LOW TENSION APPLICATION COILER

Abstract

The present invention is an apparatus, system, and method for a low tension application spooler and or coiler system that positively drives the material into the coil and or reel so that the tension is minimum during the winding process.

Claims

1. A low tension application spooler for spooling or coiling elongated materials comprising: a frame; a motorized spindle attached to said frame and having a spool adapted to receive said elongated material for wrapping; a motorized traverse system adapted to move horizontally on said frame for wrapping said elongated material on said spool; a motorized roller system attached to said traverse adapted to push said elongated material to said spool for wrapping around said spool and wherein said motorized spindle is slaved to said motorized roller system; and a computer attached to said frame and in communication with said motorized spindle for controlling said motorized spindle, with said motorized traverse system for controlling said motorized traverse system, and with said motorized roller system for controlling said motorized roller system.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PICTORIAL ILLUSTRATIONS, GRAPHS, DRAWINGS, AND APPENDICES

[0021] The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such a description makes reference to the annexed pictorial illustrations, graphs, drawings, and appendices.

[0022] FIG. 1 is a general front perspective view of a preferred embodiment in accordance with current invention.

[0023] FIG. 2 is a general back perspective view of a preferred embodiment in accordance with current invention.

[0024] FIG. 3 is a general partially cutaway perspective view of a preferred embodiment in accordance with current invention of the feed and roller system with generally horizontal rollers.

[0025] FIG. 4 is a general partially exploded front view of a preferred embodiment in accordance with current invention of a feed and roller system with generally vertical rollers.

[0026] FIG. 5 is a general back partial view of a preferred embodiment in accordance with current invention with vertical rollers.

[0027] FIG. 6 is a general partial back perspective view of a preferred embodiment in accordance with current invention.

[0028] FIG. 7 is a general partial front perspective view of a preferred embodiment in accordance with current invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

[0029] Referring to the illustrations, drawings, and pictures, and to FIGS. 1 and 2 in particular, reference character 10 generally designates a new and improved spooling and or coiling apparatus, system, and method of using the same constructed in accordance with the present invention. It is understood that the terms “spool”, “reel”, and “coil” are references to wrapping an elongated material into circular form for handling and distribution. Invention 10 is generally used with elongated materials 15 needing to be made into smaller segments for distribution from a larger spool and or reel. Elongated materials 15 may be but is not limited to plastic profiles, such as but not limited to hollow profiles, flexible extrusions, hoses electrical cables, steel cables, wire cables, felt, and so forth. For purposes of convenience, the reference numeral 10 may generally be utilized for the indication of the invention, portion of the invention, preferred embodiments of the invention and so on. It is also to be understood that invention 10 should not be considered limited to just a spooling and coiling and the terms should not be considered to limit the invention to such.

[0030] Invention 10 may comprise a frame 20, a motorized spindle and or spindle 30, a feed system 40, a computer and or computer control 50, and a power source 60. It is understood that spindle 30 may be utilized with a spool and or reel 70 although it is understood that spindle 30 may be utilized without reel 70 when coiling elongated materials. Spindle 30 may be powered by servo and or motor 32 that may be in communication with computer 50 for controlling rotation of spindle 30.

[0031] It is also understood that frame 20 may have dual winding stations as generally depicted although it is contemplated to have just one winding station, two, three and so forth. The current invention should not be limited to the illustrations depicting two.

[0032] Feed system 40 may include a mechanical dancer 80, an intake wheel 90, a motorized roller system and or roller system 100, and articulating lay-on guide arm 110, which may be on motorized traverse and or traverse 125. Roller system 100 may have a motor and or servo 102 that may be in communication with computer 50 for controlling the speed of rotation of same. Articulating lay-on guide arm 110 may be a servo driven. Mechanical dancer 80 may not be positioned on traverse 125 but on frame 20.

[0033] Motorized traverse system and or traverse 125 may have a motor and or servo 126 and or more than one motor and or motor and or servo 127. It is contemplated that servo 126 and or servo 127 may be in communication with computer control 50 for controlling the speed of rotation of same.

[0034] Now again generally referring to the illustrations and more particular to FIG. 3, it is contemplated that roller system 100 may have a bottom roller 120 and a top roller 130 with top roller 130 under spring tension pushes down on the elongated material 15 as its being fed through the feed system 40 and pushing it into the reel 70. The rollers system 100 may have a profile 16 cut into the respective bottom roller 120 and top roller 130 to match a shape 18 of the elongated materials 15 passing through. This may prevent any damage and or distortion to the elongated material 15. Rollers system 100 may be servo 102 driven, but not limited to same. It is also understood that feed system 40 may not utilize roller system 100, but may use belts or pull/push rolls, combinations thereof and so forth.

[0035] Referring to the illustrations and more in particular to FIGS. 4 through 7, invention 10 contemplates roller system 100 utilizing a first side roller 103 and a second side roller 104 with a general vertical orientation. It is also understood that first side roller 103 and a second side roller 104 be generally vertical belts or pull/push rolls, combinations thereof and so forth.

[0036] In the prior art, spindle 30 is independently powered and does the pulling. This is known to cause undesired amounts of friction and undesired tension on the elongated material 15 during the winding process. The current invention 10 contemplates positively driving the elongated material 15 into the reel 70, and or coil mounted on spindle 30, wherein the tension is minimum during the winding process.

[0037] This is generally accomplished by during the elongated material 15 with the feed system 40 and having the spindle 30 synchronized to accept the elongated material 15 without pulling during the winding process. Spindle 30 is still powered but the computer control 50 monitors the feed system 40 speed and adjusts spindle 30 speed accordingly. Spindle 30 will become a slave axis to the feed system 40, matching its effective surface speed to the roller system 100 linear speed thus allowing a ‘tweak’ factor to allow good winding if needed with computer control 50. The master axis will be the feed system 40 and may change speeds in response to the mechanical dancer 80 feedback and the line speed feed forward to match the line speed.

[0038] It is contemplated to wind and keep track of pitch and diameter and layers all without a diameter sensor. This may be possible due to the complete data entered in the recipe for elongated material 15 width, height, width of reel 70, reel 70, and so forth. It is understood that a diameter senor may be utilized and or in combination thereof.

[0039] Invention may mount feed system 40 on traverse 125 with servo 127 and or and be a slave to the spindle 30 axis to maintain the recipe driven pitch and end points based on reel 70 dimensions. The articulating lay-on guide arm 110 axis may be a slave to the traverse 125 axis, pointing along the tangent to the effective winding surface, and generally raising as the material layers up while winding.

[0040] It is therefore contemplated to provide a low tension application spooler for spooling or coiling elongated materials comprising: a frame; a motorized spindle attached to said frame and having a spool adapted to receive said elongated material for wrapping; a motorized traverse system adapted to move horizontally on said frame for wrapping said elongated material on said spool; a motorized roller system attached to said traverse adapted to push said elongated material to said spool for wrapping around said spool and wherein said motorized spindle is slaved to said motorized roller system; and a computer attached to said frame and in communication with said motorized spindle for controlling said motorized spindle, with said motorized traverse for controlling said motorized traverse, and with said motorized roller system for controlling said motorized roller system.

[0041] Changes may be made in the combinations, operations, and arrangements of the various parts and elements described herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Furthermore, names, titles, headings, and general division of the aforementioned are provided for convenience and therefore, should not be considered limiting.