US2628040A

US2628040A - Apparatus for handling coils of strand material

Info

Publication number: US2628040A
Application number: US219941A
Authority: US
Inventors: Vincent A Rayburn
Original assignee: Western Electric Co Inc
Current assignee: AT&T Corp
Priority date: 1951-04-09
Filing date: 1951-04-09
Publication date: 1953-02-10
Anticipated expiration: 1970-02-10

Description

Feb. 10,1953 v. A. RAYBURN 2,623,040

APPARMUS FOR HANDLING COILS 0F STRAND MATERIAL Filed April 9, 1951 s Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR V. A. RAVBURN ATTORNEY Feb. 10, 1953 v. A. RAYBURN 2,628,040

APPARATUS FOR HANDLING COIL-S OF STRAND MATERIAL Filed April 9, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 3

FIG 4 Mll/ENTOR u A. RA YBURN er I ATFORNEV Feb. 10, 1953 v. A. RAYBURN 2,628,040

APPARATUS FOR HANDLING COILS OF STRAND MATERIAL Filed April 9, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet s FIG. 5

INVENIOR A. RA VBURN Afro/WE) Feb. 10, 1953 v. A. RAYBURN 2,623,040

APPARATUS FOR HANDLING COILS OF STRAND MATERIAL Filed April 9, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 mxvuvron 14 A. RA VBURN ATIIORNEV Feb. 10, 1953 v. A. RAYBURN 2,628,040

APPARATUS FOR HANDLING COILS OF STRAND MATERIAL Filed April 9, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR V. A. R YBURN ATTORNEY steel straps, or the like.

Patented Feb. 10, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE APPARATUS FOR HANDLING COILS OF STRAND MATERIAL Vincent A. Rayburn, Baltimore, Md., assignor to Western Electric Company, Incorporated, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application April 9, 1951, Serial No. 219,941

This invention relates to apparatus for handling coils of strand material, and more particuplied in the form of coreless coils held in the shape in which they are wound by a plurality of thin To use coils wound in this manner with apparatus designed to manufacture electrical conductors and cables, an apparatus must be provided for supporting such coils so that the wire may be withdrawn therefrom under tension, and. must hold the coil in a tightly packed condition after the straps are reterial illustrating certain features of the invention may include a rotatable member on which such a coil may be positioned, expandable means provided on the member for locking the coil for rotation with the member, and means attachable to the member for holding the convolutions of the coil tightly together.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following detailed description of a specific embodiment thereof, when read in conjunction with the appended drawings, in

. which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of an apparatus embodying certain features of the invention:

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of a portion of the au-- paratus shown in Fig. l which has been actuated to a different operating position and having portions thereof removed;

Fig. 3 is a right end view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1 with portions thereof broken away;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary horizontal section taken along line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a vertical section taken along line 5-5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a vertical section taken along line 6-6 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 'I is a vertical section taken along line 1-1 p of Fig. 1;

7 Claims. (Cl. 242-78) Fig. 8 is a fragmentary vertical section taken along line 8-8 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 9 is the same as Fig. 8, but showing portions of the apparatus in different positions, and

Fig. 10 is a side elevation of a typical coil of wire to be handled by the apparatus shown i Fig. 1.

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to Figs. 5 and 7, there is shown an apparatus for handling coreless coils of strand material which includes an elongated shaft I5 mounted rotatably in an end member 16 permanently secured to one end of a cylindrical housing I1, and an end member l8 secured removably to the opposite end of the housing I! by screws lQ-I 9. The housing I7 is provided with diametrically opposed trunnions 20-20 (Fig. '7) which engage bearings 2l-2l so as to mount the housing pivotally with respect to the longitudinal axis of the shaft IS. A worm gear segment 25 is keyed to one of the trunnions 20-20, as seen in Fig. '7, and engages a worm 26 keyed to an output shaft 21 of a gear reducer 3| driven by an electric motor 30.

A brake drum 34 (Fig. 5) made of magnetic material, is mounted on a bushing 33 keyed to the sha t l5, and is engaged by brake shoes 35-35 carried by rocker arm 36-36 (Fig. 6) mounted pivotally on lugs 31-31 secured to the inner surface of the housing H. The brake shoes 35-35 are urged against the drum by compression springs 40-40 positioned between the bottom of retainer cups 41-4! secured on the outer surface of the housing I! and nuts 42-42 threadedly mounted on the ends of brake rods 43-43 secured pivotally to the ends of the arms 36-36 and extending through the central opening of the springs. The nuts 42-42 are adjusted on their respective rods 43-43 to positions in which the springs ill-4i! cause the brake shoes 35-35 to retard the rotat on of the drum 34 with a prede termined braking force. The brake shoes 35-35 preferably are made of hard wood, but may be made of leather or other suitable compositions having the requ site coefficient of friction with rescect to the surface of the drum 34. The drum 34 also is engaged by a plurality of electromagnetic brakes 46-43 (Figs. 5 and '7) carried by arms 41-41 mounted pivotally on lugs 48-48 secured to the inner surface of the housing H. The brakes 46-46 contain magnetizing coils (not shown) which, when connected to a suitable electric potential, magnetize the brakes and draw them tightly against the surface of the drum 34 and prevent rotation of the drum. A torsion arm 41 and its associated lug 48 to hold the brakes 45-46 away from the drum when their magnetizing coils are not energized.

A portion of the shaft extends beyond the end member IE to receive a reelindicated generally at- 50 (Fig. 5) designed to support rotatably a coil 5| of wire 52 so that the wire may be withdrawn from the coil. The reel 50 includes a hub 53 secured to a collar 54 formed on the shaft (5, a removable hub 55 positioned adjacent to the end of the shaft I5, and a sleeve 56 journalled in a bearing 51 provided on the hub 53 and a bearing 58 provided in the central bore of the hub 55. The sleeve 56 is designed to leave an annular clearance between the inner surface thereof and the shaft (5.

The

hubs

53 and 55 are similar in construction,

each having a substantially polygonal periphery forming. a plurality of flat sides on which arepositionedbars 60-60. Thebars 80-511 are secured permanently on the fiat surfaces of the hub 53, and aresecured on the flat surfaces of the hub 55 by-bolts (SI-5| (Figs..3 and 5) which threadedly engage lugs 53-59 secured on the underside of the bars. with flanges 52-52 extending alon their opposite edges so as to form elongated, radial slots 63-53 between flanges of adjacent bars, which slotsa're' aligned with radial grooves 64-64 provided in. thehubs'53 and 55. This arrangement of the hubs and bars provides a rigid cage-like structure forming the drum portion of the reel 55" which is supported principally by the end:

member is.

Coil gripping member's 55-6-5 (Figs. 3 and 8) positioned slidably in the radial slots 55-63 each comprisea fiat center barEB having a half-round bar (secured on one edge thereof and a plural-- ity' of tubular lugs 55-68 positioned spacedly along the opposite edge thereof as seen in Figs. 5 and 8. The extremities of the bars 65-6- 6 slidably engage the grooves 64-54 provided in the heads 53 and 55 (Figs. 3 and 8). Links Hi-"i5.

' (Figs. 5 and 8 are connected to the members to engage slots 85-85 provided in thehead 55 (Figs. 4 and 5). When the plate 33 is positioned so that the ends 82-82 of the levers 84-34 engage the slots 85-85 (Figs. 3 and 4), the sleeve 56' is so positioned that the links it-i5 push their respective members 65-55 to their outermost positions atwhich they center the coil on the reel, and grip the inner surface of the coil 5! with sufflcient force to cause the reel 55 to be rotated by the coil 5'! when the wire 52 is withdrawn from the'coil.

This position of the plate 83 positions the pins 13-73slightly beyond their dead-center positions in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 9, so that the pins are not aligned radially with the pins ll-li which secure the links to the members 65-55 (Fig. 8). This position of the pins ll-H and 13-13 produces a toggle eifect inith'e links b'ecause the resilient action of the coil Each of the bars 60-60 are provided 5i engaged by the members 55-65 tends to lock the sleeve against movement in a clockwise direction and thereby holds the members 65-65 in their outermost positions. When the levers 55-85 are actuated to remove their respective ends 82-52 from the slots 85-85, the plate 53 may be turned in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Figs. 3 and 8, to move the links 75-78 to positions shown in Fig. 9. This movement of the links moves the members 65-55 to their innermost positions, at which positions, the members 65-55. are disengaged from the inner surface of the coil 5 I.

Aheadv 81 (Fig. 3) is provided with a polygonal opening 83 having a plurality of flat surfaces which slidably engage the outer surface of the bars 65-65, and a plurality of slot 55-90 to slidably receive the ends of the members 55- 65. The head 8? has a spider like hub 9| having a central bore-'52 (Fig. 5) designed to fit rotatably over a hub 93 of a handwheel indicated generally at 95. A resilient retainer ring 5!! is secured in a groove provided on the inner end of the hub 93 to prevent the handwheel from being withdrawn from the hub 5! of the head 57. The handwheel 95 is mounted threadedly on the end of the shaft i5 so that the head 8? may be pressed tightly against the coil 5! positioned on the reel 50 by turning the handwheel 95 to move the head 87 toward the head it. The hub 93 is slotted at 98 and a pin 97 is positioned in the hub transversely to'th'e'slot 95 to provide a means for lifting the head 8? and the wheel 55 assemblyirom the reel 55. The head 8? is removed from the reel 59 by turning the handwheel 95 until thehub 53 is disengaged from the threaded end of the shaft I5 in order that a coil 5% may be positioned on the reel 59.

The motor 38 is provided for turningrthe reel 58 about the central axis of the trunnions 25-28 and move the reel 55' from a horizontal position shown in Fig. 1 to a vertical position shown in Fig. 2. When the reel 55 is positioned as shown in Fig. l, a pin 98 secured to the gear segment 25 holds a spring return limit switch I 5 mounted on the bearing 2| positioned adjacent to the gear segment 25 in an open position. When the reel is positioned vertically, as seen in Fig. 2, the pin 98 holds a spring return limit switch (52 also mounted on the bearing 2! in an open position. The motor 35 and the switches ([98 and (52 are connected (by means not shown) to a source of electric potential in such a manner that when the pin engages the switch 555, the motor 35 may be energized only to turn the reel 55 about the central axis of the trunnions 25-25 in a counterclockwise direction, when viewed in Fig. 1.

When the pin 93 actuates the switch I 52, the motor 35 is deenergized thereby, and the reel 55) is positioned vertically. Operation of the switch I52 prevents further movement of the reel in a counterclockwise direction, but the motor 35 may be energized to turn the reel 55 in a clockwise position through a circuit including the closed switch lilo. The reel may be driven in a clockwise direction until the pin 58 actuates the switch (so to its open position and deenergizes the motor.

When the reel 50 is positioned vertically, the head 81 is removed from the shaft 11 5 ('Fig. 2), in the manner described, in order that the coil 5! (Fig. 10) may be lowered onto the head 16 of the reel. The convolutions of the coil 5] are held together by a plurality of thin, steel straps (03-(03 which extend around the body of the coil and have their ends firmly secured together,

whereby the straps I53-l63 hold the coil in the shape in which it was wound. To facilitate loading a coil, like the coil 5| on the reel 56, a suitable hoisting mechanism (not shown) having grapple hooks Ice-m4 may be provided for lifting the coil 52 and positioning it on the reel 50 when the reel is in a vertical position. After the coil 5|. is positioned onto the head 16, the hooks Hi l-I94 are removed from the coil, the spanner plate 83 is turned in acounterclockwise direction, as viewed in Figs. 3 and 8, to cause the members 65-55 to grip the coil 5|, and the head 81 is attached to the shaft 5 to hold the coil on the reel 50.

The coil 5|, shown in Fig. 10, is a traverse wound, coreless coil, that is, the wire 52 is not supplied on a reel or spool which may be used to support the coil when the wire is withdrawn therefrom. The individual convolutions of the coil are bound together by the steel straps iii-I63, and these straps must be removed before the wire 52 may be withdrawn from the coil. The individual layers of the coil are in eiTect, alternating right-hand and left-hand helical springs, and when the head 81 is urged toward the head 16 by the handwheel 35, the layers are compressed until the individual convolutions almost abut each other.

When the coil 5| is secured between the heads 16 and El in this manner, the steel straps HIE-I63 are cut and removed from the coil through slots Hie-I65 provided in the heads 75 and 81.

The surfaces of the heads that engage the ends of the coil slope inwardly slightly so that the heads press the inner layers of the coil more tightly together than the outer layers. By pressing the inner layers of the coil together tightly, the outer convolutions of the wire 52 are prevented from forcing or prying in-between the convolutions of the inner layers when the wire is withdrawn from the coil.

Operation Assuming that the above-described coil handling apparatus is in a horizontal position as shown in Fig. 1, the motor 35 is connected to a suitable source of power by conventional electrical switching apparatus, not shown, to turn the reel 55 about the central axis of thetrunnions 25-28 in a counterclockwise direction until the pin 98 actuates the switch Hi2 and deenergizes the motor 33. When the switch 182 is actuated to deenergize the motor 35, the reel 56 is in ayertical position, as shown in Fig. 2. The handwheel 95 then is turned until it is free of the threaded end of the shaft l5, and the head 81 then is removed from the reel 56. The levers 84-84 mounted on the plate 83 are raised so that they are perpendicular to the plate 83, as shown in Fig. 2, in which positions, their ends 82-82 are disengaged from their respective slots 55-85. The levers are used to turn the plate 83 and the sleeve 56 connected thereto in a clockwise direction, when viewed in Figs. 3 and 8. Movement of the sleeve 55 in this direction positions the links ill-l0, as shown in Fig. 9, and thereby moves the members 65-65 to their innermost positions, as shown in Fig. 9.

A coil of wire, like the coil 5|, which is held together by the steel straps lll3-ill3, is lowered onto the head 76 of the reel 50 by means of a hoist, not shown, to which the grapple hooks led-H34 are attached. After the coil is loaded 6 r on the'head 1 6 of the reel 50, the plate 83 and the sleeve 56 connected thereto, are turned in' a counterclockwise direction when viewed in Figs. 3 and 8 until the ends 82-82 of the levers -84 are positioned over the slots 85-85 provided in the hub 55. The levers 84-84 then are moved inwardly toward the plate 83 and the ends 32-82 of the levers enter the slots 85-85 and lock the plate 83 against movement with respect to the hub 55. This movement of the sleeve 56 moves the members 55-65outw-ardly so that the semi-circular edge portions 61-61 of the members engage the inner surface of the coil 5|.

When the handles 84-84 are actuated so that their ends completely engage their respective slots 85-85, the movement of the sleeve 56 is such that it carries the pins 13 which connect the links Hi-1i! to the sleeve 56 in a counterclockwise direction slightly beyond a position in which the pins 73-13 would be radially aligned with the pins which connect the links to the members 65-55. This position of the pins 13-13 with respect to the pins "ll-H formsa toggle action between the members 65-65 and the links 76-15 in which the force acting on the members due to their engagement with the coil tends to urge the pins 13-73 in a clockwise direction and thereby prevents rotation of the sleeve in a counterclockwise direction. I

After the plate 83 has been actuated to secure the coil 5| tightly on the members 65-65, the head 87 is positioned on the end of the reel 50 and the handwheel is turned to thread the wheel on the end of the shaft I5. As the handwheel is threaded on the end of the shaft, it moves the head 81 toward the head 15 whereby the coil 5| positioned on the reel is compressed between the heads 16 and 81. After the head 8'! is secured on the reel 50 in this manner, the straps IDS-I63 are cut and removed from the coil 5| in order that the wire 52 may be withdrawn from the coil 5|.

When the reel 50 i positioned vertically, the electromagnetic brakes 46-46 are energizedbecause they are deenergized only when the wire 52 is being withdrawn from the coil under a predetermined tension. As a result, the brakes 46-46 are drawn magnetically to the drum 34 and prevent the reel 50 from turning when the spanner plate 63 and the handwheel 95 are turned in the above-described manner to secure a coil on the reel. The motor 30 then is energized to turn the reel in a clockwise direction until the pin 96 actuates the limit switch I00 and deenergizes the motor. The reel 56 now is positioned horizontally and supports the coil in a position in which the wire 52 may be withdrawn from the coil 5|.

Since the coil 5| is engaged by the members 65-65, the withdrawal of the wire 52 from the coil rotate the shaft I5 in the bearings l6 and I8 through the cage-like structure including the

hubs

53 and 55 and the bars 60-60. The springs 40-45 urge the brake shoes 35-35 against the drum with sufficient force to create a predetermined tension in the wire 52 as it is withdrawn from the coil 5!. The head 81 is positioned on the reel 50 by the handwheel 95 so as to pack the convolutions of the inner layers of the coil 5| tightly together and prevent the wire 52 from forcing in-between the adjacent convolutions of the inner layers of the coil and becoming entangled therewith.

The electromagnetic brakes 46-46 are rendered inoperative during the period thatthe wire is withdrawn from the coil under a predetermined tension, but if the. apparatus withdrawing the wire from the coil should stop suddenly, or if the wire should break as it is with drawn from the coil, the electromagnetic brakes 46-46 are energized immediately to stop the rotation of the reel 50 and thereby prevent excessive unwinding of the wire from the coil 51.

While the above-described apparatus is particularly well adapted for handling a coreless coil of wire so that the wire is withdrawn therefrom, it may be modified readily to handle coils of various types of filamentary articles without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

'1. An apparatus for handling coils of strand material, which comprises a tubular member having a circular flange secured on one end thereof, means for supporting the member rotatably about its longitudinal axis, said member having a plurality of slots equally spaced about the periphery thereof and designed to fit loosely within the central opening 01 a coil of strand material, a coil gripping member positioned slidably in each of the slots, a sleeve positioned within the rotatable member and rotatable about the longitudinal axis thereof, a plurality of links connecting the coil gripping members to the sleeve, means for turning the sleeve in one direction to cause the links to move the coil gripping members to their innermost positions within the slots so that a coil may be positioned on the rotatable member and for turning the sleeve in the opposite direction to cause the links to move the coil gripping members to their outermost positions with sufficient force to secure the member for rotation with the coil, a flange positioned slidably on the opposite end of the rotatable member, and mean attachable to the rotatable member for moving the last-mentioned flange toward the flange secured on the opposite end of the rotatable member and thereby clamp the coil tightly between the flanges so as to hold the convolutions of the coil together, said coil being clamped between the flanges with suiflcient force to prevent the strand material in the outer convolutions of the coil from forcing in-between the convolutions of the inner layers of the material when the material is withdrawn from the coil.

2. An apparatus for handling coils of strand material, which comprises a shaf t, means for supporting the shaft rotatably, a substantially tubular member having a circular flange on one end thereof secured on one end of the shaft, said tubular member having a plurality of coil gripping members mounted slidably about the periphery of the tubular members so as to be movable radially with respect to the axis of rotation of the shaft, said tubular member being designed to fit loosely within the central opening of a coil of strand material, mean mounted on the shaft for moving the coil gripping members from positions in which they are disengaged from the inner surface of the coil to positions in which they engage the inner surface of the coil with sufficient force to secure the rotatable member for rotation with the coil when the strand material is withdrawn from the coil, a circular flange positioned slidably on the open end of the rotatable member, and means removably attachable to the end of the shaft for urging the movable flange toward the stationary flange and clamp the convoltuion of the coil together to prevent the outer convoltuions of the strand maerial from forcing in-between the convolutions of the inner layers of the strand material as the strand material is withdrawn from the coil.

3. An apparatus for handling coils of strand material, which comprises a tubular member having a circular flange secured on one end thereof, means for supporting the member rotatable about its longitudinal axis, said rotatable member having a plurality of slots equally spaced about the periphery thereof and designed to fit loosely within the central opening of a coil of strand material, a coil gripping member positioned slidably in each of the slots, a sleeve positioned within the rotatable member and rotatable about the longitudinal axis thereof, a plurality of links connecting the coil gripping members to the sleeve, means for turning the sleeve in one direction to cause .the links to move the coil gripping members to their innermost positions within the slots so that a coil may be positioned on the rotatable member and for turning the sleeve in the opposite direction to cause the links to move the coil gripping members to their outermost positions with sulficient force to secure the coil for rotation with the rotatable member, means for locking the sleeve against movement when the coil gripping members engage the inner surface of the coil, a flange positioned slidably on the opposite end of the rotatable member, and means attachable to the rotatable member for moving the last-mentioned flange toward the flange secured on the opposite end of the rotatable member and thereby clamp the coil tightly between the flanges so as to hold the convolutions of the coil together, said coil being clamped between the flanges with sufficient force to prevent the strand material in the outer convolutions of the coil from forcing in-between the convolutions of the inner layers of the material when the material is withdrawn from the C01 d. An apparatus for handling coils of strand material, which comprises a shaft, means for supporting the shaft rotatably, a substantially tubular member having a circular flange on one end thereof secured on one end of the shaft, said tubular member having a plurality of coil gripping members mounted slidably about the periphery of the tubular members so as to be movable radially with respect to the axis of rotation of the shaft, said tubular member being designed to flt loosely within the central opening of a coil of strand material, means mounted on the shaft for moving the coil gripping members to positions in which they are disengaged from the inner surface of the coil to positions in which they engage the inner surface of the coil with sufficient force to secure the rotatable member for rotation with the coil'when the strand material is withdrawn from the coil, a circular flange positioned slidably on the open end of the rotatable member, and means attachable to the end of the shaft for urging the movable flange to the stationary flange and thereby clamp the convolutions of the coil together, said flange having their opposed surfaces inclined toward each other so that they clamp the inner convolutions of the coil tightly together to prevent the outer convolutions of the strand material from forcing in-between the convolutions of the inner layers of the strand material.

5. An apparatus for handling coils of strand material in which the convolutions of the coils are held together by a plurality of steel straps, which comprises a housing, a shaft having a portion thereof journalled rotatably on the housing,

a substantially tubular member secured on the end of the shaft extending beyond the housing and designed to fit loosely within the central opening of such a coil, a circular flange secured on the end of a tubular member adjacent to the housing, said tubular member having a plurality of slots equally spaced about the periphery thereof, a plurality of coil gripping members mounted slidably in the slots, one for each slot, means mounted rotatably on the shaft for moving the coil gripping members from positions from which they are disengaged from the inner surface of the coil to positions in which they engage the inner surface of the coil with sufficient force to secure the shaft for rotation with the coil when the strand material is withdrawn from the coil, a flange designed to be positioned slidably on the opposite end of the rotatable member after a coil has been positioned thereon, and means removably attachable to the end of the shaft for urging the movable flange toward the stationary flange and press the convolutions of the coil together with sufficient force to prevent the outer convolutions of the strand material from forcing inbetween the inner convolutions of the coil when the strand material is withdrawn from the coil.

6. An apparatus for handling coils of strand material in which the coils are held together by a plurality of steel straps, which comprises a housing, a shaft having one end thereof journalled in the housing, means for supporting the housing pivotally transversely with respect to the longitudinal axis of the shaft, means for turning the housing about its pivot point from a position in which the longitudinal axis of the shaft is horizontal to one in which the longitudinal axis of the shaft is positioned vertically, a substantially tubular member secured on the end of the shaft extending beyond the housin and designed to fit loosely within the central opening of such a coil, a circular flange secured on the end of a tubular member adjacent to the housing, said tubular member having a plurality of slots equally spaced about the periphery thereof, a plurality of coil gripping members mounted slidably in the slots, one for each slot, means mounted rotatably on the shaft for moving the coil gripping members from positions from which they are disengaged from the inner surface of the coil to positions in which they engage the inner surface of the coil with suflicient force to secure the shaft for rotation with the coil when the strand material is withdrawn from the coil, a flange designed to be positioned slidably on the opposite end of the rotatable member after a coil has been positioned thereon,

and means removably attachable to the end of the shaft for urging the movable flange toward the stationary flange and pressing the convolutions of the coil together with suflicient force to prevent the outer convolutions of the strand material from forcing in-between the inner convolutions of the coil when the strand material is withdrawn from the coil.

7. An apparatus for handling coils of strand material, which comprises a rotatable drum-like member designed to fit loosely into the central opening of such a coil, said member having a plurality of slots spaced about the periphery thereof, a coil-engaging abutment mounted slidably in each of the slots, a sleeve positioned within the drum-like member and rotatable about the longitudinal axis thereof, a plurality of links connecting the coil-engaging abutments to the sleeve, and means for selectively turning the sleeve in one direction to cause the links to move the coil-engaging abutments to their innermost positions within the slots wherein they do not protrude beyond the periphery of the drum-like member and permit a coil to be positioned on said member and for turning the sleeve in the opposite direction to cause the links to move the abutments radially outward to a position wherein they protrude beyond the periphery of the drum-like member and engage the coil with sufiicient force to secure it for rotation with said member, a flange secured to one end of the rotatable member, and a second flange positioned slidably and adjustably on the opposite end of the rotatable member for forcing the convolutions of the coil together to prevent the outer convolutions of the coil from forcing in-between the inner convolutions of the coil when the strand material is withdrawn from the coil.

VINCENT A. RAYBURN.

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

UNITED STATES PATENTS