Apparatus for unwinding wire from reels with high inertia

Abstract

 An apparatus (10) for unwinding wire from reels with high inertia, comprising, on a frame (11) that surrounds a fixed supporting base (12) for a reel (13), an unwinding assembly (14) that is connected to a wire tension compensation assembly (15), which is in turn associated with elastic contrast means (17), the unwinding assembly (14) comprising at least one arm (18) that is rotatably associated with the frame (11) with a rotation axis that is parallel to the unwinding axis of the reel (13), and on which guiding elements are pivoted which are suitable to form an exit path for the wire (16) toward the feed after passing through the compensation assembly (15), the compensation assembly comprising at least one first pulley (19) that is translationally fixed with respect to the frame (11) and a second pulley (20) that is translationally movable with respect to the first pulley (19), the pulleys (19,20) forming as a whole a multiple hoist structure, the second pulley (20) being associated with the elastic contrast means (17).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to an apparatus for unwinding wire from reels with high inertia.

[0002] Devices for unwinding wire from reels in order to obtain segments of wire that can be used for various needs, such as for example the application of electrical terminals, are known commercially.

[0003] Currently, the wire is unwound by using traction units substantially constituted by one or more pairs of motorized rollers arranged so that their cylindrical surfaces face each other.

[0004] It is known that the problem of unwinding wire without damaging it from reels having high inertia is strongly felt.

[0005] The inertia of the reel in fact subjects the wire to intense traction stresses during the starting transients of the rotation of said reel.

[0006] The aim of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for unwinding wire from reels with high inertia that solves in an optimum manner the above-mentioned problem, amply protecting the wire against damage and/or breakage.

[0007] Within this aim, an object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus that is constructively simple but at the same time strong and flexible in terms of type and size of the reel and wire being handled.

[0008] Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus that is capable of managing in an optimum manner even continuous variations in the wire feed demand, with a consequent need for dynamic compensation of the wire unwinding speed.

[0009] Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus that can be manufactured with known technologies and systems.

[0010] This aim and these and other objects that will become better apparent hereinafter are achieved by an apparatus for unwinding wire from reels with high inertia, characterized in that it comprises, on a frame that surrounds a fixed supporting base for a reel, an unwinding assembly that is connected to a wire tension compensation assembly, which is in turn associated with elastic contrast means, said unwinding assembly comprising at least one arm that is rotatably associated with said frame with a rotation axis that is parallel to the unwinding axis of said reel, and on which guiding elements are pivoted which are suitable to form an exit path for the wire toward the feed after passing through said compensation assembly, said compensation assembly comprising at least one first pulley that is translationally fixed with respect to said frame and a second pulley that is translationally movable with respect to said first pulley, said pulleys forming as a whole a multiple hoist structure, said second pulley being associated with said elastic contrast means.

[0011] Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become better apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment thereof, illustrated only by way of non-limitative example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an apparatus according to the invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevation view of the apparatus of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is another perspective view of the apparatus of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a side elevation view of part of the apparatus of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of part of the apparatus of Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a view of another part of the apparatus of Figure 1;

Figure 7 is a view of a detail of a second embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention;

Figure 8 is a perspective view of part of another embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention.

[0012] With reference to Figures 1 to 6, an apparatus for unwinding wire from reels with high inertia, according to the invention, is generally designated by the reference numeral 10.

[0013] The apparatus 10 comprises, on a frame 11 that surrounds a fixed supporting base 12 with a vertical axis for a reel 13, an unwinding assembly 14 that is connected to an assembly 15 for compensating the tension of the wire 16, which is in turn associated with elastic contrast means 17.

[0014] The unwinding assembly 14 comprises an arm 18 that is rotatably associated with the frame 11, with a rotation axis that is parallel to the unwinding axis of the reel 13, and on which guiding elements, described in detail hereinafter, are pivoted; said guiding elements are suitable to form an exit path for the wire 16 toward the feed, after passing through the compensation assembly 15.

[0015] The compensation assembly comprises a first pulley 19, which is fixed to the frame 11, and a second pulley 20, which is translationally movable with respect to the first pulley 19.

[0016] The pulleys 19 and 20 form, as a whole, a multiple hoist-like compensation structure.

[0017] Moreover, the second pulley 20 is associated with the elastic contrast means 17.

[0018] The elastic contrast means 17 comprise, in this case, two elastic elements 21 with a base that is fixed on the frame 11 and ends 22 that are connected to brackets 23 that are fixed to a slider 24 for supporting rollers 25 that are in contact with said second movable pulley 20 so as to form tensioning elements and elements for contrasting the exit of the wire 16.

[0019] In this embodiment, the elastic elements 21 are constituted by a corresponding number of helical springs.

[0020] The second pulley 20 is slidingly associated with a straight vertical splined guide 26, which is fixed to the frame 11; the first pulley 19 is pivoted to the upper end of said guide.

[0021] The arm 18 is substantially L-shaped and supports, at a free end 27 that rotates with a path that is coaxial to the reel 13, a first guiding element 28 for guiding the wire toward a second guiding element 29, which is arranged at the corner region of the arm 18.

[0022] The second guiding element 29 guides the wire 16 toward a third guiding element 30, which is arranged at the rotation axis and fulcrum of the arm 18, which substantially coincides with the axis of the reel 13.

[0023] The third guiding element 30 in turn forms a guide for the wire 16 for a fourth guiding element 31 that lies above it and is meant to guide the wire toward the compensation assembly 15.

[0024] The portion of wire stretched between the third guiding element 30 and the fourth guiding element 31 is coaxial to the reel 13.

[0025] The arm 18 is constituted by two parallel rod-like elements 32, which are mutually connected by cross-members 33 and rotatably support the axles of said guiding elements.

[0026] Eyes 34, suitable to prevent the escape of the wire 16 from its path, are also associated with the arm 18.

[0027] In this case, the frame 11 has three feet, with a supporting portal 35 for the arm 18.

[0028] The guide 26 is further supported at one side of the portal 35.

[0029] In practice, the operation of the apparatus 10 is as follows: when the wire 16 is requested at the feed, the traction imparted to the wire induces the unwinding rotation of the arm 18 and the simultaneous lifting traction of the second pulley 20.

[0030] The lifting of the pulley 20 is contrasted by the means 17, which tend to return the pulley to the lower inactive position.

[0031] The combined action of the means 17 with the many guiding actions of the pulleys 19 and 20 produces, in addition to compensation during transients for adapting the unwinding speed of the wire 16 on the part of the arm 18, a damping action in the tension of the wire 16, protecting its integrity.

[0032] With reference to Figure 7, another embodiment of the apparatus comprises a pneumatic brake 40, which is composed of a pneumatic cylinder 41 that is rigidly coupled to the portal 35 of the frame 11 and supports, at the end of its stem, a pad 42, made for example of Teflon, that acts by contrast on the surface of a plate-like element 43 that is rigidly coupled to the arm 18.

[0033] The brake 40 is associated with means for locking/releasing the brake (not shown in the figures), which are actuated by the presence or not of the wire to be unwound.

[0034] When the wire to be unwound is finished, the brake release means are activated and the pneumatic cylinder 41 pushes the Teflon pad 42 onto the plate 43.

[0035] With reference to Figure 8, a further embodiment of the apparatus comprises, on the supporting base 12, a rotating plate 50 on which the reel 13 rests.

[0036] This allows the reel 13 to also rotate with the wire 16 and avoid twisting, as in the case of wires such as flat cables.

[0037] In practice it has been observed that the present invention has achieved the intended aim and objects.

[0038] In particular, it should be noted that the apparatus according to the invention allows to solve in an optimum manner the mentioned technical problem without providing any independent motorization, at the same time amply protecting the wire from damage and/or breakage.

[0039] It should also be noted that the apparatus according to the invention is constructively simple but at the same time strong and flexible in terms of type and size of the reel and wire being handled.

[0040] It should also be noted that the apparatus according to the invention is capable of handling in an optimum manner even continuous variations in the demand to feed the wire, with consequent dynamic compensations of the wire unwinding speed.

[0041] The present invention is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the same inventive concept.

[0042] The technical details may be replaced with other technically equivalent elements.

[0043] The materials and the dimensions may be any according to requirements.

[0044] The disclosures in Italian Patent Application No. PD2001A000114, from which this application claims priority, are incorporated herein by reference.

[0045] Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the scope of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.

Claims

1. An apparatus for unwinding wire from reels with high inertia, characterized in that it comprises, on a frame that surrounds a fixed supporting base for a reel, an unwinding assembly that is connected to a wire tension compensation assembly, which is in turn associated with elastic contrast means, said unwinding assembly comprising at least one arm that is rotatably associated with said frame with a rotation axis that is parallel to the unwinding axis of said reel, and on which guiding elements are pivoted which are suitable to form an exit path for the wire toward the feed after passing through said compensation assembly, said compensation assembly comprising at least one first pulley that is translationally fixed with respect to said frame and a second pulley that is translationally movable with respect to said first pulley, said pulleys forming as a whole a multiple hoist structure, said second pulley being associated with said elastic contrast means.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that said elastic contrast means comprise two or more elastic elements with a base that is fixed to said frame and ends that are connected to brackets that are fixed to a slider for supporting rollers that are in contact with said second movable pulley so as to form tensioning elements and elements for contrasting the exit of the wire.

3. The apparatus according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said two or more elastic elements are constituted by a corresponding number of helical springs.

4. The apparatus according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said second pulley is slidingly associated with a straight vertical splined guide, which is fixed to said frame and to the upper end of which said first pulley is pivoted.

5. The apparatus according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said at least one arm is substantially L-shaped and supports, at a free end, so that it rotates with a path that is coaxial to said reel, a first guiding element for guiding the wire to a second guiding element, which is arranged at the corner region of said arm, said second guiding element guiding the wire toward a third guiding element located at the rotation axis and fulcrum of said arm, which substantially coincides with the axis of said reel, said third guiding element forming in turn a wire guide for a fourth guiding element that is arranged above it and is meant to guide the wire toward said compensation assembly.

6. The apparatus according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said arm is constituted by two parallel rod-like elements, which are mutually connected by cross-members and act as a rotary support for the axles of said guiding elements.

7. The apparatus according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that eyes suitable to prevent the escape of said wire are associated with said arm.

8. The apparatus according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said frame has three feet, with a supporting portal for said arm, said guide being supported at a side of said portal.

9. The apparatus according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said reel is supported so that its axis is vertical.

10. The apparatus according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a pneumatic brake that is composed of a pneumatic cylinder that is rigidly coupled to said frame and supports, at the end of its stem, a pad that acts by contrast on the surface of a plate-like element that is rigidly coupled to said arm.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10, characterized in that said pneumatic brake is associated with locking/release means that are actuated by the presence or absence of the wire to be unwound.

12. The apparatus according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises, on said supporting base for said reel, a rotating plate on which said reel rests.

Drawing