US2506880A - Coil unreeling apparatus - Google Patents

Description

May 9, 1950 E. J. LIGLER 2,506,880

COIL UNREELING APPARATUS Filed July 15, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. 1 5

INVENTOR. Edward J. Ligler l7 Attorneys y 1950 E. J. LIGLER 2,506,880

COIL UNREELING APPARATUS Filed July 15, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 2

INVENTOR. Edward J. Ligler BY M,0MMM

M y 1950 E. J. LIGLER 2,506,880

COIL UNREELING APPARATUS Filed July 15, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 uvmvrmz Edward 'J. Ligler BY M ,Ofium MM Attorneys Patented May 9, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COIL UNREELING APPARATUS Edward J. Ligler, Bolton, 111., assignor to Acme Steel isompany, Chicago, 11]., a corporation of I Application July 15, 1947, Serial No. 761,066

15 Claims.

The present invention relates to coil unreeling apparatus and more particularly to such apparatus provided with two coil supporting reels that may be moved selectively from individual loading positions to a common working position in which the material in the supported coil may be unreeled.

In the manufacture of metal strip, band or the like, pickling baths, annealing furnaces, plating tanks and other devices are usually supplied with a plurality of ribbons of material from a corresponding plurality of coils respectively supported by coil unreeling apparatus, material storage mechanisms, providing one or more take-up loops, being arranged between the coil unreeling apparatus and the device being supplied with the material therefrom. In the usual arrangement when any coil of material is exhausted the associated coil unreeling apparatus is stopped; a full coil of material is placed upon the corresponding coil unreeling apparatus; the beginning of the material on the full coil is secured to the end of the material on the exhausted coil; and operation of the coil unreeling apparatus is again started. During the time interval that a coil unreeling apparatus is stopped for the purpose described above, the associated material storage mechanism supplies the stored material to the device mentioned; thereby avoiding stoppage of the device during this time interval. Since the above steps must be completed during the time interval mentioned to avoid stoppage of the device being supplied with material, manipulation of the coils with respect to the associated coil unreeling apparatus must proceed at a rapid pace, which cannot always be maintained; whereby stoppage of the device being supplied with material from the coil unreeling apparatus is then necessary. Not only is this stoppage time objectionable from the standpoint that the device during this time is not performing its useful function, but stopping the device for a protracted time interval may alter its operating characteristic, thereby injuriously afiecting the quality of the process or step being carried out in the device after operation thereof is resumed.

Accordingly, it is a general object of the pres= ent invention to provide coil unreeling apparatus that is especially adapted for use in connection with a device of the type described, which is supplied with strip material therefrom, whereby stoppage time of the device is minimized and stoppage of the device for protracted time intervals is avoided.

Another object of the invention is to provide Another object of the invention is to provide in coil unreeling apparatus of the type noted, an improved arrangement for adjusting the tension of the material being unreeled from a supported coil when the associated reel occupies the working position.

Another object of the invention is to provide in coil unreeling apparatus of the type noted, an improved arrangement for removably clamping in place a coil of material upon the associated reel when it occupies its loading position.

A further object of the invention is to provide in coil unreeling apparatus of the type noted, an improved arrangement for selectively controlling and coordinating movements of the individual reels between a common working position and individual loading positions.

Further features of the invention pertain to the particular arrangement of the elements of the coil unreeling apparatus, whereby the above outlined and additional operating features thereof are attained.

The invention both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following specification taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevational view, partly broken away, of coil unreeling apparatus embodying the present invention; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of the frame incorporated in the apparatus shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a greatly enlarged fragmentary sectional view of one of the reels incorporated in the apparatus, taken in the direction of the arrows along the line 4-6 in Fig. 2; and Fig. 5 is an electric diagram of the circuit for controlling the electric drive motor incorporated in the apparatus shown in Fig. 1.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive, of the drawings, the coil unreeling apparatus ill there illustrated, and embodying the features of the present invention, comprises a vertically extending support or base I! carrying a substantially C-shaped bracket I2 secured thereto and provided with upwardly and outwardly extending spaced apart arms l3 and M. The arms l3 and ill have ali ned openings formed therein into which an operating shaft I5 is suitably journaled, theoperating shaft I5 being disposed at an angle of approximately 45 with respect to the horizontal plane. Also the base removably supports a reduction gear box I5 carrying an electric motor |1.. Preferably the gear box I5 is of the worm gear, speed reduction type, including a driven worm, not shown, connected to the shaft of the electric motor I1 and a drive shaft I8 carrying a small gear I9 rigidly secured thereto, the gear I9 being arranged to mesh with a larger gear 20 carried by the operating shaft I5 and rigidly secured thereto. 7

A frame 2| provided with a tubular barrel 22 is rigidly secured to the operating shaft I5 and inclined at an angle of approximately 45 with respect to the horizontal plane. Also the frame 2| comprises two outwardly extending arms 23 and 24 disposed at an angle of substantially 90 with respect to each other; whereby the arm 23 occupies a substantially vertical position when the arm 24 occupies a substantially horizontal position. The outer extremities of the arms 23 and 24, respectively, carry two substantially annular flanges 25 and 26 between which a stiffening element 21 extends, the opposite ends of the stiffening element 21 being welded or otherwise rigidly secured to the flanges 25 and 26 and also to the adjacent ends of the arms 23 and 24. Also it is preferable that the inner ends of the arms 23 and 24 are welded to the adjacent surfaces of the barrel 22 and to the respective flanges 25 and 26 thereby to lend extreme rigidity to the frame 2|.

A flange 28 carrying a trunnion 29 is removably secured to the flange 25 by a plurality of radially disposed screws 30; and a flange 3| carrying a trunnion 32 is removably secured to the flange 26 by a plurality of radially disposed screws, not shown. The trunnions 32 and 29, respectively, carry two rotatably mounted coil supporting reels 40 and 50.

Preferably the reels 40 and 50 are identical, the reel 50 comprising as best shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 4, an annular drum-like body portion 5| provided with a substantially centrally disposed integral tubular hub 52 and an outwardly projecting integral annular flange 53. The central portions of the hub 52 and the flange 53 terminate -in a boss 54 provided with four radially spaced apart and longitudinally projecting guide fingers 55 formed integrally therewith. The hub 52 is also provided with a longitudinally extending bore 56 that receives and carries a sleeve bearing 51, that in turn engages the outer cylindrical surface of the trunnion 29. The central portion of the boss 54 comprises a web 58 covering the upper end of the trunnion 29 and having a centrally disposed bore 59 formed therein, that in turn is surrounded by an upper counterbore 60. The reel 50 as a unit is mounted on the upper end of the trunnion 29 and is'secured in place by a fixture including two annular collars 6| and 62 respectively arranged within the bore 59 and the counterbore 60 formed in the web 58 of the boss 54. The fixture is provided with a centrally disposed opening through which the shank of a screw 63 extends, the head of the screw 63 engaging the collar 62 and the shank of the screw 63 being received in a threaded opening formed in the end of the trunnion 29. The extreme upper end of the sleeve bearing 51 engages the lower surface of the web 58 in order to provide a thrust bearing carrying a portion of the weight of the reel 50; and a thrust collar 64 is arranged between the lower end of the hub 52 and the adjacent 4 flange 26 in order to carry the principal weight of the reel 50.

The flange 53 supports a disc-like base 65 surrounding the boss 54, which base 55 carries four radially extending coil engaging sleepers 56 angularly spaced approximately 90 with respect to each other. Preferably the base 65 and the sleepers 66 are rigidly secured together and to the flange 53 and to the guide fingers 55 by welding or the like. The upper surface of the boss 54 carries two substantially diametrically opposed angle brackets 61, each provided with a base 68 secured to the boss 54 by a number of screws 69. Also the brackets 61 are provided with two upstanding arms 10 having diametrically aligned openings 1| formed therein into which a spindle 12 is journaled. The outer ends of the spindle 12 terminate in oppositely threaded shanks 13 which receive two internally threaded fixtures 14, the outer ends of which have rigidly secured thereto two substantially arcuate shaped plates 15. Each of the plates 15 is disposed immediately above an adjacent two of the sleepers 66 and is adapted to ride thereover and into two notches 16 formed in an adjacent two of the guide fingers 55. Thus it will be understood that when the spindle 12 is rotated in one direction the fixtures 14 are retracted on the shank 13 moving the plates 15 radially inwardly into the notches 16 formed in the guide fingers 55. On the other hand, when the spindle 16 is rotated in the opposite direction the fixtures 14 are projected radially outwardly moving the plates 15 out of the notches 16 formed in the guide fingers 55 along the sleepers 66.

Also a cap 11 provided with a centrally dis- Dosed hub 18 and a base 19 is secured to the boss 54 by an arrangement including a plurality of screws extending through openings formed in the base 19 and threaded into openings formed in the bases 68 of the angle brackets 61. The hub 18 is connected to the base 19 by two diametrically disposed webs 8| formed integrally therewith in order to lend rigidity to the cap 11. A centrally disposed and longitudinally extended bore 82 is formed in the hub 18 substantially coincident with the axis of the trunnion 29, and carries a spindle 83 journaled therein. The upper end of the spindle 83 terminates in a substantially square shank 84 adapted to receive a wrench or the like for the purpose of rotating the spindle 83; while the lower end of the spindle 83 carries a relatively small bevel gear 85 rigidly secured thereto, which in turn meshes with a bevel gear 86 rigidly secured to the spindle 12. Thus it will be understood that when a wrench is placed upon the shank 84 and turned, the spindle 83 is rotated in order to effect rotation of the spindle 12 by virtue of the meshed relation between the bevel gears 85 and 86.

Further the apparatus I0 comprises two braking mechanisms 90 and I00, respectively associated with the reels 40 and 50; which mechanisms 90 and I00 are preferably identical. As best shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the braking mechanism I00 associated with the reel 50 comprises a brake band |0| cooperating with the drumlike body portion 5| of the reel 50, one end of the brake band IOI being secured to a fixture I02 that is carried by a plate I02a, which in turn is secured to the lower surface of the flange 25. The other end of the brake band I0| carries a pintle I03 to which a threaded element I04 is hinged. The threaded outer end of the 1 element I04 projects through an opening formed in a tab I05 carried by the fixture I02 and receives a tightening nut I08 of the wing variety. Thus it will be understood that when the tightening nut I06 is rotated in one direction, it engages the tab I05, drawing the element I04 therethrough; whereby the brake band ||l| is moved into snug engagement with the cylindrical outer drum-like surface of the body portion 6| of the reel 50 in order to increase the amount of friction therebetween, which in turn increases the amount of drag upon the reel 50 and consequently the tension in the strip of material being unreeled therefrom. On the other hand, when the tightening nut IDS is rotated in the opposite direction the amount of friction between the brake band NH and the cylindrical outer surface of the drum-like body portion SI of the reel I is decreased, reducing the drag upon the reel 58 and consequently the tension in the strip of material being unreeled therefrom.

In view of the foregoing, it will be understood that the frame 2| comprises first and second normal positions; when the frame 2| occupies a first of its normal positions, the arm 23 is disposed substantially vertically and the arm 24 is disposed substantially horizontally; and when the frame 2| occupies a second of its normal positions, the arm 24 is disposed substantially vertically and the arm 23 is disposed substantially horizontally. In order to insure these first and second normal positions of the frame 2| two sets of adjustable screws, now shown, may be provided that cooperate respectively between the opposite sides of the arm I! of the bracket l2 and the respective arms 24 and 23, as it will be understood that the arm 24 substantially engages the adjacent surface of the arm I3 when the arm 23 is disposed in the vertical direction and that the arm 23 substantially engages the adjacent surface of the arm I3 when the arm 24 is disposed in the vertical direction. When the frame 2| occupies its first position the arm 23 is disposed in the vertical direction, .whereby the trunnion 29 is also disposed inthe vertical position, and consequently the reel 5|) is disposed in its working position; also at this time the arm 24 is disposed in the horizontal direction, whereby the trunnion 32 is also disposed in the horizontal position, and consequently the reel 40 is disposed in its loading position. On the other hand, when the frame 2| occupies its second position, the arm 24 is disposed in the vertical direction, whereby the trunnion 32 is also disposed in the vertical position, and consequently the reel 40 is disposed in its working position; also at this time the arm 23 is disposed in the horizontal direction, whereby the trunnion 29 is also disposed in the horizontal position, and consequently the reel 50 is disposed in its loading position. Moreover, it will be understood that the working positions of the reels 50 and 4d are substantially coincident and common, while the loading positions thereof are disposed substantially 90 with respect to each other in the horizontal plane.

When the frame 2| occupies its first position, illustrated in Fig. i, it may be assumed that the reel 50 in the common working position supports a substantially full coil of material that is being drawn therefrom and that the reel 40 in its loading position is empty. At this time the braking mechanism lllli has been adjusted in order to set the drag on the reel 50 in order to establish the desired tension in the strip of material being unreeled from the supported coil. Also, at this 6 time a coil may be loaded upon the reel 44 in its loading position without interfering with operation of the reel 50 in the common working position. Subsequently, when the coil of material supported by the reel lill becomes exhausted, the motor I! is operated; whereby the frame 2| is driven from its first position into its second position, moving the loaded reel 40 from its loading position into the common working position and moving the empty reel 50 from the common working position into its loading position. When the frame 2| is moved from its first position into its second position, operation of the motor Ill is arrested. Now the braking mechanism 38 is adjusted in order to set the drag on the reel M in the common working position and the consequent tension in the material being unreeled therefrom. and the empty reel ISO in its loading position may be reloaded. More particularly a wrench is brought into engagement with the shank 84 and turned in order to rotate the spindle 83 in the proper direction to effect rotation of the spindle 12 to cause the plates I5 to be retracted. A full coil of material is then placed upon the reel 50, the edges thereof engaging the sleepers 66 and the interior turns disposed about the central opening therein engaging the plates 15. Then the wrench is turned in the opposite direction, whereby rotation of the spindle 83 is transmitted to the spindle 12 in order to cause the plates 15 to be projected into engagement with the interior turns of the coil of material in order securely to clamp it in place. Subsequently when the coil of material carried by the reel 40 is exhausted the motor may be again operated in order to move the frame 2| from its second-position back into its first position, whereby the reel ill again occupies the common working position and the reel 40 again occupies its loading position, whereupon the above described operations are repeated.

In view of the foregoing it will be understood that either one of the reels 40 or 50 may be loaded while the other of the reels 50 or 40 is supplying strip from the supported coil to the associated devices without interference. Accordingly-when it is necessary again to stop operation of the associated device being supplied with strip material from the apparatus Hi, the stoppage time interval is reduced to a minimum and the overall stoppage time is greatly minimized.

In view of the foregoing description of the mode of operation of the apparatus Hi, it will be appreciated that in order to move the frame 2| into its first position, the shaft of the motor I? must be rotated in a first direction and that in order to move the frame 2| into its second position, the shaft of the motor ll must be rotated in the opposite direction; whereby the motor I7 must be of the reversible type and operation thereof must be coordinated with respect to the position of the frame 2| when operation thereof is initiated. In order to accomplish this end the motor starting and control network illustrated in Fig.

5 is employed, which arrangement comprises, in

addition to the motor i'l, two relays iii; and M6, a right start switch 639, a left start switch Md, a stop switch 650, a left check switch ifid, a right cheek switch m, a source of current sup-= ply, not shown, and a control network, Preferably the motor ili is of the two-winding type; whereby a first one of the windings may be energized from negative battery potential to ground or positive battery potential in order to efiect operation thereof and consequent rotation of the drive shaft thereof toward the right or in a clockwise direction, and a second of the windings may be energized from negative battery potential to ground or positive battery potential in order to effect operation thereof and consequently rotation of the drive shaft thereof toward the left or in a counterclockwise direction. For convenience, the first and second positions of the frame 2| are respectively referred to as right and left. The check switches I60 and I10 may be mounted either upon the structure of the apparatus I or upon external structure, not shown; and by way of illustration these check switches are shown mounted upon the bracket I2. Specifically, as illustrated in Fig. 1, the right cheek switch I is suitably mounted upon the front face of the bracket I2 and in cooperating relation with the arm 24 of the frame 2 I, and the left check switch I60 is suitably mounted upon the rear face of the bracket I2 and in cooperating relation with the arm 23 of the frame 2 I.

Accordingly, when the frame 2| occupies its first or right position, as illustrated in Fig. 1, and it is desirable to move it to its second or left position, the left start switch H0 is momentarily closed, When the left start switch I40 is thus closed, there is completed a circuit, including the closed stop switch I50, the closed contacts 2 of the relay 0 and the closed left check switch I60, for energizing the winding of the relay I20. whereby the latter relay operates to close its contacts I2| and I23 and to open its contacts I22. At its contacts |2|, the relay I20 completes a substantially identical stick circuit for energizing the winding thereof; and at its contacts I22, it interrupts a further point in the operating circuit for the relay H0 in order positively to prevent operation of the latter relay at this time under the control of the associated right start switch I30. When the frame 2| is driven by the motor I1 from its first position into its second position the arm 23 is moved into substantial engagement with the adjacent surface of the arm I3, whereby the left cheek switch I60 is opened, interrupting the stick circuit for energizil'lg the winding of the relay I20, whereupon the latter relay restores. While the relay I20 occupies its operated position, there is completed, at the contacts I23 thereof, an obvious circuit for energizing the second winding of the motor I1, whereby the motor I1 is operated to drive the frame 2| from its first or right position into its second or left position. When the frame 2| is moved into its second or left position the left cheek switch I60 is opened as noted above in order to arrest further operation of the motor I1. During movement of the frame 2| from its first or right position to its second or left position, operation of the motor |1 may be arrested when the reels 40 and 50 occupy intermediate locations with respect to the common working position and their loading positions merely by opening momentarily the stop switch I50. When the stop switch I50 is thus opened, the stick circuit for energizing the winding of the relay I20 is interrupted, causing the latter relay to restore, thereby to interrupt, at its contacts I23, the circuit for energizing the second winding of the motor I1.

Also it will be appreciated that when the frame 2| occupies its first or right position, the arm 24 occupies a position in substantial engagement with the adjacent surface of the arm I3, whereby the right cheek switch I10 is opened. When the right cheek switch I10 is open, closing the right start switch I30 to control the relay II. is without effect, since the operating circuit for the relay I I0 is interrupted by the open right switch I10, whereby it is impossible to energize the first winding of the motor I1 in order to at tempt further rotation of the frame 2| past its first or right position. Subsequently, when operation of the motor I1 is initiated to drive the frame 2| from its first or right position toward its second or left position, the arm 24 is moved away from the adjacent surface of the arm I3, whereby the right cheek switch I10 is closed in order to prepare the circuit for operating the relay 0.

In view of the foregoing, it will be understood that by momentarily closing the right start switch I30, when the frame 2| occupies its second or left position, the relay I I0 may be operated in order to effect energization of the first winding of the motor I1, whereby the frame 2| is moved from its second or left position back to its first or right position.

In view of the foregoing, it is apparent that there has been provided coil unreeling apparatus including an improved drive arrangement and control system therefor whereby the two reels of the apparatus may be selectively moved between a common working position and individual loading positions.

While there has been described what is at present considered to be the preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be understood that various modifications may be made therein and it is intended to cover in the appended claims all such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. Coil unreeling apparatus comprising a support, a frame carried by said support and mounted for movement between first and second positions, first and second spaced-apart coil-supporting reels carried by said frame and mounted for independent rotation, said frame being so constructed and arranged that said first reel occupies a substantially vertical position and said second reel occupies a substantially horizontal position when said frame occupies said first position and that said second reel occupies a substantially vertical position and said first reel occupies a substantially horizontal position when said frame occupies said second position, one of said positions of each of said reels constituting a working position thereof and the other of said positions of each of said reels constituting a loading position thereof, said working positions of sad reels being substantially coincident, and drive means for moving said frame between said first and second positions.

2. Coil unreeling apparatus comprising a support, a frame carried by said support and mounted for movement between first and second positions, first and second spaced-apart coil-supporting reels carried by said frame and mounted for independent rotation, said frame being so constructed and arranged that said first reel occupies a substantially vertical position and said second reel occupies a substantially horizontal position when said frame occupies said first position and that said second reel occupies a substantially vertical position and said first reel occupies a substantially horizontal position when said frame occupies said second position, one of said positions of each of said reels constituting a working position thereof and the other of said positions of each of said reels constituting a loading position thereof, said working positions of said reels being substantially coincident, first and second clamping mechanisms respectively carried by said first and second reels, each of said clamping mechanisms being adapted-to receive and removable to clamp in place the interior turns of a coil supported by the associated one of said reels, thereby to facilitate loading of each one of said reels when it occupies its loading position, and drive means for moving said frame between said first and second positions.

3. Coil unreeling apparatus comprising a support, a frame carried by said support and mounted for movement between first and second positions, first and second spaced-apart coil-supporting reels carried by said frame and mounted for independent rotation, said frame being so constructed and arrangedthat said first reel occupies a substantially vertical position and said second reel occupies a substantially horizontal position when said frame occupies said first position and that said second reel occupies a substantially vertical position and said first reel occupies a substantially horizontal position when said frame occupies said second position, one of said positions of each of said reels constituting a working position thereof and the other of said positions of each of said reels constituting a loading position thereof, said working positions of said reels being substantially coincident, first and second braking mechanisms carried by said frame and respectively cooperating with said first and second reels, each of said braking mechanisms being adapted to control the tension of the material in a coil supported by and being unreeled from the associated one of said reels when it occupies its working position, and drive means for moving said frame between said first and second positions.

4. Coil unreeling apparatus comprising a support, a frame carried by said support and mounted for movement between first and second positions, first and second spaced-apart coil-supporting reels carried by said frame and mounted for independent rotation, said frame being so constructed and arranged that said first reel occupies a substantially vertical position and said second reel occupies a substantially horizontal position when said frame occupies said first position and that said second reel occupies a substantially vertical position and said first reel occupies a substantially horizontal position when said frame occupies said second position, one of said positions of each of said reels constituting a working position thereof and the other of said positions of each of said reels constituting a loading position thereof, said working positions of said reels being substantially coincident, first and second clamping mechanisms respectively carried by said first and second reels, each of said clamping mechanisms being adapted to receive and removable to clamp in place the interior turns of a coil supported by the associated one of said reels, thereby to facilitate loading of each one of said reels when it occupies its loading position, first and second braking mechanisms carried by said frame and respectively cooperating with said first and second reels, each of said braking mechanisms being adapted to control the tension of the material in a coil supported by and being unreeled from the associated one of said reels when its occupies its working position, and drive means for moving said frame between said first and second positions.

5. Coil unreeling apparatus comprising a support, a frame carried by said support and mounted for movement between first and second positions, first and second spaced-apart coil-supporting reels carried by said frame and mounted for independent rotation, said frame being so constructed and arranged that the axis of said first reel occupies a substantially vertical working position and the axis of said second reel occupies a substantially horizontal loading position when said frame occupies said first position and that the axis of said second reel occupies a substantially vertical working position and the axis of said first reel occupies a substantially horizontal loading position when said frame occupies said second position, said working positions of said reels being substantially coincident and said loading positions of said reels being displaced from each other by a relatively large angle in the horizontal plane, and drive means for moving said frame between said first and second positions.

6. Coil unreeling apparatus comprising a support, a frame carried by said support and mounted for movement between first and second positions, first and second angularly disposed trunnions carried by said frame, first and second coil-supporting reels respectively rotatably mounted on said first and second trunnions, said frame being so constructed and arranged that said first trunnion and consequently said first reel occupies a substantially vertical position and said second trunnion and consequently said second reel'occupies a substantially horizontal position when said frame occupies said first position and that said second trunnion and consequently said second reel occupies a substantially vertical position and said first trunnion and consequently said first reel occupies a substantially horizontal position when said frame occupies said second position, one of said positions of each of said reels constituting a working position thereof and the other of said positions of each of said reels constituting a loading position thereof, said working positions of said reels being substantially coincident, and drive means for moving said frame between said first and second positions.

'7. Coil unreeling apparatus comprising a support, a bearing element carried by said support, a frame mounted on said bearing element for tilting movement between first and second limit positions, first and second angularly disposed trunnions carried by said frame, first and second coil-supporting reels respectively rotatably mounted on said first and second trunnions, said frame being so constructed and arranged that said first trunnion and consequently said first reel occupies a substantially vertical position and said second trunnion and consequently said second reel occupies a substantially horizontal position when said frame occupies said first limit position and that said second trunnion and consequently said second reel occupies a substantially vertical position and said first trunnion and consequently said first reel occupies a substantially horizontal position when said frame occupies said second limit position, one of said positions of each of said reels constituting a working position thereof and the other of said positions of each of said reels constituting a loading position thereof, said working positions of said reels being substantially coincident, and drive means for tilting said frame between said first and second limit positions.

8. Coil unreeling apparatus comprising a substantially vertical support, a bearing element carried by said support and mounted at an angle of substantially 45 degrees with respect to the horizontal plane, a frame mounted on said bearing element for tilting movement between first and second limit positions, first and second trunnions carried by said frame and disposed at an angle of substantially 90 with respect to each other, said frame being so constructed and arranged that said first trunnion occupies a substantially vertical position and said second trunnion occupies a substantially horizontal position when said frame occupies said first limit position and that said second trunnion occupies a substantially vertical position and said first trunnion occupies a substantially horizontal position when said frame occupies said second limit position, said vertical positions of said trunnions being substantially coincident, first and second coilsupporting reels respectively rotatably mounted on said first and second trunnions, whereby said reels have substantially coincident working positions as well as loading positions displaced from each other by an angle of substantially 90 in the horizontal plane, and drive means for tilting said frame between said first and said second limit positions.

9. Coil unreeling apparatus comprising a support, a frame carried by said support and mounted for movement between first and second positions, first and second spaced-apart coil-supporting reels carried by said frame and mounted for independent rotation, said frame being so constructed and arranged that said first reel occupies a substantially vertical position and said second reel occupies a substantially horizontal position when said frame occupies said first position and that said second reel occupies a substantially vertical position and said first reel occupies a substantially horizontal position when said frame occupies said second position, one of said positions of each of said reels constituting a working position thereof and the other of said positions of each of said reels constituting a loading position thereof, said working positions of said reels being substantially coincident, an electric motor carried by said support and operatively connected to said frame, and means for selectively controlled operation of said electric motor todrive said frame from either one of said positions to the other.

10. Coil unreeling apparatus comprising a support, a frame carried by said support and mounted for movement between first and second positions, first and second spaced-apart coilsupporting reels carried by said frame and mounted for independent rotation, said frame being so constructed and arranged that said first reel occupies a substantially vertical position and said second reel occupies a substantially horizontal position when said frame occupies said first position and that said second reel occupies a substantially vertical position and said first reel occupies a substantially horizontal position when said frame occupies said second position, one of said positions of each of said reels constituting a working position thereof and the other of said positions of each of said reels constituting a loading position thereof, said workin positions of said reels being substantially coincident, drive means operatively connected to said frame, means for selectively controlling operation of said drive means to move said frame toward either one of said positions, and means for arresting at will operation of said drive means, whereby said reels may be moved to locations inter- 12 mediate said working and loading positions thereof.

11. Coil unreeling apparatus comprising a support, a frame carried by said support and mounted for movement between first and second limit positions, first and second spaced-apart coil-supporting reels carried by said frame and mounted for independent rotation, said frame being so constructed and arranged that said first reel occupies a substantially vertical position and said second reel occupies a substantially horizontal position when said frame occupies said first position and that said second reel occupies a substantially vertical position and said first reel occupies a substantially horizontal position when said frame occupies said second position. one of said positions of each of said reels constituting a working position thereof and the other of said positions of each of said reels constituting a loading position thereof, said working positions of said reels being substantially coincident, drive means operatively connected to said frame, means for selectively initiating operation of said drive means to move said frame toward either one of said limit positions, and means responsive to movement of said frame into either one of said limit positions for arrestin operation of said drive means.

12. Coil unreeling apparatus comprising a support, a frame carried by said support and mounted for movement between first and second limit positions, first and second spaced-apart coil-supporting reels carried by said frame and mounted for independent rotation, said frame being so constructed and arranged that said first reel occupies a substantially vertical position and said second reel occupies asubstantially horizontal position when said frame occupies said first position and that said second reel occupies a substantially vertical position and said first reel occupies a substantially horizontal position when said frame occupies said second position, one of said positions of each of said reels constituting a working position thereof and the other of said positions of each of said reels constituting a loading position thereof, said workin positions of said reels being substantially coincident, drive means operatively connected to said frame, means for selectively initiating operation of said drive means to move said frame toward either one of said limit positions, means for arresting at wil1 operation of said drive means, whereby said reels may be moved to locations intermediate said working and loading positions thereof, and means responsive to movement of said frame into either one of said limit positions for arresting operation of said drive means.

13. Coil unreeling apparatus comprising a support, a frame carried by said support and mounted for movement between first and second limit positions, first and .second spaced-apart coil-supporting reels carried by said frame and mounted for independent rotation, said frame being so constructed and arranged that said first reel occupies a substantially vertical position and said second reel occupies a substantially horizontal position when said frame occupies said first position and that said second reel occupies a substantially vertical position and said first reel 00- cupies a substantially horizontal position when said frame occupies said second position, one of said positions of each of said reels constituting a working position thereof and the other of said positions of each of said reels constituting a loading position thereof, said working positions of said reels being substantially coincident, drive means operatively connected to said frame, means controllable when said frame occupies either one of said limit positions for initiating operation of said drive means to move said frame toward the other of said limit positions, and means responsive to movement of said frame into said other limit position for arresting operation of said drive means.

14. Coil unreeling apparatus comprising a support, a frame carried by said support and mounted for movement between first and second positions, first and second spaced-apart coil-supporting reels carried by said frame and mounted for independent rotation, said frame being so constructed and arranged that said first reel occupies a substantially vertical position and said second reel occupies a substantially horizontal position when said frame occupies said first position and that said second reel occupies a substantially vertical position and said first reel occupies a substantially horizontal position when said frame occupies said second position, one of said positions of each of said reels constituting a workin position thereof andv the other of said positions of each of said reels constituting a loading position thereof, said working positions of said reels being substantially coincident, drive means operatively connecte'dto said frame, first and second starters selectively controllable to initiate operation of said drive means to move said frame toward its respective positions, means responsive to control of one of said starters for preventing control of the other of said starters, and means for arresting at will operation of said drive means, whereby said reels may be moved to locations intermediate said working and loading positions thereof.

15. Coil unreeiing apparatus comprising a support, a frame carried by said support and mounted for movement between first and second limit positions, first and second spaced-apart coil-supporting reels carried by said frame and mounted for independent rotation, said frame being so constructed and arranged that said first reel occupies a substantially vertical position and said second reel occupies a substantially horizontal position when said frame occupies said first limit position and that said second reel occupies a substantially vertical position and said first reel occupies a substantially horizontal position when said frame occupies said second limit position, one of said positions of each of said reels constitutin a working position thereof and the other of said positions of each of said reels constituting a loading position thereof, said working positions of said reels being substantially coincident, drive means operatively connected to said frame, first and second starters selectively controllable to initiate operation of said drive means to move said frame toward said respective limit positions, means responsive to control of one of said starters for preventing control of the other of said starters, and means responsive to movement of said frame into either one of said limit positions for arresting operation of said drive means.

EDWARD J. LIGLER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,881,019 McFarland Oct. 4, 1932 2,263,889 Rose Nov. 25, 1941 2,321,646 Blodgett June 15, 1943 2,391,321 ,Littell Dec. 18, 1945 2,403,147 Westergaard July 2, 1946

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