Control of traversing guide in strand winding apparatus

• US 4,629,145 A
• Filed: 03/28/1986
• Issued: 12/16/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/1986
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Essex Group Incorporated (LS Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Essex Group Incorporated (LS Corporation)
• Inventors: Graham, Randall C.
• Primary Examiner(s): GILREATH, STANLEY
• Application Number:
  US06/845,740
• Time in Patent Office: 263 Days
• Field of Search: 242/158 R, 242/158.2, 242/158.4 R, 242/158.4 A, 242/25 R
• US Class Current: 242/483.3
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 54/2866 by detection of position, or distance made of the traverser

Abstract

Control means for the traversing guide drive means in apparatus for winding strand upon a rotating flanged spool comprising means adjustably positioned along the path of travel of the traversing guide for providing a reference position signal as the traversing guide passes in each direction through either of two reference positions near the respective end limits of its reciprocation, and means responsive to the reference position signals and including two bistable flip-flop circuits and a preset counter coupled to the spool rotating means for effecting a reversal in the direction of movement of the traversing guide when the count of spool revolutions occurring after the traversing guide passes a reference position while approaching one end limit of its travel attains a selected value, said last named means being reset for effecting a subsequent reversal operation at the other end limit in response to return movement of the traversing guide from the one end limit.

Claims

1. In an apparatus for winding strand onto a spool having end flanges. which apparatus comprises means for rotating a flanged spool about its central axis, a traversing guide arranged to travel back and forth along a path lengthwise of said spool and to guide strand onto said spool between the end flanges thereof, drive means arranged to move said traversing guide in forward and reverse directions lengthwise of said spool in response respectively to forward and reverse control signals supplied thereto, and control means coupled to said drive means for providing said drive means with alternate forward and reverse control signals to actuate said drive means to reverse the direction of travel of said traversing guide when it reaches either of two adjustably selected reversal points;

the improvement wherein said control means comprise;

reference position detector means adjustably positioned along the path of travel of said traversing guide and operative to provide a reference position signal in response to each traversing movement in either direction of said traversing guide through either of two reference positions each located at a selected distance from a respective one of said reversal points whereby a first and then a second of said reference position signals are respectively produced each time said traversing guide passes either of said reference positions in opposite directions during its approach to and consequent return from a respective reversal point;

first bistable means having an output switchable between a switched-on and a switched-off state;

said first bistable means being responsive to successive ones of said first and second reference position signals to switch its output from a switched-off state to a switched-on state whenever a first reference position signal is produced by said reference position detector and to switch its output from a switched-on state to a switched-off state whenever a consequent second reference position signal is produced by said reference position detector means;

spool revolution counting means comprising a preset counter coupled to said spool rotating means and having an input connected to the output of said first bistable means;

said counter being responsive to switching of the output of said first bistable means to said switched-on state to initiate counting operation and to produce a count responsive to the number of revolutions of the spool until the count attains a selected preset value;

said counter being reset from said preset value to a predetermined lower initial value and its counting operation being inhibited in response to switching of the output of said first bistable means to said switched-off state;

said counter including switch means having first and second operating states and being operative to switch from said first operating state to said second operating state when said counter counts to said preset value and to return to said first operating state when said counter is reset to said lower initial value;

second bistable means having an input connected to said counter switch means;

said second bistable means having an output with first and second operating conditions which alternate upon successive switching of said counter switch means from said first operating state to said second operating state; and

means responsive to the output of said second bistable means for producing said forward and reverse control signals in response to switching of the output of said second bistable means to respective first and second operating conditions.

2. In an apparatus for winding strand onto a spool having end flanges, which apparatus comprises means for rotating a flanged spool about its central axis, a traversing guide arranged to travel back and forth along a path lengthwise of said spool and to guide strand onto said spool between the end flanges thereof, drive means arranged to move said traversing guide in forward and reverse directions lengthwise of said spool in response respectively to forward and reverse control signals supplied thereto, and control means coupled to said drive means for providing said drive means with alternate forward and reverse control signals to actuate said drive means to reverse the direction of travel of said traversing guide when it reaches either of two adjustably selected reversal points;

the improvement wherein said control means comprise;

reference position detector means adjustably positioned along the path of travel of said traversing guide and operative to provide a reference position signal pulse in response to each traversing movement in either direction of said traversing guide through either of two reference positions each adjacent to a respective one of said spool end flanges whereby a first and then a second of said reference position signal pulses are produced each time said traversing guide passes one or the other of said reference positions in opposite directions during its approach to and consequent return from a respective reversal point;

first bistable means having an input connected to said reference position detector means and having an output switchable between a switched-on and a switched-off state;

said first bistable means responding to successive ones of said first and second reference position signal pulses to switch its output from a switched-off state to a switched-on state whenever a first reference position signal pulse is produced by said reference position detector means and to switch its output from a switched-on state to a switched-off state whenever a second reference position signal pulse is produced by said reference position detector means;

spool revolution counting means comprising a preset counter coupled to said spool rotating means and including an input connected to the output of said first bistable means and switch means having first and second operating states;

said counter being responsive to switching of the output of said first bistable means to said switched-on state to initiate counting operation and to produce count responsive to the number of revolutions of the spool until the count attains a selected preset value;

said counter being reset from said preset value to a predetermined lower initial value and its counting operation being inhibited in response to switching of the output of said first bistable means to said switched-off state;

said switch means being operative to switch from said first state to said second state when said counter counts to said preset value and to return to said first state when said counter is reset to said lower initial value;

second bistable means having an input connected to said counter switch means;

said second bistable means having an output with first and second operating conditions which alternate upon successive switching of said counter switch means from said first state to said second state; and

means connected to said drive means and responsive to the output of said second bistable means for producing said forward and reverse control signals in response to switching of the output of said second bistable means to respective first and second operating conditions.

3. In an apparatus for winding strand onto a spool having end flanges, which apparatus comprises means for rotating a flanged spool about its central axis, a traversing guide arranged to travel back and forth along a path lengthwise of said spool and to guide strand onto said spool between the end flanges thereof, drive means arranged to move said traversing guide in forward and reverse directions lengthwise of said spool in response respectively to forward and reverse control signals supplied thereto, and control means coupled to said drive means for providing said drive means with alternate forward and reverse control signals to actuate said drive means to reverse the direction of travel of said traversing guide when it reaches either of two adjustably selected reversal points:

the improvement wherein said control means comprise;

reversal point adjustment means for adjustably determining the reversal points of the traversing movement of said traversing guide;

said reversal point adjustment means comprising first and second reference position detectors adjustably positioned along the path of travel of said traversing guide at respective selected first and second reference positions which are adjacent respectively to one and the other of said spool end flanges;

said first and second reference position detectors being responsive to each traversing movement in either direction of said traversing guide through said first and second reference positions, respectively, to provide an electrical signal pulse whereby one and then another of said signal pulses are produced each time said traversing guide passes one or the other of said reference positions in opposite directions during its approach and consequent return from a respective reversal point;

first bistable means having an input connected to both of said first and second reference position detectors and having an output switchable between a switched-on state and a switched-off state;

said first bistable means switching its output from one of said states to the other each time a signal pulse is produced by either one of said reference position detectors;

said first bistable means being operative to switch its output from a switched-off state to a switched-on state whenever a signal pulse is produced by one or the other of said reference position detectors upon movement of said traversing guide past a corresponding one or other of said reference positions during its approach to a respective reversal point and conversely to switch its output from a switched-on state to a switched-off state when a next successive signal pulse is produced by the same one or other of said reference position detectors upon consequent return of said traversing guide from said respective reversal point;

spool revolution counting means comprising a preset counter coupled to said spool rotating means and including operation start and reset means having an input connected to the output of said first bistable means, a count value selector settable to store a selected preset value, and switch means having first and second operating states;

said operation start and reset means being responsive to switching of the output of said first bistable means to said switched-on state to initiate counting operation of said counter and to enable said counter to produce a count responsive to the number of revolutions of the spool until the count attains the preset value stored in said selector;

said operation start and reset means further being responsive to switching of the ouput of said first bistable means to said switched-off state to reset said counter from said preset value to a predetermined lower initial value and to inhibit counting operation of said counter;

said switch means being operative to switch from said first state to said second state when said counter counts to said preset value and to return to said first state when said counter is reset to said lower initial value;

second bistable means having an input connected to said counter switch means;

said second bistable means having an output with first and second operating conditions which alternate upon successive switching of said counter switch means from said first state to said second state; and

means connected to said drive means and responsive to the output of said second bistable means for producing said forward and reverse control signals in response to switching of the output of said second bistable means to respective first and second operating conditions.

4. The invention according to claim 3

wherein said reversal point adjustment means include an electrical contact element movable with said traversing guide back and forth along a predetermined course;

and

wherein said first and second reference position detectors comprise respective first and second resilient electrical contact members positioned along said course for engagement by said contact element upon movement of said traversing guide back and forth through said first and second reference positions;

each of said contact members being momentarily deflected out of said course in response to engagement thereof by said contact element whereby said contact element momentarily electrically contacts one or the other of said contact members upon engagement therewith to initiate the production of one of said electrical signal pulses.

5. The invention according to claim 4 including impulse actuated on-off timer means responsive to each engagement of one or the other of said contact members by said contact element to produce one of said electrical signal pulses having predetermined duration;

said timer means having normally open switching means and input means operative upon each application of an input signal thereto to close said switching means for a time period of said predetermined duration;

said switching means being connected to the input of said first bistable means to provide thereto one of said electric signal pulses in response to each closing of said switching means;

said input means of said timer means being connected in a circuit energized from a low voltage source and connecting each of said contact members with said contact element, said input mesns and said low voltage source in series circuitry adapted to provide an input signal to said input means of said timer means to initiate closing of said switching means when either of said contact member is contacted by said contact element.

6. The invention according to claim 4

wherein said contact element is fixedly mounted to said traversing guide and includes a rigid contact portion extending from said traversing guide and providing a switch contact;

and

wherein each of said first and second contact members comprises a support member, an elongated tubular helical spring having one end fixed to said support member, and a contact tab fixed to the other end of said helical spring and providing a displaceable switch contact to be contacted by said rigid contact portion of said contact element.

7. The invention according to claim 6 including a standard mounted laterally adjacent and parallel to the path of travel of said traversing guide;

said support members of said first and second contact members being adjustably mounted to said standard for selectively changing the respective positions of said first and second members along said course of movement of said contact element.