US1968251A

US1968251A - Tape tensioning means for cable wrapping machines

Info

Publication number: US1968251A
Application number: US613377A
Authority: US
Inventors: French Stanley Forrest
Original assignee: Anaconda Wire and Cable Co
Current assignee: Anaconda Wire and Cable Co
Priority date: 1932-05-25
Filing date: 1932-05-25
Publication date: 1934-07-31
Anticipated expiration: 1951-07-31

Description

S. F. FRENCH July 31, 1934.

TAPE TENSIONING MEANS FOR CABLE WRAPPING MACHINES Filed May 25. 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR STANLEY E FRENCH ATTORNEY l Q- m S. F. FRENCH July 31, 1934.

TAPE TENSIONING MEANS FOR CABLE WRAPPING MACHINES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 25. 1932 STANLEY E ENCH I ATTORNEY Patented July 31, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TAPE TENSIONING MEANS FOR CABLE WRAPPING MACHINES Application May 25, 1932, Serial No. 613,377

12 Claims.

This invention relates to cable, conductor and core wrapping machines and more particularly to machines adapted to apply one or a number of wrappings such as tapes, flat strips or cords 6 and the like of paper, insulating material and the like, spirally or in concentric layers to any object such as cables, conductors, wires and the like. In machines of this type it is highly desirable to provide means to maintain a predeter- 10 mined or desired tension on the tape as it is being wrapped upon the cable, and to provide means that will be adjustable particularly while the machine itself is in operation. Heretofore in the art many mechanically operating means have been proposed but all such mechanically operating means have certain disadvantages which it is one of the objects of the present invention to overcome.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an electrically operating 'means to maintain a predetermined, desired and substantially constant tension in the individual tapes, strips or cords of paper, insulating material and the like comprising the wrapping.

Another object of this invention is to provide means to vary the tension of the said wrapping and the individual strips, tapes, cords and the like comprising the same to any desired value within the specific variable limits of the tensioning means provided and also to provide means adapted to be adjusted while the wrapping machine itself is in operation.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide means to obtain 'a constant indication or measure of the amount of tension that is being applied to the individual strips, tapes or cord material comprising the wrapping as they are being applied to the cable or conductor surface.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent as the invention is more fully hereinafter disclosed.

In accordance with the objects of the present invention I have devised an arrangement of elements including an electrically. operated braking means by means of which a desired and substantially constant tension may be obtained upon the individual tape, (strip or cord) comprising the wrapping as it is being applied to the cable or conductor surface. The specific tensioning means devised is automatically operative to maintain this desired tension despite the normally variable operating speed conditions existing in such wrapping machines and visually indicatesthe amount of the tension being applied to the wrapping. The tensioning means provided are also adapted to be adjusted or varied to give a. desired or different tension in the wrapping while the wrapping machine itself is in motion. These and other features of the present invention will be more fully hereinafter disclosed.

Before further disclosing the nature and scope of the present invention, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings wherein is illustrated as a specific embodiment of the present invention the application of the same to cable,- conductor and core wrapping machines of the planetary type. Referring to the drawings- I Fig. 1 illustrates a front view of a taping head of a planetary taping machine adapted to apply paper or tape to a cable or conductor, and incorporating the electrically operative tensioning means of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a side view of the same;

Fig. 3 is a front view of the same with pad removed; and

Fig. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating the electrical circuit involved in the tensioning means of the present invention.

In the drawings numeral 1 represents a suitable frame or head mounted on a spider and rotating about point 2 which is the center of the conductor 11. Hub 3 is mounted thereon on an anti-friction bearing and is adapted to carry roll 4 of strip material which it is desired to apply to the surface of cable 11 to comprise the wrapping. In accordance with the present invention the desired tension is given to the strip (or tape material) as it is laid upon the cable 11 by passing the strip 4' as it passes from the roll 4 to the cable 11 over a rotatable drum 8 in such manner as to cause the same to frictionally contact with the surface thereof. The drum 8 is provided with electrically controlled braking means whereby sufficient resistance to rotation is imparted to give to the tape 4' at point X the desired amount of tension.

In the specific illustration shown in the drawings the electrically operated braking means on drum 8 comprises an electric motor 13 geared through reduction gear 14 and shaft 15 to the drum 8 in such manner that upon energization of the motor 13 by suitable electric current, the motor tends to cause drum 8 to rotate in a direction opposite to the direction of travel of tape 4'. Tape 4' being in frictional engagement with the surface. of drum 8 thus turns said drum in a direction opposite to its normal direction of rota-J tion, the amount of tension in tape 4' with any given constant forward movement being proportional to the amount of torque imparted to the drum 8 by the motor 13. Instead of the motorized arrangement shown other electrically controlled braking means can be adapted to perform the same function such as, for example, electromagnetic means, dynamo, etc. If desired, a mechanical brake electrically controlled or actuated may be employed.

In the specific embodiment shown in the drawings, tape 4' is first passed over a contact roller 5 which is free to rotate about a point 6 and which is kept in contact with friction drum 8 by spring tension means '7 mounted in hub 9. The tape 4' is then passed over friction drum 8 from the roller 5 then over guide rollers 10 and 12 to cable 11. Rollers 5, 10 and 12 are all mounted on antifriction bearings to minimize mechanical and changeable friction.

Roller 12 is a ball-bearing guide roller adjustable to permit tape 4 to feed to cable 11 at the required angle, and the longitudinal axis of roller 12 lies in a plane substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the conductor or cable 11, substantially as indicated in the figures of the drawings. A roller of the type described and claimedin copending application, Serial No. 621,568, filed July 9, 1932 by Stanley F. French and Ernest L. Junghanns, which application is assigned to the same assignee as is the present application, may be used instead of the specific roller herein described.

Friction drum 8 is rotated by tape 4' in a direction opposite to its normal direction of rotation if left free to revolve, the electric control circuit supplying current to the motor being provided with means to maintain the torque of the motor 13 and drum 8 substantially constant. The circuit also comprises means to vary this torque as may be desired, contact roller 5 being adapted by spring-tension means '7 to maintain the said tape 4' in contact with drum 8 at all speeds at a substantially constant pressure. Q

The electric motor 13 is of the type adapted to run at a constant speed with constant load and to vary in torque directly with variations in the current input, and is mounted upon theframe directly in the rear of the apparatus heretofore described, as is indicated in the drawings, particularly in Fig. 2. In the figures, the motor 13 is shown mounted on frame 1 together with a speed reducer 14 and shaft extension 15. Friction drum 8 is mounted on and secured to shaft extension 15. When the motor is energized the rotation of the motor shaft is transmitted through the speed reducer 14 and shaft 15 into drum 8.

The roll of strip material 4 is mounted upon hub 3 which is supported upon an anti-friction bearing, and is therefore free to turn about its axis as the strip material 4 is wound upon the cable 11. The entire taping head revolves about the cable axis and when the machine is stopped the roll 4 will continue to revolve on its own axis due to its own momentum, if left entirely free to rotate. It is necessary therefore to provide means to retard the rotation of the roll when the machine is decreased in speed and also to provide means to prevent further rotation of the roll when the machine is stopped. Any means that is provided must be adapted to supply the tape from the roll to the friction drum 8 at a substantially constant tension.

The specific means I have devised to accomplish this comprises an arm 16 pivoted at point 17 on the frame 1 and provided with a spring 18 operating to pull arm 16 to the position indicated in dotted line 16'. The end of arm 16 is provided with a friction reel 19 having adjustable means 20 to apply thereto a fixed and desired resistance to rotation. As the tape roll unwinds, arm 16 by means of spring 18 maintains the friction reel 19 in substantially constant contact with the tape roll surface and opposes the unrolling of the tape consequently placing a tension on the tape 4' which at point P, for example, will remain substantially constant from maximum to minimum diameter of the tape roll. The amount of this tension may be varied and set to any desired figure by varying the resistance to rotation of the friction wheel by adjustable means 20.

Instead of the specific tape roll friction means herein described, the friction means disclosed in copending application by Ernest L. Junghanns, Serial No. 621,064 filed July 6, 1932 may be utilized if desired. This copending application is assigned to the same assignee as the present application.

In Fig. 4 is'shown in schematic diagram the electrical circuit adapted to be used with the present invention. The electric current to operate motor 13 may be drawn from a constant voltage line through terminals 21-22. This current passes through switch 23, ammeter 24,.rheostat 25 to motor 13 through suitable collector rings 26-27 arranged so that the electric control circuit would be able to draw current from its source while the planetary taping machine is in operation. A time delay relay 28 is included in the circuit, the terminals 29 and 30 of which are connected to the main starting motor switch to provide that the control circuit is not operable until the main starting motor circuit operating the planetary taping machine has been closed. To provide that the tension apparatus should not be disconnected until the taping machine has come to a standstill, an auxiliary switch 31 is also included in the citcuit which switch is mounted upon the main drive shaft and is adapted to be closed only when the shaft rotates and to normally open when the shaft stops rotating. Ammeter 24 and rheostat 25 are each mounted upon a stationary part of the frame and in a readily accessible and observable position. Switch 23 is also so located.

In the normal operation of planetary taping machines including the tension control of the present invention, switch 23 in the control circuit is closed, the rheostat 25 is adjusted to introduce the required or desired resistance in the electric circuit to give the desired current to operate motor 13. The main motor switch thereafter is closed and relay 28 operates to close its portion in the tension control circuit, and as the planetary taping machine starts to revolve the auxiliary switch 31 closes. Motor '13 then operates to apply the desired torque on drum 8 and the desired tension in tape 4' winding upon cable 11 is thereby obtained. To vary this tension it is only necessary to vary the current supplied .to motor 13 by means of rheostat 25. Ammeter 24 may be calibrated directly in pounds by measuring the tension at point X at given current values,

the results being plotted as is well known in theart. Having once been calibrated it is only necessary to vary the current in order to obtain any desired tension and indication of same in the tape or strip.

Having broadly and specifically disclosed the present invention, it is apparent that the same may be modified and adapted to meet a'variety of desired situations without departing essentially from the nature and scope thereof as may be set forth in the following claims.

WhatI claim is:

1, In cable, conductor and core wrappi machines, means to apply tensionto the wrapping being applied, said means including a rotatable drum over which the wrapping is passed, means to frictionally engage the wrapping with the drum surface at a substantially constant pressure and electrically controlled braking means for said drum.

2. In cable, conductor and core wrapping machines, means to apply tension to the wrapping being applied, said means including a rotatable drum over which the wrapping is passed, means to irictionally engage the wrapping with the surface at a substantially constant pres== sure, adjustable braking means for said drum and electrically operating means to adjust said bra means.

3. In cable, conductor d core wrapping machines, means to apply tension to the wrapping being applied, said means a rotatable d over which the wrapping is passed, means tofrictionally engage the wrapping with the it usurface at a substantially constant pressure, means to apply torque to said w in a direction opposite to the direction of travel of the wrapping thereover, and electrical control me for said torque applying means.

4. In cable, conductor d core wrapping 111051, chines, means to apply tension to the pping being applied, said means including a rotatable over which the wrapping is passed, means to frictionally engage the pping with the one surface at a substantially constantpressure, means .to apply torque to said in a direction opposite to the direction of travel of the wrapping thereover, said including an electric motor geared to apply torque to said 1 1m. in the desired tion, and means to control the current input of said motor.

' 5. In cable, conductor and core wrappi n chines, means to main a predetermineddesired and substantially constant tension on the wrapping being applied, said me including a rotatable over which the said wrapping is passed, means to contact the wrapping therewith at a substantially constant pressure and means to apply torque to said drum in. a direction opposite to the direction of travel of said wrappin electrical control means therefor and means to close the electric circuit energ said control means in response to positive energization of the said cable pping machine.

6. In cable, conductor d core wrapp mire. chines, means to maintain a predeteed desired and substantially constant tension on the wrapping being applied, said means including a rotatable drum over which the said wrapping is passed, means to contact the wrapping therewith at a substantially constant pressure and means to apply torque to said drum in a direction opposite to the direction of travel of said wrapping, electrical control means therefor and auxiliary switch means to close the electric circuit energizing said control means when the said cable wrapping machine is in operation and to open said circuit when the said machine is not in operation.

'i. In cable, conductor and core wrapping machines, means to maintain a predetermined desired and substantially constant tension on the wrappings being applied, said means including a rotatable drum over which the said wrapping is passed, means to contact the wrapping therewith at a substantially constant pressure and means to apply torque to said drum in a direction opposite to the direction of travel of said wrapping, electrically operating control means therefor, an electric circuit therefor, said circuit including means comprising an electrical relay device in series in the electric circuit energizing saidcontrol means to close the circuit when the mainpower circuit driving the said cable wrapping machine is energized and auxiliary switch means also in series in said circuit adapted to close the said circuit when the said cable wrapping machine is in operation and to open said circuit when the said cable wrapping machine is not in operation.

8. In cable, conductor and core wrapping machines of the planetary type, a rotatable head, a tape roll supported thereon and adapted to be freely rotatable about its center axis, a rotatable drum, means to pass the tape from said roll over said drum to the cable upon which it is to be wound, means to contact said tape with the surface of the drum at a substantially constant pressure, electrically controlled braking means for said drum, and means to place the tape under a substantially constant tension as it feeds to the said drum from said tape roll.

9. In cable, conductor and core wrapping machines ot the planetary type, a rotatable head, a tape roll supported thereon and adapted to be freely rotatable about its axis, frictional means to limit the degree of said rotation to give a substantially constant tension to the tape unwinding therefrom, a rotatable drum supported adjacent said roll, means to pass the unwinding tape over said drum to the cable upon which it is to be wound, means to contact said tape with the surface of the r n at a substantially constant pressure, means to app torque to said drum in a direction opposite to the direction of travel of said tape, and electrical means to control the said torque applying means.

It. In cable, conductor and core wrapping machines of the planetary type, a rotatable head, a tape roll supported thereon and adapted to be freely rotatable about its axis, frictional means to limit the degree of said rotation to give a substantially constant tension to the tape unwinding therefrom, a rotatable drum supported adjacent said roll, means to pass the unwinding tape over said drum to the cable upon which it is to be wound, means to contact said tape with the surface of the at a substantially constant pressure, means to apply torque to said drum in a direction opposite to the direction of travel oi" said tape, said means including an electric motor geared to apply torque to said drum and an electric circuit to supply current thereto, said circuit including means to vary the current input to said motor, means to indicate the amount of said current, and means to automatically open and close the said circuit in response to energization and deenergization oi the said wrapping machine.

11. An electric braking means for a rotatable drum, including an electric motor geared to apply torque to said drum in a desired direction and an electric circuit to supply current thereto, said circuit including ineans to vary the current input to said motor, means to indicate the amount of said current, electrical relay means to close and open said circuit upon the closing of a main electric circuit operating mechanism cooperating with the said rotatable drum and auxiliary switch means mounted upon the main drive shaft of said cooperating mechanism and operating to close the said braking circuit in response to rotation or said shaft and to .open the, same when said rotation ceases.

12. In cable, conductor and corejw rapping" ma chines oi the planetary type, a rotatable head, a tape roll supported thereon andadaptedto be freely revolved about its center-axis and friction means limiting the amount of said rotation, said means comprising a pivoted lever arm, spring