Patent ID: 6299825
Filing Date: 2001-10-09
Classification: B21C

Abstract:
An apparatus for forming spring wire into coils, comprising:a take-up block in the general form of a drive wheel having a peripheral surface, the block being mounted for rotation about a substantially upright axis, so that convolutions of the wire can be wrapped around said peripheral surface,first drive means for rotating said block,at least one pinch roll defining a circumferential surface and mounted adjacent the periphery of said take-up block for movement between a first position in which the circumferential surface is adjacent the peripheral surface and a second position in which the circumferential surface is spaced away from the peripheral surface,biasing means for urging said at least one pinch roll toward the said first position,said peripheral and circumferential surfaces being configured to define a gap between them when the at least one pinch roll is in its first position, the peripheral surface sloping upwardly and inwardly toward the axis of the block to urge convolutions of wire wrapped around the peripheral surface of said wheel to migrate upwardly,at least one rotatable wire receiving basket mounted adjacent the block,second drive means for rotating said at least one wire receiving basket, andguide means for guiding wire from the block to said at least one wire receiving basket.