US3091415A - Wire pay-off - Google Patents

Description

y 8, 1963 P. S. MAGNA 3,091,415

WIRE PAY-OFF Filed March 7, 1961 INVENTOR PETER \S. MAGNA Alforney 3,091,415 Patented May 28, 1963 ice 3,091,415 WIRE PAY-OFF Peter S. Magma, Pittsburg, Calif., assignor to United States Steel Corporation, a corporation of New Jersey Filed Mar. 7, 1961, Ser. No. 93,960 9 Claims. (Cl. 242-428) This invention relates to apparatus for withdrawing wire from coiled bundles and resides, more specifically, in improvements that are directed to the problem of reducing work-stoppages caused by interruptions in the wire pay-01f operation as the result of tangles, cobbles, and the like.

The pay-off of this invention is especially adapted for unreeling dead-cast wire of the type that is used as baling wire and in the fabrication of bale ties. Such wire is usually coiled by a dead-lay process in a bundle on a vertical stem for transport to other processing apparatus such as a baling wire recoiler, a bale-tie forming machine, and the like. In processing apparatus of this character to the vertical transport stem is frequently used as a part of the pay-off mechanism, and for this purpose is placed under a guide through which the wire is Withdrawn by the processing machinery. Conventional wire pay-off arrangements of this character are subject to cobbles and tangles that stop the wire pay-off operation and frequently necessitate cutting the wire to remove the cobble or tangle and subsequent welding before continuing the pay-off of wire. While special forms of pay-off reels, which frequently include rotating guides, have been proposed for the purpose of eliminating work-stoppages of this character, the convenience afforded by vertical transport stems has resulted in their continued use as part of the pay-off apparatus, and work-stoppages from cobbles and tangles continue to be a troublesome problem.

This invention accordingly has as one of its principal objects the elimination of tangle and cobble caused works-toppages in wire pay-offs of the type that include a conventional vertical transport stem as a part of the pay-off mechanism. For this purpose, the apparatus of this invention comprises a pair of upper and lower conical guides that are mounted in axially spaced and concentric positions between the upper end of a vertical stem and a wire-withdrawing mechanism that includes a wire guide spaced axially above in a centered position with respect to the stem upper end and through which the wire is withdrawn over a vertical path. In a manner to be described the lower guide is a funnel-shaped conical hood that is mounted in an inverted position over a bundle of coiled wire on the vertical stem in such manner that its inner surface engages tangled convolutions lifted from the bundle, which are then separated by drawing the wire inwardly over the peripheral edge of an opening at the center of the hood, and the upper guide is a conically shaped expander that engages the wire convolutions moving upwardly thereover with an expanding action.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a view of a wire pay-01f apparatus that has two pay-offs respectively constructed in accordance with the principles of this invention and in which one of such pay ofis is shown in elevation and the other is shown in vertical section; and

FIGURE 2 is a plan view on a slightly enlarged scale of one of the pay-offs shown in FIGURE 1 in which a fragmentary portion of its upper conical guide is broken away to show more clearly the construction of its lower conical guide.

FIGURE 1 of the drawings shows the improvements of this invention in a conventional pay-off apparatus that operates to supply two strands of wire W to wire processing apparatus such as, for example, a baling wire recoiler or a machine for forming bale ties. The wire processing apparatus draws the strands W over pulleys 1 that are rotatably mounted on the outer ends of arms 2 carried by a supporting post 3, one of the strands W moving over one of the pulleys 1 having its path of travel therefrom directed by guides 4 mounted on the arms 2. The wire moving to the pulleys 1 travels over a vertical path through guides '5 depending from the outer ends of the arms 2, and is drawn upwardly from bundles 6 of coiled wire that are supported on vertical transport stems 7. Each of the stems 7 comprises a cylindrical core 8 that extends vertically and axially through the bundles 6 and has a circular platform 9 at its lower end for supporting engagement with the lower end of the bundle 6. The stems 7 are used to transport wire from drawing apparatus where it is deposited on the platform 9 about the core 8 by a block or drum at the end of a wire drawing line. When used as a wire pay-off, each transport stem 7 is placed under a guide 5 in a centered position with the axis of its core 8 aligned with the vertical path over which the wire W is pulled through the overlying guide 5. The apparatus thus far described above is conventional and forms no part per se of this invention, which comprises, in combination with such apparatus, a pair of upper and lower conical guides 11 and 12 that are mounted in concentric and axially spaced positions between each wire guide 5 and the bundle 6 supported on an underlying stem 7.

As indicated, the pay-off of this invention is particularly adapted for use with dead-cast wire of the type which is used in the manufacture of bale ties and baling wire recoilers, and which is cast on the platform 9 in convolutions having a diameter D as shown in FIGURE 1 of the drawings.

The upper conical guide 11 is an expander that has a conically shaped external surface 13 of increasing diameter in an upward direction over which convolutions of wire travel and are expanded in moving from the bundles 6 to the guide 5. It has a cylindrical sleeve 14 at its lower end which is telescoped in the upper end 15 of the core 8 and supports it in a concentric and axially aligned position with respect to the axis of the stem 8. The diameter of its lower end 16 at the point where it has initial engagement with the upwardly traveling convolutions of wire is slightly larger than the external diameter of the core 8, and the taper and axial length of its conical surface 13 is such that its upper end 17 has a diameter that is the same as the diameter D of the wire convolutions in the bundles 6.

The lower conical guide 12 is a funnel-shaped hood that is mounted in an inverted position below the expander 11 and over the bundle 6 on the stem 7. It is supported in a concentric position about the upper end 15 of the stem core 8 by vertical supporting bars or legs 13, the upper ends of which are removably clamped in tubes 19 secured to the hood 12 by plates 20 that are welded to the upper surface of the hood 12. Its conical inner surface 21 has a diameter that decreases in an upward direction from its lower end 22. Its upper end 23 has a diameter that is larger than the diameter of the cylindrical core 8 so that it cooperates therewith to define an annular space 24 through which the convolutions of wire travel to the upper conical guide or the expander 11. Its upper end 23 further acts as a guide ring for a purpose to be described and has a diameter that is greater than the lower end 16 of the expander 11, but considerably less than the diameter of its upper end 17.

When the wire processing apparatus is operated to pull wire over the guide pulleys 1 and through the guides 5, the convolutions of wire in the bundles 6 in traveling to the guides 5 move upwardly over the stem core 8, through the annular space 24, and upwardly over the conical surface 13 of the expander 11. The convolutions of wire moving upwardly over the cylindrical core 8 are stretched to a spiral shape as shown in the drawings and to a diameter considerably less than the diameter D. As each convolution moves through the annular space 24 and upwardly over the expander 11, the conical surface 13 operates to expand each convolution. The expanding action of the conical surface 13 on the wire operates to hold the wire engaged with the inner surface of the peripheral edge or guide ring 23 at the upper end of the hood 12. In this manner, the action of the expander 11 operates to hold the portion of wire below the guide ring 23 out of engagement with the stem 8 and to prevent it from contracting into binding engagement therewith.

In the event that two or more convolutions of wire tangle and move upwardly together from the bundles 6, they will engage with the conical surface 21 of the hood 12, and continued upward movement of the wire to the guide will separate such tangle by drawing the wire radially inwardly over the hood surface 21 and then upwardly over the inner surface of the guide ring 23 to the conical expanding surface 13. From the upper end 17 of the expander 11, the Wire is drawn radially inwardly and upwardly to the wire guides 5. The point of engagement of the wire with the upper end 17 of the expander 11 rotates continuously about the vertical axis of the apparatus as does the point at which the wire engages the guide ring 23.

As indicated above, the upper end 17 of the bonnet or expander 11 has a diameter that is the same as the diameter D of the wire convolutions that are cast on the stem 7. If the upper end 17 had a diameter less than the diameter D of the convolutions on the stem 7, thewire W would encircle the expander 11 more than once per convolution and would therefore be twisted and form a loop that would tangle the wire. The diameter of the guide ring 23 lies intermediate the diameter of the upper end 17 and lower end 16 of the expander 11, and must be smaller than the diameter of the expander upper end 17 so that the expander 11 will operate to maintain the wire engaged with the inner surface of the guide 23 and thus assure the passage of only one convolution of wire through the space 24 at any given time. By maintaining the wire engaged with the inner surface of the guide 23 in this manner, the hood surface 21 will operate to hold succeeding convolutions against movement through the space 24 where two or more convolutions are elevated at one time from the bundle 6. The axial lengths and tapers of the conical guides 11 and 12 may be varied within limits determined by the vertical space between the guide 5 and the upper end of the stem 7.

While one embodiment of my invention has been shown and described it will be apparent that other adaptations and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A pay-off for withdrawing wire from a bundle of coiled wire supported in a position with its axis extending vertically comprising a funnel-shaped conical hood mounted concentrically relative to said bundle axis and in an inverted position over said bundle, and a conically shaped expander mounted concentrically relative to said axis in a position above said hood, said expander having a conically shaped outer surface of increasing diameter in an upward direction over which convolutions of wire being withdrawn from said bundle travel and are expanded thereby, said hood having a conical inner surface of decreasing diameter in an upward direction for engaging tangled convolutions of wire elevated from said bundle and an inner peripheral edge defining a circular opening having a diameter intermediate the diameters of the upper and lower ends of said expander and through which the wire travels during upward movement thereof, the wire convolution expanding action of said expander. operating 2. In a wire pay-01f, the combination with a support for a bundle of coiled Wire including a vertical stem ex tending axially through said bundle and a platform at the lower end of said stern for supporting engagement With the lower end of said bundle, and means for with-- drawing wire from the upper end of said bundle including a guide spaced vertically above the upper end of said stem through which the wire is withdrawn over a path extending axially and vertically with respect to said bundle, of a conically shaped expander mounted on the upper end of said stem, said expander having a conical outer surface of increasing diameter in an upward direction over which convolutions of wire moving upwardly to said guide travel and are expanded thereby, and a guide ring mounted concentrically relative to said stem axis in a position below said expander and defining an opening through which the wire travels from said bundle to said expander, said guide ring having a diameter that is smaller than the diameter of the upper end of said expander but greater than the diameter of its lower end so that said expander operates to hold the wire being withdrawn through said ring in sliding engagement therewith.

3. In a wire pay-off, the combination with a support for a bundle of coiled wire including a vertical stem extending axially through said bundle and a platform at the lower end of said stem for supporting engagement with the lower end of said bundle, and means for withdrawing wire from the upper end of said bundle including a guide; spaced vertically above the upper end of said stem through which the wire is withdrawn over a path extending axially and vertically with respect to said bundle, of a guide ring mounted in a concentric position about the upper end of said stern and cooperating therewith to define an annular space for the movement therethrough of the wire convolutions being withdrawn from said bundle, and a conically shaped expander mounted on the upper end of said stem, said expander having a conically shaped outer surface of increasing diameter in an upward direction from the upper end of said stem and over which the wire convolutions moving through said space travel and are expanded thereby, said guide ring having a diameter intermediate the diameters of the upper and lower ends of said expander, the said expanding action of said expander operating to hold the wire moving through said annular space in sliding engagement with said guide ring.

4. In a wire pay-off as defined in claim 3, a funnelshaped conical hood mounted concentrically in an inverted position about the upper end of said stern, said guide ring forming the inner peripheral edge of said hood.

5. A wire pay-off as defined in claim 3 characterized by the upper end of said expander having a diameter not substantially less than the diameter of the wire convolutions in said bundle.

6. A wire pay-off as defined in claim 5 characterized by the said expander upper end having an outer peripheral edge over which the wire has sliding engagement and is drawn in a radially inward and upward direction to the said guide of said wire withdrawing means.

7. In a wire pay-0E, the combination with a vertical stem for supporting a bundle of coiled wire, and means including a guide positioned centrally of and above said stem for withdrawing wire from said bundle, of a conically shaped expander mounted between said guide and said stem in a concentric position relative to the axis of said stem, said expander having a conical outer surface that increases in diameter in an upward direction and over which convolutions of wire travel and are expanded in moving from said bundle to said guide, a guide ring mounted concentrically relative to said stem axis in a position below said expander and defining an opening through which the wire travels from said bundle to said expander, said guide ring having a diameter that is smaller than the cal diameter of the upper end of said expander but greater than the diameter of its lower end so that said expander operates to hold wire being withdrawn through said ring in sliding engagement therewith.

8. A wire pay-oif as defined in claim 7 characterized by the upper end of said expander having a diameter not substantially less than the diameter of the wire convolutions in said bundle.

9. In a wire pay-0E, the combination with a vertical stern for supporting a bundle of coiled wire, and means including a guide positioned centrally of and above said stern for withdrawing wire from said bundle, of a conically shaped expander mounted between said guide and said stem in a concentric position relative to the axis of said stem, said expander having a conical outer surface 15 that increases in diameter in an upward direction and over which convolutions of wire travel and are expanded in moving from said bundle to said guide, an inverted funnel-shaped conical hood mounted concentrically relative to said stem axis in a position below said expander, said hood having an inner peripheral edge defining a central opening through which the wire travels from said bundle to said expander, said opening having a diameter greater than the lower end of said expander but less than the diameter of its upper end so that the expanding action of said expander operates to hold wire moving upwardly through said opening against said hood peripheral edge, said hood having a conical inner surface that decreases in diameter in an upward direction for engaging and separating tangled convolutions of wire elevated from said bundle.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 315,707 Briggs Apr. 14, 1885 1,830,449 Swank Nov. 3, 1931 2,170,194 Griggs Aug. 22, 1939 2,867,075 Reissrnuller Ian. 6, 1959

Claims (1)

1. A PAY-OFF FOR WITHDRAWING WIRE FROM A BUNDLE OF COILED WIRE SUPPORTED IN A POSITION WITH ITS AXIS EXTENDING VERTICALLY COMPRISING A FUNNEL-SHAPED CONICAL HOOD MOUNTED CONCENTRICALLY RELATIVE TO SAID BUNDLE, AXIS AND IN AN INVERTED POSITION OVER SAID BUNDLE, AND A CONICALLY SHAPED EXPANDER MOUNTED CONCENTRICALLY RELATIVE TO SAID AXIS IN A POSITION ABOVE SAID HOOD, SAID EXPANDER HAVING A CONICALLY SHAPED OUTER SURFACE OF INCREASING DIAMETER IN AN UPWARD DIRECTION OVER WHICH CONVOLUTIONS OF THE WIRE BEING WITHDRAWN FROM SAID BUNDLE TRAVEL AND ARE EXPANDED THEREBY, SAID HOOD HAVING A CONICAL INNER SURFACE OF DECREASING DIAMETER IN AN UPWARD DIRECTION FOR ENGAGING TANGLED CONCOLUTIONS OF WIRE ELEVATED FROM SAID BUNDLE AND AN INNER PERIPHERAL EDGE DEFINING A CIRCULAR OPENING HAVING A DIEMETER INTERMEDIATE THE DIAMETERS OF THE UPPER AND LOWER ENDS OF SAID EXPANDER AND THROUGH WHICH THE WIRE TRAVELS DURING UPWARD MOVEMENT THEREOF, THE WIRE CONVOLUTION EXPANDING ACTION OF SAID EXPANDER OPERATING TO HOLD THE WIRE BEING WITHDRAWN FROM SAID BUNDLE AGAINST SAID PERIPHERAL EDGE DURING ITS MOVEMENT THROUGH SAID OPENING.

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