US3661338A

US3661338A - High speed winder

Info

Publication number: US3661338A
Application number: US873378A
Authority: US
Inventors: Paul E Becking
Original assignee: Data Link Corp
Current assignee: Data Link Corp
Priority date: 1969-11-03
Filing date: 1969-11-03
Publication date: 1972-05-09
Anticipated expiration: 1989-05-09

Abstract

Tape winding apparatus including a motor-driven reel and means for stopping the reel in response to increased tension on the tape, including a tension control arm which is movable to control tape tension, and including automatic cut-off means when the tape breaks and when the reel is filled.

Description

United States Patent [151 3,661,338 Becking May 9, 1972 [54] HIGH SPEED WINDER 2,987,265 6/1961 Quinones ..242/s7 x 2,993,659 7/196! Johnson ....242l75.5 X [72] 3,051,405 8/1962 Lyon 1 ..242/181 [73] Assignee: Data-Link Corporation, San Mateo, Calif. 3.523.655 8/1970 Bevis ..242/57 X 1 I969 FOREIGN PATENTS 0R APPLICATIONS PP N111 873-378 1,032,285 6/1966 Great Britain .242/713 52 us. Cl ..z42 67.1, 242/57, 242/753. o' Hammer-George Mam! 242 755 242 139 Anorne vNed L. Conley. Murray Robinson. Robert W. B. 51 Int. 01. ................11651- 23/18, B65h 25/32. B65h 23/16 Dickerson and Bill Berryhill [58] Field olSearch ..242/67. 1 67.3, 57, I86, I87,

242/188, 189. I90, 75.3, 75.5, 75.5 I, 57 ABSTRACT Tape winding apparatus including a motor-driven reel and [56] References (med means for stopping the reel in response to increased tension UNITED STATES PATENTS on the tape, including a tension control arm which is movable to control tape tension, and including automatic cut-ofi' means 2,171,74l 9/1939 Cohn et al ..242/75.3 UX when the tape breaks and when the rec] is fill d 2,570,944 9ll9$l Hauser 2.7005 l 3 1/1955 Miles ..242/75.5 7 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTEDMAY 9 m2 61 -338 I 56 i w lNV/iN'lUR.

ATTORNEY HIGH SPEED WINDER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION l. Field of the Invention This invention relates to apparatus for winding tape on a reel and for feeding tape from a reel.

2. Description of the Prior Art Various winding and feeding devices have heretofore been used for winding of paper tape which is perforated with codes. Such tape has extensive use in many applications, such as feeding information to type-setting machines, to billing machines and other purposes. Since the tape is made of paper it has a relatively low strength and therefore the tension on the tape must be controlled within relatively narrow limits to prevent breaking it during use. It will be apparent that the control of tension and the reeling of the tape will be comparatively simple at relatively low speeds, but in high speed equipment, e.g. up to 500 codes per second or more, or when rewinding the tape after use, high reeling velocities are desirable. Under such conditions users have encountered substantial difficulty in avoiding the breakage of tape, and in stopping the reeling mechanism when the tape has broken or when a reel is filled.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, tape winding and feeding apparatus is provided in which the tension on the tape is constant under all conditions, the tension being provided solely by the weight of a tension control arm, and the tension control arm and the reel-driving mechanism being coordinated so as to ensure that reel rotation after the tape supply ceases is limited to such an extent that the reel will not take up or feed any more tape than can be provided at constant tension by the tape tension control arm. In a preferred embodiment of the invention means are provided for stopping the reel when the tape breaks or when the end of the tape is reached, and means are also provided for stopping the reel when the reel is filled with tape.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. I is a perspective view of one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an elevational view of a portion of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1, taken at line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a diagram of a circuit which may be used in the apparatus shown in FIG. 1', and

FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of the embodiment of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT FIG. 1 discloses apparatus comprising a housing having a face plate 12 thereon which constitutes the main frame on which the remainder of the apparatus is mounted. As shown, the main frame 12 covers the housing 10 and has an arm 14 thereon which, in this embodiment, extends outwardly from the upper right corner, as shown in FIG. 1, to form a mounting arm 14.

At approximately the center of the frame 12 a reel 16 is mounted on a shaft 18 for rotation therewith. The shaft 18 is rotatably mounted in the frame 12 and extends therethrough into a gear reduction unit 20 mounted on the back side of the frame, as shown in FIG. 2. Also mounted on the gear reduction unit is a drive motor 22, such as Series G Type GA motor with brake manufactured by Brevel Products Company, Carlsbad, N..l., which is used to drive the reel. Suitable slip-clutch means, as used in the Brexel Motor not shown, such as described in US. Pat. No. 2,59l,l39Critoph and US. Pat. No. 2,6l7,507-Feiertag, are provided in the drive train from the motor to the reel.

A tension control arm 24 is also rotatably mounted on the shaft 18 on which the reel is mounted, being mounted behind the face plate 12. This control arm 24 carries at its outer end a pair of rollers 26 proportioned to carry a punched paper tape 28 thereon, and the inner end 58 of the control arm extends in the opposite direction from the shaft 18, so as to engage a normally closed limit switch 60 when arm 24 is raised a predetermined amount. Three additional spools 30, 32 and 34 are mounted upon the arm 14, above the spools 26, the spools 30, 32 and 34 also being proportioned to carry the paper tape thereon. As shown in FIG. I, the tape is threaded over spool 34, under one spool 26, over spool 32, under the other spool 26, and then over spool 30 before being fed to the reel 16.

As shown in FIG. 4, spools 30 and 32 are each provided with a circumferential groove 36 on the portion of the spool which is normally covered by the tape 28. The grooves 36 are proportioned to receive a feeler wheel 38 which is mounted upon an arm 40, the arm 40 being mounted on a shaft (not shown) concentrically and rotatably surrounding shaft 42. Shaft 42 has mounted thereon an arm 44 which extends toward the reel 16 and carries thereon a roller 46 which normally extends down beneath the flanges of the reel 16.

As seen in FIG. 2, the shaft 42 extends through the frame 12 and has mounted on its opposite end an arm 48. The shaft which surrounds shaft 42 has mounted thereon an arm 50. The arms 48 and 50 are movable to engage and to disengage from the actuator arm of a normally closed limit switch 52. As shown, arm 48 is resiliently biased out of engagement with the limit switch by means of a spring 54 whereas the arm 50 is resiliently biased toward engagement with the limit switch by means of a spring 56.

A suitable wiring diagram is shown in FIG. 3. Power is received into the system through the line 62, an on-off switch 64 being provided. Current is supplied to the motor 22 through the

switches

52 and 60 which have previously been described. In parallel with the

switches

52 and 60 there is preferably provided a resistor 66 and a capacitor 68 to protect the switches against arcing. If desired, a pilot light may be inserted across the line after the on-off switch 64 so that the winder will not be started accidentally, as when the operator lifts the arm 40 to put the tape under it when starting tape on the reel.

The operation of the apparatus of this invention should be apparent from the foregoing description. As will appear from FIG. I of the drawing, the tape 28 must pass over the various spools before feeding onto the reel. If the tension on the tape increases, due to the retarding or braking action of any device such as a reader or a perforator which is feeding the tape to the winder, the tension control arm 24 will be lifted, and at an approximately horizontal position in the preferred embodiment, it will engage the normally closed limit switch 60 and open the switch, thereby cutting off the motor and stopping the reel. As the tape continues to feed to the winder, the control arm will be lowered to below horizontal, thereby disengaging it from the limit switch and allowing it to close so that the motor will again be started and the reel will again begin winding tape. It is apparent that the tension on the tape is controlled entirely by the weight of the control arm, which is a constant value as opposed to the varying values previously obtained by use of springs. By pivoting the control arm on the axis of the reel and positioning it and the switch 60 so that the switch is opened and closed when the control arm is in a substantially horizontal position the moment arm is maintained substantially constant so that there is substantially no variation in the amount of tension applied to the tape during the winding operation.

Preferably, the drive train for the reel is provided with a brake and clutch system such as Series G Type GA motor with brake manufactured by Brevel Products Company, Carlsbad, NJ. which includes slip-clutch means between the motor and the reel so as to allow some slippage of the motor and the reel, up to l revolution, upon opening of a switch in the motor circuit. This prevents damages to the reduction gear unit and other elements in the system. However, the reel is still subject to relatively fast stops and starts which, in the absence of protective mechanism, would cause extreme stresses in the paper tape. This is particularly true at high velocities, such as velocities up to 500 codes per second, which some readers may reach. The present invention ensures the maintenance of substantially unifonn low tension on the tape under substantially all conditions of operation. The use of multiple upper and lower rollers on the arm 14 and the tension control arm 24 allows such rotation of the reel to continue without application of excessive tension on the tape since, in the embodiment shown in the drawing, the tape can move four times the distance that the rollers 26 move upwardly. Also, in this embodiment the force applied to the tape is only one-quarter that exerted by the weight of the rollers and the control arm, so that tension on the tape can be maintained at a value low enough to substantially reduce breakage.

The grooves 36 and feeler wheel 38 provide means for stopping the operation of the winding device if the tape breaks or otherwise comes to an end, in that the feeler wheel 38, being biased downwardly by the spring 56, will drop into the grooves 36, thereby causing the arm 50 to engage normally closed switch 52 and open it.

The full reel control arm 44 and wheel when the reel is filled and ride upwardly thereon, against the force of spring 54, thereby causing rotation of arm 48 until it engages the switch 52 to open the switch and thereby stop the reeling of tape.

Although the apparatus of this invention has been principally described herein in terms of its being used for winding of tape, it is apparent that it also has application for the unwinding of tape. The apparatus is particularly desirable for winding at extremely high speeds because of the safeguards which insure the maintenance of a precise and low tension on the tape. The tape is subject to substantial tension variations particularly at starting since the reel does not start instantaneously.

lf desired, a reversible motor might be used to use the same apparatus for both feeding and winding. A normally open switch would be substituted for the switch 60 when using the machine as a feeder.

Various embodiments of the invention are shown in the drawing and described in the specification, but many variations thereof will be apparent to those skilled in the art. it is not practical to show or describe all the variations included within the invention, and therefore the embodiments described should be considered illustrative only, and not limiting, the scope of the invention being as broad as is defined by the appended claims. The form of the claims and the specification, including the abstract, is adopted solely for easier reading and understanding, and should not be considered in interpreting the scope of the invention claimed.

lclaim:

1. Tape winding apparatus comprising:

a motor-driven reel mounted on a shaft,

a tension control arm having a plurality of closely spaced control rollers rotatably mounted on one end and a mum terbalance weight on the other end, normally extending substantially horizontally,

said control arm being pivotally mounted about an axis concentric with said shaft,

the pivot point of said control arm being located so that the end bearing the rollers tends to move downwardly,

a plurality of closely spaced fixed rollers numbering one more than said control rollers mounted substantially directly above said control rollers, whereby tape passed first over a fixed roller, then alternately under a control roller and over a fixed roller, and finally onto said reel, is substantially vertical between the control rollers and the fixed rollers, and

a first switch connected to start and stop the motor driving said reel, said first switch being positioned for engagement by said control arm to stop the motor when the control arm moves upwardly beyond a substantially horizontal position and to start the motor when the control arm moves downwardly beyond said substantially horizontal 46 engage the tape position, whereby the tension on tape being reeled is maintained substantially constant at a level determined entirely by the non-counterbalanced weight of the control arm.

2. Apparatus as defined by claim 1 including:

a motor connected for driving said reel, and

clutch and brake means intermediate the reel and the motor adapted to limit rotation of said reel to less than 1 revolution after said motor stops.

3. Apparatus as defined by claim 1 wherein:

said control arm is movable, after engagement with said first switch, a distance sufficient to feed tape onto said reel until said reel stops.

4. Apparatus as defined by claim 1 including:

tape-out control means engaging the tape, and

means connected to said tape-out control means to start and stop said reel, respectively, when tape is present in said control means and when tape is not present in said control means.

5. Apparatus as defined by claim 1 including:

a follower roller engaging the tape,

at least one of said fixed rollers having an annular groove whereby said follower roller penetrates said groove in the absence of tape, and

a second switch connected to said first switch and to said follower roller to start said reel when said follower roller does not penetrate said groove and to stop said reel when said follower roller penetrates said groove.

6. Apparatus as defined by claim 1 including a second switch connected to said first switch, a full reel control arm engageable with said second switch and positioned for engagement by tape on said reel when said reel is substantially full of tape to turn off said second switch.

7. Tape winding apparatus comprising:

a main power frame supporting a motor with a shaft,

a reel mounted on said shaft,

a tension control arm pivotally mounted about an axis concentric with said shaft whereby said reel and said tension control arm can be mounted on either side of said main power frame,

said tension control arm having a plurality of closely spaced control rollers rotatably mounted on one end and a counterbalance weight on the other end, normally extending substantially horizontally,

a plurality of closely spaced fixed rollers numbering one more than said control rollers mounted substantially directly above said control rollers, whereby tape passed first over a fixed roller, then alternately under a control roller and over a fixed roller, and finally onto said reel, is substantially vertical between the control rollers and the fixed rollers,

said motor being bi-directional permitting the apparatus to function either as a winder or a feeder of tape, said motor having a directional selecting switch,

a first switch connected to start and stop said motor driving said reel, said first switch being positioned for engagement by said control arm to stop said motor when said control arm moves upwardly beyond a substantially horizontal position and to start said motor when said control arm moves downwardly beyond said substantially horizontal position, whereby the tension on tape being reeled is maintained substantially constant at a level determined entirely by the non-counterbalanced weight of said control arm,

said tension control arm being movable, after engagement with said first switch, a distance sulficient to feed tape onto said reel until said reel stops, the tension on said tape being constant,

at least one of said fixed rollers having an annular groove,

a second switch connected to said first switch and said motor to start and stop said reel,

and positioned for engagement by said tape on said reel when said reel is substantially full of tape to turn off said second switch, and

clutch and brake means intermediate said reel and said motor adapted to limit rotation of said reel to less than I revolution afier said motor stops.

i I I Q l

Claims

1. Tape winding apparatus comprising: a motor-driven reel mounted on a shaft, a tension control arm having a plurality of cLosely spaced control rollers rotatably mounted on one end and a counterbalance weight on the other end, normally extending substantially horizontally, said control arm being pivotally mounted about an axis concentric with said shaft, the pivot point of said control arm being located so that the end bearing the rollers tends to move downwardly, a plurality of closely spaced fixed rollers numbering one more than said control rollers mounted substantially directly above said control rollers, whereby tape passed first over a fixed roller, then alternately under a control roller and over a fixed roller, and finally onto said reel, is substantially vertical between the control rollers and the fixed rollers, and a first switch connected to start and stop the motor driving said reel, said first switch being positioned for engagement by said control arm to stop the motor when the control arm moves upwardly beyond a substantially horizontal position and to start the motor when the control arm moves downwardly beyond said substantially horizontal position, whereby the tension on tape being reeled is maintained substantially constant at a level determined entirely by the non-counterbalanced weight of the control arm.

2. Apparatus as defined by claim 1 including: a motor connected for driving said reel, and clutch and brake means intermediate the reel and the motor adapted to limit rotation of said reel to less than 1 revolution after said motor stops.

3. Apparatus as defined by claim 1 wherein: said control arm is movable, after engagement with said first switch, a distance sufficient to feed tape onto said reel until said reel stops.

4. Apparatus as defined by claim 1 including: tape-out control means engaging the tape, and means connected to said tape-out control means to start and stop said reel, respectively, when tape is present in said control means and when tape is not present in said control means.

5. Apparatus as defined by claim 1 including: a follower roller engaging the tape, at least one of said fixed rollers having an annular groove whereby said follower roller penetrates said groove in the absence of tape, and a second switch connected to said first switch and to said follower roller to start said reel when said follower roller does not penetrate said groove and to stop said reel when said follower roller penetrates said groove.

7. Tape winding apparatus comprising: a main power frame supporting a motor with a shaft, a reel mounted on said shaft, a tension control arm pivotally mounted about an axis concentric with said shaft whereby said reel and said tension control arm can be mounted on either side of said main power frame, said tension control arm having a plurality of closely spaced control rollers rotatably mounted on one end and a counterbalance weight on the other end, normally extending substantially horizontally, the pivot point of said control arm being located so that the end bearing the rollers tends to move downwardly, a plurality of closely spaced fixed rollers numbering one more than said control rollers mounted substantially directly above said control rollers, whereby tape passed first over a fixed roller, then alternately under a control roller and over a fixed roller, and finally onto said reel, is substantially vertical between the control rollers and the fixed rollers, said motor being bi-directional permitting the apparatus to function either as a winder or a feeder of tape, said motor having a directional selecting switch, a first switch connected to start and stop said motor driving said reel, said first switch being positioned for engagement by saiD control arm to stop said motor when said control arm moves upwardly beyond a substantially horizontal position and to start said motor when said control arm moves downwardly beyond said substantially horizontal position, whereby the tension on tape being reeled is maintained substantially constant at a level determined entirely by the non-counterbalanced weight of said control arm, said tension control arm being movable, after engagement with said first switch, a distance sufficient to feed tape onto said reel until said reel stops, the tension on said tape being constant, at least one of said fixed rollers having an annular groove, a second switch connected to said first switch and said motor to start and stop said reel, a pivotable tape-out control arm engageable with said second switch, a follower wheel on said tape-out control arm positioned to run on said tape over said groove, and biased to drop into said groove when no tape is passing over said fixed rollers, thereby moving said tape-out control arm to a position to turn off said second switch, a full reel control arm engageable with said second switch and positioned for engagement by said tape on said reel when said reel is substantially full of tape to turn off said second switch, and clutch and brake means intermediate said reel and said motor adapted to limit rotation of said reel to less than 1 revolution after said motor stops.