systems, it is not limited to the illustrated examples.

More specifically, the embodiments discussed herein relate to a continuous-quantity wire container assembly wherein a first container includes a roll of wire including a coil top and a coil bottom, with a leading end of the coil drawn from the coil top from an opening in the center of the coil. A trailing end of the roll is also drawn from the center of the roll, creating the risk of entanglement between the leading and trailing edges during a wire feeding operation. The embodiments discussed herein relate to a wire retainer used to move the tail from the center of the wire reel so as to reduce the risk of entanglement between wire ends. To this end, the wire retainer is disposed on a wire reel and includes a slot extending radially outward from the center of the ring to the outer peripheral edge of the reel of wire. In this way, when a container is opened, the rear end can be manually positioned radially outward in the slot formed in the retaining ring in a corner of the container where there is no danger of entanglement. The rear end may be connected to a reel within another container to provide endless feeding of wire to a welder. This arrangement may be repeatedly implemented in a suitable manner to effectively accomplish an endless feed of wire to a welding system.

1 illustrates a role system 100 , which allows an endless wire feed for feeding a welding system, such as an electric or arc welding machine. The embodiments discussed herein relate to a plurality of wire rolls interconnected to facilitate the supply of welding wire to a welding system and to reduce tangling or other obstructions that may occur when a wire is removed from the roll. A first container 102 is next to a second container 104 , wherein in the first container 102 a wire roll 106 and in the second container 104 a wire roll 108 located. The roles 106 . 108 contain a lot of welding wire, which are wound into a hollow body with annular cross-section. In 1 have the containers 102 . 104 a plurality of walls disposed inside the container to reduce roll movement during shipping or other transport. The first wire roll 106 has a front end 118 which is output to a welding system or other suitable receiving component. A back end 122 is with a front end 124 the second roll in one place 142 welded, fused or otherwise coupled.

The first container 102 and the second container 104 are positioned side by side, with the wire coming out of the container 102 pulled out and then automatically changed to the wire from the container 104 to draw. After the wire in the container 102 is used up, the wire is in the container 104 then pulled out of the second container, which is finally moved to the position of the first container; and the free space of the second container is filled by a supply of reel wire. The two wires are joined together (for example via a standard butt weld) to produce an endless welding wire. The term "endless" in the context of the present text means that there are at least two containers in an installation, with the rear end of the wire in the first container 102 with the front end 124 the second role 108 of the wire in the second container 104 connected is. Similarly, the back end 126 the second role 108 the wire can then be connected to another container, and so on.

The containers may be circular drums, square cardboard containers with one or more vertical walls, or any container suitable for storing and dispensing welding wire. In the 1 shown containers contain a supply of welding wire in the form of rollers 106 . 108 with wire with front ends 118 . 124 or back ends 122 . 126 , When transporting, the rear end of the roller is loose and the front end is pulled from the roller until the rear end is reached at the bottom of the roller. At that moment, the rear end is connected to the front end of the next roll, so that an automatic change takes place from one roll to the next. To the disposition of the rear end of the role too illustrate when the container is shipped, the rear end is 122 the role 106 so it illustrates that it's from the bottom section 152 the role 106 come here. So if the role 106 is used up, then the last section of the roll being pulled out of the container is the back end 122 , This is the end that will eventually be connected (eg, butt-welded) to a front end of the next roll when the roll 106 is used up and by changing to the role 108 replaced to the position of the first (empty) container 102 is pushed.

The wire scroll 106 also contains the front end 118 that is between the role 106 near the top 150 extends; and the back end 122 that is different from the wire scroll 106 from near the roll base 154 extends. The front end 118 is fed from the middle of the roll to a welding operation. The back end 122 is positioned so that it is from near the bottom over the bottom of the roll and then on the wall 172 upwards and toward the middle of the roll 106 extends. Likewise, the scroll contains 108 furthermore the front end 124 that from the top 152 from the middle of the roll 106 is pulled. The back end 126 the second roll is from the bottom 154 the role 108 positioned to be connected to a subsequent roll, which is placed as soon as the first roll 106 is used up. The wire rolls 106 . 108 may be any roll known to those skilled in the art, wound by any of the winding techniques known to those skilled in the art, and may include a roll base positioned on a package bottom and an opposing roll top. The wire rolls 106 . 108 further include a cylindrical outer surface and a cylindrical inner surface extending between the roller lower side and the roller upper side. Due to the process by which the welding wire enters the container 102 . 104 can be wrapped in the individual folds of the wire 106 . 108 have a natural throw that creates a radially outward force in the roller and an upward spring force in the roller. The upward spring force is provided by a wire holder ring 130 held and controlled, which will be discussed in more detail below. The radially outward force of the rollers 106 . 108 is at least in part through the walls of the containers 102 . 104 controlled.

The interior of the containers 102 . 104 is configured for the wire rolls 106 respectively. 108 take. In one embodiment, the containers 102 . 104 drum-shaped and have a circular cross-section. Alternative embodiments include cube-shaped containers with four sidewalls 156 that has a bottom plate 160 connected to each other. Inserts can be added that form a polygonal border that defines the outer peripheral edge of the wound wire 106 . 108 enroll. More precisely, the corner inserts 158 vertically in the container 102 . 104 be arranged so that an octagonal border arises. Although not shown, the containers may 102 . 104 also include internal packaging components, such as a vertically extending liner, vapor barriers, hold-down mechanisms, or other welding wire packaging components. In addition, the containers can 102 . 104 covered by a container lid (not shown) designed to prevent debris and other contaminants from entering the containers.

Wire retaining rings 130 are on the roll inside the container 102 respectively. 104 arranged. As in 1 illustrated contains the wire holder 130 three concentrically arranged discontinuous rings: an inner ring 162 , an intermediate ring 164 and an outer ring 166 , The inner ring is with the intermediate ring and the outer ring over several spokes 168 coupled, which are arranged at arc intervals, which are preferably arranged at regular intervals around the inner ring, as illustrated. The spokes 168 may have upward extensions on both the inner ring 162 as well as near the outer ring 166 exhibit. Alternatively or additionally, the spokes can 168 over the radius of the outer ring 166 extend to the inner wall (for example, inside corners) of the container 102 . 104 to rest. The wire holder 130 contains a slot 134 who, as in 2 shown by a first slot rail 136 and a second slot rail 138 is defined. The slot 134 may be in the interests of structural consistency instead of a spoke 168 be arranged and is in the 2 and 4 illustrated, and extends from the inner ring 162 to the outer ring 166 wherein the inner ring has an inner gap 222 contains and the intermediate ring an intermediate gap 224 contains to receive a continuous slot. In one embodiment, the slot is 134 a single slot extending from the inner ring 162 to the outer ring 166 extends. How best in 4 described, the slot consists of the first slot rail 136 and a second slot rail 138 extending from the inner ring 162 to the outer ring 166 extends.

As in 4 shown is a connecting element 412 on the outer ring 166 arranged, which is a first vertical rail 414 contains which the first slot rail 136 with a first additional rail 214 combines. A second vertical rail 416 within the connector 412 connects the second slot rail 138 with a second additional rail 216 , In such a configuration, the rear end 122 from the center of the roll, similar to the first embodiment where a redundant slot arrangement is used. However, regardless of the slot arrangement, substantially any configuration that moves a tail away from the dispensing location in the center of the roller to ensure that there is no entanglement and a simplified connection from the rear end is contemplated 122 to the front end of another roller (for example the front end) 124 ). That way the back end can be 122 from the first wire scroll 106 to be arranged and held at a location from the center of the wire roll 106 away. While the front end of the wire 118 is output to a welder or other receiving component hinders the rear end wire 122 This issue is not to avoid entanglement or other negative consequences of mutual impediments between the wire ends. Although the fasteners 412 are illustrated so that they extend beyond the circumference of the outer ring 166 Beyond, there is no need to limit the construction to it, since the connecting elements can also end at the peripheral edge or inside.

The wire holder 130 can be made of a wide variety of materials including, for example, steel, aluminum, copper, nickel, stainless steel, and brass. Alternatively or additionally, components within the wire holder 130 consist of thermoplastic resins, thermosetting plastics, terpolymers and / or polymers. Polymers of monoolefins and diolefins, for example polypropylene, polyisobutylene, polybutene-1, polymethylpentene-1, polyisoprene or polybutadiene, and polymers of cycloolefins, for example of cyclopentene or norbornene, polyethylene (which may optionally be crosslinked), for example high-density polyethylene (HDPE) Low density polyethylene (LDPE) and linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) can be used. Mixtures of these polymers, for example blends of polypropylene with polyisobutylene, polypropylene with polyethylene (for example PP / HDPE) can also be used. Also useful are copolymers of monoolefins and diolefins with each other or with other vinyl monomers, such as ethylene / propylene, LLDPE and its blends with LDPE, propylene / butene-1, ethylene / hexene, ethylene / ethylpentene, ethylene / heptene, ethylene / octene, Propylene / butadiene, isobutylene / isoprene, ethylene / alkyl acrylates, ethylene / alkyl methacrylates, ethylene / vinyl acetate (EVA) or ethylene / acrylic acid copolymers (EAA) and their salts (ionomer) and terpolymers of ethylene with propylene and a diene, such as Hexadiene, dicyclopentadiene or ethylidene-norbornene; and mixtures of such copolymers and their blends with polymers as mentioned above, for example polypropylene / ethylene-propylene copolymers, LDPE / EVA, LDPE / EAA, LLDPE / EVA and LLDPE / EAA.

Thermoplastic polymers may also include: styrenic polymers, such as polystyrene, poly (p-methylstyrene), poly (α-methylstyrene), copolymers of styrene, p-methylstyrene or alpha-methylstyrene with dienes or acrylic derivatives, such as Styrene / butadiene, styrene / acrylonitrile, styrene / alkyl methacrylate, styrene / maleic anhydride, styrene / butadiene / ethyl acrylate, styrene / acrylonitrile / methacrylate; High impact strength blends of styrene copolymers and another polymer such as a polyacrylate, a diene polymer or an ethylene / propylene / diene terpolymer; and block copolymers of styrene, such as styrene / butadiene / styrene, styrene / isoprene / styrene, styrene / ethylene / butylene / styrene, or styrene / ethylene / propylene / styrene. Styrenic polymers may also or alternatively include graft copolymers of styrene or alpha-methylstyrene, such as styrene on polybutadiene, styrene on polybutadiene-styrene, or polybutadiene-acrylonitrile; Styrene and acrylonitrile (or methacrylonitrile) on polybutadiene; Styrene and maleic anhydride or maleimide on polybutadiene; Styrene, acrylonitrile and maleic anhydride or maleimide on polybutadiene; Styrene, acrylonitrile and methyl methacrylate on polybutadiene, styrene and alkyl acrylates or methacrylates on polybutadiene, styrene and acrylonitrile on ethylene / propylene / diene terpolymer, styrene and acrylonitrile on polyacrylates or polymethacrylates, styrene and acrylonitrile on acrylate / butadiene copolymers, and mixtures of the above-mentioned styrenic copolymers.

Nitrile polymers are also useful. These include homopolymers and copolymers of acrylonitrile and its analogs, such as methacrylonitrile, such as polyacrylonitrile, acrylonitrile / butadiene polymers, acrylonitrile / alkyl acrylate polymers, acrylonitrile / alkyl methacrylate / butadiene polymers, acrylonitrile / butadiene / styrene (ABS), and ABS containing methacrylonitrile.

Acrylic acid-based polymers such as acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, methyl methacrylic acid and ethacrylic acid and esters thereof can also be used. Such polymers include polymethyl methacrylate and ABS type graft copolymers wherein all or part of the acrylonitrile-like monomer has been replaced by an acrylic ester or an acrylic acid amide. Polymers, including other acrylic-type monomers, such as acrolein, methacrolein, acrylamide and methacrylamide, may also be used.

Halogen-containing polymers may also be useful. These include resins such as polychloroprene, epichlorohydrin homopolymers and copolymers, polyvinyl chloride, polyvinyl bromide, polyvinyl fluoride, polyvinylidene chloride, chlorinated polyethylene, chlorinated polypropylene, fluorinated polyvinylidene, brominated polyethylene, chlorinated rubber, vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer, vinyl chloride-ethylene copolymer , Vinyl chloride-propylene copolymer, vinyl chloride-styrene copolymer, vinyl chloride-isobutylene copolymer, vinyl chloride-vinylidene chloride copolymer, vinyl chloride-styrene-maleic anhydride copolymer, vinyl chloride-styrene-acrylonitrile copolymer, vinyl chloride-isoprene copolymer, vinyl chloride-chlorinated propylene Copolymer, vinyl chloride-vinylidene chloride-vinyl acetate tercopolymer, vinyl chloride-acrylic ester copolymers, vinyl chloride-maleic acid ester copolymers, vinyl chloride-methacrylic acid ester copolymers, vinyl chloride-acrylonitrile copolymer, and internally plasticized polyvinyl chloride.

Other useful thermoplastic polymers include homopolymers and copolymers of cyclic ethers such as polyalkylene glycols, polyethylene oxide, polypropylene oxide or copolymers thereof with bis-glycidyl ethers; Polyacetals such as polyoxymethylene and that polyoxymethylene containing ethylene oxide as a comonomer; Polyacetals modified with thermoplastic polyurethanes, acrylates or methacrylonitrile containing ABS; Polyphenylene oxides and sulfides and mixtures of polyphenylene oxides with polystyrene or polyamides; Polycarbonates and polyestercarbonates; Polysulfones, polyethersulfones and polyetherketones; and polyesters derived from dicarboxylic acid and diols and / or from hydroxycarboxylic acids or the corresponding lactones, such as, for example, polyethylene terephthalate, polybutylene terephthalate, poly-1,4-dimethylol-cyclohexane terephthalate, poly [2,2,4 - (4-hydroxyphenyl) -propane] terephthalate and polyhydroxybenzoates, as well as block copolyether esters derived from hydroxyl-terminated polyethers.

Polyamides and copolyamides derived from diamines and dicarboxylic acids and / or from aminocarboxylic acids or the corresponding lactams, for example polyamide-4, polyamide-6, polyamide-6/6, polyamide-6/10, polyamide-6/9, Polyamide-6/12, polyamide-4/6, polyamide-11, polyamide-12, aromatic polyamides obtained by condensation of m-xylene, diamine and adipic acid; Polyamides prepared from hexamethylenediamine and isophthalic and / or terephthalic acid and optionally an elastomer as a modifier, for example, poly-2,4,4-trimethylhexamethylene terephthalamide or poly-m-phenylene isophthalamide may be useful. Furthermore, copolymers of the above-described polyamides with polyolefins, olefin copolymers, ionomers or chemically bonded or grafted elastomers; or with polyethers such as polyethylene glycol, polypropylene glycol or polytetramethylene glycols, and polyamides or copolyamides modified with EPDM or ABS.

Regardless of the material, it is understood that by increasing the thickness and / or replacing materials for making the rings 162 . 164 . 166 and the spokes 168 the stiffness of the wire holder 130 can be varied to minimize bowing or warping of the annular body during the process of unwinding the welding wire from the wire reel. This variance in the thickness of components also corresponds to a variable weight that can be used with different types of welding wire and sizes. For example, the wire holder 130 have a weight range that varies relative to the cross section of the welding wire, the twist of the welding wire, the welding wire material, and other relevant factors. In one embodiment, the wire retainer has 130 a weight between 1 and 7 pounds, which can be calibrated for use with different wires, with different models of wire holder rings having different weights as needed. For example, the wire holder 130 5 pound total weight when used with a welding wire of larger cross-section while holding the wire 130 has a weight of 2 pounds when used with a relatively finer welding wire. The addition or omission of spokes and / or a variation in material thickness can be used to obtain desired weight results. In this way, the wire holder hinders 130 not the issue of the wire from the rollers 106 . 108 due to too little or too much pressure on the roll.

2 illustrates a top view of the wire holder 130 to the configuration of the inner ring 162 , the intermediate ring 164 and the outer ring 166 to illustrate. As shown, the discontinuous rings are concentric relative to each other and are spanned over several spokes 168 coupled together. It is understood that - although only a single intermediate ring 164 essentially any number of intermediate rings can be used, including the omission of an intermediate ring, as appropriate for the respective application. As shown, the back end is 122 so it illustrates the slot 134 leaves, and is disposed at a location that is remote from the inner ring. The front end 118 gets off the role 106 through the inner ring into a receiving component, such as a welding system.

3 illustrates a level of horizontal planes passing through rings within the wire holder 130 To be defined. The inner ring 162 is in relation to the intermediate ring 164 and to the outer ring 166 shown as increased to give flexibility to spend the front end 118 from the role 106 to enable. The height of the inner ring 162 relative to the intermediate ring and the outer ring may vary and in different applications may be equal to or smaller than those of the intermediate ring and the outer ring and those of the intermediate ring and the outer ring. The height of the intermediate ring 164 to the outer ring 166 is essentially equivalent. Because the height of the inner ring 162 larger than the intermediate ring 164 and the outer ring 166 , the slot can be 134 be angled upward in the direction of the inner ring. This configuration can facilitate dispensing of the wire through the inner ring in an upward direction from the roll and out of the respective container.

5 FIG. 12 is a top perspective view of a second embodiment of a wire retainer including the wire retainer. FIG 500 shows. The wire holder 500 contains a discontinuous inner ring 562 , a discontinuous intermediate ring 564 and an outer ring 566 which are axially concentric with each other. The inner ring 562 has a radius A, the intermediate ring has a radius B, and the outer ring has a radius C, where radius C is greater than radius B, and radius B is greater than radius A. In addition, a height of the horizontal plane passing through the inner ring is defined to be larger than a height of the outer ring to accommodate wire extending from the center of the inner ring 562 is pulled in an upward motion. A height of the intermediate ring 564 is essentially the same as the outer ring 566 , The height of the inner ring 562 relative to the intermediate ring 564 is in 6 shown.

Several spokes 568 extend from the inner ring 562 to the outer ring 566 To provide structural support, the weight of the wire holder 500 to further increase and maintain a position within a container. Because the spokes with each of the rings 562 . 564 and 566 coupled, the spokes are due to the height of the inner ring relative to the outer ring 566 and the intermediate ring 564 generally angled from the outer ring to the inner ring. In one example, as shown in this embodiment, the wire retainer has 500 eight spokes 568 each extending radially from the inner ring 562 to the outer ring 566 extend. In a container with eight corners (for example, at the intersections of eight vertical walls, as in the 1 and 2 shown above) is every spoke 568 arranged within a corner to allow lateral movement of the wire holder 500 to steam inside the container. The length of the spokes may be less than, substantially as large as, or greater than the radius C. In one embodiment, the spokes are 568 longer than the radius C. The spokes 568 Cut the outer ring to form several segments with an arc length 592 along the outer ring 566 to build. Because the spokes are disposed about the outer ring at a substantially equivalent offset angle, the segment spacing between the spokes has a substantially equivalent arc length 592 , The spokes 568 have an inner end 582 and an outer end 584 where the distal ends 582 and 584 bent at an angle of about 90 degrees in an upward direction. This feature can also increase the risk of entanglement of the wire on the retaining ring 500 reduce.

A wire slot 534 is through a first slot rail 526 and a second slot rail 528 defined, both from the inner ring 562 to the outer ring 566 extend. The wire slot 534 is generally at a position instead of a spoke 568 to preserve the overall structural integrity, leaving an inner gap 572 on the inner ring and an intermediate gap 574 serve on the intermediate ring to allow a continuous slot from the inside to the outside of the wire holder. In one embodiment, the width of the inner gap is 572 smaller than the width of the gap 574 , It is understood, however, that the inner gap 572 may have a width that is substantially any size relative to the intermediate gap 574 having. Using the wire slot 534 a user can see the back end of a wire (for example the back end 122 ) from the inner ring 562 to a position near the outer ring 566 move, such as between the intermediate ring 564 and the outer ring 566 , as in 6 shown. Furthermore, the leading end of the wire is pulled from the inner ring to a welding operation. As the roll within the container is depleted from top to bottom, the wire goes up through the wire slot 534 pulled, wherein the rear end is lifted out of a first container to become the front end of a second roller within a second container. To facilitate this continuous wire configuration, the rear end is fused, welded or otherwise connected to the leading end of the second roll. Since subsequent rolls can all contain a wire retainer, the wire can in effect form an endless feed of the wire to a welding system, while at the same time reducing any risk of entanglement.

7 FIG. 12 is a top perspective view of a third embodiment of a wire retaining ring. FIG 700 , The wire holder 700 contains one discontinuous inner ring 762 , a discontinuous intermediate ring 764 and an outer ring 766 which are axially concentric or coaxial with each other. The inner ring 762 has a radius A, the intermediate ring 764 has a radius B, and the outer ring 766 has a radius C, where radius C is greater than radius B and radius B is greater than radius A. Also, a height of the horizontal plane passing through the inner ring 762 is defined to be greater than a height of the horizontal plane passing through the outer ring 766 is defined to receive wire pulled from the center of the inner ring in an upward motion. The height of the horizontal plane passing through the intermediate ring 764 is essentially the same as that of the outer ring 766 ,

Several spokes 768 extend radially from the inner ring 762 to the outer ring 766 To provide structural support, the weight of the wire holder 700 further increase and a position, or index, of the wire holding 700 to maintain within a container. Because the spokes with each of the rings 762 . 764 and 766 coupled, the spokes are due to the height of the inner ring relative to the outer ring 766 and the intermediate ring 764 generally angled from the outer ring to the inner ring. In one example, as shown in this embodiment, the wire retainer has 700 seven spokes 768 each extending radially from the inner ring 762 to the outer ring 766 extend. In a container with eight corners (for example, at the intersections of eight vertical walls, as in the 1 and 2 shown above) is every spoke 768 arranged within a corner to make a lateral or rotational movement of the wire holder 700 to steam inside the container. The length of the spokes may be less than, substantially as large as, or greater than the radius C. In one embodiment, the spokes are 768 longer than the radius C. The spokes 768 Cut the outer ring to several segments 792 with an arc length along the outer ring 766 to build. Because the spokes 768 at a substantially equivalent angle around the outer ring 766 are arranged, have the segments 792 a substantially equivalent arc length. The spokes 768 have an inner end 782 and an outer end 784 , where the outer ends 784 bent at an angle of about 90 degrees in an upward direction. In addition to reducing the movement of the ring 700 with a container, these can be turned up ends 782 . 784 also the risk of entanglement of the wire with the retaining ring 700 reduce.

In the in 7 In the embodiment shown, the wire holder ring is included 700 also a plate 730 , The plate 730 extends radially from the inner ring 762 to the outer ring 766 and is on the ring 700 on the inner ring 762 and the outer ring 766 attached. Besides, the plate can 730 also on the intermediate ring 764 be attached. The plate 730 can at the rings 762 . 764 . 766 by welding, soldering or other joining techniques known to those of ordinary skill in the art. Several windows 738 are in the plate 730 and the lack of material presented by the windows reduces the surface area of the plate which the welding wire can contact during dispensing, thereby reducing the amount of friction to which the welding wire is exposed during dispensing from the wire container.

The plate 730 also contains a slot 734 having a slit width. The slot 734 defines a break or gap in the inner ring 762 and the intermediate ring 764 and extends radially from the break in the inner ring to a position radially inward of the outer ring 766 , A nose 736 is in the plate 730 arranged and extends partially over the slot 734 at a position near the inner gap 764 or the interruption in the inner ring 762 , The nose 736 serves to narrow the slot 734 on the inner ring 762 such that the output welding wire is less at the gap during wire dispensing 734 get caught or stuck. Although the nose 736 as one of a wall of the slot 734 is formed projecting element, it is also considered that the slot 734 from the outer ring 766 towards the inner ring 762 can gradually rejuvenate, so that the same benefit of the nose (in 7 not shown) can be achieved. The slot 734 is curved or arcuate, which is why you can say that he is in a bow from the inner ring 762 in the direction of the outer ring 766 extends, but he also alternatively linear from the inner ring 762 in the direction of the outer ring 766 can extend. The wire slot 734 is generally at a position instead of a spoke 768 In order to maintain the overall structural integrity, the interruption or the gap 772 in the inner ring 762 and the break or the gap 774 in the intermediate ring 764 are formed to allow a continuous slot from the inside to the outside of the wire holder. In one embodiment, the width of the inner gap is 772 smaller than the width of the gap 774 , It is understood, however, that the inner gap 772 may also have a width that is substantially any size relative to the intermediate gap 774 Has. Using the wire slot 734 a user can see the back end of a wire from the inner ring 762 out and into a position near the outer ring 766 move, such as between the intermediate ring 764 and the outer ring 766 , Furthermore, the front end of the wire becomes from the inner ring 762 pulled to a welding process. As the roll within the container is consumed from top to bottom, the wire goes up through the wire slot 734 pulled, wherein the rear end of the wire is lifted out of a first container to become the front end of a second roller within a second container. To facilitate this continuous wire configuration, the rear end is fused, welded or otherwise connected to the leading end of the second roll. Since subsequent rolls can all contain a wire retainer, the wire can in effect form an endless feed of the wire to a welding system, while at the same time reducing any risk of entanglement.

The wire holder 700 can be made from a variety of different materials, such as steel, aluminum, copper, nickel, stainless steel, and brass, as well as a variety of different metal and plastic materials described above.

8th FIG. 12 is a top perspective view of a fourth embodiment of a wire support ring containing the wire retaining member. FIG 800 shows. The wire holding element 800 contains a substantially planar body 860 that has a circumference, an inner wall 862 and an outer wall 866 Has. As in the embodiment of 8th shown, the perimeter of the planar carcass is octagonal, and such a configuration is designed so that the number of corners 810 of the holding element 800 is equal to the number of corners in the container with welding wire. When the retaining element 800 is disposed in the welding wire container, so this configuration reduces a lateral or rotational movement of the wire holder within the container during the output of the welding wire. Of course, a circular periphery and other polygonal peripheral shapes are also contemplated and may be configured to correspond to the internal shape of a plurality of different welding wire containers. The planar body 860 also contains several view slots 868 that serve to allow a user to observe the height of the welding wire within the container while the wire is being dispensed. In the 8th shown viewing slots 868 are spaced apart at equal intervals by the planar body and extend in an arc from the inner wall 862 towards the outer wall 866 although the slots may also extend in a straight line, a diagonal line or in slots of other shapes from the inner wall towards the outer wall.

A nose 836 is on the inner wall 862 arranged and extends partially over the slot 834 at a position near the break in the inner wall 862 , The nose 836 serves to narrow the slot 834 on the inner wall 862 such that the output welding wire is less at the gap during wire dispensing 834 get caught or stuck. Although the nose 836 as one of a wall of the slot 834 is formed projecting element, it is also considered that the slot 834 from the outer ring 866 towards the inner ring 862 can gradually rejuvenate, so that the same benefit of the nose can be achieved.

In the in 8th embodiment shown has the inner wall 862 a truncated cone shape and extending from the substantially planar body 860 upwards. At its top is the inner wall 862 circular and defines an opening 850 , which is in the middle of the planar body 860 located. When inserted into a container with welding wire, the opening becomes 650 aligned so that it runs coaxially with the longitudinal axis of the roll of welding wire. Or in other words: the opening 850 and the wound welding wire have a common axis. The outer wall 866 also extends from the substantially planar body 860 upwards and extends continuously around the circumference of the planar body. As in 8th the case, is the outer wall 866 arranged in the form of several walls, located at the corners 810 cut, with the number of corners 810 is equal to the number of corners inside the container. It can be said that in such a polygonal configuration, each wall has a wall length 892 has, wherein the wall length is substantially equal to the length of an inner wall of the welding wire container.

Instead of one of the view slots 868 is a wire slot 834 available. The wire slot 834 has a slot width and defines a gap or gap in the inner wall 862 , The wire slot 834 extends radially from the break in the inner wall 862 to a position radially inward of the outer wall 866 , The slot 834 is curved or arcuate, so you can say that it is in an arc from the inner wall 862 towards the outer wall 866 extends, but it may alternatively extend linearly from the inner wall in the direction of the outer wall.

The wire slot 834 is generally at a position instead of a viewing slit 868 In order to maintain the overall structural integrity, the inner gap 872 or the interruption on the inner wall 862 are adapted to a continuous slot of the Inside to the outside of the wire holding element 800 to enable. Using the wire slot 834 a user can see the back end of a wire from the inner wall 862 to a position near the outer wall 866 move. Furthermore, the front end of the wire is from the inner wall 862 pulled to a welding process. As the roll within the container is consumed from top to bottom, the wire goes up through the wire slot 834 pulled, wherein the rear end of the wire is lifted out of a first container to become the front end of a second roller within a second container. To facilitate this continuous wire configuration, the rear end is fused, welded or otherwise connected to the leading end of the second roll. Since subsequent rolls can all contain a wire retainer, the wire can in effect form an endless feed of the wire to a welding system, while at the same time reducing any risk of entanglement.

The wire holder 800 can be made from a variety of different materials, such as steel, aluminum, copper, nickel, stainless steel, and brass, as well as a variety of different metal and plastic materials described above.

The examples described above merely illustrate various possible embodiments of various aspects of the present invention, and equivalent changes and / or modifications will occur to those skilled in the art upon reading and understanding this specification and the appended drawings. Specifically, with respect to the various functions performed by the above-described components (assemblies, devices, systems, circuits, and the like), it is intended that the terms (including the use of the term) "unless otherwise specified." Means ") used to describe such components correspond to any components, such as hardware, software or combinations thereof, that perform the specified function of the described component (which, for example, is functionally equivalent), even if disclosed Structure that performs the function in the illustrated implementations of the invention is not structurally equivalent. Further, while a particular feature of the invention has been disclosed with reference to only one of various implementations, such feature may be combined with one or more other features of the other implementations as desired and advantageous for a given or particular application is. Inasmuch as the terms "including," "includes," "having," "having," "having," or variants thereof are used in the detailed description and / or claims, it is intended that these terms be similar in some respects Include term "include".

This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the best mode of execution, and also to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to practice the invention, including making and using the devices or systems and practicing the methods contained herein , The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. It is intended that such other examples also fall within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from those in the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal languages of the claims.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

100

system

102

container

104

container

106

role

108

role

118

front end

122

rear end

124

front end

126

rear end

130

retaining ring

134

slot

136

slot rail

138

slot rail

142

position

150

near the top

152

lower section

154

Winding base

160

floor panel

162

inner ring

164

intermediate ring

166

outer ring

168

spoke

172

upwards on the wall

214

additional rail

216

additional rail

222

inner gap

224

intermediate gap

412

connecting element

414

vertical rail

416

vertical rail

500

retaining ring

526

slot rail

528

slot rail

534

wire slot

562

inner ring

564

intermediate ring

566

outer ring

568

spoke

572

inner gap

574

intermediate gap

582

inner end

584

outer end

592

length

700

retaining ring

730

plate

734

slot

736

nose

738

window

762

inner ring

764

intermediate ring

766

outer ring

768

spoke

772

gap

774

gap

782

inner end

784

outer end

792

segment

800

retaining element

810

corner

834

slot

836

nose

850

opening

860

corpus

862

inner wall

866

outer wall

868

slot

872

inner gap

892

length

A

radius

B

radius

C

radius

Claims (14)

System ( 100 ) for packing and unrolling a roll ( 106 . 108 ) of welding wire for permitting uninterrupted flow of the welding wire from one container to another container, the roll of welding wire comprising: a winding top ( 150 ) and a winding underside ( 154 ), a front end ( 118 ; 124 ) of the welding wire extending from the upper side of the winding and a rear end ( 127 ; 126 ) of the wire extending from the winding bottom, wherein the rear end of the one container can be connected to the front end of the other container, the system comprising: at least two containers ( 102 . 104 ), each container comprising: at least one vertically extending side wall, a closed bottom, a top opening for removing the welding wire, and a wire roller receiving cavity within the outer package for receiving the wire roll, the front end (FIG. 188 ; 124 ) and the rear end ( 122 ; 126 ) can be positioned near the top opening; a wire holder ( 130 ) disposed on the upper side of the winding in the container and the further container, the wire holding ring comprising: a discontinuous inner ring ( 162 ) having an inner radius and an inner gap; an outer ring ( 166 ) having an outer radius greater than the inner radius, the outer ring being disposed substantially concentrically with respect to the inner ring; at least two spokes ( 168 ) each extending radially from the inner ring to the outer ring, the spokes intersecting the outer ring to form a plurality of segments along a circumference of the outer ring; and a plate ( 730 ) extending radially from the inner ring to the outer ring, the plate having a slot (FIG. 734 ) which has a slot width, the slot defining an interruption in the inner ring and extending in an arc from the inner ring to a position radially inward of the outer ring and disposed at a position instead of one of the plurality of spokes, wherein the Rear end of the first roll of wire is positioned inside the slot. The system of claim 1, wherein the wire retainer further comprises a nose ( 736 ) extending partially across the slot at a position near the break in the inner ring. The system of claim 1 or 2, wherein the at least two containers each include a number of vertical walls, the number of spokes being equal to the number of vertical walls. The system of claim 3, wherein the vertical walls are joined together in an end-to-end configuration around an interior portion of each container to form a number of comers equal to the number of walls, each spoke within a corner is arranged. System according to one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising: a discontinuous intermediate ring ( 164 ; 764 ) interposed between the inner ring and the outer ring, the discontinuous intermediate ring being disposed substantially axially concentric relative to the discontinuous inner ring and the outer ring and having an intermediate radius, the intermediate radius being greater than the inner radius and less than the outer radius is. System ( 100 ) for packing and unrolling a roll ( 106 . 108 ) of welding wire to allow uninterrupted flow of the welding wire from one container to another Container, the roll of welding wire comprising: a winding top ( 150 ) and a winding underside ( 154 ), a front end ( 118 ; 124 ) of the welding wire extending from the winding upper side and a rear end of the wire extending from the winding lower side, the rear end ( 122 ; 126 ) of one container can be connected to the front end of the other container, the system comprising: at least two containers ( 102 . 104 ), each container comprising: at least one vertically extending side wall, a closed bottom, a top opening for removing the welding wire, and a wire roller receiving cavity within the outer package for receiving the wire roll, the front end (FIG. 118 ; 124 ) and the rear end ( 122 ; 126 ) can be positioned near the top opening; a wire-holding member disposed on the winding top in the container and the other container, the wire-holding member including: a planar body having a periphery; an outer wall extending upwardly from the periphery of the body; an inner wall extending upwardly from the body and defining an opening in the center of the body; and a slot having a slot width, the slot defining an interruption in the inner wall and extending in an arc from the inner wall to a position radially inward of the outer wall, the rear end of the first roller of wire positioned within the slot is. The system of claim 6, wherein the wire retaining member further includes a tab extending partially across the slot at a position near the break in the inner wall. The system of claim 6 or 7, wherein each of the containers with welding wire includes a number of vertical walls, wherein the number of corners in the outer wall is equal to the number of vertical walls. The system of claim 8, wherein the vertical walls are joined together in an end-to-end configuration around an interior portion of each container to form a number of comers equal to the number of walls, and wherein each corner is external Wall is disposed within a corner of the container. The system of any one of claims 6 to 9, wherein the planar body includes a plurality of viewing slots. The system of claim 10, wherein the plurality of viewing slots are spaced at periodic intervals in the planar body at locations corresponding to corners in the outer walls. A wire holder configured to be placed on a roll of wire, the wire ring comprising: an inner ring having an inner radius; an outer ring having an outer radius, wherein the outer radius is greater than the inner radius and the outer ring is disposed substantially concentrically with respect to the inner ring; a plurality of spokes each extending radially from the inner ring to the outer ring, the plurality of spokes intersecting the outer ring to form a plurality of segments along a circumference of the outer ring; and a plate extending radially from the inner ring to the outer ring, the plate including a slot having a slot width, the slot defining an interruption in the inner ring and in an arc from the inner ring to a position extends radially inwardly of the outer ring and is disposed at a position in lieu of one of the plurality of spokes, the plate further including a tab extending partially across the slot at a position near the break in the inner ring. A wire holder according to claim 12, further comprising: a plurality of spokes each extending radially from the inner ring to the outer ring, the plurality of spokes intersecting the outer ring to form a plurality of segments along a circumference of the outer ring, the slot disposed at a position instead of one of the plurality of spokes is. A wire retainer according to claim 13, further comprising: a discontinuous intermediate ring having an intermediate radius, wherein the intermediate radius is greater than the inner radius and smaller than the outer radius, wherein the intermediate ring between the inner ring and the outer ring, wherein the intermediate ring is substantially concentric relative to the inner ring and the outer ring is arranged.

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