Wire stranding machine

Abstract: A wire stranding machine is provided which is capable of stranding the wire materials evenly and uniformly without slackening even if two wire materials are used, by installing the capstan assembly (40) outside of the rotary structure (20) on the incoming side thereof. The rotary structure (20) having the winding drum (29) inside of a flyer bow (27) is supported by main shafts (21,22), and the capstan assembly (40) is disposed adjacent to the main shaft (21) on the wire incoming side. The capstan assembly (40) comprises a pair of capstan means consisting of main (42,42a) and auxiliary (43,43a) capstans, each having plural grooves on the circumferential surface, and the main capstans (42,42a) are set opposite to each other. The main (42,42a) and auxiliary (43,43a) capstans are set on the mounting member (41) of the main shaft (21) supporting the rotary structure (20) and disposed in parallel in the direction normal to the axis of the main shaft (21). The main capstans (42,42a) are adapted to rotate at the same speed but in opposite directions to each other.

Description: Technical Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a wire stranding machine as set forth in the preamble of claim 1. A wire stranding machine of this type is known from GB 1 175 738. Prior Art Fig. 4 shows a conventional wire stranding machine, in which a rotary structure 1 is an assembly comprising a drive-side member 2, a capstan-side member 3, and rotary discs 4 and 5, said rotary discs 4 and 5 being disposed to the front of said members 2 and 3 and connected by a rod not shown. Flyers 6 are provided on the drive-side member 2 and the capstan-side member 3, and a pair of flyer bows 7 is mounted exchangeable to said flyers 6. The drive-side member 2 and the capstan-side member 3 are mounted rotatable to a drive means not shown. Inside and between the rotary discs 4 and 5, there is provided a detachable winding drum 8 for winding the stranded wires. The facing surfaces of the rotary discs 4 and 5 are mounted with a rotatable transmission shaft 9 which is disposed out of alignment with the centre of rotation. The transmission shaft 9 is adapted to rotate in association with the drive of the machine 1 via a belt 10 mounted on pulleys fixed to said shaft 9 and the drive-side member 2. On the other hand, a capstan 11 is mounted rotatable to the capstan-side rotary disc 5 and connected to the transmission shaft 9 via a belt 12 mounted on the shaft of the capstan 11 and the transmission shaft 9 so as to receive the rotation from the machine 1. Generally, the flyer bows 7 are 1000 to 1800 mm long and the wire stranding machine runs at 3000 to 4000 revolutions per minute. As the machine operates the flyer bows 7 into rotation, plural wires 13 are twisted into a strand 14 while they are passing from the drive-side member 2 through the flyer bow 7 to the capstan 11, and the strand 14 is then wounded by the winding drum 8. The capstan 11, consisting of a pair of wheels each formed with plural grooves thereon, is adapted to receive the strand 14 in the grooves. By changing the rotational speed of either wheel, the capstan 11 can pull the strand 14 and cause a tensile force therein so as to remove the unnecessary curl in the strand 14 and form a strand 14 with a given tension. According to the prior art, the capstan is located inside the rotary structure and just in front of the winding drum, and the wire material is being stranded as well as given a tension at the time of passing through the flyer bow. However, because of the long distance between the wire supply position and the capstan, there may be caused an irregular pitch in stranding the wires, thereby resulting in an unevenly stranded product even if the wires were pulled with a given tension. The reasons for this defective product are, that the wires are supplied in a free condition relative to the rotary structure and also that the wires slacken under the influence of the winding force generated by the rotary structure. Particularly in case of stranding two wires, it was an important requirement to pull them uniformly. If one wire is pulled with a stronger force than the other, the former will become straight with the latter being coiled around, resulting in the inferior product quality as stranded wires. In the construction known from GB 1 175 738 above, two hauling capstans are mounted within a cage situated under a flyer bow, or ahead of the machine, said cage also mounting a winding drum and associated wire guiding means, comparable to what is shown and explained with respect to Fig. 4 above. In this construction, the distance between the wire supply position and the capstans is long, and the guidance of the wire material to the twisting point is not precise, as in the construction explained above. The same applies to a wire stranding machine shown in US 5 802 830. Object of the Invention It is the object of the invention to provide a wire stranding machine in which the wire material will not slacken during the stranding operation, so that evenly stranded wires are obtainable. Means for Attaining the Object The aforementioned object is attained by the features of claim 1. Preferred embodiments of the invention are subject matter of the dependent claims. Summary of the Invention In the present invention the capstan assembly is disposed at the wire supply side outside of the rotary structure. It further comprises a shaft-supported rotary structure including a winding drum disposed at the inner side of flyer bows, and the capstan assembly is disposed adjacent to the shaft on the wire incoming side. The capstan assembly comprises a pair of capstan means, each of which consisting of main and auxiliary capstans having plural grooves on the outer circumferential surface thereof, and said main capstans being located opposite to each other. The two main capstans are adapted to rotate at the same speed but in opposite directions. On the shaft supporting the rotating structure, the main and auxiliary capstans in pairs are arranged parallel to each other in the direction perpendicular to the axial direction of said shaft, and the main capstans are arranged opposite to each other symmetrically to the centre of the axis. Further, the capstan assembly is characterised in chat the main capstans are of the same diameter. Still further, the capstan assembly is arranged so that main capstans have engaging gears mounted on the rotary shafts of said main capstans and the rotary shafts are connected to a rotation drive means. Still further, the capstan assembly is arranged so that the rotational axis of the auxiliary capstans are slightly inclined relative to the rotary structure, i.e. to the rotary axis of the main capstans. A member for mounting the rotary shafts of the main and auxiliary capstans is formed with cuts therebetween the main and auxiliary capstans, with the portions mounting the auxiliary capstans being raised and tilted so as to provide said inclination or slant of the auxiliary capstans with respect to the rotary structure. Embodiment of the Invention Fig. 1 shows a front view of the rotary structure of the wire stranding machine of the invention; Fig. 2 shows a perspective view of the capstan assembly of the invention; Fig. 3 shows a front view of the arrangement of Fig. 2, and Fig. 4 is a front view of the rotary structure of the conventional stranding machine. In the drawings, a reference numeral 20 indicates the rotary structure forming a major part of the wire stranding machine. Main shafts 21 and 22 supporting the rotary structure 20 at the opposite ends thereof are mounted rotatable to bearing members 24 provided at a frame 23 of the machine. The main shafts 21 and 22 of the rotary structure 20 are arranged concentrically and inserted through the bearing members 24 respectively, and rotary discs 25 and 26 are provided inside of the frame 23. The rotary discs 25 and 26 are mounted with a pair of flyer bows 27. The main shafts 21 and 22 are projecting toward the inner side of the rotary discs 25 and 26, and a drum mounting frame 28 is provided at the projecting portions. A drum 29 for winding the wires is provided at the drum mounting frame 28, of which a rotatable supporting shaft 30 is mounted detachable in the direction perpendicular to the axis of the main shafts 21 and 22. A motor 31 for rotating the winding drum 29 transmits the rotating force of the motor drive shaft to the supporting shaft 30 via a belt 32. The main shafts 21 and 22 are provided with guide rollers 33 and 34 outside of the rotary discs 25 and 26, respectively. The main shafts 21 and 22 are each formed with a longitudinal hole, not shown, for inserting the wires. The main shaft 21 on the right side as viewed at the same level with the rotary structure 20 functions as the shaft on the wire incoming side. From this side comes the wire material m and goes to the guide roller 33, and then the twin wire material M passes through the flyer bow 27 to another guide roller 34, from which it goes into the shaft 22 and is then wound up by the winding drum 29. A traverse guide roller 35 for uniformly rolling the twin wire material M round the winding drum 29 is mounted at a traverse arm. Means (not shown) are provided to create an oscillating swivelling motion of the arm and the frame supporting drum 29 with respect to one another. Adjacent to the main shaft 21 on the wire incoming side is provided a capstan assembly 40. With reference to Figs. 2 and 3, the capstan assembly 40 includes a pair of capstan means consisting of main and auxiliary capstans 42 and 43 located on the upper surface of a mounting stand 4L. The main capstans 42 and 42a are disposed opposite to each other, with the auxiliary capstans 43 and 43a being disposed outside thereof, and said capstans are mounted rotatable by rotary shafts 44,44a and 45,45a. The rotary shafts 44 and 44a are provided with mutually engaged gears 46 and 46a, and the shaft 44 is provided with a pulley 50 which is connected via a belt 49 to a pulley 48 mounted on the drive shaft of a motor 47. The rotational motion of the motor 47 is transmitted via the belt 49 to the rotary shaft 44 so as to rotate the main capstan 42. At the same time, the gears 46 and 46a transmit the rotation to another rotary shaft 44a, which will rotate the other main capstan 42a but in the opposite direction. The auxiliary capstans 43 and 43s are not provided with rotation drive means. The main capstans 42 and 42a as well as auxiliary capstans 43 and 4 3a are each formed with plural grooves on the outer circumference thereof and have the identical external diameter. The gears 46 and 46a have the identical external diameter and gear tooth pitch so that the main capstans 42 and 42a rotate at equal speed but in opposite directions to each other. The mounting stand 41 is a box-like structure with one side open and has upper and lower support portions 41a, 41d and 41b. Outside on the upper support portions 41a and 41d are provided the capstans 42, 42a, 43 and 43a, and outside on the lower support portion 41b there are provided the pulleys 48 and 50 constituting the rotation transmitting mechanism. The motor 47 is provided inside of the mounting stand 41. With reference to Fig. 1, the capstan assembly 40 is provided on the mounting portion of the main shaft 21 supporting the rotary structure 20 so that the main and auxiliary capstans 42, 42a, 43 and 43a are disposed parallel in the direction perpendicular to the axis of the main shaft 21 as well as the main capstans 42 and 42a are disposed opposite to each other symmetrically to the centre of the axis of the main shaft 21. The auxiliary capstans 43 and 43a are adapted to slant slightly relative to the rotary structure 20. For this arrangement, the upper support portion 41a, 41d is formed with cuts 41c between the portion 41a supporting the main capstans 42 and 42a and adjacent end portions 41d supporting the auxiliary capstans 43 and 43a, with the end portions 41d supporting the auxiliary capstans 43 and 43a being slightly raised or tilted to the counter-clockwise direction in Fig. 2 so as to incline the rotary shafts 45 and 45a slightly relative to the rotary structure. The inclination of the auxiliary capstans 43 and 43a with respect to the main capstans 42 and 42a is to hold the wire material m in the grooves when it is being fed from the auxiliary capstans 43 and 43a to the main capstans 42 and 42a, respectively. Each wire material m is set in the groove of the auxiliary capstan 43, 43a and then the main capstan 42, 42a and then back the auxiliary capstan 43, 43a and then again to the main capstan 42, 42a until it is set in all the grooves. Thereafter, the two wire materials are fed simultaneously as a twin wire material M to the rotary structure 20 (flyer bow 27) from-between the main capstans 42 and 42a. The twin wire material M is supplied via the guide roller 33 to the flyer bow 27, through which it is fed to the opposite guide roller 34 and the traverse guide roller 35 and then coiled around the winding drum 29. When the twin wire material M is supplied from the capstan assembly 40 to the winding drum 29, the motor 47 of the capstan assembly 40 is set into motion and at the same time the rotation drive means, not shown, for rotating the rotary structure 20 is put into operation. At the same time, the motor 31 to rotate the winding drum 29 is also set into motion. The motor 47 in motion causes the main capstans 42 and 42a to rotate in opposite directions to each other and feed the wire material m from between the main capstans while the wire materials set around the main and auxiliary capstans are being pulled into a strained condition. Therefore, there will occur no slackening in the twin wire material M while the rotary structure 20 is rotating and the wire material will be stranded at a desired pitch. Because the main capstans 42 and 42a have equal diameter and equal speed of rotation, the wire material m is supplied from both sides for a fixed amount and at a uniform tension as well, thereby resulting in an evenly stranded product. Although the embodiment is described with reference to two wire materials being used, it is needless to say that the wire material itself can consist of more than two. Further, the rotary structure of the embodiment is placed horizontally but it is also applicable to the vertical type.

Claims: Wire stranding machine comprising a rotary structure (20) having a winding drum (29) disposed inside of a flyer bow (27) and supported by main shafts (21,22), and a capstan assembly (40) provided adjacent to the main shaft (21) on the wire incoming side of the rotary structure externally thereof, characterized in that said capstan assembly (40) includes a pair of capstan means, each consisting of a main capstan (42,42a) and an auxiliary capstan (43,43a), said main capstans (42,42a) being disposed opposite to each other and adapted to rotate at the same speed but in mutually opposite directions. Wire stranding machine as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said capstan assembly (40) is provided on the mounting portion of the main shaft (21) supporting the rotary structure (20) so that the main capstans (42,42a) and auxiliary capstans (43,43a) in pairs are arranged parallel in the direction perpendicular to the axis of said main shaft (21) and the opposite main capstans (42,42a) are disposed symmetrical with respect to the centre of axis of said main shaft (21). Wire stranding machine as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein said main capstans (42,42a) in pairs of the capstan assembly (40) are of the same diameter. Wire stranding machine as claimed in one of Claims 1 to 3, wherein said capstan assembly (40) further comprises engaging gears (46,46a) each mounted on a rotary shaft (44,44a) of said main capstans (42,42a) in pairs, said rotary shafts (44,44a) being connected to a rotation drive means (49). Wire stranding machine as claimed in one of the preceding claims, wherein said auxiliary capstans (43,43a) of the capstan assembly (40) are slightly inclined relative to the rotary structure (20). Wire stranding machine as claimed in Claim 5, wherein the mounting structure (41) of said capstan assembly (40) is formed with cuts (41c) between a centre portion (41a) mounting the rotary shafts (44,44a) of the main capstans (42,42a) and adjacent end portions (41d) mounting the rotary shafts (45,45a) of the auxiliary capstans (43,43a), so as to upwardly tilt said end portions (41d) mounting the auxiliary capstans (43,43a) to incline the auxiliary capstans (43,43a) relative to the rotary structure (20).

Inventors: SUZUKI KANJI, SUZUKI, KANJI, Suzuki, Kanji, c/o Kinrei Machinery Co.,Ltd.
Applicants: KINREI MACHINERY CO LTD, KINREI MACHINERY CO., LTD.
Application year: 1999
Main classification: D07B3
IPC codes: D07B3