203,297. Western Electric Co., Ltd., (Assignees of Kochendorfer, F. S., and Robinson, M. E.). Aug. 31, 1922, [Convention date]. Cores. covering by winding.-In a machine for helically applying a ribbon such as a metallic tape to a continuous core such as a signalling conductor, the core 52, Fig. 2, drawn from a reel 40<1> passes between tensioning-pulleys 41, 43, through a serving-head enclosed in a housing 20, and thence passes with its covering between guide-rollers 155 to a capstan 22. The pulley 43 is carried by a fixed bracket 36 and the pulley 41 by a lever 37 pivoted to this bracket. A tension spring secured to the axes of these pulleys draws them together and is aided by an adjustable compression spring 39 positioned between the bracket and a screw 40 in the lever 37. Each pulley is frictionally retarded by a faced washer 48, Fig. 11, splined on the stationary axle 46 of the pulley and pressed thereagainst by a spring washer 50 and an adjustable nut 51 on the axle 46. The core 52 is guided to the pulleys 41, 43 through a V-section curved guide 41, which is secured to the lever 37. Should the core catch as it is being unwound from the reel, the momentary increase of tension causes the guide 41<1> to depress and relieve the tension applied by the pulleys. Depression of a hand lever 53 pivoted to the bracket. 36 separates the pulley to facilitate threading the core through the machine. The tape 126, Fig. 4, is carried by a pad-holder 125, which is slipped on to a hub 128 of a tape-pad carrier 60. The carrier 60 is journaled on ballbearings 59 mounted on a rotating hollow shaft 56, through which the core 52 passes. The carrier 60 is retarded relatively to a disc 58 keyed to the shaft 56 by a firction ring 63, Figs. 4 and 13, fixed to the carrier 60 and engaging another ring 64 rotating with the disc 58. The friction between these rings is adjusted by screws 66 tapped into the carrier 60 and bearing through springs 68 against the disc 58. This retardation is further controlled by a band-brake 77 engaging a ring 74 on the carrier 60, the band 77 being secured at one end to the disc 58 and at the other end to a lever 79 pivoted on the disc. The lever 79 is acted upon by a spring to apply the brake, but carries a tangentiadly adjustable weight 84 so positioned that when the speed of the disc 58 has reached its maximum value the weight has moved outwards a sufficient distance to remove the braking action of the band 77. The tape passes over two pulleys pivoted on studs which are located in a series of spaced holes around the disc 58 and balanced by counter-weights 124. One of these pulleys 118 is mounted on a bent stud J19 so that the inclination of the tape delivered thereby to the core can be varied by turning the stud in the disc. The tape passes through a guide 117 to the core 52 and is laid flat thereon by rollers 100, Fig. 6, which are carried by arms 99 pivoted in a housing 90 secured by a left-hand screw to the shaft 56. Pins 103 on the arms 100 engage radial slots 106 in a carrier 92, which is rotatable on the housing 90, and which is normally turned by compression springs 109 located in a circumferential channel 107 so as to keep the rollers resting against the tape on the core. On turning the carrier 92 so as to further compress the springs 100, the arms 99 turn on their pivots and remove the rollers from engagement with the tape, the carrier 92 being held in this abnormal position by a spring catch carried by the housing 90. The pad-holder 125 is retained on the hub 128 by three latches 133 forced outwardly of the hub by springs 134. When the supply of tape on the holder is exhausted, the latches 133 are drawn inwards by partially rotating a, knurled ring 138, which is mounted on the housing 90, and which has internal cam surfaces each engaging a pin 140 protruding from the latch 133. The holder 125 is removed from the hub 128 and can be slipped over the taped core owing to the fact that it is formed with a radial cut. A loaded holder is then moved from off a hollow magazine tube 148, Fig. 2, and placed on the hub 128. The taped core passes through the tube 148, which is supported by a bracket 147, and which carries at each end the rollers 155 mounted on pivoted arms 154, Fig. 12, the upper arm being pulled downwards by a spring 156 while the lower arm is maintained in position by a withdrawable pin 161. These rollers prevent the tape uncoiling from the core should the tape break, and the pair of rollers at one end of the tube 148 are placed in a plane at right angles to that of the pair at the other end thereby reducing the vibration of the core. A rubber roller 175 presses against the first three turns of the taped core around the capstan 22 so as to prevent it from bowing up and thereupon slipping on the capstan. This roller is mounted on a pivoted axle acted upon by an adjustable compression spring. A cone ended clamp 165 is adapted to be placed around the taped core when the machine is stopped after a breakage of the tape so as to prevent the tape from uncoiling from the core as the latter is moved back to enable a join in the tape to be made. The clamp is formed of two members pivoted together and held by a latch to surround the core and is of such a size as to pass through the tube 148 &c. Grinding, welding, and annealing attachments 29, 30, 31 are adapted to grind the ends of the tape and thereafter weld them together. The machine comprises two units as above described, the moving parts of each being separately clutched to a common driving shaft. Specifications 203,295. [Class 83 (iv), Metals, Working], 203,296, [Class 60, Grinding or abrading &c.], and 203,298, are referred to.