GB492572A - Improvements in or relating to machines for applying spacing washers to the central conductor of a concentric cable - Google Patents

Abstract

492,572. Cables ; feeding washers from stacks. STANDARD TELEPHONES & CABLES, Ltd., NUNN, D., and SLADE, W. C. Dec. 14, 1937, No. 34576. Addition to 458,772. [Class 36] [Also in Group II] Spacing washers are supplied to the machine described in the parent Specification from a supply magazine comprising a series of stacks which come into operative position automatically as the preceding stack is exhausted. The stacks may be arranged linearly or, as shown, circularly. In the Figure, guides A are mounted between plates B, C ; fins 4, projecting through apertures in the guides, coact with the slots in the washers to orientate the washers, with recesses 8 in apertures 6 in the plate C to prevent rotation of the guides relative to the plate, and with latches 11 on the plate B whereby the guides may be locked-in position or readily removed. A follower 12, placed on the stack of washers, comprises a pin 13 projecting through a slot 29 in each guide. Washers pass through an aperture 15 in a plate 14 on which the guides rest to a guide 2, which is kept full, whence they are fed singly to the cable-making machine. As a stack becomes empty, the pin 13 contacts a switch 18, energizing a magnet 20 to withdraw a lever 17 from one of the apertures 6 ; the lever 17 operates a switch 21 to start a motor 22 to rotate the magazine : this causes release of the switch 18, return of the lever 17 and release of the switch 21 ; rotation of the supply magazine continues, however, due to the spring 25 and the action of the lever 17 on the sloping part of the aperture 6 until the lever 17 finally fully enters the aperture. The machine is stopped, in the event of an empty stack, by contact of the pin 13 with a switch 27 ; a sensing device may also be provided to stop the feed of the central conductor in the event of a missing washer. Two magazines with guides at 180‹, or two identical magazines, one of which has a helical feed guide 2, or two identical magazines having respectively front and rear feeds, or a single magazine having a double feed may be used to alternate the direction of the washer slots. When the guides are arranged linearly, two rows may be provided. Instead of a gravity feed from a vertical machine, a spring feed from a horizontal machine may be utilized.