US2893657A

US2893657A - Delivering wire or like flexible element from a coil

Info

Publication number: US2893657A
Application number: US624534A
Authority: US
Inventors: Bilt Pieter A Van De
Original assignee: Package Sealing Co Export Ltd
Current assignee: Package Sealing Co Export Ltd
Priority date: 1955-12-08
Filing date: 1956-11-27
Publication date: 1959-07-07
Anticipated expiration: 1976-07-07
Also published as: DE1032708B

Description

July 7, 1959 P. A. VAN DE BILT 2,893,657

} DELIVERING WIRE OR LIKE FLEXIBLE ELEMENT FROM A com Filed Nov. 27, 1956- r 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 1/ 10 5 g /9 pr 1 l VfNi'oR all 4.1. A M

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y 7, 1959v P. A. VAN DE BILT 2,893,657

DELIVERING WIRE 0R LIKE FLEXIBLE ELEMENT FROM A COIL Filed Nov. 27, 1956 r 2 ee heet 2 s 5 I fi 'f 2'4 -4 6 .1 J13 3E 2 123% a; Z 9 1a 17 Z \P I ;30 I a 5 z 45 47 M G/pg United States l atent DELIVERING on LIKE FLEXIBLE ELEMENT. FROM A com Pieter A.- van de Bilt, Maartensdijk, Netherlands, assignor by-mesne assignments, to Package Sealing C0. (Export) .Limitemlaling, LondomtEngland, a British company Application November 27, 1956, Serial No. 624,534

Claims priority, application Netherlands December 8, H55

9 Claims. .(Cl; 242-128) This invention is concerned with improved mechanism for delivering a wire or like flexible element (hereinafter referred to as wire) from a coil thereof to an associated machine such as an automatic package banding machine.

Inthis connection thefollowing main problems arise:

. Firstly, the intake, of wire by machines'of this kind at each cycle of their operation may be very rapid and .-thus impose a sudden tug on the wire which is liable" not influence of such a tug; secondly, =suchintake may be variable both in length and rate and subject in some cases to feed back fromthe machineagaimleading to possible slackening of the coil winding; and thirdly, in

.many such machines, the intake, as for example by means mounted to rotate always unidirectionally around the. package once during each operational cycle, imposes a twist on the wire extending back to the coil, which twist is-cumulative and therefore essential to offset to make continuous operation possible, especially when using wire which is non-circular in section.

. The present invention has as a main object asimple form of mechanism by means of which the demands of the associated machine can always be fully andpromptly satisfied in respect of both length and rate of delivery from the coil, without undue tension or slackening of the wire at any stage and whereby a neutralizing twist can also be put into the wire corresponding and opposite to that imposed by the machine.

Mechanism in accordance with the invention essentially comprises a shuttle which is driven positively around the coil to pick up a predetermined length of wire therefrom and spring means for causing the coil to rotate as required to keep the wire taut but without undue tension therein if the demand of the machine differs from that length.

If the drive is predetermined to effect for example one circuit of the shuttle around the coil'for each operational cycle ofan associated machine whose intake imposes one full twist in the wire during said cycle, the direction in which the shuttle is moved in effecting delivery of wire from the coil causes exact neutralization of said twist, this being entirely dependent on the positive movement of the shuttle by "the drive and regardless of any rotation of the coil. Such a drive can conveniently be taken from the machine itself to ensure operational timing of such shuttle movement so that its'rate and extent of pick-up from the coil correspond to the intake of the machine,

subject to such variation as can be accommodated by rotation of the coil by said spring means according to the tensional condition of the wire between the .coil and the 1 machine.

Spring means as prescribed. may in. one form be such as to permit movement of the shuttle relatively to the l we 'drive such that ifthe intake of the machine at any time exceeds what the shuttle picks up under the influence of said drive, the shuttle is drawn by consequent increased tension in the wire forwardly of the drive to delivermore wire than usual, with loading of said spring means such as to cause reverse rotation of the coil in the opposite direction to the shuttle movement and return ofthe shuttle to its normal position relatively to the drive,. the

. spring means thus serving as a resilient buffer in respect such rotation from the drive through a clutch which is adapted, when the coil is subject to restraint by the'wire passing tautly therefrom to the shuttle and thence to the machine, to slip during the shuttle movement except as required to maintain such loading, so that, in absence of such restraint, said spring means when thus loaded, 'becames effective to rotate the coil independently of said drive and shuttle movement as required to effect such rewinding.

In a mechanism combining these characteristics, the two forms of spring means act-in opposition and the reverse rotation of the coil involves slipping of the clutch. Moreover, if the first such spring means, i.e., that which permits movement of the shuttle forwardly of the drive,

is stronger than the second such means, i.e.,' that which causes reWindin-g of the coil, the loading of, the latter will be maintained ready to rotate the coil forwardly again, after any such reverse rotation, to the extent which may be required to rewind loose wire resultingv from any over-run of said reverse rotation.

The drive to the shuttle may be conveniently through a shaft arranged axially'of the coil and a radial arm on said shaft, on which arm the shuttle is mounted-so that it passes around the coil periphery when the shaft is rotated, the coil being however free on said shaft. Spring means of the first form may be provided in the mounting of said am on the shaft whilst spring means of the second form may be arranged between this. shaft and a rotatable holder of the coil and be adapted to act through the clutch.

Each of said spring means may be in the form of a resilient spiral acting in the appropriate rotational sense.

the second spring means, the effect of the spiral may similarly be subject to a stop such that, after the spiral has become sufficiently loaded, slipping of the clutch is caused when the shaft is rotated and the coil is held against rotation or when the coil is rotated reversely.

The various features of the invention will next .be further described in detail as embodied in the mechanism shown by way of example in the accompanying drawings, whereof:

Figure 1 is a general side view of this mechanism;

Figure 2 is a front view thereof;

Figure 3 is an axial section. corresponding to Figure 1; and

Figures 4A and 4B are diagrammatic sections along the lines 4A4A and 4B4B respectively of Figure 3, to show how the two spiral springs are arranged and operate. I

-In the mechanism thus illustrated, a main driving shaft 1 carries on its forward end a boss 2 which is secured to the shaft by means of a pin 3 releasably held by a ball catch 4, so that on withdrawal of this pin the boss can be readily slid off the shaft. On this boss is rotatably mounted a head 5 on bearings 6 and 7,.secured by washer 8 and bolt 9. Thishead is provided with a guide roller chine and with a radial arm 11 which carries at its outer end the shuttle comprising a pick-up roller 12 in associa tion with a guide plate 13, 14.

Within a recess 15 of head 5 is arranged a spiral spring S1 acting between the boss 2, to which it is secured by pin 16 and the head 5 to which it is secured by pin 17, as best seen in Figure 4A, which shows how this spring normally maintains a stop 2a on the boss in contact with a stop 5a on the head in the direction of the full arrow in which shaft 1 and with it arm 11 are rotated, but permitting the arm to advance forwardly of the shaft under increased tension by the wire acting on the .shuttle, as indicated by the broken arrow, whereby the spring is additionally loaded by contraction of its spiral. The recess 15 is enclosed to form a chamber for this spring, by the flange 18 on boss 2.

A coil holder comprising a back frame 19, spacing bolts 20, wing nuts 21 thereon and a cover frame 22 secured to these bolts by those nuts, is rotatably mounted on shaft 1 behind boss 2, on bearings 23 and 24. Frame 19 is provided with a rearwardly projecting collar 26 to form a recess 27 similar to the recess 15 and within which is similarly arranged another spiral spring S2, acting in this case between a boss 28, which is mounted freely on shaft 1, and this collar, being secured to the boss by pin 29 and to the collar by pin 30, as best seen in Figure 4B, which shows how this spring is kept normally loaded to maintain a stop 28a on the boss in contact with a stop 26a on the collar by contraction of its spiral, which accordingly needs to be wound oppositely to spring S1.

Boss 28 is rotatably clutched to shaft '1 through a ring 31 fixed to the latter by a pin 32 and spring-loaded friction blocks 33 mounted in the boss to engage with this ring.

Shaft 1 may be rotated as required through suitable gearing within the pedestal 34 of the mechanism from a shaft 35 in the base 36, which shaft can be coupled to an associated machine in any convenient manner.

The mechanism as thus described and shown is adapted to drive the shuttle roller 12 around the coil in the direction of the arrow in Figure 2 once during each operational cycle of an associated machine, and in doing so to pick up a convolution of wire from the coil equal in length to an average demand by the machine during that cycle. If the amount thus picked up and delivered exactly equals that demand, the coil will be held stationary by the consequent normal tautness of the wire W, providing said pick-up takes place at substantially the same rate as the intake by the machine. In these circumstances spring S1 will remain unafiected and after spring S2 has become loaded by the rotation of shaft 1 through

clutch

31, 33 until stop 28a abuts against stop 26a, the clutch will thereupon slip during the further rotation of the shaft.

Should the demand by the machine, however, exceed this average, the consequent increase in the tension of the wire will cause the shuttle and arm to be drawn forwardly of the shaft, with corresponding increase in the loading of spring S1, whereupon the coil and its holder will be rotated by the pull of wire W under the influence of this loading until the latteris relieved by the return of stop 5a to its normal abutment against stop 2a. In order to permit of this reverse rotation of the coil, it is necessary for spring S1 to be sufficiently strong to rotate boss 28 also reversely, i.e., in the direction of the broken arrow in Figure 43, through the engagement of stop 26a against stop 28a in opposition to spring S2 and with consequent slipping of the

clutch

31, 33. This abutment between these stops ensures that the elfective strength of spring S2 is limited so as always to remain less than that of spring S1 as thus required.

If, on the other hand, the demand by the machine falls below the average or the coil over-runs in reverse under the influence of spring S1, with consequent slackening in either case of wire W, the coil becomes free for rotation by spring S2 in the same direction as shaft 1 until this slack has been taken up and stop 26:: again becomes held in a corresponding fresh angular position, in which stop 28a reengages it under the influence of the shaft rotation through

clutch

31, 33 and with consequent reloading of spring S2.

As the springs are adapted to become effective immediately under the influence of any changes of tension in the wire W from normal, it follows that the rotation of the coil thereby as described can take place at least in part whilst the driving of the shuttle around it is still in progress. In any case the final angular position of the shuttle relatively to the shaft is unaffected, so that the movement of the shuttle ultimately corresponds exactly with the rotation of the shaft under all conditions, departures from normal demand being accommodated quite independently by said coil rotation both promptly and smoothly.

The mechanism permits of ready reloading with wire by simply withdrawing pin 3 and removing the whole assembly comprising boss 2, head 5, arm 11 and the shuttle forwardly from the end of shaft 1 and then unscrewing wing nuts 21 and removing the cover frame 22 of the holder and inserting a fresh coil around the spacing bolts 20.

I claim:

1. Mechanism for delivering wire from a coil to an associated machine comprising a shaft rotated intermittently corresponding to the demand of said machine for Wire, a drum for the wire freely mounted on said shaft, a shuttle arm mounted on said shaft and driven positively thereby around said drum to pick up a predetermined length of wire therefrom, first spring means operatively connecting said shuttle arm to said shaft and arranged to permit said arm to be advanced in relation to said shaft to strip additional wire from said drum and stress said spring means when said shuttle delivers a length of Wire less than the demand of said machine, a clutch member frictionally connected to said shaft and adapted to slip on said shaft when a predetermined force opposes rotation of said clutch member with said shaft, second spring means operatively connecting said clutch member and said drum and adapted to be loaded to a predetermined degree by rotation of said shaft, said clutch member thereafter slipping on said shaft, said second spring means being arranged to rotate said drum in a wire winding direction when said shuttle delivers a length of wire greater than the demand of said machine.

2. Mechanism for delivering wire at a predetermined normal tension from a coil to an associated machine com prising a shaft rotated intermittently corresponding to the demand of said machine for wire, a drum for said coil freely mounted on said shaft and tended normally to be rotated in a wire unwinding direction by the tension of said wire as it is delivered to said machine, a slip type clutch frictionally carried on said shaft for engagement with said drum and adapted to be balanced in opposition against the tendency of said drum to rotate in a wire unwinding direction when said wire is delivered at normal tension but adapted to slip on said shaft in a direction opposite to shaft rotation when the tension exceeds said normal, a shuttle arm freely mounted on said shaft, a one way driving connection between said shaft and said arm for positively driving said arm with said shaft to strip wire from said coil in a wire unwinding direction, said driving connection permitting said arm to be advanced in relation to said shaft, spring means interconnecting said shaft and said arm and arranged to oppose movement of said arm in advance of said shaft, said spring having a strength related to the strength of said clutch such that when the tension of said wire exceeds its predetermined normal, said is advanced to load said spring until the tension of said wire overcomes the opposition of said clutch whereby said drum and clutch are rotated in a wire unwinding direction an angular amount equal to the angular advance of said arm.

3. The mechanism of claim 2 wherein said clutch is of the one-way variety permitting free rotation of said drum in a wire winding direction, and second spring means connecting said clutch and said drum and arranged to be loaded by engagement of said drum with said clutch but in opposition to said engagement whereby a wire winding force is exerted on said drum at all times when said drum and clutch are engaged, said spring means moving said drum in a wire winding direction whenever the tension on said wire falls substantially below its predetermined normal tension.

4. The mechanism of claim 3 wherein the strength of said first spring means is substantially greater than the strength of said second spring means.

5. The mechanism of claim 3 wherein said first and second spring means are of the spiral variety arranged in opposition to each other.

6. Mechanism for delivering wire from a coil to an associated machine comprising a shaft rotated inter-' mittently corresponding to the demand of said machine for wire, a drum for the Wire freely mounted on said shaft, a shuttle arm mounted on said shaft and driven positively thereby around said drum to pick up a predetermined length of wire therefrom, and spring means operatively connecting said drum and said arm to said shaft and adapted to rotate said drum in a direction opposite to the rotation of said arm when said shuttle delivers a length of Wire less than the demand of said machine.

7. Mechanism for delivering wire from a coil to an associated machine comprising a shaft rotated intermittently corresponding to the demand of said machine for wire, a drum for the wire freely mounted on said shaft, a shuttle arm mounted on said shaft and driven positively thereby around said drum to pick up a pre- 6 determined length of wire therefrom, and spring means operatively connecting said drum and said arm to said shaft and adapted to rotate said drum in the same direction as said arm when said shuttle delivers a length of wire greater than the demand of said machine.

8. Mechanism for delivering wire from a coil to an associated machine comprising a shaft rotated intermittently corresponding to the demand of said machine for wire, a drum for the wire rotatable on said shaft, a shuttle on an arm mounted on said shaft and driven positively thereby around said drum to pick up a predetermined length of wire therefrom, and spring means operatively connecting said arm to said shaft and adapted to rotate said drum in a direction opposite to the rotation of said arm through the tension in the 'Wire between said shuttle and said drum when said shuttle delivers a length of wire less than the demand of said machine.

9. Mechanism for delivering wire from a coil to an associated machine comprising a shaft rotated intermittently cor-responding to the demand of said machine for wire, a drum for the wire rotatable on said shaft, a shuttle on an arm mounted on said shaft and driven positively thereby around said drum to pick up a predetermined length of wire therefrom, spring means operatively connecting said drum to said shaft and clutch means for enabling said spring means to be loaded by the rotation of said shaft against the tension in the wire between said shuttle and said drum, so that said spring is thereby adapted to rotate said drum in the same direction as said arm when said shuttle delivers a length of wire greater than the demand of said machine.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,348,321 Rogers Aug. 3, 1920 1,956,631 Snyder May 1, 1934 2,157,847 Chapman May 9, 1939 2,257,837 Burge et al. Oct. 7, 1941 2,514,264 Soper July 4, 1950 2,625,344 Flansburgh Jan. 13, 1953