US3423043A - Wire packaging apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 21, 1969 J. .1. KANE ETAL WIRE, PACKAGING APPARATUS Filed April 26, 1967 I N VE N TOR-3 I P-a Jo/m Kane James P. Conncr United States Patent 2 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Apparatus for feeding wire coil loops onto a wire carrier including means for supporting the wire loops emerging from a wire coiling machine.

Background of the invention This invention relates generally to wire processing machines :and more particularly to forming neat, compact packages of wire.

The loops or turns of wire produced by a wire coiling machine associated with a wire processing apparatus are deposited on a stationary takeup block by the coiling device which comprises a rotating winding head or flyer. The wire coil loops are pushed off the takeup block by the subsequent convolutions laid thereon by the coiling device and onto a coil transfer device which directs the wire coil loops onto a wire carrier. The takeup block is generally of drum-like construction having a flange and a tapered or frusto-conical outerface which extends outwardly therefrom and is inclined slightly downwardly toward the discharge end of the block. The upper end of the takeup block is provided with a fillet between the flange and the tapered outerface. The winding head or flyer successively lays loops or turns of wire into this fillet and the incoming wire loop crowds in between the last wound convolution of the wire and the flange forcing the previously wound loops axially along the tapered outer face of the drum away from the flange and onto a coil transfer horn which directs the loops downwardly onto a wire carrier to form the wire package.

The friction between the coiled loops of wire and the upper surface of the coil transfer horn results in momentary hanging up of a few loops and the subsequent sudden release thereof results in irregular pay-off. The formation of a neat uniform package of wire on the carrier as it is deposited thereon from the coil transfer device is impossible under these circumstances. The desirability of a uniform package is well known in the industry and includes appearance, to enhance salability, as well as uniformity of lay, which is perhaps most important to the customer since it is essential to proper pay-off characteristics.

Summary of the invention It is therefore an object of this invention to provide means for successively feeding wire coil lOOps from a coiling apparatus to a wire carrier at a uniform rate.

It is a further object of this invention to provide means for supporting and guiding the wire coil loops at their lower ends as they are discharged from the coiling machine.

The instant invention provides a U-shaped guide for supporting the wire coil loops emerging from the coiling machine at their lower ends so as to eliminate frictional contact of the loops and the top or upper surface of the coil transfer horn.

Brief description of the drawings FIGURE 1 is a side elevation of the wire packaging apparatus showing the application of the invention.

Patented Jan. 21, 1969 "ice FIGURE 2 is a view of a portion of the apparatus of FIG. 1 shown partly in section.

FIGURE 3 is a view of the apparatus taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

Description of the preferred embodiment Referring to the drawings, the wire packaging apparatus of the instant invention is seen to comprise, wire coiling machine 1, stationary takeup block 2, rigid coil transfer horn 3, and wire carrier 4. The rotating winding head 5 of the wire coiling machine 1 deposits coils of wire on the drum-like takeup block 2 at the radius 7 between flange 8 of the takeup block 2 and tapered or inclined sur face 9 thereof. Successive lays of coil push the previously wound coils axially along the surface of said takeup block onto the upper surface of the rigid transfer horn 3 which directs the coil loops 12 downwardly onto a waiting rotating wire carrier.

The instant invention provides means to guide and support the wire coil loops 12 out of contact with the upper surface of the coil transfer horn 3, comprising a U-shaped rod 10, the ends of which are secured to the coiling machine housing 11, sloping downwardly slightly at a convenient angle selected by the operator. The U-shaped rod 10 thus supports each wire coil loop 12 at two points 6 (see FIG. 3), as it emerges from the coiling machine, as opposed to the prior art means of supporting the top of the coil loops over a considerable length of arc of the upper curved surface of the transfer horn 3. The support of the wire coil loops 12 at two points near the bottom thereof thus lifts the top of the coil loop free from the upper surface of the coil transfer horn 3. The loops fall forward freely and uniformly without hanging up.

In the pictured embodiment a soft wire rod is used to form the U-shaped guide rod 10. It is clear, however, that this guide might consist of other materials and take a variety of shapes and/ or forms without detracting from the scope and spirit of the invention.

Thus, the point contact support of the coil loops at the bottom eliminates the frictional contact of the top of the coil loop with the top surface of the coil transfer horn and provides simple, inexpensive means for assuring uniform delivery of the coil loops to the wire carrier resulting in a neat, compact package.

We claim::

1. In a wire packaging apparatus having a coiling machine for forming wire coils, a drum-like takeup block for receiving said wire coils having a tapered portion extending outwardly from said coiling machine, a coil transfer device with a coil carrying upper surface to receive coils continuously deposited thereon from said takeup block, a wire carrier to receive said wire delivered thereon by said coil transfer device, the improvement comprising:

means positioned under at least a portion of said coils to guide and support said coils out of contact with said upper surface of said coil transfer device, said means being secured to said coiling machine below said coil transfer device and extending therealong.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said guide means comprises a U-shaped rod.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,703,686 3/1955 Bell 24282 2,863,615 12/1958 Kenmore et a1. 242-83 3,241,786 3/1966 Bittman 24283 FRANK J. COHEN, Primary Examiner.

NATHAN L. MlNTZ, Assistant Examiner.

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