Patent GB-902191-A (GB)
Title: Continuous dual take-up device
IPC: B65H54/28
Filed: 1960-04-27
Abstract: 902,191. Wire-winding apparatus. VAUGHN MACHINERY CO. April 27, 1960 [Jan. 8, 1960], No. 14781/60. Class 120 (2). Wire take-up apparatus comprises the following combination : two coaxial spool-carrying spindles and means for driving them ; axiallyreciprocable traverse means ; transfer means in the path of the wire as the traverse means moves from a first spool to the other to continue the winding on the first spool and means to retract the transfer means from the wire path to start the wind on the second spool ; a snaggerassembly between the spools including discs driven by the respective spindles and fingers to grasp the wire as it snaps across the space between the spools and cutting means then to cut the wire so grasped ; and a mounting for each spindle movable with respect to its drive means away from the snagger assembly for doffing a full spool and replacing it with an empty one while wire is being wound on the other spool. General arrangement and operation, Fig. 2.- The spools S are each carried cantilever-wise by a spindle 15, each driven from a shaft 52 through bevel gears 59, 60, 62, 63, and each shaft 52 being driven from its own motor by a belt 58, and being associated with a counter 53. Each spindle is carried in a swingable housing 28 to be described. The traverse means comprises two rollers 6 on a carriage 18 reciprocable on a shaft 81. The snagger assembly comprises discs 101 with cutting means between them, each driven by frictional engagement with the adjoining end-flange of the corresponding spool, and the transfer means comprises a retractable shift roll above the adjoining end flanges of the spools. When a certain number of turns have been wound on one of the spools, the counter switches on the motor of the other spool, and the traverse is arranged to travel beyond the end of the wound spool to the empty spool ; the wire however becomes entrained on the transfer means so that a few more turns are wound on the wound spool whereupon the counter stops the motor driving this spool and applies a brake 56 to the corresponding driving shaft 52. Both spools being now rotating at equal speeds, the transfer means is retracted so that the wire snaps across the snagger, is entrained by the discs 101 and carried to the cutter. The speed of the empty spool is now increased for winding to start, and the spindle mounting of the completed spool can be swung out for the spool to be doffed and for a fresh spool to be put in place. The wire-transfer means, Fig. 16, comprises a shift-roll 23 rotatably mounted on a shaft 117 which can be moved to and fro by a pneumatic cylinder 95 (see also Fig. 19), the unit being adjustably mounted at 115 so that it can be set for bobbins of different sizes. The wire-snagging assembly, Fig. 13, comprises two independently rotatable discs, e.g. 101 between the spools each clutched by a friction ring 102 to rotate with a spool. The circumference carries a number of fingers 103 co-operating with spring-urged bars 106, between projecting parts of which the wire is caught when the shift-roll 23 is retracted. The traverse means, Fig. 17, comprises a pair of adjustable rollers 6, on a carriage 18 and guided by an upstanding projection moving on a channelled track (not shown) as it is moved on a shaft 81 by a chain 70 driven by a sprocket 69. The sprocket is rotated one way or the other from a motor 19 (see also Fig. 19), as clutches 67, 68 are engaged or disengaged when reversing-switches 76, 78 are tripped by a rack 75 operated by a gear 74 which can be clutched and declutched at 73 to the sprocketshaft. The stroke of the carriage can be adjusted by a hand wheel 79. The carriage has adjustable screws 90 which in circumstances to be described can actuate adjustable switches 89, which are normally outside the range of the traverse, for re-setting switches 76, 78 and operating clutch 73; it also carries a cam-bar 92 to actuate switches 93 controlling air valve 94 controlling a cylinder 95 (see also Fig. 19), by which the transfer means 23 is retrac ed. Assuming the LH spool S is being wound, carriage 18 is reciprocated by alternate actuation of switches 76, 78 by rack 75, clutch 73 being engaged. When the spool is fully wound, the LH counter energizes RH motor 14 to drive RH spool at "full-spool" speed, so that both spools are rotating at the same speed, and also de-activates RH reversing-switch 78, so that clutches 68 and 73 are disengaged and the carriage continues to move to the right. Bar 92 now engages switch 93 to accelerate RH motor to "empty-spool" " speed and to retract shift-roll 23 whereby the wire snaps across the snagger and is cut for winding to begin on LH spool. The carriage next trips RH re-set switch 89 so that reversing switch 78 is re-activated and switch-gear clutch 73 re-engaged, so that winding starts on the RH spool and continues until RH counter shows a predetermined number of turns, whereupon the procedure described is repeated. The spindles and their mountings, Fig. 6.- Each spindle comprises a tubular shaft 25 on a spring-urged draw-rod 29 bearing on jaws 30 which can be moved axially by the rod to grip or release the spool S; it is carried on a housing 28 which can be swung to a position where the spindle assumes a doffing and donning position at right-angles to its operative position. This swinging movement is effected by the piston of a pneumatic cylinder 37, Fig. 19, connected to an ear 38, an adjustable stop limiting its movement and a plunger 50, Fig. 19, operated by a cylinder 51 being provided to lock the housing in operative position. In the doffing and donning position, the end of the rod 29 engages a pneumatic cylinder 40, Fig. 19, so that the spindle can be moved against a spring 45 to free the filled spool, and a spring- urged rod 42 also carried by the housing engages a second cylinder 41 to urge it against spring action to force the freed spool off its spindle. Operational control, Figs. 1, 19.-The takeup device is used at 7 for wire drawn at 1, passing to a tensioning unit 4 either directly over rollers 8, 9 or via a continuous annealing furnace 2 and a quench-bath 3. The tensioning unit 4 comprises fixed and movable sheavegangs 10, 11, respectively, the latter being connected to a cable passing over a drum. As the gang 11 rises and falls according to the tension in the wire the drum is rotated and operates a cam 163 which through a reactor 162 varies the speed of the working motor to restore the tension of the wire and return the gang 11 to datum. When the amount of wire stored in the unit is a maximum, e.g. when winding restarts on an empty spool, the cam 163 by-passes the reactor and acts on a forcing- switch to increase the speed of the spool. For setting the gang 11 and accordingly the optimum working-tension, the drum is connected to the upper part of a cylinder 167 of the unit, to which air is admitted by a manuallyoperated valve 165, a regulator 164 being provided. To cushion minor tension variations in the wire, e.g. during transfer from one spool to the other, a dancer 5 is provided on an arm 171 in a cylinder 168 having a manuallyoperated valve 170 and a regulator 169. A line-jog-switch 172 and one or more wirebreak switches 173 are provided. A control panel 125 contains groups of switches; 126 for controlling movement of the spindle mountings, 140 for controlling the traverse motor, and 141, 142 for initially starting and finally stopping motors 14. Duplicate sets of switches 127 and 128 operate air-valves 130, 132 and 134 for pneumatic cylinders 37, 40, 51 which respectively control the forward and return movement of the spindle mountings and the operation of the draw-rods to free and secure the wound spools, while switches 129 operate the valves 131 of cylinders 41 which operate the rods 43 to push the wound spools off the spindles. The switches at 140 enable the traverse to be positioned and adjusted for wires of different diameter.