US2400739A - Apparatus for supplying wire from wire supply spools to bending presses - Google Patents

Description

May 21, 1 946. Jl. s. BURGE 2,400,739

' APPARATUS FOR SUPPLYING WIRE FROM WIRE SUPPLY SPOOLS TO BENDING PRESSES "original Filed Feb. .25, 1942 e sheets-'sheetr 1 INVENTOR W' 9 BY p1/MMM,

y AT'roRNEY/f May 21, 194s. J. s., BURG; 2,400,739 APPARATUS FOR SUPPLYING WIRE 4FROM WIRE SUPPLY 'ISPOOLS T BENDING PRESSES @riginal Filed Feb. 2s, 1942 e sheets-sheet 2 May 21946 J. s. BURGE 1 2,400,739 APPARATUS FOR SUPPLYING WIRE FROM WIRE SUPPLY SPOOLS TO BENDING PRESSES original Filed Feb.. 2s, 1942 e sheets-sheet :s

. N l w N W A BY i A Y J. S. BURGE APPARATUS FOR SUPPLYING WIRE FROM WIRE SUPPLY SPOOLS .TO BEND'ING PRESSES May 21, 19546.

6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Original FiledfFeb. 23, 1942 ATToRNgY/d- May 21, 1946.4 S J. s. BUR'GE 2,400,739

APPARATUS FOR SUPPLVIING WIRE FROM WIRE SUPPLY SPOOLS T0 BENDING PRESSES Original Filed Fe'b. 23, 19427 1 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 /JINNTOR S BY `Maly 21, 1946. J. s. BURGE 2,400,739 AlPARATUS FOR SUPPLYING WIRE FROM WIRE SUPPLY SPOOLS TO BENDING PRESSES Original Filed Feb. 25, 1942 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 the press-operated shaft and means for facili- Patented May Z1, 1946 APPARATUS FOR SUPPLYING WIRE FROM WIRE SUPPLY SPOOLS TO BENDING PRESSES James S. Burge, Anderson, Ind., assigner to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Original application February 23, 1942, Serial No.

431,984. Divided and this application November 6, 1944, Serial No. 562,137

8 Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus for supplying Wire, which is carried by a supply spool, to a wire-bending press having a wire cut-off.

This application is a division of my copending application Serial No. 431,984, filed February 23, 1942, which describes and claims an intermittently operating wire-feeder having feed rolls which move into the wire-bending press the correct amountof wire to be cut 01T and formed.

The object of the invention claimed in the present application is to minimize the jerk upon the l' wire when it is started on its movement by the feed rolls of the wire-feeder. To accomplish this, the wire passes from the supply spool over a resilently supported slack-take-up guide wheel and to the feed rolls, and the spool is constantly rotated by a shaft driven by the wire-bending press. Enough braking pressure is applied to supply spool as it rotates to prevent over-travel and abnormal slack inthe wire between the spool and the feeder.

n A further object is to provide means for facilitating the ejection of an empty spool from brackets which support the spool in alignment with tatingthe mounting of a full spool upon saidi brackets.

A further object is to provide for the disconnection of the spool from its drive shaft and the application of a stopping brake thereto in response to the release of a member whichwill cause the clutch, connecting the crankshaft of the wire-bending press with its power source, to be disengaged when the press crankshaft arrives at av certain point in itstravel.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein a preferred embodiment of the present invention is clearly shown. I

In the drawings: p

Fig. 1 is a perspective View showing a wire unreeling device, embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the wire unreeling device as viewed in the direction of arrow 2 in Fig. l. i

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the wire unreeling device.

Fig. Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a view in the direction of arrow 5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary, perspective view showing the drive shaft of the wire-bending press and its connection with a drive shaft ofV the-wire un- 4 is a view in the direction of arrow# of reeling device and a diagram of the clutch control mechanism of thevwire-bending press.

The Wire is unreeled by the mechanism constituting the invention of the present application and is formed in a Wire-bending press having a feeding' mechanism described and claimed in application, Serial No. 431,984. This mechanism receives the wire W from a supply spool S (Fig. l). Wire W passes from the spool S around a iiexibly supported pulley 5| `and between two` sets or straightening rolls 62 and S3 carried on bracket 64 supported by bracket 65 and post 65 which are attached to the frame El of the wire-bending press. The wire unreeling mechanism, designated by numeral 18 in Figs. 1 and 2, is driven by the forming press shaft 28 which drives a sprocket 1| connected by a chain i2 (Fig. 6) with a sprocket 14 driving a shaft 15. The shaft 15 (Fig.v 2) is mounted close to the floor which supports the wire forming press and unreeling device and it is protected Vby a cover 16. Another cover 11 encloses sprockets and a connecting chain, these partsbeing the sprocket '|8`connected with shaft l5 (Fig. 4), a sprocket 19 connected with a shaft 8|] and a connecting sprocket chain 8| which is held taut by an adjustable idler sprocket 82. As shown in Fig. 3, shaft 8i) is supported by bearings 83 and 84 mounted in plates 85 and 86 respectively attached to a plate 81 mounted on an upper base 83 which in turn is mounted on a lower base 88.` The shaft drives a worm 98 meshing Vwith a worm gear 9| which drives a shaft 82 supported by bearings 93 and 94 mounted in plates 81 and 96, respectively, located between plates and 8G 'and attached thereto. The left end of shaftj82 is splinedly connected with a driving clutch 98 urged by a spring 99 into engagement with a driven clutch 4lliil carried by a shaft IDI supported by bearings |82 and m3 mounted in plates |84 and |05, respectively, located between plates 85 and 86 and secured thereto. Plate |05 extends to the upper base 88 and is secured thereto. Driving elutchSB is shifted along the shaft 92 by fluid pressure means comprising a cylinder |||l (Fig. 4) mounted upon upper base 88 and enclosing a piston, not shown, connected by rod and an adjustablerod ||2 and a clevis H3 and a pin H4 with a lever H5 pivotally supported by a screw or stud attached to frame plate 81. Lever H5 is connected by a pin |20, clevis |2|, rod |22, clevis |23 and pin |24 with lever |25 connected with a shaft |?6 supported by plates 85 and 88 and carrying a bifurcated lever |21 having pins |28 engaging an annular groove |29 formed in the hub of the clutch member 98. When it is desired manually `supplements spring |90.

to disconnect shaft 92 from shaft |0|, a hand lever |30 (Fig. 2) connected with shaft |29 may be used to disengage the clutch members 99 and |00.

Clutch part 99 drives clutch part |00 at a rate such that when the spool S is full of wire, the length of wire W unwound from the spool by the driving of shaft 15 by the press 20 is sublstantially the length required to form one hairpin. As the diameter of the wire coil remaining on the spool S decreases, the feeder shown in application #431.984, will pull out more wire than can be unreeled by the rotation of shaft 15. Therefore, spool S turns faster than shaft 92, and clutch part overruns clutch part 08. However, the burden placed upon the feeder of pulling the spool S ahead of the press-rotated shaft 92 is decreasing because the mass of wire on the spool is decreasing.

Shaft 92 is prevented from moving endwise by attachingto its right end a collar |3| engaging the xed bearing 93. A collar |32 attached to shaft 92 bears against the fixed bearing 94. Shaft |0| is prevented from moving endwise by the clutch |00 xed thereto at the right end and engageable with the fixed bearing |02 and by thecollar |33 fixed to the shaft vand engageablewith the ixed bearing. |03.

The left end of shaft |0| isV splinedly connected with a driving clutch liengageable with `which'the shaft |42 extends when the spool 'w 4mounted upon the unreeling apparatus. ,flange |59 of spool S (Fig. `r2) is wedged against `the cone |49a which is fixed to the shaft |42 at The a 'predetermined distance from theclutch 14| which is also Xed to the shaft |42. Cone |49a vcarries anarm |52provided-with a hook |53 adapted to't in a hole |54 in the flange |5| 4of the spool.

The clutch |40 is normally engaged with the clutch |4| by a spring |69 (Fig. 4). -Clutch |40 may loe-separated from clutch |4| by a lever I6! whose bifurcated upper end carries pins |02 `received Aby an annular'groove |63 inthe hub ofclutch |40. Lever |9| ispivotally supported by apin |94 (Fig. 2) mounted on arm |55 of a vbracket plate |93 (Fig.-4) attached to plate |05.

Plate |09 `carries a guide pin |61 extending through a hole |08 inY lever |6| and* surrounded by a spring |39 which is conned between the plate and the lever |6| so as to urgelever ISI toward the left to cause clutch'part |40 to engage clutch part |4l. Therefore spring |69 Lever |0| `.-is moved clockwise or toward the rightvin Figs. 2 and 4 by providing lever |9| with a wear piece |10 engaged by -cam |1| (Fig. 3) provided by a bar |12 attached to aslide |13 connected by pin |14 (Fig-4) YAYwith a lever |15-having branchesY |15a,

|15b and |150 through which thepin |14 extends. Lever-I'i is vattached to a shaft |16 supported'bybearing brackets |11 and |13 attached-to the base 89 (Fig. 3). Shaft|16 is operated by a lever |80 (Fig. 2) and shaft |13 lcarries a lever llhaving bifurcations |3|a and i6|b (Fige) between which a link |82 is located and is connected to lever |8| by a pin |83. Between the bifurcations |15a and |1512 of lever |15 a link |84 similar to link |82 is located and is connected with lever |15.by the pin |14. The pin |83 is received'by elongated hole |3311 in link |32 (Fig. 5). Pin |14 extends through a similar elongated hole in the link |84. Therefore as lever |80 is moved toward the left or counterclockwise in Fig. 5, the bar |13 will move ahead of links |02..and |84 in order to effect the disengagement of clutch |40 from clutch |4| before the links |82 and |84 start to move toward the left. The upper ends of links |92 and |84 are pivotallyconnected at |86 with the cradle plates |44 which are pivotally connected at |81 with pedestals|45- Therefore, when links |32 and |84 are moved toward the left, the cradle plates |44 are rotated counterclockwise upon their pivots |81 in order to eifect the discharge of an empty spool S which drops to the oor carrying with it its shaft |42 and its bearings |43.

To mount upon the cradle plates |44- a lled spool which has considerable weight, the lever |80 is first returned to normal position so that the cradle plates |44 will be in position to receive the bearings |43 which are mounted upon the shaft |42 which is passed through the full spool. The return movement of the cradle plates |44 is effected by moving the lever |80 clockwise (Fig. 5). This movement can be arrested by the striking of a pin |90 on lever|00 witha lug I9| of a lock pedal |92 which is pivotally supported on a pin |93 carried by a bracket |94 attached to base 80 and enclosing a spring|95 urging the lever |92 upwardly. At the time the pin |90engages the lug |9|, said pin |90 is in the dot dash line position |90a (Fig. 5), while the lug |9| is in the position |9|a and lever |92 in the position |92a. The lever |00 is therefore heldin the position |8011 shown in dot dash lines. Therefore lever |00 has not returned to its normal position Wherein the cam has been retracted from the wear Agated holes 99 (Figli) in the plates |45.

piece |10 of lever |9|. Therefore, the clutch |40 is still in afposition wherein it would be disengaged from the clutch |4|, wereclutch |4| then in alignment with it. Therefore the apparatus is in position for receiving a new spool S together-with its supporting shaft |42 and bearings |43 and the clutch. |4|. attached to the shaft |42. The placing of thenew spool S upon the cradle plates |44v is effectedthrough the assistance of a pair of levers |99 having notched lugs |91 for receiving the shaft |42 which projects from the ends of the spool. The levers |96 are supported by screws |98 which passthrough elon- The levers are tied together by a handle bar 200. The lower ends of the levers |353 are engaged by levers 20|a and 20H), lever 20|@ being a short lever and lever 20H) being a long lever carrying a pedal pad 202 (Fig. 5). The levers 20|a and 20|?) areboth attached to a shaft 203 supported by brackets 204. Lever 2|||b is notched at 205 to clear the shaft |16.

The levers |99 are placed close to the floor (Fig. 2) and the spool S is rolled on the floor between these levers, then the levers |99 are raised by the handle bar 290450 that the notched lugs |91 will engage the under side of the shaft |42 passing through the spool. While the operator lifts up on the handle bar 209. he stands upon the pedal 202 in order to make use of his weight acting through levers 20m and 20|() to assist in lifting the levers |99 vertically while he is moving them counterclockwise by pushing on the handle 250. In this way, the heavy full spool S is elevated to a position above the cradle plates so that it may be pushed into alignment with the clutch |42 preparatory to dropping the shaft |42 and its bearings |43 upon the operator cradle plates |44. When the spool is thus positioned, he steps from the pedal 222 so that the levers |95 may descend. As the spool descends, its hearings |43 are engaged by retainer plates 2|0 pivotally supported on pins 2| I and urged clockwise (Fig. 5) by springs 2|2 attached to the plates 2I0 and the studs 2I3 fixed to the pedestals |45. As the levers 56 descend the weight of the spool may be transmitted through its shaft and bearings |43 first to the upper ends |45a of the pedestals |45, thereby forcing the plates 2li) downwardly. As the shaft |42 is moved into alignment with the clutch |45, the bearings |43 roll off the upper ends |4512 of the pedestals |45 and into the recesses of the cradle plates |44 thereby permitting the retainer plate-s 2|!! to spring up wardly to normal position shown in Fig. 5. rIhen the operator depresses the pedal |92 in order that its lug IBI be clear of the pin |99, thereby permitting lever |85 to be moved to its normal position shown in Fig. 5, thereby causing the cam bar |1| to release the wear piece |10 of lever |6|, thereby permitting spring ISI! to cause clutch |45 to engage clutch |4I. Then the new spool of wire is connected with the shaft IUI.

The clutch (not shown) for connecting the press drive wheel 21 with its crankshaft 25 can be controlled manually by a lever 255 (Fig. 6) which rotates a shaft 255 or the shaft 253 may be automatically controlled by an arm 251 connected With a piston rod 258 connected with a piston (not shown) in cylinder 259. The ends of cylin der 259 are connected respectively by pipes 255 and 26| with a valve 262 having a pressure fluid inlet pipe 253 and an exhaust pipe 264. Valve 252 is controlled by a rod 255 connected with solenoid armatures 266 and 251 attracted respectively by solenoids 268 and 269. When solenoid 268 alone is energized, valve 252 is caused to connect pipe 253 with pipe 26|) to cause shaft 256 to turn counterclockwise to trip the press clutch for stopping when the die carrier 22 is in the position shown in Fig.` 6. When the solenoid 259 alone is energized, the valve 262 is conditioned for causing clockwise rotation of shaft 255 to close the press clutch. When the press is stopped as the result of passing pressure fluid through pipe 26|?, pressure iiuid flows through pipe 2l' to the upper end of cylinder I il) (Fig. 4) to cause rod to move down to cause clutch part B8 to be disengaged from clutch vpart |530. `Rotation of shaft Iii! ceases, but the press shaft 26 may rotate to outer-dead-center.position at which po.. sition the press clutch disengages. When the press is started into operation as the result of adrnittinor pressure fluid to pipe 25 pressure fluid passes through pipe 21| to the lower end of the cylinder (Fig. 4) to cause rod to move up to effect the engagement of clutch part 98 with clutch part |50 thereby connecting the spool shaft |42 with shaft 92 which rotates while the press shaft 26 is rotating.

During the operation of the machine and while the spool S is turning, the peripheries ||la and |5|a of its ends |50 and I5! are engaged by a brake plate 22| (Fig. 2) attached to a shaft 22! supported by brackets |4519 attached to pedestals |45 and urged upwardly by a spring 222 (Figs. 4

and 5) attached to a lever 2220i fixed to shaft 220. Spring 222 is attached by a chain 223 to a sprocket 224 which is loosely journalled on a 'stud 225 screwed into the left pedestal |45. Stud 225 is fixed to a disc 225 having radial teeth 221 for engaging similar formed teeth 228 in the hub of sprocket 224. A spring 229 confined between sprocket 224 and a nut 230 on stud 225 urges the teeth 228 of sprocket 224 into engagement with the teeth 221 of the disc 226, thereby retaining the sprocket 225 in any desired position of adjustment into which it may have been moved by a handle 23| connected with said sprocket 224. By grasping the handle and pulling the sprocket 224 out of engagement with the disc 226 and by turning the handle the tension of the spring 222 may be adjusted to adjust the braking operation on the spool; andthe release of the handle 22| permits the spring 229 to hold the sprocket 224 in the desired position of adjustment.

The brake plate 226 is controlled also in respense to the application of pressure fluid to the cylinder IB. When the press 20 stops, rod I and lever II 5 (Fig. 4) move down to disengage clutch parts 98 and |96 as has been explained. When lever I |5 moves down it carries with it a block 24|) (Figs. 4 and 5) pivotally supported at 24| by the level' I5. Block 24B is apertured vertically to receive a rod 242, the upper end of which is threaded to receive adjusting nuts 243 and 244.. Between .the nuts 244 and block 245 there is located a spring 245 which transmits pressure yieldingly from the block 24B to the nuts 244 thence to the rod 242. The rod 242 transmits this pressure to a pin 245 at the left end of a lever 241 pivoted at 248 (Fig. 5) and having a lever arm 249 pressing upwardly against the brake plate 22|. An extra braking pressure is applied to the spool S suflicient to stop it when the press 2s stops so that no wire will be unreeled until the press starts. The starting of' the press is accompanied by relief of this eXtra braking pressure, leaving spring 222 (Fig. 4) only effective to apply the brake plate `22 I. When threading wire through the feeder of application #431,984, the spool SV is relieved of eXtra braking pressure, by moving lever (Fig. 2) to the left which causes lever ||5 to be lifted and lever arm 249 (Fig. 5) to be retracted from plate 22|.

An apron 25|) protects the shafts VI 1S and 2133 the spool rolls from the floor into a position to be elevated by the levers |95.

The apparatus is -used in the following manner: Beforev threading the wire from a full spool S, which has been placed in unreeling position in the manner described, the press 2|) is stopped by causing the solenoid 258 to be energized byclosing a suitable switch (not shown). For safety and economy, thepower drive (not shown) of the flywheel pulley 21 should be rendered inoperative. The pedal |92 (Fig. 5) is left in position |9205 so that the lever |83 cannot be pulled from position ISiia. This provides for separation of clutch parts |40 and |4I (Fig. 2). While lever |35 is located so as to lift bar H5 and thus to relieve the pressure of lever 249 (Fig. 5) on brake 22|, wire is pulled from the spool S and is fed intothe feeder of application #431,984; The wire having been passed through the feeder and into the press 20, the pedal |92 is pressed and lever |85 is moved from position la to position |85 (Fig. 5) to provide for the engagement of clutch parts and I4|. The wire-bending press and the wire-feeding mechanism are caused to operate. The press shaft 26 (Fig. 6) operates to drive the unreeler shaft |42, which drives the spool S so that uni-eeling of the wire takes place continuously. as long as shaft 25 is rotating. The feeding mechanism vpress shaft and of application Serial #431,984 operatesto move the wire intermittently at a timewhen-the Wireforming dies of the press arel separated. As the wire is started into motion by the wire feeder, it is not jerked from the spool S since a slackV portion has been provided between the spool and the feeder, said slack portion passing over a resiliently supported spool Se (Fig. 1). After the wire is fed between the dies of the bending press, the press shaft 25 operates a wire-cutting device and causes the dies to form the severed wire into a hairpin for the use as a single turn on the conductor. The slack in the wire between the unreeler and the feeder is restored during the idle status of the feeder, while the unreeler is being continuously driven by the press shaft.

While the embodiment ofthe present` invention as herein disclosed, constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is as follows:

l. In apparatus for supplying wire from a wire supply spool to a bending press having an operating shaft, the combination Icomprising the press operating shaft, a supply spool, a shaft extending through the spool and drivingly connected therewith, frames for supporting the shaft to permit rotation of the spool, a drive shaft connectible with the spool shaft and driven by the press shaft, a clutch for connecting the shafts and permitting the spool shaftto overrun the drive shaft, means for stopping the spool, and means for disengaging the clutch and for rendering the spool stopping means effective.

2. In apparatus for supplying wire from a wire supply spool to a bending press having an operating shaft, the combination comprising the press operating shaft, a supply spool, a shaft extending through the spoel and drivingly connected therewith, frames for supporting the spool shaft to permit rotation of the spool, a drive shaft connectible with the spool shaft and driven by the press shaft, a clutch for connecting the shafts and permitting the spool shaft to overrun the drive shaft, means for stopping the spool, control means for stopping the press shaft, and means responsive to the functioning of said control means for disengaging the clutch and for rendering the spool stopping means effective.

3. In apparatus for supplying wire from a wire supply spool Yto a bending press having an operating shaft, the combination comprising the press operating shaft, a supply spool, a shaft extending through the spool and drivingly connected therewith, a clutch driven part carriedV by the spool shaft, a clutch driving part operated by the shiftable into engagement with the clutch driven part, vframes for supporting the spool shaft with its clutch part in alignment with the clutch driving part, means for elevating the spool to the position wherein it is supported by the frames, and means for moving the clutch driving part out of engagement with the clutch driven part and thereafter for causing the ejection of the spool shaft from the supporting frames.

4. In apparatus for supplying wire from a wire supply spool to a bending press having an operating shaft, the combination comprising the press operating shaft, a supply spool, a shaft extending through the spool and drivingly connected therewith, a clutch driven part carried by the spool snai't, a clutch driving part shiftable into engagement with the clutch drivenparhmeans operated by the press operating shaft for rotating the clutch driving part, cradle platesV for supporting the spool shaft either in alignment with the clutch driving part or in a position out of alignment wherein the spool is discharged, frames supporting the cradle plates for movement into either of said positions, and means actuated by a single manually operated member for causing, in response to the movement of the manual member in one direction, said clutch parts to be uncoupled and the cradle plates thereafter to be moved into spool discharging position and for causing, in response to the movement of the manual member in the other direction, the cradle plates to be returned to the first mentioned position and the clutch parts thereafter to be coupled.

5. In apparatus for supplying wire from a wire supply spool to a bending press having `an operating shaft, the .combination comprising the press shaft, a supply spool, a shaft extending through the spool and drivingly connected therewith, frames for supporting the spool shaft to permit rotation of the spool, means for ejecting the spool and shaft from the frames, means for transmitting motion from the press shaft to the spool shaft and including a clutch and a coupling connecting the clutch with the spool shaft, means for effecting the stopping of the press shaft, means under the Acontrol of the press shaft stopping means for effecting disconnection of said clutch, and means for disconnecting said coupling and thereafter for operating the ejecting means. Y

6. In apparatus for supplying wire from a wire supply spool to a bending press having an operating shaft, the combination comprising a supply spool, a shaft extending through the spool and drivingly connected therewith, frames for supporting the spool shaft to permit rotation of the spool, a brake plate for engaging the spool, adjustable resilient means for urging the brake plate against the spool with pressure sufficient for tensioning the Wire as it is unreeled, and other means for urging the plate against the spool with pressure sufficient to stop rotation of the spool.

'7. In apparatus for supplying wire from a wire supply spool to a bending press having an operating shaft, the combination comprising the press operating shaft, a supply spool, a shaft extending through the spool and drivingly connected therewith, frames for supporting the spool shaft to permit rotation of the spool, a brake plate for engaging the spool, means for urging the brake plate against the spool with pressure sufficient for tensioning the wire as it is unreeled, control means for stopping the press shaft, and other means, re-

sponsive to the functioning of said control means to stop the press shaft, for urging the plate against the spool withpressure sufficient to stop rotation of the spool.

8. In apparatus for supplying wire from a wire spool to a bending press, the combination with a power operated drive shaft, a supply spool, a shaft extending through the spool and drivingly connected therewith, frames'for rotatably supporting the spool shaft inalignment with the drive shaft, means for connecting the shafts, and means for lifting the spool and spool shaft' to Athe frames and includingk two articulated devices adapted to be operated by a person concurrently, one of the devices bengpulled up by the hands and the other beingpushed down by the feet.

JAMES S. BURGE.

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