US3182438A

US3182438A - Article binding apparatus

Info

Publication number: US3182438A
Application number: US291551A
Authority: US
Inventors: Lloyd W Myers; Robert W Rake; Bernard J Van Vooren
Original assignee: Western Electric Co Inc
Current assignee: AT&T Corp
Priority date: 1963-06-28
Filing date: 1963-06-28
Publication date: 1965-05-11
Anticipated expiration: 1982-05-11

Description

y 11, 1965 w. MYERS ETAL 3,182,438

ARTICLE BINDING APPARATUS Filed June 28, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 L \NVENTORS L..W. MYERS EM]. BAKE B. J.VAN VOOEEN BY o iad'flaafiv ATTOENEY United States Patent 3,182,438 ARTICLE BINDIN G APPARATUS Lloyd W. Myers, Flemington, NJ., Robert Raise, Omaha, Nehru, and Bernard J. Van Vooren, Sioux City, Iowa, assignors to Western Electric Company, Incorporated, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed June 28, 1963, Ser. No. 291,551 Claims. (Cl. 57-6) This invention relates to article binding apparatus, and more particularly to apparatus for attaching a binder to an elongated article and for Wrapping the binder about the article as the article is being advanced longitudinally. It is an object of this invention to provide new and improved apparatus of this character.

In the manufacture of communication cable in a stranding cabler, it is standard practice to gather wires into groups and to pass each group of wires through a binding head which wraps a binder thread, ribbon, filament or similar type material helically around the wires to bind them into a unit. The units of bound wires then are gathered together to form a cable core and are passed through a binding head which wraps a binder thread or similar type material helically around the units to bind them together. The bound cable core then proceeds from the last mentioned binding head to a takeup mechanism including a spool which revolves to wind the core thereon and which at the same time is tumbled end for end to provide a twist to the core.

Each binding head includes a device designed to detect when a binder thread associated therewith has either broken or become depleted, and to stop the stranding cabler when either condition occurs. However, since the operating inertia of the stranding cabler is relatively high the cabler cannot be stopped instantaneously, and there fore a portion of the wires or of the cable core being bound by the binding head passes through the binding head without being bound.

This is undesirable where one of the binding heads for binding a group of wires into a unit is involved, because if the unbound portion of the wires falls in a place where the completed cable subsequently is cut to produce a cable of a certain length, this part of the cable must be scrapped, thus resulting in a length of cable which may be too short. Further, since the binder thread for each unit is of a different and characteristic color for the purpose of identification in the completed cable, where the binder thread is missing for any appreciable distance, the cable is considered to be defective.

Similarly, where the binding head for binding the cable core is involved, a portion of the cable core which passes through the binding head without being bound must be bound by hand. In the event that an unbound portion of the cable core winds onto the takeup spool before the apparatus stops, it is necessary to rewind the spool after it is filled and to bind the unbound portion of the cable core before the core can be subjected to subsequent manufacturing operations. In each of these instances the procedure involved is relatively expensive and time consuming.

Accordingly, another object of this invention is to provide in combination with a main binding head for wrapping a main binder thread about a longitudinally advancing strand, new and improved auxiliary binding apparatus arranged so that an auxiliary binder thread is wrapped about a portion of the advancing strand not bound by the main binding head as a result of a broken or depleted main binder thread.

A further object of this invention is to provide in combination with a main binding head for wrapping a main binder thread about a longitudinally advancing strand and including a device for detecting a broken or depleted main binder thread, new and improved auxiliary binding apparatus which is operative in response to the detecting device and which is arranged so that an auxiliary binder thread is wrapped about a portion of the advancing strand not bound by the main binding head as a result of the broken or depleted main binder thread.

A. still further object of this invention is to provide new and improved apparatus for attaching a binder to an elongated article, which is arranged so that the binder is wrapped about the article as the article is being advanced longitudinally.

Another object of this invention is to provide new and improved apparatus for attaching a binder to an elongated article as the article is being adavnced longitudinally, and which is arranged so that the binder is wrapped about the advancing article.

In accordance with the invention, a supply of a binder to be wrapped about an elongated article is supported on a binding head which is arranged so that when the binder is attached to the article, the binder is wrapped about the article as the article is advanced longitudinally. A piece of adhesive material having a free end of the binder supply attached thereto is supported adjacent the path of movement of the article, and a support for the piece of adhesive material is movable relative to the article to attach the adhesive material and the free end of the binder supply to the article, for the wrapping of the binder about the article.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is designed for use in apparatus for wrapping a main binder thread about an elongated strand, such as a plurality of wires forming a cable core or a part thereof, and including a device for detecting a broken or depleted main binder thread.

The preferred embodiment of the invention includes a tubular member located after the main binding head along the path of movement of the strand, through which the strand advances, and which is designed to receive a cylindrically wound supply of an auxiliary binder thread thereon in encircling relationship with respect to the strand. A strip of adhesive material having a free end of the supply of the auxiliary binder thread attached thereto is positioned on a support mechanism adjacent the end of the tubular member at which the strand exits from the member, and the support mechanism normally is releasably retained in a position in which the strip of adhesive material is spaced from the strand. When a broken or depleted main binder thread condition occurs, however, the support mechanism is moved relative to the strand in response to the device for detecting a broken or depleted main binder thread, to attach the adhesive material and the auxiliary binder thread to the strand for the wrapping of the auxiliary binder thread about the strand. Brushes are provided on the support mechanism and are movable therewith for pressing the adhesive material firmly into engagement with the strand.

After the auxiliary binder thread is attached to the advancing strand, the advancing strand pulls the thread from its cylindrically wound supply, which is held against axial and rotatable movement on the tubular member, and the thread wraps about the strand as it pays off the supply. During this wrapping operation a mechanism engages the auxiliary binder thread to control the tension at which the thread is wrapped about the strand and the rate at which it pays off the supply.

This invention, together with further objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood with reference to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the auxiliary binding apparatus in a first operating position;

FIGLZ is a side view of the auxiliary binding apparatus;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged partial cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line 3-3 of FIG. 1; e FIG. 4 is an enlarged partial cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line 44 of FIG. 2; and,

FIG. Sis an enlarged partial cross-sectional view similar to FIG. .4, but showing the apparatus in asecond operating position.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, it is seen that the illustrated embodiment of the invention is shown as an auxiliary binding apparatus 1t? in combination with a main binding head 11 of a stranding cabler, a portion of the main binding head being shown at the lefthand side of the'figures. The main binding head 11 is designed to wrap a main binder 12, which may be in the form of a thread, ribb-on, filament or similar type material, helically about a strand 13 as the strand is being advanced through the binding head from left to right as viewed in FIGS. 1 and 2, and, as is clearlyshown in these figures,

. the auxiliary binding apparatus is located after the main binding head along the path of movement of the strand.

The strand 13 is made up of a plurality of insulated Wires which have been gathered together by a mechanism (not shown) located to the left of the main binding head 11, as viewed in FIGS. 1 and 2. In the normal operation of the stranding cabler, after the strand 13 has been bound by the main binding head 11 with the binder thread 12, the strand 13 and other similar strands, which also have been boundwith binder threads in the At its left-hand end (FIG. 3), the tubular support member 18 includes an inner annular groove 22 which receives an end of a strand guide .member 2301 the main binding head 11, for mounting the support member 13 on the guide member in a cantilever fashion, as is best shown in FIG. 2. The support'member 18 is retained on the guide member 23 by'suitable set screws and the guide member is mounted at the upper endofa vertical support 24' (FIG. 2) secured at its lower end to a support table 26. V V

The mechanism 16 for attaching the auxiliary binder thread 14 to the strand 13 includes a substantially U- shaped member 27 having a pair of upstanding legs23. (FIGS. 4 and 5); The legs 28 include opposed slots 29 for receiving opposite ends of a strip of adhesive material 31 with an adhesive side of the strip facing down wardly, as viewed in the drawings. As is best shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the adhesiveside' of the stripof adhesive material 31 is designed to have a free end of the supply of the auxiliarybinder thread 14 on the arbor 19 attached thereto.

Referring to FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, it is seen that during the Wrapping of the main binder thread 12 about the strand 13 by the main binding head 11, the U-shaped member 27 normally is retained in an uppermost position thereof with its legs 26 on opposite sides of the strand, andwith the adhesive underside of the. strip of adhesive material same manner as the strand 13, are combinedby a mechanism (not shown) to form a cablecore; The cablecore is passed through a binding head which wraps a binder thread about the strands to bind them together, and the bound cable core then proceeds to a suitable 'takeup mechanism of the stranding cabler. The binder thread 12 for the strand 13 and each of the binder threads for the other strands is of a different and characteristic color so that its associated strand can be identified in the completed cable.

The main binding head 11 includes a device (not shown), as for example, the device disclosed in copending applicationSerial No. 273,036, filed April 15, 1963,- by R. D; Barnett. and W. I. Rea and assigned to' the same assignee, for detecting when the main binder thread 12 breaks or becomes depleted during a binding operation, and for stopping the stranding cabler, including the main 3 1 closely adjacent thetopot the strand. This is accomplishe'd by-a releasable mechanism including a vertical rod 32, to the upper end of which the U-shaped member 27 is secured by a screw, and incl-udinga trigger member 33 (-FIG. 2). engageable at one end in a notch in one side of the rodx As is best shown in FTGS. 2 and 4,-the vertical rod 32, which is of rectangular cross-section and 'which eX- tends through an'aperture in the support table 26, is mounted for vertical sliding movement in a rectangular vertically extending guideway 34 The guideway .34 is formed in part by a vertical slot in an upstanding portion of a bracket member 36' secured to the top surface of the support table, and in part :by a vertical plate membinding head and'the above-mentioned takeupmecha' nism, when either condition occurs. ever, since the operating inertia of the stranding cabler is relatively high, the cabler does notstop instantaneously, and therefore a portion of the strand 13 passes through the main binding head 11 without being bound. Accordingly, the auxiliary binding apparatus 1% is provided and is designed to attach an auxiliary binder thread 14 of the same color as the main binder thread 12 to the strand 13 in response to the operation of the detecting de- In this regard, howvice, and so that the auxiliary binder thread then is wrapped about the strand to bind the unbound portion of the strand, in a manner to be described. For this pur-- pose, the auxiliary'binding apparatus 19 includes a mechanis'm 16 for attaching :the'auxiliary binder thread 14 to the strand 13, and an auxiliary binder head 17 arrangedso that the attached auxiliary binder thread is wrapped aboutthe strand.

The auxiliary binder head 17 includes a cylindrical tubular support member 18 which, as is best shown inv FIG. 3, includes an elongated tubular arbor portion .19 through which the strand 13 advancesduring a binding operation. The arbor 19 is designed to receive a cylindrical spool 21 thereon in telescoping relationship with her 37 secured to the upstanding portion and over the.

otherwiseope'n right-hand side (FI'G.-2) of the vertical slot therein by suitable screws. The rod 32 and the U-shaped member 27 thereon are biased downward toward a lowermost position thereof shown'in dashed lines in FIG. 2, by a coil spring 38 disposed about the lower portion of the rod. As is best shown in FIG. 2, at its upperend the coil spring 38 bears against .the bracket member 36 and the plate member 37'; and .at its lower' by the solenoid to the left,'as. viewed in FIG; 2, to a released position with respect to the vertical rod' 32. A

cover 42'for the solenoid 41 is secured to the bracket member 36 in a suitablemanner. V I

When a broken ordepleted main binderthreadcondition occurs inthe main binding head 11, theabove-rnentioned detecting device operates arelay (not shown) to stop the stranding cabler and to energize the solenoid 41. i In the detecting device disclosed in the above mentioned the trigger member 33 to the left, as viewed in FIG..2,

to release the vertical rod 32 and the U-shaped member 27 thereon, whereupon the coil spring 3% drives the rod and the U-shaped member vertically downward toward the lowermost position thereof shown in dashed lines in FIG. 2. A shock absorbing member 43, of a suitable resilient compressible material such as rubber, is mounted on the vertical rod 32 adjacent the U-shaped member 27, and absorbs the impact of the U-shaped member striking the plate member 37 and the upstanding portion of the bracket member 36 as the rod and the U-shaped member reach their lowermost position.

Referring to FIG. 5, it is seen that as the rod 32 and the U-shaped member 27 are moved vertically downward by the coil spring 38, the adhesive underside of the strip of adhesive material 31 engages the top of the strand 13, which is still advancing since the stranding cabler has not yet completely stopped, and the strip of adhesive material pulls out of the opposed slots 29 in the legs 28 of the U-shaped member and begins to wrap about the strand, thereby to attach the free end of the supply of the auxiliary binder thread 14 on the arbor 19 to the strand. At the same time, a pair of

flexible brushes

44 and 46, which have ends thereof mounted in horizontally extending slots in the upper ends of the legs 28 of the U-shaped member 27 and which extend toward one another so that their other ends are normally in opposed relationship, engage the strip of adhesive material 31 and press it into firm engagement with the strand 13. As the rod 32 and the U-shaped member 27 continue further vertically downward from the position shown in FIG. 5 and into their lowermost position shown in dashed lines in FIG. 2, the

brushes

44 and 46 will wrap the strip of adhesive material 31 further about the strand 13, including the underside thereof, into substantially encircling relationship with the strand. In this regard, as is best shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the

brushes

44 and 46 extend to the right in the direction of movement of the strand 13 so that they engage the strip of adhesive material 31 throughout their downward movement as the strip is moving to the right with the advancing strand.

While the mechanism 16 for attaching the auxiliary binder thread 14 to the strand 13 is shown as moving from an uppermost position to a lowermost position during an attaching operation, it is apparent that the mechanism 16 could be arranged so as to move from a lowermost position to an uppermost position during an attaching operation, if so desired. In this arrangement, the vertical rod 32 and the U-shaped member 27 would have a lowermost position in which the legs 28 of the U-shaped member would be below the strand 13, and the positions of the slots 29 and the brushes 44 and as on the legs would be reversed, with the slots located above the brushes and having the strip of adhesive material 31 positioned therein with its adhesive side facing upwardly. Further, the positions of the coil spring 38 and of the trigger member 33, bracket member 36, plate member 37, solenoid 41 and solenoid cover 42 with respect to the support table 26 also would be reversed, with the trigger member, bracket member, plate member, solenoid and solenoid cover mounted beneath the support table, and with the coil spring disposed about the upper end of the vertical rod 32 and having its upper end bearing against the U-shaped member 27, and its lower end bearing against the bracket member and the plate member. In addition, the shock absorbing member 43 would be mounted on the vertical rod 32 adjacent the cap member 39, instead of adjacent the U-shaped member 27.

' The spool 21, and thus the supply of the auxiliary binder thread 14 wound thereon, is held against axial and rotatable movement on the arbor 19 so that when the free end of the supply is attached to the advancing strand 13, as above described, the thread is pulled from the supply by the advancing strand and is wrapped about the strand as it pays off the supply. For this purpose the spool 21 is engaged at its right-hand end, as viewed in FIG. 3, by

inner ends 'of a plurality of leaf springs 47 arranged in a circle at intervals and secured at outer ends thereof by screws 48 to a ring member 49. The leaf springs 47 force the supply spool 21 to the left (FIG. 3) into firm engagement with an annular piece of tubing 51, of a suitable resilient material such as rubber, which is disposed in an annular groove in the tubular support member 18 in encircling relationship with respect to the arbor portion 19 of the support member.

The ring member 49 is designed to be removably mounted on the right-hand end (FIG. 3) of the arbor 19 in encircling relationship with respect to the strand 13 by a quick releasable connection including a pair of keyhole slots 52 (FIGS. 4 and 5) formed through the ring member. As is best shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, the keyhole slots 52 have relatively enlarged circular portions which are of a size such that the heads of a pair of retaining screws 53 threaded into the arbor 19 can pass therethrough, and have relatively narrow elongated portions which are smaller in width than the heads of the retaining screws and which are designed to receive the shanks of the retaining screws therein. Thus, the ring member 49 readily can be mounted on the arbor 19 and can be removed therefrom in an apparent manner, to permit the supply spool 21 to be mounted on the arbor and to be removed therefrom.

When the ring member 49 is in position on the arbor 19, as shown in the drawings, an annular outer surface portion of the ring member 49 is designed to cooperate with an annular washer-like member 54, of a suitable resilient flexible material such as rubber, to control the tension at which the auxiliary binder thread 14 is wrapped about the strand 13, and to provide a uniform rate of payoff of the thread from its supply on the arbor 19, without the thread falling from the supply indiscriminately by gravity. The washer-like control member 54 is bonded or otherwise suitably secured to an inner annular flange on the right-hand end (FIG. 3) of a cylindrical housing 56 slidably mounted for horizontal movement on a cylindrical horizontally projecting portion 57 of the tubular support member 18. The slidable mounting of the housing 56 on the projecting portion 57 includes a pair of elongated horizontal slots 58 formed in the wall of the housing on the upper and lower sides thereof, and a pair of clamping screws 59 extending through the slots and screw threaded into the projecting portion. Thus, referring to FIGS. 3 and 5, it is seen that the control member 54 can be positioned closely adjacent the annular outer surface of the ring member 49 about its entire periphery such that the auxiliary binder thread 14 always is engaged between the ring member and the control member as it pays off the thread supply, whereby the ring member and the control member function as noted above. Further, by selectively positioning the housing 56 on the projecting portion 57 to vary the force with which the auxiliary binder thread 14 is engaged between the ring member 49 and the control member 54, the tension at which the thread is wrapped about the strand 13 can be Varied as desired.

Referring to the right-hand side of FIGS. 1 and 2, it is seen that auxiliary binding apparatus 11 also may include an apertured upstanding standard 61 secured at its lower end to the support table 2-6, and a tubular guide member 62 secured to the standard. The strand 13 passes through the standard 61 and the guide member 62, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and then proceeds over a pulley (not shown) to the above-mentioned mechanism for combining it with other similar strands to form a cable core, as noted hereinabove.

While the number of turns of the auxiliary binder thread 14 which will be provided on the strand 13 per foot of strand progressively increases as the outer circumference of the supply of the thread on its spool 21 on the arbor 19 decreases, a desired number of turns of the thread per foot of strand can be obtained within certain limits by making the average circumference of the supply of the thread on the-spool 21 equal to the amount of the thread required for each turn. In this regard, for any particular desired number of turns of the auxiliary binder thread 14 per foot of strand, the amount of the thread required for each turn readily can be determined in a conventional manner, such as by computation or actual measurement.

In preparing for a binding operation, the vertical rod 32 and the U-shaped member 27 thereon are placed in their uppermost position shown in solid lines in FIGS. 1-4, in which they are releasably retained by the trigger member 33 (FIG. 2) being engaged in the notch in the side of the vertical rod. The ends of the strip of adhesive material 31 then are positioned in the slots 29 in the legs 28 of the U-shaped member 27 so that the strip extends above the top of the strand 13with the adhesive side of the strip facing downward in opposed relationship with respect to the strand. The free end of the supply of the auxiliary binder thread 14 on the arbor 19 then can be attached to the adhesive side of the strip, if this has not been done previously.

During the wrapping of the main binder thread 12 about the advancing strand 13 by the main binding head 11,

the U-shaped member 27, the strip of adhesive material 31 and the vertical rod 32 are retained in their uppermost position by the trigger member 33. When the main binder thread 12 breaks or becomes depleted, however, the above-mentioned detecting device operates to de-energize the operating circuit of the stranding cabler to stop the cabler, and to energize the solenoid 41. The solenoid 41 then moves the trigger member 33 to the left (FIG. 2) to release the rod 32, and the coil spring 38 drives the rod and the U-shaped member 27 vertically downward toward their lowermost position shown in broken lines in FIG. 2. During this downward movement the strip of adhesive material 31 engages thetop of the strand 13, which is still advancing since the stranding cabler has not yet completely stopped, and is pulled out of the slots 29 in the legs 28 of the U-shaped member (FIG. 5), and the

brushes

44 and 46 on the legs wipe the strip around the periphery of the strand and into firm engagement therewith, thereby attaching the free end of the supply of the auxiliary binder thread 14 on the arbor 19 to the strand.

When the auxiliary binder thread 14 has been attached to the advancing strand 13 the strand begins to pull the binder thread from its supply spool 21 on the arbor 19. and the binder thread is wrapped about the strand as it pays off of the supply spool. During this wrapping operation, the ring member 49 and the resilient washer-like control member 54 cooperate to provide the desired tension in the thread and to provide a uniform rate of payoff of the thread from the supply spool 21.

The auxiliary binder thread 14- will continue to be wrapped about the advancing strand 13 until the cabling apparatus, and thus the advancement of the strand, finally I has stopped. Further, after the main binder thread 12 has been repaired or replaced and the cabling apparatus has been restarted, the auxiliary binding head 17 is allowed to continue to wrap the auxiliary binder thread 14 about the strand 13 until the unbound portion of the strand, which was not wrapped by the main binding head 11 as a result of the broken or depleted main binder thread 12, has passed through the auxiliary binding apparatus; The auxiliary binder thread 14 then is cut manually and the mechanism 16 for attaching the auxiliary binder thread to the strand 13 is reset as described hereinabove, in readi ness for the next breaking or depletion of the main binder thread 12.

'Whileone embodiment of the invention has been disclosed many modifications will be apparent and it is intended that the invention be interpreted as including all the invention.

What is claimed is:

'1. Apparatus for attaching a binder to an elongated article and for Wrapping the binder about the article, which comprises:

a binding head 'for supporting a supply of the binder and arranged so that when the binder is attached to the elongated article the binder is wrapped about the article as the article is advanced longitudinally;

means for supporting a piece of adhesive material having a free end of the binder supply attached thereto; and

means for moving said support means relative to the article to attach the adhesive material'and the free end of the binder supply to'the article for the wrapping of the binder about the article.

2. Apparatus for attaching a binder to an elongated article and for wrapping the binder about the article, which comprises:

a binding head for supporting a supply of the binder and arranged so that when the binder is attached to the elongated article thebinder is wrapped about the article as the article is advanced longitudinally;

means for supporting a piece of adhesive material having a free end of the binder supply attached thereto;

means for moving said support means relative to the article to attach the adhesive material and the free end of the binder supply to the article for the wrapping of the binder about the article; and

brush means movable relative to the article for pressing the adhesive material firmly into engagement with the article.

3. Apparatus for attaching a thread to an elongated article and for wrapping the thread about the artcile, which comprises:

first support means for supporting a cylindrically wound supply of the thread in encircling relationship with respect to the article;

second support means for supporting a piece of adhesive material having a free end of the thread supply attached thereto; 1 7

means for moving said second support means relative to the article to attach the adhesive material and the free end of the thread supply to the article;

' means for preventing axialand rotatable movement of the cylindrically'wound supply of the thread on said first support means so that when the free end of the thread supply is'attached to the article and the article is advancing longitudinally the thread is pulled from the supply by the article and is Wrapped about the article as it pays off the supply; and

means for controlling the tension at which the thread is Wrapped about the article and the rate at which the threads pays off the supply.

4. Apparatus for attaching a thread to an elongated article and for wrapping the thread about the article,

which comprises:

first support means for supporting a cylindrically wound supply of the thread in encircling. relationship with respectto the article;

second support means for supporting apiece of adhesive material having a free end of the thread supply attached thereto; i Q

meansfor moving said second support means relative to, thearticle to attach the adhesive material and the free end of the thread supply to the article;

means for preventing axial and rotatable movement of the cylindrically wound supply of the thread on said first supportmeans'so that when the free end of the thread supply is attached to the article and the article is advancing longitudinally the thread is pulled from the supply by the article and is wrapped about the article as it pays off the supply;

an annular surface arranged to surround the article; and

resilient means arranged to surroundthe article adjacent said annular surface for engaging the thread between said annular surface and said resilient means as the thread pays off the supply, to control the tension at which the thread is wrapped about the article and the rate at which the thread pays oil? the supply.

5. Apparatus for attaching a thread to an elongated article and for wrapping the thread about the article, which comprises:

second support means for supporting a piece of adhesive material having a free end of the thread supply attached thereto;

releasable means for retaining said second support means in a position in which the adhesive material is spaced from the article; means for releasing said retaining means; resilient means operative when said retaining means is released, for moving said second support means relative to the article to attach the adhesive material and the free end of the thread supply to the article;

means for preventing axial and rotatable movement of the cylindrically wound supply of the thread on said first support means so that when the free end of the thread supply is attached to the article and the article is advancing longitudinally the thread is pulled from the supply by the article and is wrapped about the article as it pays oif the supply; and

means for controlling the tension at which the thread is wrapped about the article and the rate at which the thread pays oif the supply. 6. In combination with apparatus including a main binding head for wrapping a main binder thread about an elongated longitudinally advancing article and including a device for detecting a broken or depleted main binder thread, mechanism which comprises:

an auxiliary binding head located after the main binding head along the path of movement of the article for supporting a supply of an auxiliary binder thread and arranged so that when the auxiliary binder thread is attached to the advancing article the auxiliary binder thread is wrapped about the article;

means for supporting a piece of adhesive material having a free end of the auxiliary binder thread supply attached thereto; and means responsive to the device for detecting a broken or depleted main binder thread and being operable to move said support means relative to the advancing article to attach the adhesive material and the free end of the auxiliary binder thread to the article for the wrapping of the auxiliary binder thread about the article. 7. In combination with apparatus including a main binding head for wrapping a main binder thread about an elongated longitudinally advancing article and including a device for detecting a broken or depleted main binder thread, mechanism which comprises:

means for supporting a piece of adhesive material having a free end of the auxiliary binder thread supply attached thereto;

means responsive to the device for detecting a broken or depleted main binder thread and being operable to move said support means relative to the advancing article to attach the adhesive material and the free end of the auxiliary binder thread supply to the advancing article for the wrapping of the auxiliary binder thread about the article; and

brush means movable relative to the advancing article for pressing the adhesive material firmly into engagement with the article.

' 8. In combination with apparatus including a main binding head for wrapping a binder thread about an elongated longitudinally advancing article and including a device for detecting a broken or depleted main binder thread, mechanism for wrapping an auxiliary binder thread about a portion of the article when the main binder thread breaks or becomes depleted, which comprises:

first support means located after the main binding head along the path of movement of the article for supporting a cylindrically wound supply of the auxiliary binder thread in encircling relationship with respect to the article;

second support means for supporting a piece of adhesive material having a free end of the auxiliary binder thread supply attached thereto;

means responsive to the device for detecting a broken or depleted main binder thread and being operable to move said second support means relative to the advancing article to attach the adhesive material and the free end of the auxiliary binder thread supply to the advancing article;

means for preventing axial and rotatable movement of the cylindrically wound supply of the auxiliary binder thread on said first support means so that when the free end of the binder thread supply is attached to the advancing article the binder thread is pulled from the supply by the advancing article and is wrapped thereabout as it pays off the supply; and

means for controlling the tension at which the auxiliary binder thread is wrapped about the article and the rate at which the binder thread pays off the supply.

9. In combination with apparatus including a main binding head for wrapping a binder thread about an elongated longitudinally advancing article and including a device for detecting a broken or depleted main binder thread, mechanism for wrapping an auxiliary binder thread about a portion of the article when the main binder thread breaks or becomes depleted, which comprises:

means for preventing axial and rotatable movement of the cylindrically wound supply of the auxiliary binder thread on said first support means so that when the free end of the binder thread supply is attached to the advancing article the binder thread is pulled from the supply by the advancing article and is wrapped thereabout as it pays oil? the supply;

an annular surface arranged to surround the article;

and

resilient means arranged to surround the article adjacent said annular surface for engaging the auxiliary binder thread between said annular surface and said resilient means as the thread pays off the supply, to control the tension at which the auxiliary binder thread is wrapped about the article and the rate at which the binder thread pays ofii the supply.

10. In combination with cable making apparatus including a main binding head for wrapping a main binder thread about a longitudinally advancing strand, and including a device for detecting a broken or depleted main binder thread, mechanism for wrapping an auxiliary binder thread about a portion of the strand when the 1 1 main binderthread breaks or becomes depleted, which comprises:

a tubular member located after the main binding head along the path of movement of the strand and through which the strand advances, said tubular member being designed to receive a cylindrically wound supply of the auxiliary binder thread thereon end of the supply of the binder thread is attached to the advancing strand the binder thread is pulled from the supply by the advancing strand and is wrapped thereabout as it pays off the supply; and,

means for'controlling the tension at which the auxiliary r binder thread is wrapped about the strand and the rate at which the binder thread pays oh. the supply.

in encircling relationship with respect to the strand; a pair of movable spaced supports adjacent an exit end of said tubular member for supporting a strip of ad- 10 hesive material therebetween which has a free end of the auxiliary binder thread supply attached thereto; means responsive to the device for detecting a broken or depleted rnain binder thread and being movable References Cited by thezExaminer UNITED STATES PATENTS to move said support members laterally with respect 15 891,747 6/08 Szlub1 156487 to the adavncing strand on opposite id thereof t 3 3 3/21 ThWalteS 57160 X attach the adhesive material with peripheral portions 2,003,353 6/35 Fantone 5719 of the advancing strand and thereby to att h th fre 2,023,407 12/ 35 Cobb 57-19 end of the auxiliary binder thread supply to the 21191371 5/38 Von Hofe 156487 X strand; 20 2,488,9 4 11/49 Rayburn 57 6 brushes on said support members movabletherewith for pressing the adhesive material firmly into engagement with the peripheral portions of the strand;

MERVIN STEIN, Primary Examiner;

Claims

2. APPARATUS FOR ATTACHING A BINDER TO AN ELONGATED ARTICLE AND FOR WRAPPING THE BINDER ABOUT THE ARTICLE, WHICH COMPRISES: A BINDING HEAD FOR SUPPORTING A SUPPLY OF THE BINDER AND ARRANGED SO THAT WHEN THE BINDER IS ATTACHED TO THE ELONGATED ARTICLE THE BINDER IS WRAPPED ABOUT THE ARTICLE AS THE ARTICLE IS ADVANCED LONGITUDINALLY;