CN216751007U - Threading machine - Google Patents

Abstract

A threader comprises a tape hub (1); a motor (2) mounted on the hub with the wire; a tape spool (9) arranged in the tape hub and driven by the motor, the tape spool being formed with a platform (12) in the middle thereof so that an annular space for accommodating the tape (6) is formed around the platform in the tape hub; the periphery of the platform is provided with a set of spring-biased expansion jaws (20), each of which is pivotably arranged on the platform by means of a pivot (21) such that each expansion jaw can pivot between a retracted position and an expanded position, the springs acting on the expansion jaws in a direction tending to expand them. The smooth unwinding of the tape thread from the threader can be ensured.

Description

Threading machine

Technical Field

The application relates to a threading machine, which is used for threading operation during wiring of buildings.

Background

When laying cables (electric wires, signal wires, etc.) in a building, an operator often uses a stringing machine to transfer a ribbon string from one end of a stringing tube into the stringing tube, to emerge from the other end of the stringing tube, and then to pull back the ribbon string. The threading machine comprises a motor and a strip line coil, wherein the strip line is wound on the strip line coil, and the motor drives the strip line coil to rotate so as to pay out and take back the strip line. After the tape thread is placed in the threader in a coiled form, the tape thread tends to expand radially outward under its own resilience. However, sometimes the elasticity of the ribbon wire itself cannot overcome the friction between certain ribbon coils, resulting in the ribbon wire not radially expanding to its maximum extent by itself. After the threader is started, the motor drives the tape spool to rotate in a forward direction, however, the initial forward rotation of the tape spool only causes the tape to expand radially outward rather than immediately exiting the threader. This delay in payoff can negatively impact the user experience. Further, in the threading operation, if the speed of the tape thread output from the threading machine is lower than the linear speed of the outermost turn of the tape thread on the tape spool, a portion of the tape thread may be drawn into the threading machine as the tape spool continues to rotate, the tape thread may not continue to be discharged but rather may be jammed in the threading machine, possibly causing the motor to stop or even be damaged.

SUMMERY OF THE UTILITY MODEL

It is an object of the present application to provide an improved threader which is capable of ensuring smooth pay-out of a tape thread from the threader during threading operations without delaying or random spooling into the machine.

To this end, the present application provides in one of its aspects a stringing machine comprising:

a spool with a wire;

a motor mounted on the hub with the wire; and

a tape reel disposed in the tape hub and driven by the motor, the tape reel having a platform formed at a middle portion thereof, so that an annular space for accommodating the tape is formed around the platform in the tape hub;

the outer periphery of the platform is provided with a set of spring-biased expansion jaws, each of which is pivotably arranged on the platform by means of a pivot such that each expansion jaw can be pivoted between a retracted position and an expanded position, the springs acting on the expansion jaws in a direction tending to expand them.

In one embodiment, the number of the expansion claws is 3 or more, and each of the expansion claws is rotationally symmetrical along the outer periphery of the stage.

In one embodiment, the springs are torsion springs, the coils of each torsion spring being arranged around a respective pivot, one end of the torsion spring being fixed to the platform and the other end of the torsion spring being fixed to a respective expansion pawl.

In one embodiment, the periphery of the platform defines a set of grooves, each groove receiving a respective expansion jaw in the contracted position, a respective pivot disposed in a base end of each groove, and a stop point angle defined between the base end of each groove and the periphery of the platform for defining a maximum expansion position of the expansion jaws.

In one embodiment, each groove extends in the platform from its base end to its distal end in the direction of forward rotation of the platform.

In one embodiment, each expansion jaw has a base end and a distal end, and an outer peripheral surface and an inner peripheral surface extending between the base end and the distal end, the base end of the expansion jaw being nested over the respective pivot.

In one embodiment, the outer circumferential surface of each expansion claw is a circular arc surface, and the inner circumferential surface has a shape complementary to the groove bottom surface of the corresponding groove on the platform.

In one embodiment, each of the expansion claws is elongated and has a narrowed portion such that the expansion claw has a certain elasticity at the narrowed portion.

In one embodiment, a set of rollers is distributed around the circumference of the annular space in the hub, and the expansion claws radially push the strap so that the outermost ring portion of the strap abuts against the set of rollers for a limiting function.

In one embodiment, the threader further comprises a gripper conveyor, the gripper conveyor comprising:

a transfer gear configured to be driven by the motor; and

a biasing wheel assembly including a spring biased roller, the transfer gear cooperating with the spring biased roller to generate a force to assist movement of the belt line.

According to the application, a set of expansion claws is arranged in the threading machine and used for forcing the outermost coil of the strip line to expand radially outwards to the maximum extent. Once the threader starts paying out, the tape thread can be immediately output from the threader without delay. Further, the tape thread portion in the threading machine is kept expanded radially outward by the expansion claw to the maximum extent during the threading operation, so that the tape thread can be prevented from being tangled in the threading machine.

Drawings

The foregoing and other aspects of the present application will be more fully understood from the following detailed description, taken with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a stringing machine according to an exemplary embodiment of the present application;

fig. 2 and 3 are schematic views of the internal structure of the stringing machine, shown from two sides;

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of the threading apparatus with the spool;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged schematic view of the expansion jaw on the spool;

FIG. 6 is a schematic view of the threading machine in a state in which a tape is inserted;

fig. 7 is a schematic view of the state after the belt line is radially expanded by the expansion claws.

Detailed Description

The present application relates generally to a hand-held stringing machine, the basic principle of which is to achieve a threading operation with a thread by a motor drive.

Fig. 1-3 show a possible embodiment of the threader of the present application, comprising a substantially disc-shaped tape hub 1, one side of the tape hub 1 being provided with a motor 2 and a transmission 3. The motor 2 is installed parallel to the side of the tape hub 1 (horizontal installation), and the transmission mechanism 3 may include a pair of bevel gears arranged at a right angle so that the output of the motor 2 is input into the tape hub 1 in a direction perpendicular to the side of the tape hub 1.

The threader further comprises a handle 4 formed together with the tape hub 1 or separately and mounted to the tape hub 1 for gripping by an operator. The handle 4 is connected to the hub 1 at its front and rear ends. The handle 4 is provided with a threader operating button which comprises a starting switch and a reversing button. The hub with thread 1 and the handle 4 form a shell of the threading machine.

The threader further comprises a nozzle 5 arranged in front of the tape hub 1, directed substantially towards the outer circumference of the tape hub 1. The snout 5 is preferably disposed at the forward end of the handle 4 for manipulation by an operator.

The tape thread 6 is stored in the tape thread hub 1 in a coiled form. The leading end of the tape thread 6 is connected to a tape thread end 6a, and the tape thread end 6a is, for example, spherical as shown in the figure, or fusiform as not shown.

The hub 1 is formed of two hub halves that are opposite each other and are snapped together. With the hub halves separated from each other, various components can be assembled therein. Correspondingly, the handle 4 is also formed by two handle halves facing each other.

The output shaft 7 of the transmission 3 passes through the centre of one belt hub half into the belt hub 1.

Inside the tape hub 1 are arranged a drive gear 8 and a tape spool 9. The drive gear 8 is mounted on the output shaft 7 with its sleeve 10 and the belt reel 9 is mounted on the output shaft 7 with its sleeve 11. The driving gear 8 and the tape reel 9 face each other.

The driving gear 8 and the belt reel 9 are driven by the motor 2 via the transmission mechanism 3 to rotate synchronously. In fig. 2 the driving gear 8 is shown from one side, with the tape reel 9 removed; the tape spool 9 is shown from the other side in fig. 2, with the drive gear 8 removed.

The drive gear 8 and the spool 9 are of substantially the same diameter.

On the side of the tape spool 9 facing the drive gear 8, a disk-shaped platform 12 is formed in the middle of the tape spool 9, projecting axially from the disk body of the tape spool 9. When the driving gear 8 and the tape reel 9 are assembled together facing each other, the platform 12 pushes against the surface of the driving gear 8, so that an annular space around the platform 12 is defined between the driving gear 8 and the tape reel 9, in which the tape 6 can be wound. Further, a recess is formed at one position of the outer periphery of the stage 12, and a positioning pin 13 for hooking the rear end (inner end) of the belt wire 6 is formed or installed in the recess.

Further, in the belt wire hub 1, a set of rollers (e.g., bearings) 14 are distributed around the outer periphery of the annular space for being abutted by the outermost ring portions of the belt wires 6 for a spacing function and facilitating the outermost rings of the belt wires 6 to slide along the rollers 14. It should be noted that the rollers 14 are not distributed over the entire circle, but that the area facing the nozzle 5 is left without rollers 14.

Furthermore, in the belt hub 1, in the region facing the nozzle 5, an intermediate gear 15 and a transmission gear 16 are arranged, both mounted on a gear carrier 17, which gear carrier 17 is fixed in the belt hub 1.

The intermediate gear 15 meshes on the one hand with the driving gear 7 and on the other hand with the transmission gear 16, so that the transmission gear 16 rotates in the same direction as the driving gear 7. The intermediate gear 15 and the transfer gear 16 may be of equal or different diameters, both of which are smaller than the drive gear 7.

The transmission gear 16 is arranged substantially in the transition between the handle 4 and the tape hub 1. The top end of the transfer gear 16 (the portion facing the handle 4) is opposite a spring-biased biasing wheel assembly 18. The biasing wheel assembly 18 is arranged substantially in the front end region of the handle 4, partly protruding into said transition region. The biasing wheel assembly 18 includes a biasing spring and a roller, the biasing spring resiliently urging the roller in a direction toward the transfer gear 16, and an abutment interface between the transfer gear 16 and the biasing wheel assembly 18 is located in a path of the strip line facing an inner end of the guide mouth 5, where the strip line 6 may be resiliently clamped between the roller of the biasing wheel assembly 18 and the transfer gear 16.

It is noted that, in order to make the transfer gear 16 have a portion facing the strip line 6, the transfer gear 16 may be thickened in the axial direction.

The drive gear 8, the intermediate gear 15, the transfer gear 16 and the biasing wheel assembly 18 constitute a grip transfer mechanism for assisting the feeding and the withdrawal of the strip line 6 to and from the nozzle 5.

On the upstream side of the biasing wheel assembly 18, an optional guide wheel assembly 19 is arranged substantially parallel. Guide wheel assembly 19 includes a biasing spring and a roller, the biasing spring biasing the roller toward belt line 6 to level belt line 16 such that belt line 6 is fed in a more nearly linear manner between transfer gear 16 and biasing wheel assembly 18.

In addition, as shown in fig. 3, the platform 12 is equipped with a set of expansion claws 20. In the example shown in the drawings, the number of the expanding claws 20 is 3; in practical designs, the number of the expansion claws 20 may be 3 or more. The expansion claws 20 are arranged substantially rotationally symmetrically and uniformly on the outer periphery of the platform 12. Each expansion jaw 20 is pivotally arranged on the platform 12 via a pivot 21 and can be pivoted between a retracted position shown in solid lines in fig. 3 and a maximally open position shown in broken lines.

Each of the expansion claws 20 is provided with a torsion spring 22 for applying a spring force to the expansion claw 20 in a direction to force the expansion claw 20 to expand. The coils of a torsion spring 22 are arranged around the pivot 21, one end of the torsion spring 22 being fixed to the platform 12 and the other end being fixed to the expansion pawl 20. It will be appreciated that other forms of spring capable of applying a spring force to the expansion jaws 20 acting toward the expanded position may be used herein.

Referring to fig. 4, a series of grooves 23 are formed in the outer periphery of the platform 12 for receiving the expansion claws 20 in the contracted position. A respective pivot 21 is disposed in the base end of each recess 23. A stop point 24 is formed between the base end of each groove 23 and the outer periphery of the platform 12 to define the maximum expansion position of the expansion claws 20. Further, each groove 23 extends in the forward rotational direction of the platform 12 in the platform 12 from the base end thereof to the tip end of the groove 23. The radial groove bottom surface 25 of each groove 23 may be a simple arc surface shape, a plane shape, or a combined curved surface shape as shown in the drawing. In addition, an insertion hole 26 for inserting one end of the torsion spring 22 is formed on the platform 12.

Referring to fig. 5, each of the expansion claws 20 is elongated and has an outer peripheral surface 27 and an inner peripheral surface 28 extending between a base end and a distal end. The proximal ends of the expansion claws 20 are formed with through holes 29 for fitting over the respective pivots 21. The expansion claw 20 is also formed with an insertion hole 30 for inserting the other end of the torsion spring 22.

The outer peripheral surface 27 of the expansion claw 20 is an arc surface, and the inner peripheral surface 28 has a shape complementary to the radial groove bottom surface 25 on the surface plate 12, for example, a combined curved surface shape as shown in the figure. In the retracted position, the inner circumferential surface 28 of each expansion finger 20 abuts a corresponding radial slot bottom surface 25 on the platform 12, and the outer circumferential surface 27 of each expansion finger 20 defines a generally cylindrical surface with the outer circumferential surface of the platform 12.

The expansion claws 20 may be made of metal or hard plastic. In the case where the inner peripheral surface 28 has a combined curved surface shape, a narrowed portion 31 may be formed in the expanding claw 20 so that the expanding claw 20 has a certain elasticity at the narrowed portion 31.

Referring to fig. 6, during assembly of the stringing machine, or during insertion of a strip line 6, the two halves of the hub are separated, a disc-shaped strip line 6 is placed around the platform 12 in the annular space in the hub 1, and the inner ring of the strip line 6 compresses the expansion jaws 20 in or near the contracted position. Each of the expansion claws 20 applies a radially outward urging force to the innermost turn of the strip line 6 by the torsion spring 22. The rear end (inner end) of the tape wire 6 is hooked on the positioning pin 13, and the front end of the tape wire 6 passes between the transfer gear 16 and the roller of the biasing wheel assembly 18 into the snout 5, and then emerges from the snout 5 and is attached to the tape head 6 a.

In the relaxed state, the belt wires 6 are loosened, on the one hand due to the elasticity of the belt wires 6 themselves, and on the other hand due to the radially outward thrust of the respective expansion claws 20, and the outermost turns of the belt wires 6 will abut against the respective rollers 14, as shown in fig. 7. At this time, the innermost circumference of the strip line 6 is also expanded radially by the expanded claws 20. The two hub halves are then snapped together. In this way the threading machine loaded with the tape thread 6 is assembled and ready for threading operation.

During threading operation, an operator starts the threading machine to operate in the forward direction by threading one end of the threading pipe with the threading head 6 a. The motor 2 rotates forward, and the output shaft 7 of the transmission mechanism 3 drives the driving gear 8 and the belt line disc 9 to synchronously rotate forward.

As the expansion jaws 20 urge the tape thread 6 radially outwardly so that the outermost turn of the tape thread 6 abuts the rollers 14, once the threader is started, forward rotation of the tape reel 9 can immediately cause the tape thread 6 to be fed towards the guide mouth 5, the tape thread head 6a entering and guiding the tape thread 6 to advance in the threader tube. In this way, the tape thread 6 can be immediately fed out without delay after the threader is started.

At the same time, the forward rotation of the driving gear 8 drives the forward rotation of the transmission gear 16 through the intermediate gear 15, and the roller of the biasing wheel assembly 18 squeezes the belt wire 6 between the roller and the transmission gear 16 with elastic force, so that the transmission gear 16 applies a forward pushing force to the belt wire 6, which helps to forcibly push the belt wire 6 out through the guide nozzle 5.

On the upstream side of the biasing wheel assembly 18, the guide wheel assembly 19 also applies a resilient biasing force to the belt line 6 so that the belt line 6 in a bent state becomes substantially straight and is more easily fed out through the biasing wheel assembly 18 and the transfer gear 16 and through the guide mouth 5.

In the threading operation, the tape thread 6 can be pushed toward the threading tube more strongly due to the pushing force generated by the clamping and conveying mechanism, so that the tape thread is not easily stuck in the threading tube and can more easily pass through the turning part of the threading tube. On the other hand, as the number of turns of the tape 6 remaining in the threading machine decreases with the forward rotation of the tape reel 9 and the continuous pay-out of the tape 6, the respective expanding claws 20 continuously keep pushing the tape 6 radially outward so that the outermost turn of the tape 6 is kept abutting against the respective rollers 14, the tape 6 is forcibly pushed out from the tape hub 1, and the tape 6 is prevented from being carelessly caught inside the tape hub 1 without being timely paid out.

The outer race of the belt wire 6 abuts against the roller 14, which facilitates the movement of the belt wire 6 in the belt wire hub 1 and avoids jamming.

After the string head 6a is exposed from the other end of the threading pipe, the threading operation is ended, and the operator stops the threading machine and connects the cable to the leading end of the string 6. Then, the operator starts the stringing machine to run reversely. The motor 2 rotates reversely, and the output shaft 7 of the transmission mechanism 3 drives the driving gear 8 and the belt line disc 9 to synchronously rotate reversely. The reverse rotation of the tape spool 9 causes the tape 6 to be pulled back towards the threader.

At the same time, the counter-rotating drive gear 8 drives the transfer gear 16 to counter-rotate via the intermediate gear 15, and the transfer gear 16 applies a counter-rearward pulling force to the tape thread 6, helping to forcibly pull the tape thread 6 back from the conduit with the cable. The tape 6 is wound on the tape reel 9 which rotates in the reverse direction, gradually compressing the respective expansion claws 20 until finally reaching a state in which the respective expansion claws 20 are contracted, as shown in fig. 6. During the retraction operation of the tape thread 6, the tape thread 6 is assisted in moving rapidly in the stringing tube with the cable due to the pulling force generated by the gripping and conveying mechanism.

After the front end of the tape thread 6 is pulled out of the threading tube with the cable, the operator can stop the threading machine to release the cable from the front end of the tape thread 6. At this time, the tape thread 6 is retracted into the threading machine, the tape thread head 6a is caught substantially at the tip of the guide mouth 5, and the operation of retracting the tape thread 6 is completed. At this time, the torque applied to the tape reel 9 by the motor 2 is released, so that the tensile force applied to the tape 6 by the tape reel 9 is lost, and the tape 6 is radially expanded again by the elasticity of the tape 6 itself and the expansion claws 20, and the expansion claws 20 return to the expanded state shown in fig. 7.

Note that, in the case where the narrowed portion 31 is present in the expansion claw 20 so that the expansion claw 20 has a certain elasticity at the narrowed portion 31, the radially outward pressing force of the expansion claw 20 against the belt wire 6 can be made gentle, and it is possible to avoid the belt wire 6 from being damaged due to the expansion claw 20 pressing excessively and rubbing the belt wire 6.

Various adaptations of the hand-held stringing machine of the present application may be made by those skilled in the art based on the general principles of the present application.

For example, in the previously described embodiment, the expanding claw 20 is used in combination with the grip transmission mechanism, and a desired effect can be produced; however, even in a threading machine without a grip transfer mechanism, the expansion claws 20 of the present invention can still achieve the technical effects of ensuring smooth unwinding of the tape thread from the threading machine and avoiding delay of the unwinding or random winding of the tape thread into the machine.

As another example, in the previously described embodiment, the transmission gear 16 is driven by the motor 2 via the drive gear 8 and the intermediate gear 15; however, other transmission elements (such as other forms of gear sets, chain drives, belt drives, etc.) may also be employed in the gripper conveyor to transfer the rotational motion of the motor 2 to the conveyor gear 16.

As another example, in the previously described embodiment, a set of rollers 14 is distributed around the outer periphery of the annular space for storing the belt wire 6, for being abutted by the outermost ring portions of the belt wire 6; however, even if such a roller is not provided, the outermost ring portion of the tape thread 6 is restrained only by the peripheral wall of the tape thread hub 1, and when the expansion claw 20 of the present application is used, the tape thread can be smoothly paid out from the threader, and the technical effect of preventing the delay of the paying-off and the random winding into the machine can be obtained.

Other modifications to the stringing machine of the present application will be apparent to those skilled in the art depending upon the particular application and requirements.

According to the application, a group of expanding claws are arranged in the threading machine and used for applying radial outward thrust to the strip line coiled in the threading machine, so that the outermost ring of the strip line can be expanded radially outward to the maximum degree. Once the threader starts paying out, the tape thread can be immediately output from the threader without delay. Further, the tape thread portion in the threading machine is kept expanded radially outward by the expanding claw to the maximum extent during the threading operation, so that the tape thread can be prevented from being entangled in the threading machine.

Although the present application has been described herein with reference to specific exemplary embodiments, the scope of the present application is not intended to be limited to the details shown. Various modifications may be made to these details without departing from the underlying principles of the application.

Claims (10)

1. A threader, comprising:

a hub (1) with a thread;

a motor (2) mounted on the hub with the wire; and

a tape reel (9) arranged in the tape hub and driven by the motor, the tape reel having a platform (12) formed in the middle thereof so that an annular space for accommodating the tape (6) is formed around the platform in the tape hub;

characterized in that the outer periphery of the platform is provided with a set of spring-biased expansion jaws (20), each of which is pivotably arranged on the platform by means of a pivot (21) such that each expansion jaw can pivot between a retracted position and an expanded position, the springs acting on the expansion jaws in a direction tending to expand them.

2. The threader of claim 1 wherein the number of expansion jaws is 3 or more, each expansion jaw being rotationally symmetric along the outer circumference of the platform.

3. The threader of claim 1 wherein the springs are torsion springs (22), the coils of each torsion spring being arranged about a respective pivot, one end of the torsion spring being secured to the platform and the other end of the torsion spring being secured to a respective expansion pawl.

4. The threader of claim 1 wherein the periphery of the platform defines a plurality of recesses (23), each recess receiving a respective expansion jaw in the contracted position, a respective pivot disposed in a base end of each recess, and a stop cusp defined between the base end of each recess and the periphery of the platform for defining a maximum expanded position of the expansion jaws.

5. The threader of claim 4 wherein each groove extends in the platform from a base end thereof to a distal end of the groove in the direction of forward rotation of the platform.

6. The threader of claim 4 characterized in that each expansion finger has a base end and a distal end, and an outer circumferential surface (27) and an inner circumferential surface (28) extending between the base end and the distal end, the base ends of the expansion fingers being journaled on respective pivots.

7. The threading machine of claim 6 wherein the outer circumferential surface of each expansion jaw is a circular arc surface and the inner circumferential surface has a shape complementary to the groove bottom surface (25) of the corresponding groove in the platform.

8. The stringing machine as claimed in claim 6, wherein each expansion claw is elongate and has a constriction (31) such that the expansion claw has a certain elasticity at the constriction.

9. The threader of any of claims 1 to 8 wherein a set of rollers (14) are distributed in the threaded hub around the periphery of the annular space, the expansion jaws radially pushing on the threaded belt such that an outermost ring portion of the threaded belt is retained against the set of rollers.

10. The threader of any one of claims 1 to 8 further comprising a gripper conveyor, the gripper conveyor comprising:

a transfer gear (16) configured to be driven by the motor; and

a biasing wheel assembly (18) including a spring biased roller, the transfer gear cooperating with the spring biased roller to generate a force to assist movement of the belt line.

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