Tape wrapping machine with controllable tensioning

Abstract

A tape wrapping machine is provided for wrapping a moving length of tape onto a moving length of hose that is moving relative to the machine and the length of tape with controlled tape tension, and lay angle during wrapping. An adjustable guide arm supporting a moving length of tape is mounted on a rotating shuttle plate, and is adapted to pivot toward and away from a length of hose between a first position and at least one second position so as to provide a plurality of angular relationships between the guide arm and the moving length of hose. A first tension transducer is arranged so as to support the length of tape and a second, reference transducer is positioned in spaced diametric relation to the first transducer. A reference signal from the second transducer is subtracted from a signal from the first representing the centrifugal force plus the tape tension applied to the first transducer. The result of this subtraction yields a signal that represents the tension in the tape. This signal is communicated to a computing and control device where the speed of the tension controlling motor is dynamically altered to maintain a specified tension.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A machine for wrapping a moving length of tape onto a moving length of hose that is moving relative to said machine and said length of tape, said machine comprising: 
 a frame supporting a shuttle plate and a tension plate in parallel spaced relation to one another, said shuttle plate and said tension plate comprising a central bore for receiving said moving length of hose, and said tension plate supporting a supply of said tape;    a first motor supported by said frame and operatively engaging said shuttle plate so as to rotate said shuttle plate relative to said frame, and a second motor supported by said frame and operatively engaging said tension plate so as to rotate said tension plate relative to said shuttle plate;    a spindle head mounted adjacent to said shuttle plate having a tube positioned in coaxial relation to said central bore so as to receive said length of hose, and a guide arm having a first end pivotally mounted on said tube so that said guide arm pivots relative to said tube between a first position and at least one second position wherein said moving length of tape continuously engages said guide arm prior to wrappingly engaging said length of hose so as to be guided at a preselected angular relation to said hose during said wrapping of said moving length of hose.    
     
     
         2 . A machine according to  claim 1  comprising a tension measuring assembly mounted on said shuttle plate and positioned so as to support and direct said moving length of tape from said supply of said tape into wrapping engagement with said moving length of hose, said tension measuring assembly comprising at least two transducers wherein at least one transducer is engaged by said moving length of tape so as to provide a measure of tension in said moving length of tape, and wherein said second motor is continuously adjusted based on said measure of tension in said moving length of tape.  
     
     
         3 . A machine according to  claim 1  comprising a nose assembly projecting outwardly from a nose hub supported by said frame, and arranged in coaxially aligned relation to said central bore, said nose assembly including said tube, said guide arm, and means for pivoting said guide arm.  
     
     
         4 . A machine according to  claim 1  wherein said tube comprises a semi-cylindrical cross-section having an upwardly opening longitudinal slot extending along a portion of its length so as to provide access to said length of tape.  
     
     
         5 . A machine according to  claim 4  wherein said tube comprises a pivot yoke formed on a top portion thereof, adjacent to said slot and a pivot shaft positioned through said pivot yoke, said guide arm comprising a cylindrical rod having a pivot lug positioned at an end wherein said pivot lug includes a through-bore that is sized so as to accept a portion of said pivot shaft.  
     
     
         6 . A machine according to  claim 5  including an actuator assembly comprising a DC motor driven linear actuator interconnected with a clevis and lever arm that are operatively engaged with said pivot shaft for selected pivotal movement of said guide arm between said first position and said at least one second position.  
     
     
         7 . A machine according to  claim 5  wherein said actuator assembly includes an angle pointer mounted to an end of said pivot shaft and an angle scale mounted adjacent to said angle pointer, and including graduation lines that are related to the angular orientation of said guide arm relative to said moving length of hose.  
     
     
         8 . A machine according to  claim 1  wherein said guide arm is pivotally adjustable toward and away from said tube, between said first position and said at least one second position so as to provide a plurality of angular relationships between said guide arm and said hose.  
     
     
         9 . A machine according to  claim 1  wherein said moving length of tape continuously engages a portion of said guide arm so that a lay angle of said length of tape on said moving length of hose may be selectively adjusted by movement of said guide arm between said first position and a plurality of angularly spaced positions relative to said hose.  
     
     
         10 . A machine according to  claim 7  wherein an angular relationship of said guide arm to said moving length of hose is displayed at the intersection between said angle pointer and said graduation lines.  
     
     
         11 . A machine for wrapping a moving length of tape onto a moving length of hose that is moving relative to said machine and said length of tape, said machine comprising: 
 a frame supporting a shuttle plate and a tension plate in parallel spaced relation to one another, said shuttle plate and said tension plate comprising a central bore for receiving said moving length of hose, and said tension plate supporting a supply of said tape;    a first motor supported by said frame and operatively engaging said shuttle plate so as to rotate said shuttle plate relative to said frame, and a second motor supported by said frame and operatively engaging said tension plate so as to rotate said tension plate relative to said shuttle plate;    a spindle head mounted to said shuttle plate having a tube positioned in coaxial relation to said central bore so as to receive said moving length of hose; and    a tension measuring assembly mounted on said shuttle plate and positioned so as to support and direct said moving length of tape from said supply of tape into engagement with said moving length of hose wherein said tension measuring assembly includes a first tension transducer arranged so as to support said length of tape and a second transducer positioned in spaced diametric relation to said first transducer.    
     
     
         12 . A machine according to  claim 11  wherein said first transducer is engaged by said moving length of tape so as to provide a measure of tension in said moving length of tape, and wherein said second motor is continuously adjusted based on said measure of tension in said moving length of tape.  
     
     
         13 . A machine according to  claim 11  wherein said tension control assembly includes a transducer guide cage arranged in surrounding relation to said first transducer and at least one tape guide positioned on a peripheral edge of said shuttle plate and circumferentially spaced from said transducer guide cage.  
     
     
         14 . A machine according to  claim 11  wherein said first and second transducers are positioned at about 180 degrees apart from one another on the peripheral edge of said shuttle plate.  
     
     
         15 . A machine according to  claim 11  wherein a guide arm having a first end pivotally mounted on said tube of said spindle head so that said guide arm pivots relative to said tube between a first position and at least one second position wherein said moving length of tape continuously engages said guide arm prior to wrappingly engaging said length of hose so as to be guided at a preselected angular relation to said hose during said wrapping of said moving length of hose.  
     
     
         16 . A machine for wrapping a moving length of tape onto a moving length of hose that is moving relative to said machine and said moving length of tape, said machine comprising: 
 a frame supporting a shuttle plate and a tension plate in parallel spaced relation to one another, said shuttle plate and said tension plate comprising a central bore for receiving said moving length of hose, and said tension plate supporting a supply of said tape;    a first motor supported by said frame and operatively engaging said shuttle plate so as to rotate said shuttle plate relative to said frame, and a second motor supported by said frame and operatively engaging said tension plate so as to rotate said tension plate relative to said shuttle plate;    a spindle head mounted to said shuttle plate having a tube positioned in coaxial relation to said central bore so as to receive said moving length of hose, a guide arm having a first end pivotally mounted on said tube so that said guide arm pivots relative to said tube between a first position and at least one second position; and    a tension control assembly mounted on said shuttle plate and positioned so as to support and direct said moving length of tape from said supply to engagement with said moving length of hose wherein said moving length of tape continuously engages a portion of said guide arm and wherein said tension control assembly includes;    a first tension transducer arranged so as to support said moving length of tape and a second transducer positioned in spaced diametric relation to said first transducer;    means for computing a difference signal from respective output signals from said first and second transducers;    wherein said difference signal comprises a measure of tension in said moving length of tape that is communicated to said second motor by said computing and communicating means, and wherein said second motor speed is continuously adjusted to control said measure of tension in said moving length of tape.    
     
     
         17 . A machine for wrapping a moving length of tape onto a moving length of hose that is moving relative to said machine and said length of tape wherein said moving length of tape comprises at least one edge, said machine comprising: 
 a frame supporting a shuttle plate and a tension plate in parallel spaced relation to one another, said shuttle plate and said tension plate comprising a central bore for receiving said moving length of hose, and said tension plate supporting a supply of said tape;    a first motor supported by said frame and operatively engaging said shuttle plate so as to rotate said shuttle plate relative to said frame, and a second motor supported by said frame and operatively engaging said tension plate so as to rotate said tension plate relative to said shuttle plate;    a spindle head mounted adjacent to said shuttle plate having a tube positioned in coaxial relation to said central bore so as to receive said length of hose, and a guide arm having a first end pivotally mounted on said tube so that said guide arm pivots relative to said tube between a first position and at least one second position wherein said moving length of tape continuously engages said guide arm prior to wrappingly engaging said length of hose so as to be guided at a preselected angular relation to said hose during said wrapping of said moving length of hose; and    a sensor positioned on said spindle head and adjacent to said edge of said moving length of tape and arranged to sense lateral position of said edge of said tape past said sensor.    
     
     
         18 . A method for adjusting the lay angle of a moving length of tape being wrapped onto a moving length of hose comprising: 
 positioning a pivotable guide arm so as to support a length of tape wherein said length of tape continuously engages a portion of said guide arm; and    pivoting said guide arm toward and away from said length of hose between a first position and at least one second position so as to provide a plurality of angular relationships between said guide arm and said length of hose and thereby adjust the lay angle of the tape on the hose.    
     
     
         19 . A method for determining the tension in a moving length of tape being wrapped onto a moving length of hose comprising: 
 mounting a first tension transducer on a rotating plate so as to support a length of said moving tape;    mounting a second transducer on said rotating plate in spaced diametric relation to said first transducer;    reading and storing a reference signal transmitted by said second transducer that represents the centrifugal force generated by said second transducer as said plate rotates;    reading and storing a tension signal transmitted by said first transducer that represents the centrifugal force plus the tape tension applied to said first transducer;    subtracting said reference signal from said tension signal and storing a resultant signal which is representative of the tension in said tape.    
     
     
         20 . A method for adjusting the lay angle of a moving length of tape being wrapped onto a moving length of hose comprising: 
 positioning a pivotable guide arm so as to support a length of tape wherein said length of tape continuously engages a portion of said guide arm; and    pivoting said guide arm toward and away from said length of hose between a first position and at least one second position so as to provide a plurality of angular relationships between said guide arm and said length of hose and thereby adjust the lay angle of the tape on the hose;    monitoring an edge of said moving length of tape so as to sense translational position of said edge of said tape.    
     
     
         21 . A machine for wrapping a moving length of tape onto a moving length of hose that is moving relative to said machine and said length of tape, said machine comprising: 
 a frame supporting a shuttle plate and a tension plate in parallel spaced relation to one another, said shuttle plate and said tension plate comprising a central bore for receiving said moving length of hose, and said tension plate supporting a supply of said tape;    a first motor supported by said frame and operatively engaging said shuttle plate so as to rotate said shuttle plate relative to said frame, and a second motor supported by said frame and operatively engaging said tension plate so as to rotate said tension plate relative to said shuttle plate;    a spindle head mounted adjacent to said shuttle plate having a tube positioned in coaxial relation to said central bore so as to receive said length of hose, and a guide arm having a first end pivotally mounted on said tube so that said guide arm pivots relative to said tube between a first position and at least one second position wherein said moving length of tape continuously engages said guide arm prior to wrappingly engaging said length of hose so as to be guided at a preselected angular relation to said hose during said wrapping of said moving length of hose; and    a tension measuring assembly mounted on said shuttle plate and positioned so as to support and direct said moving length of tape from said supply of said tape into wrapping engagement with said moving length of hose, said tension measuring assembly comprising two transducers wherein one transducer is engaged by said moving length of tape so as to provide a measure of tension in said moving length of tape, and wherein said second motor is continuously adjusted based on said measure of tension in said moving length of tape.    
     
     
         22 . A machine for wrapping a moving length of tape onto a moving length of hose that is moving relative to said machine and said length of tape, said machine comprising: 
 a frame supporting a shuttle plate and a tension plate in parallel spaced relation to one another, said shuttle plate and said tension plate comprising a central bore for receiving said moving length of hose, and said tension plate supporting a supply of said tape;    a first motor supported by said frame and operatively engaging said shuttle plate so as to rotate said shuttle plate relative to said frame, and a second motor supported by said frame and operatively engaging said tension plate so as to rotate said tension plate relative to said shuttle plate;    a spindle head mounted adjacent to said shuttle plate having a tube positioned in coaxial relation to said central bore so as to receive said length of hose, said tube comprising a semi-cylindrical cross-section having an upwardly opening longitudinal slot extending along a portion of its length so as to provide access to said length of tape and a pivot yoke formed on a top portion, adjacent to said slot and a pivot shaft positioned through said pivot yoke; and a guide arm having a first end pivotally mounted on said tube so that said guide arm pivots relative to said tube between a first position and at least one second position, said guide arm comprising a cylindrical rod having a pivot lug positioned at an end wherein said pivot lug includes a through-bore that is sized so as to accept a portion of said pivot shaft wherein said moving length of tape continuously engages said guide arm prior to wrappingly engaging said length of hose so as to be guided at a preselected angular relation to said hose during said wrapping of said moving length of hose; and    an actuator assembly comprising a DC motor driven linear actuator interconnected with a clevis and lever arm that are operatively engaged with said pivot shaft for selected pivotal movement of said guide arm between said first position and said at least one second position.