GB2132239A

GB2132239A - Unreeling apparatus for wires, threads and filaments

Info

Publication number: GB2132239A
Application number: GB08305730A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Kenneth John Pierrepont; Colin Clarke
Original assignee: Pressac Ltd
Current assignee: Pressac Ltd
Priority date: 1982-03-06
Filing date: 1983-03-02
Publication date: 1984-07-04
Also published as: GB8305730D0; GB2132239B

Abstract

Unreeling apparatus includes a reel support (2) which carries a reel (5). A disc (6) is removably attached to a centre bar (3) of the support. The disc can be rotated by a driven roller (12). Wire (14) is taken from the reel to a wire guide (9) from where it passes to a roller (10). A stop member (8) comprising a bunch of fibres or bristles, engages the disc in order to inhibit rotation when wire tension rises the disc will carry the wire once past the fibres or bristles to again form a black, unwound frame. The unreeling apparatus is mounted on a frame (1) on which a plurality of the apparatuses can be provided. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Unreeling apparatus for wires, threads and filaments This invention relates to apparatus for unreeling wire threads, or filaments.

Many industrial processes require the supply of a continuous wire, thread or filament. A particular example is the assembly of wiring looms for electrical apparatus such as television sets. A machine for assembling a wire loom may require the supply of a plurality of insulated wires from separate supply reels. It is important in such machines to ensure that the wires supplied are not under excessive tension, since stretching of the wires can then occur during formation of the looms, and the contraction then occurring when the tension is released by the cutting of the wires can result in the lengths of individual wires in the looms deviating from the design lengths, possibly to the extent that many of the looms cannot be used.

Excessive tension can result where wires are drawn by the machine from a freely-rotatable reel, because of the weight of each reel, especially when full. Further, as the reels empty, their weights decrease, thus decreasing the tension in the wires. It is thus difficult or impossible to compensate for the tension and resultant stretching by simply increasing the length of wire drawn out and cut.

It has been proposed to draw wire from a fixed reel in a generally axial direction from the reel.

However, this can lead in practice to several turns of wire becoming loose together and the leading end of the wire then becoming caught beneath the previously loosened turns, thus preventing further unreeling and causing a rapid increase in tension, possibly leading to snapping of the wire.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided unreeling apparatus for wire and the like, comprising a support upon which a reel of wire can be mounted, a wire guide co-axial with, but spaced from, the reel support, a drive member rotatable about the axis of the support adjacent to the reel and co-operable with the wire to free a turn of wire from the reel, means for rotating the drive member, and stop means cooperating with the drive member to prevent a further turn of wire being freed from the reel until the wire reaches a pre-determined tension.

The drive member preferably consists of a disc of greater diameter than the reel, and the stop means may then comprise a bunch of fibres or bristles engaging the disc at one point on the circumference thereof. The means for rotating the drive member may comprise a roller faced with or formed from a resilient material and engaging the circumference of the disc at a position spaced from the stop means.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided an unreeling system for wire and the like comprising a plurality of unreeling apparatusses said unreeling apparatusses being mounted on a common frame.

Preferably the rollers have a common drive, and desirably the wires are led together to provide a plurality of different wires, for example having different colour-coded insulation for assembly together to form a wiring loom section.

The term "wire" as used herein includes threads and filaments and like elements.

The unreeling apparatus of the invention is simple in construction and operation, and can unreel wire or the like freely without gererating excessive tension.

Reference is made to the drawing, which illustrates an unreeling apparatus in accordance with the invention.

The unreeling apparatus generally designated 1 is mounted on a main frame 1 a. The frame 1 a may provide a mounting for a plurality of unreeling apparatusses 1 a.

The unreeling apparatus 1 includes reel support 2 which comprises a centre bar 3 pivotally mounted on support arm 4 which extends at an angle from the main frame 1. The centre bar 3 can be swung outwardly from the main frame 1 to permit removal and replacement of the reel 5, which is positioned with the core thereof over the centre bar 3. At the free end of the centre bar 3, a freely-rotatable steel disc 6 is removably attachable. The disc 6 rotates relative to the centre bar 3 and the reel 5. A quick-release screw arrangement 7 enables the disc 6 to be readily removed and replaced to permit renewal of the reel 5.

A resilient stop member 8, consisting of a plurality of resilient filaments, extends from the main frame 1 and engages the disc 6 at the circumference thereof. A wire guide 9 is spaced from the disc 6 and generally co-axial with the centre bar 3. Where a further reel and support are located adjacent to the reel and support described, a wire guide 9 is suitably provided on the end of the centre bar 3 adjacent to the support arm 4. A guide roller 10 may be mounted on a lateral extension 11 of the main frame 1 to deflect the wire towards the machine in which the wire is being used.

A drive shaft is incorporated within the main frame 1 and carries a plurality of rubber-faced rollers 12 which protrude a small distance from each face of the main frame 1 through openings 13. In use, due to the inclined support the disc 6 rests against, and is rotated by, the adjacent roller 2.

The wire 1 4 passes from the reel 5 over the disc 6 and from there to the guide 9, and to the guide roller 10, from which it is drawn by the machine using the wire. When all the slack in the wire is taken up, friction between the wire and the disc 6 causes the disc to drag the wire past the stop member 8, between the disc and drive roller and around in a circular path, unwinding one loop of wire from the reel, until the wire extends slackly from beneath the reel to the guide 9. As the slack is taken up again, contact with the rotating disc draws the wire into engagement with the stop member 8 again, and the cycle is then repeated. It will be seen that no more than one loop of wire is slackened at each cycle, thus removing the risk of locking the loops together.

Claims

1. Unreeling apparatus for wire and the like comprising a reel support upon which a reel of wire can be mounted, a wire guide co-axial with, but spaced from, the reel support, a drive member rotatable about the axis of the support adjacent to the reel and co-operable with the wire to free a turn of wire from the reel, means for rotating the drive member, and stop means cooperating with the drive member to prevent a further turn of wire being freed from the reel until the wire reaches a predetermined tension.

2. Unreeling apparatus according to Claim 1 in which the drive member comprises a disc, said disc having a diameter greater than the reel.

3. Unreeling apparatus according to Claim 2 in which the stop means comprises a bunch of fibres or bristles which engage the disc at one point on the circumference thereof.

4. Unreeling apparatus according to Claim 1, 2 or 3 in which the means for rotating the drive member comprises a roller faced with or, formed from, a resilient material.

5. Unreeling apparatus according to Claim 4 when dependent upon Claim 2 or 3 in which the roller engages the circumference of the disc at a position spaced from the stop means.

6. An unreeling system for wire and the like comprising a plurality of unreeling apparatusses according to Claim 4 or 5, said unreeling apparatusses being mounted on a common frame.

7. An unreeling system according to Claim 6 in which the rollers have a common drive.

8. An unreeling system according to Claim 6 or 7 in which the wires are led together to provide a plurality of different wires.

9. Unreeling apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

10. An unreeling system substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.