A METHOD FOR ADVANCING AND TWISTING A PLURALITY OF STRANDS AND A CONVEYOR MEANS FOR USE IN THE SAME

Abstract: There is disclosed a conveyor means (11) for simultane­ ously advancing and twisting a plurality of strands into a rope, comprising: an elongate trough having at least two walls arranged to define a linear path, a first wall of said at least two walls includ­ ing a plurality of generally parallel rollers (40), the rotational axes of which rollers are oriented at a predetermined angle to horizontal and vertical planes in which the conveyor means is disposed; power means (M, M1) for driving said rollers (40) in unison in a predetermined direction; and means for feeding said strands into said trough and into frictional contact with said rollers (40), said rollers (40) being effective, by virtue of their predetermined angular position and the predetermined direction of rotation, to advance the strands while twisting the strands into a rope. Also disclosed is a method of advancing and twisting a plurality of generally parallel strands into a rope utilizing the conveyor means (11) described above.

Description: This invention relates to strand material and, more particularly, to twisting together at least two strands advancing continuously from a source of strands. Prior art stranding machines usually include reels of strand material whirling about horizontal or vertical axes. Such machines have large space requirements and need extensive guards and shields to protect operators from the whirling mass. The present invention is intended to provide a simplified apparatus and method for continuously twisting together a plurality of strands into a rope or cable. By the apparatus and method of the present invention, strands may be twisted into a rope as individual strands advance continuously from a source such as an extruder or supply reel. There is no requirement to rotate one strand source about the other; instead, the strand sources remain secured to a fixed support and merely "pay out" in a continuous, generally parallel fashion. The present invention, in one respect, provides a method of winding together at least two strands (44,46) comprising the steps of: (i) providing a conveyor means (11) having at least two side walls, at least one of said side walls defining a first series of generally parallel rollers (34), the rotational axes of which rollers are disposed at a predetermined angle relative to horizontal and vertical planes in which the conveyor means (11) is disposed; (ii) rotating the rollers (34) in unison about their axes in a predetermined direction; (iii) feeding said at least two strands (44,46) into said conveyor means (11) and into frictional contact with said rollers (34); and (iv) permitting the rollers (34), by virtue of their disposition and direction of rotation, to wind together the at least two strands (44,46) and to advance the wound strands through the conveyor means (11). The present invention provides a conveyor means (11) for simultaneously advancing and twisting a plurality of strands (44,46) into a rope, the conveyor means (11) comprising: an elongate trough having at least two walls arranged to define a linear path, a first wall of said at least two walls including a plurality of generally parallel rollers (34), the rotational axes of which rollers (34) are oriented at a predetermined angle to horizontal and vertical planes in which the conveyor means (11) is disposed; power means (M,M') for driving said rollers in unison in a predetermined direction; and means (47) for feeding said strands into said trough and into frictional contact with said rollers (34), said rollers (34) being effective, by virtue of their predetermined angular position and the predetermined direction of rotation, to advance the strands (44,46) while twisting the strands (44,46) into a rope. The conveyor means is in the form of a trough and acts to twist and advance a plurality of strands along a substantially linear path. The trough has at least one side wall formed with a series of aligned (parallel) rollers and each roller has a rotational axis disposed at a predetermined angle relative to horizontal and vertical planes in which the conveyor means is disposed. The power means are provided for rotating the rollers in unison in a predetermined direction so that a plurality of advancing strands in frictional contact with said rollers are influenced by at least two components of force, a first force component tending to continue the advance of the strands, and a second force component tending to rotate (twist or wind) the strands into a rope. For a better understanding of the present invention and to show how the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of a conveyor means according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a side elevation of the conveyor means of Figure 1 on the line 2-2; Figure 3 is a sectional view along the staggered line 3-3 in Figure 1 observed in the direction of the arrows; Figure 4 shows a second conveyor means in tandem with the conveyor means of Figure 1; Figure 5 is a view, similar to Figure 2, with portions broken away to reveal a pressure foot; and Figure 6 is a sectional view, similar to Figure 3, showing three strands twisting and advancing in the second conveyor means. In Figures 1, 2 and 3, the reference numeral 11 generally designates a conveyor means including two pairs of rails defining bearing blocks or bearing supports. A first pair of bearing supports 12, 13 are, on one side, spaced apart by, and secured to, a series of side or cover plates 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 and by plates 14', 15', 16', 17', 18' on the opposite side. A second pair of bearing supports 19, 20 are, on one side, spaced apart by, and secured to, a corresponding series of side or cover plates 21, 22, 23, 24, 25 and by plates 21', 22', 23', 24', 25' on the opposite side. The side plates and, in turn, the bearing blocks are supported by legs 26, 27 secured to flat plates 28, 29 respectively. Bearing supports 19, 20 are constructed in the same fashion and for the same purpose as are the supports 12, 13. Therefore, only bearing supports 12, 13 will be described in detail with the understanding that a detailed description of one set of supports also describes the other set. Bearing supports 12, 13 are fitted with a plurality of bushings or sleeves 31, 32 providing spaced bearings for shafts or spindles 33 in turn, supporting mating rollers 34. Suitably keyed to each spindle 33 are spaced sprockets 36, 37. The sprockets 36 of one spindle are aligned with the sprockets 37 of the next adjacent spindle so that roller chains 38 make a driving connection from spindle to spindle when the chains are powered by main spindle S. Main spindle 5 is driven by motor M which is supported by angle bracket 39 in turn secured to leg 26. It is not intended that the means for driving the spindles be limited to sprocket and chain arrangements. Other suitable drives, such as V belts and friction pulleys may be employed as engineering and economic considerations dictate. The rollers 34 and rollers 35, arranged side by side in generally parallel fashion, are formed at one end with a roughened or knurled peripheral surface 40 for a purpose which will become more apparent below. The rollers 34 are each skewed so that their respective rotational axes subtend a predetermined angle relative to horizontal and vertical planes. For the purposes of explaining the present invention the rotational axes develop an included angle alpha,α , with a horizontal plane and an included angle beta,β , with a vertical plane as shown in Figure 3. While, in the preferred embodiment described here the values of alpha and beta are 45° and 45° respectively, it is not intended that the invention be limited to such values. Considerations of desired pitch and included angle of the V-shaped cross-section require adjustment in these angles from time to time. The skewed rollers 34, 35 having knurled ends 40 are spaced apart slightly (as shown in Figure 3). The rollers form the side walls of the conveyor means 11 and present a trough of generally V-shaped configuration in cross-section. The apex or bottom of the V defines a generally linear path P. Each set of rollers is driven (rotated) by respective motors M and M' in a direction which is indicated by arcuate arrows 41, 42 in Figure 1. Rotation of the rollers in a given direction, in combination with the skewed disposition of their axes of rotation, is effective to develop two components of force influencing an elongate article (not shown) cradled in the trough of the conveyor means. Thus, rotating the rollers 34 in the direction of arrow 41 develops two force components. One component is effective to move said elongate article through the conveyor and the second component is effective to rotate the article as it moves forward along path P. Thus, it can be seen that the conveyor means of the present invention is operative and effective continuously to twist and advance a plurality of strands into a rope. Moreover, it is to be appreciated that a plurality of generally parallel strands advancing into the left hand end of the conveyor means of Figure 1 at an appropriate linear speed (while the rollers 34 are being rotated by motor M) will continue to advance in the conveyor means while the strands are twisted (rotated) into a rope of a uniform lay and pitch. In fact, while the side walls of the disclosed conveyor means 11 comprise two sets of driven rollers 34 and 35, it is entirely within the scope of the method and apparatus of the present invention to permit one set of rollers to idle. In such an embodiment only one set of rollers is driven but this is sufficient to twist and advance strands effectively. Alternatively, all rollers on one side may be idlers with a pattern or mixture of idlers and driven rollers on the other side as engineering and product considerations dictate. Furthermore, one set of rollers may be replaced by a smooth, relatively friction-free, plate of plastic or metallic sheet material so that the side walls comprise one set of driven rollers and a smooth sheet. The walls cooperate to generate a V-shaped configuration in cross-section. Referring to Figures 4, 5 and 6, a conveyor means 43 is shown receiving two generally parallel strands 44 and 46, emerging in this case from the crosshead 47 of an extruder (not shown). The strands are twisted and advanced with a left-hand lay at a pitch of approximately 3-5/32 inches (80.2mm). The output of the conveyor means 43 is fed into a similar, tandem, conveyor means 48 at whose upstream end a third strand 49 is introduced from crosshead 51. Operation of tandem conveyor means 48 is effective to combine and twist the third strand 49 into the rope emerging from the downstream end of conveyor means 43 to develop a three-strand line, as is apparent in the cross-section of Figure 6. Obviously, a number of conveyor means can be arranged in series, each receiving one or more strands to generate a multi-strand rope. It is anticipated that the strand material can take a variety of forms such as dough-like filaments such as candy, gum or other food products plastic strands, insulated wire, or other ribbons or filamentary lengths of material. Frequently it is necessary to increase friction between the strand material and the rollers. One method of increasing friction is to provide a roughened or knurled surface on the rollers, as at 40 (Figure 1) or to utilize a pressure device or a pressure foot, as indicated by the reference numeral 52 in Figure 5. Such a device is resilient, adjustable and usually spring-loaded to bear upon the twisting strand to regulate friction between the strands and the rollers.

Claims: A method of winding together at least two strands, comprising the steps of: (i) providing a conveyor means having at least two side walls, at least one of said side walls defining a first series of generally parallel rollers, the rotational axes of which rollers are disposed at a predetermined angle relative to horizontal and vertical planes in which the conveyor means is disposed; (ii) rotating the rollers in unison about their axes in a predetermined direction; (iii) feeding said at least two strands into said conveyor means and into frictional contact with said rollers; and (iv) permitting the rollers, by virtue of their disposition and direction of rotation, to wind together the at least two strands and to advance the wound strands through the conveyor means. A method according to claim 1, wherein the side walls are angled with respect to each other, preferably to form a V-shaped trough when viewed in cross-section. A method according to claim 1 or 2 wherein a portion of each roller is knurled to increase friction between the rollers and the strands. A method according to any preceding claim, further including the step of maintaining the linear speed of advance of the strands to develop a uniform lay and pitch in the twisted or wound strands emerging from said conveyor means. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein a second of said at least two side walls defines a second series of generally parallel rollers. A method according to claim 5, wherein the axes of said second series of rollers of said second side wall are angled relative to horizontal and vertical planes in which the conveyor means is disposed to enhance the twisting and advancing motion of the strands in the conveyor means. A method according to claim 5 or 6, further including the step of rotating said second series of rollers of said second side wall in unison and in a direction so as to further enhance the twisting and advancing motion of said strands. A method according to claim 5,6, or 7, further including the step of rotating both first and second series of rollers in a direction so as to create a lay of a predetermined "hand" or direction in said twisted or wound strands. A method according to claim 6 or 7, wherein both the first and second rollers are rotated at substantially the same speed. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the conveyor means further includes a pressure foot or shoe above the strands to increase friction between the strands and the rollers. A method according to any preceding claim, further including the steps of: providing a second conveyor means, feeding the wound or twisted strands of the first conveyor means to the second conveyor means and permitting at least one further strand to be twisted by the second conveyor means into the strands emerging from the first conveyor means, the at least one further strand being twisted about and combined with the strands emerging from the first conveyor means in a manner consistent with the lay of the strands already twisted by the first conveyor means. A conveyor means for simultaneously advancing and twisting a plurality of strands into a rope, comprising: an elongate trough having at least two walls arranged to define a linear path, a first wall of said at least two walls including a plurality of generally parallel rollers, the rotational axes of which are oriented at a predetermined angle to horizontal and vertical planes in which the conveyor means is disposed; and power means for driving said rollers in unison in a predetermined direction; means for feeding said strands into said trough and into frictional contact with said rollers, said rollers being effective, by virtue of their predetermined angular position and the predetermined direction of rotation, to advance the strands while twisting the strands into a rope. A conveyor means according to claim 12, wherein there are two walls both of which include a plurality of parallel rollers. A conveyor means according to claim 12 or 13, wherein the rotational axes of the rollers of a second wall of said at lest two walls are disposed so as to enhance the twisting action of said first wall. A conveyor means according to claim 12,13 or 14, including power means for driving the rollers of the second wall. A conveyor means according to claim 15, wherein the power means for driving the rollers of the first wall and the power means for driving the rollers of the second wall are set to generate a uniform lay in the twisted strands. A conveyor means according to any one of claims 12 to 16 including control means for changing the rotational speed of said rollers effective to vary the pitch or turns per unit length of rope. A conveyor means according to any one of claims 12 to 17, wherein the trough includes a resilient shoe or pressure foot which, in operation, bears upon advancing strands to enhance friction between the strands and the rollers. A conveyor means according to any one of claims 12 to 18, wherein the rollers are formed with a knurled or roughened surfaces to enhance friction. A conveyor means according to any one of claims 12 to 19, wherein a second conveyor means is disposed at the downstream end of the first conveyor means to receive the rope output of the first conveyor means there being provided a means for advancing at least one additional strand into said second conveyor means, said second conveyor means being effective to twist said additional strand into the rope output of the first conveyor.

Inventors: JANOS, EDWARD, SIECKE, ALBERT E.
Applicants: WARNER-LAMBERT COMPANY
Application year: 1986
Main classification: D07B3
IPC codes: D02G1, D07B3, B65H51