U.S. patent application number 09/777914 was filed with the patent office on 2001-08-09 for strand positioning apparatus and method of using.
This patent application is currently assigned to Johns Manville International, Inc.. Invention is credited to Arterburn, Russell D., Bascom, Randall Clark, Dembowski, John J., Howard, Larry Edward.
Application Number | 20010011466 09/777914 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 27404410 |
Filed Date | 2001-08-09 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010011466 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Arterburn, Russell D. ; et
al. |
August 9, 2001 |
Strand positioning apparatus and method of using
Abstract
An apparatus for receiving and automatically moving a moving
strand of fibers from a starting position to any one of a plurality
of predetermined positions in a multi-grooved separator roll is
disclosed. This apparatus is particularly in processes of making
continuous fiber products from molten material and replaces a
manual operation that presented safety problems.
Inventors: |
Arterburn, Russell D.;
(Athens, TN) ; Howard, Larry Edward; (Athens,
TN) ; Dembowski, John J.; (Athens, TN) ;
Bascom, Randall Clark; (Waseon, OH) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Johns Manville Corporation
Intellectual Property (R41B)
10100 West Ute Avenue
Littleton
CO
80127
US
|
Assignee: |
Johns Manville International,
Inc.
|
Family ID: |
27404410 |
Appl. No.: |
09/777914 |
Filed: |
February 6, 2001 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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09777914 |
Feb 6, 2001 |
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09305157 |
May 4, 1999 |
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6202449 |
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09305157 |
May 4, 1999 |
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08960119 |
Oct 27, 1997 |
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5935289 |
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08960119 |
Oct 27, 1997 |
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08604695 |
Feb 21, 1996 |
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08604695 |
Feb 21, 1996 |
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08296212 |
Aug 25, 1994 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
65/480 |
Current CPC
Class: |
C03B 37/16 20130101;
Y02P 40/57 20151101; C03B 37/03 20130101; C03B 37/02 20130101; C03B
37/0216 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
65/480 |
International
Class: |
C03B 037/16 |
Claims
1. An apparatus suitable for use in supporting and moving a running
fiber, strand of fibers, or wire (strand) from one position to
another position, said another position being any one of a
plurality of predetermined positions, comprising a curved surface
for receiving and holding said running strand in a first position,
a mechanism for moving said strand to or near said another
position, and a mechanism for releasing said strand into said
another position.
2. An apparatus for supporting and moving a running item like a
fiber, strand of fibers or wire (strand) from one position to
another position, said another position being any one of a
plurality of predetermined positions, said apparatus comprising: a)
a curved surface for receiving and holding said running item, b) a
mechanism for moving said curved surface and running item to or
near said another position, and c) a mechanism for releasing said
running item into said another position.
3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said curved surface for
receiving and holding said strand is a curved portion of an element
located at the end of a pivot arm.
4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said mechanism for moving said
strand comprises, a mechanism for holding said pivot arm in a
position and location for receiving the strand, a drive mechanism
for moving said curved surface and strand near a predetermined
position and for moving said curved surface back to said receiving
location, and an actuator for pivoting said pivot arm to properly
align and release said strand into said predetermined position and
to return said curved surface to said receiving position.
5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said drive mechanism for moving
has a control system for receiving a signal designating which
another position to move the strand to and for storing information
about the signal and later using this information to control said
strand moving mechanism.
6. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said curved surface for
receiving and holding said strand is a wheel having a U or V shaped
valley in its periphery.
7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said mechanism for moving said
curved surface comprises one or more members for holding said wheel
in a position and location for receiving the strand, a drive
mechanism for moving said wheel near a predetermined position and
for moving said curved surface back to said receiving location, and
an actuator for pivoting said wheel to properly align said strand
and release said strand into said predetermined position and then
to return said wheel to said receiving position.
8. The apparatus of claim 7 further comprising: a) a guide for
guiding said strand into said predetermined position.
9. The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising: a) a guide for
guiding said strand into said predetermined position.
10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said drive mechanism for
moving has a control system for receiving a signal designating
which another position to move the strand to and for storing said
signal information and later using this information to control
movement of said drive mechanism.
11. An apparatus for supporting and moving a running strand such as
a fiber, strand of fibers or wire, from a starting position to a
different predetermined running position comprising: a) a rotatable
curved surface for supporting the running strand, b) a first drive
for moving the curved surface the running strand to near a
predetermined running position, c) a control system for receiving a
signal indicating a specific predetermined running position and for
later causing said first drive to move the running strand to near
said specific predetermined position, and d) a second drive for
rotating said curved surface to release said strand into said
predetermined specific running position.
12. The apparatus of claim 11 further comprising a guide for
guiding said strand into said predetermined specific running
position.
13. A method of making fiber products comprising starting new
strands, each strand containing a plurality of fibers, from one or
more fiberizing bushings into a strand processing device like a
chopper comprising holding the new strand on a curved surface and
lacing said strand into the strand processing device to produce a
new running strand, and moving said new running strand from said
curved surface into a desired groove or valley on a strand
separator roll, the improvement comprising, moving said new running
strand into said desired valley automatically using a mechanical
device comprising a curved surface at a location for receiving and
holding said new running strand in a first position, a drive
mechanism for moving said strand to or near said desired groove or
valley and for moving said curved surface back to said location,
and an actuator for releasing said strand from said curved surface
and into said desired valley.
14. The method of claim 13 wherein said mechanical device also
comprises a guide that is moved to align with said desired valley
to guide said strand into said desired valley.
Description
[0001] This application is a continuation in part of application
Ser. No. 08/960,119 filed Oct. 27, 1997 which was a continuation of
application Ser. No. 08/604,695 filed Feb. 21, 1996, now abandoned,
which was a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 08/296,212
filed Aug. 25, 1994, now abandoned. This invention involves
apparatus for receiving, moving and positioning a strand, fiber,
cable or wire and a method of using the apparatus to make products
like chopped glass fiber strand. The apparatus is particularly
suited to handling and positioning a strand of fibers such as glass
fibers.
[0002] In the manufacture of chopped fiber strands it is typical to
pull a plurality of strands, each containing a large number of
fibers, at a high rate of speed with a chopping device to attenuate
the fibers to the desired fiber diameter and to chop the strands of
fibers into desired lengths. Such processes are disclosed in U.S.
Pat. Nos. 3,815,461, 4,194,896 and 4,576,621. Normally, 5-15
strands are pulled by the chopper. To prevent the strands from
bunching up and being cut by only a small length of the blades in
the chopper it is known to use a strand separating guide roll
having grooves or ridges and valleys on the surface for holding one
or two strands, for keeping the strands separated and for guiding
the individual strands into the chopper to present a spread out,
uniform array of fiber strands to the chopper blades. This improves
the quality of the chopped strands and increases the life of the
chopper blades.
[0003] In a typical fiber glass operation an operator would stand
below and in front of a fiber forming bushing that has broken out
and needs to be restarted. If a part of the bushing is still
running good fibers, the operator would break out that portion. As
soon as all of the tips have beaded out and primary fibers are
being generated from all of the tips, the operator gathers the
array of fibers together into a bundle or strand, cuts or breaks
the strand to form an end and pulls the fiber array against a
sizing applicator and the strand under a pad wheel or guide with a
curved surface below the bushing and walks the strand, pulling it,
down to a puller, such as a chopper or winder, and feeds it into
the pulling mechanism whereby the strand is pulled at the proper
speed and chopped continuously into chopped fiber product or wound
into a continuous strand package for use in making reinforced
plastics, non-woven fiber glass mats, etc. In a typical operation
each operator may have responsibility for 10 to 30 or more bushings
and each bushing start may require walking at least 20-40 feet to
get the strand to the puller or chopper, and in some instances, to
the winder, and to walk back to the position or the next position
needing attention or starting.
[0004] With many bushings typically breaking out (at least 20
fibers broken) at least 0.5-4 times per hour or more, especially
when the glass quality varies from normal, the operator either
doesn't have time to restart each bushing as soon as necessary for
most efficient operation, or the operator becomes tired and doesn't
get the fibers from the bushings restarted timely. This resultant
loss of efficiency and the desire to reduce the labor costs in this
process makes it desirable to reduce the work load of the operator
wherever possible.
[0005] One operation that takes a lot of the operators time
presently is to restart the strands from all of the bushings
feeding that chopper after that chopper is started back up after a
shutdown for rebuilding or repair. The backup roll, blade roll and
other parts are wearable and must be replaced as often as every
shift depending upon the type of product being made. Additionally,
the chopper can malfunction due to the failure of some component
and must be repaired. Until the present invention, when a chopper
shuts down or was shut down, the operator would break out each
strand below the bushing and allow the bushing to "hang", i.e.
allow the primary fibers to flow continuously into the waste system
in a level below the chopper level. When the chopper had been
repaired and restarted it is desirable to get all of the strands
from the bushings in the hanging mode running back into the chopper
as soon as possible.
[0006] When starting a new strand of fiber into the chopper it is
not practical to try to get the strand into the proper groove or
valley on the strand separator roll because of the necessity of
keeping the strand moving and because of the difficulty of aligning
the strand with the proper groove or valley while on the move with
the strand. Instead, the new heavy strand of primary fibers is
placed in a wider start up valley or pulley wheel to start the
strand. After the strand has started into the chopper the operator,
with his bare fingers or hand, moves the strand out of the start up
valley and over to the a position adjacent the proper valley or
groove on the strand separator roll and releases the strand into
the proper valley. While he is doing this the strand is sliding
over his skin at a speed of from 30 to over 60 miles per hour. This
results in frequent injury to fingers and hands due to glass
splinters, elongated beads and broken filaments being imbedded into
the palm of the hand or fingers by the moving strand. Wearing
gloves or other protective gear does not avoid these injuries, but
makes the operator less efficient and less effective in the strand
starting process. In a typical glass fiber chopped strand operation
an operator, at times, has to start as many as 30 or more new
strands per hour and averages starting about 5-15 new strands per
hour.
[0007] It has long been desired to eliminate the need for an
operator to move the strand using his hand or fingers to make the
job safer, to eliminate annoying and sometimes painful injuries
caused by this technique and to improve the productivity and
efficiency of the operation, but nothing has been available to
solve the problem. Something that would eliminate this task of the
operator could also be used to position other strand like objects
like wire, cable, fiber, etc. in other operations.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] The present invention comprises a strand positioning
apparatus for positioning a running item such as a strand of
fibers, a fiber, wire, string, rope, cable or similar object into a
predetermined positioin such as in desired groove or valley on a
guide comprising a holder, preferably a curved surface, for the
running item (strand), a transporter for moving the strand holder
to the proper location and a mechanism for releasing the strand
into the desired valley or groove in the surface of a strand
separator roll, guide, or equivalent. Several configurations of
strand holders are suitable so long as the holder is convenient to
place a moving strand into quickly, does not damage or interfere
with a moving strand, and reliably releases the strand when
activated to do so. The transporter for moving the strand holder
can be of various types so long as it moves the holder at a
controlled rate and stops the holder at a precise predetermined
location upon command. In one embodiment, the strand holder is a V
or U grooved wheel that can be pivoted upward to release the strand
against a vertical strand guide which guides the strand into the
desired valley on the strand separator roll.
[0009] In another embodiment the strand holder is a circular disc
having a slot that communicates with the periphery of the disc. The
disc can be rotated to align the slot with the new strand and then
moved to cause the running new strand to enter the slot. The disc
is then rotated to move the strand either downwardly or upwardly to
remove the strand from a starting groove in either the separator
roll or some other starting strand guide. Once the strand is in the
slot the disc is moved to the appropriate spot to align a vertical
strand guide with a desired valley on the separator roll and the
disc is rotated to move the open end of the slot to a position
where the running strand will exit the slot, contact the vertical
strand guide and slide into the desired valley on the separator
roll.
[0010] The mechanism for releasing the strand works in conjunction
with the strand holder and can be of various configurations so long
as it functions accurately and reliably. The strand positioner
apparatus can also comprise a strand guide that assists in guiding
the strand into the desired groove or valley when released from the
strand holder.
[0011] The present invention also includes a method of making
chopped strand, fiber, wire, string, etc. using the strand
positioners described above. The invention eliminates a risky
manual task and frees the operator to attend to other process
needs. When the term "supporting a new running strand" is used
herein it is also intended to include "holding" a new running
strand.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a typical prior art system
and operation for making chopped strand showing a strand separator
roll.
[0013] FIG. 2 is a plan view of a portion of the system shown in
FIG. 1 showing the strand separator roll having valleys to contain
and guide moving strands into a chopper.
[0014] FIG. 3 is a front view of one embodiment of a strand
positioner of the present invention.
[0015] FIG. 4 is a plan view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 3.
[0016] FIG. 5 is a partial plan view of the strand guide roll shown
in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4.
[0017] FIG. 6 is a front view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 3 in a
strand releasing position.
[0018] FIGS. 7 and 8 show a strand releasing mechanism in a strand
starting position and a strand releasing position respectively.
[0019] FIG. 9 is a side partial view of a preferred embodiment of
the invention in position to receive a new strand being started
into a device such as a chopper.
[0020] FIG. 10 is a perspective close-up view of a portion of the
preferred embodiment in a position to release a strand showing
elements in detail.
[0021] FIG. 11 is a close-up perspective view of the preferred
embodiment in a strand releasing position showing elements in
detail.
[0022] FIG. 12 is a partial end view of the preferred embodiment in
a strand releasing position.
[0023] FIG. 13 is a partial side view of another embodiment showing
a different device for receiving a new strand, holding a running
strand, and releasing the running strand.
[0024] FIG. 14 is a partial plan view of the embodiment shown in
FIG. 13.
[0025] FIGS. 15, 16 and 17 are partial side views of the embodiment
shown in FIGS. 13 and 14 showing different stages of operation in
repositioning a strand.
[0026] FIG. 18 is a frontal view of an alternative strand holder
that can be used on the embodiment shown in FIGS. 13-17.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0027] The present invention can be used in a variety of processes
to make a variety of products as will be readily recognized by the
skilled artisan after reading this disclosure. For purposes of
illustrating the invention and its use, the process of making
chopped strand is chosen.
[0028] FIG. 1 shows a pertinent portion of a typical prior art
system for making chopped strands, such as chopped strands of glass
fibers. Molten glass is fed from a furnace and forehearth (not
shown) into a plurality of electrically heated fiberizing bushings
2 or fiberizers. Each fiberizer 2 has a plurality of holes or tips
in a plate in the base of the fiberizer 2 through which molten
glass flows to form primary fibers 4 which move slowly downwardly
in the direction shown. To convert the primary fibers 4 to fibers
of a much smaller desired diameter it is necessary to pull the
fibers at a high rate of speed to attenuate the fibers near the
bottom of the fiberizer 2 where the fibers are still molten or
stretchable. In the chopped strand system this is done by a chopper
10.
[0029] Below each fiberizer 2 is a sizing applicator roll 6 for
applying a known chemical sizing to the surface of the fibers in a
known manner when they are being pulled. Also below each fiberizer
2 is a turning or pad wheel 8 for turning and guiding a strand 9 of
fibers in a generally horizontal direction toward the chopper 10. A
strand separator guide roll 26 is located between the pad wheel 8
closest to the chopper 10 and the chopper 10 to keep the strands 9
separated as they enter the chopper 10. As seen in FIG. 2, the
guide roll 26 has a valleys 27, one for each strand, between ridges
29 and an outer valley 31 for a new strand 13 to run in during
start up of the new strand 13.
[0030] The chopper 10 comprises a frame (not shown), a back up roll
12, an optional pulling roll 14 and a blade roll 20. The optional
pulling roll 14 cooperates with the back up roll 12 to pull the
strands 9 when the wrap of the strands around the back up roll
prior to the blade roll 16 is insufficient to create enough grip on
the strands 9 to pull them into the nip between the back up roll 12
and the blade roll 20. The surface of the back up roll 12 is
somewhat soft and cooperates with the blades in the blade roll 20
to chop the strands into the desired lengths in a known manner. The
chopped strands 17 are collected and transported away by a conveyor
15.
[0031] The chopper 10 also comprises a start up accelerator roll
18, an optional guide 16, a flipper switch 17 and a chute 19, a
finger 24 and a finger cylinder 22 for starting up a new strand 13.
Each time a new strand 13, which can be from any of the fiberizers
2, is started into the chopper 10 it is necessary to accelerate the
new strand 13 up to the pulling speed of the strands 9 that are
being chopped before putting the new strand 13 into the nip between
the backup roll 12 and the blade roll 20. Once the new strand 13
has been accelerated to the proper pulling speed by the accelerator
roll 18, which is usually triggered by a fixed time after the
flipper switch 17 has been activated, the finger 24 is moved
towards the body of the chopper 10 by retraction of cylinder 22 to
move the new strand 13 into the nip between the backup roll 12 and
the blade roll 20 where it is chopped and becomes a running strand
9.
[0032] After the finger 24 has pulled the new strand 13 into the
nip between the puller 14 and the chopper roll 20, the cylinder 22
extends to return the finger 24 to its waiting position beyond a
plane that passes through an outer vertical face of the backup roll
12. Also, the new strand 13, which is now being chopped but
continues to run in the start up valley 31 on the separator roll
26. The tail of the new strand 13 is fed into the waste chute 19 by
the accelerator roll 18 to go to the waste hopper or system. In the
past the new strand 13 is then moved into the appropriate valley 27
by the operator using a finger or the palm of his hand to move the
running new strand 13 down out of the valley 31 and over and up
into the appropriate valley 27.
[0033] The present invention positions the new strand into the
proper valley 27 of the strand separator roll 26 mechanically and
automatically, freeing the operator to do other things and making
the operator's task much safer. Referring to FIG. 3, a partial view
of a strand separator roll 25 is shown. The separator roll 25 is
preferably different in design than the separator roll 26 shown in
FIG. 2 by not having the valley 31 used for the start up strand.
The roll 25 is fixed and supported on a slowly rotating shaft 23.
The valleys 27 are labeled A through D, for a line containing only
four bushings. Strands are running in valleys A, C, and D. The step
of moving a new strand to its proper position on the separator roll
25, in this case valley B, is done mechanically and automatically
with a novel strand positioning apparatus.
[0034] FIGS. 4-8 show strand positioning apparatus of the present
invention, and operation for accepting a starting strand and for
moving the strand to the appropriate valley on the strand separator
roll 25. FIG. 4 is a plan view of a portion of the forming room
between the strand separator roll 25 and the bushing position
nearest the chopper 10. The strands are in the same positions as
they are in FIG. 3. A strand positioner assembly 81 is located
close to the chopper and separator roll 25, preferably lower than
the separator roll, but this is not necessary. The strand
positioner assembly 31 comprises a generally horizontal arm 32,
preferably being a gear toothed rack with the teeth on the
underneath side and having on one end a strand holder member 34
curved slightly at its extremity to form an eye 39 for receiving
and holding a running strand. The member 34 is pivotly coupled at a
point along its length to a fixed vertical member 35 and, at its
opposite end to a rod 33 of an actuator 36. The actuator 36 can be
an electrical solenoid, an air cylinder or other actuating device
and is attached to a clevis mount 37 which in turn is pivotly
attached with a pin to a second vertical member 38, rigidly
attached to arm 82. Assembly 81 further comprises a geared stepping
motor 42 cooperating with the teeth in arm 82 to move strand holder
34 back and forth in a horizontal direction, a plurality of rack
guide rolls 40, optionally one or more vertical positioners 44 (see
FIG. 5), and a control system with memory (not shown). As shown in
FIG. 9, the strands A', C', D', with B' shown in phantom for where
it will be placed, are spaced apart, on an incline or are at this
location, above the path of eye 39, as shown in FIG. 4.
[0035] The control system can cause the strand holder eye 39 to be
moved perpendicular to and beneath the running strands and knows
where the strand holding eye 39 of member 34 is at all times using
an X axis sensing and control system. The control system also knows
where the positions A'-D' are on the X axis, and optionally can be
designed to also know where these positions are vertically, or on a
Y axis. Optionally, beneath the [horizontal] positioner 81 is one
or more vertical positioners 94 that operate with a Y axis sensor
and control system and the control system has programmed into its
memory where the eye 39 should be vertically to receive a new a
strand 13 and to later release this strand into the appropriate
valley 27 to become a normal running strand 9.
[0036] When the operator goes to a hanging bushing requiring strand
restart, he pushes a button located at each bushing position that
sends a signal to the memory of the control system for positioner
31 which indicates the number or letter of the bushing and the
valley 27 to position the next strand in on the separator roll 25,
and which also actuates the stepper motor 42 and actuator 36 to
place eye 39 into the position shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.
[0037] After a new strand has been placed in eye 39 and placed over
or onto the accelerator roll 18, and when a signal is sent to move
finger 24 back into its normal position, a signal is also sent to
the positioner 31 to move eye 39 and the new strand 13 to the
proper position for releasing the new strand into valley B, or the
proper valley 27 for the strand as stored in the control system
memory. Once eye 39 is in this location, the control system stops
stepper motor 92 and signals the activator 36 extending rod 33
which pivots eye 39 to the position shown in FIG. 6, allowing the
strand S or 13 to release from eye 39 and slide up into position B'
and into valley B of the separator roll 25. The strand is shown in
phantom positions to show the path it moves in as it slides into
position B' (B prime).
[0038] While this automatic strand positioning apparatus has been
shown with a manual strand starting operation, this invention can
also be used to improve an automatic or mechanical strand starting
system of the type disclosed in application Ser. No. 08/960,119,
filed Oct. 27, 1997. Manually moving the strands into position on
separator roll 26 is a safety hazard because occasionally a hot
bead or sliver gets caught in a strand and can hit an operator's
hand at up to sixty miles per hour or faster causing burns and/or a
sliver to be driven into a finger and even finger bone. Also, if
the strand is dry because of failure of the pot sprays or failure
of the sizing applicator to size the fibers, the rapidly moving dry
strand is very abrasive and will burn or cut ones hand or
fingers.
[0039] Although the vertical positioner 44 is not necessary, it can
be used to enhance the performance of the strand positioner
apparatus, particularly where many bushings strands are present in
each fiberizing line, such as ten or more. The vertical distance
between the first and last strand in the plane of the movement of
eye 39 will be much greater when many strands are present. It will
be readily seen that several other known devices can be used to
modify this apparatus to reposition a newly started strand in the
manner disclosed here and it is within the ordinary skill of the
art to do so. For example, vertical member 45 could be eliminated
by pivoting member 34 on the end portion of arm 32 using a hinge 45
as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8.
[0040] FIGS. 9-12 show a preferred embodiment of the invention
which is a modification of the embodiment disclosed in FIGS. 4-8.
The modification is in the strand holder mechanism 83 for holding a
new running strand and for later releasing the new strand 13 into
the appropriate valley 27 of the separator roll 25. A side view of
this embodiment is shown in FIG. 9. This strand positioning
apparatus differs from that described above only with the strand
holder and releasing mechanism 83 attached to the arm 82. In this
embodiment, an extension arm 84 is attached to arm 82 with a
coupling 85 that slips over both the arm 82 and the extension arm
82 and grips both with the aid of a one or more tightening screws
in a known manner. A mount 87 is preferably attached to the other
end of the extension arm 84 in any known manner such as with an
socket head bolt 88 threaded into the mount 87.
[0041] In this preferred embodiment a number of things are attached
to the mount 87. First, a strand guide rod 90 having a vertical
portion 91, preferably made of brass or stainless steel, is mounted
to the block in any known manner. The guide rod 90 is preferably
bent such that the vertical portion 91 is located where the new
running strand S will be released from a U or V shaped grooved
wheel 92 when the axis of the wheel 92 is tipped up to an angle of
45 degrees or more (see FIG. 10). The wheel 92 is preferably made
of graphite or brass filled graphite or Micarta.TM.. The wheel 92
can rotate freely on an axle 93 and is held onto the axle 93 with a
washer and nut 94. In the strand starting position, the axis of the
wheel 92 is in a generally horizontal position as shown in FIG.
9.
[0042] The axle 93 of the wheel 92 is held and manipulated by a
pivoting mechanism 95 driven by a fluid, preferably air, cylinder
96 having a cylinder rod 101. The pivoting mechanism 95 is attached
to the mount 87 in any known manner, such as is shown in FIG. 12.
In addition to the driver cylinder 96, the pivoting mechanism
comprises an optional mounting arm 97, an outer bracket 98, an
inner bracket 99, a clevis 100, one or two links 102 and various
pins to be specified later to attach these parts together in a
pivoting manner. Instead of the pivoting mechanism 95 shown, any
mechanism that will pivot or tip the wheel 92 in the manner shown
can be used in the present invention.
[0043] In the preferred embodiment shown, wheel axle 93 is attached
to the optional mounting arm 97 in any known manner, such as with
bolts as shown. The other end of the mounting arm 97 is attached to
the top portion of the inner bracket 99 with a pin 104 such that
the mounting arm 97 can pivot around the pin 104. Also attached to
the mounting arm 97, close to the pin 104 and between the pin 104
and the wheel 92, is one end of the clevis 100 in a pivoting manner
with a pin 105 (see FIG. 10). The mounting arm 97 is optional
because wheel axle 93 can be made to attach directly to the top
portion of the inner bracket 99 if desired and in that case the
items attached to the mounting arm 97 would be attached to the axle
93 instead.
[0044] The outer bracket 98 sets on top of the mount 87 and the
inner bracket 99 sets on top of a base of the outer bracket 98 and
is within two bracket arms 103 of the outer bracket 98. The bracket
arms 103 are spaced apart such that preferably the remainder of the
pivoting mechanism 95 is between the planes made by inner surfaces
of the bracket arms 103. The fluid cylinder 96 is mounted within an
upper portion of the bracket arms 103 in a pivoting manner with
pins 108, each of which passes through a hole in the upper portion
of one bracket arm 103 and into a casing or mount on the front end
of the cylinder 96.
[0045] The inner bracket 99 also has two arms 109 which are shorter
than the bracket arms 103 of the outer bracket. The two inner
bracket arms 109 are spaced apart enough to allow the mounting arm
97 to pivot within their inner surfaces. The top of the inner
bracket arms end below the bottom of the cylinder rod 101.
[0046] The other end of the clevis 100 is attached to the end of
the cylinder rod 101 in a pivoting manner with a pin 106.
Preferably the two links 102 are attached to the lower portion of
the inner bracket 99, one link 102 on each side of the mounting arm
97, with a pin 107 in a pivoting manner and the other end of the
links 102 are attached in a pivoting manner to the pin 106 that
passes through a hole near the end of the cylinder rod 101. The two
links 102 can optionally be replaced with a one piece bracket or
clevis which would allow the links 102 to be made in a single piece
of material in a known manner.
[0047] When using the preferred embodiment of FIGS. 9-12, the
operator goes to the bushing he will be starting a strand from and
he pushes the button there that sends a signal to the memory of the
control system for positioner 31 which indicates the number or
letter of the bushing and the valley 27 to position the next strand
in on the separator roll 25. This signal also actuates the stepper
motor 42 and actuator 36 to place wheel 92 into the position shown
in FIG. 9.
[0048] After a new strand has been placed in the U or V shaped
groove in wheel 92 and placed over or onto the accelerator roll 18,
and when a in wheel 92 and threaded into the strand processing
device like the chopper 10. After the finger 24 has moved the new
strand into the nip between the blade roll 20 and the back up roll
12, a signal is sent to the positioner 31 to move the wheel 92, the
vertical portion of the guide rod 91 and the new strand 13 to the
proper position for releasing the new strand S into the desired
valley 27 for the strand S, as stored in the control system memory.
Once wheel 92 is in this location, the control system stops stepper
motor 42 and opens a conventional fluid valve (not shown) which
allows compressed air to enter the rod end of the cylinder 96
withdrawing the cylinder rod 101 which, with the pivoting mechanism
95, pivots the wheel 92 to the position shown in FIG. 10, allowing
the strand S to slide up the U or V groove of the wheel 92 and
against the surface of the vertical strand guide 91 and into the
desired groove 27 of the separator roll 27. The pulling of the new
strand S by the chopper 10 causes the new strand S to move in this
direction to the desired valley 27 in the separator roll 25 and the
presence and location of the vertical portion 91 of the strand
guide rod 90 guides the new strand S into the proper valley.
[0049] In another modification a strand separator roll similar to
the roll 26 shown in FIG. 2, but preferably modified as shown in
FIGS. 13 and 14 by having an enlarged diameter valley 115 for
starting the new strand in is used for starting the strand instead
of the eye 39 or the wheel 92. In this case the control system for
the positioning apparatus 31 would use rotation of a disc 116, or
an arm or portion of a disc 117 (see FIG. 18), having a generally
circular slot or cutout 118 in the periphery of the disc to receive
and hold the new running strand S, and preferably to remove the new
strand S from the valley 115, before moving the strand S to its
proper location for release. A strand contacting surface 120 of the
slot 118 is preferably convex in shape to produce a curved surface
to contact the new running strand to reduce the area of contact and
to minimize frictional drag on the strand. The disc 116, or the
portion of a disc or arm 117, is mounted in a rotational manner,
preferably on an axle 122 connected to a stepper motor 124 mounted
near the end of the arm 82. The strand guide rod 90 having a
vertical portion 91 is also mounted to the arm 82 as the earlier
described embodiment.
[0050] When the new strand S has been moved into the chopper 10 and
is being chopped, a signal is sent to the positioner 31 to move the
disc 116 to the position shown in FIG. 15 such that the new running
strand S moves into the slot 118. After reaching that point, a
signal is sent to the stepper motor 124 to rotate the disc 116
counter clockwise to move the new running strand S downward out of
the valley 115 and to the position shown in FIG. 16. At that time a
signal is sent to the positioner 31 to move the disc 116 and the
strand guide rod 90 to a point where the leading edge of the
vertical portion 91 of the guide rod 90 lines up with an outboard
edge of the desired valley 27 in the separator roll 25 as shown in
FIG. 17. Finally, a signal is sent to the stepper motor 24 to
rotate the disc 116 clockwise, or counter clockwise, to allow the
new running strand S to slide up and out of the slot 118 and up the
leading edge or surface of the vertical portion 91 of the strand
guide rod 90 and into the desired valley 27 on the separator roll.
At this time the disc is returned to the location and orientation
shown in FIG. 13 and 14 by the positioner 31 and the stepper motor
24.
[0051] Instead of using a disc 116 in this embodiment, only a
portion of a disc 118 as shown in FIG. 18 or a strand holder of
this same or similar shape can also be used. Also, instead of using
a larger diameter valley 115 on the end of the separator roll 25 to
hold the new running strand S until it is relocated to the desired
valley on the separator roll by the present invention, it is
possible for the operator to put the new strand he is starting
directly into the slot 118 on the disc 116 or the arm or disc
portion 117.
[0052] For all of the embodiments of the invention it is within the
ordinary skill of the control systems designer having the benefit
of this disclosure to design a control system to operate in the
manner described above without using any inventive skill. Having
the benefit of the above disclosure, it will be apparent to the
skilled artisan that other obvious modifications can be made to the
apparatus disclosed here and to the method of using the apparatus
to make glass fiber products without changing the concept of the
invention and those modifications are intended to be included
within the scope of the following claims.
* * * * *