US2868467A - Machine for paying off and taking up wire on large reels - Google Patents

Description

D. LEWIS Jan. 13, 1959 MACHINE FOR PAYING OFF AND TAKING UP WIRE 0N LARGE! REE-LS Filed May 13, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 i um Jan. 13, 1959 D. LEWIS 2,868,467

MACHINE FOR PAYING OFF AND TAKING UP WIRE ON LARGE REELS Filed May 13, 1954 I 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 I MACHINE FOR PAYING OFF AND TAKING UP WIRE ON LARGE REELS Filed May 15, 1954 D. LEWIS Jan. 13, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 J an. 13, 1959 D. LEWIS MACHINE FOR PAYING OFF AND TAKING UP WIRE ON LARGE REELS Filed May 15, 1954- 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 64 FIG. 5

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l 'l V H I L ,AW Li J; W NW N W 11 4 82 k 'hrV l I 1x 11'; 1 L J I 74' f I .61 B2 6 as 9222 36 83 L. I H5 a? I/ i u a n lo \ reel serves as thetakeup reel.

United rates Patent C) MKCHINE orename ()FEANDTAKING UP Winn on mnon REELS 1 Dartrey: Lewis, Trenton, N. J1, assignor to John A.

Roeblings Sons Corporation, Trenton, N. 1., a cor- This invention relates to the handling. of wireand the like and, more particularly; to a machine for paying.

off and takingup wire on large reels.

It has generally been the practice to patent wirein strands by passing continuous lengths through a heat treating. furnace. In this process Wire-is-heated above its critical. temperature and then cooled. Heretofore-the Wire has been taken up in the formof coils. Wire so treated may subsequently be subjected to conventional cold drawing operations. cleanedby dipping in suitable cleaningand coating solutions. It will be apparent that the wire cannot be cleaned andcoated while it is on a reel.

There is a practical limit in respect to the weight of coils of wire which can be handled, employingconventional procedures. Generally such coils do not exceed 1,000 pounds in Weight.

I have found that considerably heavier amonntsyof wire may be expeditiously handled by the use of the machine ofthis invention. Instead of patenting, cleaning andcoating .thewire in coil form, as has been the practice in the past,- thepresent machine enables theme of large reels for paying offthe wire tobe treated and for taking up treated wire. The reels may satisfactorily handlewire loads as'great as 4,000 pounds of wire each, in sizes ranging from .135 inch to .090 inch in diameter.

The machine is adapted to support a plurality of reels, preferably three, each of which may be readily and inconstitutes a reserve pay-off reel. u u A In operation one of thepay-off reels is, placed inservice and Wire wound thereon is paid ofi bythe machine, subjected to treatment and then taken up on theempty reel. The treatment may consist of successively heating the wire, cooling the wire, acid cleaning 'thewire to rernove scale, washing the wire and passing the wire through a coating bath! The treating steps take-place subsequent to withdrawing the Wire from the selected pay-otrreel and prior to rewinding the wire on'the take-up reel.

Upondepletion ofthe selected pay-off reel, the spare pay-oif reel is placed in service, the free end of the wire of the sparereel being welded to' that leavihgthe This is accomplished without stopping" thenmachine orinterrupting treatmentof the wire which The as selected reel.

would cause improper heating of the same. pl'eted reel thus becomes available for use as the take-up reel; when the original take-up reel has been filled with When the take-up reel is filled, it isre-' After patenting, the coils are The other loaded reel 2,868,467 Patented Jan. 13; 1959 tate'ohandlirig'ofthe reels and supervision of the opera: tion'of the' machine. 1

Another feature is that" only a singleempty reel iis mounted on the machine, it being unnecessaryto supply any additionalerripty reels or'toremove empty reels from the machine, regai'dlessof the number of full reels-that are handled by the machine. At such time as areelof untreated wire isemptiedrit is-refilled with treated wirefi Thus, each'reel serves as a pay ofli reel from'which uhtreatedwire-is withdrawn and then as a take-upreelrir'i which treatedwire is Wound; u i

The primary object of the invention is to provide a machine for economicallyhandling large reels of'wire'or thelike. H p u Another object of the ,inyention is toprofvide a machine of thecharac'ter indicated that is adapted to be operated continuously while permitting loaded reels off wire:to be readily mounted thereon or removed therefrom, as required.

A further object of the invention is to provide a;

, machine for simultaneously paying bit and taking up wire on large reels, the parts of the machine being so con structed and arranged that thereels may be quicklyandi easily placed inoiout ofactive service, without stopping: the"niachin. p p p A still furthenobject of'thefinvntion is to provide: a wire-handlihgfjmachine of the type indicatedthatf is: capable of prforirliiig its ihtehdedfunctiohs in a sans-- factory and trohble free manner. u

Theforegbing' obiec'ts and other objects, together with. the advantages of thisinyehtion, willb,e"reac lily under;

stood by per ns slgilled in'th'e' art, from e earer "that follows, area in coiijiiiictioii with thei, accompanying drawingswhieh, respectively, describe and descrip tid illustrate a preferred embodiment o'f'theinviition'. In the drawings f Fig. 3 "is an enlarged View in elevation, taken altirig illustration;

Fig.6 is-'aii enlargedview, taken along line 5+-5 of" Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged View, taken along line e s er Fig. 2; and x Fig. 7 isa view taken along line7 7 of Fig. 4.

Referring now to the" drawings, wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts throughout the several'views,"tlie*macliine illustrated therein includes a 17 and 18. A stationary horizontal channel bar 22 is securedtdtheupper "ends of' posts 17 and18 (Fig. l).

Three" equi spaced brackets 23' are; as'best shown in Figs.- land 3 atfirre'cl to channel bar 22 by b0lts24. Eachof these'brackets'projeetsforwardly of'the channel bar andcarries at'its free enda bolt 25, fromwhichan arm 26 is" pivotal-1y suspended. Secured to the lower 'end of each arm 26 is a shaft 27 which is provided with a freely rotatable guide pulley?" Theguide pulleys are identified in the-'drawingsby reference characters P1, PZand P3.

The frame supports a horizontally reciprocable channel bar: 30 which is positioned below stationary channel bar 22. This channel bar is slidable on rollers 31 and is maintained thereon by rollers 32. Channel bar 30 also carries three brackets 33, which are similar to but shorter than brackets 23. Brackets 33 are spaced apart and are secured to channel bar 30 by bolts 34, which extend through elongated slots 35 in that channel bar to permit of horizontal adjustment of the corresponding brackets. As in the case of the earlier described brackets, an arm 36 is pivotally suspended from the forward end of each bracket 33 and carries a shaft 37, on which is mounted a freely rotatable guide pulley. The guide pulleys suspended from channel bar 30 are identified by reference characters P4, P and 1 P6. It may be stated here that guide pulleys P1, P2 and P3 serve as pay-off guides, while guide pulleys P4, P5 and P6 serve as take-up guides during operation of the machine.

Directly below pulleys P1, P2 and P3 are reels R1, R2 and R3, respectively, Reels R1 and R2 are wound with untreated wire W1, while reel R3 is partially loaded with treated wire W2. v

The reels are preferably identical and are adapted to be removably supported for rotation about coincident hori- 'zontal axes by corresponding pairs of fluid actuated jacks J1, J2 and J3. The jacks are preferably identical. One of the jacks, namely J2, is shown in detail in Fig. 5 and includes a base 40 mounted on the frame base, an upstanding cylinder 41, a piston 42, vertically reciprocable in the cylinder, and a block 43, secured to the upper end of the piston. Affixed to block 43 are a saddle 44 and a pair of arms 45 that are pivotally-connected at their ends remote from the block to a corresponding bolt 46. Each bolt 46 is carried by a U-shaped bracket 47 which is mounted on an angle bracket 48 that is secured to upstanding channel members 49 which are part of frame (Figs. 2, 3 and 5). Arms 45 are notched in the region of the corresponding saddle. A conduit 50 transmits fluid under pressure for actuating each jack from a source not shown to the jack cylinder.

A spindle 51 is removably disposed in each reel and is adapted to be supported at its ends by the saddles of a corresponding pair of jacks. Each spindle is provided with an anti-friction bearing 52 and carries a coaxial gear 53. It will be apparent from an examination of the drawings, particularly Figs. 1, 2 and 5, that the jacks and associated devices are so constructed and arranged as to permit the reels to be readily and independently placed in or removed from the machine, as required.

The reels are adapted to be selectively rotated through the medium of a rotary drive shaft 55 and associated devices that will now be described. Drive shaft 55 is parallel to the axes of spindles 51 and is supported by channel members 49. Shaft 55 is provided with a plurality of clutches, namely clutches C1, C2 and C3, that are adapted to coact with other parts to impart rotation to reels R1, R2 and R3, respectively, in response to rotation of shaft 55. The clutches are likewise preferably identical and, as best shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 5, each comprises a first toothed member 56 and a second toothed member 57. Clutch member 56 is freely rotatable about shaft 55, but is restrained against axial movement with respect thereto. Clutch member 57, on the other hand, is coupled to shaft 55 by a key 58 (Fig. 5) which permits of axial movement only of this member with respect to the shaft. Clutch member 57 has an annular groove 59.

The clutches are adapted to be readily placed into and out of active service by a corresponding means 60 which will next be described, reference being had particularly to Figs. 1, 2, 5 and 6. Each means 60 includes an actuating lever 61 consisting of a horizontal portion 62 and an upwardly projecting portion 63 that terminates in a gripping to and rockable with lever 61 and is pivoted at 70 to link 68. Link 69 is pivoted at its lower end to link 68, as indicated at 71, and is pivoted intermediate its ends to plate 66, as indicated at 72. A roller 73 carried at the upper end of link 69 registers with annular groove 59, in clutch member 57.

When the parts are in the relative positions shown in Fig. 6, clutch member 57 is out of engagement with clutch member 56 and, as a consequence, clutch C2 is out of active service. This clutch may be placed in active service by swinging lever 61 to the left, as viewed in Fig. 6. This imparts a corresponding increment of counter-clockwise rotation to lever portion 62 and links 67 and 69, thereby causing roller 73 to move clutch member 57 to the left and into engagement with clutch member 56.

A sprocket wheel 74 is secured to and rotatable with each clutch member 56. This sprocket wheel is connected to a second sprocket wheel 75 by means of an endless chain 76. Sprocket wheel 75 is keyed or otherwise secured to a shaft 77, which is provided with a pinion 78 that meshes with spindle gear 53. Thus rotation of each sprocket wheel 74 effects rotation of a corresponding spindle gear and reel.

The clutches are equipped with identical brakes for providing suitable tension in the wire supplied by correspond ing reels, as such wire is being payed off therefrom. Only the brakes for clutches C2 and C3 are shown in the drawings (Fig. 2) and are identified by reference characters B2 and B3, respectively. Each brake, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, comprises a drum 80 rotatable with corresponding clutch member 56. The drum is engaged by a brake band 81 which is anchored at one end to frame plate 66 by a connector 82. The other end of the brake band is secured to a lever 83 by a connectors-4. One end of lever 83 is pivoted at 85 to a frame post 86. A weight 97 is attached to the other end of lever 83 and is adjustable therealong to correspondingly vary the loading on the brake band.

Rotation is imparted to drive shaft 55 by an arrange means of a variable speed V-belt drive consisting of a knob 64.- Each lever 61 is rockably supported by an angle pulley 93 aflixed to and rotatable with shaft 91, a pulley 94 affixed to input shaft 95 of the fluid drive, and an open V-belt 96, engaging these pulleys. The fluid drive is provided with an output shaft 97 that is connected to a speed reducer 100 by means of a second variable speed V-belt drive consisting of a pulley 101 rotatable with shaft 97, apulley 102 connected to input shaft 103 of the speed reducer and an open V-belt 1'04 engaging pulleys 101 and 102. The speed reducer has an output shaft 105, which carries a sprocket wheel 106. This sprocket wheel imparts rotation to a sprocket wheel 107 and thence to shaft 55, which is connected to the latter sprocket wheel through the medium of an endless chain 108.

A pair of capstans 110 and 111 is mounted for rotation with parallel rotary shafts 112 and 113, respectively, that are supported by frame posts 20 and 21. The capstans are driven in unison, in response to rotation of shaft 112 by a chain drive which comprises a sprocket wheel 114 aflixed to shaft 112, a sprocket wheel 115 aflixed to shaft 113 and a continuous chain 116 engaging both of these sprocket wheels. An idler sprocket wheel 117 is rotatable about the axis of a stub-shaft carried by frame member 21 and meshes with chain 116. This sprocket wheel serves to take up excess slack in the chain.

motor 121' which is mounted on the frame in a position above and rearward of motor 90. Motor 121 has a rotary shaft 122 which is connected 'toa speed reducer 12,3 ,bya variable speed V-belt drive, comprising a pulley 124 secured to shaft 122, a pulley 125 secured to input shaft 126 of the speed reducer and an open V-belt 127, v ngaging these pulleys. The speed reducer has an out put shaft .128, which is coaxial with and connected to shaft 112.by a coupler 129.

Means 12s functions as a driving mechanism for movirig untreated wire from a selected pay-off reel R1 over a corresponding pay-off guide pulley. P1, thence through a treating zone (not shown) wherein the wire is patented or otherwise treated, ,andeventually moving the treated wire W2 to the discharge of capstan 111, whence it passes over a wake-up guide pulley P6 onto the take-up reel R3.

The machineis equipped-with a meansthatcoacts with capstan .111and the wire carried thereby, for creating sufficient friction between the wire and the capstan to effect proper movement of the wire when there is no tension in the Wire as itleaves that capstan. Thismeans, as best shown in Figs. land 3, comprises a feed roller 130, theperipheral portion of which is made of rubber or other suitable material for creating desired friction. The feed roller is rotatable aboutthe axisof a shaft 131 which is parallel to capstan shaft 113. Shaft 131 is carriedby arms 132 of abracket133, which is horizontally mounted for pivotal movement on a rod l 34 that is carried by post 21. A lever 135 is pivoted to post 21, as indicated at 136, and is pivoted to a link 137, as indicated at 138. Shaft 131 is also pivoted to link 137. Lever 135. coacts with link 1 37 to raise or lower the feed roller with respect to capstan 111.

Aswas stated earlier herein, channel bar' 30 is horizontally reciprocable relative to the frame. This bar is in the nature ofla fieeting bar which cooperates with a -selected take up pulley P hPfi or P6, to effect proper winding of treated wire on the corresponding take-up reel. Bar 30 is reciprocated on rollers 31in response to rotation of drive shaft55 by a mechanism 140, best shown in Figs. 1,4 and 7. This mechanism includes an oscillatable lever 141;that is pivotal about a pin 142 carried by post 17. Lever 141 has an elongated slot 143 at its upper end, in which is disposed bolt 142-4 for adjusting the length of stroke of the ,bar. A sectional connecting rod 145 having a, turnbuckle 146'for varying its effective length, is pivoted atone end to bolt 144 and, at-its other end, to bar 30, as indicated at 147. A link 1455 (Figs. 4 and 7) is pivoted at 149 to the lower end of lever 141 and at 154 to a reciprocable plate 151, which is mounted for horizontal sliding movement in a stationary guide plate 152, that is supportedby the frame. Plate 151 carries apair of parallelspa-ced rollers 153.

A cam 155 is located at all times between rollers 153 and is eccentricallymounted at an endof a rotarycam shaft 156. which is supported by frame posts 157 (Fig. 4). The cam shaft is provided with a worm-wheel 158 that meshes with a worm 159, which isaffixed to a shaftlltitl. Also affixed to shaft 160 isa sprocket wheel 161 that is connected to drive shaft 55 by a sprocket pinion 162 and an endless chain 163.

, It-will be evident from an examination of the drawings that rotation of drive shaft 55 effects corresponding rotation of sprocket wheels 162 and 161, worm 159, Worm gear 158, cam shaft 156 and cam 155, in the order named. This causes reciprocation of plate 151, oscillation of lever 14-1 and reciprocation of bar 30 and its pulleys P4, P5 and P6, in timed relation to rotation ofdrive shaft 55 and the reel which serves as the take-up therefrom, ,passing over corresponding .pay-ofi pulley -P-1. Reel pRZ is .loaded with ,untreateduwire .rWl .andeserves as a spare. Reel R3 is the take-up reel .onto which ;the treated wire W2 is wound, through coaction of the parts earlier described. .Itwill benoted that clutchCS, corresponding to reel R3, is the only clutch inactive service.

The reels are preferably of the same size. .When reel R1 becomes depleted, reel R3uis ,filled withtreated wire. As soon as reel :R1 is emptied, the free end of the wire on reelRZ is passed over .pulley .P2..and isweldedto the end of the wire leaving reel R1. Now reel R2.serv.es as the active-pay-off reel. When reel R3 'hecornes fully loaded, treated .wire W2 .is. cut at a point intermediate capstan 111 and take-up pulley ,E6, is passed over and into engagement .with .pulley P4- and is joined to reel R1, which now serves as .theitake-upreel. The loaded reel R3..is then removed from :the machine and replaced with a full reel of untreated wire.

From the foregoing, itLis .believed that the construction, operation and advantages of my present invention will be readily .comprehendedby persons skilled in ithe art. It .is to be clearly understood, however, that various changes .in the machine set forth 'above may be made .without departing from the scope of the invention, it being intended that all matter contained in the description or shown in the drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense.

I claim: i

1. In .a machine forthandlingwire or the like, first means adapted to support a'plurality of reels for rotation about horizontal axes, a rotary drive shaft, second means for imparting rotation to the .drive shaft,.third means for effecting rotation of a selected .reel in re-.

sponse to rotation of the drive shaft, the selected reel serving as a wire take-up reel and another of the reels serving as a .wire pay-off reel, and-fourth means for moving wire along .apredetermined path from thepayoif reel to :the take-up reel and formaintainiug the wire under .tension in the course of such movement, said fourth meansincluding a variable speed drive independent of the drive shaft for. imparting wire pay-off rotation to the pay-off reel.

2. In a machine for handling wire or the like, first means adapted to support a plurality of reels for rotation about horizontalaxes, a rotary drive shaft, second means for imparting rotation to the drive shaft, third means for effecting rotation of a selected reel in response torotation of the drive shaft, the selected reel serving as a wire take-up reel and another of the reels serving as a wire pay-01f reel, a pay-off guide and a take-up guide spaced vertically from each reel, and fourth means independent of the drive shaft for imparting wire payoff rotation to the pay-off reel, for moving the: wire along a predetermined path from the pay-off reel to the take-up reel, and for maintaining the wire under tension in the course of such movement, the wire during such movement engaging the pay-off guide and the take-up guide corresponding, respectively, to the pay-off reel and the take-up reel.

3. In a machine for handling wire or the like, first means adapted to support a plurality of reels for rotation about horizontal axes, a rotary drive shaft, second means for imparting rotation to the drive shaft, third means for effecting rotation of a selected reel in response to rotation of the driveshaft, the selected reel serving as a wire takeaup reel and another of the reels serving as a wire pay-off reel, a pay-off guide and a take-up guide disposed above each reel, said pay-off guides being stationary, said take-up guides heing reciprocable along a path that is parallel to the axes of the reels, fourth means for imparting reciprocation to the take-up guides in response to rotation of the drive shaft, and fifth means independent of the drive shaft for imparting wire pay-off rotation to the pay-off reel for moving the wire along a predetermined path fr'om the means for imparting rotation to the drive shaft, said 1 second means including a variable speed drive, third means for effecting rotation of a selected reel in response to rotation of the drive shaft, the selected reel serving as a wire take-up reel and another of the reels serving as a wire pay-off reel, a pay-01f guide and a take-up guide disposed above each reel, said pay-off guides being stationary, said take-up guides being reciprocable along a path that is parallel to the axes of the reels, fourth means for imparting reciprocation to the take-up guides in response to rotation of the drive shaft, and fifth means for imparting wire pay-off rotation to the pay-off reel, for moving the wire along a predetermined path from the pay-off reel to the take-up reel, and for maintaining the wire under tension in the course of such movement, the wire during such movement engaging the pay-off guide and the take-up guide corresponding, respectively, to the pay-off reel and the take-up reel.

5. In a machine for handling wire or the like, first means adapted to support a plurality of reels for rota tion about horizontal axes, a rotary drive shaft, second means for imparting rotation to the drive shaft, third means for effecting rotation of a selected reel in response to rotation of the drive shaft, the selected reel serving as a wire take-up reel and another of the reels serving as a wire pay-off reel, a pay-01f guide and a take-up guide disposed above each reel, said pay-off guides being stationary, said take-up guides being reciprocable along a path that is parallel to the axes of the reels, fourth means for imparting reciprocation to the takeup guides in response to rotation of the drive shaft, and fifth means for imparting wire pay-off rotation to the pay-01f reel for moving the wire along a predetermined path from the pay-off reel to the take-up reel, and for maintaining the wire under tension in the course of such movement, the wire during such movement engaging the pay-off guideand the take-up guide corresponding, respectively, to the pay-off reel and the take-up reel, said fifth means including a variable speed drive.

6. In a machine for handling wire or the like, first means adapted to support a plurality of reels for rotation about horizontal axes, a brake for each reel, a rotary drive shaft, second means for imparting rotation to the drive shaft, third means for effecting rotation of a selected reel in response to rotation of the drive shaft and against the action of the corresponding brake, the selected reel serving as a wire take-up reel and another of the reels serving as a wire pay-off reel, and fourth means for imparting wire pay-off rotation to the pay-off reel against the action of the corresponding brake, for moving the wire along a predetermined path from the pay-off reel to the take-up reel, and for maintaining the wire under tension in the course of such movement.

7. In a machine for handling wire or the like, first means adapted to support a plurality of reels for independent rotation about coincident horiontal axes, a brake for each reel, a drive shaft disposed to one side of the reels and rotatable about an axis that is parallel to the axes thereof, second means for imparting rotation to the drive shaft, third means for effecting rotation of a selected reel in response to rotation of the drive shaft and against the action of the corresponding brake, the selected reel serving as a Wire take-up reel and another of the reels serving as a wire pay-off reel, and fourth means for imparting wire pay-off rotation to the pay-E reel against the action of the corresponding brake, for moving the 8 wire along a predetermined path from the pay-01f reel to the take-up reel, and for maintaining the wire under tension in the course of such movement.

8. In a machine for handling wire or the like, first means adapted to support a plurality of reels for rotation about horizontal axes, a brake for each reel, a rotary drive shaft, second means for imparting rotation to the drive shaft, third means for effecting rotation of a selected reel in response to rotation of the drive shaft and against the action of the corresponding brake, the selected reel serving as a wire take-up reel and another of the reels serving as a wire pay-off reel, a pay-off guide and a takeup guide disposed above each reel, said pay-off guides being stationary, said take-up guides being reciprocable along a path that is parallel to the axes of the reels, fourth means for imparting reciprocation to the take-up guides in response to rotation of the drive shaft, and fifth means for imparting wire pay-01f rotation to the pay-off reel against the action of the corresponding brake, for moving the wire along a predetermined path from the pay-off reel to the take-up reel, and for maintaining the wire under tension in the course of such movement, the wire during such movement engaging the pay-off guide and the takeup guide corresponding, respectively, to the pay-off reel and the take-up reel.

9. In a machine for handling wire or the like, first means adapted to support a plurality of reels for rotation, a rotary drive shaft, second means for imparting rotation to the drive shaft, third means for effecting rotation of a selected reel in response to rotation of the drive shaft, the selected reel serving as a wire take-up reel, another of the reels having a supply of wire and serving as a wire pay-01f reel and still another reel having a supply of wire and constituting a reserve reel, and fourth means independent of the drive shaft for moving wire along a predetermined path from the pay-01f reel to take-up reel regardless of whether the take-up reel is temporarily disconnected from the wire being paid off by the pay-off reel, and fifth means for maintaining the wire under ten sion in the course of its movement from the pay-off reel to the take-up reel, the reserve reel and the pay-off reel being adapted, upon depletion of wire from the pay-off reel, to serve as the pay-off reel and the take-up reel, respectively.

10. In a machine for handling wire or the like, first means adapted to support a plurality of reels for rotation, a rotary drive shaft, second means for imparting rotation to the drive shaft, said second means including a variable speed drive, third means for effecting rotation of a selected reel in response to rotation of the drive shaft, the selected reel serving as a Wire take-up reel, another of the reels having a supply of wire and serving as a wire pay-off reel and still another reel having a supply of wire and constitutnig a reserve reel, and fourth means independent of the drive shaft for moving wire along a predetermined path from the pay-off reel to the take-up reel and for maintaining the wire under tension in the course of such movement, said fourth means including a variable speed drive for imparting wire pay-off rotation to the payoff reel, the reserve reel and the pay-off reel being adapted, upon depletion of wire from the pay-off reel, to serve as the pay-01f reel and the take-up reel, respectively.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,731,055 Marchev Oct. 8, 1929 2,307,925 Gray Jan. 12, 1943 2,331,662 Delano Oct. 12, 1943 2,609,998 Sear Sept. 9, 1952 2,711,293 Hanson June 21, 1955 OTHER REFERENCES Lacquering of Insulated Wire and Cable, by C. A. Litzler, reprint from May and June 1943, Wire and Wire Products.

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