Unreeling apparatus and method

Abstract

In order to increase the operational safety of an unreeling apparatus and an unreeling method at high working speed, an unreeling apparatus for unreeling a ring of wire along a pull-off direction, having at least two reel crowns, which can each be brought into a pull-off position and into a preparation position and/or loading position by way of a displacement device, includes a safety apparatus having an overload safety device and having a safety guide track, which has a directional component that faces in the pull-off direction and acts independently of the other reel crown, at least for the reel crown situated in the pull-off position, wherein the overload safety device holds the reel crown situated in the pull-off position in the pull-off position and, in the event of an overload, releases the reel crown situated in the pull-off position into the safety guide track.

Claims

1. An unreeling apparatus for unreeling a ring of wire along a pull-off direction, having at least two reel crowns, which can each be brought into a pull-off position and into a preparation position and/or loading position by way of a displacement device, wherein each of the reel crowns comprises a safety apparatus having an overload safety device and a safety guide track, which track has a directional component that faces in the pull-off direction and acts independently of the other reel crown, at least for the reel crown situated in the pull-off position, wherein the overload safety device holds the reel crown situated in the pull-off position in the pull-off position and, in the event of an overload, releases the reel crown situated in the pull-off position into the safety guide track.

2. The unreeling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the safety guide track has a safety guide axis.

3. The unreeling apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a rotary body has a rotation axis, and the safety guide axis is disposed not identically with the rotation axis.

4. The unreeling apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the rotary body has a rotation axis, and the safety guide axis corresponds to the rotation axis.

5. The unreeling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the overload safety device comprises a press-down device that presses a reel crown holder against a pull-off position stop in the pull-off position.

6. The unreeling apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the press-down device is configured hydraulically or pneumatically, and has a pressure relief valve, which opens in the event of overload.

7. The unreeling apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the safety apparatus comprises a safety sensor, which detects if the reel crown holder leaves the pull-off position stop, and which is connected to act together with the pulling device that acts on the wire being unreeled, in such a manner that this device stops when the reel crown holder leaves the pull-off position stop.

8. The unreeling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the displacement device has an aboveground drive and/or an aboveground guide or aboveground mounting.

9. The unreeling apparatus according to claim 8, wherein a rotary body is driven by way of the aboveground drive and/or guided by way of the aboveground guide and/or mounted by means of the aboveground mounting.

10. The unreeling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the displacement device comprises a displaceable rotary body for holding at least one of the two reel crowns.

11. The unreeling apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the rotary body is displaceable solely in one plane.

12. The unreeling apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the two reel crowns are mounted on the rotary body.

13. The unreeling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a rotary body is provided for each reel crown.

14. The unreeling apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the rotary bodies have an identical rotation axis.

15. The unreeling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the displacement device comprises a displaceable rotary body that carries a tilting device for holding at least one of the two reel crowns, and wherein the reel crown can be tilted between the preparation position and the loading position.

16. The unreeling apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the tilting device comprises a lever, on a first arm of which the reel crown is disposed and on a second arm of which a tilt joint is disposed.

17. The unreeling apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the first arm on which the reel crown is disposed is connected with the second arm by way of an overload joint.

18. The unreeling apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the tilting device has a tilt axis that lies at the height of the reel crown.

19. The unreeling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein in the pull-off position, a deflection wall is provided, at least in the region of the pulled-off wire and/or at least in the region of the reel crown situated in the pull-off position or a reel mandrel relative to the reel crown not situated in the pull-off position.

20. The unreeling apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the deflection wall is disposed on a rotary body.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood, however, that the drawings are designed as an illustration only and not as a definition of the limits of the invention.

(2) In the drawings,

(3) FIG. 1 an unreeling apparatus in a perspective view, at a slant from below;

(4) FIG. 2 the unreeling apparatus according to FIG. 1 in a side view;

(5) FIG. 3 the unreeling apparatus according to FIGS. 1 and 2 in a side view, with a reel crown disposed along a safety guide track configured as a safety guide axis;

(6) FIG. 4 a further unreeling apparatus in a perspective view, at a slant from above;

(7) FIG. 5 the unreeling apparatus in a perspective view according to FIG. 4 from further above;

(8) FIG. 6 the unreeling apparatus according to FIGS. 4 and 5 in a perspective view, at a slant from above, with a reel mandrel in the overloaded state; and

(9) FIG. 7 the unreeling apparatus according to FIGS. 4 to 6 in a perspective view, at a slant from below, with a reel mandrel in the tilted state in the preparation position or loading position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(10) FIGS. 1 and 2 show an unreeling apparatus 10, in which two reel mandrels 35 are each disposed on a mandrel crown 30, wherein one of the two reel mandrels 35 is situated in the pull-off position 31 and the second of the two reel mandrels 35 is situated in the preparation position or loading position 32, 33, wherein the second of the two reel mandrels 35 cannot be seen in the representation according to FIG. 1.

(11) The unreeling apparatus 10 can allow a wire 22 to be pulled off in the pull-off direction 23, in known manner, when the wire 22, which is situated on the reel crown 30 as a ring 20, is put under stress from a pull 18. The wire 22 and the ring 20 are not shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, but they are represented schematically in FIGS. 4 to 7.

(12) The unreeling apparatus 10 comprises a rotary body 42, which is mounted on the floor 12 so as to be displaceable about a rotation axis 43.

(13) A displacement device 40 serves for displacing the reel mandrels 35 between a pull-off position 31 and preparation position 32 or loading position 33, in each instance. The displacement device 40 comprises an aboveground drive 45, which is formed from an aboveground pinion 48 and a fixed gear wheel 49, as well as an aboveground guide 46 along which the rotary body 42 is rotated about a rotation axis 43 during displacement by way of an aboveground mounting 47. The displacement device 40 is connected with the floor 12 by means of a floor fitting 16.

(14) A horizontal 14 direction, correspondingly parallel to the floor, can also be defined by the floor 12.

(15) Furthermore, the unreeling apparatus 10 comprises a safety apparatus 50 including a safety sensor 82 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. This apparatus is supposed to guarantee operationally safe procedures in the event of an overload. In the event of an overload, a reel crown holder 38, which grasps the reel crown 30, is displaced along the pull-off direction 23 in the direction of the pull 18, by way of an overload joint 53 that serves as an overload safety device 52, wherein this displacement is guided by a safety guide track 54 and takes place about a safety guide axis 56.

(16) In the case of a normal state, when no overload is present, the reel mandrel 35 is held in its pull-off position 31 by means of a press-down device 57, which comprises hydraulic cylinders 59 that press or hold the reel mandrel 35 against a pull-off position stop 58, see FIG. 3, in accordance with its position, so that forces that have occurred due to the pull-off process do not already result in a movement of the reel mandrel 35 along the safety guide track 54. As shown in FIG. 1, press-down device 57 has a pressure relief valve 81 which opens in the event of overload.

(17) Furthermore, the unreeling apparatus 10 comprises a tilting device 60, which comprises a lever 62, arms 63, 64, as well as a tilt joint 65 and a tilt axis 66. The reel mandrels 35 can be tilted by means of this tilting device 60, so as to tilt the one reel mandrel 35 into a horizontal position in the preparation position or loading position 32, 33 and to set it upright again, correspondingly.

(18) Furthermore, two deflection walls 70 are disposed between the two reel mandrels 35 by means of deflection wall holders 71. The deflection walls 70 guarantee operationally safe sequences, in particular with regard to the second reel mandrel 35, if an overload occurs on the first reel mandrel 35. For example, the deflection wall 70 prevents the wire 22 from getting into the direct working region of the second reel mandrel 35 if it kicks out. As a result, both loading and preparation can take place independently of pull-off and in operationally safe manner.

(19) FIGS. 2 and 3 show the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 1 in a side view, wherein the reel mandrel 35, which is situated in the pull-off position 31 in FIG. 2, is in the normal state, and the wire 22 is pulled off along the pull-off direction 23 by way of a pull 18. In FIG. 3, in contrast, the corresponding reel mandrel 35 is in the overloaded state, wherein the mandrel has been displaced along the directional component 55 and along the safety guide track 54 by means of an overload joint 53, about the safety guide axis 56. In this regard, in this exemplary embodiment the safety guide track 54 is oriented in a circle around the safety guide axis 56. In deviating embodiments, however, a straight-line safety guide track is also conceivable, in that a carriage that can be displaced along a corresponding linear guide is provided, for example. It is understood that the safety guide track can also be configured to be more complex, for example elliptical, depending on the concrete requirements.

(20) In FIGS. 2 and 3, it can be seen that in this exemplary embodiment, the reel mandrel 35, when in the pull-off position 31, is situated in a position that is not completely shielded with regard to the reel mandrel 35 in the loading position or preparation position 32, 33 by the deflection wall 70, which is disposed on the pull-off position side, so that in this exemplary embodiment, the second deflection wall 70 on the loading position side is supplementally provided, so as to also completely protect the second reel mandrel in its loading position 33 and the space in its vicinity with regard to the first reel mandrel 35 in the pull-off position 31.

(21) However, it is also conceivable to structure one of the two deflection walls 70 in displaceable manner, so as to correspondingly move the deflection walls 70 during displacement of the reel mandrels 35, so that the reel mandrels 35 can be displaced in collision-free and operationally safe manner. However, repositioning of the deflection walls 70 might not be necessary if these two deflection walls suitably supplement one another to form a common deflection wall or if it is possible to position a deflection wall with sufficient protection, in correspondingly continuous manner.

(22) The embodiment according to FIG. 4 provides a round rotary body 42 as a displacement device 40, which simultaneously forms the safety apparatus 50.

(23) The reel mandrels 35 are each disposed on mandrel crowns 30 and connected with an aboveground guide 46 that is situated radially on the outside on the rotary body 42. The reel mandrels 35 can be displaced radially around the aboveground mounting 47 by way of this aboveground guide 46.

(24) It is also conceivable, if applicable while maintaining the other characteristics of the exemplary embodiments, if the reel mandrels are also connected with an belowground guide, which is situated radially on the outside of the rotary body 42, for example.

(25) The drive for displacement of the reel mandrels 35 is configured as an aboveground drive 45. The overload safety device 52 of the safety apparatus 50 comprises a safety guide track 54, which is disposed radially on the outside of the rotary body 42. A deflection wall 70 is attached to the rotary body 42 by means of a deflection wall holder 71 and spatially separates the two reel mandrels 35 from one another.

(26) FIGS. 5 and 6 show the unreeling apparatus according to FIG. 4, wherein in FIG. 5, the reel mandrel 35 is situated in the normal state, in the pull-off position 31, whereas the reel mandrel 35 is situated in the pull-off state 31 in the overloaded state. In the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 6, an overload has occurred, and therefore the reel mandrel 35 has been displaced along the directional component 55 in the pull-off position 31.

(27) In detail, the technical details that are being used in the exemplary embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 can also apply analogously in this exemplary embodiment.

(28) FIG. 7 shows an unreeling apparatus according to FIG. 6, wherein the reel mandrel 35 is situated in the preparation position or loading position 32, 33, and was tilted about a tilt joint 61 by means of the tilting device 60, and was made available for loading, for example. It is understood that loading can also be possible in the upright state of the reel mandrel 35.

(29) In all the exemplary embodiments, a displacement device 40 allows the reel mandrel 35, which is upright again after loading and has been loaded, to be displaced to the preparation position 32 by way of a rotational movement about the aboveground mounting 47.

(30) In the preparation position 32, numerous work steps can take place, which allow operationally safe procedures for the further method steps. For example, very thick wires 22 can be used. It is understood that wires having a great diameter are clearly more difficult to handle than thinner wires. Thus, provisioning of the wire 22 can take place in the preparation position 32, in that the wire is already unrolled from the reel mandrel 35 by a specific length, for example. In this way, the wire 22 can be introduced into the pulling machine significantly more easily or included in the subsequent processes.

(31) Also possibly, depending on the thickness of the wire 22, the end of the wire cannot be introduced directly into the subsequent machines, for example a pulling machine, if the diameter of the wire 22 is too great. Thus, for example, measures to process the ends of the wires 22 can be undertaken in the preparation position 32. For example, at least a region of the wire 22 can be reduced in diameter. In order to make the end of the wire 22 graspable for subsequent machines, it is also conceivable to prepare the wire 22 by notching it, for example, in the preparation position 32, in such a manner that a corresponding grasping device can grasp the wire 22 in operationally safe manner and can pass it on to the subsequent machine, preferably a pulling machine.

(32) The prepared and loaded reel mandrel 35 can subsequently be brought into the pull-off position 31 by means of the displacement device 40. In this pull-off position 31, pulling the wire 22 off in the pull-off direction 23 also takes place.

(33) The pull-off position 31 comprises a safety apparatus 50, which consists of an overload safety device 52 and a press-down device 57. In the event of an overload, which can occur due to all the possible disruptive influences, such as a knot in the wire 22, for example, or the like, the reel mandrel 35 can still move along the safety guide track 54, so that in the event of a failure of the system or in the event of an overload, the reel mandrel 35 can still move along an established distance, so that the system comes to a stop in operationally safe manner.

(34) An overload is frequently also accompanied by a rapid stop of the machine, so that no further wire 22 is unreeled along the pull-off direction 23.

(35) However, the overload safety device 52 still gives the system some time so as to come to a stop in operationally safe manner, so that the reel mandrel 35 is not torn out of its foundation, for example, or out of the floor 12, thereby representing a hazard for the surroundings. In the normal pull-off state, the reel mandrel 35 is held in the pull-off position 31 by means of a hydraulic cylinder 59, for example, so that the forces introduced by pull-off do not already cause displacement of the reel mandrel 35 along the safety guide track 54.

REFERENCE SYMBOL LIST

(36) 10 unreeling apparatus 12 floor 14 horizontal 16 floor fitting 18 pull 20 ring 22 wire 23 pull-off direction 30 reel crown 31 pull-off position 32 preparation position 33 loading position 35 reel mandrel 38 reel crown holder 40 displacement device 42 rotary body 43 rotation axis 45 aboveground drive 46 aboveground guide 47 aboveground mounting 48 drive pinion 49 fixed gear wheel 50 safety apparatus 52 overload safety device 53 overload joint 54 safety guide track 55 directional component 56 safety guide axis 57 press-down device 58 pull-off position stop 59 hydraulic cylinder 60 tilting device 62 lever 63 arm 64 arm 65 tilt joint 66 tilt axis 70 deflection wall 71 deflector wall holder 81 pressure relief valve 82 safety sensor