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 traverse 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. Control of movement of the traverse arm depends upon manually controlled programming means, which compares a desired position of the traverse arm with an actually attained position of the arm.

I claim:  
     
         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; said means for controlling rotation comprising motor means for driving said spool at a predetermined uniform angular velocity, an electronic controller feedback means driven by rotation of said spool for generating a digital position reference signal to said controller, said controller including a program to rotate said motor to a desired position corresponding to said reference signal required to move said traverse arm disregarding any non-uniform motion created by linkage deviations, and a process control device for selecting ratio and position criteria, and communicating said criteria to said controller feedback means.  
     
     
         2 . The improvement set forth in  claim 1 , in which said controller is manually adjusted.  
     
     
         3 . 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.  
     
     
         4 . The improvement in accordance with  claim 3 , said traverse arm including tubular guiding means adjacent said free end thereof.  
     
     
         5 . 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 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.  
     
     
         6 . In a linear traverse mechanism where guiding the spooling of a flexible linear product including a pivotally mounted traverse arm dispensing said product at a pre end thereof, and motion means where imparting arcuate motion to said arm the improvement comprising; means for sensing the instantaneous location of a free end of said arms in terms of digital data; a master control block controlling the angular direction, velocity and position of said traverse motor; means for transmitting said digital data to said control block on a continuous basis; logic blocks for determining the direction of rotation of said motor means; and a logic processor having a manually entered program relative to a traverse width, and starting and finishing locations on a given spool; where by control of said motor means is dependent on the instantaneous position of said linkage arm relative to the instantaneous position indicated by said processor.  
     
     
         7 . The improvement in accordance with  claim 6 , further comprising a winding means, a motor driving said winding means, a digital feedback encoder sending a digital count signal to said control means, motion of said traverse arm being reversed upon the attainment of a predetermined count.  
     
     
         8 . The improvement in accordance with  claim 7 , including means or momentarily halting movement of said traverse arm at one end of a traverse path of movement during a partial revolution of said winding means.