METHODS FOR FORMING WIRE BUNDLES AND AN APPARATUS FOR CARRYING OUT THE METHOD

• US 3,736,652 A
• Filed: 03/06/1972
• Issued: 06/05/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ralph P. Fletcher Jr
• Original Assignee: Ralph P. Fletcher Jr
• Inventors: Fletcher, Ralph P. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Eager, Thomas H.
• Application Number:
  US05/231,925
• Time in Patent Office: 456 Days
• Field of Search: 29/429,2D,23R,23MW
• US Class Current: 29/429
• CPC Class Codes: B21F 15/00 Connecting wire to wire or other metallic material or objects; Connecting parts by means of wire tools for both straining and connecting B21F9/00; jacketing or reinforcing B21F17/00; manufacture of wire network B21F27/00; in making bands B21F43/00 ; bundling machines or tools B65B13/00; for semiconductors H01L24/85
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49828 Progressively advancing of work assembly station or assembled portion of work

Abstract

Two methods are disclosed for forming wire bundles, one method for forming an elongated wire bundle longer than the conventional working table and a second method for forming a shorter wire bundle. An apparatus for carrying out both methods comprises an endless canvas belt stretched between two rollers mounted at the ends of an elongated table, a drawing on rollers at each end of the table and overlying and supported by the belt for moving therewith, and a plurality of wires from reels at one end of the table for being positioned over the drawing and held in precise position with detachable brackets during the forming of the wire bundle. Then after completion of the wire bundle, or portion thereof, the endless belt is started moving and as the completed wire bundle winds on to a storage reel, the brackets are released by a trigger device to permit the drawing to separate from the endless belt and wind up on a storage roller. For carrying out the former method, as the first portion of the drawing for which the wire bundle has been completely assembled, is wound on the storage roller, it pulls the second portion of the drawing and the wire related to that portion out over the table for being clamped to the endless belt so that the rest of the bundle may be formed thereover. This continuous forming and storing of the wire bundle portions is carried on until all of the elongated wire bundle is coiled on its storage reel before the next wire bundle is begun. For carrying out the latter method, as a complete wire bundle is formed over the drawing, the finished wire bundle is disconnected from the drawing and the endless belt, and wound on the storage reel as the drawing is wound on its storage roller. Then the drawing is reversed and rewound back on the table for permitting the forming of another wire bundle like the first. For ease of working on the wire bundles by human beings working over the drawing, the portion including the drawing and its rollers, the supporting endless belt and its rollers, the clamping brackets attaching all together, and the wires extending over the drawing may be tilted to a convenient angle. A quick opening bracket with a plurality of clamps thereon is disclosed which opens instantly upon contact with a trigger device at the end of the work table.

Claims

1. A method for forming an elongated wire bundle comprising the steps of:

a. extending a portion of a wire bundle drawing from a supply area to a storage area, b. laying a plurality of wires from a supply area over the drawing for forming a complete wire bundle for that portion of the drawing, c. moving the completed wire bundle portion to a storage area, d. simultaneously moving that portion of the drawing to a storage area, and e. simultaneously extending a second portion of the drawing connected to the first portion of the drawing from the supply area to the storage area whereby a second wire bundle portion may be formed over the second portion of the drawing.

2. A method for forming an elongated wire bundle as recited in claim 1 including the additional steps of:

a. supporting said drawing portion between the supply area and the storage area with support means, b. detachably connecting said drawing portion and said wires to said support means so that a wire bundle maybe formed on said drawing portion, and c. detaching said completed wire bundle from said drawing portion and said support means as said completed wire bundle is moved to its storage area.

3. A method for forming an elongated wire bundle comprising the steps of:

a. extending a portion of a wire bundle drawing from a supply roller to a storage roller, b. laying a plurality of wires from storage reels over the drawing for forming a complete wire bundle for that portion of the drawing, c. rolling the completed wire bundle portion on a storage reel, d. simultaneously rolling that portiOn of the drawing on a storage roller, and e. simultaneously extending a second portion of the wire bundle drawing from the supply roller to the storage roller so that a second wire bundle may be formed over the second portion of the drawing.

4. A method for forming a wire bundle comprising the steps of:

a. unrolling a wire bundle drawing from a supply roller to a storage roller, b. laying a plurality of wires from a supply area over the drawing for forming a complete wire bundle, c. rolling the completed wire bundle on a storage reel, d. simultaneously rolling the drawing to a storage roller, and then e. unrolling said drawing from the storage roller back to the supply roller whereby a second wire bundle may be formed thereover the same drawing.

5. A wire bundle forming apparatus having a supply end and a storage end comprising:

a. a moveable elongated sheet of flexible material supported between said two ends, b. at least a portion of a wire bundle drawing overlaying said elongated sheet, and said drawing being supplied from said supply end of the device and stored at the storage end of the device, c. means for supplying a plurality of wires at said supply end of the device, and d. storage means for completed wire bundles at said storage end of the device whereby after said wires are laid over said portion of the drawing and a wire bundle formed thereon, the moveable sheet and the drawing are moved from the supply end to the storage end and the wire bundle completed for that portion of the drawing is supplied to the storage means.

6. A wire bundle forming apparatus having a supply end and a storage end comprising:

a. a moveable elongated wire bundle drawing, b. means for supplying said drawing at said supply end of the device, c. means for storing said drawing at said storage end of the device so that at least a portion of said wire bundle drawing extends between the ends of said device, d. means for supporting said portion of the drawing between the ends of said device, e. means for supplying a plurality of wires at said supply end of the device, and f. means for storing completed wire bundles at said storage end of the device whereby after said wires are laid over the portion of the drawing and a wire bundle formed thereover, the drawing is moved from the supply end to the storage end, and the wire bundle completed for that portion of the drawing is supplied to the storing means.

7. A wire bundle forming apparatus as recited in claim 6 wherein:

a. said drawing supply means and said drawing storing means comprises roller means at the respective ends of said device for rolling said drawing therebetween, so that after a wire bundle is formed over that portion of the drawing between the rollers, that portion of the drawing is rolled onto the roller at the storage end and a new portion of the drawing is unrolled from the roller at the supply end simultaneously with moving of the completed wire bundle to the storing means.

8. A wire bundle forming apparatus as recited in claim 6 wherein:

a. said drawing support means comprises an endless elongated sheet stretched over two rollers at the respective ends of said device for positioning said sheet immediately under said wire bundle drawing portion for supporting the drawing portion as the wire bundle is formed on top of the drawing.

9. A wire bundle forming apparatus as recited in claim 8 wherein:

a. bracket means is provided for said wire forming device for detachably clamping said drawing portion to said drawing support means, and b. clamping means on said bracket means for holding said wires over said drawing as the wire bundle is formed.

10. A wire bundle forming apparatus as recited in claim 6 wherein:

a. said means for supporting said drawing portion being tiltable for ease of forming said wire bundles on said drawing.

11. A wire bundle forming apparatus as recited in claim 6 wherein:

a. said wire supplying means comprises means for supporting a plurality of reels of wires and for feeding these wires over the drawing at the supply end of the wire forming device.

12. A wire bundle forming apparatus as recited in claim 6 wherein:

a. said completed wire bundle storing means comprises a reel means at the storage end of said device for rolling on the finished wire bundle.