US2911166A

US2911166A - System for continuously reeling wire from drum containers

Info

Publication number: US2911166A
Application number: US599388A
Authority: US
Inventors: Otto Haugwitz
Original assignee: GEOFFREY-DELORE SA
Current assignee: GEOFFROY-DELORE SA; GEOFFREY-DELORE SA
Priority date: 1956-03-24
Filing date: 1956-07-23
Publication date: 1959-11-03
Anticipated expiration: 1976-11-03
Also published as: FR1146262A; DE1051770B; GB799997A; CH331907A

Description

SYSTEM FOR CQNTINUOUSLY REELING WIRE FROM DRUM CONTAINERS Filed July 25, 1956 O. HAUGWITZ Nov. 3, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1,

| lllll llll hllllllll I I l' l-klllll I Il/M rll llllll llllllllll 0. HAUGWlTZ Nbv. 3, 1959 SYSTEM FOR CONTINUOUSLY REELING WIRE FROM DRUM CONTAINERS Filed July 25, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. OTTO HAUGWITZ ATTORNEY FOR CONTINUOUSLY REELING WIRE 7 FROM DRUM CONTAJNERS Otto Haugwitz, La Celle Saint Cloud, Franc e, assignor to Socit Anonyme Geoffroy-Delore, Paris, France, a French company Application July 23, 1956, Serial No. 599,388 Claims priority, application France March 24, 1956 2 Claims. 01. 242-128) This invention relates to systems for reeling wire and the like from drum containers in which the wire is stored. While it has been possible heretofore to receive wire in a continuous unbroken manner into storage drums or containers, no system has so far been devised to the applicants knowledge for reeling the stored wire from such drums towards some point of use, without having to interrupt the reeling process on exhaustion of each reel in order to effect a connection, as by welding, with the wire stored in the succeeding reel. This resulted in a loss of time and was particularly objectionable in cases where the wire was to be subjected to some continuous processing such as continuous vulcanization, since each shutdown will then entail a scrapping of material and inefficient operation of the vulcanizing apparatus.

It is an object of this invention to permit a continuous and uninterrupted reeling of wire, thread, or the like, from a succession of storage reels. Another object is to provide an improved wire reeling system for use in connection with reels of wire stored in drum containers. A further object relates to the prevention of kinks and loops in the wire during reeling operations.

In one aspect, the invention provides a wire reeling system comprising a guide casing in the form of a pair of spaced cones each slotted down from its apex along a generatrix thereof, with a channel interconnecting the slots in both cones to provide a continuous passage therebetween, each cone being arranged to overlie in coaxial relationship a drum containing a reel of wire, and the two cones being adapted for alternate use in cooperation with the respectively related reels of wire to permit a continuous reeling of the wire from each reel through said cone, the wire 'being adapted to shift of its own accord from one cone through said passage and to the other cone as the reeling operation is transferred from an exhausted reel to a full reel.

The above and further objects, features and advantages of the invention will appear from the ensuing disclosure with reference to the accompanying drawings, given by way of illustration but not of limitation, and wherein:

Fig. 1 is a general perspective view of an improved reeling system;

Fig. 2 is an overhead plan view thereof;

Fig. 3 shows a detail of an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 4 illustrates a front view of a drum provided with a kink preventing device according to the invention;

Fig. 5 is a partial cross sectional view of the device on line 55 of Fig. 4; and

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the general arrangement shown in Fig. 1 but with the storage units in reversed relationship with exterior parts omitted to show details of construction of the sleeve 17 and the associated elements shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, it will be seen that the invention relates to the type of wire storage means ex- Patented Nov. 3,1959

'ige

"emplified by thetwo storage units"6,and 7. Each storage unit comprises an outer cylindrical casing or drum 8 coaxially surrounding a cylindrical post 9, the reel of wire being stored between the post 9 and the drum 8. In accordance with the invention, there is provided a guide'system which is shaped to provide a pair of spaced parallel

upstanding cone portions

1 and 2, each having a perforated top as shown at 3 and having a slot extending from the top perforation down a generatrix of the cone. The slotted generatrices of the two cone portions are face to face and their sides are interconnected by wall portions 5 merging smoothly at 4 with the cone surfaces and defining a continuous passage between the recesses "of the two cone portions. The upper side of this passage is formed with a straight slot leading from one apical perforation 3 to the other.

Extending above the guide casing is a rotatable idler roller 13 which extends a' short distance above and parallel'to the upper slot iii *the casing, and in such a position that the vertical plane passing through said slot is substantially tangent to said roller.

Preferably the inner post 9 of each storage unit 6, 7 is provided with an upper extension 10 carrying a rotatable head 11 of increased diameter; if desired the outer .casing 8 may be extended by a portion 12 surrounding said head.

The system operates as follows:

The upper end of the wire 1a from the left-hand reel is led upwards out of the drum 8 and up through the .related cone 1, and is then led out through the top perforation 3 therein, around the idler roller 13, and thence over a guide pulley 14 to the point of use, not illustrated. As the wire is drawn out of the storage unit it frictionally engages the rotatable head 11 and drives it in rotation; thus, in case of abnormal tension in the Wire the inertia of the revolving head 11 will contribute to the ready withdrawal of the wire by a flywheel effect.

'in the right-hand reel 7 is drawn out, and it will be apparent that owing to the inherent geometry of the system the length of wire passing through the guide casing will automatically be transferred from the left to the right-hand cone through the intermediate passage 5. The reeling process will then continue in a similar 7 way for the right-hand reel 7, and during this stage of the cycle there is ample time for substituting a fresh reel for the exhausted reel 6 and connecting the topmost end of the wire in this fresh reel with the bottommost end of the wire in the reel 7.

It is sometimes found expedient in order to promote smooth withdrawal of the wire, to impart a positive rotational drive to the rotatable heads 11 at a rate somewhat higher than the tangential velocity of the wire withdrawn from the reel. Any suitable means may be used for driving the head 11, as by an electric motor which may be conveniently housed in the cylindrical extension '10. However, an advantageous means for driving the head is illustrated in Fig. 3, and comprises a small blower fan 15 adapted to discharge a small jet of high-velocity air against a number of radial vanes 16 projecting from the upper surface of the head 11.

In connection with some types of flexible wire or thread, kinks are apt to be formed and are objectionable since they are liable to cause breakage during some sub sequent stage ofthe processing of the wire. To'prevent the formation of kinks during reeling it is simply necessary to ensure at all times that a small but definite tension is present "in the wire Normally,. the tension produced'hy the frictionof the-wireagainst. the wallsof the casing 3 and theweightof the wire in the casing,

will be sufficient to prevent kinks from developing.

However, a somewhat critical stage-inthe process occurs" at the time one reel has'been completely exhausted so that the remaining length of wire'ing the reel becomes approximately parallel to the vertical length that is joined with the upper end of the other reel. At this point the wire will readily form itself into an S-orfigureeight loop, and produce a kink.

This condition may be prevented by the means now to be described in connection with Figs; 4 to 6 which shown a modified construction of reel-6'. Prior to the storage of wire in drum 8 an end portion of saidwire is threaded into a slotted sleeve 17, and the sleeve is secured in the drum so as to have one of its walls extending along an internal generatrix. thereof, as by means of hole and-hook connecting means zit-21. A slot 18 extends along-one vertical side of the sleeve and the sleeve has a spring plate 19 defining one longitudinal Near the lower end wall thereof adjacent said slot. of the sleeve a cross pin 22 is arranged tobe removably inserted. The wire is passed as shown in Fig. 4, first under the pin '22 then up through thesleeve and out the upper end thereof, and is pulled upwards so as to remove any slack in the wire between the receiver head of the wire storing system (not shown) and the pin 22. After the receiver head of. the storage system has begun rotating and wire has commenced to be coiled up. in the bottom of the storage unit, the cross pin 22 is pulled out. With thisarrangement it will. be apparent that during the subsequent reeling process, on withdrawal of the bottommost coil of wire from the drum, the Wire will be constrained to riseup along the slot 18 of the between the inner recesses of both cone portions, the

4 top of said passagebeing opening between the apices of the cone portions, a pair of storage units each comprising a cylindrical drum casing and an axial post, said units being disposed under the respective cone portions coaxially therewith, and each storage unit containing a reel of wire with the ends of the reels of both storage units interconnected, whereby wire drawn outfronrthe reel-of one unit and up throughthe related cone portion and out the perforate apex thereof will be guided by said wall portions to the other cone portion on exhaustion of said last-named reel, a vertical sleeve secured within the drum casing'of at least one of said storage units, said sleeve having a slot and having a' spring wall forming one side of said slot and normally tending to close said slot and adapted to exert pressure on wire reeled in said drum casing as a coil of said wire is drawn through saidsleeve.

2. A wire reeling system comprising, a guide casing shaped-to provide a pair of spaced cone portions each having a perforate apex and a slot along a generatrix of the cone portion to provide slotted generatrices disposedface to face, and'a pair of wall portions at each side of each slot providing a continuous passageway between the inner recesses of both cone portions, the top of said passage being open to provide a continuous opening between the apices of the cone portions, a pair of storage units each comprising a cylindrical drum casing and an axialpost, said units being disposed under the respective cone portions coaxially therewith, and each storage unit containing a reel of wire with the ends of the reels of both storage units interconnected, whereby wire drawn out from the reel of one unit and up through the related cone portion and out the perforate apex thereof will be guided by said wall portions to the other cone portion on exhaustion of said last-named reel, a vertical sleeve secured within the drum casing of at least one of said storage units,- said sleeve having a slot and having a spring wall forming one side of said slot and normally tending to close said slot, and a cross pin removably extending through the lower portion of said sleeve adapted'to receive a length of wire therearound.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 462,091 Cofiin Oct. 27, 1891 1,081,716 Boulais' Dec. 16, 1913 1,955,805 Hanson Apr. 24, 1934 2,170,194 Griggs Aug. 22, 1939 open to provide a continuous"