GB922501A - Wire handling apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

922,501. Coiling. E. J. CRUM. July 21, 1961 [Aug. 10, 1960], No. 26545/61. Class 83 (4). A wire handling apparatus comprises a device for receiving a continuous length of wire, forming it into a series of consecutive loops, serially discharging them, in overlying relationship on to a conveyer below the forming unit and conveying them to a position above a coil forming unit whence they gravitate consecutively to the unit to form a coil. A loop forming device A comprises a stationary block 11 around the top of which loops 12 are formed from a wire 10 and discharged at the bottom of the block on to a belt conveyer 13 comprising a pair of laterally spaced belts 13a, 13b supported on rollers 14, 15. The belts are driven by a variable speed motor 16 via belt 17 and pulley 18, 19. The roller 14 is rotatably supported between columns 21, 22 and the roller 15 between the cantilever arms 25, 26 of the supports 23, 24 so as to overhang the mouth of a coil forming unit C. The unit C comprises a cylinder 27 supported by member 28 from an overhead member 29, the diameter of which is equal to that of the coil to be formed and larger than that of the loop 12. An annular track 30 having a groove 31 is fitted to the upper edge of the cylinder 27, a sprocketwheel 32 comprising an annular channel 33 is rotatable on the track 30 and is driven by a variable speed motor 37 via a chain 34, a sprocket 35 and a shaft 36. A deflector arm 39 is secured to the wheel 32 such that the arm extends inside the cylinder to restrict the opening to a diameter equal to that of the loops 12. A skid 44 is mounted on an elevator 40 disposed below the cylinder 27 cantilevered from a vertically slidable member 41 mounted between columns 42, 43 to one side of the cylinder 27. An hydraulic jack 45, the ram 46 of which is fitted with a pulley 47 engages a chain 48, one end of which is connected to the member 41 and the other end of which is fitted to a bracket 49 fixed to the stationary cylinder 50 of the jack. A pair of diametrically opposite openings 51, 52 are disposed below the end of the arm 39 and above the bottom of the cylinder 27, a light source 53 is projected through one opening, across the cylinder to the other and on to a photo-electric cell 54 which is electrically connected to a solenoid hydraulic valve 55 in the hydraulic line 56a. When the light beam is broken the valve 55 is operated and releases fluid from the supporting column to lower the ram 46 and the coil 56, when the coil falls below the light beam the beam falls on the cell 54 to close the valve 55 and stop the ram. The degree of overlap of successive loops may be controlled by varying the relative speed of the conveyer, via motor 16, in relation to the discharge rate of the loops 12. In a first modification, the loops carried on the conveyer 13 may be subjected to various processing steps, e.g. pickling or acid treatment, annealing, various heat treatments, coating, descaling, cleaning, &c. by moving through a treatment chamber 57 having inlet and outlet apertures 59, 60. In a second modification a conveyer transfers the loops to a belt conveyer having a descending and an ascending section extending below the surface of a liquid, e.g. a cleaning, coating, impregnating or plating solution in a tank. A series of belt conveyers carry the loops through various treatment zones, e.g. rinsing, liming and baking. The conveyers comprise laterally spaced endless belts and are driven by variable speed motors, the speeds being adjusted to suit the particular requirements of the process, alternative conveyers such as roller conveyers, gravity slides, fourdrinier screens &c. may be used. A fixed bar 74 may be placed in the path of the loops to re-align them sideways. Operation.-The loops 12 formed around the block 11 drop on to the moving conveyer in an overlying relationship and are carried through one or more treatment zones to be discharged into a coil forming unit C. The rotating arm 39 displaces the loops 12 in a helical pattern to form a coreless coil 56. Intermittent interruption of the light beam to the photo-electric cell 54 in conjunction with the operation of the solenoid hydraulic valve 55 lowers the platform until the required coil height is obtained, whence the loaded skid 44 is is removed and replaced by an empty one.