Take-up reel for metallic filament

Abstract: The metallic-filament take-up reel according to the present invention comprises a winding drum (2) on which the metallic filament (1) is wound, a pair of flanges (3) provided at the opposite axial ends of the winding drum (2) to hold, between the opposite inner surfaces (3A) thereof, the metallic filament (1) wound on the drum (2), and a means (10) of retaining the end portion (11) of the metallic filament (1), provided on at least one of the flanges (3). The filament retaining means (10) comprises a catcher (12) of which the base portion (14) is securely fixed to the outer surface (3B) of the flange (3) and an access hole (13) formed in the flange (3) and through which the free end of the catcher (12) can be led to inside the flange (3). The free end of the catcher (12) is formed into a hook for retention of the end portion (11) of the metallic filament (1). The catcher (12) has an intermediate portion (15) extending form the base portion (14) thereof to the hook portion (16). The intermediate portion (15) is raised from the base portion (14) thereof and then bent at a height from the flange outer surface (3B) so as to extend toward the access hole (13) in the flange (3). The catcher (12) has such a resilience as returns the hook portion (16) toward its initial position after the catcher (12) itself is bent for catching the end portion (11) of a metallic filament (1).

Description: The present invention relates to a reel destined for use to take up a metallic filament such as wire, rod, stripe or the like thereon. Figs. 1 to 3 show a typical one of the prior-art metallic-filament take-up reels. In Figures, the reference numeral 1 denotes a metallic filament 1 such as steel wire, steel cord or the like. As shown in Fig. 1, the example reel consists of a cylindrical drum 2 on which the metallic filament 1 is wound and a pair of disk-like flanges 3 provided at opposite axial ends of the drum 2 to hold, between the opposite inner surfaces thereof, the metallic filament 1 wound on the drum 2. As shown in Fig. 2, the outer circumference of each flange 3 is formed, by rounding it outwardly, into an annular and tubular reinforcement 31. Also the right flange 3 has provided thereon a means 100 of retaining the end portion 11 of the metallic filament 1 wound on the drum 2. The filament retaining means 100 consists of an elongated hole 101 formed in the flange 3 along the reinforcement 31 thereof and a generally "U"-shaped catcher 102 provided on the outer surface of the flange 3 in the proximity of the elongated hole 101. The elongated hole 101 is formed to such a size and shape that the end portion 11 of the metallic filament 1 can be partially pulled out, as bent in a nearly "U" shape, from inside the inner surface to outside the outer surface of the flange 3. Fig. 3 shows the end portion 11 of the metallic filament 1 partially pulled to outside the flange 3 and caught by the catcher 102. The catcher 102 has such a resilience as forces itself at the central apex thereof to the outer surface of the flange 3 as shown in Fig. 3. Thus, the metallic filament 1 is securely retained at a part of the end portion 11 thereof as caught between the outer surface of the flange 3 and the catcher 102. The end portion 11 of the metallic filament 1, stated herein, refers to a portion extending from the extremity of the metallic filament 1 and having a length nearly equal to the radius of the flange 3. With the retaining means 100 of the prior-art metallic-filament take-up reel shown in Figs. 1 to 3, however, the end portion 11 of the metallic filament 1 has to partially be pulled out from inside the inner surface through the elongated hole 101 to outside the outer surface of the flange 3. Such job of pulling out the metallic filament 1 is difficult to automate and must be done by hand, which causes the work efficiency to be low and much labor to be required in the metallic-filament retaining process. Further, the end portion 11 of the metallic filament 1 is simply retained as forced under the resilience of the U-shaped catcher 102 to the outer surface of the flange 3 by the parallel arms of the U-shape catcher 102. Therefore, if the force which tends to unwind the metallic filament 1 wound on the drum 2 is greater than the resilience of the catcher 102, the wound metallic filament 1 is likely to be loosened and may possibly be released from the catcher 102 as the case may be. From the document DE-C-1 057 551 there is known a metallic-filament take-up reel having a winding drum on which a metallic filament is wound, a pair of flanges provided at the opposite axial ends of the winding drum to hold, between the opposite inner surfaces thereof, the metallic filament wound on the drum, and a means of retaining the end portion of the metallic filament, provided on at least one of the flanges, the filament retaining means, comprising a catcher of which the base portion is securely fixed to the outer surface of the flange and an access hole formed in the flange and through which the free end of the catcher can be led to inside the flange. Accordingly, the present invention has an object to overcome the above-mentioned drawbacks of the prior art by providing a metallic-filament take-up reel which permits to easily and positively retain the end portion of a metallic filament wound thereon, prevent the wound metallic filament from being loosened without any limitation of the winding capacity thereof by the provision of a means of retaining the metallic-filament end portion and to unwind the metallic filament wound thereon easily and smoothly with no entangling of the filament. The above object is accomplished by providing a following metallic-filament take-up reel. Namely, the reel according to the present invention comprises a winding drum on which a metallic filament is wound, a pair of flanges provided at the opposite axial ends of the winding drum to hold, between the opposite inner surfaces thereof, the metallic filament wound on the drum, and a means of retaining the end portion of the metallic filament, provided on at least one of the flanges. The filament retaining means consists of a catcher of which the base portion is securely fixed to the outer surface of the flange and an access hole formed in the flange and through which the free end of the catcher can be led to inside the flange. The free end of the catcher is formed into a hook for retention of the end portion of the metallic filament. The catcher has an intermediate portion extending from the base portion thereof to the hook portion. The intermediate portion is raised from the base portion thereof, then bent at a height from the flange outer surface and extended toward the access hole in the flange. The catcher has such a resilience as returns the hook portion to its initial position after the catcher itself is bent for catching the end portion of the metallic filament. After the metallic filament is wound on the drum into a layer of which the thickness has come up to the level of the access hole, the hook portion of the catcher is forced to go to inside the inner surface of the flange through the access hole against the resilience of the catcher and the end portion of the metallic filament is caught by the hook portion. When the force is taken off the catcher after the end portion of the metallic filament is caught by the hook portion, the resilience of the catcher will return the hook portion to outside the flange through the access hole. However, since it is so long as to extend over the access hole, the end portion of the metallic filament will block the hook portion from returning from inside the inner surface to outside the outer surface of the flange. In this condition, the end portion of the metallic filament will be forced to the inner surface of the flange, where the access hole is formed, due to the resilience of the catcher. Thus, the end portion of the metallic filament can be retained easily and positively. Also, there is a less possibility that the metallic filament, once wound on the drum and thus retained at the end portion thereof, will be loosened. Furthermore, the access hole may be of just such a size that the hook portion can be moved through it, and also the hook portion may be of just such a size as to be capable of catching the metallic filament. The access hole may thus be small. Therefore, the metallic filament can be wound on the drum to such a layer as will not close the access hole. That is, the metallic filament may be taken up on the drum to the nearly full winding capacity of the reel. These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be better understood from the ensuing description, made by way of example, of the embodiments of the metallic-filament take-up reel according to the present invention with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the prior-art metallic-filament take-up reel; Fig. 2 is a front view of the prior-art reel; Fig. 3 is a front view, partially enlarged in scale, of the filament retaining means provided on the prior-art reel; Fig. 4 is a front view, partially enlarged in scale, of the filament retaining means in a first embodiment of the metallic-filament take-up reel according to the present invention; Fig. 5 is a sectional view of the filament retaining means in Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is a sectional view of the filament retaining means, showing the metallic filament caught at the end portion thereof; Fig. 7 is a front view, partially enlarged in scale, of the filament retaining means in a second embodiment of the metallic-filament take-up reel according to present invention; Fig. 8 is a sectional view of the filament retaining means in Fig. 6; Fig. 9 is a front view, partially enlarged in scale, of the filament retaining means in a third embodiment of the metallic-filament take-up reel according to the present invention; Fig. 10 is a sectional view of the filament retaining means in Fig. 9; Fig. 11 is a perspective view of the catcher in the filament retaining means in a fourth embodiment of the metallic-filament take-up reel according to the present invention; Fig. 12 is a general front view of a fifth embodiment of the metallic-filament take-up reel according to the present invention; Fig. 13 is a front view, enlarged in scale, of the essential part of the fifth embodiment in Fig. 12; Fig. 14 is a similar front view, enlarged in scale, showing a variant of the hook portion of the filament retaining means in the fifth embodiment; Fig. 15 is a front view, partially enlarged in scale, showing the relation between the flange and hook portion in another variant of the fifth embodiment; Fig. 16 is an axial sectional view of the essential part of the second variant of the fifth embodiment shown in Fig. 15; Fig. 17 is a sectional view showing the hook portion of the second variant of the fifth embodiment when forced to inside the flange; Fig. 18 is a sectional view of the filament retaining means in the second variant of the fifth embodiment, showing the filament retained by the filament retaining means; Fig. 19 is a front view, enlarged in scale, of a sixth embodiment of the metallic-filament take-up reel according to the present invention; Fig. 20 is an axial sectional view of the essential part of the sixth embodiment shown in Fig. 19; Fig. 21 is a view, partially enlarged in scale, from inside the flange, of a seventh embodiment of the metallic-filament take-up reel according to the present invention; and Fig. 22 is an axial sectional view of the essential part of the seventh embodiment shown in Fig. 21. Figs. 4 and 5 show the first embodiment of the metallic-filament take-up reel according to the present invention. In Figures, the reference numeral 1 denotes a metallic filament. As seen, the reel according to the present invention is composed, as in the prior art, of a winding drum 2 on which the metallic filament 1 is wound, and a pair of flanges 3 provided at the opposite axial ends of the winding drum 2 to hold, between the opposite inner surfaces 3A thereof, the metallic filament 1 wound on the drum 2. The outer circumference of each flange 3 is formed by rounding it outwardly into an annular and tubular reinforcement 31. A means 10 of retaining the end portion 11 of the metallic filament 1 is provided on the outer surface 3B of at least one of the flanges 3 in pair. The filament retaining means 10 consists of a catcher 12 provided on the outer surface 3B of the flange 3 and an access hole 13 formed in the flange 3. The catcher 12 comprises a base portion 14 securely fixed on the outer surface 3B of the flange 3, an intermediate portion 15 raised from the base portion 14 so as to be off the outer surface 3B of the flange 3, bent at a height and extending nearly in parallel to the outer surface 3B, and a hook portion 16 contiguous to the intermediate portion 15 and so positioned as to face the access hole 13. The access hole 13 is of such a size that the hook portion 16 can be moved through it from outside the outer surface 3B of the flange to inside the inner surface 3A of the flange 3. The catcher 12 in the first embodiment shown in Figs. 4 and 5 is made of a metallic leaf spring. The intermediate portion 15 is terminated by the hook portion 16 directed toward the outer surface 3B, that is, toward the access hole 13 in the flange 3. The resilience of the catcher 12 permits the hook portion 16 to easily be moved to outside the flange 3 and go back to its initial position. The hook portion 16 of the catcher 12 is designed narrower than the base portion 14. So, the access hole 13 may be small. In this embodiment, the catcher 12 is designed 0.3 mm thick, the base and intermediate portions 14 and 15 are 8 mm wide, and the hook portion 16 is 3 mm wide. The intermediate portion 15 is 5 mm off the outer surface 3B when in its initial position parallel to the outer surface 3B, that is, when the catcher 12 is not used to catch the metallic filament 1 by the hook portion 16. The hook portion 16 has a U-shaped recess 16A in which the metallic filament 1 is to be fitted. Fig. 6 is a sectional view of the first embodiment, showing the metallic filament 1 being caught at the end portion 11 thereof by the hook portion 16. By lightly pressing the catcher 12 with a force F 1 , only the hook portion 16 thereof can easily be moved into the access hole 13 and further to inside the inner surface 3A of the flange 3. The end portion 11 of the metallic filament 1 wound on the winding drum 2 between the flanges 3 is fitted in the recess 16A of the hook portion 16, and the force F 1 is removed in this condition. Then the end portion 11 of the filament 1 can easily be retained as caught between the hook portion 16 and the inner surface 3A of the flange 3. In the prior-art metallic-filament take-up reel shown in Figs. 1 to 3, the end portion 11 of the filament 1 is pressed to the flange 3 by the catcher 102. In this embodiment, however, the end portion 11 of the filament 1 is attracted to the flange 13 by the hook portion 16 of the catcher 12. According to the present invention, only the hook portion 12, extremely small, is resiliently moved to inside the flange 3. Therefore, the access hole 13 may be designed so small that the metallic filament 1 can be wound up to the proximity of the access hole 13 (to the nearly full capacity of the reel). Figs. 7 and 8 show the second embodiment of the filament take-up reel according to the present invention. In this embodiment, the catcher 12 is made of a resilient steel plate 17. As shown in Fig. 7, two parallel cut lines 18 are formed in the middle of the steel plate 17. The central steel-plate portion after cut off along the cut lines 18 is then formed into a base portion 14, intermediate portion 15 and a hook portion 16 all similar to those in the first embodiment. The ends of the steel plate portions outside the cut lines 18 are placed under the edge of the reinforcement 31 of the flange 3, and then fixed by punching to the flange 3. When lightly pressed toward the flange 3 with a force F 2 , the hook portion 16 of the catcher 12 thus formed can easily be moved from outside the outer surface 3B of the flange 3 through the access hole 13 to inside the inner surface 3A. The end portion 11 of the metallic filament 1 is fitted into the recess 16A of the hook 16 in this condition. When the force F 2 is removed after the end portion 11 is fitted into the recess 16A, the end portion 11 is forced to the inner surface 13A of the flange 3 under the resilience of the catcher 12 and also this resilience will cause the hook portion 16 to return to its initial position. Thus the end portion 11 of the filament 1 is securely retained as caught between the inner surface 3A and hook portion 16. Figs. 9 and 10 show the third embodiment of the metallic-filament take-up reel according to the present invention. In the third embodiment, the catcher 12 is made of a resilient rod folded into the general planar shape of a character "W" of which the central apex is about 5 mm apart from both the outer arms 14. The central apical portion is bent downward nearly perpendicularly to the outer arms, and the end of the apical portion is curved in a "U" shape. In this catcher 12, both the outer arms 14 serve as the base portion thereof, and are fixed to the flange 3 while both the inner arms 15 serve as the intermediate portion thereof. The central apical U-shaped portion 16 serve as the hook portion (with curved arms 16A). All these portions work similarly to those in the above first and second embodiments. The outer arms 14 of this catcher 12 are placed under the reinforcement 31 formed along the outer circumference of the flange 3, and then fixed by punching to the flange 3. An access hole 13 is formed in the flange 3 in opposition to the central apical U-shaped portion 16. In this embodiment, the resilient rod has a diameter of 1 mm. The base portions 14 are secured in their respective positions 20 mm apart from the access hole 13. The base portions 14 are extended by the intermediate portions 15, respectively, made as bent at the ends of the base portions 14 so as to gradually ascend up to a height of about 5 mm from the outer surface 3B of the flange 3, that is, above the access hole 13. Each of the intermediate portions 15 are 25 mm long. The intermediate portions 15 are terminated by the hook portion 16 having the shape of a semicircle of which the diameter is 3 mm. The arms of the hook portion 16, that is, the U-shaped hook portion, are deigned to have the shape of an upward curve, when viewed laterally, which forms a receiver 16A for the end portion 11 of the metallic filament 1. For retaining the end portion 11 of the metallic filament 1, only the hook portion 16 is let to go into the access hole 13 by lightly pressing toward the flange 3 the intermediate portions 15 with a force F 3 at a portion thereof, preferably near the hook portion 16. The hook portion can easily be moved because of the resilience. The end portion 11 of the metallic filament 1 is fitted on the hook portion 16, more specifically, in the receiver 16A, and then the force F 3 is removed. The end portion 11 of the metallic filament 1 will be retained as caught between the hook portion 16 and the inner surface 3A of the flange 3. Fig. 11 is a perspective view of the catcher 12 used in the fourth embodiment of the metallic-filament take-up reel according to the present invention. Also in this embodiment, the catcher 12 is made of a resilient rod as in the above third embodiment. The catcher 12 is also composed of base portions 14, intermediate portions 15 and a hook portion 16. The intermediate portions 15 are raised from the base portions 14 and bent at a height of about 5 mm from the base portions 14. They are terminated by the hook portion 16 formed by bending the end portions of the intermediate portions 15 into a "U" shape. The catcher 12 is fixed on the outer surface 3B of the flange 3 in such a manner that the hook portion 16 is opposite to the access hole 13 formed in the flange 3. In the fourth embodiment, the hook portion 16 can easily be moved through the access hole 13 to inside the outer surface 3B by applying a force F 4 to the intermediate portions 15 of the catcher 12. Figs. 12 and 13 show the fifth embodiment of the metallic-filament take-up reel according to the present invention. In this embodiment, the catcher 12 comprises a base portion 14 securely fixed to the outer surface 3B of the flange 3, an intermediate portion 15 extending toward the access hole 13 in the flange 3 and a hook portion 16 contiguous to the intermediate portion 15 and so positioned as to face the access hole 13. The catcher 12 is made of a metallic leaf spring. For retaining the end portion 11 of the metallic filament 1, the hook portion 16 is forced to go to inside the inner surface 3A of the flange 3 through the access hole 13, and then the end portion 11 of the metallic filament 1 is caught between the hook portion 16 and the inner surface 13A of the flange 3. Fig. 14 shows a variant of the hook portion of the filament retaining means in the fifth embodiment. In this variant, a cut 16B is formed in the center of the hook portion 16. Two free ends of the catcher 12, formed at the opposite sides of the cut 16B, are used to retain the end portion 11 of the metallic filament 1. Figs. 15 to 18 show another variant of the fifth embodiment. Fig. 15 is a general view showing the relation between the flange 13 and hook portion 16. As shown in Fig. 17, the hook portion 16 has formed thereon a recess 16A a little larger than the thickness of the metallic filament 1 and in which the end portion 11 of the metallic filament 1 is caught. The hook portion 16 is forced from the position shown in Fig. 16 to inside the inner surface 3A of the flange 3 through the access hole 13. In this position, the resilience of the hook portion 16 acts to return the hook portion 16 itself to its initial position. The end portion 11 of the metallic filament 1 is placed between the hook position 16 held in this position and the inner surface 3A of the flange 3, and then the force applied to the hook portion 16 is removed. The hook portion 16 will return to its initial position as mentioned above, but since the end portion of the metallic filament 1 exists across the access hole 13, the hook portion 16 will abut the end portion 11 of the metallic filament 1 and so be blocked from going back any further, as will be seen from Fig. 18. Figs. 19 and 20 show the sixth embodiment of the metallic-filament take-up reel according to the present invention. As shown in Fig. 19, an inverted U-shaped cut is formed in the flange 3. A resulted U-shaped opening 13 serves as the access hole while a flange area 12 surrounded by the U-shaped opening 13 is taken as the catcher. A portion 14 of the flange 3 which lies between both ends of the U-shaped opening serves as the base portion, and a free end portion 16 of the flange area 12 thus cut works as the hook portion. A flange area 15 between the base portion 14 and hook portion 16 serves as the intermediate portion. Fig. 20 is an axial sectional view of the essential part of the sixth embodiment shown in Fig. 19. To retain the end portion 11 of the metallic filament 1, the hook portion 16 is pressed from right to left (as viewed in the drawing). A clearance will result between the hook portion 16 and the inner surface 3A of the flange 3. The end portion 11 of the metallic filament 1 is inserted into the clearance, and then the pressure applied to the hook portion 16 is removed. The hook portion 16 will go back to its initial position and thus work in cooperation with the inner surface 3A to retain the end portion 11. Figs. 21 and 22 shows the seventh embodiment of the metallic-filament take-up reel according to the present invention. In this embodiment, an access hole 13 is formed over both the flange 3 and reinforcement 31 of the flange 3. So the access hole 13 is open at the top end thereof. A portion 16 of the catcher 12 which extends from the base portion 14, as a whole, serves as the hook portion. To retain the end portion 11 of the metallic filament 1, the hook portion 16 is pressed from outside the outer surface 3B of the flange 3 to inside the inner surface 3A. The hook portion 16 is slightly wider than the access hole 13 so that it can be deflected as pressed from outside the outer surface 3B of the flange 3 to inside the inner surface 3A. In this case, the resilience of the hook portion 16 causes the hook portion 16 itself to return to its initial position, so the hook portion 16 can retain the end portion 11 of the metallic filament 1 with a greater force. With the metallic-filament take-up reels according to the present invention, it is not necessary to pass the metallic filament 1 through the hole 101 formed in the flange 3 but the end portion 11 of the metallic filament 1 can be retained on the inner surface 3A of the flange 3, not on the outer surface 3B. Therefore, the metallic filament 1 may not possibly be damaged by any external force. The metallic filament 1 wound on the reel according to the present invention can be transported, stored or unwound from the reel easily, speedily and with a considerably improved efficiency, and the retention of the metallic filament 1 onto the reel can be automated effectively. With only a very small force applied, the hook potion 16 of the catcher 12 can be moved, as resiliently deformed, through the access hole 13 to inside the inner surface 3A of the flange 3. Therefore, the filament retention to the reel can be done very efficiently. Furthermore, the metallic filament 1 can be wound on the reel to the nearly full capacity thereof.

Claims: A metallic-filament take-up reel having a winding drum (2) on which a metallic filament (1) is wound, a pair of flanges (3) provided at the opposite axial ends of the winding drum (2) to hold, between the opposite inner surfaces (3A) thereof, the metallic filament (1) wound on the drum (2), and a means (10) of retaining the end portion (11) of the metallic filament (1), provided on at least one of the flanges (3), the filament retaining means (10), comprising a catcher (12) of which the base portion (14) is securely fixed to the outer surface (3B) of the flange (3) and an access hole (13) formed in the flange (3) and through which the free end of the catcher (12) can be led to inside the flange (3); and the free end of the catcher (12) being formed like a hook portion (16) for retention of the end portion (11) of the metallic filament (1), the catcher (12) having an intermediate portion (15) extending from the base portion (14) thereof to the hook portion (16), raised from the base portion (14) thereof and then bent at a height from the flange outer surface (3B) so as to extend toward the access hole (13) in the flange (9), and the catcher (12) having such a resilience as returns the hook portion (16) toward its initial position after the catcher (12) itself is bent for catching the end portion (11) of a metallic filament (1). A metallic-filament take-up reel according to Claim 1, wherein the catcher (12) is made of a metallic leaf spring. A metallic-filament take-up reel according to Claim 1, wherein the catcher (12) is made of a resilient rod. A metallic-filament take-up reel according to Claim 1, wherein the hook portion (16) has formed in the hook portion (16) thereof a recess in which the end portion (11) of the metallic filament (1) is to be fitted. A metallic-filament take-up reel having a winding drum (2) on which a metallic filament (1) is wound, a pair of flanges (3) provided at the opposite axial ends of the winding drum (2) to hold, on the inner surfaces (3A) thereof, the metallic filament (1) wound on the drum (2), and a means (10) of retaining the end portion (11) of the metallic filament (1), provided on at least one of the flanges (3); the filament retaining means (10), comprising a catcher (12) of which the base portion (14) is securely fixed to the outer surface (3B) of the flange (3) and an acess hole (13) formed in the flange (3) and through which the free end of the catcher (12) can be led to inside the flange (3); and the free end of the catcher (12) being formed like a hook portion (16) for retention of the end portion (11) of the metallic filament (1), the hook portion (16) going to return to its initial position under the resilience of the catcher (12) alter forced to go to inside the inner surface (3A) of the flange (3) against the resilience of the catcher (12) and working in cooperation with the inner surface (3A) of the flange (3) to retain the end portion (11) of the metallic filament (1). A metallic-filament take-up reel according to Claim 4, wherein the catcher (12) is made of a metallic leaf spring. A metallic-filament take-up reel according to Claim 4, wherein the filament retaining means (10) consists of an access hole (13) resulted from formation of a cut in an inverted "U" shape in the flange (3) and a catcher (12) made of a flange area surrounded by the cut in the flange (3). A metallic-filament take-up reel according to Claim 4, wherein the catcher (12) has formed on the hook portion (16) thereof a recess in which the end portion (11) of the metallic filament (1) is to be fitted.

Inventors: FUJIOKA KAORU, FUJIOKA, KAORU, Fujioka, Kaoru, c/o Bridgestone Bekaert Steel
Applicants: BRIDGESTONE METALPHA CORP, BRIDGESTONE METALPHA CORPORATION
Application year: 1993
Main classification: B21C47
IPC codes: B65H75, B21C47