Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
This invention relates in general to wire pro-
cessin~ apparatus and deals more particularly with an
improved wire accumulator tower particularly adapted for
use in a machine for processing a continuous strand of
wire. ~lany wire processing operations require that wire
mo~e continuously through processing equipment at a re-
latively constant rate to assure uniform processing. In
a process for annealing wire, for example, it is essential
that the wire to be processed move continuously through
the annealing furnace at a constant rate to assure uniform
heat treating. Since wïre is usually supplied to such
processing equipment from a pay-off spool, some arrangement
must be provided to temporarily supply wire to and receive
wire from the processing equipment during spool changes,
so that such spool changes may be accomplished without
shutting down the processing equipment. The present in-
vention is concerned with improvements in apparatus of the
aforedescribed general type.
In accordance with the present invention a wire
accumulator tower comprises a vertically elongated frame,
a pair of capstans supported for rotation on the frame to
receive portions of a strand wire looped there around.
The capstans include a first capstan supported for rotation
about a horizontal axis and a second capstan supported
above the first capstan for rotation about an axis parallel
to and vertically spaced from the axis of the first capstan.
The capstans are driven in timed relation to each other.
The apparatus further includes a festoon assembly which
has a first and second set of sheaves. The sheaves in each
set are supported on the frame for coaxially free rotation
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relative to each other. The first set of sheaves i5
supported for rotation about an axis below and generally
parallel to the axes of the capstans. The second set is
supported on the frame above the first set. One of the
sets is arranged for vertical movement relative to frame
and toward and away from the other of the set. The ap-
paratus may also include a pay-o~f/take-up spool assembly
which includes means for receiving and positioning a
spool in driving relation with an output shaft and a manu-
ally operated dog clutch for establishing driving connec-
tion between the spool and the output shaft.
In The Drawings:
Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a wire
feeding and accumulating apparatus embodying the present
invention and which comprises a part of a wire processing
machine.
Fig. 2 is ~ side elevational view of the machine
of Fig. 1 shown partially in vertical section.
Fig. 3 is a somewhat enlarged fragmentary side
elevational view of the upper capstan and the upper
sheaves, parts of the capstan and sheaves being shown
broken away to reveal details of the structure.
Fig. 4 is a somewhat enlarged fragmentary front
elevational view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1.
Fig. 5 is a somewhat schematic side elevational
view of the spool positioning, receiving and retain~ng
mechanism.
Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken
generally along the lines 6-6 of Fig. 2.
Fiq. 7 is a somewhat enlarged fragmentary eleva-
tional view of the clutch lever and detent mechanism shown
partially in vertical section.
Fig. 8 is a somewhat schematic elevational view
of a part of the festoon assembly.
Turning now to the drawinss, and referring first
particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, a wire accumulator tower
embodying the present invention and indicated generally
by the reference numeral 10 comprises a part of an ap-
paratus for processing a continuous strand of wire W. The
illustrated tower 10 may be arranged to either pay-off or
take-up wire but, as iIlustrated, the tower 10 is arranged to
pay-off a continuous strand of wire W and feed it into an
annealing furnace 12 which comprises a part of the processing
apparatus. Another accumulator tower similar to the tower 10,
but not shown, may be located at the discharge end of the fur-
nace 12 to function as a take-up mechanism for receiving wire
W from the furnace 12.
The illustrated apparatus 10 generally comprises
a vertically elongated frame, indicated generally at 14,
ZO which supports a pair of capstans designated by the numerals
16, 16' and festoon assembly indicated generally at 18.
The apparatus further includes a take-up/pay-off spool
mechanism indicated generally at 20. However, since the
mechanism 20, as shown, is arranged to operate in a pay-off
mode for convenience of description, it will be hereinafter
referred to as the pay-off spool mechanism. The capstans
16, 16', the festoon assembly 18 and the pay-off spool
mechanism 20 are arranged in vertical relation to each other
on the frame 14, substantially as shown.
Considering now the apparatus 10 in further
detail, the frame 14 has a base 22 which includes hollow
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sidewalls 2~, 24 and which has openings at its opposite
ends. A pair of elongated structural members 26, 26 and
a pair of transversely spaced guide rods 28, 28 which
extend upwardly from the base 22, form an intermediate
part of the frame~ A generally rectangular bo~ shaped
upper part 30 is supported by and above the intermediate
part.
Each capstan 16, 16' is generally cylindrical
and has a series of coaxial annular wire receiving grooves
31, 31 which open to its peripheral surface. The cross
sectional area of each groove is preferably substantially
greater than the cross sectional area of the largest wire
to be received therein. Each of the illustrated capstans
is provided with five such grooves, however, the number
of grooves may vary. The lower capstan 16 is keyed to
a shaft 32 journaled on the frame upper part 30 for ro-
tation about a horiæontal axis. The upper capstan 16'
is keyed to another shaft 34 also journaled on the frame
upper part 30 for rotation about an axis parallel to and
vertically spaced from the axis of the lower capstan 16.
A direct current motor 36 connected by a timing belt 38
to the upper shaft 34 drives the upper capstan 16', as
best shown in Fig. 2. The lower capstan 16 is driven in
timed relation with the upper capstan by another timing
belt 40 connected between the shafts 32 and 34.
The festoon assembly 18 includes a set of ~lpper
sheaves 42 and a set of lower sheaves 44. Each set in-
cludes a plurality of individual sheaves ~6, 46 supported
on a shaft for coaxial free rotation relative to each
o~her. The sheaves 46, 46 which comprise the upper set
are journaled adjacent the upper capstan 16' on an
extending portion of the shaft 34. Each sheave 46
is supported by an individual ball bearing race carried
by the shaft 34, as best shown in Fig. 3. The lower
set 44 is supported in like manner below the upper set
42 and for coaxial free rotation relative to each other
on a shaft 48 carried by a slide 50 slidably supported
on the guide rods 28, 28. Thus, the lower set 44 is
journaled for rotation about an axis parallel to the
axes of the capstans 16, 16', and is further supported
for vertical movement relative to the frame and generally
toward and away from the upper set 42. A counter balancing
mechanism (not shown) is provided for counter balancing
the lower set 44 for smooth vertical movement relative to
the frame and the upper set 42. A double acting air
motor 52 is connected by pulleys and cables to the slide
50, substantially as shown in Fig. 2. Referring to Fig. 1
it will be noted that the axes of the capstans 16, 16 and
the upper and lower sets 42 and 44 are disposed generally
within a common vertical plane.
Referring now particularly to Figs. 4 and 5 the
pay-off spool mechanism 20 includes an apparatus for re-
ceiving and accurately positioning and retaining a spool,
indicated at 54, in coaxially alignment with an OUtpllt
shaft 56. The mechanism 20 further includes a manually
operated clutch mechanism indicated generally at 58 for
drivingly engaging the spool 54 with the output shaft 56.
Each spool 54 has an axle shaft which extends coaxially
thereto and which is fitted with adaptor flanges 60 and
62 at i-ts opposite end. The adaptor 62 is formed with a
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clutch part 64 at its outer end. Each shaft adaptor 60
and 62 also has flange 66 journaled at its out end for
free rotation relative to its associated adaptor.
The spool receiving positioniny and retaining
mechanism, indicated at 53, includes a pair o~ rails 68,
68 located within and extending ~rom the front to the
rear of the base 22. Each rail 68 is mounted on and in-
wardly of an associated side wall 24 and is downwardly
and forwardiy inclined, as shown in Fig. 2, but prefer-
ably not more than 2 1/2. The rails 68, 68 are trans-
versely spaced to receive and engage the flanges 66, 66
on an associated spool 54. The positioning mechanism 53
further includes a handle operated link mechanism which
is operative to receive and retain one spool in a ready
position on the rails 68, 68 and at the rear of the base,
and to release another previously positioned spool from
the ready position and accurately position and retain it
in a dri~e position in alignment with the output shaft
56. In Fig. 2 one spool 54' is shown in a ready position
and another spool 54 is shown in a drive position.
The spool receiving positioning and retaining
mechanism 53 includes a link mechanism indicated generally
at 70 in Fig. 5 which comprises two sets of linkages 72, 72
located within the base 22 at opposite sides thereof for
engaging the flanges 66, 66 on an associated spool 54. A
typical linkage 72, shown in Fig. 5, includes a crank 74
journaled on an associated side wall 24 and connected to
one end of a handle or crossbar 76. Each clamp is connected
by a link 78 to another crank 80 which has a stop member
82 mounted thereon for engaging an associated flange 66.
The stop member carries a spool stop cam 84 which is
xadially adjustable relative to the crank 80 by means
of a fastener and a slot, such as shown in Fig. 5. The
positioning apparatus further includes a pair of spring
loaded positioning cams 86 (one shown) which are moùnted
at opposite sides of the base for respectively engaging
the flanges 66, 66. Each cam 86 has an arcuate clamping
surface 87 which has a center of curvature 89 eccentric
to the pivotal center of the cam to provide positive
clamping action. A pair of positioning latches 88, 88
(one shown) are located inwardly of the base 22 at op-
posite sides thereof for engaging the flanges on another
spool 54'. Each positioning latch is connected to an
associated crank 74 by a link 90 substantially as shown
in Fig. 5.
The output shaft 56 is driven by a timing belt
92 connected to a D.C. motor 94 mounted in the base 22.
A spring loaded clutch part 96 associated with the output
shaft 56 and drivingly engaged therewith is normally biased
toward a condition of interlocking engagement with the
clutch part 64 by a clutch spring 98, as shown in Fig. 6.
The clutch is operated by a clutch lever 100 located at
the front end of machine and mounted on one end of a rear-
wardly extending clutch rod 102 which is journaled on one
of the sidewalls 24. A clutch cam assembly 104 mounted
on the other end of the rod 102 carries a roller follower
106 for engaging a flange 108 on the inner side of the
clutch part 96 when the clutch lever 100 is rotated in
a clockwise direction from its position in Figs. 1 and 7.
The clutch cam assembly 104 urges the clutch part 96 out-
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wardly to a disenga~ed position relative to the clutch
part 64 against the biasing force of the clutch spring
98. A spring detent mechanism indicated generally at
110 and shown in Fig. 7 releasably retains the clutch
lever in either of two positions corresponding to engaged
and disengaged clutch conditions.
The spool mechanism 20 also includes a travers-
ing device indicated generally at 112 for controlling the
lay of a wire strand on the spool when the apparatus 10
is used for spooling wire. The traversing mechanism 112
is of a well known, commercially available type and in-
cludes ball mechanism for engagement with a smooth rotat-
ing shaft 114 which is driven by the motor 94 and in
timed relation with the spool 54.
As previously noted the apparatus 10 is parti-
cularly adapted to pay-off a continuous strand of wire W.
When a spool runs out the free end of the wire is clamped
or otherwise secured by means (not shown3. Thereafter,
the capstans 16, 16 continue to receive wire from the
festoon assembly 18. The empty spool is released by rais-
ing the handle 76 which allows the empty spool to roll
down the inclined rails 68, 68 in and out of the front
end of the machine. Raising the handle allows another
spool which is in the ready or full line position shown
in Fig. 5 to move to its broken line position of Fig. 5
wherein it is held by the positioning latches 88, 88 which
have the capability of holding the spool in either of two
positions indicated by full and broken lines in Fig. 5.
When the handle 76 is again lowered the spool at the ready
position is released by the hooked ends of the latches 88,
88 and rolls down the inclined rails 68, 68 past the
spring loaded positioning cams 86, 86 to a position in
alignment with the output shaft 56 wherein the flanges
66, 66 are arrested by engagement with the stop cams 84,
84. The end of the new spool may then be knotted or
otherwise secured to the free end of the strand W which
is clamped, as previously noted.
While the spool is being changed wire is con-
tinuously fed from the festoon assembly 18 which causes
the lower set of sheaves 44 to move upwardly. Tension
on the wire within the,festoon assembly 18 may be adjusted
by adjusting the air motor 52. The supply of wire in the
festoon is sufficient to allow adequate time to accomplish
the spool change. After the end of the runout spool has
been connected to the new spool the clamped end of the
strand W is released. Thereafter, wire is again accumulated
in the festoon assembly 18. A sensing device is provided
for over speeding the pay-off spool to allow wire to ac-
cumulate in the festoon assembly. In the present apparatus
the sensing device shown in Fig. 8 comprises an elongated
rod 116 which has spiral portions 118, 118 and a follower
120 which travels with the lower set of sheaves 44O En-
gagement of the follower 120 with one of the spiral end
portions of the rod causes the rod 116 to twist and operate
a potentiometer 122 associated therewith which controls
the speed of the D.C. motor 94.
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