Apparatus for fixturing a spool on a wire winding machine

Abstract

An apparatus for fixturing a spool on a wire winding machine. The invention provides a winding fixture rotatably driven about a rotational axis and fixture and cooperatively engageable with the spool. The jaw member is movable between a first clamped position, wherein the jaw member is adjacent the spool, and a second clamped position, wherein the jaw member engages the spool and maintains the position of the spool relative to the winding fixture in response to a centrifugal force created by the rotation of said winding fixture. The jaw member provides a slotted aperture therein for cooperatively receiving a pivot pin that is connected to the winding fixture. The jaw member has an engaging end adjacent the spool and a weighted end opposite the engaging end. In response to the centrifugal force created by the rotation of the winding fixture, the weighted end of the jaw member moves outward away from the rotational axis of the winding fixture allowing the pivot pin to move along the slotted aperture in the jaw member and allowing said engaging end of the jaw member to engage the spool.

In the claims:  
     
         1 . An apparatus for fixturing a spool on a wire winding machine, comprising: 
 a winding fixture rotatably driven about a rotational axis and receivably coupled to said spool; and    at least one jaw member operably connected to said winding fixture and cooperatively engageable with said spool, wherein said at least one jaw member is movable between a first clamped position, wherein said jaw member is adjacent said spool, and a second clamped position, wherein said jaw member engages said spool and maintains a position of said spool relative to said winding fixture in response to a centrifugal force created by the rotation of said winding fixture.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus as stated in  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 at least one pivot pin connected to said winding fixture; and    said at least one jaw member having a slotted aperture therein for operatively receiving said at least one pivot pin.    
     
     
         3 . The apparatus as stated in  claim 2 , further comprising: 
 said slotted aperture in said at least one jaw member having a first end and a second end wherein said at least one pivot pin is located at said first end of said slotted aperture when said jaw member is in said first clamped position, and said at least one pivot pin is located away from said first end of said slotted aperture toward said second end of said slotted aperture, when said at least one jaw member is in said second clamped position.    
     
     
         4 . The apparatus stated in  claim 3 , further comprising: 
 said at least one jaw member having an engaging end for engaging said spool and a weighted end opposite said engaging end, and in response to the centrifugal force created by the rotation of said winding fixture, said weighted end of said jaw member moves outward away from said rotational axis of said winding fixture allowing said pivot pin to move toward said second end of said slotted aperture of said jaw member and allowing said engaging end of said jaw member to engage said spool.    
     
     
         5 . The apparatus as stated in  claim 2 , further comprising: 
 said at least one pivot pin having a longitudinal axis, and said longitudinal axis substantially perpendicular to said rotational axis of said winding fixture.    
     
     
         6 . The apparatus as stated in  claim 2 , further comprising: 
 said slotted aperture in said jaw member and said pivot pin on said winding fixture each having a longitudinal axis, wherein said longitudinal axes are substantially perpendicular to one another.    
     
     
         7 . The apparatus stated in  claim 6 , further comprising: 
 said longitudinal axis of said slotted aperture in said jaw member intersecting said rotational axis of said winding fixture at an acute angle.    
     
     
         8 . An apparatus for fixturing a spool on a wire winding machine, comprising: 
 a winding fixture rotatably driven about a rotational axis and receivably coupled to said spool;    a pair of jaw members each having a slotted aperture therein;    a pair of pivot pins connected to said winding fixture, and each of said pivot pins operably received by one of said slotted apertures in said jaw members; and    said jaw members moving along said pivot pins in said slotted apertures between a first clamped position, wherein said pair of jaw members are adjacent said spool, and a second clamped position, wherein said pair of jaw members engage said spool and maintain a position of said spool relative to said winding fixture in response to a centrifugal force created by the rotation of said winding fixture.    
     
     
         9 . The apparatus as stated in  claim 8 , further comprising: 
 said pair of jaw members diametrically opposing one another.    
     
     
         10 . The apparatus as stated in  claim 9 , further comprising: 
 said slotted apertures in said pair of jaw members each having a first end and a second end wherein each of said pair of pivot pins are located at said first end of said slotted apertures when said jaw members are in said first clamped position, and said pivot pins are located away from said first end of said slotted apertures toward said second end of said slotted apertures when said jaw members are in said second clamped position.    
     
     
         11 . The apparatus stated in  claim 10 , further comprising: 
 said pair of jaw members each having an engaging end for engaging said spool and a weighted end opposite said engaging end, and in response to the centrifugal force created by the rotation of said winding fixture, said weighted end of said jaw members moves outwardly away from said rotational axis of said winding fixture allowing said pivot pins to move toward said second end of said slotted aperture and allowing said engaging end of said jaw members to engage said spool.    
     
     
         12 . The apparatus as stated in  claim 8 , further comprising: 
 said pair of pivot pins each having longitudinal axes, and said longitudinal axes substantially perpendicular to said rotational axis of said winding fixture.    
     
     
         13 . The apparatus stated in  claim 8 , further comprising: 
 said slotted apertures in said jaw members and said pivot pins on said winding fixture each having a longitudinal axis wherein said longitudinal axes of said slotted apertures are substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axes of said pivot pins.    
     
     
         14 . The apparatus as stated in  claim 13 , further comprising: 
 said longitudinal axes of said slotted apertures intersecting said rotational axis of said winding fixture at acute angles.    
     
     
         15 . An improved apparatus for fixturing a spool on a wire winding machine having a winding fixture rotatably driven about a rotational axis, and a pair of jaw members connected to said winding fixture for operably engaging and securing said spool to said winding fixture, the improvement comprising: 
 said pair of jaw members each having a slotted aperture therein;    a pair of pivot pins connected to said winding fixture, and said pair of pivot pins operably received by said slotted apertures in said pair of jaw members; and said jaw members moving along said pivot pins in said slotted apertures    between a first clamped position, wherein said pair of jaw members are adjacent said spool, and a second clamped position, wherein said pair of jaw members engage said spool and maintain a position of said spool relative to said winding fixture in response to a centrifugal force created by the rotation of said winding fixture.    
     
     
         16 . The improved apparatus stated in  claim 15 , further comprising: 
 said slotted apertures in said pair of jaw members each having a first end and a second end wherein each of said pair of pivot pins are located at said first end of said slotted apertures when said jaw members are in said first clamped position, and said pivot pins are located away from said first end of said slotted apertures toward said second end of said slotted apertures when said jaw members are in said second clamped position.    
     
     
         17 . The improved apparatus stated in  claim 11 , further comprising: 
 said pair of jaw members having an engaging end for engaging said spool and a weighted end opposite said engaging end, and in response to the centrifugal force created by the rotation of said winding fixture, said weighted end of said jaw members move outward away from said rotational axis of said winding fixture allowing said pivot pins to move toward said second end of said slotted apertures and allowing said engaging end of said jaw members to move toward and engage said spool.    
     
     
         18 . The improved apparatus as stated in  claim 15 , further comprising: 
 said slotted apertures and said pivot pins each having a longitudinal axis that are substantially perpendicular to one another.    
     
     
         19 . The improved apparatus as stated in  claim 18 , further comprising: 
 said longitudinal axes of said slotted apertures intersecting said rotational axis at acute angles.    
     
     
         20 . The improved apparatus as stated in  claim 15 , further comprising: 
 said pair of jaw members applying a force on said spool in said second clamped position during the rotation of said winding fixture, and said force increasing with the rotational velocity of said winding fixture.