Patent ID: 7281319

Claim:
An apparatus for manufacturing wire wound filter screen comprising: a frame; a spindle means rotatably mounted on said frame, said spindle means for supporting rib wires in longitudinal orientation; a wire guide means positioned adjacent to said spindle, said wire guide means for delivering wrap wire around the rib wires as said spindle means rotates said rib wires; an electrode means for welding the wrap wire to the rib wires at each intersection of wrap wire and rib wires, said electrode means being a rolling electrode having a periphery in contact with the wrap wire as the wire guide means delivers the wrap wire onto the rib wires; a translating means positioned on said frame, said translating means for moving the rib wires and the welded wrap wire longitudinal along said frame; a laser means positioned adjacent said spindle means on said frame, said laser means for measuring a gap between adjacent surfaces of said wrap wire as the wrap wire is welded to the rib wires; and a processor means connected to said laser means, said processor means controllably connected to said translating means so as to adjust a rate of translation of the rib wires relative to the measured gap.