Method and apparatus for inspecting electrical wire
First Claim
1. A method of inspecting an insulated electrical wire comprising the steps of:
- (a) advancing the electrical wire from a first position to a second position;
(b) measuring the length of the electrical wire as it is advanced and producing electrical wire length data representative of the running total length of the electrical wire;
(c) detecting splices in the electrical wire and producing a splice pulse for each detected splice;
(d) using the splice pulses and the electrical wire length data to determine the location of the detected splices along the length of the electrical wire and producing splice location data that are representative of the locations of the splices as measured from a first reference point proximate to a leading end of the electrical wire as the electrical wire is advanced from the first position to the second position;
(e) producing reversed splice location data that are representative of the locations of the splices as measured from a second reference point proximate to a trailing end of the electrical wire; and
(f) generating a report that includes the electrical wire length data, the splice location data, and the reversed splice location data.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An improved method and apparatus for inspecting electrical wire (10) is provided. A wire respooling machine (22) advances the electrical wire (10) from a take-off spool (12) to a take-up spool (14). An encoder (24) senses the rotation of the calibrated wheel (15) that is rotated by the electrical wire (10) and produces encoded wire length data. A splice detector (20) senses splices and insulation flaws in the wire (10) and produces a pulse for each detected splice and flaw. A controller (26) receives the encoded wire length data and detected splice and flaw pulses and produces splice and flaw location data representing the locations of the detected splices and flaws relative to the leading end of the wire (10). The controller (26) generates report data that includes said wire length data and said splice and flaw location data. A printer (28) prints the report data in a hard copy format. The controller also produces reverse splice and flaw location data representing the locations of the detected splices and flaws relative to the trailing end of the wire (10). The printer (28) prints a label containing, at least, the reverse splice and flaw location data that is suitable for affixing to the take-up spool (14).
44 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method of inspecting an insulated electrical wire comprising the steps of:
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(a) advancing the electrical wire from a first position to a second position; (b) measuring the length of the electrical wire as it is advanced and producing electrical wire length data representative of the running total length of the electrical wire; (c) detecting splices in the electrical wire and producing a splice pulse for each detected splice; (d) using the splice pulses and the electrical wire length data to determine the location of the detected splices along the length of the electrical wire and producing splice location data that are representative of the locations of the splices as measured from a first reference point proximate to a leading end of the electrical wire as the electrical wire is advanced from the first position to the second position; (e) producing reversed splice location data that are representative of the locations of the splices as measured from a second reference point proximate to a trailing end of the electrical wire; and (f) generating a report that includes the electrical wire length data, the splice location data, and the reversed splice location data. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. Apparatus for inspecting an insulated electrical wire comprising:
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(a) advancing means for advancing the electrical wire from a first position to a second position; (b) measuring means for measuring the length of the electrical wire and for producing electrical wire length data; (c) splice detecting means for detecting splices in the electrical wire and for producing a splice pulse for each detected splice; and (d) a controller for controlling the advancing means and for receiving the electrical wire length data from the measuring means and the splice pulse from the splice detecting means, said controller using the detected splice pulses and the electrical wire length data to determine the location of the detected splices and to produce splice location data representative of the location of the detected splices as measured from a leading end of the electrical wire as it advances, and to produce reverse splice location data representative of the location of the detected splices as measured from a trailing end of said electrical wire as it advances, the controller producing a report that includes the electrical wire length data, the splice location data, and the reverse splice location data. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. In an apparatus for inspecting an insulated electrical wire, including a wire respooling machine for advancing the electrical wire from a take-off spool to a take-up spool, a measuring device having a calibrated wheel that is rotated by the advancing electrical wire and a splice detector for detecting splices in the advancing electrical wire and producing a splice pulse for each detected splice, the improvement comprising:
- an encoder coupled to said measuring device for sensing the rotation of said calibrated wheel and producing encoded wire length data; and
a controller for controlling the wire respooling machine, said controller receiving said detected splice pulses and said encoded wire length data to determine the location of the splices and to produce splice location data representative of the location of said splices as measured from a leading end of the electrical wire, wherein the controller also operates to reverse said splice location data to produce reverse splice location data representative of said location of the splices as measured from a trailing end of said electrical wire.
- an encoder coupled to said measuring device for sensing the rotation of said calibrated wheel and producing encoded wire length data; and
Specification