Metallurgical apparatus – Means treating a continuum of work – With heating means
Reexamination Certificate
2000-01-19
2001-10-09
Kastler, Scott (Department: 1742)
Metallurgical apparatus
Means treating a continuum of work
With heating means
C148S601000, C140S124000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06299825
ABSTRACT:
This invention relates generally to mechanisms for handling oil-tempered spring wire.
BACKGROUND OF THIS INVENTION
Currently, vertical take-up systems for spring steel wire consist of a moveable platform on which a turntable is mounted. A carrier for receiving wire is placed on the turntable, with the centreline of the carrier located directly below a horizontal take-up block on the same vertical centreline. When the carrier is full, the wire is cut and the platform is moved to allow unloading of the full carrier and the placement of an empty one. During the changeover, the line is not stopped, which means that the length of wire produced during the changeover cycle must be scrapped.
Prior to the present development, sidewinder horizontal take-up blocks were used for oil-tempered spring steel wire. Sidewinder take-ups, representing a technology more than 80 years old, require great physical strength and exertion on the part of the operator, and are limited to small coil weights (<2,000 lbs.). The density of the finished coil is variable, depending upon the skill and strength of the operator. Wire breaks during take-up can result in serious injury to workers (and anyone standing close by) because the broken spring steel wire tends to fly off the block at high speed, and has extremely sharp edges.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THIS INVENTION
In view of the disadvantages and drawbacks of the conventional technique, as set forth above, it is an object of one aspect of this invention to provide a process and apparatus for the take-up of spring steel wire which require less exertion on the part of the operator, which are adapted to produce coils of greater density and overall weight, and which are safer than the conventional arrangements.
More specifically, this invention provides an apparatus for forming spring wire into coils, comprising:
a take-up block in the general form of a drive wheel having a peripheral surface, the block being mounted for rotation about a substantially upright axis, so that convolutions of the wire can be wrapped around said peripheral surface,
first drive means for rotating said block,
at least one pinch roll defining a circumferential surface and mounted adjacent the periphery of said take-up block for movement between a first position in which the circumferential surface is adjacent the peripheral surface and a second position in which the circumferential surface is spaced away from the peripheral surface,
biasing means for urging said at least one pinch roll toward the said first position,
said peripheral and circumferential surfaces being configured to define a gap between them when the at least one pinch roll is in its first position, whereby convolutions of wire are contained in said gap, the peripheral surface sloping upwardly and inwardly so as to permit convolutions of wire wrapped around the peripheral surface of said wheel to move upwardly;
at least one rotatable wire receiving basket mounted adjacent the block,
second drive means for rotating said at least one wire receiving basket, and
guide means for guiding wire from the block to said at least one wire receiving basket.
Furthermore, this invention provides a process for wrapping spring wire into coils, comprising the steps:
feeding the wire to a take-up block having the general form of a drive wheel with a peripheral surface, the block being mounted for rotation about a substantially upright axis, such that convolutions of the wire are wrapped around said peripheral surface,
rotating said block,
maintaining the wire in contact with the peripheral surface by utilizing at least one pinch roll defining a circumferential surface and mounted adjacent the periphery of said take-up block for movement between a first position in which the circumferential surface is adjacent the peripheral surface and a second position in which the circumferential surface is spaced away from the peripheral surface,
urging said at least one pinch roll toward the said first position, said peripheral and circumferential surfaces being configured to define a gap between them when the at least one pinch roll is in its first position, the peripheral surface sloping upwardly and inwardly,
utilizing said sloping peripheral surface to urge convolutions of wire wrapped around the peripheral surface to migrate upward, providing at least one rotatable wire receiving basket mounted adjacent the block,
rotating said at least one wire receiving basket, and
guiding wire from the block to said at least one wire receiving basket.
Furthermore, this invention provides a process for wrapping spring wire into coils, comprising the steps:
feeding the wire to a take-up block having the general form of a drive wheel with a peripheral surface, the block being mounted for rotation about a substantially upright axis, such that convolutions of the wire are wrapped around said peripheral surface,
rotating said block,
maintaining the wire in contact with the peripheral surface by utilizing at least one pinch roll defining a circumferential surface and mounted adjacent the periphery of said take-up block for movement between a first position in which the circumferential surface is adjacent the peripheral surface and a second position in which the circumferential surface is spaced away from the peripheral surface,
urging convolutions of wire wrapped around the peripheral surface to migrate upward,
providing two rotatable wire receiving baskets mounted adjacent the block,
rotating the wire receiving baskets, and
guiding wire from the block alternatingly first to one wire receiving basket and then to the other wire receiving basket.
Finally, this invention provides an apparatus for forming spring wire into coils, comprising:
a take-up block in the general form of a drive wheel having a peripheral surface, the block being mounted for rotation about a substantially upright axis, so that convolutions of the spring wire can be wrapped around said peripheral surface,
first drive means for rotating said block,
at least one pinch roll defining a circumferential surface and mounted adjacent the periphery of said take-up block for movement between a first position in which the circumferential surface is adjacent the peripheral surface and a second position in which the circumferential surface is spaced away from the peripheral surface,
biasing means for urging said at least one pinch roll toward the said first position,
two wire receiving baskets mounted adjacent the block on opposite sides thereof, for rotation about substantially upright axes, the wire receiving baskets being at a level below that of the block, the block overlying a portion of each wire receiving basket,
second drive means for rotating said wire receiving baskets, and
guide means for guiding sequential lengths of wire alternatingly from the block to one of the wire receiving baskets and then from the block to the other of the wire receiving basket.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3494568 (1970-02-01), Bittman et al.
patent: 3695543 (1972-10-01), Stark
patent: 4161415 (1979-07-01), Van den Sype et al.
patent: 4204885 (1980-05-01), Van den Sype
patent: 4568394 (1986-02-01), Cassell
patent: 59-48359-A (1984-03-01), None
Alston & Bird LLP
Kastler Scott
Stelco Inc.
LandOfFree
Wire take-up mechanism does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Wire take-up mechanism, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Wire take-up mechanism will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2614682