AN ARRANGEMENT IN A CABLE WINDING MACHINE

Abstract: Arrangement in a cable winding machine movable on a bedding (2) and of the type that comprises two vertical support members (1) interconnected by means of an extensible cross bar, said support members being adapted to carry a cable reel (4) between themselves by means of two spindles (3) each displaceable along one of said support members (1), said cable reel (4) resting on a pallet (7) except during a cable reeling or unreeling process, and lifting means (9) projecting at the lower part of at least one of the support members (1) for carrying the pallet (7) at the same time as the cable reel (4) is carried by the spindles (3). According to the invention the lifting means (9) are resiliently suspended and adapted to assume a lower position when they are loaded with a pallet (7) with a reel (4) and an upper position when they are loaded with only a pallet (7). In said upper position of the lifting means (9) the pallet (7) is lifted up from the bedding (2) in order not to obstruct the movement of the cable winding machine on the bedding (2).

Description: An arrangement in a cable winding machine The present invention relates to an arrangement in a cable winding machine movable on a bedding and of the type that comprises two vertical support members inter¬ connected by means of an extensible cross bar, said support members being adapted to carry a cable reel between them¬ selves by means of two spindles each displaceable along one of said support members, " said cable reel resting on a pallet except during a cable reeling or unreeling process , and lifting means projecting at the lower part of at least one of the support members for carrying the pallet at the same time as the cable reel is carried by the spindles. A cable winding machine of the above type is known from e.g. U.S. patent specification 4,098,468. Large amounts are lost each year through damages to cable reels as well as to the cable stored thereon which damages arise during handling and storing. In order to reduce the number of such damages it has been proposed that cable reels, empty as well as full, should be stored on individual pallets preferably construct- ed from iron bars which pallets preferably are provided with wheels in order to facilitate their transportation on a plane bedding. In cable winding machines of the above kind a problem arises with such pallets during the process of reeling or unreeling the cable. After that the pallet with a cable reel has been brought in between the support members of the cable winding machine and the cable reel has been lifted up by means of the spindles the pallet has to be removed from the cable winding machine in order not to obstruct its movement during the cable reeling or un¬ reeling process. After that this process has been com¬ pleted the pallet anew has to be rolled in between the support members in order to carry the cable reel. A lot of manual work is required to accomplish this which has to be considered as a drawback in a modern production plant, The object of the present invention is, therefore, to provide an arrangement by means of which it will be possible to eliminate the above described extra work with the removal of the empty pallet when the cable reel is suspended in the winding machine. According to the invention this object is attained in that the lifting means are resiliently suspended and adapted to assume a lower position when they are loaded .with a pallet with a reel and an upper position when they are loaded with only a pallet said pallet being lifted up from the bedding in said upper position of " the lifting means. The invention will be described more in detail be¬ low with reference to the attached drawing, on which Fig. shows an arrangement according to the invention out of en¬ gagement with a pallet which carries a cable drum, and Fig 2 shows the arrangement according to the invention in en¬ gagement with the pallet. 1 in Fig. 1 designates one of the two vertical support members of a cable winding machine which is movabl on a bedding 2. The support members are interconnected by means of e.g. a telescopic crossbar (not shown) . The support members carry spindles 3 facing each other, which can be raised and lowered in order to lift a cable reel 4 having a central hole 5. Except during the process of ree ing or unreeling a cable the cable reel 4 rests on a palle 7 preferably provided with wheels 6. The pallet does not constitute part of the invention and is, therefore, not shown in detail. • According to the shown embodiment the cable windin machine is of the kind that via wheels 8 can move on the bedding 2 during the cable "reeling or unreeling process . order to avoid unnecessary work with the removal of the empty pallet from the cable winding machine during the cab - reeling or unreeling process the cable winding machine is according to the present invention provided with an arrang ment by means of which the empty pallet is brought with th cable winding machine lifted up from the bedding during th movement of the cable winding machine. Except durinq tϊ O cable reeling or unreeling process itself the cable wind¬ ing machine can move in order to transport e.g. a cable reel with a cable reeled thereon from one place to another. The arrangement according to the invention com- prises at the lower end of the support members 1 two pro¬ jecting lifting means 9 facing each other and being re- siliently suspended which lifting means are adapted to co¬ operate with e.g. recesses, protrusions or the like on the pallet 7. The lifting means 9 may comprise a bracket 10 mounted at the lower end of the support members 1, in which e.g. a cam disc 11 is pivoted on a pin 12. Moreover, the cam disc 11 is spring-biased by means of a compression spring 13. When the support member 1 is moved to the left in order to introduce the spindle 3 into the central hole 5 of the cable reel 4 the lifting means 9 are introduced into the recesses (not shown) in the pallet 7. Under influence of the weight of -the cable reel the cam disc 11 will be pressed downwards so that its upper edge will flush with the upper surface of the bracket 10. Then, when the cabla reel 4 is lifted by means of the spindles 3 introduced into the central hole 5 the cable reel 4 will be lifted up from the angle bar of the pallet 7 as apparent from Fig. 2. In order for the empty pallet 7 to be lifted up from the bedding 2 in order not to ob¬ struct the movement of the cable winding machine on said bedding the compression spring 13 is so dimensioned that it via the cam disc 11 lifts the empty pallet 7 from the bed¬ ding 2 so that the wheels 6 of the pallet 7 do not touch the bedding 2. By means of means not shown the empty pallet 7 can be locked to the lifting means 9 so that it does not change position during the movement of the cable winding machine but so that the cable reel 4 after a completed cable reeling or unreeling process again can be lowered onto the pallet 7 for further transportation. Of course, the lifting means 9 do not have to be de¬ signed in the manner shov.n on the drawing. Thus, instead of the cam disc 11 a spring-biased ball can be present. Moreover, it should be apparent that the arrange¬ ment according to the invention may be further varied and modified by anyone skilled in the art within the scope of the attached claim.

Claims: AMENDED CLAIMS (received by the International Bureau on 2 June 1980 (02.06.80)) An arrangement in a cable winding machine movable on a bedding (2) and of the type that comprises two ver¬ tical support members (1) interconnected by means of a cross bar, said support members being adapted to carry a cable reel (4) between themselves by means of two spindle (3) each displaceable along " one of said support members ( said cable reel (4) resting on a pallet (7) except during a cable reeling or unreeling process, and lifting means ( projecting at the lower part of at least one of the suppo members (1) for carrying the pallet (7) at the same time the cable reel (4) is carried by the spindles (3) , charac terized in that the lifting means (9) are resiliently sus pended and adapted to assume a lower position when they are loaded with a pallet (7) with a reel (4) and an upper position when they are loaded with only a pallet (7) , sai pallet (7) being lifted up from the bedding (2) in said upper position of the lifting means (9) . __^ STATEMENTUNDERARTICLE19 The amendment, merely, consists in that the expression "a cross bar" has been introduced into the preamble to replace the original expression "an extensible cross bar" in order not to unduly restrict the claim.

Inventors: SKALLEBERG O
Applicants: SKALLEBERG O, SKALTEK AB
Application year: 1980
Main classification: B65H49
IPC codes: B65H19, B65H54, B65H67