GB2102854A - Charging a stranding machine - Google Patents

Abstract

The charging process is reduced to exact operating steps which will allow for automatic processing. Signalling takes place either by means of a time pattern control or with microprocessors and provides the following steps in sequence: stopping the rotation of the stranding machine rotor 1 and opening a protective cover; rotating the stranding rotor 1 to a charging position; arresting movement of the reel carrying frame or cradle 3; opening the reel lock and severing the wire; taking the reel out of the machine by means of a charging bar 4, simultaneously picking up a full reel from a position of readiness; raising the charging bar 4, turning it through 180 DEG horizontally and lowering it again to place the full reel in the stranding rotor 1 and the empty reel on a roller conveyor 5; raising the charging bar 4 and back-rotating it; closing the reel lock; joining the ends of the wire; checking the reel lock; closing the protective cover; and starting-up the stranding machine. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A method of charging a stranding machine This invention relates to a method of charging a stranding machine, particularly a high-speed stranding machine, using lifting means and grabs.

Stranding machines, particularly high-speed stranding machines with tubular rotors, have hitherto usually been charged with spool or reels by using electric hoists which can be moved over the machine, or by means of charging aids provided as accessories to the stranding machine.

The disadvantage of these charging aids is the high proportion of manual work, the relatively long charging time and the serious danger of accidents.

A charging means is known from DD-PS 66 81 1, comprising a grab which can be moved in the vertical and horizontal plane and which is equipped with spring biased thrust bolts, that open the reel mount when the grab is lowered.

The grab takes the empty reel out of the reel carrier and moves upwards. It then swings outwards and moves down. Here the empty reel is deposited and a new reel picked up and moved upwards. The grab swings back over the stranding machine then descends. The full reel is lowered above the reel frame. When the trust bolts are put on, the spindle sleeves of the reel mount are opened and the reel comes to rest in receiving pockets. The tong-like arms of the grab open and are held in position by a retaining pin. The grab is then moved upwards again. At the same time the reel is locked in the mount. This method of charging stranding machines still takes up far too much time and does not allow for an automated charging process.

The aim of the invention is to shorten the time taken up by the charging process.

The problem underlying the invention is to develop a method of charging stranding machines, which will ensure that all the necessary operating steps can take place automatically.

According to the present invention there is provided a method of charging a stranding machine, using lifting means and grabs, comprising the following operations: (a) stopping the rotation of the stranding machine and opening a protective cover, (b) rotating the stranding rotor into a charging position by initiating an electric signal, in sequence as time pattern control or using microprocessors, (c) moving a device having arresting, unlocking and severing means to an upper operative position to arrest movement of a reel or spool support frame or cradle and connecting a compressed air system of the device to the reel mount, (d) opening a compressed air valve of the device to release the reel in the cradle and severing the wire from the reel, (e) lowering a charging bar having grabs to a bottom position to engage the empty reel contained in stranding rotor and a full reel standing ready adjacent the machine, (f) lifting the charging bar to an upper position, (g) rotating the charging bar through 1800 in the horizontal plane, (h) lowering the charging bar to place the full reel in the reel support frame or cradle and to deposit the empty reel on roller conveyor, (i) moving the charging bar to its upper position with the grabs open and rotating it back through 1 800 to the starting position, (j) closing the compressed air valve to operate the reel lock, (k) moving said device to its lower position, (I) welding the ends of wire together, (m) visually checking the locking of the reel, (n) closing the protective cover, and (o) switching on the drive of the stranding machine.

Thus a method of charging a stranding machine has been developed, enabling a continuous charging process to be obtained without any considerable manual intervention or waste of time. It makes no difference whether the reels are changed individually in succession or all together.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of an example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side elevation of the tubular portion of a high-speed tubular stranding machine showing the charging bar, Figure 2 is a front elevation of the high-speed tubular stranding machine showing the charging bar and the device having the arresting, unlocking and severing means, and Figure 3 shows part of the stranding rotor in longitudinal section and the device with the arresting, unlocking and severing means.

The stranding machine is of the type having a tubular stranding rotor 1 in which are located cradles 3 in which the spools or reels are mounted, the rotor 1 having openings therein in the region of each cradle 3 through which the spools or reels can be passed.

When the stranding machine is to be charged with fresh spools or reels it is first stopped from rotating. This is selected manually by the operators. A protective cover is then opened for the purpose of charging the machine. With the opening of the protective cover the automatic charging process then starts. Signalling for the individual operations is either effected by a time pattern control or controlled by microprocessors.

The sequence of steps is as follows: The stranding rotor 1 is rotated into the charging position, i.e. with the charging apertures provided in the rotor 1 exactly vertically above one another. A device 2 provided with arresting.

unlocking and severing means which is located below the stranding rotor 1 and in fact below a reel support cradle or frame 3, is operated to move into its uppermost position, thereby preventing the reel frame 3 which is freely mounted, from rocking or swinging. At the same time a compressed air connection for unlocking the reels is established.

Another signal causes the compressed air to flow, and the reel mounting is released to release the reel or spool. At the same time the compressed air operates a pair of wire cutting shears mounted on the device 2 and these sever the wire extending from the reel. The next signal is responsible for lowering a charging bar 4, which is arranged on the protective sheathing of the stranding machine and which has a grab at both ends. One of the two grabs is located exactly above the reel or spool mounting and the other is located above a reel preparation means. When the charging bar 4 is lowered, the grabs fit over the two reels; and the arms of the grabs close automatically by spring force, then cause the loading bar to move up into its uppermost position taking the empty spool or reel from the cradle 3 and the new spool or reel from the preparation means.When this is reached there is a further signal, causing the loading bar 4 to rotate through 1 800 in the horizontal plane. The "lower" signal is then transmitted and the loading bar 4 is moved to the lowermost position. The full reel is inserted in the reel mount of the cradle 3 and the empty reel is deposited on a gravity roller conveyor 5. The grabs are then opened. The charging bar 4 then moves into its uppermost position with open grabs and is rotated back through 1800 to the starting position. A signal to close the compressed air valve then follows, causing the full reel to be locked in the cradle 3.

The ends of the wire on the full reels are welded to those in the stranding machine. The device 2 thereupon receives a "lower" signal and moves into its lowermost position. A visual check of the spool or reel locking is then carried out and the protective cover is closed. The high-speed stranding machine can then be restarted. All other processes, such as taking away the empty reels and putting fresh full reels in readiness, are carried out by the operators while the machine is running and therefore do not reduce productivity.

LLHI IV13 1. A method of charging a stranding machine, using lifting means and grabs, comprising the following operations: (a) stopping the rotation of the stranding machine and opening a protective cover, (b) rotating the stranding rotor into a charging position by initiating an electric signal, in sequence as time pattern control or using microprocessors, (c) moving a device having arresting, unlocking and severing means to an upper operative position to arrest movement of a reel or spool support frame or cradle and connecting a compressed air system of the device to the reel mount, (d) opening a compressed air valve of the device to release the reel in the cradle and severing the wire from the reel, (e) lowering a charging bar having grabs to a bottom position to engage the empty reel contained in stranding rotor and a full reel standing ready adjacent the machine, (f) lifting the charging bar to an upper position, (g) rotating the charging bar through 1800 in the horizontal plane, (h) lowering the charging bar to place the full reel in the reel support frame or cradle and to deposit the empty reel on roller conveyor, (i) moving the charging bar to its upper position with the grabs open and rotating it back through 1 800 to the starting position, (j) closing the compressed air valve to operate the reel lock, (k) moving said device to its lower position, (I) welding the ends of wire together, (m) visually checking the locking of the reel, (n) closing the protective cover, and (o) switching on the drive of the stranding machine.

2. A method of charging a stranding machine substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (2)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. connection for unlocking the reels is established. Another signal causes the compressed air to flow, and the reel mounting is released to release the reel or spool. At the same time the compressed air operates a pair of wire cutting shears mounted on the device 2 and these sever the wire extending from the reel. The next signal is responsible for lowering a charging bar 4, which is arranged on the protective sheathing of the stranding machine and which has a grab at both ends. One of the two grabs is located exactly above the reel or spool mounting and the other is located above a reel preparation means. When the charging bar 4 is lowered, the grabs fit over the two reels; and the arms of the grabs close automatically by spring force, then cause the loading bar to move up into its uppermost position taking the empty spool or reel from the cradle 3 and the new spool or reel from the preparation means.When this is reached there is a further signal, causing the loading bar 4 to rotate through 1 800 in the horizontal plane. The "lower" signal is then transmitted and the loading bar 4 is moved to the lowermost position. The full reel is inserted in the reel mount of the cradle 3 and the empty reel is deposited on a gravity roller conveyor 5. The grabs are then opened. The charging bar 4 then moves into its uppermost position with open grabs and is rotated back through 1800 to the starting position. A signal to close the compressed air valve then follows, causing the full reel to be locked in the cradle 3. The ends of the wire on the full reels are welded to those in the stranding machine. The device 2 thereupon receives a "lower" signal and moves into its lowermost position. A visual check of the spool or reel locking is then carried out and the protective cover is closed. The high-speed stranding machine can then be restarted. All other processes, such as taking away the empty reels and putting fresh full reels in readiness, are carried out by the operators while the machine is running and therefore do not reduce productivity. LLHI IV13

1. A method of charging a stranding machine, using lifting means and grabs, comprising the following operations: (a) stopping the rotation of the stranding machine and opening a protective cover, (b) rotating the stranding rotor into a charging position by initiating an electric signal, in sequence as time pattern control or using microprocessors, (c) moving a device having arresting, unlocking and severing means to an upper operative position to arrest movement of a reel or spool support frame or cradle and connecting a compressed air system of the device to the reel mount, (d) opening a compressed air valve of the device to release the reel in the cradle and severing the wire from the reel, (e) lowering a charging bar having grabs to a bottom position to engage the empty reel contained in stranding rotor and a full reel standing ready adjacent the machine, (f) lifting the charging bar to an upper position, (g) rotating the charging bar through 1800 in the horizontal plane, (h) lowering the charging bar to place the full reel in the reel support frame or cradle and to deposit the empty reel on roller conveyor, (i) moving the charging bar to its upper position with the grabs open and rotating it back through 1 800 to the starting position, (j) closing the compressed air valve to operate the reel lock, (k) moving said device to its lower position, (I) welding the ends of wire together, (m) visually checking the locking of the reel, (n) closing the protective cover, and (o) switching on the drive of the stranding machine.

2. A method of charging a stranding machine substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.