US2631526A - Pipe bundling machine - Google Patents

Description

March 17, 1953 J. w. MATHEY 2,631,526

PIPE BUNDLING IlVlACi-IINI'EI Mul-S. 06W

March 17, 1953 .1. w. MATHEY PIPE BUNDLING MACHINE l1 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 28, 1948 INVENToR. fauyalz ailwy /TTORNEY March 17, 1953 J. w. MATHEY PIPE BUNDLING MACHINE 1l Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Dec. 28, 1948 INVENTOR. l.f Mdey Km 5. GMM

/1 TTOIPNE Y J. W. MATH EY PIPE BUNDLING MACHINE March 17, 1953 Filed Dec. 28, 1948 y l1 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR.

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PIPE BUNDLING MACHINE l1 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Dec. 28, 1948 .ulmlllll n W Y www haw

ATTORNEY March 17, 1953 J. w. MATHEY 2,631,526

PIPE BUNDLING MACHINE Filed Deoyzs, 1948 11 AsmeeJs-sheet e IN V EN TOR.

HTTGRNEY J. W. MATHEY PIPE BUNDLING MACHINE March 17, 1953 ll Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed Deo. 28, 1948 mw W March 17, 1953 .1. w. MATHEY PIPE BUNDLING MACHINE il Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed Dec. 28, 1948 March 17, 1953 J. w. MATHEY PIPE BUNDLING MACHINE l1 Sheets-Sheet 9 Filed Deo. 28, 1948 March 17, 1953 lJ. W. MATHEY PIPE BUNDLING MACHINE Filed Dec. 28, 1948 HTTORNEY March 17, 1953 J. w. MATHEY PIPE BUNDLNG MACHINE 11 Sheets-Sheet l1 Filed DEO. 28, 1948 www.

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ma SMM HTTR/VEY Patented Mar. 17, 1953 PIPE BUNDLENG MACIHNE Joseph W. Mathey, Youngstown, Qliio, assigner to Republic Steel Corporation, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation o New Jersey Application December 28, 1948, Serial No. 67,684

(Cl. U-4) 38 Claims. 1

This invention relates to apparatus for bundling elongated articles with wire or the like, and more particularly to a machine for wrapping and fastening wire around a plurality of lengths of pipe at a number of spaced localities, to provide a securely tied bundle for shipment, storage or other handling.

Although some apparatus for this purpose has been proposed heretofore, it has remained a common practice in plants that manufacture pipe, to bundle the product by hand, e. g. by rst assembling a number of lengths side-by-side and then manually wrapping and tying the assembly with wire at several places along it. Especially for the smaller sizes of pipe, from less than one inch up to three inches or so outside diameter, the bundling operation is a practical necessity not only to facilitate loading, unloading and the like, but also to avoid damage by bending, when the pipe is in transit; yet the manual wrapping and tying steps are slow, inefficient, and apt to be nonuniform in result.

Accordingly an important object of the invention is to provide new and improved apparatus for bundling an assembly of pipe lengths or similar articles with wire, and especially to effectuate-such operations in a wholly automatic and ,vet very secure manner. Further objects are to provide more reliable mechanism, positive in action, for wrapping wire about a bundle of pipe, 'and to provide an improved device which grips the wire and positively draws it around the bundle. A more specic object is the provision of structure whereby the end of a wire is engaged and carried around the group of pipe lengths and fastened to a standing portion of the wire, all while the relative positions of the pipe and wire are adjusted to avoid premature binding action by the wire and to assure a tight wrapping all around.

Additional objects are to provide an automatic machine for bundling pipe, having improved and more durable means for passing wire around the ipipe, having novel and peculiarly effective struclture for twisting the ends of each wire wrapping `together to fasten the same, having efficient and positive-acting structure for separating the `wrapped and fastened wire from the supply Wire, and having new and advantageous means and combinations `for actuation and automatic control of the several operating instrumentalities.

A further object is to provide a pipe-bundling machine of the character described, including means adjustable to accommodate pipe of a variety of lengths, and also preferably including means for wrapping and fastening wire around the bundle at any of various selectable localities along the length of pipe. A related object is the provision of apparatus of the nature stated involving a plurality of wrapping devices mounted and related for wrapping the bundle with wire at a corresponding plurality of places along its length, such apparatus further including eicient means for actuating and controlling the wrapping devices in appropriate synchronism.

A particularly important object is to provide a novel pipe-bundling apparatus, wherein the pipe is advantageously introduced lengthwise and is similarly removed, such apparatus preferably including advantageous and reliable structure for so advancing an assembly of pipe into wrapping position, for arresting the pipe and for similarly advancing the bundle lengthwise from the machine upon completion of the wrapping operation.

To these and other ends a specific embodiment of the apparatus is described below and shown in the accompanying drawings, by way of example, such description and drawings being believed to disclose, in an illustrative manner, the novel features, combinations and principles of the invention.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a pipe-bundling machine representing one advantageous embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the machine of Fig. 1, the illustrations of Figs. l and 2 being abbreviated for clarity as indicated by the broken lines;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical section on line 3-3 of Fig. 2, showing one of the wrapping mechanisms in elevation at the pipe-entering side, certain parts being broken away for clarity;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged vertical section on line fl-il of Fig. 2, showing the same wrapping mechanism in elevation at the forward or pipe-leaving side, certain parts being broken away for clarity;

Fig. 5 is a detail section, further enlarged, on line 5 5 of Fig. 4;

Fig.r 6 is a further enlarged section on line 6-5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 7 is a still further enlarged, detail section on line ll of Fig. 6;

Fig. 7A is a greatly enlarged perspective view showing a wire-guiding bar of Fig. 7, and an associated part, in disassembled relation;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary detail View, in elevation, of a stop device and other parts at the pipe-entering side of the mechanism of Fig. 3;

Fig. 9 is a section on line 9 9 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary, enlarged, horizontal section, abbreviated in length, showing certain structure at the lower part of the mechanism at Fig. 3, taken generally on line IEB-I8 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 11 is a vertical section on line lI-Ii of Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary, detail elevation, partly in section, showing certain wire gripping and other parts at the forward side of the mechanism of Fig. 4;

Fig. 13 is an enlarged section on line i3-3 of Fig. 12;

Fig. 13-A is a fragmentary section on line {3A-i314 of Fig. 13;

Fig. 14 is an enlarged section on line ifi-I4 of Fig. 12;

Fig. 15 is a fragmentary plan view, somewhat enlarged, of certain wire-engaging structure shown in Fig. 7, some parts being broken away for clarity and this figure being essentially a section on line IE5- l5 of Fig. 16 hereinbelow described;

Fig. 16 is essentially a side elevation of the structure shown in Fig. 15;

Fig. 17 is essentially an end elevation of the structure of Figs. 15 and 16;

Fig. 18 is a detail elevational View, enlarged, and partly in vertical section, of certain wire guiding parts showny in Fig. 4;

Fig. 19 is a section on line lil-I9 of Fig. 18;

Fig. 20 is a detail section on line 2li- 26, enlarged, of Fig. 4;

Figs. 21, 22, 23, 24 and 25 are simplified, diagrammatic views generally corresponding to Fig. 4 and respectively showing successive positions of certain parts at corresponding stages of operation of the wrapping mechanism;

Fig. 26 is a simplified, diagrammatic, perspective View of certain operating parts of the machine; and

Fig. 27 is a timing diagram illustrating the timing relationship of various control and operating instrumentalities.

The apparatus illustrated in the drawings is designed to receive a group of lengths of pipe, assembled in a bundle-like, side-by-side relation, and to wrap and fasten wire around the assembly at a plurality of spaced localities along it. The

assembly of pipe is fed endwise into the machine, where it is arrested for the wrapping operation. When the bundling, which takes place simultaneously at all of the selected localities, is completed, the bundle of pipe is then advanced endwise from the machine, i. e. along the same line y of travel parallel to the axes of the pipes.

Referring first to Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4, the complete machine comprises an elongated supporting structure or bed plate generally designated 343 and including a laterally spaced pair of supporting rails or beams 3l, 32 which extend, in

vparallel relation, for the entire length of the mavshafts 43 has a projecting, squared end 46 which may be engaged by an appropriate tool. to turn the shaft. Since each of the wrapping mechanisms 40, 40a 40h is free to slide, against friction, on the supporting rails 3l, 32, the position of each mechanism in the lengthwise direction of the machine can be adjusted within a wide range by manually turning the corresponding pinion 45 at the shaft end 46. In consequence the apparatus may be adjusted to accommodate pipes of various lengths, i. e. to handle assemblies of long lengths, or of intermediate, or of short lengths, and the specic localities at which wrappings of wire are to be placed for a given value of pipe length may likewise be chosen within a relatively considerable range. It may be explained that although the illustrated machine includes three wrapping mechanisms 40, 40a, 4% to provide a fastened turn of wire at each of three corresponding places along the length of pipe, great- Y er or fewer numbers of these mechanisms may be employed, the broken away portion of Figs. l and 2 further indicating that the machine may be conveniently longer than actually shown, and may for instance include an additional wrapping mechanism, identical with those illustrated, intermediate the devices 4t and 40h.

For support of an assembly of pipe entering or leaving the machine, a plurality of peripherally grooved or concave idler rollers 48, 49 are provided, carried on the base structure 30 and conveniently disposed intermediate successive wrapping units. Each idler roller is journaled for free rotation about a horizontal axis. Each of the wrapping mechanisms 40, 40a and 4Gb is provided with a similar grooved or concave roller 59 mounted on a shaft 5l (Fig. 3) which is journaled for rotation on a horizontal axis, by suitable bearings 52, 53. The shaft 5I extends to an electric motor drive unit generally designated 55 which may be ofV any suitable construction and includev appropriate reducing gears, not shown. in detail, to turn the roller 50 at a desired speed. The rollers 48 and 49 and the several rollers 5t are all aligned in a direction lengthwise of the machine so that their uppermost grooved surfaces lie in a single straight line and conjointly provide a supported pathway of movable members, for pipe traversing the apparatus. That is to say a group or assembly of pipes to be bundled may be fed, for instance, onto the rollers 50, 49 and so on from the right-hand end of the machine as seen in Fig. 1, the assembly being then advanced along and by the successive rollers 56 until it lies wholly Within the machine or is otherwise centered therein in the desired position for wrapping operation. Upon the completion of Wrapping operation the bundle of pipe is then similarly advanced by and upon the driven and idler rollers, so as to travel from the machine in an endwise direction, leaving it at the left-hand end of Fig. 1. It will be understood that appropriate feeding and receiving tables or the iike (not shown) may be disposed adjacent the right and left-hand ends of the machine as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, so that by manual or mechanical means successive groups of pipe may be assembled and inserted lengthwise into the machine, and so that the nished bundles ejected in a similar fashion may be removed for shipment, storage or other disposition. It will be understood that the idler rollers 48, 49, if desired, may be so mounted on the rails 3|, 32 as to be slidable lengthwise of the machine, for corresponding adjustment of the position of each to afford the most advantageous pipe-supporting arrangement for any. selected length of pipe.

Vparts being also shown in Fig. 26.

For actuation of the wrapping instrumentalities in the several mechanisms 40, 40a and 40D, a main drive shaft 58 extends substantially the entire length of the machine, through each of the wrapping mechanisms. Directly associated with and mounted on the shaft 5S, a magnetic clutch Bil is provided, having a driving sprocket 62 concentric with but rotatable relative to the shaft 58. The magnetic clutch 50 is of a suitable, known type having one element keyed to the shaft 58 and its coacting element connected to the sprocket 62, the details of the clutch structure being omitted for clarity of illustration. A main source of driving power, conveniently comprising an electric motor drive unit 54 is mounted alongside of the supporting structure 30, the drive unit being of a suitable, known type, including appropriate reduction gearing (not shown in detail) to afford drive of the shaft 58 at a desired speed, such drive being effectuated by a sprocket t5 turned by the motor unit 56. and. a chain 66 engaging `and coupling the sprockets 62 and 55.

For certain control and timing purposes explained in more detail hereinbelow, the main ya second sprocket 15, coupled by the chain to the sprocket 60 and carried on a countershaft 1|, a gear 'l2 on the countershaft and a gear E3 meshing therewith, drives a timing drum shaft 15 upon which the gear 73 is carried, these It will be seen that when the magnetic clutch 60 is engaged, the motor unit 64, which may turn continuously if desired, drives the shaft 58 and instrumentalities operated thereby, including the shaft l5 just mentioned.

Since each of the Wrapping mechanisms such as 40, 40a and 40h is conveniently identical with the others, description of a selected one of such mechanisms, e. g, the device 40, will be understood to be sufficient. Referring therefore more particularly to Figs. 3 and 4, and also other figures such as Figs. 6 and l0 for certain details, the mechanism di! includes an upright supporting plate 80 carried on a horizontal plate `ill which provides the base for the mechanism resting on the rails 3|, 32 as hereinabove described. The upright plate 00 has a large opening 82 of gene erally circular configuration, at its central part and in alignment with the upper surfaces of the driven and idler rolls t8, 49, 50, so that successive assemblies of pipe may pass through the mechanism. Three grooved or concave rollers B4, 85 and 86 are disposed around this opening 82, on the pipe-leaving or forward face of the plate 80, as shown in Fig. ll, the rollers being substantially equally spaced in a circumferential direction around the opening. Each of the rollers is mounted for rotation on a horizontal axis, and they all engage the circular periphery of a large ring member 88. It will be noted that the rollers have a truncated V-shaped groove and the periphery of the ring 58 has corresponding beveled faces 80, 50, whereby the three rollers conjointly support the ring so that the latter may turn about a horizontal axis parallel to the axes of pipe and their direction of travel through the machine. The central aperture of the ring 82 corresponds generally to the central aperture 82, likewise for passage of the assembly of pipe therethrough. The central portion of the ring periphery has gear teeth 9| which mesh with corresponding teeth 92 around the bottom of the groove of roller 84, the bottoms of the grooves on the other rollers and 35 being shaped to clear the teeth 9|, as illustrated in the case of the roller 86 in Fig. 10. The roller 84 is attached to an adjacent coaxial sleeve 94 journaled in the adjoining portion of the supporting plate `80, the roller 84 and its sleeve being likewise disposed coaxially with the main drive shaft 58, which traverses both the roller and sleeve. The main drive shaft 58 carries a key 96 which engages a corresponding keyway or groove on the inside of the opening of the roller, whereby rotation of the shaft 58 correspondingly effects rotation of the roller. It will be appreciated that the key QE on the main shaft may extend a considerable distance along the latter in the vicinity of each of the driving mechanisms 40, 40a and 10b and that the roller 40 is free to slide lengthwise along the shaft (the associated sleeve 94 appropriately clearing the shaft and key) so that the roller 84 will be coupled to the shaft at the various positions of adjustment of the corresponding wrapping mechanism lengthwise of the machine. It will also now be seen that as the shaft 58 turns, the ring 88 is rotated in its support by the three rollers 84, 85 and 86, by virtue of th" geared coupling through the roller 84.

The uppermost roller 85, is mounted, for free rotation, by means of a pin or stub shaft 98 suit ably journaled in the plate 8|), and the lower roller 35 is similarly mounted for free rotation, on a pin 59. Although a simple bearing may be employed for the pin 93 if desired, the illustrated device includes spring tension means for mounting this lowerY roller 85, in order to take up wear which may develop during the life of the apparatus and also to compensate for possible errors in machining of the described instrumentalities. Thus the shaft 99 is eccentrically disposed in a sleeve |00 which is journaled in the plate 80 and which carries at its opposite end an arm iBI. The outer or lower end of the arm |0| is connected to one end of a compression spring |03 which is disposed around a threaded rod |04, the other end of the spring |03 being secured to the rod by a nut |05. The rod is hxedly mounted at |05 to appropriate supporting structure |01 carried by the base plate 8|. The spring |03 being under compression, the arrangement of the arm and eccentrically apertured sleeve lss resiliently forces the roller 8s against the tapered edges 89, of the ring and thus keeps the ring firmly seated in the three rollers.

Referring now also to Figs, l2 and 13, the ring 53 carries a wire gripper generally designated l5 which is adapted to engage the end of a wire (received from a supply as described hereinbelow) so that upon rotation of the ring the end of the wire is carried around an assembly of pipe H2 which may ce disposed in the machine. The wire gripper comprises a pair of jaw bodies H3, Uil shaped to constitute complementary halves of a frusto-conical shape as will be apparent from the illustration of the body I i3 in Fig. 13. The bodies l B3, l Ul thus have adjacent plane faces as shown at llSc in i3 and their outer frusto-conical surface is received in a roller bearing l l5 mounted in the ring 5S. The rear part of each body is a projecting portion ,i i0 having a peripheral configuration constituting a half of a spherical Zone, the curved surface provided by the complementary halves cf the two bodies being received in a further roller bearing i l'l also carried by the ring t8, coaxially with the rst bearing H5. It will be seen that upon displacement of the jaw bodies H3, H4 to the left as seen in Fig. 13 by means described hereinbelow, the jaw bodies may separate and may also rock slightly in a vertical or other transverse direction, by virtue of the curved surface of the portions H6. A hardened steel block or insert i9 is mounted in a recessed region between bodies H3, H4 (Figs. 13 and 13A), being secured to one of them, e. g. body i3, by a single screw |20. The insert I9 serves as a shear blade in cooperation with a movable shea-r blade hereinbelow described, for severing the wires adjacent the gripper at the desired time. More specifically, the shearing surface or knife is constituted by whichever of the forward portions of the plane edge surfaces HSa, H91) of the insert is lowermost, depending on the gripper position, which reverses on each cycle of operation. When these forward surfaces are worn, the insert can be loosened and turned to substitute the edge portion originally at the rear. The single screw fastening i2@ facilitates such operation and also ultimate replacement of the insert.

The jaw bodies I I3, l i4 also carry recessed projecting portions 2|, |22, the facing recesses of the latter being arranged to support cooperating jaw elements |23, |242. These gripper jaws |23, 2li are respectively supported or retained, with a loose t, on screws or studs |25, |28, so that each of them may swing laterally, i. e. about the axes of the studs |25, |26. The recesses of the jaw body portions |2|, |22 are shaped only slightly larger than the width of the jaws 23, |24, e. g. as shown in Figs. 12 and 13, so that this permissible swinging motion of the jaws is about 3 in each` direction from the central position shown. A pair of coil springs |29, |29 are disposed under compression between the jaw bodies i3, i I4, the springs E29 being advantageously seated in recesses in the opposing faces of one body He and of the insert I I9 that is secured to the other body H3.

To hold the jaw bodies H3, H4 together, a stud I3@ is provided, having an enlarged head seated in complementary recesses of the adj acent faces of the bodies. The stud iti` projects rearwardly and is urged in an outward direction by a coil spring |32 acting under compression against a nut |33 on a threaded portion of the stud i3d. So long as no pressure is exerted on the outer end of the stud |39, the spring 532 keeps the jaw bodies closed and likewise the jaws E23, To release the gripper at desired times, a lever i 35 (Fig. 7) is pivoted to a suitable arm on a housing structure |36 which is carried at the upper part of the plate 80 and which serves other purposes as hereinbelow described. The lever |35 is also linked, at a remote point, to the retractable core |38 of a solenoid |39. the lever being normally held by a spring |50 under tension, so that the lower end Mil of the lever exerts no pressure on the outer end of the stud |39. When the solenoid |39 is electrically energized the core 533 is retracted, i. e. to the right as seen in Fig. 7, rocking the lever about its pivot and pushing the stud 30 to the left (Figs. '7 and 13) against the spring' |32. As a result the jaw bodies H3 and H4 are forced somewhat outwardly of the bearings H5, whereby the springs |29, |29 separate the bodies and likewise the jaws |23, |243.

As stated, the gripper jaws |23, |24, when closed, engage an end portion of the wire between them, to pull the wire around the pipe assembly while the ring 83 turns. Such operation imparts tension to the wire, which in vturn causes the jaws to swing about the studs |25, |26, within the limited freedom for such motion explained above. As a result, the ribbed and grooved wireengaging faces of the jaws are forced more tightly together, against the wire and to the extent that the conforming ribs or teeth, and grooves, at one side of the mating jaw faces, may actually crimp the wire. This action is enhanced by a camming or wedging effect of the ends of the recesses of the bodies I I3, I4 in which the jaws t, i. e. in that the ends of the jaws opposite their notched faces are square or fiat so that any angular movement of the jaws forces them together, the wedging effect being permitted by the loose nt of the studs |25, |26. In consequence, the tension on the wire as the jaws move around with the ring causes the jaws to rock and to bite the wire with a tighter grip.

In the manner described, the gripper jaws are adapted to engage and hold the end of a Wire fed from a reel or other suitable continuous source thereof (not shown) through a tensioning device shown in Figs. 4, 18 and 19. The tensioning device comprises a pair of cooperating rollers |44, |45 each having its periphery grooved as shown in Fig. 19, with a curved cross-section but to a depth less than the radius of the wire expected to be used. The roller |45 is journalled for free rotation on one arm of a bell crank lever |4l pivoted to a portion of the supporting structure and having its other arm biased by a spring |48 under tension so that the roller |45 is urged toward the roller |44 and so that the Wire |50 passing between the rollers from a guiding member |51 will engage both rollers in frictional, rolling contact as illustrated in Figs. 18 and 19. The roller |44is also mounted for rotation, on the supporting structure constituted by the plate 8B, but includes a one way clutch indicated at |52 and connected between the roller and supporting structure so as to prevent rotation of the rollers except in the direction in which the wire is fed. A frictional drag is also exerted on the larger roller |413 by means of a conical spring |54 disposed between the face of the roller and the head |55 of stud |56 upon which the inner element of the one way clutch |52 is secured. The head |55 may be adjusted along the stud, to adjust correspondingly the pressure on the roller. By virtue of these instrumentalities, wire may be drawn between the rollers, but will not move backward relative to them when the tension upon it is released; nor will the rollers tend to spin and advance the wire at a faster rate than that at which it is actually being withdrawn. The wire tensioning device is conveniently disposed, as shown, at an outer and upper portion of the plate 80, outside of the ring 88 and adjacent to the starting or rest position of the gripper lill, e. g. the position occupied by the latter in Figs. '7, 12 and 21.

As will be apparent by inspection of Figs. 21 to 25 the rotation of the ring for one complete turn carries the gripper He completely around the circle, thus drawing the end of the wire |59 around the assembly of pipe to be bundled. During the time that the wire is being carried around the pipe and during certain further operations, the pipe assembly is preferably separated from the driven and idler rollers 56, 48 and 49. A primary means to that end comprises a vertically slidable plate |60 (Fig. e) having a deep V-shaped recess IBI at its upper end and arranged to reciprocate vertically relative to a transverse supporting bar |63. The supporting bar 163 also carries an air cylinder |54 having its piston rod |65 connected to the plate 16E! so that when air or other fluid under pressure is admitted to the cylinder, the plate is moved upwardly to a predetermined elevation relative to the bar |63. As will be seen in Fig. 4 kthese parts are so disposed that in the retracted position of the air cylinder piston, the plate 16d has its upper V-shaped edge completely below any pipes that may be disposed on the rollers 48-513. As the plate moves upward it engages the assembly of pipe and lifts the same clear of the rollers, it being understood that the lifting plates |60 of the several wrapping mechanisms operate in substantial unison whereby the pipe assembly is li-fted throughout its length at the same time. Although other congurations of the recess -in the plate- 16D may be employed, the illustrated, curved-bottom V-shape, comprising an angle of about 60 (each straight portion of the V making an angle of 30 with the vertical), has been found particularly suitable for bundling pipe, especially groups of from 3 to or 15 pieces, in that this conguration causes the group of pipes to assume a relationship of optimum compactness in the wrapping operation.

At the end of the travel of the gripper around the pipe, the end portionof the wire is twisted to the remote -part ofthe latter, which may be conveniently designated the standing part or portion of the wire. To-ftwist-these portions of wire together, there is provided a twisting wheel or gear generally designated |10 and disposed to turn about an axis which lies o n a line extending betweenthe pipe assembly at the center oi' the ring opening and the starting or rest position ofthe gripper |10'- (see Fig. 21'). This twisting gear (Figs. 6, 7 and lf2) has a ilat underface 11| but at its other side has a large annular recess providing a central hub portion |`|2 and anouter 'flange -portion- 111-37, the latter being externally toothed for drive of the element. The twistinggear is ,supported for rotation by structures separated, in the direction of pipe travel andl along a plane substantially coinciding with that infwhichlthe vvire- |513 moves as it is draw-n aroundV thepipe vby the gripper. Ony the pipe enteringsidefof the mechanism, such supportingV structure comprises the-'housing |36 having a suitable semicircular flange |i4 entering the annular recess of the twisting gear, and a lower plate structure |16-` whichA projects over the bottom face 11| ofthe twisting gear, the

housing structureA |-3--l1-l being mounted on theplate 8u, chiey in a position on -the pipe entering side but with a portion projecting through thev opening of -t-hering 88 to provide the supporting structure'l'fhi and thesupporting part of the plate |16 as just described. At the other side of thetwisting gear -a-simiflarlynanged supporting element |18-f-is providedV -for engagement with the annularv recess of the gear, the element P18-'being secured in al supplemental housing 11'19carriedon theforw-ard face oi the plate 80, as shown in Fig. 6.

The twisting gearr |;'|.0 has afradialaslot 18| extending fromonefedge. conveniently just past the axis of the element, and the upper hal-f of' the hub ,beyond the-axisisalso-conveniently slotted as shown in Fig. '7 to constitute @continuation of theslot |8l. The entering edges .of the slot 18| .are appropriately .beveled or curved .so as to facilitate sidewi'se entry oi`1;h=:wirev l't'illinto such 10 slot. As will be apparent from inspection of Figs. 21 to 25,-v inclusive, `the relation'of vthe twisting gear to the wire gripper and the ring is such that with the slot 18| disposed in the plane of the ring face and opening in one'direction, wire may be moved into the twisting gear from such direction; and when the twisting gear is turned around so that the slot lies in the saine plane but facing in the opposite direction, wire may alsob'e received in ther slot, but from the latter direction. It will also be noted that the supporting and bearing structure for the twisting gear, as described above, is completely separated along this plane whereby wire nmay vmove freely into the twisting gear from either direction (see especially7 Fig. 6).

For drive of the twisting wheel a train of gears comprising a pinion |84 meshing with the twisting gear and also with a larger gear |85 are provided. The shaft of they gear |85 carries a smaller gear i3d which meshes with a rack |38 mounted in sui-table guides E39', 19t so that yit-m-ay slide past the gear 66 to rotatethe saine. The gear train is appropriately housed andjurnalled forrotation by the structure 13e-ITE as shown in Figs. 6 and 7. A- supportingY framework 1&2 extends from one side of the housing|35 and the'V plate Sil, to carry an Vair cylinder |93, having a long piston rod |855 aligned with andeonnected tothe rack |88; The air cylinder |93', as in the-case of other air cylinders herein described, isof double acting type, controllable by admission of fluid underv pressure to one endl or theother todrive the rack 182i in one correspondingv direction or the other as shown in Fig. 6i Although other types of operation, e. g. to Ymake fewer4 or less twists may be employed if desired, the apparatus illustrated is designed and controlled-so that a full strole of the piston rod-v in either' direction rotates the twisting gear precisely LV2 complete turns. i

As will `be further apparent from Figs. 2-1 to 25, the arrangement is such that atthe completion of the circuit of the gripper lill, both the end portion and the standing portiony ofthe Wire 1-50 are disposed in the vslotK of thetw-isting gear, which is thereups'n Preis@ t0 twist the wir@ t0- gether, actually' both belowfand above the gear.

In order to `separatp theresulting bundled'pipefrom rthe supply portion o f the wire, the' pair of wires` irf .the gear are Severed immediately edit#- cent the undertface of the latter, whereby the twist adjacent the ,bundleA remains in place, rhold'- ing the two ,ends of the wrapped wire in fastened relation At the vsame time there remainsK a` short piece ofwre which is twisted to the standing portion just .abovethe twisting gear, and the standing. or supply portion Lofwire is alsosevered',

adjacent the gripper so vthat a freshend of wire is constituted to be `engaged by .the gripper for wrappingoperation. Von a' succeedingy bundle of pipe. -'-1;oeiiectuato thesevering operations, `a box-like' shearing head is provided, .generally des.- ignated "2Std .and arranged to slide transversely through the housing.-v 1-519 as shown -in Figs. A'7,

l5, 1'6 and 117i.A This shearing head Vis pivotally.

connectedv at 219i rtoya' lever 2&2- which has ,a short arm pivoted to a bracket lZfilyprojecting from a supporting portiony 295 of the housing structure H9', and which .has a long arml 2136 pivotally connected tothe-end of the piston rod 268 ofy an air cylnder'iiif, `the latter Vbeing. in turn pivotally mounted at' -21 i' adjacent an upper `edge of the plate'gfii The instrument'alities last described arepa-rticularl'y shown inFig. 6., it being noted from Figs. 3 and 4 that the plane of these elements and likewise ci the twisting gear, and its drive train and rack, lies at an angle of about 45 to the horizontal, i. e. so as to dispose the several parts in the intended relation to the gripper when the same is in its starting or rest position.

The shearing head 200 carries upper and lower shearing blades 214 and 215, mounted in the head and disposed to project toward the face of the ring 88 and specically toward a line eX- tending from the rest position of the gripper, through the axis of the twisting gear to the bundle of pipe that is subjected to the wrapping operation. The lower blade or knife 215 is disposed to slide across the underface of the twisting gear, -while the upper blade 2|4 is disposed to slide to and beneath the underface of the hardened gripper jaw insert H9 as described above and as also shown in Figs. 13 and 16. 1t will now be seen that upon actuation of the air cylinder 212 to retract the rod 208, and thus move the lever 2112-266 counter-clockwise about its end pivot (as seen in Fig. 6), the shearing head and its blades 2 i4, 2 l5 are moved inwardly across the path of the wire, severing the wire or wires at the described localities.

In order to align or hold the wire or wires intermediate the gripper and twisting gear, and also to facilitate entry of successive portions of wire into the gripper, further mechanism is preierably included, as shown particularly in Figs. 7, 15, 16 and 17. A finger 222 is slidably mounted within the box-like structure 260 that constitutes the shearing head, the nger 220 being adapted to project just into the path of wire intermediate the twisting gear and the rest position of the gripper. Bearing in mind that the direction of rotation of the ring 33 is such (i. e. counter-clockwise as seen in Fig. 4) as to carry the gripper rst along a path where it moves in a direction which is upward in the view of Fig. 15, the iinger 22|) has a yflat side 22| facing in the direction in which the wire is returned to the axis line of the twisting gear, at the completion of ring travel, and a curved or tapered side 222 facing the direction in which the wire first comes to the twisting gear at an intermediate stage of ring travel, i. e. as in Fig. 23. A supplemental wire control bar 224 is disposed alongside the finger 220, and is likewise slidable through the shearing head 209. The outer end of the wire control bar 224 is slightly spaced from the flat 4face 22| of the finger 220, i. e. so as to provide a slot or groove 226 between these elements. The bar 224 also carries a projection 221 which engages a similar, complementary projection 228 on the finger 222, so that in the position of Fig. the projection 221 from the bar 224 prevents further outward movement of the finger 229 which might otherwise occur under the force of a compression spring 230 that backs up the nger. The sliding bar 224 is coupled to an operating bar 232 in turn pivotally connected to the piston rod 234 of an air cylinder 235 (Figs. 6 and 7), whereby upon drive of the piston rod 234 in and out, the wire control bar 224 is reciprocated into and out of the wire path between the gripper and the twisting gear.

Thus with the parts in the position of Fig. 15, the nger 226 simply serves as a stop for the wire in the direction in which the gripper rst ltravels, i. e. so that as the standing portion of the wire is carried toward the twisting gear, as shown in Fig. 23, and is then brought to the center or axis line of the twisting gear by operation as hereinafter described, such wirepore tion slides over the curved surface 222 of the nger and is then held (after having been carried slightly inward by a first half turn of the twisting gear, thus clearing the end of the finger) by the iiat face 22| of Isuch finger. The finger also serves to back up the described wire portion when the end portion of wire is again brought to the `axis line of the twisting gear and is disposed against the standing part of the wire as actually shown in Fig. 1F, the standing portion of the wire being designated iiia and the returned end portion being designated i521). Assuming now that the air cylinder 235 is operated to drive the bar 232 to the right as seen in Figs. 7, 15 and 16, the wire control nger 224 is brought up to the pair of wires, engaging them in the slot between the linger and bar. At'the same time the advance of the projection 221' `permits the finger 22e to move outwardly along with the wire control bar (under the pressure of the spring 235), thereby further backing'up the wires and cooperating in the described positioning action.

As the cycle of wire travel is completedit is desired to locate the standing portion 156e of the wire in the jaws of the gripper; and to cooperate in forcing the wire past the tapered or flaring, entering the edges of the gripper jaws, a

pusher bar 246 is provided having a T-sha'ped configuration as hown at 24! in Figs. 16 and 17 and disposed to reciprocate through appropriate supporting structure 242 above the housing |155.

'At its rear end, the pusher bar is mounted on a the finger 226 and bar 224 serving (as just eX- v piained) to hold the wires during such operation. Since the twist in the wires above the Ytwisting gear effectively shortens them in the distance between the linger 226 and the gear, the control bar and nger are so arranged and mounted that they may rock or tilt downwardly at such time. Thus the control bar 22e is connected to the driving bar 232 by a hinge or pivot 246 having a horizontal axis, and a lower inside face 248 of the box-like structure 200 is sloped downwardly as shown in Figs. '7 and 16, to permit the described motion. The finger 222 is mounted in a movable guide element 249 which is likewise free to move downwardly so that the finger can also be carried down with the control bar 224, as when the twist shortens the wires. As the bar 224 and finger 226 originally move out to engage the wires, the latter are backed up by a plate 2553 (see also Figs. 12 and 13) that @verlies an arcuate region at the lower edge of the gripper assembly. The plate 255 has a curved configuration as seen in Fig. 12, in order to permit the gripper to turn in its bearings, and in the specific device shown the backing plate cooperates in holding the bearings in place. It will be noted that but for the plate 256 the wires ia, l 5B1) might tend to spring away'from the control bar and nger.

As will be apparent from Figs. 23 and 24 the path of the standing part of the wire, during the actual wrapping, brings it into the slot of the twisting gear H0, and as elsewehere explained herein the twisting gear is preliminarily rotated so as to present its slot in the opposite direction at the completion of the cycle of gripper motion, the slot having already received the standing part of the vwire before such preliminary rotation. ln order to insure disposition of the wire well within the slot, and indeed at the center of the twisting wheel, there is provided a centering bar 252 (Figs. 6, '7 and 15), which lies immediately beneath the twisting gear at the side adjacent the ring 88 and which has a wire-guiding edge 252 comprising two concavely curved portions meeting at a central, rounded apex as shown. This centeringbar 252 has projecting means 2540, (see Fig. 7A), which may be pinlike but is conveniently shown as a rib-like structure extending beneath the bar 252 and between its ends 255, 25S, and which travels in a groove 251 that is somewhat longer than the bar 252 and that is formed in the recess 251e (of the member 253, that is part of the plate structure generally designated |15) which admits the bar 252, it being recalled that the plate structure |15 underlies the surface l1! of the twisting gear to cooperate in retaining the latter in place. The bar 252 is thus adapted to slide along the groove 251, i. e. in the direction toward the top or bottom of the view of Fig. 15, or toward and away from the observer in Fig. '7, and is frictionally retained against casual displacement by a spring pressed ball 258. It will now be understood that when the wire enters the slot of the twisting gear, e. g. as in Fig. 23, it may not penetrate to the inner end of the slot. However, when the twisting gear turns it brings the wire against one of the curved sides of the edge 254 of the bar and the latter consequently forces the wire toward the center of the gear. At the same time the centering bar 252 is moved, by the pressure of the wire, to the other end of the groove 251, where it is in place to perform a similar centering function when a wire enters the twisting gear slot from the other direction. As shown, in Fig. 6 the bar 252 is in position to operate for centering the end portion |5517 of the wire when it is brought into the slot as indicated in Fig. 25. In Fig. l the bar 252 is shown, for purposes of illustration, at its opposite position, ready to operate on the next introdution of a, standing part of the wire (Fig. 23); it will be understood that the particular relation of the twisting gear slot and the bar 252 set forth in Fig. 15 only exists at one of the instants during the twist-making rotation of the gear i151, i. e. as the gear completes a first, second or like complete turn prior to its arrest in a position with the slot facing the other way.

rlhe apparatus also preferably includes additional means for insuring complete centering of the wires 5805, ib when the twisting operation is to commence. Y Referring to Figs. 4, 5 and 12 a pusher plate 255, guided by a pin 252 which traverses a slot 253 in the plate, is disposed so that its V-shaped notch 25d faces the axis of the twisting gear at a locality just below the latter and in a direct-ion along the pip-e-leaving face or the ring 8B. More specifically, the pusher plate 25B is arranged at the side of the twisting gear to which the end portion of the wire is returned as shown in Fig. 25, the pusher being adapted to reciprocate toward and away from the twisting gear axis so as to push the wire |591) (see also Fig. 15 which vlikewise shows the plate 250) and with it the wire 5500i, squarely to the center of the twisting gear; The pusher plate 255 is pvotaliy' connected to the piston rod 256 of an air cylinder 251 which is adapted to provide the desired reciprocating drive for the pusher plate at appropriate times, it being understood that the cylinder 2.6i and the guide pin 252 are carried by suitable portions of the fixed, supporting structure of the mechanism. The outer end of the siot has a lateral extension 258, extending toward the ring 38 and slightly backward, whereby the slot structure has a generally L-shaped configuration as illustrated in Fig. 5. It will now be understood that as the end portion of the wire is brought around toward the twisting gear, e. g. from the position of Fig. 24 toward that oi Fig. 25', the wire moves past the side edge 25S of the pusher, ternporarily shifting the pusher sidewise .by virtue of the slot extension 25S. Thus the wire is enabled to clear the pusher and enter the slot iti of the twisting gear, the pusher 265 returning to its position of Fig. 5 as soon as the wire has been carried past it. Thereafter at an appropriate time the air cylinder 251 is operated to expel the piston rod. 255 and cause V-shaped notch 251i to engage the wire i551), and likewise the wire idea, forcing them positively to the very center of the twisting gear at the outset of the twisting operation. lt will also be understood that the centering bar 252, which operates when the gear turns away from the position shown in Fig. 5, serves additionally in the manner described abc-ve to promote or maintain the centered relationship of the wires.

When the gripper returns to its starting or rest position as indicated in Fig. 25, it must pass under the standing part 15011 so that the latter may be in position to enter the gripper jaws when they are released in a manner more fully explained below'. As will be noted from Figs. 6 and 13 the gripper projects a considerable distance from the. face of the ring 88, the jaw body portions l 2l and 22 having sloping faces so that the standing part la of the wire may ride up, so to speak, to the outermost, central part of the gripper when the latter resumes its normal or rest position.v This action tends to spring the wire l55a away' from the face of the gripper'. While the wires pushing rbar 240 is designed to effectuate seating of the wire between the gripper jaws (Fig. 16) further means have been found desirable, above the gripper, to cooperate in urging the wire toward and into the desired position. Accordingly as shown in Figs. 4, 7 and 20 a hold-down bar 21E? is piveted'to a plate 212 that is mounted in a projecting relation upon the supporting plate Si), the arrangement being such that the plate 212 somewhat overhangs the forward face of the ring and the hold-down bar 215 is adapted to swing toward and away from the outer face iof the plate 212. A screw 213 threaded in the bar 2li] provides an adjustable stop which prevents the lbar from closing the space between it and the plate 212 beyond a predetermined distance which is advantageously larger than the diameter of the wire iii. The bar 210 also has a slot 214 transversed by a long pin 215 which carries at its outer end a nut 255. A coil Spring 211 is disposed under compression between the nut 215 and the bar 21B, thereby urging the bar to the position of Fig. 20 with the stop 213 against the plate 212. The described parts are mounted so that the path of the wire from the wire tensioning or supply means Hill, |45 to the normal position of the gripper and likewise to the twisting gear, passes between an end portion of bar 210 and the face 'of the plate 212. By reason Iof the setting of the stop 213 the wire passes loosely between the described elements thus easily re-entering this space as it is drawn around in the manner illustrated in Fig. 23. When the gripper is thereafter brought under this standing part of the wire, forcing the latter outwardly as explained above, such outward motion of the wire rocks the bar 2l@ outward against the spring 2T?. The latter, however, causes the bar to hold the wire down, against its springing out Ibeyond the face of the gripper jaws, and thus keeping the wire close to the jaws and in place for it to be seated between them by the pusher element 246.

The plate 212 serves the further and advantageous function of aligning the gripper assembly as it comes to a stop after a revolution ci the ring tt. In carrying the wire around the pipe, the gripper jaws are apt to become cocked out of perpendicular relation to a radius of the ring. As shown in Figs. 112, 13, 24 and 25; the tapered end edge of the gripper jaw 21, will strike against and slide along the lower, straight edge of the plate 2l? so that on the iinal travel of the returning gripper, the edge yof the plate will cause the gripper to turn and thus come to rest with its upper edge squarely abutting the plate and with the gripping faces of its jaws aligned along a radius of the ring which makes a 45 angle with the vertical. Y

In order to arrest the ring 3S positively when it returns to its initial and terminal position (Fig. 25, being the same position as that of Fig. 21) a so-called gag-stop is provided, comprising a block 28S projecting from the rear or pipeentering face of the ring 88 and a cooperating detent assembly mounted on the plate 8i] and generally designated 232, these and associate instrumentalities being particularly shown in Figs. 3, 6, 8 and 9. The detent 282 has an end face 283 shaped and disposed to abut the block 2%, when the detent is disposed, as shown in Fig. 8, in the path of the block. At its remote end the detent or stop bar assembly is pivoted to the plate 85 by a pin 2de which transverses a longitudinal slot 235 in the bar, the slot 225 permitting a short displacement of the detent, e. g. to the position of- Fig. 8, .as the arresting face 283 meets the block 289 and brings the ring 88 to a stop. The detent bar structure 2&2 normally tends, by gravity (or ii desired by other means, not shown) to turn counter-clockwise about the pin Et as seen in Figs. 3 and 8, and thus to assume a position in the path or" the block 28d. A member 286 projecting laterally from the detent structure is adapted to rest on the upper side of a block 28T which is mounted in appropriate guide structure 283 so that it can slide transversely of the detent bar, i. e. up and down as seen in Fig. 9. The guide structure 283 is mounted on the framework |92 associated with the twisting gear mechanism, such framework also carrying a similar guide structure 29e for a sliding assembly 2:'32 which is arranged to move transversely of the frame |92, i. e. between the rack and piston rod assembly ESS-iet and the described detent assembly. Intermediate the sliding structure 22 and the movable block 281, a connecting elementZ is provided whereby transverse motion of the structure 2&2 may be translated into vertical motion of the block 287. More particularly, the link element d has its ends shaped to constitute integral cylindrical portions 295, 296 which are seated in corresponding cylindrically-shaped sockets in the members 292 and 281. It will thus be seen 16 that whenA member 2% is moved, for example, from left toward right as seen in Fig. 9, the member 2911, disposed at an angle of 45 will translate such displacement into upward motion of the block 287.

As shown in Fig. 5 the outer end 298 of the sliding device 292 has a partly beveled face and is adapted to ride, so to speak, against a lengthwise extending portion 293 of the rack 188. The rack portion 259 for the most part is constituted with an outwardly projecting cam surface 36B so arranged, as shown in Fig. 6 (and being at the right-hand side of the portion 293 in Fig. 9, although not there seen), that when the piston rod E is moved to the right (Fig. 6) the surface 3BG cams the device 2t2 away from the rack, shifting the link member 291i and moving the block 2ST upwardly (Figs. 8 and 9). A spring 3B! under compression urges the slide 252 against the side of the rack structure at all times. It will now be seen that a normal position of the detent or stop assembly 232 is that illustrated in the drawings, i. e. in the sense that the detent lies in the path of the block 280, the plate 286 thus normally resting on the block 28? and the position of the latter being governed by the seating ofthe slide 22 against the low portion of the rack surface 2519. When the rack is displaced away from the position shown in Fig. 6, the high portion @et operates the described instrumentalities, 292, 29d and 291 so as to elevate the latter of them and thus raise the projection 28B of the stop assembly. in consequence the stop assembly is swung clockwise (Fig. 8), moving the face 2st away from the block 2te and releasing the ring 8d for a new cycle of rotation. Thereafter when the rack returns to the position of Fig. 6, the parts assume their original position and the detent is reinstated in the path of the block 2S@ on the ring. To facilitate the withdrawal of the stop assembly 232 from a rest position, the assembly is provided with a spring-biased knuckle 3&2, which is normally adapted to maintain a rigid position, for detent action, but is adapted to break slightly when the end'face 2'83 is moved across and away from the block 28%.

It has been explained that the twisting gear il@ eiectively twists the wires lla and [Elib together at two places, i. e. on each side of the gear, the shearing blades 2id, 2l5 then severing the wires at the lower side of the gripper jaws and atthe underface of the twisting wheel. As a result a short piece or slug of twisted wire remains in the twisting gear, i. e. after the wire controlling elements 22S, 224 and 245i have been withdrawn and at a time when the mechanism may be ready to initiate a new bundling operation upon another assembly of pipe. In order to remove this slug, a kicker device is provided as shown in Figs. 8, 12, 14, 21 and 22. This device comprises a kicker arm 3io mounted on a shaft 3H which has an outer or enlarged portion 312 and which is biased against rotation by a torsion spring Slt, the spring CH3 being connected between the shaft portion 312 and a sleeve 3I3a that is seated in the ring 83. The shaft structure 3l i, El 2 is adapted to turn within the sleeve, but is thus biased against such turning, i. e. biased against turning in a clockwise direction (Fig. i2) by the spring. A stop 3l3b prevents rotation of the assembly in a counter-clockwise direction beyond a predetermined point as 1ikewise shown in Fig. 12.

The kicker .arm 3 Hl projects from the forward or pipe-leaving face of the ring, while the shaft assi/,526

:313,y projecting from" the opposite ringface n carries an actuating arm 3|4 disposed to abut a cam block 3l6 vthat, is placed on the supporting plate 80. It will befseen `that the kicker arm VSlt is thus arranged to swing in -a plane parallel to the face ofthe ring and has a plate-like ter- .minal portion 318 of such dimensions and position that it may sweep through theY slot of the vtwisting. gear. The kicker structure is located Ion the ring fat a position slightly spaced from l lthe gripper H Il, behindl the latter in the direction of vits travel as the ring turns, the block 3l6 being-disposed to engage the arm 3I4 only ,when the kicker arm 310 has moved `aloouthalf Way past ther twisting gear. The normal position of the kicker arm, i. e. as in Fig. 12, is such that Fitsweeps across the upper face of the twisting gear, but as it reaches Ythe center of the'gear, the -arm 3I4'strikes the block 21B. The camming `action of the latter swings the kicker arm clockwise s-o as to bring it down into and through the .slot of the twisting gear whereby the slug 320 =(Figs. 211 and 22) isl thrown out of the slot and ,falls clear of `the mechanism, e. g. to an appro- '.priate discharge chute lor the like, not shown.

Athis manner, the slug 32gis positively-removed from the twisting gear at the initiation .of a new cyclez of operati-on of the wrapping .mechanisrm AsV explained hereinabove the assemblyfofipipes are initially" lifted from*V the rollers lid-'53- by .thezplates |60 actuated by. the, cylinders i612, so ithat the wrapping operationmay4 take place with 'then pipes clear of the rollers. Additional means for effecting further elevation .ofY the pipe as- .sembly are preferably provided, to permita more A'satisfactory wrapping operationl and'to prevent ,undue tension on` the-Wire in the early stages .of such operation. To that'endthebar |63 which `carries the lift .plate |63 andthe cylinder H54 (Figs. 3xand 4) is pivoted at onev end 330^to vthe base` of the wrapping device and at its opposite end carries a camiollowerroller 332l which rides :on the surface of' a cam 33.3.'. The cam 333yis mounted on aV shaft' 334. tol which is. secured a pinion 3.35,. the shaft beingfjournalled in. anap- ,ipropriate part Vof the mechanism. base.A The Ypinion, 335 meshes with a vertically reciprocable r-ack 336 connected at its yupper endto the'piston rod 33:1 .of` an air cylinder'v 333, vwhichA is like- -Wisemounted on. apart of thesupporting struccture. `Inioonsequence whenV the air cylinder 338 operates to. drive the rod 331 downwardly asseen r in Figs. 3 and. 4, the rackA turns ythe pinion 335 .and*correspondingly*rotatesfthe cam 333. The parts. are illustrated with .the cam follower 332 'resting on the lowest part of the cam. As the rack 333v descends, the structure of the cam-,'- infvolving a fast rise portion 340, is. suchas to lmove the outer end of the bar |63 rapidly upf wardly for a predetermined distance. The shape vof thel cam then provides a short dwell and va more gradual further. rise, as bythe portion 3M of. thecam surface, whereby the end of the bar carried to. ank uppermostlocal'ity. Theplate .160, supported on the bary 133, and likewise the assembly of pipes are correspondingly raised Aby progressive stages during the operation of the rack 33S. As explained hereinbelow, the

;motion of the piston rod 331- is arrested at this.

., point; then on; its return stroke, under appropri- ,.More specifically. the.. supplemental elevation.,

r,ate control, the bar 33 and lift plate .i60 'are' aiorded by the. cam arrangement and thesw-inging bar |63 is carried out in part as thegripp'er brings thel wire around under the assembly' of pipes Fig. 23) and in further and iin-al part as the twisting gear v'performs its twisting cycle. If the pipes were held at the lowermost position throughout the wrapping operation, either .the Wire would tend to be Vt'oo loose 'at the time bf inal'twist'ing, or would. require an inorclie na-tely long twist in order to tighten the "end p01"- tion and standing vportion snugly together against the bundle, It will now be seen that by raising the .pipe substantially as the wire passes around it substantial slack is provided in the Wire (Figs. 2'3 and 2li), .which is available to be taken up as .the Vgripper. eventually reaches its terminal position (Fig. 25,). This action permits the Wrap.- ping operation to be eiectuated with la loop of minimum size, and Vat the same time relieves the gripper jaws of unnecessary strainsuch as might be caused by snubbing the wirev against the derside of the Vpipe assemblyduring fthe ,interrmediate stages ofv the revolution of the ring.; any possibility of stripping the wiresv fromY the laws at this time is consequently obviated.v Then-nal lift at the end. of the operating cam surface-is arranged to occur while the twisting gearis turning, s-o that 'the shortening of the Wire portion 'between the gear and the bundle -(occ`a sioned by twist) is substantially compensated Vby the further elevation of the bundle. tw'ill -be understood, of course, that the compensation is appropriately limitedv by the extentof lift so las to permit an. eiectively tight twist of the .wires against the side of the pipe assembly. Asthe .gripper draws the wire aroundthe pipe, Afor instance as it takes up the slack occasioned yby the lifting operation described immediately' hereinabove, there may be some tendency for the Wire to lift the pipe from the supporting plate i 6i). To obviate this tendency a clamp ele- .ment 350 is mounted to swing about a pivot 35| toward andy away from the top of the pipe assemblyand at one side, e; g. the pipe-leaving side of the wrapping mechanism.'v Y The clamp structure-353- has an actuating arm 352 pivotallly connected tothe piston rod 353. of an air cylinder 3543. They normal position of the rod135'3 vkeeps the clamp 35.0 in an elevated position,- but at a suitablev time, the cylinder is operated to move its piston rod upwardly `(Fig. 4) thus 'swinging'. the clamp 35i) counter-clockwise and down against the bundle of pipe. supported on ,theplate |63. It will be understood thatA the ysupplemental clamp arrangement just. described, is carried by-the bar |53. g, It has been explained that in the specific ma- .chine illustrated here many of the `instrumentalities are,v actuated by air cylinders, controlled to operate at desired times in the wrapping and yfastening cycle, it being understood that .other 'driving devices may bealternatively employed,if desired. For control of thevarious air cylinders `inY the illustrated machine, suitable. solenoid valves (shown by diagrammatic examplein Fig. 26) may be provided, to control in corresponding fashion, the supply of air under pressure to one end or other of the cylindersfor the desired displacement of their pistons and operated instrumentalities in one direction or the other. VSince vsuch valves and electrical controlling circuits l therefor are generally known, detailsof the customary parts of same are omitted` from the draw- ..ings; ybut to illustrate the interrelation between ,the several operated instrumentalitcs .and the

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