GB1145428A - Accumulator device for elongated flexible members - Google Patents

Abstract

1,145,428. Taking up slack in flexible elements. AOI SEIKI CO. Ltd. 20 Feb., 1968 [24 Feb., 1967], No. 8110/68. Heading B8B. A device for accumulating a flexible elongated element between feeding and receiving points to maintain a constant tension therein comprises traversing units 21, 22 which feed the element on and off a drum formed on its surface with two spiral paths extending outwardly from the axial centre of the drum, the element being accumulated in the spiral paths by rotation of the drum when the supply of element to the drum exceeds the demand therefrom. The drum comprises a pair of driven discs 2, a plurality of axles 3 supported between the discs and arcuately spaced around the periphery thereof, and two series of pulleys 5, 6 rotatably mounted on the axles 3, each series being positioned to form one of the said spiral paths The traversing units 21, 22 are screw threadedly mounted on shafts 15, 16 which are driven with the drum such that they traverse in opposite directions. In operation with no accumulation on the drum the flexible element passes through the traverser 21, over a pair a main wheels at the ends of an arm secured on the drum axle at its mid point, and through the traverser 22. With a decrease in tension in the element leaving the device, the drum is rotated by an electric torque motor to accumulate the element until a constant tension value is reached. The torque motor may be substituted by either an electric motor associated with an element tension detecting means, or a coiled spring. In the embodiment of Fig. 4 (not shown), each series of pulleys 5, 6 is substituted by rollers each having a plurality of parallel grooves. In the embodiment of Fig. 5 (not shown), the main wheels each comprise a plurality of pulleys rotatably mounted on the basic wheel.