U.S. patent application number 09/823832 was filed with the patent office on 2002-02-14 for wire containment apparatus for wire drawing machines.
Invention is credited to Legault, Craig S., McCabe, Troy A..
Application Number | 20020017122 09/823832 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 26889589 |
Filed Date | 2002-02-14 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020017122 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
McCabe, Troy A. ; et
al. |
February 14, 2002 |
Wire containment apparatus for wire drawing machines
Abstract
A wire drawing machine is provided with a pressure roller in the
form of a roller sized to extend substantially across the width of
the capstan and engage multiple turns of wire thereon in a lower
quadrant on the exit side of the capstan. The pressure roller is
mounted for pivoting about a horizontal axis parallel to the axis
of the capstan, and for automatic angular positioning and alignment
as contact is made with the wraps of wire on the capstan.
Inventors: |
McCabe, Troy A.; (Rockford,
IL) ; Legault, Craig S.; (Rockford, IL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
KEITH FRANTZ
401 WEST STATE STREET
SUITE 200
ROCKFORD
IL
61101
|
Family ID: |
26889589 |
Appl. No.: |
09/823832 |
Filed: |
March 31, 2001 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60193996 |
Apr 1, 2000 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
72/289 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B21C 1/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
72/289 |
International
Class: |
B21C 001/02 |
Claims
We claim:
1. A wire drawing machine comprising: a draw die; a capstan mounted
for rotation about a horizontal axis and positioned for drawing
wire through the draw die, the capstan having an upper wire-entry
side and a lower wire-exit side; and a roller connected for
pivoting about a horizontal axis parallel to the axis of the
capstan and about a second axis orthogonal thereto for engaging
wire on the lower exit side of the capstan, the roller being sized
to substantially overlap the width of the capstan and engage the
wire wrapped thereon.
Description
CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent
Application S/N 60/193,996, filed April 1, 2000.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to wire containment apparatus
suitable for use on conventional in-line wire drawing machines.
[0004] 2. Description of Prior Art
[0005] Prior wire containment apparatus for in-line wire drawing
machines utilizing a non-tapered capstan include a final contact
pressure roller that is adapted for engaging the last wrap of wire
on the capstan in order to clamp the wire in position on the
capstan and develop traction between the capstan and the wire to
draw the wire through the die. However, there are several drawbacks
and disadvantages associated with such prior final contact wire
containment rollers.
[0006] Such rollers must apply a substantial pressure onto the last
wrap to firmly hold the wire on the capstan and develop the
necessary traction therebetween for pulling the wire through the
draw die. Consequently, these rollers must be changed when running
wire of substantially different sizes in order to precisely match
the roller size with the wire size, and to develop and maintain the
desired wire position and pressure. This results in substantial
expense for changing and setup time for each different size wire
run on the machine. In an effort to minimize this setup time, and
to provide for operator safety, these final contact rollers are
positioned in an upper quadrant of the capstan to provide ease of
operator viewing and alignment with the last wire wrap on the
capstan. Consequently, the wire tends to sag or drop substantially
as it exits from the lower quadrant of the capstan. This results in
an associated wire length and weight that the speed compensating
arm must accommodate in controlling the operation of the
capstan.
Summary of the Invention
[0007] The general aim of the present invention is to provide a new
and improved wire containment apparatus for in-line wire draw
machines utilizing non-tapered capstans which eliminates the
aforementioned drawbacks and disadvantages or prior wire
containment final contact rollers.
[0008] An objective of the invention is to provide apparatus which
reduces the pressure needed to develop the necessary traction
between the wire and the capstan in order to assist in avoiding
flattening or deformation of the drawn wire, and which reduces the
operating pressures in the apparatus therefor.
[0009] Another objective of the invention is to reduce the need for
changing the final contact rollers of prior machines for different
wire sizes, thereby reducing the expense of the machine and setup
time when changing from running different wire sizes.
[0010] A more detailed objective is to achieve the foregoing by
providing final contact wire containment apparatus that is
self-adjusting and adapted for use with wire of different
sizes.
[0011] Yet another objective is to provide wire containment
apparatus which reduces the sagging of wire as it exits the
capstan, to reduce the length and weight of the wire reflected to
the speed compensating arm. This enables the compensating arm to
operate at lower pressures, and with increased sensitivity.
[0012] These and other objectives and advantages of the invention
will become more apparent from the following detailed description
when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
Brief Description of the Drawings
[0013] FIG. 1A is a front view of one-type of in-line wire draw
machine showing a conventional prior art final contact wire
containment apparatus.
[0014] FIG. 1B. is a front view of the wire draw machine of FIG. 1A
but showing a unique wire containment apparatus according to the
present invention.
[0015] FIG. 2 is a top view of the machine of FIG. 1B taken along
the line 2-2 of FIG. 1B with portions of the housing shown
removed.
[0016] FIG. 3 is a right side view of the wire draw machine of FIG.
1B taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2.
[0017] FIG. 4A is a rear view of the back wall of the capstan
housing and certain components thereof including components of the
prior art wire containment apparatus of FIG. 1A
[0018] FIG. 4B is a rear view of the back wall of the capstan
housing and certain components thereof including components of the
improved wire containment apparatus of the present invention of the
embodiment of FIG. 1A as seen substantially along the line 4-4 of
FIG. 3.
[0019] FIGS. 5A and 5B are top and side views, respectively, of the
capstan and certain other components, including the wire
containment apparatus of the prior art configuration of FIG. 1A and
the present invention embodiment of FIG. 1B.
[0020] FIG. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of the wire
containment apparatus embodiment of the present invention shown
separate from the wire draw machine for purpose of clarity of
understanding.
[0021] FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 are rear, right side and top plan views,
respectively, of the separate wire containment apparatus shown in
FIG. 6.
[0022] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 10-10
of FIG. 9.
[0023] While the invention is susceptible of various modifications
and alternative constructions, a certain illustrated embodiment has
been shown in the drawings and will be described below in detail.
It should be understood, however, that there is no intention to
limit the invention to the specific forms disclosed, but on the
contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, alternative
constructions, and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope
of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0024] For purposes of illustration, the present invention is shown
in the drawings as wire containment apparatus 200 (see FIGS. 6-9)
in connection with a wire drawing machine 10B (FIG. 1B) equipped
with an integral turntable. As will be apparent, the wire
containment apparatus of the present invention is equally suitable
for use an other types of wire draw machines.
[0025] Also shown in the drawings is an inline wire drawing machine
10A (FIG. 1A) which is substantially similar to machine 10B except
as described further below in connection with the wire containment
apparatus of the present invention; the machine 10A being provided
with a conventional prior art wire containment apparatus for
purposes of comparison and contrasting with the present invention;
with the same numeral identifiers being used for the same parts,
components, assemblies, etc. for the machines 10A and 10B.
[0026] The basic structure, function and operation of the wire draw
machine 10A, and therefore machine 10B with the exception of the
wire containment apparatus, has been fully explained and described
in U.S. Pat. No. 6,125,675; a the copy of which is attached hereto
and incorporated herein and made a part hereof herein by
reference.
[0027] Briefly, electric motor 22 (FIG. 2) power rotates capstan 20
with wire 11C wrapped therearound to draw the wire from the coil of
wire 11 and through the draw die 12. From the capstan, the wire is
pulled around a speed compensating roller/arm assembly 36, and is
drawn into a wire using machine or station (not shown) via power
rotated rollers 38.
[0028] In accordance with the present invention, the wire
containment apparatus 200 includes a roller assembly 210 (FIG. 1B)
adapted for automatic position adjustment and self-alignment of a
roller 222 against the wire 11C wrapped around the capstan 20. As a
result, and as further described below, the wire containment
apparatus 200 of the present invention is less expensive than
conventional prior wire containment apparatus, is more easily
positioned by the machine operator, and results in a wire draw
machine that can operate at greater efficiency and with improved
capacity.
[0029] Briefly, the wire containment apparatus 200 comprises an
actuator 220 that is operatively connected to the roller assembly
210 for swinging the roller 222 about an axis "AA" (FIG. 1B) that
is parallel to the rotational axis of the capstan, and into and out
of engagement with the wire 11C on the capstan 20. The roller is
mounted in the roller assembly for pivoting about orthogonal axes
"BB" and "CC" to effect automatic angular position adjustment and
selfalignment into pressure engagement with the wire wrapped on the
capstan as the roller swings upwardly (as viewed in FIG. 1B) toward
the capstan. Thus, the freedom of movement of the roller assembly
automatically compensates for tapering of the capstan resulting
from wear, and for dimensional and angular deviations in size and
positioning of the capstan and the wire containment apparatus
resulting from normal manufacturing tolerances.
[0030] In carrying out the invention, the actuator 220 is mounted
to a stationary frame or structural member of the machine 10B, and
is operatively connected to the roller assembly 210 through a
linkage assembly 230. The actuator assembly shown comprises a
conventional-type actuator having an actuator housing connected to
extension member 224 of the back wall 18 of the capstan housing via
threaded fasteners 226, an internal piston (not shown) operative
for linear movement between two stroke ends in response to
regulated actuating pressure supplied through hose 228 from, and a
piston rod 232 connected thereto for linear movement as indicated
by arrow EE (FIG. 7) between the two stroke ends with the actuator
piston. In the present instance, the actuator is a single-acting
pneumatic actuator which is spring biased in one direction, such as
for disengagement between the roller and the wire on the capstan,
and is provided with a conventional elastomer diaphragm (not shown)
connected to the piston, the diaphragm and piston being pressure
responsive in the other direction to overcome the spring bias and
stroke the piston.
[0031] The linkage assembly 230 includes a torque transfer stepped
shaft 234 extending through back wall 18 and tube 235 and rotary
supporting bushing 236 or bearing fixed therein, and a lever 238
connected to the rear end of the shaft via fastener 240 extending
through aligned openings in bearing washer 242 and the lever and
threaded longitudinally into the end of the shaft. The lever
extends radially from the shaft and is pivotally connected to
clevis 244 mounted to the free end of the piston rod with a pivot
pin 246 for establishing a pivoting connection therebetween. With
this arrangement, the lever swings about axis AA as indicated by
arrow FF in FIG. 7, as the piston and piston rod stroke linearly
along EE in the actuator, in turn causing the shaft 234 to turn
through an angular rotation within the limits established by the
geometric parameters of the piston stroke length and radial
distance between pivot pin 246 and axis AA.
[0032] The forward end of the torque transfer shaft 234 is
connected to a support block 250 of the roller assembly 210 for
pivoting of the support block about axis "AA" with the shaft. In
the embodiment shown, the shaft extends substantially through the
support block and is secured therein with fastener 240 extending
through bearing washer 242 and threaded longitudinally into the
forward end of the shaft. In this instance, the shaft and support
block are further secured for torque transfer purposes via key 252
located in keyway 254 extending radially and longitudinally into
the shaft and support block.
[0033] The roller 222 is mounted in bearings 258 located in support
arms 260 for freely rotating about rotational axis DD extending
longitudinally therethrough. To effect 2-degree of freedom of
roller angular positioning on orthogonal axes, the arms 260 are
connected with a center brace 262 that is in turn pivotally
connected to a center block 264 via pivot pin 266. The center block
is in turn pivotally connected to the support block via pivot pin
268 in an arrangement commonly known as a pivoting knuckle. These
pivot pin installation arrangements may take any of a number of
suitable embodiments, such as shown in FIG. wherein pin 268 is
pressed into an interference-fit opening 270 in the support block,
with the pin pivotally extending through an optional bushing 272
pressed into the center block and a retaining ring 274 or other
suitable arrangement maintaining the center block in position on
the pin. Similarly, the pin 266 is held in position with retaining
rings 281 for a free-floating pivot pin connection, or alternately
may be pressed though interference-fit openings 276 extending
through the center block and through an optional bushing 278 in the
brace. In any event, the particular pivot pin arrangement utilized
permits such two degree of angular freedom of movement.
[0034] In preferred embodiments, limitations are established for
the two-degree of freedom angular movement of the roller. In the
embodiment shown, the dimensional clearance between the floor and
the capstan limit free rotation about the CC axis. Alternately,
positive angular stops are established between the support and
center blocks. Limitation of rotation about the BB axis is
established by a pair of threaded fasteners 291 and associated jam
nuts, located on each side of the center block, and threaded
through ears welded thereto.
[0035] With this arrangement, the roller freely rolls about its
axis of rotation DD, and is pivotally moveable within established
limitations about the pin 266 along the BB axis and the pin 268
along the CC axis, for automatic alignment and engagement with the
wire on the capstan.
[0036] As shown in FIG. 5B, the width of the roller 222, along its
longitudinal axis DD, is sized at close to the inside width of the
capstan 20 for engaging either all of the wraps 11C of wire on the
capstan, or for engaging all but one or two wraps of wire, and for
maintaining even pressure on such wraps of wire. In the latter
instance, provision is made for adjusting the position of the
roller assembly for indexing of the roller on the wraps of wire;
such as is sometimes useful when running wire of substantially
different sized on the same machine, and in instances when the wire
tend to not index on the capstan. Provision for indexing or
adjusting of the position of the roller along the AA axis with
respect to the sides of the capstan can be accomplished with any
suitable arrangement such as simply with slots through which
fasteners 226 extend, or repositioning of the support block on the
shaft 234.
[0037] Advantageously, maintaining an even pressure on all wraps of
the wire, as opposed to maintaining pressure of the last wrap as
conventional prior wire containment apparatus, permits the use of
less pressure for maintaining the wire sufficiently snugly against
the capstan for drawing the wire through the die. In other words,
the wire is maintained snugly against the capstan for a
substantially greater distance (measuring the wrapping length of
the wire around the capstan) as compared with prior wire
containment apparatus. As a result, the wire containment apparatus
200 results in greater traction developed between the capstan and
the wire.
[0038] In further keeping with the invention, the wire containment
apparatus of the present invention is preferably located in the
quadrant proximate the exit point of the wire from the capstan. To
this end, in the embodiment shown, the wire containment apparatus
is located in the lower quadrant opposite the speed compensating
arm. As a result, the wire is held firmly against the capstan until
just prior to unwrapping from the capstan.
[0039] Those skilled in the art will appreciate alternate
embodiments that fall within wire containment systems of the
present invention. By way of example only, it will be understood
that the actuator may be of any suitable type operatively connected
to the roller assembly with a suitably designed linkage assembly
for controlling position of the roller assembly with regard to the
capstan as described. By way of example only, a double-acting
actuator responsive to pressure applied from both sides of the
piston, a piston-seal actuator (as opposed to a diaphragm-type
actuator), a hydraulic actuator, a mechanical or electromechanical
actuator provided with electric motor, and other types of actuators
and associated linkage assemblies may be substituted and used with
in the scope of the invention.
[0040] Wire containment system of the present invention may be used
on other conventional and non-conventional wire drawing machines
having a capstan, and in which there is a need to hold the wire
against the capstan to develop the necessary traction for drawing
the wire through one or more draw dies.
[0041] With the foregoing wire containment system, less pressure is
applied to each wrap of wire, while developing the same or greater
traction of conventional prior roller arrangements that engage the
last wrap of wire. Positioning the roller proximate the speed
compensator arm reduces the "free drop" of the wire as it exits the
capstan, allowing the capstan to be positioned closer to the floor,
and reduces the drag on the speed compensating arm since it does
not need to carry as much wire weight or hold the wire off the
floor, permitting to operate with less air pressure and at greater
sensitivity. Such reduced wire drop also allows for lower wire
entry and exit on the machine, reducing the overall height of the
machine. Wire of substantially different sized can be run on the
machine without having to change the roller. And the roller hereof
eliminates the task of aligning the prior roller with the last wire
wrap prior to engaging the pressure roller, by virtue of being
adapted for pivoting about orthogonal axes as it is brought into
engagement with the wire on the capstan resulting in automatic
alignment of the roller 222 along the entire width of the
capstan.
* * * * *