US2782138A - Wire taping machine - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 19, 1957 J. w. OLSON ETAL WIRE TAPING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 22, 1953 INVENTORS. John W. Olson y Samson Sortlond ATTORNEYS 1957 J. w. OLSON ETAL WIRE TAPING MACHINE z Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 22, 1953 FIG. 2

INVENTORs. John W. Olson BY Samson Sorflond Luau/5m V/ 17.!

ATTORNEYS J. w. OLSON El AL 2,782,138

WIRE TAPING MACHINE Feb. 19, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May 22, 1953 INVENTORS. John W Olson co w Samson Sorflond ATTORNEYS United States Patent 2,782,138 WIRE TAPING MACHINE John W. Olson, Hastingsjon Hudson, and Samson Sortland, Dobh's Ferry, N. Y.-, assig'nors to Anaconda Wire and Cable Company, a corporation of Delaware Application May 2 2, 1953, Serial 51 356,852 7 Claims. c 4- -2. 27)

This invention relates to wire taping machines. More particularly, the invention provides an improved device adapted to impose a plurality of helical layers of paper tape upon metallic wires of round, square or rectangular cross section.

The apparatus that has been heretofore generally available to apply paper tape to electrical conductors usually incorporates a taping' head having mounted thereon a series of rolls of paper tape individually positioned uniformly about the periphery of thetaping head. in such apparatus all the rolls of paper are rotated with the taping head orbitally about the wire passing centrally therethrough, so that the tape is unwound from rolls and wound directly on. tot-he wire. One of the principal difficulties with this type of apparatus results from the positioning of the paper tape rolls about the periphery of'the taping head. The rolls being so positioned, the speed at which such a head can be operated is greatly limited because of the unwieldiness of the head caused by its large radius. This type of head cannot be effectively operated at a speed much greater than 400 R. P. M. Another disadvantage lies in the fact that it is extremely difiicult to apply the diflerent layers of paper tape under the same tension. This is caused by the fact that the diameter of the wire increases upon the application of each successive layer of papertape and therefore the outside layers require more material than the initial layers. Because Of'this, the rate of unwinding of each rollof tape is different from and uncoordinated with the other tapes, thereby causing the' tension under which the several layers are applied to bedifferent. Still another disadvantage results from the dynamic unbalanee of the head that is caused by, and changes continually in consequence of, the di f ren a es a w ch P per. i tak n rom t di jferent rolls.

The present invention proyides an apparatus having ,the'rolls of paper tape positioned coaxially with a ro- 'itating member on which a new and novel taping head is mounted, thereby producing a compact apparatus of small radius. It also provides afltape dispenser which .is .adaptedfto supply a" plurality of tapes to the taping v t e pe a o t e app a u a ate o spe d o up Wards o 0QR- .P-M- pS ce h ro ls r nte an e i rc sn f the a a a us it at a fim maintained substantially in dynamic balance.

The apparatus of this rnventio adapted to apply I a plurality of layers of paper tape'tdw re; l-Iowever,

the apparatus may be equ ally 'adyantag'eously h appl c tiq he la rs f an s r er s rip ;te rialtoany'sort of an elongatedb'od or bodie h a Pa r itar' i i ed a pended claims to include other materials such as cloth, felt, and synthetic resinous compositions in filamentary or sheet form.

The apparatus of this invention comprises a supportingflframe upon which a supporting base member is firmly mounted. A cylindrical casing assembly mounted for rotational movement about its longitudinal axis is supported within said basermember. An immobile tubular member is mounted coaxially within said cylindrical casing assembly. Fixedly mounted on one end of said cylindrical casing assembly is a taping head, and also mounted on said cylindrical casing assembly is a tape dispenser. Means are provided for guiding the paper tape from said tape dispenser to the taping head. Means for pulling the wire through said immobile tubular member, and means'for rotating said cylindrical casing assembly, are also provided. The driving means is preferably geared to coordinate the speed of rotation of the cylindrical casing assembly with the speed of the wire passing through the apparatus, as their relative speeds govern the extent to which the successive turns of the tape being wound on the wire overlap.

The taping head of the apparatus comprises one or more pairs of guiding fingers fixed about the periphery of one end of the rotating assembly, one pair being .has an inside diameter slightly larger than the outside diameter of the wire passing therethrough, and supports the wire close to the point where the tapes are applied,

' eliminating excessive oscillation or whip of the wire at the position where the winding operation takes place.

An important feature of the new apparatus is the tape dispenser, comprising a plurality of annular separating plates which are positioned adjacent to and coaxially about an extension of the axis of the rotating cylindrical casing. Said plates have an annular section of greater thickness at their inside circumferences where they come into contact with the rotating member. When rolls of paper'tapes are placed in the machine between the separating plates, the thicker annular sections come into frictional contact with only the spools upon which the paper tape is supplied. An adjustable means is pro vided by which the amount of friction between the separating plates and the paper tape spools may be regulated, which in turn varies the tension under which the paper tape is applied to the .wire. Locking means scribed below with reference to the accompanying draw ings, in which:

Fig. 1 is an elevation of the apparatus of the invention; Fig. 2 is an end view of the tape dispenser taken substantially along line 2-2 of Fig. 1; v

Fig; 3 is an elevation, partly in section taken sub stantially along line 3 -3 of Fig. 2, showing the rotating assembly including both the taping head and the tape dispenser; and

Fig. 4 is an end view of the taping head taken substantially along line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Referring particularly to Fig. l, a supporting frame 5 supports a the entire apparatus. A base member 6 is mounted on the frame 5 and rotatably supports a cylindrical casing assembly 7. An appropriate power source, such as an electric motor 8, drives the cylindrical casing assembly 7 by belts 9 and 10 connected to a pulley it which is affixed to the cylindrical casing assembly 7. The motor 8 is also connected through a power transmission mechanism 12 to a sprocket wheel 13 which, through a driving chain 14 and gearing l5, drives a capstan 16. The wire 17 on which the tapes are being wound is passed one or more complete turns around the capstan, which pulls it through the apparatus. The capstan 16 is geared so that the linear rate of travel of the wire 17 is in proper relation to the speed of rotation of the cylindrical casing assembly 7 to insure the desired amount of overlap of the tape being applied to the wire 17. Advantagcously the transmission 12 is a variable speed drive mechanism, so that the rate of linear travel of the wire can be varied relative to the rate of rotation of the cylindrical casing assembly 7. Thereby any desired degree of overlap, or of negative butt lap, may be obtained.

As best shown in Fig. 3, a cylindrical casing 7a which forms a part of the casing assembly 7 is rotatably supported within the base member 6 by bearings 13 and 19. Extending through the base member 6 and coaxial therewith is an immobile tube 20 which is held in a stationary position by a rod 21 which is afiixed to the tube 29 by a clamp 22. A thumb screw 23 which is threaded on to the upper end of said rod 21 releasably secures the clamp 22 about the tube 20. The lower end of the rod 21 is firmly anchored to brackets 24 and 25 (Fig. l) affixed to the frame support 5 by a removable pin 26. The wire 17 being covered is drawn through the immobile tube 20, and through an aligning die which is inserted into the end of the immobile tube 20 to keep the wire in proper alignment while the paper tape is being wound thereon and to eliminate excessive oscillation of the wire.

ing plate 31 which is fastened by bolts 3-5 to the flange member connects the sleeve 27 with the cylindrical casing 7a. The casing 7a and sleeve 27, together with the supporting plate 31 and pulley 11, form the rotating casing assembly upon which the taping head and tape dispenser (described below) are mounted. The supporting plate 31 is atfixed to the cylindrical casing M by means of a threaded joint 32 and lock screws 33.

A circular plate 34 is secured to the supporting plate 31 by means of bolts 35 and 36. At the periphery of the circular plate 34, and uniformly spaced 90 apart from each other, are paper strip guides generally indicated at 37, 38,39 and (Figs. l to 3). The strip guides are four in number, since the specific embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings is adapted to apply four paper tapes upon a wire. The mechanism can be modified in order that any number of layers of paper tape may be applied, and the number and arrangement of rolls of. paper tape and tape guides may be varied accordingly. Adjacent the circular plate 34 are five annular separating plates 41a, 41b, 41c, 41d and 41e, each having relatively thick annular hub sections-42a, 42b, 42c, 42d and 420 at their inside circumferences. These plates 41a, 21b, 41c, 41d, and 412, are mounted movably on a cylindrical member 43 which is coaxial with the rotating sleeve 27 A locking means in the form of a bar 44 is securely mounted on the circular plate 34 and extends into slots 45a, 45b, 45c, 45d and 45a, one of which is formed in each of the separating plates. Thereby the separating plates are restrained from rotating with the paper tape rolls as the 4 rolls unwind. This enables each roll to unwind independently of the others.

It is to be noted that only the thicker annular hub sections 42a, 42b, 42c, 42d, and 42a, of the separating plates are in contact with the spools 46a, 46b, 46c, and 46d upon which the paper tape rolls are wound. A friction adjustment means is provided to adjust the amount of friction between the annular hub sections 42a, 42b, 42c, 42d, and 42:2, and the spools 46a, 46b, 46c and 46d, of the tape rolls in order to regulate the tension under which tape is drawn from the, rolls. This means comprises a collar 47 which bears against the outside separating plate 41a at its thick annular hub section 42a. Such force as is exerted by the collar 47 on the hub of the plate 41a is transmitted to the adjoining spool 46a, and through it to the hub ol' the next plate 41b, and so on, so that substantially the same amount of pressure is exerted by the several separating plates 41a, 41b, 41c, 41d, and 41c on the respective spools 46a, 46b, 46c, and 46d which carry the rolls of tape. The collar 47 is divided longitudmally in two halves so it can be easily and quickly removed from the apparatus even when the wire 17 extends therethrough. A coil spring 48 presses against the collar 47 through ring 49. The ring 49 engages a slightly tapered neck 50 on the collar 47 so as to hold the halves of the collar securely together. The compression of the spring 48 1s adjusted by means of an adjustment nut 51 which is threaded on to the end of sleeve 27. By tightening up or backing off the nut 51, the force exerted by the spring 48 on the collar 47, and thence transmitted through the thick hub sections of the separating plates to provide substantially equal frictional drag on each of the spools 46a, 46b, 46c and 46d, can be adjusted to produce the desired tension upon the paper tape being unwound from the rolls. A lock nut 51a is provided to lock the nut 51 in any desired position. I

As the tapes 1:, b, c and d are unwound from the rolls;

' they respectively pass over the tape guides 37, 38, 39 and 49 mounted upon the circular plate 34. Each guide com prises'a rod or bar 52 which is screw threaded to the circular plate 34 through a spacer bar 52a. A roller 53 is secured to the bar 52 by means of a split bracket clamp 53a. The bracket clamp is slidably and rotatably mounted on the bar 52 to enable the positioning of the roller 53 immediately over the appropriate tape spool, and may be locked in the desired position by tightening up on a clamp nut 53b. The roller is generally set at an angle of about 60-75 to the tangential path of the tape as it is unwound from its roll. The roller 53 is adjusted at an angle so the tape upon being twisted through about 90' will pass over the roller 53 in proper position and not run ofi the roller. The tape then passes over a U-shaped arm 54 which is slidably mounted through the spacer bar 52a. The arm 54, when a roll of tape runs out or when the tape breaks, is released from the restraint imposed by the tape and is thrown out into an extended position by centrifugal force. In its extended position it actuates a switch 55 mounted on the supporting frame 5. The switch, when thus actuated, causes the motor to be deenergized so that the apparatus stops. Another tape must then be threaded into the apparatus before it can be put back into operation. 1 i t The tape next passes over a roller 56 mounted adjacent I the periphery of the circular plate 34 in substantial alignment with the roller 53, and thence through an opening a plate. 41e.

perpendicularly to the path of the wire 17, an'da second linger 60 extending substantially parallel "to said path. As illustrated'in Fig. 4, the tape 'a after passing over the roller 58 passes over the first guiding finger 59 and thence overthe second guiding finger 60, by which it is directed helically onto the wire 17 which is being-pulled through the central opening of the guiding die 30. Each per- 'pendicularly extending'guiding finger '59 is formed with a slight bend 6 1 near-the end thereof, to 'help keep the tape from running oif the finger. Each such finger also is secured to a supporting collar 66, which is fixedly mounted on the sleeve 27, by a micrometer adjustment mount comprising an adjusting nut'63 screw-threaded on the stud 59a which is'integral with the finger 59, and a wing nut'62 which locks the finger in the desired position.

'By this mounting the position of each perpendicular finger may be adjusted along the length of the wire in relation to the position of the other perpendicular fingers,

so that the spacing of the tapes on the wire 17 can be adjusted in relation to each other. Each parallel extending finger 60 is securely set in a collar 67 fixedly mounted on the sleeve 27 adjacent to and rearwardly of the supporting collar 66. Each of these fingers 69 further passes 6'4 '(Fig. v1 into. the immobile tube 20, and thence through the aligning die 30adjacent thetapinghead. Before thewire is startedthrough theapparatus, an ample supply of spare rolls 65 of-papertape are placed over the elongated die 64. These spare rolls can be used to replace rolls in the tape "dispenser withoutremoving the'wire '17 from the apparatus.

When any of the rolls of tape mounted in the tape dispenser are exhausted, the thumb screw 23 is removed to loosen the clamp 22. The pin 26 is then removed from the bottom end of rod 21, to free it from the brackets 24 and 25, so that it can be easily and quickly removed from the clamp. The clamp 22 can be left in place, or if desired it can be removed by sliding it over the wire 17 and then sliding the wire laterally through its slot. The ring 49 is then pressed back against the compressive force of the spring 48, to release it from the neck of the collar 47. Thereupon the two halves of collar 47 are easily removed, and the separating plates 41a, 41b, 41c, 41d, and 41e can be slid back over the wire 17 Where it enters the apparatus. The separating plates are then removed by passing the wire 17 laterally through the slots 45a, 45b, 45c, 45d and 45e; and the remnants of the rolls of tape and their supporting spools are torn or cut radially and are removed from the apparatus. A roll of paper tape is then moved from the elongated die 64, along the wire 17, into position against: the. last separating Then the next separating plate 410. is replaced, so that its annular hub section 42d is in frictional contact with the new spool and its slot 45a is in engagement with locking bar 44. Then another roll of tape is brought forward. By repeating these operations for each roll of tape, the tape dispenser is completely replenishedwith tape. The collar 47 is then replaced, the ring 49 is returned into position to clamp together the two halves of collar 49, and the rod 21 is replaced and clamped to the tube 20. The tape dispenser is thus replenished without having to cut or remove the wire 17.

Thus the improved apparatus of the'invention functions to apply uniform helical layers of paper tape upon a wire more rapidly and with greater etliciency than has been heretofore possible. Also the supply and application "of-thesetapes to: the wire isgreatlyifacilitatetl: through the 'operation'andrrelationship of the improved taping head and tape dispenser mounted on the apparatus.

We claim: a l. A wire taping'device adapted to superimpose a plurality of helical layers 'of paper tape upon a wire compri'singa sleeve member, .an immobile tubular member mounted coaxially within said sleeve member, said tubular member providing a path for wireto be taped, said sleeve member being rotatable about said immobile tubular member, an aligning diefhaving a central opening adapted to have a wire pass therethrough mounted on said immobile tubular member at 'one end thereof, a taping head fix'edly 'mounted on said sleeve member at the same end as said die, said taping head including atleast one pair of guiding fingers afiixed about the periphery of said sleeve -member adjacent said die, each said pair of guiding fingers comprising one finger extending substantially perpendicular to the path or 'saidwire and one'finger extending substantially parallel to said path, whereby a tape which passes from a position parallel to the wire first over said perpendicular finger and thence over said parallel-finger is guided-thereby helically on to the wire as it emerges 'through said central openingin said die, a tape dispenser fixedly mount'edon said sleeve member, means for guiding tape from said tape dispenser to said taping head, means forpullingthewire through said'ir'nmobile tubular member and said the, and'means for'rotating'said sleeve member.

2. A wire taping device adapted to superimpose a plurality of helical layers of paper tape upon a wire comprising a sleeve member, an-immobile tubular member mounted coaxially within said sleeve member, saidsleeve member being rotatable about said immobile tubular mem- "ber, an aligning die'having a central opening adapted to have a wire passjtherethrough mounted on said tubular member at one end thereof, a tapingheadfixedly mounted onsaid sleeve member at the same'end as said die, a tape dispenser fixedly mounted on said sleeve member, said tape dispenser including aplurality of annular separating plates slidably mounted on said sleeve member, said plates having annular sections of substantially greater thickness at their inner circumferences than at their outer periphery, each said plate having a narrow slot extending from its center so as to permit the removal of said member and said die, and means for rotating said sleeve member.

3. In a wire taping device, an improved taping head comprising in combination a rotating member'having a finger extending substantially parallel to said path, wherej by a tape which passes from a position. parallel to the wire first over said perpendicular finger and thence over said parallel finger is guided thereby helically on to the Wire as it emerges through said central opening in said rotating member, the perpendicularly extending finger of V at least one pair being independently adjustably movable longitudinally of said wire to vary the overlap of tape wound upon the wire. 7

4. In a wire taping device, an improved taping head comprising in combination a rotating'member'having a central opening adapted to'have a wire pass therethrough, an aligning die inserted in said central opening, and a plurality of pairs of guiding fingers afiixed about the pe riphery of said rotating member adjacent said die, each said pair of guiding fingers comprising one finger extending substantially perpendicular to the path of said wire and one finger extending substantially parallel to said path, whereby a tape which passes from a position parallel to the wire first over said perpendicular finger and thence over said parallel finger is guided thereby helically on to the wire as it emerges from said aligning die, the perpendicularly extending finger of at least one pair being independently adjustable in a direction longitudinally of the wire to vary the overlap of tape wound upon the wire.

5. In a wire taping device, an improved tape dispenser comprising in combination a rotating member adapted to carry a plurality of rolls of tape, a plurality of annular separating plates slidably mounted on said rotating member and adapted to be positioned one between each adjacent pair of rolls of tape, said plates having hubs of greater thickness than the plates projecting toward said rolls of tape from their inner circumferences to engage the central portions of said rolls of tape, each said .plate having a narrow slot extending from its center to its periphery so as to permit removal of said plate while a wire extends substantially axially through said rotating member, means for establishing frictional contact between the hubs of said plates and the central portions of the rolls of tape, and means to lock said separating plates in a stationary position in relation to said rotating member.

6. In a wire taping device an improved tape dispenser comprising in combination a rotating member adapted to carry a plurality of rolls of tape, a plurality of annular separating plates slidably mounted on said rotating member, and adapted to be positioned between each adjacent pair of rolls of tape, said plates having an nular sections of substantially greater thickness at their inner circumference than at their outer periphery, each said plate having a narrow slot extending from its center so as to permit removal of said plate while a wire extends substantially axially through said rotating member, spring means mounted on said rotating member urging said plates into frictional contact with the rolls of tape,

an adjustment nut positioned on said rotating member controlling the pressure exerted by said spring means, and a locking bar extending from said rotating member through said slot in each said plate, whereby said plates are held in a stationary position in relation to said rotating member.

7. A Wire taping device adapted to superimpose a plurality of helical layers of paper tape upon a Wire comprising a sleeve member, an immobile tubular member mounted coaxially within said sleeve member, an aligning die having a central opening therethrough mounted on said tubular member, said sleeve member being rotatable about said immobile tubular member, a taping head fixedly mounted on one end of said sleeve member, a tape dispenser fixedly mounted on said sleeve member, said tape dispenser including a pair of annular separating plates slidable relative to one another and mounted on said sleeve member and adapted to receive a roll of tape between them, each of said annular plates having a hub of greater thickness than the plate projecting toward said roll of tape from the inner circumference thereof to engage the central portion of said roll of tape, means for guiding tape from said tape dispenser to said taping head, means for pulling wire through said immobile tubular member and aligning die, and means for rotating said sleeve member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,506,871 Waite Sept. 2, 1924 2,016,900 Humberstone Oct. 8, 1935 2,416,076 Uhler Feb. 18, 1947 2,533,307 Amos et a1. Dec. 12, 1950 2,658,694 Koch Nov. 10, 1951 2,680,469 Ahier June 8, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 507,055 Great Britain June 8, 1938

Claims (1)

1. A WIRE TAPING DEVICE ADAPTED TO SUPERIMPOSE A PLURALITY OF HELICAL LAYERS OF PAPER TAPE UPON A WIRE COMPRISING A SLEEVE MEMBER, AN IMMOBILE TUBLUAR MEMBER MOUNTED COAXIALLY WITHIN SAID SLEEVE MEMBER, SAID TUBULAR MEMBER PROVIDING A PATH FOR WIRE TO BE TAPED, SAID SLEEVE MEMBER BEING ROTATABLE ABOUT SAID IMMOBILE TUBULAR MEMBER, AN ALIGNING DIE HAVING A CENTRAL OPENING ADAPTED TO HAVE A WIRE PASS THERETHROUGH MOUNTED ON SAID IMMOBILE TUBLUAR MEMBER AT ONE END THEREOF, A TAPING HEAD FIXEDLY MOUNTED ON SAID SLEEVE MEMBER AT THE SAME END AS SAID DIE, SAID TAPING HEAD INCLUDING AT LEAST ONE PAIR OF GUIDING FINGERS AFFIXED ABOUT THE PERIPHERY OF SAID SLEEVE MEMBERS ADJACENT SAID DIE, EACH SAID PAIR OF GUIDING FINGERS COMPRISING ONE FINGER EXTENDING SUBSTANTIALLY PERPENDICULAR TO THE PATH OF SAID WIRE AND ONE FINGER EXTENDING SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO SAID PATH, WHEREBY A TAPE WHICH PASSES FROM A POSITION PARALLEL TO THE WIRE FIRST OVER SAID PERPENDICULAR FINGER AND THENCE OVER SAID PARALLEL FINGER IS GUIDED THEREBY HELICALLY ON TO THE WIRE AS IT EMERGES THROUGH SIAD CENTRL OPENING IN SAID DIE, A TAPE DISPENSER FIXEDLY MOUNTED ON SAID SLEEVE MEMBER, MEANS FOR GUIDING TAPE FROM SAID TAPE DISPENSER TO SAID TAPING HEAD, MEANS FOR PULLING THE WIRE THROUGH SAID IMMOBILE TUBULAR MEMBER AND SAID DIE, AND MEANS FOR ROTATING SAID SLEEVE MEMBER.

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