GB2084618A

GB2084618A - Wire pay-off

Info

Publication number: GB2084618A
Application number: GB8128816A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: BICC PLC
Current assignee: Balfour Beatty PLC
Priority date: 1980-09-25
Filing date: 1981-09-23
Publication date: 1982-04-15
Also published as: GB2084618B

Abstract

Apparatus for paying-off wire from a reel (R) comprises an unwinding flyer (1); a motor (2) for rotating the flyer about an axis aligned with the reel axis; a wire-guiding dancer arm (4) pivotable about a fixed axis (13) and which has a predetermined tension applied to it, and, for adjusting the power applied to the motor and hence the rotational speed of the flyer, control means operable by the dancer arm; the arrangement being such that any change in the speed at which wire is drawn off the reel would result in movement of the dancer arm, and hence an appropriate adjustment of the rotational speed of the flyer. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Wire pay-off This invention relates to apparatus for paying-off wire, cord, filament or other flexible elongate element (all such flexible elongate elements hereinaf ter, for convenience, being included in the term "wire") from a reel, drum, spool or other support around which the wire is wound (all such supports hereinafter, for convenience, being included in the term "reel").

One conventional arrangement for paying-off wire from a reel, for example for feeding wire to a stranding machine, comprises drawing the wire off the reel using an arm (generally referred to as a flyer) which is free to rotate about the axis of the reel and passing the wire from the flyer over a dancer arm which is used to control the tension of the wire at it is drawn from the reel. This arrangement has the disadvantage that the rotational speed of the flyer is uncontrolled and that, if the wire breaks, the flyer continues to rotate and hence unwind wire from the reel.

According to the present invention improved apparatus for paying-off wire from a reel comprises a flyer for unwinding wire from the reel; a motor for rotating the flyer around the reel, the rotational axis of the flyer being aligned with the longitudinal axis of the reel; a dancer arm which can pivot about a fixed axis and which has a predetermined tension applied to it, the wire passing from the flyer and over the dancer arm; and, for adjusting the power applied to the motor, and hence the rotational speed of the flyer relative to the speed at which wire is drawn off the reel, control means operable by the dancer arm; the arrangement being such that any change in the speed at which wire is drawn off the reel will result in movement of the dancer arm, and hence an appropriate adjustment of the rotational speed of the flyer.

Preferably, the power is supplied to the motor via control means comprising an amplifier and an inductive displacement coil, the dancer arm being connected to the core of the coil such that any movement of the dancer arm moves the core of the coil and hence changes the power supplied to the motor.

A brake is preferably mounted on the support shaft of the flyer, and is connected to a micro-switch, the arrangement being that if the wire breaks, the dancer arm will move to a position where it activates the micro-switch which operates the brake to stop rotation of the flyer, and which switches off the power supplied to the motor.

Preferably, the motor is mounted on the support shaft of the flyer such that the longitudinal axis of the motor is aligned with the longitudinal axis of the reel. In this case, the support shaft is preferably hollow and the wire passes from the flyer through the support shaft, hence through the centre of the motor, to the dancer arm.

The predetermined tension on the dancer arm is preferably applied by a spring, the tension being adjustable to allow the apparatus to be used for paying-off various sizes of wire.

The free end of the flyer preferably has a pulley mounted on it over which the wire passes. Preferably, this pulley is mounted such that it can swivel against the action of a counter balance, thereby accommodating changes in the path of the wire as it is unwound from the reel.

This invention also includes a method of payingoff wire from a reel using the apparatus as herein described.

The invention is further illustrated by a description, by way of example, of preferred apparatus for paying-off wire from a reel with reference to the accompanying drawing which shows a diagrammatic side view of the apparatus.

Referring to the drawing, the apparatus comprises a flyer 1, a motor 2, a brake 3 and a dancer arm 4. The flyer 1 is mounted on a hollow support shaft 5 and includes a counter balanced swivel pulley 6 at the free end of the flyer, over which wire passes as it is unwound from the reel R. The motor 2 is mounted on support shaft 5 to drive the shaft and hence rotate the flyer 1 around the reel R. The brake 3 is also mounted on the shaft 5.

The dancer arm 4 is pivotally mounted about point 13 on unit 7 and includes a pulley 8 at its free end.

Tension is applied to the dancer arm 4 by a spring 9 (positioned inside unit 7) which can be adjusted by a control 10. The dancer arm 4 is connected to the core 11 of an inductive displacement coil 12 (also mounted inside unit 7) which is connected to an amplifier (not shown) which controls the supply of power to the motor 2. The arrangement is such that as the dancer arm 4 pivots about point 13 in response to a change in the speed at which wire is drawn off the reel R, the position of the core 11 relative to the coil 12 is changed, altering the supply of power to the motor 2, and hence changing the rotational speed of the flyer 1. The path of wire W is shown with the direction of travel indicated by arrows.The wire W is paid-off from the reel R over the swivel pulley 6 and two guide pulleys 14, 15 on the flyer 1, through the support shaft 5 (that passes through the centre of the motor 2 and brake 3) to pulley 16 on the unit 7. The wire then passes over pulley 17 to pulley 8 on the dancer arm, back over another pulley (not shown) mounted behind pulley 17 and then off to atake-up machine (not shown) for example a cable stranding machine. If the rate at which wire is drawn from the reel changes, the position of the dancer arm 4 moves, changing the supply of power of the motor 2, altering the speed of rotation of the flyer 1, and hence the rate at which the wire is paid-off from the reel R to compensate for the change in the rate at which the wire is being withdrawn.

The tension on the dancer arm 4 controls the tension applied to the wire Was it is paid-off. The tension on the dancer arm 4 is preset by control 10 before the wire is paid-off, and can be altered to allow the apparatus to be used to pay-off wires of different diameters and materials.

If, during operation, the wire should break, the The drawing(s) originally filed was/were informal and the print here reproduced is taken from a laterfiledformal copy.

dancer arm 4 automatically moves to position 4' under the action of the spring. As the dancer arm 4 arrives in this position 4' it activates a micro-switch (not shown) inside unit 7. The micro-switch is connected to the amplifier supplying power to the motor 2, and also to a circuit (not shown) connected to the brake 3. Activation of the micro-switch simultaneouslycuts offthepowertothe motor2and applies power to the brake 3 to operate the brake and stop rotation of the flyer 1.

As the flyer 1 is driven at a speed relative to the speed at which the wire is drawn off, the apparatus can be used, as shown, with the longitudinal axis of the reel R horizontal without the problem of dropped wires which would otherwise occur if the flyer 1 was freely rotating. The apparatus can also be used in the upright positions with the longitudinal axis of the reel vertical. Further, any number of the apparatuses can be bankedtogethertoallowformultiple pay-off of wire.

This invention is not restricted to the arrangement as described. For example, the motor may be offset from the support shaft of the flyer and connected to it via a driven belt arrangement. Alternatively, the motor, brake and support shaft may be mounted on the opposite side of the reel to the unit supporting the dancer arm, etc. Further, any number of suitable alternatives may be used for applying tension to the dancer arm, and carrying the power supply to the motor.

The invention has several advantages over known arrangements in that much faster pay-off speeds can be achieved under controlled conditions, and in that, in the event of a wire break, a rapid stop of rotation of the flyer prevents excess wire being drawn off, thereby producing less waste of wire and allowing easier and quicker rethreading.

Claims

1. Apparatus for paying-off wire from a reel comprises a flyer for unwinding wire from the reel; a motor for rotating the flyer about the reel, the rotation axis ofthe flyer being aligned with the longitudinal axis of the reel; a dancer arm which can pivot about a fixed axis and which has a predetermined tension applied to it, the wire passing from the flyer and over the dancer arm; and, for adjusting the power applied to the motor, and hence the rotational speed of the flyer relative to the speed at which the wire is drawn off the reel, control means operable by the dancer arm; the arrangement being such that any change in the speed at which the wire is drawn of the reel will result in movement ofthe dancer arm, and hence an appropriate adjustment ofthe rotational speed of the wire.

2. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the control means comprises an amplifier and an inductive displacement coil, the dancer arm being connected to the core of the coil so that any movement of the dancer arm moves the core of the coil and hence changes the power supplied to the motor.

3. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein a brake is mounted on the support shaft of the flyer, and is connected to a micro-switch, the arrangement being that if the wire breaks, the dancer arm will move to a position where it activates the microswitch which operates the brake to stop rotation of the flyer, and which switches off the power supplied to the motor.

4. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the motor is mounted on the support shaft of the flyer, such that the longitudinal axis of the motor is aligned with the longitudinal axis ofthe reel.

5. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 4, wherein the support shaft is hollow and the wire passes from the flyer th rough the support shaft, hence through the centre of the motor to the dancer arm.

6. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the predetermined tension on the dancer arm is applied by a spring, the tension being adjustable to allow the apparatus to be used for paying-off various sizes of wire.

7. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the free end of the flyer has a pulley mounted on it over which the wire passes.

8. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 7, wherein the pulley is mounted such that it can swivel against the action of a counter balance, thereby accommodating changes in the path of the wire as it is unwound from the reel.

9. Apparatus for paying-off wire from a reel as hereinbefore described, with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawing.

10. A method of paying-off wire from a reel using apparatus as hereinbefore described.