WO1992004139A1

WO1992004139A1 - Coil spring take-up apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO1992004139A1
Application number: PCT/US1991/004315
Authority: WO
Inventors: Gerald A. Shively; Robert A. Arnold; Timothy J. Callison
Original assignee: W S SHAMBAN AND Co
Current assignee: W S SHAMBAN AND Co
Priority date: 1990-09-05
Filing date: 1991-06-17
Publication date: 1992-03-19
Anticipated expiration: 1993-03-05

Abstract

An apparatus (10) for receiving and winding long lengths of axially rotating coil spring (26) onto a take-up spool (44). The apparatus (10) includes a synchronizing frame having a front section (38), middle section (40) and rear section (42). A take-up spool (44) is mounted transversely in the rear section (42) of the synchronizing frame (28) to receive the coil spring (26) as it is fed into the synchronizing frame (28). During operation, the synchronizing frame (28) is rotated about the same axis as the axially rotating spring (26) and at the same rotation speed to provide winding of long lengths of spring onto the take-up spool (44).

Description

COIL SPRING TAKE-UP APPARATUS

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention;

The present invention relates generally to the production of long lengths of coil spring. More particularly, the present invention relates to an apparatus for winding long lengths of axially rotating coil spring onto a take-up spool.

2. Description of Related Art: Coil helical springs are made according to numerous procedures which utilize a variety of different equipment. One common procedure involves feeding wire strip into a die which bends and shapes the wire strip into the desired coil spring. This type of procedure is used to make a wide range of coil helical spring sizes and types. The apparatus used to make coil helical spring according to this procedure includes a stationary drive or feed section which typically includes a series of rollers or drive devices which force the wire strip into a stationary die. The die is shaped to form the wire strip into coils having a specific diameter and to impart a desired spacing between the coils.

The coil springs which are produced according to the above procedure inherently rotate about their axial or longitudinal axis as they exit the die. This axial rotation is not a problem when coil springs of relatively short lengths are being made. However, this axial rotation presents problems when longer lengths of spring are being made. The axial rotation which is continually imparted to the spring causes the growing length of spring to twist and thrash about uncontrollably. Any attempt to control or stop the axial rotation of the growing spring results in binding and eventual destruction of the spring. There presently is a need to provide an apparatus which will take-up such axially rotating coil helical springs in a continuous manner as the spring leaves the die. The apparatus must be capable of receiving and storing long lengths of spring while at the same time compensating for the continual axial rotation of the spring.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the present invention, an apparatus is provided which is capable of winding long lengths of axially rotating coil spring onto a take-up spool as the spring is manufactured. The apparatus in accordance with the present invention is designed to compensate for the axial rotation of the spring so that the prior problems associated with the production of long lengths of axially rotating spring are eliminated.

The apparatus of the present invention is based on a system which includes a synchronizing frame having a front section, middle section and a rear section. The front section of the synchronizing frame includes an opening through which the axially rotating coil spring is fed at a pre-selected rate. A take-up spool is mounted transversely in the rear of the synchronizing frame to receive the coil spring as it is fed into the synchronizing frame. A spring guide is located in the middle section of the synchronizing frame to guide the axially rotating coil spring onto the take-up spool. During operation, the take-up spool is rotated at a sufficient rate to take-up the coil spring at the pre¬ selected spring feed rate. At the same time, the synchronizing frame is rotated about the same axis as the axially rotating spring and at the same axial rotation speed to compenate for the axial rotation of the coil spring and provide winding of long lengths of spring onto the take-up spool without binding. As a feature of the present invention, long lengths of relatively small diameter coil springs (i.e., diameters less than one inch) may be wound onto a take- up spool rapidly and without undesirable tension or stress due to axial rotation of the spring. In addition, a wide variety of coil spring types may be wound including slanted coil springs.

The above discussed and many other features and attendant advantages of the present invention will become better understood by reference to the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a top view of a preferred exemplary embodiment of a coil spring take-up apparatus in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of FIG. 1 taken in the 2-2 plane. FIG. 3 is a sectional view of FIG. 1 taken in the

3-3 plane.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The apparatus of the present invention may be used in a wide variety of situations where it is necessary to wind or take-up an axially rotating coil spring onto a take-up spool. Although the apparatus may be used to take-up axially rotating coil springs having a wide range of sizes, the apparatus is particularly well suited for taking up long lengths of coil springs having diameters of one inch or less. Such springs are typically made from wire having cross-sectional diameters of 0.25 inch or less. The type of coil spring which can be handled by this apparatus includes both conventional coil springs and slanted coil springs as described in United States Patent No. 3,323,785. A preferred exemplary apparatus in accordance with the present invention is shown generally at 10 in FIG. 1. The apparatus 10 includes a housing 12 which defines a synchronizing frame rotation zone 14. The housing 12 includes a front end 16, rear end 18 and sides 20 and 22. The front end 16 includes an opening 24 through which the axially rotating coil spring 26 is fed into the apparatus.

The axially rotating coil spring 26 is continually made by conventional spring manufacturing equipment such as the Torrington-type equipment (not shown) . The coil spring 26 is fed through opening 24 at a pre-selected spring feed rate. The spring feed rate is determined by the speed at which the spring manufacturing equipment is operated. The spring feed rate will vary widely depending upon the particular equipment being utilized, the type of spring being made and the speed at which the wire is fed into the spring forming die. In all cases, the coil spring 26 will be rotating about its longitudinal axis as it enters through opening 24. The rate of axial rotation will also vary depending upon the above discussed manufacturing parameters.

A synchronizing frame 28 is rotatably mounted within the housing 12. The means for mounting frame 28 to housing 12 include collars 30 and 32 which are housed within ball bearing or bushing assembles located in the front and rear housing walls 16 and 18, respectively. An exemplary bearing assembly 34 is shown in FIG. 3. The collars 30 and 32 may be attached to the synchronizing frame 28 by any suitable means including threaded fasteners 36 as shown in FIG. 1, welding or any other suitable secure attachments.

The synchronizing frame 28 has a front section 38, middle section 40 and rear section 42. A take-up spool 44 is mounted transversely in the rear section 42 of the synchronizing frame 28. The take-up spool 44 is positioned to receive the coil spring 26 as it is fed into the synchronizing frame 28. The take-up spool is rotated about its own axis at a sufficient rate to take- up the axially rotating coil spring 26 as it enters into the synchronizing frame 28 at the pre-selected spring feed rate.

Means for rotating the spool 44 to take up the coil spring is provided by a motor driven drive assembly shown generally at 46. As best shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the motor driven drive assembly 46 includes motor 48, drive chain or belt 50 and drive gears 52 and 54. Bearing housing 56 is provided to ensure secure housing of drive shaft 58 which imparts rotation to spool 44.

The take-up spool 44 is mounted between holding brackets 60 and 62. The holding brackets 60 and 62 are shaped to receive and firmly mount the take-up spool for rotatably receiving the axially rotating spring 26. In order to allow insertion of empty spools and removal of full spools, the mounting bracket 62 may be retracted away from spool 44. Retraction is accomplished by pulling handle 64 away from the synchronizing frame 28. The handle 64 is connected to shaft 66 which in turn is connected to the mounting bracket 62. A compression spring 68 is provided to ensure continual bias of the mounting bracket 62 against spool 44 to maintain secure mounting of the spool between the mounting brackets 60 and 62 during winding of coil spring 26 onto the spool 44.

A spring guide mechanism shown generally at 70 is provided for guiding the axially rotating spring 26 onto the take-up spool 44. The spring guide mechanism 70 includes a spring guide 72 which is mounted on threaded shaft 74. The threaded shaft 74 is housed within bearing assemblies 76 and 78 located on the sides of the synchronizing frame 28. The spring guide 72 is shaped to provide controlled feeding of coil spring 26 onto the take-up spool 44. Transverse movement of the spring guide 72 back and forth provides for uniform distribution of the spring onto the take-up spool 44. As best shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the threaded shaft 74 is rotatably driven by drive motor 80 which is connected to drive gear 82 which drives gear 84 via belt or chain 86. The spring guide drive shaft 74 is threaded in both directions so that the guide 72 may be controllably moved back and forth.

Both of the drive motors 48 and 80 are connected to a control panel shown generally at 88. The control panel 88 receives input from the spring manufacturing equipment with respect to the rates at which the coil spring is being fed into the take-up apparatus 10 and the rate at which the coil spring is axially rotating. The control panel 88 automatically operates motors 48 and 80 at the speed necessary to provide take-up of spring 26 onto spool 44. The control panel 88 also controls a drive motor (not shown) which rotates synchronizing frame 28 about the same longitudinal axis as the coil spring 26 at the same axial rotation rate. The control panel 88 also includes the necessary electrical equipment and override controls to allow manual control of motors 48, 80 and the motor used to drive rotation of synchronizing frame 28. When under manual control, the rate at which the coil spring is being fed into the take-up apparatus can be visually determined and the rotational speed of take-up spool 44 and translational movement of guide 72 may be manually controlled to ensure a tight and uniform winding of coil spring 26 onto spool 44. In addition, the rotational speed of the synchronizing frame 28 may be manually controlled through visual inspection to ensure that the rotational speed of the synchronizing frame 28 is the same as the axial rotation speed of the coil spring to prevent the formation of axial tensions and torquing within the coil spring as it is continually wound onto spool 44. The synchronizing frame 28 is shown as a rectangular frame made from rectangular metal plates which are bolted together. Other frame shapes are possible which can be made from a variety of materials. Since the synchronizing frame 28 will many times be rotating at relatively high speed, it is important that the mounting collars 30 and 32 be located to provide a rotationally balanced frame. Accordingly, the location of the mounting collars shown in FIG. 1 can be changed depending upon the location of various elements within the synchronizing frame, such as motors 48 and 80. If the mounting collars 30 and 32 are not located at the rotational center of gravity of the synchronizing frame 28, the frame will be out of balance and result in undesirable vibrations during high speed rotation of the frame. An out of balance condition may be tolerated if the take-up apparatus is intended to receive and wind only coil springs that have a relatively low rate of axial rotation. In operation, the above described preferred exemplary embodiment of the present invention can be used to continuously take-up long lengths of axially rotating coil spring. The only limitation is that the equipment must be occasionally stopped to change spools as they become fully loaded with coil spring.

Having thus described exemplary embodiments of the present invention, it should be noted by those skilled in the art that the within disclosures are exemplary only and that various other alternatives, adaptations and modifications may be made within the scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments as illustrated herein, but is only limited by the following claims.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for winding an axially rotating coil spring onto a take-up spool, said apparatus comprising: a synchronizing frame comprising a front section, a middle section and a rear section, said front section including an opening in said synchronizing frame through which an axially rotating coil spring is fed into said synchronizing frame at a pre-selected spring feed rate; a take-up spool mounted transversely in the rear section of said synchronizing frame, said take-up spool having a rotational axis which is transverse to the rotational axis of said axially rotating coil spring, said take-up spool being positioned to receive said coil spring as said spring is fed into said synchronizing frame; means for rotating said take-up spool at a sufficient rate to take-up said axially rotating coil spring at said pre-selected spring feed rate; a spring guide located in the middle section of said synchronizing frame for guiding said axially rotating coil spring onto said take-up spool; and means for rotating said synchronizing frame about the same axis as said axially rotating coil spring and at the same axial rotation speed as said coil spring to provide winding of said spring onto said take-up spool.

2. An apparatus for winding an axially rotating coil spring onto a take-up spool according to claim 1 which further comprises means for removably mounting said take-up spool in the rear section of said synchronizing frame.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1 for winding an axially rotating coil spring onto a take-up spool wherein said synchronizing frame is a rectangular frame comprising a front plate which includes said opening in said synchronizing frame, a rear plate and two side plates extending therebetween.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1 for winding an axially rotating coil spring onto a take-up spool wherein said means for rotating said synchronizing frame comprises: a housing having a front end, rear end and sides which define a synchronizing frame rotation zone, said housing front end having an opening through which said coil spring is fed; means for rotatably mounting said synchronizing frame between the front and rear ends of said housing; variable drive means for rotating said synchronizing frame at different axial rotation speeds; and means for controlling the axial rotation speed of said synchronizing frame to be substantially the same as the axial rotation speed of said coil spring.

5. An apparatus according to claim 4 for winding an axially rotating coil spring onto a take-up spool wherein said synchronizing frame is a rectangular frame comprising a front plate which includes said opening in said synchronizing frame, a rear plate and two side plates extending therebetween.

6. A method for winding an axially rotating coil spring onto a take-up spool comprising the steps of: providing a synchronizing frame comprising a front section, a middle section and a rear section, said front section including an opening in said synchronizing frame; feeding an axially rotating coil spring through said opening in said synchronizing frame at a pre-selected spring feed rate; taking up said axially rotating coil spring onto a take-up spool mounted transversely in the rear section of said synchronizing frame, said take-up spool having a rotational axis which is transverse to the rotational axis of said axially rotating coil spring, said take-up spool being positioned to receive said coil spring as said spring is fed into said synchronizing frame; rotating said take-up spool at a sufficient rate to take-up said axially rotating coil spring at said pre-selected spring feed rate; and rotating said synchronizing frame about the same axis as said axially rotating coil spring and at the same axial rotation speed as said coil spring to provide winding of said spring onto said take-up spool.

7. A method for winding an axially rotating coil spring onto a take-up spool according to claim 6 including the step of guiding said coil spring onto said take-up spool.

8. A method for winding an axially rotating coil spring onto a take-up spool according to claim 6 wherein the rotation of said take-up spool and the rotation of said synchronizing frame are automatically controlled.

9. A method for winding an axially rotating coil spring onto a take-up spool according to claim 6 wherein the rotation of said take-up spool and the rotation of said synchronizing frame is manually controlled.