Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
11'70n~3
i
SAUSAGE CASING AUTOMATIC CLOSING SYSTEM
This invention relates to the closing of one end
of a stick of shirred casing used in the manu~cture of
"skinless" hot do~s~
There has previously b~en developed.a closing
head for closing an elld of a hollow shirred casinc~ stick
which is the sub~ec~ o~ prior U~S. Patent: Nc~. 4,075,938,
granted February Z8, 1978~ This invention has to do with
the provision of a stick or strand handler for autolnatically
positioning a strand relative t~ J~he closin~ mechanism of
Patent No. 4,075,938 under a contxolled pressure condi.~ion
wh~re~y end closure may be consist:ent throughout plural
casing stic~s or.s~rands~ ~
A primary feature of this invention is the forma-
tion o~ a jaw ~rrangement Eor receiving a shirred casingstrand or stick, which jaw arranc3ement is particularl~ con~
structed fo~ n~rmally defining a receptacle into which a
shirrecl casing stic~ or strand may he readily inse.rt~d in
a~ endwise directic3ll a~ it ls do:Efea fr:om i~ s carrier
mandrel, and-therea~ter the jaws:are closable. unde~ a con--
trolled pressure condition -or fi.rmly gripping the c~sing
: strand for directing one end of the casing strand agai.nst
the closinc3 llead.
~ hex feature of the jaw assembl~ is ~he~ r~-
silient se~aration of the jaws after an end o~ a casinystrand has ~een closed to the extent that: the strand is
xel.eased ~rom t}le jrlWS in a trar)sverse direction.
The several positions oi the ja-~s is ef~ect:ed
by resilielltly urgin~ the j~ws apart by sprinc3 al~ments
which are compressible under load~ The spri nc3 elements,
.
~;,
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when the jaws are not loaded, will urge the jaw elements
widely apart for receiving casing strands of different
diameters. Tnen, by applying a selected pressure urging
the ~aws together against the resistence of the spring
elements, the jaws may be partially moved together to form
the aforementioned receptacle or the specifiecl casing
strard diameter. The exertion of a still clreater, hut
controlled, pressure on the jaws will cause the jaws to
move to a closing position wherein the jaws grip a casing
1~ strard at a preselected pressure. This ma~ be accomplished
using a single fluid cylinder and supplyiny a fluid thereto
at different pressures.
Another feature of the invention i$ the movement
of the j~w asse~ly lonyitudinally after a casing strana is
gripped thereby so that one end of the casing strand is
presented to a closing head under controlled pressure con-
ditic,ns which are repeatable. Further, a fluid cylinder
may be utilized for this purpose and the flow of fluid wlder
pressure to the cylinder may be metered so as to control the
rate at which the strand may be presented to the closing
head.
Finally, the jaw assembly ma~ be carr;ed fox move
ment in a transverse direction for first alignin~ the jaws
with a mandrel from which a shirred casing is to be do~fed,
and ~fter the casinc~ strand is received within the jaw
asse~_bly, the jaw as~embly may be shif~ed transversely of
the xis o~ the jaw assembl~ to align the cas;nc~ strand
with the closing head.
A further feature of the invent:;on is the prvvi-
~ion of a fluid control circuit for automatically actuating
the ~.?arious ~luid cylinders of the strand handling device as
well as the various components of the closing head in th~
recIu red tilhed sequence in response to the actllation of
control device fort;he ca~ing shirring machine.
With the ahove and other objects in view tha-t will
herelnafter appearr the nature of the invention will be more
clearly undersgood by re~erence to the following detailed
~:17~
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description, the appended claims, and the several views
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
N THE DRAI~INGS:
Eigure 1 is a schematic elevational view of a
casing shirring machine incorporating the closing mechanism
of this invention.
Figure 2 is a transverse schematic view showing
the relationship of the casing strand closing apparatus
with respect to the shirring machine mandrel stations.
Figure 3 is an enlarged end eleyational yiew vf
the trans-fer mechanism.
Figure 4 is a front elevational view of the txans
fer mechanism, and shows it in xelation to a closing head,
with the closing head being in section generally along the
line ~-4 of Figure 3.
Figure 5 is a fragmentary top plan view taken
generally along the line 5-5 of Figure 4, and shows further
the details of the transfer mechanism.
Figure 6 is a top plan View similar to Figure 5,
and shows the jaw assembly moved both transversely and
longitudinally for positioning the jaw assembly, and a casing
strand carried thereby relative to the closing head.
Figure 7 is a fragmentary schematic plan view with
parts in section o~ the jaw assembly, sho~ing the Various
positions of the jaws thereo~, the view being taken generally
along the line 7-7 o~ Figure 4.
Eigure 8 is a series of schematic ena yiews o~ the
jaw assembly, showing the various positions o the jaws with
respect to a casing strand.
Figure 9 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sec-
tional vie~7 taken generally alon~ the line 9-9 of Figure 5,
and shows the means for actuating the jaws.
Fiyure 10 is a transverse vertical sectional view
taken generally along the line 10-10 o~ Figure 6, and shows
the mounting of the jaw assembly for transverse shif~ing
movement between a stxand receiving position and a strand
closing position.
- ' _4 '~ 3
Figure 11 is a fxagmentary longitudinal sectional
view showing the mounting of the ~aw assembly for longi.tudi-
nal movement to present a strand to the closing head.
Figure 12 is a ~ragmentary longi-tudinal vertical
sectional view taken ~enerally along -the lin'e 12-12 of Fig-
ure 10, and shows the mou~ting of the transfer cylinder.
Figures 13 and 14 combined sho~Y a fluid system
circuit for operating the transfer dev:ice and the closing
head.
Al-~hou~h the closiny apparatus of this invention
may be used with various types o. shirring machines, in order
that the invention may be clearly understood there i5 il-
lustrated the invelltion in conjunction with one type of ex-
isting shirring machine ~hîch is c,~enerally identified by the
numeral 20. Very broadly, the shirring machine 20 includes
a turret 22 which is indexable about a horiæontal axis 24
and carries a plurality of circumferenkially spaced mandrels
26. ThP mandrels 26 are sequentially alic~ned with a shirr.ing
mechanism, generally identified by the numeral 28. The
shirring mechanism .includes a casing eed belt arrangement
30 which controls the mo~ement of a casing 32 through a pair
of guide rollers 34 to a shirrin~ head 36 which includes a
plurality of shirrir,g wheels 38. Th~ casing 32 is pxogres-
sively shirred and move~ onto the active man~rel 26 until
the desired length of shirred casing stick or strand 40 has
been formed~ The casing is -then cut off by way of a cutoff
device 42. At this time shirrin~ i6 discontinuea and the
turret 22 is indexed to bring a new empty mandrel 26 into
alignment with the shirring meçhanism 28. While the next
strand is being shirred OiltO the new mandrel, the previously
shirred casi.ng is axially compressed at a second station as
schematically indicated in Figures 1 and 2.
Xn the illustrated shirring machine the third
station i.s a holdin~"~ station and at the fourkh stat:ion the
compressed shirred casiny strarLd is doffed from the In~narel
so that the empty mandrel is avai.lable for presentation to
the shirring station.
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In the past, the doffed casings were manually pre~
sented to a closing head fox closing one end thereo~. This
invention relates to the provision o~ an automatic transfer
mechanism, generally identified by the numeral 44, which will
receive the d~ffed casing strand or stick, fi~ly grip the
strand, transfer the strand transverse].y into alignment with
a closing head, generally identi.~ied ~y the numeral 46 and
illustrated in Fi.gures 3 and 4, and then longitudinally move
the transferred strand into controlled pressure engagement
with the closing head to effect a repeatable closing of the
strand one end.
Referring now to Figures 3, 5 and 6 in particular,
it will be seen that the shirring machine 20 has a frame plate
` 48 on which the transfer mechanism 44 is mounted. Most spe~
cifically, the plate has secured thereon a pair o~ mounting
brackets S0, 52 which, in turn, mount a comhined guide and
support member 54. The combined guide and support-member 54
has guideways thereth~ough on which a pair o* parallel support
rods 56 are mounted for horizontal transverse movement. t~he
rods 56 carry a first carrier 58.
The combined.guide and support member 54 has a
mounting flange 60 to which there is secured t.he foreward end
o~ a mandrel ap~rc~sh fluid c~linder 62. The cylinder 62 is
secured in place by way of a nut 64 and has a piston rod 66
which is connected to the carrier 58 by way of a nut 68 and
a lock me~r~er 7C as is best shown in Figure 10. The f~ id
cylinder 62 is thus operable to reciprocate the carrier 58
and the rods 56 as a unit transversely of the shirring
machine 20~
The carrier 58 is eloncJated transversely of t~--
rods 66, as sho~n in Figure 6, and has projecting from the
face th~:reof opposite from the rods 66 two sets o~ guide ears
72 as is best shown in Figures 10 and 11. T~le guide ears 72
are axranged in vertically spaced, lo~gitudinally aligned
sets and have slideably mounted therein a pair of com~i.ned
guide and support rods 74. The rods 74, in turn~ mount a
second carrier 76. It is to be noted that the carrier 76 is
~ I ~ Q (~ 1 3
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basically in the form of a longitudinally extending vertical
plate 78 wh;,ch has extending from the xear surface ~hereo-f at
opposite ends a pair of flanges 80 in which the rods 74 are
fixedly secured by means of set screws 82~ In this mann~r the
carrier 76 is locked to the rods 74 for movement therewith.
A mounting plate 84, which i.s horizontally disposed
and lon~itudinally extending, projects fxom the opposite face
of the plate 78 and has rnounted thereon a gripper assembly 8
which will be described in detail hPreinaf~er.
~he carrier 58 has mounted ~-hereon a closer ap-
proach fluid cylinder 88 as i.s best shown in Fic3ure 6. The
cylinder 88 is provided at the foreward end thereof with a
mounting block 90 carrying fas-teners 92, as is best shown in
Figure 11. The cylirlder 88 'has a projecting piston rod ~
which is threaded into one of the flanges 80 in the manner
also best shown in Fiyure 11. The cylinder 88 seryes to move
the carrier 76 longitudinally of thc shirring machine 20 ~or
moving a strand carried by the gripper assen~ly 86 into e~-
gagement with the closer head ~6 and will be descri~ed in
more detail hereinafter.
The ~ripp~r assembly 86 includes a pair of trans-
ersely extending support pins or rods 96 which e~tend from
Ihe front face of the plat.e 7~ as is genera~ly sh~wn in Fi~-
.ures 3 and 7. Mounted on the pin~ 76 for tLansverS~ movelnent
is a pair of jaws 98. Each jaw 98 includes a mounting b~r
100 which is ~irectly mounted on the roas 96 arld each bar
carries an an~le shape clamp member 102 as is best shown
in Figure 3. It is to be noted that the clamp ~nembers 102
open towards one another and because of the anc~le shape
configuratior, are .readily adaptahle to engage strands of
different diameters.
The bars 100 are Ereely mounted on the pins 96 ~or
transverse movement and are resilient:ly urged apart by a
compressi.on spring 104 carried by each pin 96 between th~
adjacent bars 100. It is to be understood that the ~prin~3s
104 are to be special.ly selec~ed ~or a purpose to be de-
srri.bed hereinafter and are operable to open the jaws 98 to
full open position.
--7--
Each of the bars 100 is provided in its upper sur-
face with a pair of elongated slots 106 as is best shown in
Figure 7. The slots in the two bars are ?~ngitudinally off
set and receive therein depending pins 108 carri.ed by oppo-
S site end portions of double lever members 110. ~s is bestshown in Figure 9, one set of pins 108 merely extends down~
wardly into one of the bars 100, while the opposite set of
pins 108 have upper extensi~ns 112 and are connected together
by a link 114. The ~ink 114 thus synchronizes the movement
of the levers 110.
Each of the levers 110, as is also best shown in
Fi.gure 9, underlies the support plate 84 an~ is carried hy
a pin 116 which is journalled within a bushing 11~ in the
plate 84. It is to be understood that the pin 116 is driv-
ingly connected with at least one of the levers 110 ~orpivoting in unison therewith. That one pin 116, as is bes~
shown in Figure 9, has an upper extension 120 to which there
i5 secured a c.rank arm 1~2 for rotat,ion with the pin 116.
The crank a~n 122, in turll~ is engaged by a fitting 124
carried by an end of a piston rod 126 of a ~ripper fluid
cylinder 128. It is to be noted from ~igure 6 that the
cylinder 128 has a rear mounting flange 130 which i5 con-
nected ~y a vertical piYot pin 132 ~o a sup~ort flallge 1.~4
carried by a longitudinally extending mounting plate 136
25' which is part of the carrier 76.
Reference ;.s now made to Fi.gllres ~a, b and c.
In Figure 8b, it will be seen that the fluid cyli.nder 128 has
been actuated by the intxoduction of fl.uid so as to ur~e the
clarnp members 102 towards one another ~g~ins.t the cvmbina- -
tion of the springs 98. By properly coordinating the strenyth
of the springs 98 and the force exerted by the cylinder 128,
there can be an automatic bringing to~ether of the cI~nping
members 10~ to a preselected spac.ing which is larger than
the diameter of the intended casing strand t:o be closed.
Thus, when the gripper assembly 86 is ali,gned with the mandrel
26 from ~hich the compressed shirred casing strand 40 is to
be doffed, the strand 40 will freely sli.de longitudinally into
the rece~t~cle defined by the clamp members 1~2.
3 ~
Thereafter, when the fluid pressure to the cylinder
128 is increased, as will be described in deta.il hereinafter,
the clamp members 102 will be further urged together a5 shown
in Figure 8a and will grip the casing strand 40 therebetween.
It is to be understood that the gripping pressure of the
clamp members 102 on the casing strand will be controlled by
the fluid pressure directed to the cylinder 120 and, ~f
course, by a proper selection of cylinder.
After the strand 40 has been grîpped, the mandrel
approach cylinder 62 is actuated so as to shift the gri.pper
assembly 86 transversely of the shirring machine ~0 and into
alignment with the closer head 46. ~his position .is assured
by engagement of st~ps 148 carried by the ricJht ends of the
rods 56 with the right end of the combined guide and support
54. It is also to be noted at this time- that the gripper
assembly 86 is aligned with the mandrel fxom which a strand
is to be ~offed by the engagement of the carrier 58 wîth the
left end of the combined yuide and support 54 as viewed in
Figure 30
After the strand has been ali.gr1ed with the closer
head 46, the gripper assembly 86 .is moved longitudinally to
the left, as viewed in Figure 1, to bring the left end of
the strand 40 .nto ergagemert with the closer head 4~ a-t a
controlled rate and at a controlled pressure so that the
closer head may function uniformly to close the end vf the
strand 40 in the manner described in Patent No. ~,075,938.
Referring now to Figure 4, it will be seen that
the closer head 4G r which is the suhject of ~.S. Patent No.
4,075,938, is mounted generally to the left of a frame plate
140 and includes, among other features, a pair of pivotally
mounted wedges 142 which are actuated by a fluid cyli.nder
144 (Figure 13) identified as a wedge cylinder. The ~loser
head also includes a rotatable mandrel 146 which is dri.ven
by an a.ir mot:or 148 (E`igure 13)~
It is to be understood that in accordance wikh
the disclosure of Patenk No. 4,075,938 there is a stop mech-
anism (not shownJ which is controlled by a fluid cylinder
3 ~
g
150 illustrated in Figure 13 and identified as a stop cylin-
der.
In order bes~ to understand the control system t
specific control elements will now be identified. In Figure
13, there is illustrated a reset closure mode valve 152 and
a reset arbor mode delay valve 154. There is also illustrated
a motor-stop cylinder-lubricator 156. There are control
valves including an arbor motor-stop cylinder valYe 158, a
closer mode valve 160 and an arbor mode delay val~e 162.
Also of consequence in Figure 13 is a stop cylinder shuttle
valve 164 and a closer stop cylinder needle valve 166.
With reference to Figure 14, there is associated
with the closer approach cylinder 88 a closer approach cylin-
der needle valve 168. A plurality of control valves are
provided including a system mode pilot switch 170, a system
mode valve 172, a mandrel approach valve 174, a mandrel
approach delay valve 176, a drop strand pulse valve 17~, a
drop strand pulse delay volume 180, a closer approach cylin-
der valve 182, a gripper cylinder shuttle valve lB4, a gr:ip
pressure regulator 186, a start closer pulse valve 188, a
pulse valve delay volume 190 and a closer approach cylinder
pressure regulator 192. The mandrel. approach cylinder i~
provided with an adjustable needle valve ~94.
Referring once again to Figure 13, it will be se~n
that the system includes a maniold 196 to which air is
supplied from an air source 198 throuyh a pressure ~egulator
200 so that air is directed into the manifold at house pres-
sure.
The operation o~ khe control system is as follows.
The shirring machine 20 is provided with control
- cams includin~ a control cam for controlli.ny the ~peration
of the system mode pilot switch 170 to an on position. Thus
the switch 170 functions as a start switch.
The movement of the switch 170 to the on posit;on
causes pressure at port 4 at the system mode yalve 172 which
causes the valve 172 to shifk. The shifting of the valve 172
causes (a) house pressure at port 7 of the gripper cylinder
- 10 - 1 ~
shuttle valve 1~4, and ~b) exhausting of pressure at port 6 of
the closer approach cylinder valve 182, retract side of closer
approach cylinder 88, port 6 of the closer approach delay valve
176 and port 4 of the mandrel approach valve 174~
This, in turn, results in house pressure on the retract
side of the gripper cylinder 128 causing a strand 40 to be
clamped tightly'between the clamp members 102. The exhausting oE
pressure at port 6 of the valve 182 allows the closer approach
cylinder valve 182 to be shifted. E~hausting of pressure at the
retract side of the closer approach cylinder 88 allows the
cylinder to be advanced. Exhausting of -the pressure at port 6 of
the valve 1'76 allows the -valve 176 to be shifted. Exhausting o~
port 4 of the valve 174 allows the spring actuator Qf that valve
to shift the valve.
The exhausting o pressure at port 4 of the valve 174
also increases pressure at the mandrel approach cylinder ~2 on
the advance side and the port 4 of the closer approach delay
valve 176.
Pressure on the advance side of the cylinder 62 causes
the tightly clamped strand 40 to be shifted from alignment with
the ~andrel from which it is doffed to alignment with the closer
head 46 while the application of pressure at port 4 of the valve
176, af~er a preset delay to allow completion of the shifting of
the strand, causes the valve 176 to shift.
The shifting of the valve 176 causes pressure at port 4
of the closer approa,ch cylinder valve 182 and port 1 of the start
closure pulse valve 188 with the pressure at port 4 of the valve
182 ~ausing ~he valve 182 to shift and to cause regulated
pressure at the advance side of the closer approach cylinder 88~
The closer approach cylinder 88 then causes the strand 40 to move
into the closer head 46.
Pressure at port 1 of the valve 188 results in a pulse
of air ~,o port 4 of the closer mode valve 1~0 ~7hich results in
house pressure at t'he advance si(le of the wedge cylinder 144, at
the stop cylinder shuttle valve 164 and
7Q0 1 3
por~ 4 of the arbor mode delay valve 162~ The wedge cylinder
144, being actuated, causes the wedges 142 to project from -the
face of the closer head.
Pressure at the stop cylinder shuttle valve 162 causes
the stop cylinder 150 to advance, preventing worm gears (not
shown) of the closer head 46 from turning when ~he arbor 146
turns. Pressure at port 4 of the valve 162 causes shiftin~ of
the valve 162 after a delay, and -this, in turn, results in
pressure at port 4 of the arbor motor stop cylinder valve 158.
Pressure at port 4 of the valve 158 causes pressure to the arbor
motor 148 using lubricated air from the lubricator 156 and
pressure with lubricated air to ~he stop cylinder shuttle valve
164. The operation of the mo-tor 148 causes the casing from the
strand 40 to be picked up by the wedges 142 and wound on the
point 202 of the arbor 146 as it is advanced because the
aforementioned worm gears cannot turn. Pressure to the valve 164
serves to keep thP stop cylinder 150 engaging the worm gears.
As the arbor shaft 146 advances to the right, a
follower o the shaEt ~not shown~ depresses the reset closer mode
valve 152 which causes a pressure pulse at port 6 of the closure
mode valve 160 which results in the shifting of the valve 160
causing pressure at the retract side of the wedge cylinder 144,
exhaust of pressure at the advance side of the wedge cylinder
144, exhaust of pressure at one side of the stop cylinder shuttle
valve 1 6/~J and e~haust of pressure at port 4 of the arbor motor
delay valve 162.
The reverse movement of the wedge cylinder 144 causes
the wedges 142 to retract flush with the face of th~ closer head
46. Exhaust of pressure on one side of the valve 164 allows
pressure to advance the stop cylinder 150 to be interrupted when
the other side of the cylinder 150 is exhausted. Exhaust of
pressure at port 4 of the valve 162 allows the arbor motor delay
va]ve 162 to be shifted by pilot pressure at port 6.
The aforementioned arbor shaft follower depresses reset
arbor delay valve l 54 which results in pressure at
-12-
port 6 of the arbor delay valve 162 which, in turn, causes
the valve 162 to shift. Shifting of the valve 162 causes
exhaust of pressure at port 4 of the arbor motor stop
cylinder valve 158 which allo~7s the spring in the valve to
shift the valve 158.
Shifting of the valve 158 causes exhaust of pres-
sure at the arbox motor 148 causing the moto.r to stop turn~
ing; exhaust of pressure on the other side of the stop
cylinder shuttle valve 164; and pressure at retract side of
the stop cylinder 150. These .wo latter even-ts cause the nQn-
illustrated stop block attached to the s-top cyl.inder 150 to
retract and pull the arbor shaft 146 out of the closure newly
formed in the end of the casing strand.
At this time the cam of .the shirrinc~ machine 20
which actuates the 5ystem mode pilot switch 70 moves the
switch to the off position, and this causes exhaust of the
pressure at port 4 of the system mode pilDt valve 172. Pres-
sure at port 4 o.f the valve 172 causes the valve to shif~
with this causing exhaust of house pressure at the gxipper
cylinder shuttle valve 184, house pressure at retract ~ide of
the closer approach cylinder 88, pressure at port 6 o~ the
closer approach valve 182, house pressu.re at port 6 of the
closer approach dela~ valve 176~ and hou~e pxessure at poxt 4
ol the mandrel approach valve 17~. This results in a reduced
pressure to the retract side of the gripper cylinder 128 to
the low pressure regulated ~v the grip pressure regulator 186
which results in the closed strand now t:o be held loosely.
House pressure at the xetract side of the clQser approach
cylinder 88 causes the.cylinder 88 to move the closed strand
away from the closer head 46 while pressure at port 6 of the
~ valve 182 perrnits the c~linder 88 to be ackuated.
:~ House pressure at port 6 of the valve 176 causes
the valve 176 to shift which, in turn, causes exhaust of
pressure at port 4 of the closer approach valve 182 and the
port 1 o~ the star-t closer pulse valve 188. Exhaust of
pressure at port 4 of the valve 182 allows the valve 182 to
shift under the influence of pressure at port 6 thereof, the
shifting of which permits the actuation of the closer ap-
proach cylinder 88 to move the strand.
Exhaust of pressure at port 1 of the valve 188
allows the spring of the valve 188 to reset the valve for a
next pulse. Pressure at port 4 of the valve 174 causes the
valve 174 to shift, causing pressure at port 1 of the drop
strand pulse valve 178 and in the volume cylinder 180 and
pressure to the retract side of the mandrel approach cylin-
der 62. Pressure at the valve 178 causes a pulse of pressure
at the advance side of the gripper cylinder 128 causing ~he
clamp members 102 momentarily to open and drop the closea
strand.
Pressure on the retract side of the mandrel ap-
proach cylinder 62 causes the cylinde~ to retract and hring
the gripper assembly into position to receive a next strand.
The transfer assembly is now ready to receive a next strand
by repetition of the above-described operations.
~ t this time it is pointed out that the control
circuitry also includes a manual control for applyiny an
actuating pressure to the port 4 of the closer mode valve
160 for effecting the manual operation o~ the eloser head
46 when so desired. However, since this manual control
ci~cuit, whicll is identified by the numeral 2~4, is not ~art
of this invention, it is n~t specifically described here.
It is to be understood that while a specific
~echanism has been specifically illustrated and described
fox use in a shirring mach;ne such as the shirring machine
20, the mechanism may be changea ~or use ~ith other shirriny
machines and/or other closing devices without departing
from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by
the appended claims. It is to be unde~stood tha~ the es-
sential ~eatures oE the inventi n tnclude mearls to receive
strands ~ varylny si~es. ~o this end, it is pointed ou~:
that with rcEerence to Fiyure 8, basically the illustrat~d
3S strand of the lar~est di~neter strand for which the apparatus
is desiyned. However, if sm~ller diameter 5trands are t~ be
handled~ then it is necessa~y to increase the pressu~e
- 14 - ~ 0~3
directed to the gripper cylinder 128 by controlling -the pressure
of air supplie~ by the pressure regulator 18~. It will be
apparent that by increasing the pressure supplled by the
regulator 186 the springs 98 will be further compressed and thus
reduce the size of the opening defined by the clamp members 102
as shown in Figure 8b.
Another essential feature is the provision of a means
to grip the strand sufficiently tight to prevent rotatio~ or
axial movement of the strand during the closing operation. This
is controlled by the air pressure directed to the gripper
cylinder 128 through the system mode valve 172 and the shuttle
valve 184.
Another feature of the invention is to provide a means
to transport the strand to the closing device an~ a means to
press the end of the strand against the closing device with
correct pressure to produce a suitable closure. With respect to
this, it is to be noted that the closer approach cylinder 88 has
in series therewith a needle valve 168 which controls the rate of
fluid directed thereto and thus controls the ra-te of operation.
The needle valve 194 serves the same function with respect to the
mandrel approach cylinder 62.
The invention should also include a rneans to start the
closing operation while the strand i8 ~aintained in contact with
the closing device -as well as means for transporting the closed
strand from the closing device, together with means Eor dropping
the closed strand. In the illustrated embodiment of the
invention these are all effected by the gripper cylinder 128 and
the closer approach cylinder 88.
The final essential features of the i-nvention are means
for resetting the gripping means to the correct size to receive
the next strand and a means for transporti-ng the gripping means
back to the correct position to receive the next strand. While
in accordance with this invention the gripper cylinder 128 in
association with the springs 98 perform this first function,
other means may be provided and whiLe the transportation of the
gripper means baclc to
-15~ 7~ 0 ~. ~
the staxtinq position is ffected by the mandrel apProach
cYlinder 62, other types of positioninq means may be pro-
vided.
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