GB2104118A - Changing a spool in a cradle of a stranding machine - Google Patents

Abstract

Apparatus for use in arresting a cradle 3 carrying a spool 18 in a stranding machine rotor 1, opening the spool mounting and severing wire extending from the spool, during spool changing, comprises a lifting table 2 arranged below each cradle 3 and being vertically movable by piston- cylinder unit 5, the upper part of the table 2 having a spring loaded plate 6 which contacts and arrests the cradle 3 when the table 2 is raised. A compressed air coupling on the table communicates with a conduit system of the reel mounting to unlock the mounting. The table carries a pair of shears 19 actuated by piston-cylinder units for cutting the wire. A common compressed air and storage system is provided for the air coupling and piston-cylinder units. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Apparatus for use in changing a reel or spool in a cradle of a stranding machine This invention relates to an apparatus for use in preventing a reel or spool support cradle in a stranding machine, particularly a high-speed stranding machine having a tubular rotor, from rocking during the removal and replacement of a spool or reel in the support cradle.

A charging means for stranding machines, which is known from DD-PS 68 811, comprises a grab which removes the empty reel from a cradle of the machine, deposits it outside the stranding machine, picks up a full reel and then places it in the cradle. Plungers are arranged on the grab, and these open the reel or spool mounting when they come within range of it, and enable the reel or spool to be inserted. This method of unlocking the reel does avoid having to unlock the reel mounting by hand, but on the other hand it has a series of disadvantages; these substantially consist of the fact that the mechanism is very prone to trouble, can only be used for fairly small reel mounts and, finally, is still too time consuming.In addition, if there is trouble with the charging system, the unlocking of the reel mount becomes very problematic, since although the charging can generally be taken over by auxilliary means, the unlocking of the reel mount cannot. Means which exclusively take over the function of arresting movement of the cradle, unlocking the reel mount and severing the wire coming from the reel, are not so far known in the form of an independent unit.

The aim of the invention is to reduce the manual component of the process of arresting the cradle, opening the reel mount and severing the wire.

The problem underlying the invention is to provide an apparatus which will cause the cradle to be held in the charging position and the reel mount to be unlocked. It must also sever the wire extending from the reel and must be located outside the range of action of a reel charging means.

According to the present invention there is provided apparatus for use in arresting a reel or spool support cradle and opening the reel or spool mounting in a stranding machine, such as a stranding machine having a tubular rotor, during removal and replacement of a reel or spool ih a cradle, comprising a vertically movable table disposed below each cradle of the stranding rotor, said table being provided with a spring loaded plate at its upper end for engaging and holding the cradle, with a compressed air coupling for connection with a conduit system of the reel or spool mounting and a severing means for severing the wire extending from the spool or reel, a piston and cylinder device being provided for raising and lowering the table and a piston and cylinder device for actuating the severing means.

Preferably the compressed air coupling comprises a valve body fixed to the lifting table and provided with a compressed air connection, a spring loaded valve stem provided with coaxially and radially extending bores, is movable within the valve body, the upper end of the valve stem having a cylindrical member provided with an axial bore, said cylindrical member extending through a cylindrical hole provided in the springloaded plate and being provided with a sealing ring. A further feature of the invention is that the severing means for the wire comprises a pair of shears, arranged laterally on the table and extending within range of the wire, two piston and cylinder devices being provided to operate the shears.

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 longitudinal section through part of the stranding rotor in the region of a cradle and apparatus according to the present invention for arresting the cradle and unlocking the reel mount; Figure 2 shows the apparatus for arresting the cradle, partly in section; Figure 3 is a section of the apparatus for unlocking the reel, and Figure 4 shows the apparatus for severing the wire, partly in section.

The stranding machine is of the type having a stranding rotor 1 in which are mounted cradles 3 carrying spools or reels 1 8.

Referring to Figure 1, there is provided below the rotor 1 an apparatus disposed under each cradle 3 of the stranding rotor 1, comprising a table 2 which can be moved in a vertical direction along a guideway 4 by means of a piston and cylinder device 5. A spring-loaded plate 6 is fixed to the top of the lifting table 2. When the table 2 moves upwards, the plate 6 is laid against the underside of the cradle 3 and prevents it from rocking. A compressed air coupling 7 is fixed to the support for the plate 6 and comprises a valve body 8 provided with a compressed air connection 9 and the body 8 has a spring loaded valve stem 10 extending into it. A cylindrical member 11 is screwed onto the upper end of the stem 10. A compression spring 12 surrounding the valve stem 10 bears at one end against the cylindrical member 11 and its opposed end bears on the valve body 8.The valve stem 10 is provided with a coaxial bore 13 and a radially extending bore 14. The lower end of the bore 13 communicates with the bore 14, and the upper end communicates with a bore 1 5 extending axially through the cylindrical member 11. When the lifting table 2 moves upwards, the cylindrical member 1 carrying a sealing ring 16 on its top surfaces, passes through a hole 1 7 in the plate 6, into a cylindrical recess (not shown) in the cradle 3 and is laid against the cradle 3. When the table 2 moves further up, the valve stem 10 exposes the bore 14 to the chamber in the valve body 8 and the compressed air from connection 9 can flow through the bores 14, 13, 1 5 into the conduit system of the cradle 3 and unlock the mounting of the reel 18.An apparatus for severing the wire uncoiled from the reel 18 is provided on the lifting table 2. It comprises a pair of shears 1 9 extending into the vicinity of the uncoiled wire and actuated by piston and cylinder devices 20. The wire is guided over direction changing rollers 21, mounted on the cradle 3, to ensure that it is always within cutting range of the shears 19 when the table 2 is raised. All the compressed air connections on the lifting table 2 are supplied through a central pressure store and generator. The apparatus for arresting the cradle 3, unlocking the reels 1 8 and severing the wire operates as follows: The lifting table 2 is moved upwards by the piston and cylinder device 5. The plate 6 is laid against the underside of the cradle 3 and holds it in the charging position. The spring loading of the plate 6 allows the lifting table 2 to move further up. This brings the compressed air coupling 7 to rest in an appropriate aperture in the cradle 3, and the valve stem 10 is pushed back. The bore 14 is thus exposed and the pressure medium unlocks the reel 1 8. The piston and cylinder devices 20 are supplied with pressure fluid at the same time, and the shears 19 cut the wire off the reel 18. The reel 1 8 can then be removed and changed. When this has been done the table 2 can be moved down again. The pressure pipes leading to the reel mount and shears are thereby depressurised. The new reel is locked and the shears 19 move apart.

Thus a fully automatic process is provided, working with a reel charging means, and follows a predetermined programme without any time being wasted.

Claims (5)

Claims

1. Apparatus for use in arresting a reel or spool support cradle and opening the reel or spool mounting in a stranding machine, such as a stranding machine having a tubular rotor, during removal and replacement of a reel or spool in a cradle, comprising a vertically movable table disposed below each cradle of the stranding rotor, said table being provided with a spring loaded plate at its upper end for engaging and holding the cradle, with a compressed air coupling for connection with a conduit system of the reel or spool mounting and a severing means for severing the wire extending from the spool or reel, a piston and cylinder device being provided for raising and lowering the table and a piston and cylinder device for actuating the severing means.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which the compressed air coupling comprises a valve body fixed to the table and provided with a compressed air connection, a spring loaded valve stem provided with coaxially and radially extending bores movable inside the valve body, the upper end of the valve stem having a cylindrical member provided with an axial bore, said cylindrical member extending through a cylindrical hole provided in the spring loaded plate and being provided with a sealing ring.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, in which the severing means for the wire comprises a pair of shears arranged laterally on the table and extending within range of the wire, two piston and cylinder devices being provided to operate the shears.

4. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, in which a common pressure generating and pressure storing system is provided for all the compressed air connections, and all the switching processes follow a time or sequence programme.

5. Apparatus for use in arresting a reel or spool support cradle and opening the reel or spool mounting in a stranding machine during removal and replacement of a reel or spool in a cradle, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.