US2929577A

US2929577A - Apparatus for coiling strands

Info

Publication number: US2929577A
Application number: US747420A
Authority: US
Inventors: George E Henning
Original assignee: Western Electric Co Inc
Current assignee: AT&T Corp
Priority date: 1958-07-09
Filing date: 1958-07-09
Publication date: 1960-03-22
Anticipated expiration: 1977-03-22

Description

March 22, 1960 Filed July 9, 195a 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 MAX/RADIUS con. "2 2+ E 2 g MEAN mmus com a. o k MEAN RADIUS COIL v o 4 c: 3 o 4 TIME- i E g MEAN mums COiL Z O u E a v 3 Mmfmmus con.

FIG. 2

DIRECTION or TRAVEL OF i orsn'rlousrzn TAP 5 4 TRAVEL TIME 4 ea I I I l I VWMKAAAAA 202 I M f 226 227 I L 230 32 I 238 228 2f2 E24/ 1 l P *6; f L TI239 235% t &t CLOSED a CLOSED o en s o PEN 22/ CLOSED OPEN CLOSED open CLOSED OPE N CL O$ED CEOSED J INVENTOR. G. E. HENN/NG BY czpiJW- w A Tram/5 United States Patent 1 2,929,571 I Patented Mar. 22,

'5 Claims. (Cl. 242-83) This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending application Sserial No. 509,209; filed May 18,-

1955 and; entitled Apparatus for Distributing mentaryMaterial into Coil Form.

The present invention relates generally to apparatus for collecting strands, and relates more particularly to improvements in the apparatus disclosed in my copending application, which improvements enable collection of a strand in a continuous succession of coils having varying radii.

An object of the invention is to provide new and improved apparatus for collecting strands.

I A further object of the invention is to provide apparatus for collecting a strand in a continuous succession of coils having varying radii.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide, in combination with the strand-distributing apparatus disclosed in my copending application, apparatus for collecting the strand in a continuous succession of coils having alternately increasing and decreasing radii.

An apparatus for collecting a strand being distributed along a descending helical path into a container, illustrating certain features of the invention, may include means for rotating the container about the axis of the helix defined by the descending strand in one direction, and means for rotating the container about the same axis in the opposite direction, in order to collect the strand in a continuous succession of coils having varying radii. Means may be provided for rotating the container at uniformly increasing then uniformly decreasing speeds in one direction, means for rotating the container at uniformly increasing then uniformly decreasing speeds in the opposite direction, and means for operating the rotatingirneans alternately, so that the coils have alternately increasing and decreasing radii.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following detailed description of a specific embodiment thereof, when read in conjunction with the appended drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation, partially in section, of a strand-collection apparatus illustrating the invention, a portion of the figure corresponding generally to Fig. 3 of my copending application, illustrating one form of distributing apparatus as in my copending application;

Fig. 2 is a graph indicating the rotational speed of a container for the strand as a function of time according to a preferred cycle of operation, and

Fig. 3 is a schematic drawing of a control circuit for operating the apparatus of Fig. 1 in accordance with the principles of the invention so as to achieve the cycle illustrated in Fig. 2.

Referring now in detail to the drawings and in particular to Fig. 1, there is shown a strand-distributing apparatus generally in accordance with Fig. 3 of my copending application, in combination with a means for rotating the strand receiver in accordance with the principles of this invention. For convenience, the elements forming a part of my'copending application have been given the numerals used in my copending application and the elements forming a part of this application only have been given numerals starting with the numeral 200. As disclosed in my copending application as illustrated in Fig. l, the distributing apparatus includes a supporting ring 101, having a sprocket 102 formed around the outer periphery thereof and rotatable in a central bearing 105. The ring 101 is designed to support a horizontal, annular disc 106, which is rotatable with the ring 101 about a central bearing 107. The foregoing elements will be described in more detail hereinafter.-

The strand-distributing apparatus illustrated in Fig. l is designed to coil filamentary material such as a strand 111, which may be, for example, a bare wire or an insulated conductor, into a container such as a barrel 110:

of fibrous material. The barrel 110 is preferably pro-' vided with a cylindrical core 112 at the center thereof for constraining the strand 111 being coiled to lie in an annular area defined between the outer surface of the core 112 and the inner surface of the barrel 110.

As described in my copending application, the strand 111 passes first between a pair of metering rollers 128128 forming a part of a conventional counter unit, designated generally by the numeral 129; thence downward through a fixed, hollow shaft 117; thence around each of three

guide pulleys

130, 131 and 132; and thence to a grooved, positively-driven capstan 119, which serves to advance the strand 111 and distribute the same in a descending helical path into the barrel in the form of a continuous succession of coils.

An endless belt 127 passes about a portion of the periphery of the capstan 119 and also about portions of the periphery of three

idler sheaves

120, 122 and 123, which are spaced about the capstan 119 and function to tension the belt 127 and determine the angle of contact (preferably about 180) between the belt 127 and the capstan 119, thus to regulate the angle at which the strand 111 is advanced by the capstan 119.

The capstan 119 and the

sheaves

120, 122 and 123 are all mounted for rotation about their own axes to a mounting plate 125, which in turn is revoluble about the fixed shaft 117, the axis of the shaft 117 being made coincident with the center line of the barrel 110 and thus with the axis of the coils to be formed. For this purpose, the mounting plate 125 is secured near the outer surface of the horizontal, annular disc 106, which is mounted in the bearing 107 for rotation about the fixed shaft 117.

The rotatable disc 106 is connected by a plurality of: adjustable rods 109-109 to the supporting ring 101,

which is formed with the sprocket 102 permitting rotation thereof by a motor 121 through a chain 124, the ring 101 also being supported for rotation about the fixed shaft 117 by the bearing 105. The first two guide pulleys 130 and 131 are mounted to the disc 106 and the third guide pulley 132 is mounted to one of the rods 109-109, so that all of these pulleys revolve with the capstan 119 so as to maintain a fixed feeding position relative thereto. The shaft 117, the motor 121 and the counter 129 are all mounted to a fixed platform near the top of the apparatus.

A fixed, beveled sun gear 113 is secured about the fixed shaft 117 and meshes with a bevel gear 118, which in turn is connected by a shaft 114 to the capstan 119 to cause rotation thereof for advancing the strand 111. The shaft 114 is journalled in a bearing 116, which is secured to the plate 106. In order to distribute the strand 111 into the barrel 110, the motor 121 is energized to rotate the supporting ring 101 and the disc 106 connected thereto by the rods 109-109 to revolve the mounting plate and the capstan 119 connected there to about the fixed shaft 117.

Assuming that the ring 101 is rotated by the motor t and 1 should all be equal'to onequarter of the total cycle and, further, that the maximum speeds in both directions of rotation should be equal to each other.

With this arrangement, the container-speed vs. time chart will appear substantially as illustrated in Fig. 2.

As an illustrative example, a strand 111 such as an insulated wire may be advanced by the capstan 119 at a speed of approximately 2000 feet per minute and distributed according to the principles of the invention into a barrel 110 having an inside radius of 21 inches using a core 112 having a radius of inches. With this arrangement, the strand 111 is distributed in coil form into an annular area having a width of 6 inches and a mean radius of 18 inches, which is the radius which the strand coils tend to assume when the barrel 110 is stationary.

Under these conditions, the barrel 110 is rotated at a uniformly increasing speed in the forward direction up to a maximum speed of about 37 rpm. at time t;, the strand 111 being distributed in coils of uniformly increasing radius between the mean radius of 18 inches and, After attain-' the radius of the barrel 110, 21 inches. ment of the maximum speed of 37 rpm. in the forward direction, the rotational speed is then reduced at a uni form rate back to zero at time t at which time the strand coils again have the mean radius of 18 inches.

The barrel is next rotated in the reverse direction at a uniformly increasing speed up to a miximum speed of about 37 rpm. at time t at which time the strand coils have the minimum radius of 15 inches, the radius of the core 112. The barrel 110 is finally rotated at uniformly decreasing speeds in the reverse direction reaching zero at time at which time the coils again have the mean radius of 18 inches and one full cycle has been completed.

A preferred apparatus for rotating the barrel 110 alternately in both directions and at the controlled variable speeds just described is illustrated at the bottom of Fig. 1. The barrel 110 is mounted on a turntable 200 for rotation therewith. The turntable 200 is rotated through a pair of bevel gears 201-201 by a reversible, variable speed AC. motor 202, which is suitably mounted within a recess in the factory floor. A relatively long portion 203 of the output shaft 204 of the motor 202 is threaded and a block 206 having an internally threaded aperture therethrough is received about the threaded portion 203 for reciprocating, longitudinal movement therealong when the shaft 204 is rotated by the motor 202 alternately in opposite directions.

An electrical tap 207 depends from the block 206 and is designed to ride along the periphery of a potentiometer, designated generally by the numeral 208 and designed to control the speed of rotation of the motor 202. A pair of

limit switches

209 and 210 are mounted at opposite ends of the potentiometer 208 and are designed to be closed alternately and momentarily by the reciprocating block 206 when the block reaches the extreme left and right positions, respectively, as viewed in Fig. 1. Momentary closure of the

limit switches

209 and 210 is designed to initiate, alternately and respectively, rotation of the barrel 110 in the forward and reverse directions.

Referring now to the control circuit illustrated in Fig. 3, the block 206, the tap 207, the potentiometer 208,

and the

limit switches

209 and 210 are all illustrated- In order to provide for the desired plan of operation I described earlier and illustrated in Fig. 2, four camoperated

switches

213, 214, 215 and-216 are provided,

which are actuated respectively by four timing ca m 8 218, 219, 220 and 221. The cams are rotated at a pre determined constant speed in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 3, by a control motor 222, which drives a common cam shaft 223 through a pair of speedreducing, control gears 224-224.

The gears 224224 are selected so as to provide a desired synchronism between the speed of rotation of the cams and the travel of the block 206, the cams being rotated at such speed that they will complete exactly one full revolution for each full cycle of operation (t -t4). For convenience in understanding the operation of the control circuit, the position of the reciprocating tap 207 at each of the times (t -t depicted in Fig. 3

is indicated at the top of Fig. 3, with arrows showing the direction of travel of the block 206 at each time.

Also, the corresponding state of operation (open-orclosed) of the cam-operated switches 213-216 is indi:

cated at the bottom "of Fig. 3.

The motor 202 is illustrated schematically in Fig.3; as a reversible, variable-speed, A.C. motor having three

conductors

226, 227 and 228 connected to the field 231 and a secondary 232 of a transformer designated genorally by the numeral 2.5.5. The transtormer 233 is also provided with secondaries 234 and 255, which may be connected to supply current to energize a pair of control relays 2.16 and 251, respectively.

1he relay 25s is energized whenever the limit switch 209 IS closed momentarily (at the times t and 2 by the blOCK 206, which is the operating state at the time t depicted in big. 3.

glzed, a latching contact 2325 thereof is closed to mainmm the energlzatloh circuit therefor (assuming that the I cam-operated switch 213 is closed), and an operating contact 239 is closed to permit power to be supplied from the secondary 232 to the motor 202 through the

lines

226 and 227 in order to rotate the barrel in a -iorward direction.

The relay 2:] operates in a similar manner to direct rotation of the barrel 110 in the reverse direction, the relay 257 being ehergizable from the secondary 255 when the limit switch 2m is closed (at the time t The, relay 257 is also provided with a latching contact241, to maintain the energlzatlon thereof (assuming that the cam-operated contact 216 is closed) and an operatingcontact 242, which operates to energize the motor 202' from the secondary 262 across the

alternate lines

227 and 228.

"the cam 218 is designed so that the switch 213 is closed for one-half of the cycle between the times t and t the latching circuit tor the relay 236 including the switch 213 as well as the relay contact 233 so that, once energized at the time t the relay 236 will remain energized to direct forward rotation until the, when the first hal'f switch 213 is opened by the cam 218 of the cycle is completed at thetime t When the relay 236 is energized, the motor 202 is operated to rotate the barrel 110 in the forward direc-Z tron since the motor circuit is then completed between.

the conductor 226, the operating contact 239, the secondary 232, the tap 207, the full length of the resistance coil 211, the cam-operated switch 215 (which is maintained closed during the time interval t -t by the shape of the cam 220, as illustrated in Fig. 3), and the com mon conductor 227.

Since the full length of the resistance coil 211 is now when the relay 256 is so ener- I slightly larger than the mean radius. As the motor rotates in the forward direction, the block 206' will travel along the threaded portion 2030f the motor shaft 204, from left to right as mag a in Figs. 1 and'3, which cause the tap 201 to move tothe right and thus tap less resistance from 'the; resistance. coil 21 less resistance is tapped, the motor 2562 increases; iiniformly. in speed to distribute the stra d 1 11 in coils o r v a e a nail. h aximum. s s reached at the time t when none o f the resista ce 21;1 i -flit fidi i ii i h? er sels h e rad us s tanti equal; tq'thatof the, barrel- 11 th fl time; a; sw ghf l-t sq e tedb the can; 2 9. h r -n g 2. .4. s 9ml. a he. @1112 due s. the opposi ng configurations; of these cams; ill stra-ted in Fig! e aen retest w tches: 2 31 99 2 16; net e n l ih t m' W en. e-sn tch 1 Q 9 Q t e xii did? 2 32 will. co nt1 ne rotating at itsmaximum speed sites. the tap 267 bridges the resistance'coils 211 and 212; however, the motor circuit is now closed through the tap 267, an end portion offthe resistance 2 12, and the'sw'itch .214 rather than; through the tapv 2317, a portion of the resistance 211, and the sv\ /itch -2 as wasihe case during the interval betweeh the; times t ria);

The 'b lock 2 and the tap 297.- continues tomove to the right so thattanincreasing amountof the. resistance coil21 2 placed; in the motor circuit and the radius coils decreases until the time t is, reached, at which time the full length of the resistan fi; 212, is in j circuit, the speed of'the motor isalmost Zer ,v and; the coil. radius is again the mean radins. g

t. the time Q, the oppositely acting, cams, 218, and. 221 operate to open the switch 213 and close the switch.

respectively. The opening of the switch 213 oper ats tobreak the latching circuit for the relay 236 so as to open the operating contact 2 3 9 and disconnect the motor 202' from 'energization across thelines 225 and 227. At the time t the limit switch 219 ismomenr tarily' closed by the block 206 at the endtof its. travel from left to right, which energizes the control, relay 237 i an ou-nt of;resistance ih,series.with the motor 202 and hus o s a hs m or d w o a m m speed 1? z er oat the time when the full; length of the resistance. 211 is in series-with themotor 202.: The time-t corresponds to the time r thefcoils again. having the mean radiusbut the apparatus having completed one full cycle of operation. At the time 1 the limit switch 209 is again closedmomentarily to. energize the relay 236 and start the motor" 202 running once morein the forward direction.

The cam-operated switch 213 is also-.reclosed at the time,

m ns a -ma e' thom deser -la t mfi s p r t a d e a ate What is. claimed is:

1. In combination with apparatus for coiling a strand,

including a containcrin which the strand is to becoiled, a capstanmounted above the container for continuously advancing a length of thestrand, and means for causing those portions: of the capstan which are last to contactthe strand: to revolve, about the axis of the coil to be formed. at substantially the-samespced as the speed of the strand leaving thev capstan but in'theoppositedirec:

tion thereto, wherebythe strand advanced by the capstan is continuously, distributed in a descending helical path into the container; the; improvement which comprises; means, for rotating the container aboutthe axis oi the coil to be formed alternately with and against the-direce tion of. distribution of the strand thereto inorder to 2. In combination with apparatus for coilingastrand,

' including a container in which the strandis to be-coiled,

a'capstan mounted above the container for=continuouslyadvancing a length of the'strand, and means for'ca-using those portionsof the capstan-which are last to; contact the strand to revolve about the axis of the-:coil' to be formed at substantially thesame speed asthespeed of the strand leaving the capstan, but in the opposite direction thereto, the central; axisof the container being coincident with the axis of the coil' to be forn1e d, wh1ereby. the strand advanced by the'capstan is continuously-distributed in a descending helical path'into the container; the-improvement which comprises: reversible, variable-speed means for rotating the container about its'central axis; first means for controlling the operatiomofisaid: rotating 7 means. sothabthe container-is rotated atuniformlyin When the relay 237 is energized, the operating contact 242i is closed, which causes energization of the motor 292, through the conductor 228, the contact 242, the secondary 232, the tap 207,'the entire portion ofthe resistance coil 212, the still-closed switch 214, and the semen. conductor 227;

radii below the mean radius,

Theblock 206. will now travel from righttolett, as viewed in Figs. land 3, placing successively smaller portions of the resistancei212 in circuit with themotor 7 At this time, the motor .202 begins rotating at a slow speed in the reverse'direction so as to distribute the strand 11 1 in coils oi; decreasing 1 202 so as to increase the motorspeed 'untilthema imnm sr iecd in the reverse direction is reached at "the time A t-the time I the switch214 is openedfby the operating cam 21 9 andjth e switch 235 is closed the operating cam 229; so that the'inotor 232k now energizedathrough a small iaortion'of the resistance 211 aiid the switch 215, rather-than through a. portion ofthe-resistance 212.; and

' the switch 214'as was the'case'bet'ween'the times r means operableafter thesecond time interval fori-con- 7 mg the operation of said rotating means so .that'the container is rotated atuniformly increasing speeds in the tro reverse direction forathird predetermined timeinterval;

duringlwhich third time interval the, strand is. collected' in coils of decreasing 'radii below' the normalir adiusy and fourth means operable after; the third time interval; for

. the contalnflli lsrotated at umforrnlydecreasmg speedscontrolling the; opera-tioncf-fsaid rotating means so that in 'the reverse directiomfor a fourth predeterminedtime interval, during whichfourthtime intervalthe strand is operable after the fourth time interval to provide a continuous cycle of operation.

3. In combination with apparatus for coiling a strand, including a collecting barrel having a central core defining an annular area between the barrel and the core within which the strand is to be coiled, a capstan mounted above the barrel for continuously advancing a length of the strand, and means for causing those portions of the capstan which are last to contact the strand to revolve about the axis of the coil to be formed at substantially the same speed as the speed of the strand leaving the capstan, but in the opposite direction thereto, the central axis of the barrel being coincident with the axis of the coil to be formed, the capstan being so arranged that the strand advanced thereby is continuously distributed in a descending helical path into the barrel forming a coil therein which normally tends to assume the mean radius between the barrel and the core; the improvement which comprises: reversible, variable-speed means for rotating the barrel about its central axis; first means for controlling the operation of said rotating means so that the barrel is rotated at uniformly increasing speeds in a forward direction, the direction of distribution of the strand thereto, reaching a maximum speed at the end of a first predetermined time interval, during which first time interval the strand is collected in coils of increasing radii between the mean radius and the radius of the barrel; second means operable after the first time interval for controlling the operation of said rotating means so that the barrel is rotated at uniformly decreasing speeds in the forward direction, approaching zero at the end of a second predetermined time interval equal to the first such interval, during which second time interval the strand is collected in coils of decreasing radii approaching the mean radius; third means operable after the second time interval for controlling the operation of said rotating means so that the barrel is rotated at uniformly increasing speeds in the reverse direction, reaching a maximum speed in the reverse direction equal to the maximum speed in the forward direction at the end of a third predetermined time interval equal to each of the first and second such intervals, during which third time interval the strand is collected in coils of decreasing radii between the mean radius and the radius of the core; and fourth means operable after the third time interval for controlling the operation of said rotating means so that the barrel is rotated at uniformly decreasing speeds in the reverse direction, approaching zero at the end of a fourth predetermined time interval equal to each of the other such intervals, during which fourth time interval the strand is collected in coils of increasing radii approaching the mean radius; said first controlling means being again operable after the fourth time interval to provide a continuous cycle of operation.

4. In combination with apparatus for coiling a strand, including a container in which the strand is to be coiled, a capstan mounted above the container for continuously advancing a length of the strand, and means for causing those portions of the capstan which are last to contact the strand to revolve about the axis of the coil to be formed at substantially the same speed as the speed of the strand leaving the capstan, but in the opposite direction thereto, whereby the strand advanced by the capstan is continuously distributed in a descending helical path into the container; the improvement which comprises: a reversible, variable-speed motor for rotating the container about the axis of the coil to be formed, and means for controlling the operation of said motor so that the container is rotated first at increasing speeds in the direction of distribution of the strand thereto, second at decreasing speeds in the same direction, third at increasing speeds in the reverse direction, and finally at decreasing speeds in the reverse direction, whereby the strand is distributed in a continuous succession of coils having increasing and then decreasing radii.

5. In combination with apparatus for coiling a strand, including a collecting barrel having a central core defining an annular area between the barrel and the core within which the strand is to be coiled, a capstan mounted above the barrel for continuously advancing a length of the strand, and means for causing those portions of the capstan which are last to contact the strand to revolve about the axis of the coil to be formed at substantially the same speed as the speed of the strand leaving the capstan but in the opposite direction thereto, the central axis of the barrel being coincident with the axis of the coil to be formed, the capstan being so arranged that the strand advanced thereby is continuously distributed in a descending helical path into the barrel forming a coil therein which normally tends to assume the mean radius between the barrel and the core; the improvement which comprises: a reversible, variable-speed motor for rotating the barrel about its central axis; timing means; first switching means operated by said timing means for controlling the operation of said motor so that the barrel is rotated at uniformly increasing speeds in a forward direction, the direction of distribution of the strand thereto, said motor reaching a maximum speed at the end of a first predetermined time interval controlled by said timing means, during which time interval the strand is collected in coils of increasing radii between the mean radius and the radius of the barrel; second switching means operated by said timing means at the end of the first time interval for controlling the operation of said motor so that the barrel is rotated at uniformly decreasing speeds in the forward direction, the speed of said motor approaching zero at the end of a second predetermined time interval controlled by said timing means and equal to the first such interval, during which second time interval the strand is collected in coils of decreasing radii approaching the mean radius; third switching means operated by said timing means at the end of the second time interval for controlling the operation of said motor so that the barrel is rotated at uniformly increasing speeds in the reverse direction, said motor reaching a maximum speed in the reverse direction equal to the maximum speed in the forward direction at the end of a third predetermined time interval controlled by said timing means and equal to each of the first and second such intervals, during which third time interval the strand is collected in coils of decreasing radii between the mean radius and the radius of the core; and fourth switching means operated by said timing means at the end of the third time interval for controlling the operation of said motor so that the barrel is rotated at uniformly decreasing speeds in the reverse direction, the speed of said motor approaching zero at the end of a fourth predetermined time interval controlled by said timing means andequal to each of the other such intervals, during which fourth time interval the strand is collected in coils of increasing radii approaching the mean radius; said first controlling means being again operated by said timing means at the end of thefourth time interval to provide a continuous cycle of operation.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,995,498 Dempsey et al Mar. 26, 1935 2,849,195 Richardson et al. Aug. 26, 1958 2,857,116 Krafit et a1 Oct. 21, 1958