US2546636A

US2546636A - Take-up apparatus

Info

Publication number: US2546636A
Application number: US40226A
Authority: US
Inventors: Estyle D Hanson; George E Henning; Samuel M Martin
Original assignee: Western Electric Co Inc
Current assignee: AT&T Corp
Priority date: 1948-07-23
Filing date: 1948-07-23
Publication date: 1951-03-27
Anticipated expiration: 1968-03-27

Description

March 27, 1951 'E. D. HANSON ET AL 2,546,636

TAKEUP APPARATUS Filed July 25, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS E D. HANSON G. E HEA/N/NG 5. M MA RT/N ATTORNEY fi March 27, 1951 E. D. HANSON ET AL 2,546,636

TAKEUP APPARATUS Filed July 23, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 v /M/EA/T0R5 E. 0; HANSON G. E. HE NN/NG 5 M MAR 77N BY F A 7' TOR/VEV 6 N6 3 5 S N 6, A mwww y A W M "On T 2 5M w A 50.53 4 B E. D. HANSON ET AL TAKEUP APPARATU March 27, 1951 Flled July 23, 1.948

March 27, 195

TAKEUP APPARATUS Filed July 25, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 //VVEN mm 5. 0. HANSON a. 5. HfNN/NG 5. M. MART/N ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 27, 1951 TAKE-UP APPARATUS Estyle l). Hanson, George E. Henning, and Samuel M. Martin, Baltimore, Md, assignors to Western Electric Company, Incorporated, New York, N. Y.. a corporation of New York Application July 23, 1948, Serial No. 40,226

20 Claims.

This invention relates to takeup apparatus, and more particularly to apparatus for continuously winding strands, such as, for example, insulated conductors.

In strand forming and processing operations,

' like must be substituted for the filled takeup apparatus or a switch from one reel to another is inade, it usually has been necessary to shut down the processing apparatus during such a substitution or switching. Such interruptions of the process increase the cost of production of the strand, and, in the case of extrusion and vulcanization of insulated coverings upon conductors, the portions of the coverings remaining in the vulcanizing apparatus during the interruptions are overcured so that the corresponding portions of the insulated conductors must be scrapped. Some continuously operable takeup apparatus have been proposed in the past, but this apparatus has been dangerous and generally unsatisfactory.

An object of the invention is to provide new and improved takeup apparatus.

A further object of the invention is to provide new and improved apparatus for continuously winding thereon strands, such as, for example, insulated conductors.

Another object of the invention is to provide new improved strand takeup apparatus for substantially automatically switching a strand from one takeup reel to another without interrupting the winding process.

A takeup apparatus illustrating certain features of the invention may include a coiling elehent, a second coiling element, means for retating the coiling elements, means for guiding a strand along a predetermined path near to and past the first-mentioned coiling element to the second-mentioned coiling element, a snagger revolved with the first-mentioned coiling element movable from a position at the end of and not extending over the first-mentioned coiling element to a position extending over that coiling element, means for holding the snagger in a position not extending over the first-rnentioned reeling element. and means selectively operable for pu hing the snagger over the first-mentioned reeling element at a predetermined point in the revolu on of the snagger, whereby the snagger catches the portion of the strand guided past the first-mentioned coiling element.

A complete understanding of the invention Lil may be obtained from the following detailed description of an apparatus forming a specific embodiment thereof, when read in conjunction with the appended drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary front elevation of an apparatus forming one embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged, plan View of a portion of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary, vation taken along line 3-3 of Fig. 2 tions thereof, broken away;

i is a fragmentary, vertical section taken along line i4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged section taken along line 5-5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged, fragmentary elevation of the apparatus with portions broken away;

Fig. '7 is an enlarged, fragmentary plan view taken along line l-'i of Fig. 6, and

Fig. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary view of a portion of the apparatus.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, a conductive core to (Fig. l) is advanced from one of two supply reels l2-l2 by a capstan l4, and is pulled through an extruder l5, a continuous vulcanizing tube 18 in tandem with the eX- truder it, around a guide sheave l9, and through a cooling trough by the dual capstan M. The extruder it forms an insulated covering 2 on the conductive core it to form an insulated conductor 2E, and the insulated conductor is con tinuously introduced into the vulcanizing tube it, which vulcanizes the covering 24 as the conductor 26 is advanced therethrough.

The conductor is advanced from the cap- Stan i l to a continuous takeup unit and is advanced over a distributor sheave 32 or a dist ibutor as either to a takeup reel mechanism 36 operable in one direction or a takeup reel mechanism 38 which is similar to the mecha- 323 but operates in an opposite direction. The distributor sheave is mounted rotatably on an arm as (Fig. 3) carried by a distributor front elewith porhead Z2 (Fig. 2) supported slidably on a shaft A l so that the distributor sheave 32 is moved along the reel st to distribute the conductor 26 upon the reel of the takeup reel mechanism which is rotated in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 3. When the distributor sheave 32 reaches its furthermost near the flange 53 position, actuating pin 6%; carried by the distributor head strikes an arm as of a limit ch i=3 to reverse the direction of rotation of the motor and the distributor screw 52, whereby the distributor screw moves the head 42 and the sheave 32 toward a flange 56 of the reel 6 to form another layer of the conductor on the takeup reel 6 When the sheave 32 reaches its furthermost pos tion near the flange ts, an actuating rod ll strikes an arm '52 of a limit switch it to again reverse the direction of rotation of the motor 65 and the distributor screw E2. The actuating rods 35 and H are mounted slidably in bosses l5 and '58 respectively, formed on a plate ll? of the distrbutor head 52. The positions of the rods and ii may be adjusted by a thumb screw extending through a tapped bore 82 in the plate is and tapped bores 88 and 83 formed in and 92, respectively, which are rigi ly secured to the actuating rods 35 and H. Thus, the length of throw of the distributor may be adjusted.

A hand wheel 85 is keyed to the shaft which carries two pinions, of which a pinion 95 (Fig. 3) is shown. The pinions St-Et engage the racks EL-52 of the guide rods 5Q5 l. The hand wheel 9% may be rotated to rotate the shaft 3% and the p nions 85-435 to move the slides 38-43 along tr e rods to the right to the left, viewed in Fig. thereby moving the distributor sheave 32 with respect to the takeup reel mechanisms 35 and 3B. A pivoted latch lil l may be actuated manually to lock the distributor t l in any desired position on the guide rods tail-5t. Normally, while the covered conductor 28 is wound on the takeup reel mechanism 3%, the distributor 3 is in the broken-line position thereof shown in Fig. 3, and the conductor 2% follows apath shown in broken lines to the reel 6%. When the reel 5d is almost filled the latch its is released and the hand wheel is actuated to move the distributor 3 to the full-line position thereof. This changes the path of the conductor from the distributor sheave 32 to the reel from that shown by the above-mentioned broken-line to the reel 6 to the path thereof shown in full lines. The portion of this path of the conductor '26 between points A and B forms a chord with respect to flanges l&9lcii of a reel iii! of the takeup reel mechanism 38, which reel is rotated when driven in a clockwise direction,

viewed in Fig. 3.

An electric motor H6 (Fig. l) of the takeup reel mechanism 38 then is energized to start the rotation of the reel HQ. The motor H5 rotates a centering cone Ed by a b the reel pin ill and an arm H8 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 3, and a freely rotatable centering cone !22 (Fig. 4) connected to the reel lit by a pin 25 and a guard 52:! is rotated by the reel. The centering cone 222 is retated by the reel Hi3 rotates the guard i2 3 therewith. The guard lfi i carr es an L-shaped snagger 528 pivotally thereon and the snagger has a snagging notch 138 formed therein. The sngger IE8 is designed to slide through a slot 2'32 formed in the guard. 52-6. An arm lit of the snagger i223 carries a follower roller 33, and normally held by a spring 534 in a retracted position in which the snagging portion of the 52% does not extend beyond the near flange of the reel iii}. A presser earn 135 carried. by an arm 3 pivotally mounted on a bearing it'l, and is operable by a lever 53% to a position engaging the roller I33 to move the snagger iZS further upwardly, as viewed in Fig. 5, to a position extending beyond the inner flange of the reel Ht shortly after the snagger passes the point A (Fig. 3). However, as the snagger passes point A the cam does not push the snagger beyond the near reel flange his and against the spring its but acts to hold the snagger in its retracted position so that the snagger clears the conductor 25 whenever the conductor is near that flange of the reel as the snagger approaches the portion of the conductor 25 at the point A.

When the distributor sheave 32 advances the conductor 26, which subtends a portion of the flanges of the reel lid, to a position in which the conductor is near the right hand flange of the reel, as viewed in Fig. 4, and the lever 38 has been actuated to push the snagger against the spring 53 5-, the snagger clears the portion of he conductor at point A (Fi 3), is moved over the conductor between the points A and B, catches the portion of the conductor at B in the otch 239 (Fig. 7) and pulls the conductor downwardly, as viewed in Fig. 3. The takeup reel {i i continues to be rotated and to wind the conductor 25 thereon, and the portion of the conductor between the snagger and the reel 55 is moved downwardly. The inrunning reel E i and the snagger i2$ move the portion of the conductor therebetween downwardly hard against a shear blade i lii to sever the conductor.

The snagger E28 continues to rotate with the reel Hi? and the distributor 3 distributes the conductor 25 on the reel l H! as the snagger is rotated beyond the point B (Fig. 3) to somewhere near point C where the snagger moves out of engagement with the cam, and the spring E34 moves the snagger back to a position in which it does not extend over the flange of the reel i it. The snagger continues to hold the conductor so that the conductor is wound on the reel H5. The lever 33 then is released and the snagger is moved to its retracted position by the spring 234 to clear the portion of the conductor 25 being advanced to the reel HS. Thus, after the winding has been started on the reel Ht as described hereinabove, there is no danger of resnagging the conductor 26.

After the reel 5 ill has been filled the distributor 3 is moved to its broken-line position and the above-described operation in connection with starting and winding of the conductor 26 on the reel lid is repeated to shear the conductor and start the conductor on the reel 64 by means of a snagger and its associated elements which form a portion of the takeup reel mechanism 36, which is identical with the takeup mechanism 38 except that the mechanism is a left hand mechanism while the mechanism 38 is a right hand mechanism.

The motor H6 (Fig. 4) is mounted on a slide ill! mounted on a guideway I12, and a bearing ll l supporting the centering cone lZ-fi also is carried by the slide llil. After the reel llil has been filled and the conductor 26 is severed therefrom, the motor lie is deenergized and a linkil is moved so as to actuate a valve 18 to supply air under pressure to the right hand end of a cylinder l fi, as viewed in Fig. 4, and to pivot a latch i532 secured rigidly to a shaft I8 out of a slot 588 formed in the slide Hi] so that the slide may be slid to the left by a piston lei fastened to the slideto free the reel HE; for removal. After an empty reel to be substituted for the reel Hi! has been positioned between the centering cones I28 and I22, the linkage H6 is moved. to actuate the valve I18 to supply air under pressure to the left end of the cylinder 5'85 and to permit the latch 182 to move into the slot I 88 whenever the slot N38 is moved thereover. The piston then moves the slide 18 to mount the empty reel on the centering cones I20 and I22, and the latch moves into the slot H38 to latch the slide in an operative position.

Operation The insulated conductor is advanced over the sheave 32 of the distributor mechanism 3%, which is in its broken-line position, as viewed in Fig. 3, to the reel 64 of the takeup reel mechanism 33, the motors 66 and 65 are started. the reel 55 is rotated, and the distributor as distributes the conductor 23 in layers extending from flange to flange of the reel When the reel 54 is almost filled, an operator of the apparatus releases the latch Hi l mov s he distributor mechanism 3 to the left to its full-line pos tion. The operator then starts the motor HEB (Fig. to rotate the reel iii in an inrunning direction with respect to the direction of rotation of the reel es. and the distributor L l continues to distribute the conductor evenly upon the reel When the reel 54 is filled, the operator a the lever 13% (Fig. 4) to swing the cam iBfi 1. left, as viewed in Fig. 4:. The snagger 523 then is moved from a position at the edge of the right hand flan e of the reel l H! to the position of the snagger 28 shown in Fig. 5 after the snagger has passed point A (Fig. 3) and has not yet come to point B. After the sna ger is rotated past point C the follower roller L33 moves it back to a positicn in which it does not extend beyond the inner flange H39 of the reel Hi! When the distributor sheave 32 moves the conductor 2 to the right hand flan e of the reel i it, as viewed in Fig. 4, the snagger 12?? catches the conductor 2% and moves the portion of the conductor between the snagger and the reel i i against the shear blade 14%, which severs the conductor.

The lever I33 then is released so that the spring 535 moves the snagger 25 to its retracted position. The snagger continues to hold the newly formed end of the conductor and carries it around the drum of the reel l iii, and the distributor 3 distributes the conductor on that reel.

The operator then stops the takeuc reel mechanism 35, removes the filled reel li i therefrom, end substitutes an empty reel identical with the reel 84 for the reel '54. When the reel l iii i filled with the conductor 26, the switchover to the empty reel of the takeup reel mechanism is effooted by a snagger and its associated elements of the reel mechanism which are identical with. but of opposite hand from the snagger lES its associated elements of the talreup mechanisn 32, after moving the distributor 34 to its brokenline position, as shown in Fig. 3, so that a por tion of the conductor 25 between the sheave 32 and the takeup reel lid s in a plane chordally intersecting the flanges of the reel of the takeup mechanism 35 to permit the conductor to be snagged.

The above-described talaeup mechanism serves. to continuously take up the conductor 2% witho t interruption in or slowing of operation so that the operation of the extruder l6 and the vulcanization is not even slowed down. The transfer from one takeup mechanism to the other is almost completely automatic inasmuch as the only manual effort. necessary to make a transfer from too one takeup reel mechanism to the other is to move the distributor mechanism 34 to the proper position, to start the idle takeup reel mechanism, to actuate the cam of the idle takeup mechanism and to release the cam after the transfer has been made. There is no danger to'an operator of the apparatus since the snaggers are covered and accidental contact therewith is blocked.

Certain features of the above-described apparatus are disclosed and claimed in copending application Serial No. 40,290, filed July 23, 1948, by D. C. Robson.

What is claimed is:

l. A takeup apparatus, which comprises a coiling element, a second coiling element, means for rotating the coiling elements, means for guiding a strand along a predetermined path near to and past the first-mentioned coiling element to the secondnentioned coilin. element, snagger revolved continuously with the first-moi .ioned coiling element and movable from a position at one end of and not extending over the first-mentioned coiling element to a posiion extending over that coiling element, means for: holding the snagger in a position not extending over the first-mentioned coiling element, and selectively operable means for pushing the snagger over the first-mentioned coiling element at a predetermined point in the revolution of the snagger, whereby the snagger catches the portion of the strand guided pa st the first-mentioned coiling element.

2. A talzeup apparatus, which comprises a coiling element, a second coiling means for rotating the coiling e3 merits, means for guiding strand along a predetermined path near to and past the first-mentioned coiling element to the second-me tioned coiling element, snagger revolved continuously with the first-mentioned coiling element and movable from a posit n at one end and not extending over the first-mentioned comng element to a position e-.tending over that cciiing element, means for rging the snagger to a position not extending over the first-mentioned coiling element, means for pushing the snagger against the snagger-urging means to the position in. which it extends over the firstinentioned reeling element at a predetermined point in the revolution of the snagger, whereby the snagger catches the portion of the strand guided past the first-mentioned coiling element, a cutter positioned in the path in which the portion of the strand between the snagger and the second-mentioned coiling element is moved by the snagger for severing the strand.

3. A taheup apparatus, which comprises a coiling element, a second coiling element, means for rotating the coiling elements, means for guiding a strand along a predetermined path near to and past the first-mentioned coiling element to the second-mentioned coiling element, a snagger revolved continuously with the first-mentioned coiling element and movable from a position at one end of and not extending over the first-mentioned coiling element to a position extending over that coiling element, means normally operable for urging the snagger to a position not extending over the first-mentioned coiling element, and means selectively operable for pushing the snagger against the action of the snaggenurging means to the position in which it extends over the first-mentioned coiling element at a predetermined point in the revolution of the snagger, whereby the snagger catches the portion of the strand guided past the first-mentioned coiling element.

4. A takeup apparatus, which comprises a pair of reels, means for rotating the reels, a snagger provided with a strand catching and gripping portion revolved continuously with one of the reels, a cam selectively operable for moving the snagger over the last-mentioned reel, means selectively operable for guiding a strand past one of the reels to the other reel into the path of the snagger, and a cutter so positioned with respect to the snagger that the portion of the strand be tween the snagger and the reel to which the strand is guided is moved into engagement with the cutter and severed.

5. A takeup apparatus, which comprises a pair of transversely aligned reels, means for rotating the reels, means for guiding a strand past one of the reels to the other reel, a snagger provided with a strand-catching-and-gripping portion revolved continuously with the reel past which a strand is guided, a cutter positioned between the snagger and the other reel, and a selectively oper able cam for projecting the strand-catching-andgripping portion beyond the flange of the reel past which the strand is guided to catch and grip the strand, whereby the portion of the strand between the snagger and the reel to which the strand is guided is moved into engagement with the cutter and severed.

6. A takeup apparatus, which comprises a pair of transversely aligned reels, means for rotating the reels in inrunning directions, means for guiding a strand past one of the reels to the other reel, a snagger provided with a strand catching and gripping portion revolved continuously with the reel past which a strand is guided, a cutter positioned between the snagger and the other reel, and selectively operable means for projecting the strand-catching-and-gripping portion beyond the flange or" the reel past which the strand is guided to catch and grip the strand, whereby the portion of the strand between the snagger and the reel to which the strand is guided is moved into engagement with the cutter and severed.

'7. A takeup apparatus, which comprises a rotatable takeup unit, a second rotatable takeup unit, means for rotating the units on parallel axes and for mounting the units in transversely aligned positions, means for guiding a strand past the first-mentioned takeup unit to the secondmentioned takeup unit, a snagger carried continuously with the first-mentioned talreup unit and movable from a position with respect to that unit in which the strand is not engaged thereby 'to a position in which the strand is snagged thereby, means for urging the snagger toward the first-mentioned position thereof, and an actuator selectively operable for moving the snagger against the snagger-urging means to the position of the snagger in which the snagger snags the strand.

8. A takeup apparatus, which comprises a winding element, means for rotating the winding element, a snagger carried continuously by one end of the winding element and movable from a retracted position in which the snagger does not project over the winding element to a snagging position in which the Snagger does project over the winding element, means for urging the snagger toward the retracted position thereof in which the snagger does project over the winding element, and means selectively operable for moving the snagger for a predetermined portion of the revolution of the snagger to the snagging position thereof in which it projects over the winding element so that the snagger clears one portion of a strand guided chordally with respect to the path of the snagger and catches a second portion of the strand.

9. A takeup appartus, which comprises a rotatable winding element, means for rotating the winding element, an L-shaped snagger carried continuously and pivotally by one end of the winding element and having a strand-snagging portion movable from a retracted position in which that portion does not project over the winding element to a snagging position in which it does project over the winding element, means for guiding a strand in a plane chordal with respect to the path of the strand-snagging portion of the snagger, means for urging the strandsnagging portion of the snagger to the retracted position thereof, and a cam selectively operable for projecting the strand-snagging portion of the snagger over the winding element as the strand snagging portion approaches a predetermined portion or" the strand.

10. A takeup apparatus, which comprises a reel, means engaging one end of the reel for rotating the reel-mounting means for enga ing the other end of the reel and rotatable thereby, a snagger extendin radially beyond the reel, carried continuously with the reel by the reel-mounting means and movable from a retracted position in which the snagger does not project over the more adjacent head of the reel to a snagging position in which the snagger does project over the more adjacent head of the reel, means for urging the snagger to its retracted position, and means selectively operable for moving the snagger to the snagging position thereof for a predetermined portion of the revolution of the snagger.

11. A takeup apparatus, which comprises a rotatable reeling element, a second rotatable reel element, means mounting the reeling elements in transversely aligned positions for rotating the reeling elements in inrunning directions, an arm carried continuously with and mounted pivotally at the end of the first-mentioned reeling element, a sn: gger carried by the arm and extending substantially parallel to axis of rotation of the first mentioned reeling element and radially outside hat reeling element so that the snagger is projected over that reeling element when the arm is pivoted toward that reeling element, said snagc-eing revolved in a predetermined circular ath beyond the radial limits of the first-mentioned reeling element, a distributor adjustable transversely to the axes of rotation of the reeling element for distributing a strand upon the second-mentioned reeling element and for guiding the strand to the second-mentioned reeling element in a plane chordally intersecting the path of the snagger, means for urging the snagger to a retracted position beyond the near end of the first-mentioned reeling element as the snagger is moved past the portion of the strand entering the portion of the plane chordally intersecting the path of the snagger so that the snag er clears that portion of the strand, and means seiectively operable for moving the snagger to a snagging position extending over the near end of the firstmentioned reeling element after the snagger has been moved past the portion or" the strand entering said portion of said plane and before the snagger has been moved to the portion of the strand leaving said portion of said plane and for holding the snagger in its snagging position as the snagger is moved to and past the point at which the strand leaves said portion of the plane so that the snagger catches and grips the strand as the strand is moved past the near end of the first-mentioned reeling element 12. A takeup apparatus, which comprises a rotatable reeling element, a second rotatable reeling element, means mounting the reeling elements in transversely aligned positions for rotating the reeling elements in inrunning directions, a snagger rotatable continuously with the firstmentioned reeling element and having a snagging portion extending substantially parallel to axis of rotation of the first-mentioned reeling element and radially outside that reeling element, means mounting the snagger for movement relative to the first-mentioned reeling element such that the snagging portion is projected over that reeling element when the snagger is moved toward that reeling element, the snagging portion of the snagger being revolved in a predetermined substantially circular path beyond the radial nits of the first-mentioned reeling element, a dish ibutor for distributing a strand upon the secondmentioned reeling element and for guiding the strand to second-mentioned reeling element in a plane chordally cutting the path of the snagger, means for urging the snagger to a retracted posinon in which the snagging portion thereof is beyond the near end of the first-mentioned reeling element as the snagging portion is moved past the portion of the strand entering the portion of the plane chordally intersecting the path of the snagging portion so that the snagging portion clears that portion of the strand, a manually operable cam for moving the snagger to a snag ging position in which the sn gging portion extends over the near end of the first-mentioned reeling element after the snagging portion been moved past the portion of the strand enterportion of said plane and before the snagging portion has been moved to the portion of the strand leaving said portion of said plane and for holding the snagging portion in the position extending over the near end or" the first-mentioned reeling element as the snagging portion is moved to and past the point at which the strand leaves said portion of the plane so that the snagging portion catches and grips the strand as the strand is moved past the near end of the first-mentioned reeling element, and a cutter positioned outside the circular path of the snagging portion and in the path in which the portion or" the strand between the snagger and the second-mentioned reeling element is moved oy the snagger for severing the strand.

13. A takeup apparatus, which comprises a rotatable reeling element, a second rotatable reeling element, means mounting the reeling elements in transversely aligned positions for rotating the reeling elements in inrunning directions, a snagger carried continuously with the firstmentioned reeling element at an end thereof and extending substantially parallel to or" rotation of the first-mentioned reeling element and radially outside that reeling element, the snagger being projectable over the first-mentioned reeling element and being revolved in a predetermined circular path beyond the radial limits of the first-mentioned reeling element, a distributor movable transversely to the axis of rotation of the reeling element for distributing a strand upon the second-mentioned reeling ele ment and for guiding the strand to the secondmentioned reeling element in a plane chordally cutting the path of the snagger, means for preventing snagging action of the snagger as the snagger is moved past the portion of the strand entering the portion of the plane chordally intersecting the path of the snagger, and cam selectively operable for actuating the snagger after it been moved past the portion of the strand entering said portion of said plane and before the snagger has been moved to the portion of the strand leaving said portion of said plane for holding the snagger in the position extending over the near end of the first-mentioned reeling element as the snagger is moved to and past the point at which the strand leaves said portion ofthe plane so that the snagger catches grips the strand as the strand is i.ioved past the near end of the first-mentioned reeling ele ment.

l i. A takeup apparatus, which comprises a coiling element, a second. coiling element, means for rotating the coiling elements, means for guiding a strand along a predetermined path near to and past the first-'nentioned coiling element to the second-mentioned coiling element, a snagger revolved continuously with the first-mentioned coiling element and movable from a position at the end of and not extending over the first-mentioned coiling element to a position extending over that coiling element, means for holding the snagger a position not extending over the firstmentioned reeling element, selectively operable means for pushing the snagger over the firstmentioned coiling element at a predetermined point in the revolution of the snagger, whereby the snagger catches the portion of the strand guided past the first-mentioned coiling element, and a cutter positioned in the path in which the portion of the strand between the snagger and the second-mentioned coiling element is moved by the snagger for severing the strand.

15. A takeup apparatus, which comprises a coiling element, a second coiling element, means for rotating the coiling elements, means for guiding a strand along a predetermined path near to and past the first-mentioned coiling element to the second-mentioned coiling element, a snagger revolved continuously with the first-mentioned coiling element and movable from a position at the end of and not extendin over the .Lrst-inentiOn-ed coiling element to a position extending over that coiling element, means n mally operable for urging the snagger to a position not extending over the first-mentioned reeling element, means selectively operable for pushing the snagger against the action of the snag gear-urging means to the position in which it extends over the first-mentioned reeling element at a predetermined point in the revolution of the snagger, whereby the snagger catches the portion of the strand guided past the first-mentioned coiling element, and a cutterpositioned in the path in which the portion of the strand between the snagger and the second-mentioned coiling element is moved by the snagger for severing the strand. I

16. A takeup apparatus, which comprises a rotatable takeup unit, a second rotatable takeup unit, means for rotating the units on parallel axes and for mounting the units in. transversely aligned positions, means for guiding a strand past the first-mentioned takeup unit to the secondmentioned talrcup unit, a snagger carried continuously with the first-mentioned takeup unit and movable from a position with respect to that unit in which the strand is not engaged thereby to a position in which the strand is snagged ll thereby, means for urging the snagger toward the nrst-mentioned position thereof, an actuator selectively operable for moving the snagger against the snagger-urging means to the position of the snagger in which the snagger snags the strand, and a cutter over which the strand is moved by the snagger for severin the strand.

17. A takeup apparatus, which comprises a rotatable reeling element, a second rotatable reeling element, means mounting the reeling elements in transversely aligned positions for rotating the reeling elements in inrunning directions, an arm carried continuously with and mounted pivotally at the end of the first-mentioned reeling element, a snagger carried by the arm and extending substantially parallel to axis of rotation of the first-mentioned reeling element and radiall outside that reelin element so that the snagger is projected over that reeling element when the arm is pivoted toward that reeling element, said snagger being revolved in a predetermined circular path beyond the radial limits of the first-mentined reeling element, a distributor adjustable transversely to the axes of rotation of the reeling element for distributing a strand upon the second-mentioned reeling element and for guiding the strand to the secondmentioned reeling element a plane chordally intersecting the path of the snagger, means for urging the snagg r to a retracted position beyond the near end of the first-mentioned reeling element as the snagger is moved past the portion of the strand entering the portion of the plane chordally intersecting the of the snagger so that the snagger clears that portion of the strand, means selectively operable for moving snag ger to a snagging position extending over the near end of the first-mentioned reeling element after the snagger has been moved past the portion of the strand entering said portion of said plane and before the snagger has been moved to the portion of the strand leaving said portion of said plane and for holding the snagger in its snagging position as the snagger is moved to and past the point at which the strand leaves said portion of the plane so that the snagger catches and grips the strand as the strand is moved past the near end of the first-mentioned reeling element, and a cutter positioned outside the circular path of the snagger in the path in which the portion of the strand between the snagger and the second-mentioned reeling element is moved by the snagger for severing the strand.

18. A takeup apparatus, which comprises a rotatable reeling element, a second rotatable reeling element, means mounting the reeling elements in transversely aligned positions for rotating the reeling elements in inrunning directions, a snagger carried continuously with the firstmentioned reeling element at an end thereof and extending substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the first-mentioned reeling element and radially outside that reeling element, the snagger being projectable over the first-mentioned reeling element and being revolved in a predetermined circular path beyond the radial limits of the first-mentioned reeling element, a distributor movable transversely to the axis of rotation of the reeling element for distributing a strand upon the second-mentioned reeling element and for guiding the strand to the secondmentioned reeling element in a plane chordally cutting the path of the snagger, means for preventing snagging action of the snagger as the l2 snagger is moved past the portion of the strand entering the portion of the plane chordally intersecting the path of the snagger, cam means selectively operable for actuating the snagger after it has been moved past the portion of the strand entering said portion of said plane and before the snagger has been moved to the portion of the strand leaving said portion of said plane and for holding the snagger in the position extending over the near end of the first-mentioned reeling element as the snagger is moved to and past the point at which the strand leaves said portion of the plane so that the snagger catches and grips the strand as the strand is moved past the near end of the first-mentioned reeling element, and a cutter positioned outside the circular path of the snagger in the path in which the portion of the strand between the snagger and the second-mentioned reeling element is moved by the snagger for severing the strand.

19. A strand takeup apparatus, which comprises a reel, means for rotating the reel, means connected to one end of the reel and rotated continuously with the reel, an L-shaped snagger provided with a strand-catching notch formed in one arm thereof and having one end of the other arm thereof pivotally connected to the lastmentioned means in a position in which the snagger lies in a plane chordal with respect to the reel and movable between a snagging position in which the first-mentioned arm projects over the portion of the reel most adjacent thereto and a retracted position in which the first-mentioned ar a does not extend over that portion of the reel, means normally urging the snagger to its retracted position, cam means carried by the snagger, a manually operable pusher having cam means positioned adjacent to a predetermined portion of the path of the first-mentioned earn means and cooperable with the first-mentioned cam means for pressing the snagger to its snagging position, means for guiding a strand adjacent to the snagger, and means for severing a strand snagged by the snagger.

20. A strand takeup apparatus, which coniprises a reel, means for rotating the reel, a disc connected to one end of the reel and rotated continuously with the reel, 3, snagger provided with a strand catching notch mounted on the disc, carried continuously therewith, and movable between a snagging position in which the snagger projects over the portion or" the reel most adjacent thereto and a retracted position in which the snagger does not extend over that portion of the reel, means normally urging the snagger to its retracted position, cam means carried by the snagger, a manually operable pusher having cam means positioned adjacent to a predetermined portion of the path of the firstmentioned cam means and cooperable with the first-mentioned cam means for pressing the snagger to its snagging position, means for guiding a strand adjacent to the snagger, and means for severing a strand snagged by the snagger.

ESTYLE D. HANSON. GEORGE E, HENNING. SAMUEL M. MARTIN.

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

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,393,286 Hosford Oct. 11, 1921 2,424,021 Cook July 15, 1947