Patent GB-1374046-A (GB)
Title: Wire length measuring and cutting apparatus
IPC: B21D43/10
Filed: 1972-02-18
Abstract: 1374046 Feeding and shearing wire ARTOS ENG CO 18 Feb 1972 [17 March 1971] 7516/72 Heading B3W [Also in Division B8] In apparatus for cutting wire to length in which a pair of counter-reciprocating clamps 2, 3, Fig. 3, are alternately operative to advance a length of wire 63a from a supply 143, Fig. 1, and in which a cutter 7, Fig. 26, severs the advanced length after each feed stroke of each clamp, the clamps are operated by a pair of transverselyspaced shafts 11, 11<SP>1</SP>, rotatably mounted in axially fixed positions in the apparatus, and continuously rotated by drive means 17, through a pair of rotary-to-linear motion converters 31, 311 and control means operatively associated with the motion converters and initiate a feed stroke of one and a return stroke of the other of the clamps and subsequently initiate reverse strokes of the clamps. Wire 63a enters the apparatus through a tube 145 adjacent a fixed control station 4, Fig. 3. A control station 6 at the other end of the apparatus is axially movable to vary the cut length of the wire. In operation, the leading end of the wire projecting from tube 145 is grasped by, say, clamp 2. Rollers 32, 33, 34 and 36, Fig. 6, housed in cavities in the clamp body 9 are spring urged against the shaft 11. The ends of the roller shafts are caged in a face plate 47 adjustable by means of an arm 48 between a neutral position in which the roller axes are parallel to the shaft 11 and forward and return drive positions in which the axes are oppositely skewed relative to the shaft. The speed of the clamp progressively increases as the arm 48 is rooked from the neutral position N towards the forward or return positions F or R and vice versa as the arm is rocked back to position N. The shaft 11<SP>1</SP> rotates in the opposite direction to shaft 11 so that clamp 3 returns while clamp 2 feeds and vice versa. The wire is gripped by clamp 2 by means of jaws 51, 59, a finger 77 pivoted anticlockwise by a slide 106 in the station 4 causing the jaw 59 to clamp the wire 63 against jaw 51 through linkage 64, 66, 67. The arm 48 is shifted towards position F by a slide (98), Fig. 13 (not shown), in the station 4 and achieves position F gradually via a cam groove (99). The jaws are pivoted to a vertically movable slide 53. As the clamp leaves station 4 roller 58 on the slide is cammed upwards to raise the jaws clear of the cutter 7 and a conveyer 30. The reverse procedure meanwhile takes place for the clamp 3 leaving station 6. As the clamp 2 enters the station 6 it is decelerated to a standstill by cam action on the arm 48 and the jaws 51, 59 release, the wire. Simultaneously the jaws 511, 59<SP>1</SP> of the clamp 3, now at station 4, grasp the wire and a cut takes place at the side of the clamp 3 nearer the clamp 2. The cutter 7 Fig. 26, comprises a stationary blade 147 with a notch 152 to receive the wire 63a and a blade 149, with two cutting recesses 153, 154, which is pivotable to cut in either of two directions by linkage 156, 157 actuated by engagement of a pad 159 or 161 on a master slide 152 with a bell crank lever 158. The cut length 63 is removed by conveyers 30, 30<SP>1</SP>, spring-loaded clamps 174, Fig. 1, (74<SP>1</SP>) being opened and closed as they pass over sprockets 164 (Fig. 22), (64<SP>1</SP>) (not shown) adjacent the stations 4 and 6 and opened to release the wire at the sprockets 166, (166<SP>1</SP>) at the opposite end of the conveyers. Solenoids 194 (194<SP>1</SP>) controlling the opening and closing of the clamps are energized as they pass over sprockets 164, (164<SP>1</SP>) to close the clamps during the shearing stroke by an arm 231, on the blade 149, Fig. 26, closing a switch SW6 which trips the solenoids. The sprockets 164 (164<SP>1</SP>) are driven by the motor 17 via a one revolution clutch 28 actuated by a solenoid also tripped by the switch SW 6. The conveyer 30<SP>1</SP> is shiftable with the station 6.  The master slide 162 which actuates inter alia the slides (98), (124) for initiating clamp movement, slides 106, 106<SP>1</SP>, Fig. 22, for depressing fingers 77, 77<SP>1</SP> and slides 136, 136<SP>1</SP> for lifting fingers 77, 77<SP>1</SP> at stations 4 and 6 respectively to close said open the jaws is moved by a pneumatic cylinder 202 controlled by a solenoid valve 212 actuated by cycling switches SW1 and SW2 in stations 4 and 6 respectively and operated by the clamps arid programming switches SW3 and SW4.