GB759818A - Improvements in or relating to apparatus for removing a twist from or longitudinallymoving article circular in cross-section - Google Patents

Abstract

759,818. Twisting. WESTERN ELECTRIC CO., Inc. Dec. 7, 1954 [Dec. 8, 1953], No. 35415/54. Class 83 (4). Apparatus for removing a twist from an article 10 circular in cross-section, such as a tube, and particularly a sheath on a cable core, while the article is being advanced longitudinally comprises a carriage 25 rotatable about the article in a direction opposite to the direction of twist therein, and means supported by the carriage 25 to apply a variable torque to the article to remove the twist therefrom. The carriage 25 comprises side members 47, 48 secured at one end to the enlarged inner end 46 of a hollow spindle rotatably supported in a head 17 and secured at the other end to the enlarged inner end 50 of a hollow spindle 51 rotatably supported by a speed-reducing unit 24. The hollow spindle 51 is driven, so as to rotate the carriage, by a reversible motor 23 through worm gearing 57, 56. The article is engaged by two series 20, 21 of resilient rollers; each roller has a spindle the ends of which are journalled in bearing blocks 60 normally seated in recesses 61 of parallel holders 62 through the force of springs 63 mounted on studs 64 carrying nuts 65 for adjusting the spring force. The holders 62 carry screws 67 extending through elongated apertures 68 in the members 47, 48. The ends of the holders 62 carry racks 70 each engaging a pinion 71; the pinions 71 are fixedly mounted in pairs on spindles 72, adjacent pairs of pinions interengaging. A lever 77 is secured to one spindle 72, one end of the lever being connected at 76 to the piston-rod 18 of a fluid cylinder 19 mounted on the carriage 25; the other end of the lever 77 is connected by a rod 80 to a lever 79 secured to a spindle 72 at the other end of the carriage; a spring 82 acts on the rod 80 so as normally to hold the rollers away from the path of the tube. In operation, a unit 11 senses any twist of the article and, responsive thereto, a control unit 14 actuates a valve 15 to admit fluid-pressure to the cylinder 19 to move the rollers 20, 21 into contact with the article and also starts the motor 23 to rotate the carriage 25 in a direction opposite to that of the twist. Specifications 759,817 and 759,819 are referred to.