Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
33~
me subject of the present invention
relates to that forming the subject of copending Canadian .
Application Serial No. 289,038, filed on October 19, 1977 .
by Charles H. Coggin Jr., one of the co~inventors herein.
BACKGRO~ND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to the drawing :.
of synthetic fiber, such as glass fiber, and is partic- .
ularly concerned with a winder whlch enables such fibers
to be directly drawn into a precision packa~e and pro-
vides a constant drawing speed to effect uniform fiber
attenuation. The invention is especially directed ~o
such a winder which is ideally suited for use with high-
capacity nontip bushin~s of the type disclosed in ~nited
States Patent 3,905,790. Such bushings enable the
drawin~ of sufficiently large quantities of fiber that
20 roving operations may be done away with. ~ :
he prior art relating to winders of the type
with which the present inventîon is concerned is believ- I
ed best exemplified by United States Patents 3,547,361~
: ~ 3~819,1?? and 3~897JO21~ The 3,547,361 patent discloses a
.
: .
- :
, .
3~
1 direct winder wherein a pro~rammed control system is
employed to ma~ntaln constant stand speed as the package
being formed grows. The 3,819,122 patent discloses a direct
winder wherein the traverse i`s fixed and the spindle is
mounted for rectilinear movement toward and away from
the iraverse. The 3,819,122 patent is also significant in
that the traverse guide is mounted on a support rod and
in that a progra~ner is provlded to slow down the speed
of the spindle as the diameter of a package being formed
on the spindle increases. The 3,897,021 patent is s1~nificant
in that it discloses a direct winder wherein the traverse
is mounted for rectilinear movement relative to the
spindle and wherein a control is provided to control
spindle speed in response to the sensed size of a
i5 package being formed. United States Patent 2,972,450
is o~ interest in that it shows that textile winding
machines have also be~n provlded with control means to
maintain a constant winding speed as the size of the
package being formed grows. In the case of the l450
patent, a mechanical disc drive reduces speed in response
to package growth.
Although the above~discussed patents are
signif~cant, they do not disclose or suggest the improv-
ed features of the present invention. In particular,
~5 these patents do not suggest the simplified mechanically
coupled D.C. motor control employed in the present
invention.
........
1~,., ~; :. .
:
. ' . , . '
334
1 SUMMARY 0~ THE INVENTION
The spindle drive control of the invention
employs a D.C. mokor coupled in driving engagement with
the spindle, a D.C. speed control electrically coupled
to the motor, and a linear speed command potentiometer
electrically coupled to the speed control and mechani-
cally coupled to the spindle through a cam operator
proportioned to e~fect non-linear adjustment of the
potentiometer at a rate proportional to the decrease in
spindle speed required to maintain drawing speed con-
skant as a~package grows. This arrangement provides
for automatic adJustment to maintain the peripheral
speed of a package on the spindle substantia1ly constant
as the spindle moYes away from the travers~e in response
to growth o~ the package. Constant peripheral speed of
the spindle results in uniform fiber drawing and attenua-
tion of the resultant ~ormation o~ flbers having a
uniform diameter.
principal object o~ the invention is to
provide a direct winder wherein the peripheral speed of
the paGkage being formed is maintained substantially
constant through the provision o~ a D.C. motor controI
mechanically coupled to a movable support table for the
spindle o~ the ~inder.
Another and related object is to provide a
mechanical coupling arrangement wherein non-linear
control is achieved through means o~ a linear control
potentiometer.
:
- 3 -
:
33~
1 Another and more specific object is to provide
such a mechanical coupling arrangement wherein the non-
linear control is effected through a replaceable cam
which may be readily changed to accommodate different
drawing conditions.
Yet another ancl more general object is to
provide D.C. motor control for a direct winder which is
adapted to provide constant drawing speed without the
employment of a complicated and expensive speed control
programmer.
The foregoing and other objects will become
more apparent when viewed in light of the following
detailed description and accompanying drawings.
BRIEF D~;SCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 is a perspective ~iew of the winder
of the present in~ention, showing parts thereof in
phantom line representation;
Fig. ? is a plan view of the upper portion of
the winder;
Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view, taken on
the plane designated by Line 3-3 of Fig. 1, diagrammati~
cally illustrating the position which the winder assumes
relative to a bushing from which fibers are being direct-
ly drawn by the~spindle of the winder;
25~ Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on the
plane designated by Line 4-4 of Fig. 2;
Fig. 5 is a plan view diagrammatically
. . . :. ~
- :
: ~ ,
.,, . . ~ ,
: . . . . .. :
.
.. : - ` ..... .. .
.
33~
1 illustrating the winder and the con-trol mechanism and
circuitry therefor, including the pull roll motor, and,
Fig. 6 is a tabulation and curve showing an
example of a cam curve calculated and constructed accord-
ing to the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODTMENT
~ eferring now to Fig. 1, the winder is desig-
nated therein in its entirety by the numeral 10. The
base element of the winder comprises a pedestal 12 which
supports all o~ the winder structure. A traverse 14 is
fixedl~ mounted to one side of the pedestal 12 through
means of an extension 16 forming part of the pedestal.
A table 18 is mounted on the pedestal to ohe side of the
extension 16 for slidable movement relative to the
pedestal in a rectilinear path extending normal to the
traverse 14. The arrow line 20 indicates that direction
of movement of the table.
The table 18 is mounted for slidable movement
relative to the pedestal 12 by a pair of rods 22 ~ixed
to the pedestal beneath the 'cable. Mounting brackets
24 and 26 are fixedly secured to the undérside of tl~e
table 18 and slidably received on the rods 22 through
means of bushings 28. The bracket 24 carries a nut 30
~ threadably received on a screw 32 driven by a reversible
D.C. motor 34 (See Fig. 5~. The motor 24 will herein-
a~ter be referred to as the spindle`table motor. The screw
:
32 extends parallel to the rods 22 and, thus, rotation of
:
- 5 -
.
.. ... ` . ` .. . . .
`. . . `
. . . ~ . .
.. " ` - ~ . . .
1 the screw in one direction ~unctions to move the table
18 away lrom the traverse 14 and rotation in the opposite
direction functions to move the table toward the traverse.
A spindle 36 is mounted on the table 18 in
parallel apposition to the traverse 14. The spindle is
mounted for rotation about its longitudinal axis through
means of a journal 38 secured to and carried by the table
18.
The traverse 14 and spindle 36 are driven by a
D.C. motor 40 mounted in the pedestal 12. The motor 40
is mounted so that its output shaft, designated 42,
extends parailel to the spindle and the traverse. Cable
chain drives couple the motor in driving relationship
to the traverse and the spindle. The cable chain drive
for the traverse comprises a spur gear 44 mounted on the
motor sha~t 42; a spur gear 46 mounted on the drive ~
shaft, designated 48, of the traverse; and, a cable -
chain 50 trained around the spur gears 44 and 46. The
cable chain drive for the spindle 36 comprises a spur
gear Grn~mounted on the motor shaft 42; a spur gear Gs
mounted on the drive shaft, designated 56, for the
spindle, and, a cable chain 58 trained around the spur
gears Gm and Gs. Although not illustrated, it should
be understood that the cable chain 58 is provided with
a suitable resilient tensioning device in order that the
chain ma~J accommodate movement of the spindle to~ard
and awa~v from the traverse. Such a tensioning device
might take a form simllar to that used for the belt
- 6
.. . . . . .
: ~ .,. ,, .,, , - . . .. .. . ~ . .:
. .: :- , - :, . : . . : . . . , : , .
:
.: -::,. : : ,:: .: . . . :
:- : .
, : . . . , - . , .:
~;2 3~
1 drive disclosed in a~orementioned copending Application
Serial No~ 289,038.
The traverse 14 comprises,: a barrel cam 60
having helical cam grooves 62 formed in the surface
thereof; a support shaft 64 concentric.ally keyed to the
cam 60 and the shaft 48 to couple the shaft 48 in driv-
ing relationship to the cam; a journal 66 mounted within
the extension 16 and rotatably supporting the shafts 48
and 64; a pair of end plates 68 and 70 disposed to either
end of the barrel cam 60 and having mounted therebetween
a generally cylindrical housing 72 disposed in spaced
concentric relationship to the cam, said housing having
a longitudinal extending slot 74 extending therethrough
over the length of the bottom of the housing; a pair of
rods 76 and 78 supported by and extending between the
end plates 68 and 70 in spaced parallel relationship to
one another, said rods, as viewed from the end o.f the
barrel cam (,See Fig. 3), being disposed to either side
of the slot 74; a traverse guide 80 having bores 82
slidably received on the rods 76 and 78; a follower 86
carried by the guide 80 and extending upwardly therefrom
~nto engagement with the helical cam groove 62 3 said
follower belng of a width less than that of the groove
74; a leaf spring 88 secured to and extending downwardly
from one end of the guide 80 in apposition to the spindle
: 36; a guide shoe 90 carried by the free end of the spring
88, said shoe having a vertically extending groove g,2
formed therein for guiding engagement with a bundle of
'
~ 7 --
.
. ... .. : . . -
,:, . . . .. .
.. . . .. .
. . . . . . .
:. . ~ ., . , .... :
-. . . :.
~ ~;233~
l filaments being directed onto the spindle ~See ~ig. 3~;
a plate 94 mounted on and extending longitudinally
between the end plates 68 and 70 in apposition to the
rear side o~ the leaf spring 88, said plate having an
aperture 96 extending therethrough at a position dis-
posed midway between the end plates 68 and 70; and, an
oscillator 98 supported by the plate 94 to the rear of
the aperture 96.
In the preferred embodiment, the guide 80 is
a unitary monolithic element fabricated of a plastic,
such as nylon or one of the many high-strength polymers.
The use of such plastic material has the advantage that
it minimizes the weight of the guide and, thus, the
inertial forces which result from its movement. It
also permits the bores 82 to be formed directly in the
guide, without the necessity of bushing inserts. The
follower 86 is provided with a metallic tip for engage-
ment in the groove 62. The portion o~ the fo].lower
which extends through the groove 74 may be fabricated o~
a plastic material, similar to that o~ the guide 80.
In use, the barrel cam is continuously driven
in unison with the spindle 36 by the motor 40. Driving
of the cam functions to traverse the guide 80 back and
~orth across the length of the cam and, in turn, to
move the guide shoe 90 and~any filaments engaged thereby
across the spindle 36. During such movement, alI
torsional forces imparted to the guide 80 are transmitted
to the rods 76 and 78. Thus, wobbling of the guide
' ~ .
. .
- : - : - ~
. - . . .. : .: .: . : . . : . -
. : : . . : . .. .
3~6~
1 and its associated elements is su~stantially eliminated
and wear to the cam groove 62 is minimized.
The arrangement of the guide shoe 90 is simi-
lar to that disclosed in aforementioned copending
Application Serial No. 735,000 in that the shoe is held
out engagement with the peripheral surface of the package,
designated 100~ on the spindle 36 by the tension in the
strand of filaments, designated 102, being wound. This
arrangement enables the guide shoe to be held very
close, but ~ust off the surface of the package 100, by
the tautness of the strand 102~ thus allowing for pre-
cision placement of the strand, without the contacting
of the package by the shoe. As the package diameter
increases, the strand I0? pushes the shoe toward the
plate 94 against the resilient biasing of the spring g8.
The oscillator 98 is of the r.f. type ~pro~imi-
ty switch? and may take any commercially available form,
such as those manufactured by the Honeywell Micro Switch
Division of Honeywell, Inc., and identified as type
"FY". I'he positioning of the oscillator is such that
the leaf spring 88 is normally outside the field of the
oscillator, but enters the field upon being depressed
; to a predetermined degree by the tension in the strand
belng wound. When the spring enters the field of the
oscillator, it changes the amplitude of the oscillator
.
and this change is detected and employed to energize the
spindle table motor 34 to move the spindle away from the
traverse by a predetermined relatively small increment.
_
.. . ..
~ . : .:: :: :
- . : .
~ -- ,: . :
.: : -
, ~ , . , ~ .
~ . . .
-
3~
l Such movement moves the spring 88 out of the field of
the oscillator 98 until such time as the package on the
spindle a~ain grows to a point where the tension in the
strand being ~ound moves the spring back into the field
of the oscillator.
The control circuitry for the spindle table
motor 34 is diagrammatically illustrated .in Fig. 5 and
comprises, in addition to the oscillator 98, a detection
and delay circuit 104; a speed command potentiometer 106
and a D.C. speed control 108. The detection and delay
circuitry and the associated speed control circuitry
may take and conventional form. In use, the speed con-
trol is set at a relatively low speed during the incre-
mental advance mode controlled by the oscillator 98 and
circuit 104. The speed control would be set at a high
speed during the override mode employed at the commence-
ment of winding of a package when it is desired to
reverse the spindle motor to return the spindle to a
start-up position closely adjacent the traverse.
The motor 40 is provided with a D.C. speed
control llO whereby the speed of the motor may be
selectively varied to, in turn, control the speed of the
traverse 14 and spindle 36. The control llO may be of
~ any suitable commercially available type, such as Model
PC-198 manufactv.red by Minarik Elec~ric Company of Los
Agneles, California. Such controls incorporate adjustable
minimum and maxlmum speed potentiometers which set
speed limits and are used in association with a main
: .
-- 1 0
.
' ' '' ~ ~ ~ . ' '' ''
,
. : :
' ~ ,
3L~
1 speed control potentiometer to selecti~ely control
speeds within these limits. As incorporated into the
system of the present invention, the main speed contro~
potentiometer takes the form of an ad~ustable rotary
potentiometer 114 mounted on the top of the pedestal 12
and operated through the following elements: a spur
gear 116 mounted on the potentiometer shaft; a gear rack
118 engaged with the spur gear and slidably mounted on
the top of the pedestal 12 by a bracket 120; and a cam
plate 122 mounted on the table 18 and having the cam
surface 124 engaged by a follower 126 on the rack 118.
The rack gear 118 is guided by the bracket 120 for axial
movement toward the cam and a spring normally biases the
rack gear so that its follower engages the-cam surface
124. The cam plate is mounted on the table 18 for
select adjustment relative thereto by a slide 123.
In operation, incremental movement of the
table 18 in response to growth a package on the spindle
~ad~usts the main speed control potentiometer through
means o~ the above described operating structure. This
ad~ustment, in turn, ad~usts speed of the motor 40 to
maintaln constant the peripheral speed o~ the package
being formed on the spindle. Thus, speed control is
automakically maintained through rnechanical means,
without the necessity of programmed controlIers or
direct sensing o~ package size. A tachometer 128 is
coupled to the motor for providing a feedback signal
to the control 110.
'
.
. . . - - .
, - - - .
.
'' , ~ ' .
33~
1 The winder of the present invention also
includes a pair of pull rolls 128 and 130 mounted on
the extension 16 and driven by a motor 132 mounted
within the extension. The motor 132 drives the roll
128 through a shaft 134 and the roll 130 is supported in
meshed engagement with the roll 128 by a toggle mechanism
136. The mechanism 136 is supported on a sleeve 138
having a base plate 140 secured to the extension 16.
The shaft 134 extends through the plate 14 and sleeve
138 for rotation relative thereto. The toggle mechanism
136 is reslliently biased and permits the roll 130 to
be swung out o~ engagement with the roll 128.
The purpose of the pull roll mechanism is to
provide means whereby the strand being dra~n from the
bushing of a furnace may be pulled during periods when
winder operation is interrupted. ~he mechanism differs
from prior art mechnisms primarily in that it is mounted
directly on the winder. Similar mechanisms are found
in the prior art, but these generally are mounted sepa-
rately frQm the winder.
Fig. 3 shows the winder in the position whichit would assume relative to a furnace from which glass
~iber fllaments are being drawn. As there shown, the
furnace forehearth is designated by the numeral 142
and a bushing assembly 144 is shown disposed at the
undersurface o~ the forehearth. Preferably, the bushing
142 is of the nontip, high-orifice density type disclos-
ed in U.S. Patent 3,905,790. The high output of such
~ ~ .
- ~2 -
3~
1 bushing i.deally sUits them f`or direct winding operation,
as relatively large rovings are provided dire~tly from
the bushings. The structure shown in ~ig. 3 is complet-
ed by a sizing applicator 146 and a gathering shoe 148.
From Fig. 3, it will also be appreciated that the winder
of the present invention maintains constant the angle,
designated a, which the strand 102 assumes relative to
the gathering shoe.
CALCULATION OF CAM CURVE FOR CONTROL POTENTIOMETER
The purpose of the cam 122 is to adJust the
potentiometer 114 so that the peripheral speed of the
package being formed on the spindle is maintained con-
stant . ThiS results in constant linear ve~ocity of
fiber being drawn and resultant uni~orm fiber attenuation
15 ~:and size.
To:~achieve the~ above~:purpose the cam must
ad~ust the potentiometer~in a non-linear fashion t~o
: acc~ommodate for the non-linear increase in drawing
speed~which would result from package grow~h i~ the ~:
20~ spindle Were driven at a constant speed. .
Working with the ~asic criteria that perlpheral
QckQge speed ~ls to be malntalne~d~constant as the package ~ :
rows:,~the~e~quations~or cal~culatlng~;~th~e shape~of
the~cam~sur'Qc;e are~derived~as~ roll~ows:
.
1 Strand Speed Eauation:
V = ~DW
Where: ~ = Linear Strand Speed, inches/minute
D = Package Dia., inches
W = Angular Velocity of Collet~ RPM
r = Package Radius, Inches
k = Constant
If:
~ = ~D W
o o o
W~nere: VO = Initial Strand Speed
Do = Initial Package Dia.
WO = Initial Angular Velocity of Collet
rO = Inside radius of Package
Then:
~D WO = ~DW = k
or:
: rOWO = rW
Therefore: :
r
W r (WO) Eq. #l
Resistance Equation With A Rotary Adjustable
Linear Potentiometer
. R = llN EQ. #2
Where:- R = Resistance
: N = Turns through which Potentiometer is Rotated
11 = Resistance/turn
- ~
.
~ 3
1 Circular Motion Eauation
Y = ~DpN EQ. #3
Where: Y = Cam Displacement~ inches
N = Turns throu~h which Potentiometer is rotated
Dp = Pitch Diameter of Potentiometer Drive gear
(116)
Reslstance as a Function of Cam Displacement Eauation
From EQ. #2 and EQ. #3:
R = llN (EQ. #2)
- 10 Y = ~DpN (EQ. #3)
Substitutin~ #3 int. EQ. #2:
Y 11 :
R = l1(~D ) ~Dp
R 12Y ~ EQ. #4
Where: 12 = D
P
DCC. Motor/Controller Characteristic E~uations
Wm = 13R + b EQ. #5
Where: Wm = Motor Speed, RPM
R = Resistance
(13 and b are established based on actual data
established by measurements. They are dependent
on the maximum/minimum speed potentiometer settin~s
in the D.C. Speed Control~
:
From EQ._ #4.
~ ~ 2
: - 15 -
-
.. . .. . . .. .
, , , : . . .- ,, . . , :
- - ~ : : ~ , :
.. . . . . .
. - . . . . , . . . , .. ... - .. . . . .
. .. , . .. . . - . . ..
,.
3~
1 Combining EQ. #4 and EQ. #5:
-
Wm = 13(12Y) + b 1312( )
Since 12 = ~Dl -
1 1
m = (~3 ) Y ~ b EQ. #6
Equation for Spindle RPM as a Function of Cam Displacement
W = ~m W
s Gs m
Where: Ws = Spindle RPM
Gm = Gear Size for Drive Motor (ie. number of
.
teeth on gear Gm)
~ 10 Gs = Gear Size for Spindle Drive Gear (ie. number
; of tee-th on ge~r Gs)
: ' ' ' ., ~ .
s = Gs ~ ~D ) Y ~ b] EQ. #7
.~ . . P
~ - EXAMPLE OF CAM CURVE CALCULATION USING EQUATION
_ . ___
Usi~ EQ. #7:
.
~ 15 Ws Gs l(~D )y b]
P
.
Experimentation Indicated that:
351.6Y~* 1~5
~ : :~: . . : .
Using EQ.~
s r ( o) ~ ~ -
16
, ~ :
.. . . .
: - - - -. '. ~ ' : :
- , .
3~
l Where: Ws = Spindle RPM
rO = Inside radius of package
r = Package radius
WO = Starting RPM (Initial Angular Velocity o~
Collet)
In the Above Equations:
Let rO = 3.2275 in.
For 377 yards/pound product, WO = 840 rpm
:
.
~ :Therefore~
:: ,: : : : -
~ Ws = (3.z2~75?(840) =~27~
The Re~sulting Simultaneous Equations:
'
Ws ~ r
Ws~ 3~5~1.6Y +~105
Comb~1n ~ Rearran~ E~
` y ~~7~7~107508~+~3~000 EQ. ~8
Pac~age~Rad~ius at Any Given~Point in_Time:
r~ rO + ~r
Whe:re~ r~ radlus at~any~;g1ven polnt~ 1n~tlme~
rO~ Ins~i`de~radius~o~ p~ackage
20~ r~ Inore~ase~in~package radius as a result o~
running the~given time. :: :
, : , ; , ~ ~, ~,, .. . .. - , : . . . . . . . . .
1 Therefore:
r - 3.2275 + ~r
Usin~ EQ. #8: -
3.22 5 + ~ .000 EQ. #9
IJsing EQ. #9, the tabulation and curve of Fig. 6
can be obtained for the above example. The resulting
cur~e is khe curve used for cutting the cam surface 124
of the plate 122.
CONCLUSTION
From the foregoing detailed description, it is
believed apparent that the invention enables the attain-
ment of the objects initially set forth herein. It should
be understood~ however, that the invention is not intended
to be limited to the specifies of the illustrated embodi~
ment,.but rather is defined by the accompanying claims.
:
..
:
.
~.
~ . - 18 -
,
- . : , :.:
-
,
