US2920348A - Apparatus for forming spring cords - Google Patents

Apparatus for forming spring cords Download PDF

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Publication number
US2920348A
US2920348A US681034A US68103457A US2920348A US 2920348 A US2920348 A US 2920348A US 681034 A US681034 A US 681034A US 68103457 A US68103457 A US 68103457A US 2920348 A US2920348 A US 2920348A
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United States
Prior art keywords
members
cords
cord
spring
holders
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Expired - Lifetime
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US681034A
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English (en)
Inventor
Jr Edward L Franke
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AT&T Corp
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Western Electric Co Inc
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Publication date
Priority to NL230961D priority Critical patent/NL230961A/xx
Priority to NL107720D priority patent/NL107720C/xx
Application filed by Western Electric Co Inc filed Critical Western Electric Co Inc
Priority to US681034A priority patent/US2920348A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US2920348A publication Critical patent/US2920348A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
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    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01BCABLES; CONDUCTORS; INSULATORS; SELECTION OF MATERIALS FOR THEIR CONDUCTIVE, INSULATING OR DIELECTRIC PROPERTIES
    • H01B13/00Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing conductors or cables
    • H01B13/008Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing conductors or cables for manufacturing extensible conductors or cables
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04MTELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M1/00Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers
    • H04M1/02Constructional features of telephone sets
    • H04M1/15Protecting or guiding telephone cords
    • YGENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10STECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10S264/00Plastic and nonmetallic article shaping or treating: processes
    • Y10S264/40Processes of coiling plastics

Definitions

  • a TTORNEY 2,920,348 I Patented Jan. 12, 1960 United States Patent fifice 2,920,34s APPARATUS FOR FORMING SPRING coRDS
  • This invention relates to apparatus for forming spring cords, and more particularly to apparatus for forming helically coiled spring cords.
  • An apparatus for performing such an operation may consist of means for rotating and advancing laterally a mandrel on which the cordage is directed from a supply spool, which supply spool is rotated on an axis perpendicular to the axis of the supply reel to provide axial twist to the cord which is being coiled on the mandrel.
  • the cord After the cord is properly heat treated and cooled, it is removed from the mandrel, and then apparatus is utilized to reverse the pitch of the helical coil. It has been found that by reversing the pitch of the helices of the coil, a cord having greater retractility is obtained.
  • the present apparatus is provided to reverse the pitch of the helicm of the spring cord, and in the description thereof it will be assumed that the cords have initially been wound on a mandrel and heat treated in some manner, such as that disclosed in the above-referred to patent.
  • a spring cord is provided wherein the forces-necessary for retractability are enhanced by the use of the present apparatus.
  • Such a spring cord is disclosed in detail in copending application Serial No. 681,035, filed on August 29, 1957, in the names of E. C. Hardesty and D. L. Myers.
  • the apparatus may consist of a pair of spaced endless members, each having a plurality of opposed article holders secured thereon, between pairs of which partially formedspring cords may be secured.
  • the endless members are moved in synchronism, the opposite holders are' rotated in opposite directions to cause the spring cord to be coiled in a reverse direction and to an extent greater than necessary to form the coil, resulting in an overtwist.
  • an endless chain with fingers thereon serves to impart tension to the spring cord to prevent knotting and kinking thereof.
  • a second means causes the holders secured to one of the members to be rotated in a direction opposite to its previous rotation to remove substantially all of the overtwist therefrom.
  • Fig. l is a plan view, with portions away, illustrating the apparatus
  • Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the apparatus illustrated in Fig. 1;
  • FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the apparatus taken sub-' stantially on the line3-3 of Fig. 2;
  • Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1;
  • Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4, and
  • Fig. 6 is a view similar to ment of the invention.
  • the apparatus consists of a pair of spaced, parallel, endless members 11 which are each supported by an idler sprocket 12 and a driven sprocket 13.
  • the sprockets 12 and 13 are supported on shafts 14 and 16, respectively, which: are journalled in suitable bearings 17 extending from frame members 18, which form a portion of the frame of the apparatus.
  • the shaft 16 is provided with a gear 19 extremity thereof.
  • the gear 19 is driven motor 21- through a chain or pulley 22, which extends around the gear 19 and at the opposite end is driven by a gear 23 on the shaft of the motor 21.
  • the gear 19 will be rotated in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 2, causing the shaft 16 and the sprockets 13 to rotate in a similar direction, thus causing the endless members 11 to likewise move in a clockwise direction with the upper portion thereof moving from left to right, as viewed in Fig. 2.
  • the endless members 11 are each provided with a plurality of members 24 secured suitably thereto.
  • the members 24 are each provided with an upstanding portion 26, such as may be seen in Fig. 5, in which is journalled a shaft 27.
  • the shaft 27 is provided at one extremity with an article holder or chuck 28', and at the opposite extremity witha wheel 29 in the form of a pulley.
  • each belt or drive member 31 is secured rotatably at one endover idler pulleys 32, which are jour- Fig. 3 of a second embodinear one by means of a 3 nalled in bearings 33 on the frame members 18.
  • the opposite end of each belt or drive member 31 is supported on a second pulley 34, which is on a shaft 36 secured suitably by journals 37 to the frame member 18.
  • the shaft 36, associated with one of the drive members 31, is provided near one end thereof with a pulley 38 over which passes a drive belt 39.
  • the drive belt 39 has its opposite extremity passing over a pulley 41, which is secured to a shaft 42 journalled in bearings 43.
  • the shaft 42 is provided with a second pulley 44 over which passes a drive belt which also passes over a pulley 47 secured near the end of a drive shaft 48 of a suitable motor 49.
  • the shaft 42 is further provided with a gear 51 thereon, which meshes with a companion gear one extremity of a shaft 53, which is journalled suitably in bearings 54.
  • the opposite end of the shaft 53 is provided with a pulley 56, over which passes a drive belt 57 which at its opposite extremity passes over a pulley associated with the other of the drive members 31.
  • the drive belt 57 and the pulley 58 are similar and for the same purpose as the drive belt 39 and the pulley 38, respectively. in other words, one of the drive belts 31, the two of which are secured in parallel relationship on opposite sides of the apparatus, is caused to move in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 2, under the control of the pulley 38.
  • the other drive member 31 will be moved in an opposite direction.
  • the member 31, as viewed in Fig. 2 will move in a counterclockwise direction
  • the drive member 31 at the opposite side of the machine, not illustrated except in Fig. 4 and then in a reverse position will be moved in a clockwise direction.
  • the drive members 31 are suspended above and in parallel relationship to the upper portion of the endless members 11.
  • the members 31 are so positioned that as the endless members 11 move, thereby imparting similar movement to their upstanding members 26 and the shafts 27 on which are secured the article holders 28 and the wheels 29, some of the wheels 29 will underlie and will be in contact with the member 31. Therefore, as the endless members 11 advance and move the shafts 27, the article holders 28 and the wheels 29 therewith, during a portion of their travel the wheels 29 will come into engagement with the members 31 to cause rotation to the wheels 29 and similar rotation to the article holders 28.
  • the wheels 29 associated with one of the members 11 will be rotated in one direction, and the wheels 29 associated with the other of the members 11 will be rotated in the opposite direction.
  • a pair of idler pulleys 61 and a drive pulley 62 in a somewhat triangular configuration and over which passes a drive member 63.
  • the idler pulleys 61 are so positioned that the lower run of the drive member 63 is substantially parallel to one of the endless members 11, and is so located that, during a portion of the movement of the members 11, the drive member 63' will overlie and be in actuating contact with respect to the wheels 29 at the extremity of the shafts 27 associated with one of the members 11 only.
  • the drive pulley 62 is secured to a stub shaft 64, which is journalled in bearings 66 and on the opposite extremity of which is provided a gear 67.
  • the gear 67 is in meshing engagement with a companion gear 68, which is secured to one extremity of a stub shaft 69, which is journalled in bearings 71 and which is provided at its opposite extremity with a pulley 72.
  • a drive belt F3 passes over the pulley 72, and at its opposite extremity passes over a pulley 74 which is secured to the shaft 48 of the motor 49, and is similar to the pulley 47.
  • the drive member 31 As mentioned previously, will be moving in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 2. However, because of the provision of the gears 67 and 68, the drive member 63 will be moving in an opposite or clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 2.
  • an endless chain 76 Positioned intermediate the sides of the machine is an endless chain 76 which passes over an idler sprocket 77 at the leftward extremity thereof, as viewed in Fig. 2.
  • the sprocket 77 is secured in suitable bearings 78.
  • the endless chain 76 also passes over a second smaller idler sprocket 79 at the rightward extremity, as viewed in Fig. 2, which is likewise journalled in suitable bearings 81.
  • a drive sprocket 82 for the chain 76 is secured in suitable :7. ings between and above the sprockets 77 and 79 in a position so that the sprockets 77, 79 and 82 and the chain 76 are in the configuration of a triangle. As viewed in Fig. 2, the chain 76 will move in a counterclockwise direction.
  • the sprocket 82 is secured on a shaft 83, which is journalled in suitable bearings 84 and which is provided with a gear 86 intermediate thereof.
  • the gear 86 meshes with a companion gear 87 which is at one extremity of a stub shaft 88, which is suitably journalled in bearings 89.
  • the stub shaft 88 is provided at its opposite extremity with a sprocket 91 over which passes a drive chain 92.
  • the opposite extremity of the drive chain 92 passes over a sprocket 93, which is secured on the shaft 16.
  • the chain 76 is provided at suitable intervals with extending fingers 94-, as may be seen more clearly in Figs. 2 and 4.
  • the drive members 31 are each provided with a guide consisting of vertical supports 96 and horizontal members 97 secured to the framework of the apparatus.
  • the lower member 97 is so positioned that the lower run of the drive member 31 will pass therebeneath, assuring that that portion of the drive member 31 will be maintained in a horizontal position and in engagement with the wheels 29.
  • the drive member a guide of vertical supports 98 and a horizontal member 99.
  • the lower member 99 is so positioned that the lower min of the drive member 63 will pass therebeneath and will maintain that portion of the drive member 63 in a horizontal position and in engagement with the wheels 29.
  • FIG. 3 With reference now to Fig. 3, and particularly the left side thereof, partially fabricated spring cords 100 are positioned in the machine with the opposite extremities of each cord being inserted in opposed article holders 28 secured to members 24, one on each of the endless members 11.
  • the extremities of the cords 100 may be positioned in the article holders 28 manually, which article holders may be of any suitable and conventional design whereby the cords may be loaded rapidly and easily in the machine.
  • the members 31 will impart sufficient rotation to the wheels 29 to cause an entire reversal of the pitch of the helices of the coil in the initially coiled spring cords 100, and, further, will impart additional rotation thereto to provide an overtwist or more twist than is necessary to coil the cord to its ultimate reverse size convolutions.
  • the cords 100 will continue to be moved toward the right, as viewed in Fig. 2, and, if there should be any tendency for the forces in the overtwisted cord 100 to cause rotation to the article holders 28 and wheels 29 to relieve the forces therein, it may be desirable to include a cam plate and cam on the shaft or wheel flange to overcome any tendency of the cords 100 to cause rotation to the holders 28.
  • the operative length of the member 63 in engagement with the wheels '29 and the speed at which the members 11 are advancing the cords through the machine must be determined in accordance with the final product desired.
  • the members 11 advance the cords 100 further to the .right, they will be advanced to a position where the Wheels 29'will no longer engage the member 63. At this point, the overtwist will have been removed from the cords and they will 'now'be of a size, pitch and compactness of the final product. It will then only be necessary for an operator to release the article'holders 28 and remove the finished cord therefrom. If desirable, it is possible to design the article holders 28 so that, as they reach the rightward extremity of the machinery, they may be opened automatically and the cords released therefrom and dropped in any suitable container.
  • the instant machine may be used for spring cords with unfinished ends as well as spring cords which have been tipped and banded prior to their initial helical coiling and heat treating. If such latter are used, it may be desirable to design article holders, such as 28, which are provided with space therein for the tipped conductors extending outwardly from the insulating jacket at the end of the spring cord. Such may be advisable to prevent the individual conductors from flying loose as rotation is imparted to the cord, which may result in entanglement with operating parts of the machine or with similar conductors of adjacent cords.
  • FIG. 6 a second embodiment of v the invention may be seen. It should be understood that the apparatus of Fig. 6 will have the same elements operating in the same manner as the first embodiment disclosed in Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, except that the courses of the endless members 11 are not parallel throughout.
  • the spacing at the left end is not proper for the reversing operation however, and, therefore, the members 11 are positioned further apart for the portion of the apparatus wherein the reversing occurs of the pitch of the convolutions of the cord. Such change in spacing may be achieved by proper positioning of the supporting and mounting means for the endless members 11.
  • the spacing of the members 11' is the same during the portion of the apparatus wherein the removal of the overtwist occurs, under the control of the drive member 63, as it is during the portion of the apparatus wherein the reversing occurs, under the control of the drive members 31.
  • the members 11 are spaced closer together than either of the previous courses, as seen at the extreme right in Fig. 6. Such spacing at this position is equal to the length of the finished cord 160 when it is removed from the apparatus.
  • Apparatus for forming spring cords which comprises a plurality of opposed pairs of holders, each holder of an opposed pair receiving the opposite extremity of a spring cord formed in a helical coil, means for moving said holders through a fixed path, means for rotating said opposed holders in opposite directions during the movement thereof so as to cause a reversal of the coiling of the spring cord, whereby a spring cord is formed having a helical coil with a pitch opposite to that of the initial helical coil, and means for maintaining the spring cord under tension during at least a portion of the movement of said holders through the fixed path.
  • Apparatus for forming spring cords which comprises a plurality of opposed pairs of holders, each holder of an opposed pair receiving the opposite extremity of a spring cord formed in a helical coil, means to move said holders through a fixed path, means to rotate said opposed holders in opposite directions during the movement thereof in a direction to impart a reversal of the coiling of the spring cord and to an extent greater than necessary to form the reversed coiling to impart overtwist to the cord, and means to rotate at least one of said holders in a reverse direction to remove the overtwist from the spring cord.
  • Apparatus for forming spring cords which comprises a pair of spaced endless members, a plurality of article holders on said members positioned in opposed spaced relationship, means to move said members in synchronism, means to rotate said article holders during a portion of the movement of said members, and means to rotate said article holders on one of said members only in a direction opposite to the direction in which they were rotated by said first article holder rotating means during a further portion of the movement of said members.
  • Apparatus for forming spring cords which comprises a pair of spaced members, a plurality of article holders secured to said members positioned in opposed spaced relationship for receiving the opposite extremities of helically coiled spring cords, means to move said members in synchronism, means to rotate said article holders during a portion of the movement of said members, said article holders on opposite of said members being rotated oppositely, to reverse the pitch of the helices of the coil and to an extent greater than necessary to form the reversed helical coil, and means to rotate said article holders on one of said members only in a direction opposite to that in which they were rotated by said first article holder rotating means during a further portion of the movement of said members to remove the excess twist placed in the helical coil.
  • Apparatus for forming spring cords which comprises a pair of spaced members, a plurality of rotatable article holders secured to each of said members for movement therewith and positioned in opposed paired relationship, each pair of opposed holders receiving the opposite extremity of a helically coiled spring cord, a wheel secured to each of said article holders for imparting rotation thereto, means for moving said spaced members in synchronism, first actuating means positioned adjacent to a portion of the members for imparting rotation to the wheels as said members are moved and said wheels are presented to said actuating means, the first actuating means being designed to impart rotation to said wheels to an extent greater than necessary to reverse the helical coil so as to place an overtwist in the cord, and second actuating means positioned adjacent to a subsequent portion of one of said spaced members for imparting rotation to the wheels of the holders on said last-mentioned member in a direction opposite to the previous rotation thereof as said last-mentioned wheels are presented to the second actuating means so as to the
  • Apparatus for forming spring cords which comprises a pair of endless members, a plurality of article holders secured to said members in opposed spaced relationship for receiving the opposite extremities of helically coiled spring cords, said members being spaced apart at one distance at the position whereat the cords are secured in said holders, means to move said members in synchronism, means to rotate said article holders during a portion of the movement of said members, said article holders on opposite of said members being rotated oppositely, to reverse the pitch of the helices of the coil and to an extent greater than necessary to form the reversed helical coil, and means to rotate said article holders on one of said members only in a direction opposite to that in which they were rotated by said first article holder rotating means during a further portion of the movement of said members to remove the excess twist placed in the helical coil, said members being spaced apart at a greater distance than said first distance adjacent to said first and said second article holder rotating means.
  • Apparatus for forming spring cords which comprises a plurality of pairs of article holders, an endless conveyor for mounting said holders in an endless succession of aligned spaced pairs, means for driving said conveyor so that the aligned pairs of article holders advance continuously a succession of spring cords having helically coiled portions, the opposite ends of each of the spring cords being held by an associated pair of holders, first actuating means for imparting relative rotation to the pairs of holders about their axes of alignment in a manner such as to reverse the helically coiled portion of each of the spring cords, said first actuating means being designed to impart rotation to said holders to an extent greater than necessary to accomplish a complete reversal of said helically coiled portion so as to impart a predetermined amount of overtwist thereto, and second actuating means for imparting relative rotation in the opposite direction to the pairs of holders to an extent suflieient to remove substantially all of the overtwist from the spring cords.
  • portions of the endless conveyor are so constructed and arranged as to cause a gradual movement of the spaced holders of each pair away from one another to stretch and tension the spring cord held therebetween.
  • Apparatus for forming spring cords which comprises a plurality of spaced pairs of article holders, an endless conveyor for mounting said holders in an endless succession of aligned spaced pairs, means for driving said conveyor so that the aligned pairs of article holders advance continuously a succession of spring cords having helically coiled portions, the opposite ends of each of said spring cords being held by an associated pair of holders, means for rotating said holders relative to each other about their axes of alignment during the advance thereof in a direction such as to impart a reversal of the coiling of the spring cord whereby a spring cord is formed having a helical coil with a pitch opposite to that of the initial helical coil, and means for maintaining the spring cord under tension during at least a portion of the advance thereof.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
  • Signal Processing (AREA)
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US681034A 1957-08-29 1957-08-29 Apparatus for forming spring cords Expired - Lifetime US2920348A (en)

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Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
NL230961D NL230961A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1957-08-29
NL107720D NL107720C (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1957-08-29
US681034A US2920348A (en) 1957-08-29 1957-08-29 Apparatus for forming spring cords

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Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3087199A (en) * 1959-12-23 1963-04-30 Western Electric Co Method of and apparatus for reversing spring cords
US3988092A (en) * 1975-12-15 1976-10-26 Western Electric Company, Inc. Apparatus for making retractile cords
US4508278A (en) * 1983-08-15 1985-04-02 Ericsson, Inc. Tandem stripping and reversing apparatus
US4630652A (en) * 1985-07-01 1986-12-23 Dieterich Frank L Method for forming a flat band of parallel, contiguous strands

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1653381A (en) * 1921-02-05 1927-12-20 Westinghouse Lamp Co Machine for forming constructions in exhaust tubes
US2334793A (en) * 1940-06-26 1943-11-23 Scusa Lino Toilet paper roll winding apparatus
US2478861A (en) * 1945-09-06 1949-08-09 Collins Method of reversing elastic coil structures

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1653381A (en) * 1921-02-05 1927-12-20 Westinghouse Lamp Co Machine for forming constructions in exhaust tubes
US2334793A (en) * 1940-06-26 1943-11-23 Scusa Lino Toilet paper roll winding apparatus
US2478861A (en) * 1945-09-06 1949-08-09 Collins Method of reversing elastic coil structures

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3087199A (en) * 1959-12-23 1963-04-30 Western Electric Co Method of and apparatus for reversing spring cords
US3988092A (en) * 1975-12-15 1976-10-26 Western Electric Company, Inc. Apparatus for making retractile cords
US4075299A (en) * 1975-12-15 1978-02-21 Western Electric Company, Inc. Method of making retractile cords
US4508278A (en) * 1983-08-15 1985-04-02 Ericsson, Inc. Tandem stripping and reversing apparatus
US4630652A (en) * 1985-07-01 1986-12-23 Dieterich Frank L Method for forming a flat band of parallel, contiguous strands

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NL230961A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
NL107720C (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)

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