Winding – tensioning – or guiding – Helical or random winding of material
Reexamination Certificate
1998-12-17
2002-10-08
Walsh, Donald P. (Department: 3653)
Winding, tensioning, or guiding
Helical or random winding of material
C242S476600, C242S580000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06460797
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a reel for taking up cords and cord-like bodies, a wire clip used upon being attached to this reel, an apparatus, suited for use with this reel, for automatically taking up the cord-like body, and a device for fastening the end of the cord-like body.
The term “cord-like body” (or “cord”) as used here is meant to cover all linear bodies (inclusive of standed wire), regardless of the material, referred to by various names such as steel cord, filament, metal wire, wire, rope, wire cable, synthetic resin line, steel and string.
2. Description of the Related Art
After a cord-like body, especially a strongly resilient cord-like body made of steel, is taken up on a reel, it is required that one end thereof be fastened to the reel at a suitable location. One structure for fastening the end of a cord-like body is described in the specification of Japanese Utility Model Application laid-Open No. 3-62069.
According to the structure disclosed, the outer circumferential portion of a reel flange is formed to have a slot from which the end of a cord is capable of being pulled, and the outside surface of the flange is provided with a fastening member, such as a clip or spring, at a position adjacent the slot. The cord end portion (a portion somewhat short of the end of the cord) is plastically deformed into a U- or C-shaped configuration, this portion is passed through the slot and is pulled out of the flange, and the curved portion that has been pulled out is fastened by being clipped.
With a structure of this type, the end portion of the cord must be pulled out through the slot, and fastening the cord end is a troublesome task. This structure does not lend itself to automation. Further, since the cord is bent or curved into a U- or V-shaped configuration, a fairly long portion of the cord is wasted.
Since a reel suited to automation of end fastening does not exist, it has not been possible, as a matter of course, to realize a device capable of automatically fastening the end of a cord and an apparatus which takes up the cord and includes the above-mentioned device.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a reel for taking up a cord-like body, wherein the end of the cord-like body can be secured through a simple fastening operation and in reliable fashion.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a reel for taking up a cord-like body, wherein fastening the end of the cord-like body can be automated.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide the structure of a reel for taking up a cord-like body, wherein the structure makes it possible to minimize the amount of a cord end that is wasted.
A further object of the present invention is to provide the structure of a reel for taking up a cord-like body, wherein the structure makes it possible to retain the cord end in such a manner that the cord end will not spring out from the reel.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a device for automatically fastening the end of a cord-like body using the reel described above.
A further object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for automatically taking up a cord-like body, the apparatus including the end fastening device described above.
A reel for taking up a cord-like body according to a first aspect of the present invention comprises a winding drum; flanges provided on both ends of the winding drum, at least one of the flanges being provided with a window at a location in the vicinity of an outer circumferential portion thereof; and a cord retainer comprising a resilient body, the cord retainer being received within the window and including a central retaining finger having a distal end portion; a pair of fixing fingers, one provided on either side of the central retaining finger and each having a distal end portion; and a connecting piece interconnecting the retaining finger and the fixing fingers; the distal ends of the fixing fingers and the connecting piece being abutted against upper and lower edges, respectively, of the window from outside the at least one flange, the distal end potions of the fixing fingers being crimped and secured by a folded-back portion on the outer circumference of the at least one flange, and the distal end portion of the central retaining finger lying on an inner side surface of the at least one flange on the outer circumferential portion thereof; the cord-like body being clamped and secured between the distal end portion of the retaining finger and the inner side surface of the at least one flange at the outer circumferential portion thereof.
A reel for taking up a cord-like body according to a second aspect of the present invention comprises a winding drum; flanges provided on both ends of the winding drum, at least one of the flanges being provided with a window at a location in the vicinity of an outer circumferential portion thereof; and a cord retainer comprising a resilient body, the cord retainer being attached within the window and including a central retaining finger having a distal end portion; a pair of fixing fingers, one provided on either side of the central retaining finger and each having a distal end portion; and a connecting piece interconnecting the retaining finger and the fixing fingers; the fixing fingers and the connecting piece lying on an outer surface of the at least one flange at the left, right and lower sides of the window, the distal end portions of the fixing fingers being crimped and secured by a folded-back portion on the outer circumference of the at least one flange, the central retaining finger being curved at a central portion thereof so as to project outwardly of the at least one flange from the window with the distal end portion thereof being passed through the window so as to lie on an inner side surface of the at least one flange on the outer circumferential portion thereof; the cord-like body being clamped and secured between the distal end portion of the retaining finger and the inner side surface of the at least one flange at the outer circumferential portion thereof.
The cord take-up reel according to the first aspect of the invention and the cord take-up reel according to the second aspect of the invention may be summarized as follows: The cord take-up reel has a winding drum both ends of which are provided with flanges, and a window for receiving a cord retainer, which is formed near the outer circumferential of at least one flange of the flanges. The cord retainer, which comprises a resilient body, comprises a central retaining finger, a pair of fixing fingers, one provided on either side of the central retaining finger, and a connecting piece interconnecting the retaining finger and fixing fingers. Distal ends of the fixing fingers are crimped and secured by a folded-back portion on the outer circumference of the flange. The distal end portion of the central retaining finger lies on the inner side surface of the flange on the outer circumferential portion thereof, and the cord-like body is clamped and secured between the distal end portion of the retaining finger and the inner side surface of the flange at the outer circumferential potion thereof.
In accordance with the cord take-up reel of the present invention, the central retaining finger of the cord retainer is pushed from the outside by the finger of the worker or by part of a machine after the cord is taken up on the reel, thereby forming a gap between the distal end portion of the retaining finger and the inner side surface of the flange at its outer circumferential portion. If the end portion of the cord is inserted into the gap, then the end portion will be clamped between the distal end portion of the retaining finger and the inner side surface of the flange at its outer circumferential portion. Accordingly, the operation for fastening the cord end is a simple one. Further, since the cord retainer is formed from a resilient body, the end portion of the cord is secured reliably by the elastic
Kikuchi Tasuku
Kumagai Masanori
Machijima Kenji
Takahashi Masashi
Morrison & Foerster / LLP
Rivera William A.
Tokyo Rope Mfg. Co. Ltd.
Walsh Donald P.
LandOfFree
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