Nov. 20, 1962 M. A. NYE ETAL 3,064,919 WIRE DRAWING AND METHOD Filed March 24, 196l. 3 Sheets-Sheet l

INVENTORS MAurigEA,C. FMAN BY GLENN TROWBRIDGE Oberlin, flaky Donnctly ATTORNEYS Nov. 20, 1962 M. A. NYE ETAL 3,064 919 WIRE DRAWING MACHINE AND METHOD Filed March 24, 196l. 3. Sheets-Sheet 2

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INVENTOR. MAURICE. A. NYE aw was sawwwowwow JESS C. BITT MAN FIG 4 GLENN TROWBRIDGE Oberlin, Maky Donnelly ATTORNEYS 3,064,919 United States Patent Office Paiented Nov. 20, 1962 2. FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-section view taken substan 3,064,919 WBRE DRAWENG MACHINE AND METHOD tially along the line 2-2, FIG. 1; Maurice A. Nye, Jess C. Bittman, and Glenn Trowbridge, FIG. 3 is a fragmentary cross-section view on enlarged Ceyahoga Fais, Ohio, assignors to The Vaughn Ma scale taken substantially along the line 3-3, FIG. 1; chinery Conspany, Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, a corporation FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of the block and flyer of Oilio assembly as viewed upwardly from the bottom of FIG. 3; Fied Mar. 24, 1961, Ser. No. 93,094 F.G. 5 is a cross-section view through the flyer drive 9 Claims. (C. 242-82) shaft and sheave taken substantially along the line 5-5, FIG. 3; The present invention relates generally as indicated to 10 FIG. 6 is a fragmentary side elevation view taken sub a wire drawing machine and method and, more particu stantially along the line 6-6, FIG. 4; larly, to such machine and method of the stationary block FIG. 7 is a side elevation view of the flyer as viewed stationary coil type wherein a flyer revolves around the from the left-hand side of FIG. 4; and axis of the block to wrap wire around the latter, the wire FIG. 8 is a fragmentary side elevation view as viewed convolutions dropping from said block onto a support 5 along the line 8-8, FIG. 4. for collection as an upwardly growing package or coil. Referring now more particularly to the drawings, and Hitherto, in such stationary block-stationary coil ma first to the machine and method as a whole, as illustrated chines it has been a prevalent practice to provide a rotary in FiGS. 1 and 2, the same comprises an overhanging flyer through which the wire lineally travels top head supported on a rear column 2, the overhang and emerges radially through a slot adjacent an end of 20 ing portion of the head being disposed over a well 3 in the shaft for travel over a sheave which moves in a the floor F in which is contained the support structure 4 for circular path about the block or capstan. In turn, the a pallet 5 upon which wire convolutions are accumulated block is held against rotation as by means of epicyclic in the form of an upwardly growing package or coil C. gearing between the fixed head of the machine and the The pallet 5 and its support 6 together with the three block, the flyer carrying planet respectively mesh 25 parallel coil support rolls 7, are mounted on the pivot 8 ing with sun gears fixed to the head and block respec for movement from tilted position as shown in FIGS. i tively. Generally, in this form of machine the end of and 2, to a position wherein the pallet 5 and support 6 the flyer drive shaft is journalled in bearings in the block. are in a horizontal plane and the coil support rollers 7 A disadvantage of this type of stationary block-stationary are vertical. Such actuation is effected as by means of coil machine is that in the case of drawing or like work 30 the fluid cylinder 9 which, when retracted, tilts the as ing of the wire the wire is wrapped around the block sembly 4 about the pivot 8 and which, when extended, under substantial tension to thus place heavy lateral thrust moves the Support 6 to horizontal position so that the and torque loads on the epicyclic gearing aforesaid and completed package C, together with the pallet 5 there on the bearings between the flyer drive shaft and the under may be pulled off the support 6. To facilitate block. 35 such withdrawal of the completed package C and its Accordingly, it is a principal object of this invention pallet 5, the support 6 may be provided with suitable con to provide a stationary block-stationary coil type of wire veyor rolls (). drawing machine and method in which the block com in order to build up a neat and compact package C prises two parts namely, a main stationary part mounted which contains a substantial weight of wire, the support directly and securely to the head of the machine so as 40 6 with the pallet 5 thereon is slowly rotated about the to be capable of withstanding such lateral thrust and tilted axis of the drive shaft is as by means of a suitable torque loads as imposed by the drawing operation as motor i2 and gearing 13, and as the convolutions of wire the flyer revolves around said main part, and a second W descend by gravity from the overhanging head 1 of take-up part which is likewise stationary and supported the machine, the convolutions will engage the upper against rotation by epicyclic type gearing, the flyer be 45 portions of the tilted rolls 7 and will thereby slide down ing operative to unwrap the convolutions from the main wardly and be displaced laterally of the axis of the sta part and wrap them around the take-up part with but tionary block assembly 15 supported by said head . very little stress on the epicyclic gearing and on the bear Thus, as the pallet 5 and support 6 slowly rotate, suc ings between the take-up part and the flyer drive shaft. cessive convolutions are laid in circular progression neat Another object of this invention is to provide a wire 50 ly and compactly. In the present case the package C drawing machine and method of the character indicated in is shown of over-center type, that is, the circularly laid which the take-up part of the two-part stationary block convolutions define a central core and form a package C aforesaid is effective to hold the convolutions around the of outside diameter less than twice the diameter of the main part and to uniformly release the convolutions for individual convolutions. An under-center package may build-up of a neat and compact package or coil. be formed by making the final package of diameter more Other objects and advantages of the present invention than twice the diameter of the individual convolutions. will become apparent as the following description pro Another form of package would be an on-center package ceeds. on which the outside diameter of the package is equal to To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related twice the diameter of the individual convolutions. ends, the invention, then, comprises the features herein 60 In any event, the rollers 7 in engaging the convolutions after fully described and particularly pointed out in the as they are progressively laid, serve to maintain the package relatively smooth on its outside diameter and, claims, the following description and the annexed drawings of course, the progressive circular laying of the convolu setting forth in detail a certain illustrative embodiment tions causes them to nest together to form a very compact of the invention, this being indicative, however, of but 65 and neat package. It is, of course, to be understood one of the various ways in which the principle of the that instead of the tilted rollers 7 as herein shown, the invention may be employed. pallet S may be provided with a tilted core member, In said annexed drawings: basket, drum, or the like which would be engaged by the FIG. 1 is a front elevation view of a wire drawing descending convolutions and laterally shifted thereby so as machine embodying the present invention, a portion of 70 to collect in circular progression on the slowly rotating the machine head being broken away to more clearly pallet 5. It has been found that neat, compact packages. illustrate the two-part block and the flyer structure; of the character indicated are formed as by maintaining a 3,064,919 3 4. speed ratio of about 800:1, that is, the support 6 and pallet by gravity therefrom, there are provided a pair of pivoted 5 make one revolution while 800 convolutions drop from arms 59 on vertical pivots 60 which have wire-engaging block assembly 15. As an example, a coil C of number shoes 61 at their ends that are pressed by tension spring 16% wire has been formed to an outside diameter of 62 against the convolutions. Thus, the convolutions are 31', an inside diameter of 11', and a height of 17' held in single-layer form in the bottom block part 47 and which weighs about 1250 pounds. As a further example, as the wire W is wrapped around the bottom block part a 2000 pound coil would have a height of about 40' and 47 at the beveled shoulder 58, the convolutions are uni outside-and inside diameters of about 29' and 14' respec formly shoved downwardly and uniformly released as the tively, while the wire convolutions are of about 22' di convolutions pass the shoes 61. anneter 0. As the convolutions leave the bottom block part 47, With reference to the block and flyer assembly 15, they fall through a guide funnel 63 which is supported and again referring more particularly to FIG. 1, there is on the forwardly extending arms 64 of the machine head secured within the head a bearing assembly 6 for the and engage the upper portions of the tilted rolls 7 so that flyer drive shaft 17 which, at its upper end, has keyed by the time they reach the pallet 5 they have been laterally thereto a drive sheave 8 over which is trained the V-belts 5 displaced for building up an annular package C as shown. 19 or the like driven by sheave 20 on the output shaft When a package C has been completed, the wire W will 21 of a speed reducer 23. Also mounted within the head be cut and the fingers 65 of funnel 63 will be swung in of the machine is an electric drive motor 24 which, to the dotted positions as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, where through the 25 and sheaves 26, 27, drives the input upon the convolutions will be collected in the funnel 63 shaft 28 of the speed reducer 23. during the time that the completed package C and pallet Referring now to the remaining figures of the drawings, 5 are removed and replaced by an empty pallet 5. There the flyer drive shaft E7 is formed with a central bore 29 upon, the fingers 65 may be swung out to the solid line through which the wire W to be drawn and packaged positions, whereby the accumulated hank of convolutions passes lineally downwardly. Adjacent the lower end of will drop down and progress to build up the next pack the flyer drive shaft 7 there is provided a sheave 30 which age C. extends into a radial slot 3 formed through the wall of To maintain the convolutions snug around the main the flyer drive shaft 17 over which sheave 30 the wire fixed block part 48 during the drawing operation, the take W passes radially outwardly. Secured to the flyer drive up part 47 is preferably of slightly larger diameter, for shaft 7 in the region of the sheave 30 for rotation with instance, 22%' diameter for part 47 as compared with said shaft, is the flyer housing 34 and flyer plate 35. The 30 22' diameter for part 48. In lieu of such different di flyer plate 35 has mounted thereon three skewed sheaves ameters of the parts 47 and 48 as aforesaid the epicyclic 36, 37, and 38 and the flyer housing 34 has journailed gearing may be arranged to slowly rotate the part 47 to therein a shaft 39 on the ends of which are mounted cog tend to wrap wire W thereon at a rate greater than belt planet gears 40 and 45 or the like, which have cog the rate of unwrapping from part 48. In any event, the belts 42 and 43 trained thereover and over similar cog 35 lateral and torque loads of the drawing operation are not belt sun gears 45 and 46 respectively. The sun gears imposed on the epicyclic gearing and on the bearings 51. 45 and 46 are fixedly mounted to the bearing housing 16 and 52 between the flyer drive shaft 17 and block part 47. and to the bottom take-up part 47 of the two-part block Other modes of applying the principle of the invention or capstan 47-48 employed herein. From the foregoing, may be employed, change being made as regards the de it can be seen that as the flyer drive shaft rotates, the 40 tails described, provided the features stated in any of the above-described epicyclic gearing arrangement serves to following claims, or the equivalent of such, be employed. hold the bottom take-up part 47 against rotation. We therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim The flyer drive shaft 7 is journalled in antifriction as our invention: bearings 49 and 50 widely spaced apart in the bearing hous 1. Wire handling apparatus comprising a fixed head; ing 16 and also in a pair of antifriction bearings 55 and a wire takeup block assembly secured to said head; a 52 in the center of the bottom block part 47. flyer assembly journalled in said head including wire Following the course of the wire W as it moves guide means thereon which orbits about said block as radially outwardly from the flyer drive shaft 17, it passes Sembly to form a lineally traveling wire into convolutions over a first skewed sheave 36 mounted on the top of the Wrapped around said block assembly; a wire supporting flyer plate 35 to wrap the wire W on the beveled shoulder platform disposed below said block assembly for gravity or apron 53 of the fixed upper or main part 48 of the descent of convolutions thereonto to form an upwardly block assembly, this upper part 48, together with bearing growing package of wire convolutions; said block assem housing 16, being securely bolted directly to the head 1 bly comprising a first block secured to said head to with of the machine, whereby as the wire W is drawn through stand severe lateral stresses imposed by wrapping wire the straightening rolls 54 and through the adjacent die thereabout under tension as said wire guide means orbits 56, under great tension, no stresses are imposed on the therearound, a second block axially spaced from said first epicyclic gearing. As the flyer plate 35 rotates as in the block, and support means extending through said first direction shown in the arrow in FIG. 4, the wire W is block from said head to said second block to support said wrapped around the fixed block part 48 and by reason of Second block for rotation of said flyer assembly with re the provision of the beveled shoulder 53, the convolutions Spect thereto; Said wire guide means, as it orbits about are continuously shoved downwardly and Such rotation, 60 Said block assembly, further being effective to upwrap at the same time unwraps the convolutions from the block convolutions from said first block and to wrap them part 48 by reason of the rotation of the plate 35 and around said Second block for such gravity descent onto the passage of the wire over the next tilted sheave 37 on said platform. the top of the plate 35. 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said support From the second tilted sheave 37 on the top of the means comprises epicyclic gearing including sun plate 35, the wire W crosses over to the tilted sheave 38 members fixed with respect to said first and second blocks at the bottom of the plate 35 wherefrom the wire W passes respectively, and planet gear members keyed on a com through an adjustable casting device 57 and is wrapped mon rotary shaft of said flyer assembly and having opera around the bottom block part 47 at the beveled shoulder 70 tive engagement with the respective sun gear members 58 thereof for progressively shoving down of the con whereby said flyer assembly rotates with respect to said volutions for descent onto the pallet 5 and support 6 Second block. therebelow. 3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said flyer assem In order to build up several convolutions on the bottom bly comprises a drive shaft journalled in said head, and block part 47 and to release them uniformly for descent 75 a plate on said shaft extending radially between said first 3,064,919 5 6 and second blocks; and wherein said wire guide means lected to form a package; and support means for said comprises a first sheave over which wire fed lineally Second block extending through said first block from said through said shaft and thence radially from said shaft head to said second block for orbiting of said wire guide between said blocks passes for wrapping on Said first means with respect to said block; said flyer assembly block, a second sheave over which the wire passes as it comprising a tubular drive shaft into one end of which is unwrapped from said first block, and a third sheave the wire is lineally fed for radial emergence from be over which the wire passes as it is wrapped around said tween said blocks to said wire guide means; and said second block; said second and third sheaves being Wire guide means comprising a first sheave over which mounted in tilted position on opposite sides of said plate the emerging wire passes for Wrapping around said first for crossing over of the wire as it is unwrapped from said 0 block, and other tilted sheave means over which the wire first block and wrapped around said second block. passes as it is unwrapped from said first block and 4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein friction shoes are Wrapped around said second block. spring-pressed against the wire convolutions wrapped 8. Wire handling apparatus comprising a fixed head; around said second block to retain a number of convolu a flyer assembly journalled in said head; a first takeup tions therearound at all times prior to gravity descent block secured to said head; a second takeup block dis therefrom. posed axially adjacent to said first block; wire guide 5. Wire handling apparatus comprising a fixed head; a means on said flyer assembly arranged, upon rotation flyer assembly journalled in said head; a first takeup block of Said flyer assembly, to orbit about said blocks succes secured to said head; a second takeup block disposed sively to wrap wire around said first block, to unwrap axially adjacent to said first block; wire guide means on wire convolutions from said first block, and to wrap the said flyer assembly arranged, upon rotation of said flyer wire unwrapped from said first block around said sec assembly, to orbit about said blocks successively to wrap ond block wherefrom the wire convolutions are collected wire around said first block, to unwrap wire convolutions to form a package; and Support means for said second from said first block, and to wrap the wire unwrapped block extending through said first block from said head from said first block around said second block wherefroin 25 to said second block for orbiting of said wire guide the wire convolutions are collected to form a package; means with respect to said block; said support means and support means for said second block extending being arranged to impart slow rotation of said second through said first block from said head to said second block in a direction tending to wrap therearound a greater block for orbiting of said wire guide means with respect length of wire than around said first block during each to said block; said support means comprising epicyclic 30 revolution of said flyer assembly thereby to cause slip gearing including sun gear members fixed with respect of the wire on said second block and consequent main to said first and second blocks respectively, and planet tenance of the convolutions of wire in snug engagement gear members on said flyer assembly operatively associ around said first block as they are unwrapped therefrom. ated with the respective sun gear members to enable ro 9. Wire handling apparatus comprising a fixed head; tation of said flyer assembly with respect to said blocks. 35 a flyer assembly journalled in said head; a first takeup 6. Wire handling apparatus comprising a fixed head; block secured to said head; a second takeup block dis a flyer assembly journalled in said head; a first takeup posed axially adjacent to said first block; wire guide block secured to said head; a second takeup block dis means on said flyer assembly arranged, upon rotation posed axially adjacent to said first block; wire guide means of said flyer assembly, to orbit about said blocks suc on said flyer assembly arranged, upon rotation of Said A.0 cessively to wrap wire around said first block, to unwrap flyer assembly, to orbit about said blocks successively to wire convolutions from said first block, and to Wrap the wrap wire around said first block, to unwrap wire con wire unwrapped from said first block around said sec volutions from said first block, and to wrap the Wire un ond block wherefrom the wire convolutions are col wrapped from said first block around said second block lected to form a package; and support means for said wherefrom the wire convolutions are collected to form a second block extending through said first block from package; and support means for said second block extend said head to said second block for orbiting of said wire ing through said first block from said head to said second guide means with respect to said block; said support block for orbiting of said wire guide means with respect means comprising flexible belts trained over fixed to said block; said flyer assembly comprising a tubular with respect to said first and second blocks respectively drive shaft into one end of which the wire is linearly fed 50 and over wheels on a common shaft rotatably carried for radial emergence from between said blocks to said by said flyer assembly whereby severe lateral stresses on wire guide means. said first block due to the wire being wrapped under 7. Wire handling apparatus comprising a fixed head; tension around said first block are not imposed on said a flyer assembly journalled in said head; a first takeup second block and said support means when the wire is block secured to said head; a second takeup block dis posed axially adjacent to said first block; wire guide wrapped around said second block. means on said flyer assembly arranged, upon rotation References (Cited in the file of this patent of said flyer assembly, to orbit about said blocks suc cessively to wrap wire around said first block, to unwrap UNITED STATES PATENTS wire convolutions from said first block, and to Wrap the 60 1,187,827 Gibbs ------June 20, 1916 wire unwrapped from said first block around Said sec 2,669,347 McIlvried et al. ------Feb. 16, 1954 ond block wherefrom the wire convolutions are col 2,874,918 Steiber ------Feb. 24, 1959