US3118627A

US3118627A - Reel-winding apparatus

Info

Publication number: US3118627A
Application number: US176252A
Authority: US
Inventors: Alden W Nelson; Gilbert E Sisson
Original assignee: Crompton and Knowles Corp
Current assignee: Crompton and Knowles Corp
Priority date: 1962-02-28
Filing date: 1962-02-28
Publication date: 1964-01-21
Anticipated expiration: 1981-01-21
Also published as: GB999276A

Description

Jan 2l, 1964 A. w. NELSON ErAL 3,118,627

REEL-WINDING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Feb. 28, 1962 Jam 21, 1964 A. w. NELSON Erm.

REEL-WINDING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 28, 1962 Jan- 21, 1954 A. w. NELsoN ETAL 3,113,527

REEL-mmm APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 28, 1962 United States Patent O 3,118,627 REELWEQDENG APPARATUS Alden W. Nelson, West Mystic, and Gilbert E. Sisson,

Mystic, Conn., assignors to rCi'ornpton 31 Knowles Corporation, Mystic, Conn., a corporation of Massachusetts Filed Feb. 28, 1952, Ser. No. 176,252 S Claims. (Cl. 242-) This invention relates to reel-winding apparatus in general, and to `apparatus for winding cable stock on reels in particular.

The present invention is concerned with a paratus for winding cable stock as it is delivered from a power capstan Jfollowing its pass through an extruder and vulcanizer in which its insulation `coat is applied and cured, respectively. Cable stock in general, and cable stock of the heavier and less tleiible sizes in particular, require not only reels of the lar er sizes but also winding apparatus of rugged and more bulky construction. Also While ranly close control over the variable-speed drive of a reel is essential for winding cable stock of the smaller sizes under tension of the required uniformity as lit is delivered to the winding apparatus at a controlled, and usually uniform, rate, particularly close control over the reel drive to the same end is indicated for cable sto-cl(` of the larger sizes and for larger reels on which the cable windings are usually or" more pronounced eccentricity elative to the winding axis. Uniform tension ot the cable stock being wound is Ifurther important Where the same is of a type having multi-conductors of diiierent metals, such as submarine cable, for instance, which has to be electrica ly tested from time to time, wherefore cable stock of such type is, furthermore, wound customarily in an air-conditioned space.

lt is an object of the present invention to provide reelwinding apparatus of this type which is eflicient and reliable in its performance and meets the aforementioned requirements of rugged construction and close control over the variable-speed reel drive, yet is of simple and low-cost construction and ot minimum bull.

lt is yanother object of the present invention to provide reel-winding appmatus oi' this type in which the cable stock is wound on a reel in ord rly side-by-side windings and suruposed winding layers by a ltraversing stock guide over which the stoel` is led to the reel and by which it is deliected from a straight path to the reel transverse to the reel axis, with the stock guide being `further movable, transvewe to its reel traversing direction, in opposite directions in which stoel; deflection from said straight path is increased and decreased, respectively, and being also urged in stoel: deflection increasing direction with a yielding force lto impart to the stool; its required wind-on tension. rillus, the additional stocktensioning function of the stock guide enhances simple and low-cost construction of the apparatus in any event, and also makes the stock guide available for the control of :the variable-speed drive. is a further object of the present invention to provide reel-winding `apparatus of this type with a control for the variable-speed reel drive which responds in simple to motion or" the stock guide in the aforerner oued stock-deflection increasing and decreasing directions by accelerating and decelerating the reel drive, respectively, with the stock guide being yieldingly urged in stociedeliection increasing direction with a substantially uniform torce throughout a range within which the reel drive -is controlled for fully winding a reel with stock under substantially uniform tension. With this arrangement, the lreel drive is controlled by the stock tension which, being substantially uniform throughout a Winding operation, comeels the reel drive to respond in quick and exceedingly accurate corrective speed variation to ICC any and all causes which change the uniform stocli tension at any rime and even quite slightly, so that a reel Iwill be driven at a speed which so decreases with increasing wound stock, `and even luctuates on each traverse of the stock guide and with eccentric stock wind-on, that the stock will be held under substantially uniform tension despite `its delivery to the guide and reel at the aforementioned controlled, usually uniform, rate.

Another object of the present invention is to provide reel-Winding apparatus of this type in which che stock guide is, at least for the larger sizes of cable stock, preferably and advantageously in the form of a rotary sheave in the grooved rim or" which the stock is received and which is of suiliciently large diameter that the stock will in ready iiexure conform to it on its passage thereover, whereby only a negligible part of the :reel driving power is required for the stock passage over the guide and the stock is subjected to only negligible bending stresses and will not be marred in any Way from friction causes.

A further object ci the present invention is to provide reel-winding apparatus of this type in which the stock guide is, tor its reel drive `conti-loll'mg motion in the aforementioned stock-dellection increasing and decreasing directions simply and conveniently pivotally mounted, with *die stock guide vbeing to tins end carried by a pivoted arm suoh that its radius arm is sufficiently large to conilne its displacement about the pivot axis, for the entire range of speed variations of the reel drive during a winding operation, to a relatively small angle Within which the aforementioned yieldin" 1Sorce on the stock guide may be kept substantially uniformi by the simple expediency of operatively connecting the stock guide with the linearly displaceable plunger of a mounted cylinder which for :its urgency of the plunger in all positions therein with the required uniform `force is under the control of a wellknown pressure-regulatable bleedentype valve.

lt is another object of the present invention to provide reel-win Ang apparatus oi this type in which the aforeltioned guide-carrying arm is received on a poweroperated traverse spindle not only threadedly for the traverse metns of the guide, but also pivotally ffor the reel-drive con olling angular displacements of the guide, thereby further enhancing the structural simplicity of the apparatus.

lt is another object of the present invention to provide reel-winding apparatus of this type in which the guide-carrying arm is not only threadedly received and pivoted on a power-operated traverse spindle, but is also movable on `and turnable with a longitudinally immovable tracl; which extends in `spaced parallel relation with the raverse spindle and is pivoted about the spindle axis, and the aforementioned yielding force to which the guide is subjected is exerted on this track and transmitted by the same to the guide, thus permitting the aforementioned use of a mounted cylinder and plunger therein for producing this yielding force.

lt is a further object of the present invention to provide reel-winding apparatus of this type in which the stock guide and reel support are arranged to permit cable stock to pass from an associated pay-out station or capstan directly to the guide underneath a reel being wound and over the stock guide to the reel, thereby not only achieving low construction oi the apparatus for installation Vin a space of relatively low ceiling, with the reel support being the topmost rstructure of the apparatus, but also permitting installation ot the apparatus in fairly close proximity to the associated pay-out station or capstan, limited only by the requirement that rthe stock leads from this station or capstan and onto the guide without undue flexure in yall momentary traverse positions of the guide.

Another object of the present invention is to provide enlace? 3 reel-winding apparatus of this type which is adapted for pit installation by having a frame on which the operating parts and devices are carried such that a supported reel and the stock guide project beneath the frame base on the tioor into a pit therein, thereby still further reducing the height of the apparatus above iioor level.

Other objects and advantages will appear to those skilled in the art from the following, considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

In the accompanying drawings, in which certain modes of carrying out the present invention are shown for illustrative purposes:

FIGS. l and 2 are front and side views, respectively, of reel-winding apparatus embodying the present invention;

FiG. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary view, partly in section, of part of the apparatus as seen in the direction of arrow 3 in FIG. 2;

PEG. 4 is a section taken on the line 4 4 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary view, partly in side elevation and partly in section, of installed reel-winding apparatus embodying the present invention in a modified manner.

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGS. l to 3 thereof, the reference numeral l0 designates reel-winding apparatus having a main frame '12 which carries a reel support A, a reel drive B, a stock guide C, and guide operating means D. The main frame l2 comprises, in the present instance, two opposite sections 14 and i6 each of which has a base 18 and a standard thereon.

Reel Support A The reel support comprises opposite forward pintles 22 and 24 on rotary shafts 26 and ZS in bearings 3i? and 32 on a plate 34 and slide 36, respectively, with the pintles 22 `and 24 projecting into central `apertures 38 and 40 in the end anges f of a reel R for its rotary support about a winding axis x. Bearing plate Se is suitably mounted on a platform 42 on the frame section 14, while the bearing slide 36 is guided for movement in the direction of the winding axis x in a way in a platform 44 on the other frame section 16. To support an empty reel in winding position, the bearing slide 35 is retracted to the left from the projected position in FIG. l, the reel is next raised by a hoist chain, for instance, and its rim apertures 38 and 4t) are aligned with the pintles 22 and 24, whereupon the bearing slide 36 is projected forwardly until the reel rests on both pintles, For moving the bearing slide 36 in this fashion, the same is connected at 46 with the plunger 43 of a double-acting cylinder 5@ which `at 52 is pivotally mounted on lthe frane section 16. The cylinder 5t? is under the control of a suitable valve (not shown) which on different manipulation vents either end of the cylinder and admits iluid under pressure into the opposite end.

Reel Drive B The drive into a supported reel is by lway of a coupling pin 54 on an arm 56 on the driven shaft 26, with the pin 54 being received in an aperture in the adjacent reel flange f. As shown in FIG. 2, the shaft 26 is driven from a motor 56 through intermediation of a change-speed mechanism 58, speed reducer o@ and reduction gears 62 and 64. The motor 56, change-speed mechanism 5S and speed reducer 60 are suitably mounted on the frame section 14, with the motor being connected by a belt drive 66 with the input shaft of the change-speed mechanism 5S the output shaft of which is connected by a belt drive 63 with the input shaft 67 of the speed reducer 6i?. The output shaft 69 of the speed reducer `6@ is by a chain drive 70 connected with a suitably journalled shaft 72 which carries fthe gear 62 that is in permanent mesh with the gear 6s on the pintle shaftro. Thus, the reel drive from the motor 56 to the pintle shaft 26 has, in the presi ent example, two reduction stages, one in the speed reducer 69 and the other in the gears 62 and 64, of which both reduction stages are of fixed ratios, while the overall drive beyond the motor 56 may be stepped up or down by the change-speed mechanism 58.

Stock Guide C The stock guide 75 is adapted -to lead supply stock s onto a driven reel in orderly side-by-side fwindings w and superposed winding layers l, and is to this end operated in opposite reel-traversing directions. The stock guide 7S is, in the present instance, preferably and advantageously a rotary sheave over Ithe grooved rim 76 of which the stock is led to the reel. The guide sheave is at 78 rotatably carried by an `arm `Si? which is threadedly received by a traverse `spindle S2 (FIGS. l and 3) that extends parallel to the winding axis x and is journalled in bearing brackets 84 on side plates 86 on the opposite frame sections i4 and 16. The spindle S2 is, for the reel traversing motions of the guide 7S with its arm 8i?, driven in opposite directions in a manner described hereinafter.

In accordance with an important aspect of the present invention, the guide 75 is also used to impart to the stock s tension of the required uniformity and magnitude for its winding on a driven reel. To this end, the guide 75 is so arranged that it not only deflects the supply stock from its straight path to a driven reel transverse to the winding axis x, but is in addition to its reel traversing movements in the direction of the axis x also movable transverse to this axis in opposite directions in which stock deiiection from this straight path is increased and decreased, respectively, wtih the guide 75 being yieldingly urged with a predetermined `force in stock-deflection increasing direction. `In the present instance, the guide 75 is movable in opposite directions transverse to the winding axis by being with its arm Si) free to pivot on the traverse spindle 82. Further, in order to apply to the guide '75 in any and all positions of its operational movements in the direction of and transverse to the axis .r the aforementioned yielding force conveniently from a fixed source, in this instance from the fluid-pressure urged plunger 33 of a mounted cylinder 9o on the frame section 16 (FIGS. 1 to 3), this yielding force is transmitted to the guide through intermediation of a track 9E which extends in spaced parallel relation with the traverse spindle 82 and is swingable about the axis x of the latter, with the guide 7S being with its arm Sil movable on and swingable with this track and the latter having an arm 9e for operational connection with the plunger 33,. To the end of being movable on the track 9'2 as AWell as swingable therewith, the guide arm Si), which in this instance is formed by spaced angles 96 attached to and depending from a head plate 98, carries in back of this plate two spaced pairs of track rollers litt@ and lil-2 of exemplary V-shaped peripheries of which the rollers of each pair straddle the track 92 (FIGS. 3 and 4). The track 92 is in this instance formed by V-shaped rails we on the side anges we of a U-channel M58 to the opposite ends of which are suitably secured mounting plates Htl to which swing brackets llare bolted at M2. Secured at t lr6 to the swing brackets lie are housings M8 'for antifriction bearings l2@ the inner races of which are tight on sleeves ldwhich are pressiitted in the spaced side plates S6 and afin on the respective frame sections 114':- and 16 (FiG. 3). The traverse spindle 82 passes with its ends through the sleeves E24 which are coaxial with the spindie. The track 92. is thus immovable in the direction of the spindle axis x but is Vfreely swingable about this axis, while the guide 75 is with its arm movable on the track E2 in the direction of the spindle axis x and, hence, also in the direction of the winding axis x, and is also swingable with the track 92 in opposite directions transverse, and in this instance normal, to the axes .r and x. The arm 94, which at 123 is pivotally connected with the plunger 3S of the cylinder 9h (FIGS. 2 and 3), is in enlace? this instance bolted at 13% to one ol the mountinv plates il@ of the track (FiG. 4), while the cylinder )il is pivoted at 131 to the `frame section 16 (FIG. 2). For its aforementioned threaded connection with the traverse spindle 82, the guide arm 8@ has bolted at lSE to its head plate 93 a bracket T134; which is threadedly received by the spindle 82 (FIGS. 3 and 4), with the spindle passing in this instance through clearance apertures l in the spaced angles 96 of the arm t?.

In order that the stock guide 75 may del'lect the stoel( from its shortest, i.e., straight, path to a supported reel, and in its movements in opposite irectons transverse to the winding axis x increase and decrease the stoclt detlection from this straight path, as mentioned above, the stock s is delivered to the apparatus so that its straight path from apay-out station to a supported reel is in any event transverse to the win-ding axis x. 'Ehe this end, the supply stock s is delivered to the apparatus from a payout station, usually a p wer-operated capstan (not shown), in front or haelt, and in this instance in back, of 90 a supported reel and midway between the end ilanges or the reel, so that the straight path of the delivered stock to the supported reel would be a indicated by the dotand-dash line p in FIG. 2, considering that the exemplary drive direction of the reel for stock `irl-on is anticlocli wise (FIG. 2). The stock guide 75 is, as usual, located in front of a supported reel and is, in this instance, at such low elevation above the tloor F that the stock, when led over the guide, is by the latter deflected from the straight path p into a path underneath the reel, with the stoel; passing from the guide in this instance to the bottom of the reel for its winding thereon on the exemplary reel drive in anticiocltwise direction (PEG. 2). l, "1e stoel; s thus dellected by the guide 75 from the straight path p in the exemplary manner shown in 2, the guide will increase and decrease the stock deflection from the path p on its swinging movements about the spindle axis x in clockwise and anticlocltwise directions, respectively, with the guide 75 being by the plung 88 urged in cloclzwise or Steeb-deflection increasing direction to tension the stoel: as it is wound on the reel.

Guide Operating Ileaus D trio 2), conneced .ff n utout shafts drive unit i5@ of which the drive E55.- connected with th ously described speed reducer rthe speed reducer mit and the drive unit are suitably the trarne section rthe exemplary drive or the traverse spindle 82 thus originates at the motor 51S at w cli the reel drive also originates, with the drive unit leu acting to reverse the drive of the spindle everytime the stoel; guide reaches either end of its reel traversing region. To the end of reversing-- the spindle drive on these occv there are associated with the drive unit 3135i) two switches l and l5@ which by pillars le@ are mounted on top of the side plates 36, :3126 on the opposite sections ist and le, respectively, and i fe yieldingly depressibie operating plnngers 52 and in the path of ears 166 and l, respectively, on the guide arrn The drive unit 15%, which may be similar to that fully disclosed in the patent to Nelson, No. 2,913,791, dated November 17, i959, forms no part of the present and, hence, requires no detailed descr' ion her understand the function of the drive unit l5 merely be explained that the output shatts l thereof are driven from the input shaft i512 in ourosite directions on closure of associated magnetic cli. (not shown) which are controlled by the limit switches 75 156 and 158. Thus, when the stock guide 75 reaches the right end of its reel-traversing rnotion as viewed in FIG. l, the ear 155 on its arm Sli depresses the plunger M2 of the switch 156 which causes reversal of the drive or the traverse spindle 82 for the succeeding motion of the guide in reel traversin-g direction to the left, at the end of which the ear 16S on the arm il() depresses the plunger 164 of the other switch 158 and causes renewed reversal of the spindle drive for the next reel traversing motion of the guide to the right. The guide is thus controlled in its reel traversing motions until a reel is fully wound with stock.

With the stock s being delivered to a driven reel at a controlled, and in this instance uniform, rate, it stands to reason that with increasing diameter of wound stock on a driven reel the reel drive will have to undergo compensatory downward speed adjustment in order to maintain the stoel: being wound under the required uniform tension. ln accordance with another important aspeet of the present invention, the stock guide 75 assumes such control over the reel drive, and in this instance over the motor 56 which is of variable-speed type. To this end, the rnotor 55, and with it the reel drive and also the spindle drive, will be accelerated and decelerate on movement of the stock guide 75 in stock-delection increasing and decreasing directions, respectively, which in the present instance is swinging movement of the guide about the spindle axis x' in clockwise and anticlockwise directions, respectively (FlG. 2). This is achieved, in the present example, by a 17@ on one of the swing brackets sie of the track 92 which through a follower arm M2 shifts a magnetic core 1.74 in a reactor coil i176 on swinging movements of the stool: guide 75 in opposite directions. The follower arrn E72 is at E78 pivoted on a bracket 1S@ on the frame section i4, and is by a spring l?. urged against the cam 176. T he reactor coil 176 is enclosed in a housing which is mounted on a bracket 136 on the traine section lil. The speed of the motor 56 is in this instance regulated by regulating the current supplied to its iield lh (FiG. 3). To this end, the field current from a line source L is regulated by a grid-controlled rectifier tube i9@ the grid bias voltage of which is changed by a conventional phase-shift network 192 which is phase-sensitive to a change in the inductance output voltage of the reactor coil 176 as caused by linear displacement of the magnetic core E74 therein, with the grid bias voltage controlling the current input to the rnotor field E38. The arrangement is such that swinging movement of the stock guide 75 in clockwise and anticlockwise directions (PEG. 2) will cause acceleration and deceleration, respectively, of the motor 55 and, hence, of the reel drive and also spindle drive, as already mentioned, and the range oi swinging movement of the stock guide and corresponding range of speed variations of the motor 56 and remainder of the reel drive are fully adequate to permit fully windreels of sizes adapted for the apparatus at substantially uniform Stochr tension. There are preferably provided suitable limit stops tor denning the range within which the stock guide 75 may swing, with the ends of this range determined in this instance by the opposite end positions of the plunger 83 in the cylinder 90.

ll/ode 0f Operation Assuming d'iat an ernpty reel has just been supported in the apparatus and stock s led over the guide '75 and uitably anchored to the reel near the end flange thereoC adiacent to which the guide reposes, the circuit or" the motor 56 will be closed at a switch lh, for example, to render the reel and spindle drives operative. With the stock guide 75 being then in its exemplary foremost dotand-dash line position in FlG. 2 which corresponds to the maximum speed of the reel drive, the motor 56 will come up to speed as the load permits and initially wind stock on the reel periphery 198 (FIG. 2). In thus coming up to speed, the reel drive will shortly overdrive the reel and wind stock thereon at a rate in excess of its uniform delivery rate to the guide 75, thereby immediately compelling the guide to yield rearwardly and cause deceleration of the reel drive until stock is wound on the reel at its uniform delivery rate to the guide. As the guide 75 finishes its lirst reel traverse and at the start of its next reel traverse winds stock on the increased wind-on diameter of the iirst stock layer on the reel, the reel drive again overdrives the reel but the stock guide will be enforced further rearward yielding cause quick compensatory deceleration of the reel drive until the reel is driven at the proper speed for wind-on of the stock at its uniform delivery rate to the guide. The stock guide thus yields backwards in incremental steps with the winding of additional stock layers on the reel, assuming the exemplary full-line positions in FlG. 2 on winding stock on the reel to the extent there shown, and when the reel is fully wound reaching a position intermediate its full-line and dotted-line positions in FIG. 2, with the dotted-line position ofY the stock guide corresponding in this instance to zero speed of the reel drive. When the reel is fully wound, the apparatus is stopped, the wound stock is severed from the supply stock, and the full reel is replaced by an empty reel, whereupon the same winding operation is repeated. In thus winding a reel, the guide '7S will even cause such incremental speed adjustments of the reel drive as are required by the varying stock length from the pay-out station to the guide during each reel traverse of the latter and by eccentricity of any stock layers on the drum, in order to Wind the stock at its uniform delivery rate to the guide onto a reel until the same is fully wound. The guide 75 thus controls the reel drive with exceeding accuracy for winding reels with stoel: under uniform tension throughout. To this end, the radius arm about the spindle axis x' of the stock guide of the exemplary sheave or any other type is advantageously relatively long so that the angular range of operational displacement of the guide for a reel winding operation is kept as small as possible in order that the guide may throughout this range be urged in clockwise direction with a force which is substantially uniform on exertion on the track 92 by the linearly moving plunger $8 in the mounted cylinder 9% of its force which is quite uniform in all plunger positions. To the end of keeping the force of the plunger 8S uniform in all of its positions in the cylinder 9G, the latter is under the control of a well-known pressure-regulatable bleeder-type valve (not shown).

The exemplary apparatus shown is suited particularly well for winding cable or other stock of the heavier and less flexible sizes on reels of accordinUly large sizes. To this end, the exemplary rotary sheave form of the stock guide 75 is particularly advantageous, for the sheave may have any large diameter to which even the most unwieldy stock will readily flex with no more than harmless bending stresses, and it Will readily turn with the stock on its passage thereover and, hence, subject the passing stock either to friction nor to any possible abrasion. Further advantageous to the same end is the arrangement of the sheave-type stock guide at a relatively low elevation above the floor which permits stock delivery from a pay-out station in the rear of the supported reel beneath the latter to the guide in front thereof, thereby permitting installation of the apparatus in optimum space-saving proximity to the payout station at which the stock span therefrom to the guide is sufficiently long to avoid excessive iiexing or" the stock in all reel traverse positions of the guide, as Well as permitting low construction of the apparatus in which only the size of a supported reel determines the minimum ceiling of a space in which the apparatus may be installed. Low construction of the apparatus is particularly advantageous for winding cable stock with multiconductors of dissimilar metals, and hence different coefi'icients of expansion, such as submarine cable, for instance,

which reouires electrical testing from time to timel under uniform tension, wherefore it is customary to wind such stoel: in spaces which are kept efciently air-conditioned under low ceilings. To enhance the use of apparatus of the present type for winding heavy cable stoel: in general, and submarine cable stock in an air-conditioned atmosphere in particular, in a space with a low ceiling, recourse may be had to the modified apparatus Mia of FIG. 5 which may in all respects be like the described apparatus i@ of lJiGS. l to 4, except that the present apparatus is constructed for pit installation. To this end, the frame sections of the present apparatus lack the bases 13 of the apparatus it) (FiGS. l and 2) and are mounted with their standards directly on the floor F', with the stock guide a and a supported reel Ra of adapted size projecting into a pit 2d@ in the iioor.

Winding apparatus or the present type is, of course, by no means limited to the winding of stock of the heavier and less flexible sizes, for such apparatus may with the same advantages be used for winding lighter and quite iiexible stock. Among these general advantages are the arrangement of the stock guide so that it performs th plural functions of distributing the stock onto a reel and also uniformly tensioning the stock as well as controlling the reel drive with the utmost accuracy, which additionally makes for exceeding structural simplicity and also low cost of the apparatus. Also, the range of speed variations of the reel drive under the control of the stock guide is uite adequate to meet the varying requirements for winding in the same apparatus stock of relatively widely Varying sizes or delivery rates, or both. Further, the stock guide, whether of rotary sheave form or any other form, may for its reel-drive controlling motions be swingable or linearly movable, and may be arranged to deiiect the supply stock from any convenient or desired straight path to a supported reel. Also, in case the stock guide is arranged to swing for its reel-drive controlling motions, its reel-traverse movement on and swinging motion with the pivoted traclr is quite advantageous, for this track may be made quite sturdy and will take up the entire load of the guide and stock thereon as well as all forces exerted by the stock on the guide, wherefore the traverse spindle is relieved of this burden and may be cross-sectionally dimensioned for the sole purpose of longitudinally moving the guide and stock load thereon on the track. 0f course, the pivoted track for the guide is further advantageous in that it transmits to the guide the Operational yielding force from a fixed source.

The invention may be carried out in other specic ways than those herein set forth without departing from the spirit and essential characteristics of the invention, and the present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and yall changes coming within the meaning and equivalency range or" the appended claims are intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed is:

l. in reel-winding apparatus with a winding axis, the combination with a rotary reel support about said axis, and a variable-speed reel drive for winding supply stock of controlled delivery rate onto a driven reel, of a stock guide over which supply stock is led onto a driven reel and by which it is deliected from a straight path to the reel transverse to said axis; a track extending parallel to said winding axis and pivoted about an axis parallel of said winding axis, said guide being movable on said track for reel traversing movement in the direction of said winding and being also swingable with said track for movement transverse to said winding axis in irst and second opposite directions in which stock deliection from said straight path is increased and decreased, respectively; means for moving said guide for reel traverse; control means operative on movement or" said guide in said first and second directions to accelerate and decelerate said reel drive, respectively; and means acting on said track rvs yieldingly to urge said guide in said first direction with a substantially uniform force throughout a range Within which the reel drive is controlled for fully Winding a reel with stock under substantially uniform tension.

2. The combination in reel-Winding apparatus as set forth in claim l, which further comprises a power-driven threaded spindle extending parallel to said Winding axis over the traverse region of said guide, and sai track being pivoted at its ends beyond said traverse region, with said guide being threadedly received on said spindle for its reel traversing movement.

3. The combination in reel-winding apparatus as set forth in claim l, in which said control means include an instrumentality with an operating element shiftable in opposite directions, a cam on said track, and follower means connected with said element and actuated by said cam to shift said element in opposite directions on swinging movement of said guide in opposite directions, respectively.

4. In reel-Winding apparatus with a Winding axis, the combination with a rotary reel support about said axis, and a variable-speed drive for winding stock of controlled delivery rate onto a driven reel, of a rotary guide sheave over which stock is led onto a driven reel and by which it is deiected from a straight path to the reel transverse to said axis; a track extending parallel to said Winding axis and pivoted about an axis parallel to said Winding axis; an arm with one end movable on and swingable With said track, said sheave being carried at the other end of said arm with its rotary axis extending parallel to said winding axis, and being movable and swingable with said arm for reel traversing movement in the direction of said winding axis and for movement transverse to said Winding axis in iirst and second opposite directions in which stock detiection from said straight path is increased and decreased, respectively; means for moving said arm for sheave reel traverse; control means operative on movei -ent of said sheave in said rst and second directions to accelerate and decelerate said reel drive, respectively; and means acting on said track yieldingly to urge said sheave in said iirst direction with a substantially uniform force throughout a range Within which the reel drive is controlled for fully Winding a reel with a stock under substantially uniform tension.

5. The combination in reel-winding apparatus as set forth in claim 4, which further comprises a powerriven spindie extending parallel to said winding axis over the traverse region or said sheave, and said track being pivoted at its ends beyond said traverse region, with said arm being at said one end thereof also threadedly received on said spindle for the sheave reel traverse movement, and said sheave being carried at the other end of said arm.

Doescher June 1'1, 1940 Delano Dec. 22, 1942

Claims

1. IN REEL-WINDING APPARATUS WITH A WINDING AXIS, THE COMBINATION WITH A ROTARY REEL SUPPORT ABOUT SAID AXIS, AND A VARIABLE-SPEED REEL DRIVE FOR WINDING SUPPLY STOCK OF CONTROLLED DELIVERY RATE ONTO A DRIVEN REEL, OF A STOCK GUIDE OVER WHICH SUPPLY STOCK IS LED ONTO A DRIVEN REEL AND BY WHICH IT IS DEFLECTED FROM A STRAIGHT PATH TO THE REEL TRANSVERSE TO SAID AXIS; A TRACK EXTENDING PARALLEL TO SAID WINDING AXIS AND PIVOTED ABOUT AN AXIS PARALLEL OF SAID WINDING AXIS, SAID GUIDE BEING MOVABLE ON SAID TRACK FOR REEL TRAVERSING MOVEMENT IN THE DIRECTION OF SAID WINDING AXIS AND BEING ALSO SWINGABLE WITH SAID TRACK FOR MOVEMENT TRANSVERSE TO SAID WINDING AXIS IN FIRST AND SECOND OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS IN WHICH STOCK DEFLECTION FROM SAID STRAIGHT PATH IS INCREASED AND DECREASED, RESPECTIVELY; MEANS FOR MOVING SAID GUIDE FOR REEL TRAVERSE; CONTROL MEANS OPERATIVE ON MOVEMENT OF SAID GUIDE IN SAID FIRST AND SECOND DIRECTIONS TO ACCELERATE AND DECELERATE SAID REEL DRIVE, RESPECTIVELY; AND MEANS ACTING ON SAID TRACK YIELDINGLY TO URGE SAID GUIDE IN SAID FIRST DIRECTION WITH