Device for traversing a flexible linear product for spooling

Abstract

A linear traverse mechanism for guiding the spooling of a flexible linear product at high speed, made possible by reducing the inertial load of the mechanism while reducing the angular deflection of the filament. The mechanism includes a pivotally mounted guide arm controlled by an electric motor having precision indexing ratio characteristics to compensate for linear error. In one embodiment, the linear product is fed through a guiding means carried by said traverse arm to be discharged adjacent a receiving spool.

1 . In a device for traversing a linear flexible product for winding upon a spool or core, said device including a pivotally mounted traverse arm, a rotating motor, and a link interconnecting a point on a rotating part of said motor with a point on said traverse arm for imparting arcuate motion thereto over a predetermined arcuate path, the improvement comprising: means for controlling rotation of said motor through arcuate sectors of 180 degrees and less, such that a free end of said traverse arm moves at a substantially uniform rate of traverse over said predetermined path.  
     
     
         2 . The improvement set forth in    claim 1   , in which said means comprises: motor means for driving said spool at predetermined uniform angular velocity, an electronic controller feedback means driven by rotation of said spool for generating and feeding a reference signal to said controller, said controller including a ratio block for determining the ratio between said motor means and said rotating motor; and a process control device for selecting ratio and position criteria, and communicating said criteria to said controller.  
     
     
         3 . The improvement set forth in    claim 2   , in which said process control device is manually adjusted.  
     
     
         4 . The improvement set forth in    claim 1   , in which the linear flexible product is fed coaxially with respect to a pivot axis of said traverse arm, and parallel to said arm to be discharged from said arm adjacent a free end of said traverse arm.  
     
     
         5 . The improvement in accordance with    claim 4   , said traverse arm including tubular guiding means adjacent said free end thereof.  
     
     
         6 . In a device for traversing a linear flexible product for winding upon a spool or core, said device including a pivotally mounted traverse arm, a rotating motor, and a link interconnecting a rotating part of said motor with a point on said traverse arm, the improvement comprising means on said arm for receiving said product along a path of motion substantially coaxial with respect to a pivot axis of said arm, and guiding means on said arm for guiding said product to a point of discharge adjacent said spool.