US2724591A - Louver wire feeding device - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 22, 1955 R. A. CHRISTY LOUVER WIRE FEEDING DEVICE Filed Dec. 22, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 j@ MR G f5 a2 Ja@ n H4 Nov. 22, 1955 R. A. CHRISTY LOUVER WIRE FEEDING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 22, 1951 w mw k A: Ill

@Eid C? @am p p ,2,724,591 i LoUvER,wIREplurEDING.DEVICE` 1 Robert 1.A.\"Christy,` *ParkfForesh 'lll.,`..assignors5 t0"Borg 1i Warner` Corporation,f ChicagogwIll., la corporation `of yIllinois n 1`he.present. inventionf relates in `its broadest` aspects to web Vfeeding devicesandrmore` particularly .to an arrangement or device for controlling the supply. of` thin,

tlat, flexible metal wire maintained `in.a storage bin.

The principal objectyof the present .invention is to provide means for controllingthe supply .of` flat metal wire maintained ina storagebin from4 which theiwire is intert mittently withdrawn, `so that the quantity. of `wire is ...sufficient to `permit the .intermittent withdrawal :thereof from the binwithout allowing .the wire-.toaccumulate in `.the binso that it might be deformed beyond. its elastic limit. i

. Another object of. the present. invention `is `to provide a` feeding device" `for feeding wirefinto` a. storageA bin, t wherein theutee'ding` device. is` capable tof .supplying the wire at. a high .feed rate -when ,the quantity of, wire i within `:the bin is-below;a predetermined. amount,` and ata-.low

` `feedrate when the quantity ofwire within the bin isabove a predetermined amount.

Another. objectofI the inventionis .to provide a device for` sensing the quantity ofif'wire inthe storage 4bin and when the quantity lis above a` predetermined `amount to cause .the wire `tobe fed finto the bin.at allowrate and t `when the quantity `of .wireinnt'he bin is below a predetermined-.amount tocause the wire to be fed into .the bin at a high rate.

Another object Iof` thenpresent` invention 4is to provide al device for constantly feeding acontinuous wire into a "storage bin, ,wherein the` feeding device is` driven by .a reciproc'able motorhavingajvariable diameterdrive pulley. In Athis connection, the Vinotorrnay bemoved `in one `direction whereby `the "diameter ofthe drive` pulley is fdecreasedin order. to effecta low feed` rate foi-the wire,

and 'may be -moved fin the Aopposite .direction to increase the Ldiameter `of the drive pulleyl int order `to .increase the rateat which the Wirefis fedinto thestorage bin.

Another object `of the invention. is .to` provide .fluid pressure responsive means ,for movingthe driving motor into either its, low .feed rate. or high feed. rate position and to provide control meansfor the fluid pressure respond sive means,.which control means are responsive to` the `quantity `of wire ,inythe .storage bin.

Another object of. the `inventioriis `.to provide, in .the

. control means for moving the; motor `to either its` high feed rate orlow feed rate position,.delaying devices which ,4 preventmovement of the motorfrom one .ofitsipositions to the other` and a'consequent. changeainfthewire feed rate until a condition of under-supply or .over-supply `of -wire in .-the storage'bin prevails for. a predeterminedinterval of time. `In .this connection apair offcontrol relays are, .provided with f associated condensers .for delaying a deenergizationbf ther relays so` asto cause.a changesin the .wire feed: rate which .fwouldmormlly `take. place. .in

` accordance withthe]` quantity `of wire inthe storage bin es sensed by the wiresensing means.

Due to the `fact that the wiretis Iintermittently withdrawn from the storage'binand continuously fed.`there into, .infrequently happens that-the wire bounces against the sensing means, very rapidly engaging and disengaging it. *lf the driving motorfreciprocatingmeans were ,actuated'finresponse to; eachfengagemjent Aand?, disengagement ICC 4between the wire and the sensingmeans, themotor would "be ina continuous state of reciprocation.` .This undesir- `able state of. conditions, however, is prevented `by the delaying devices. and each wire .feed rate prevails fortat least a predetermined:.interval of time.

The present invention finds particular utility in the weaving machine art,l as exemplified bythe U. S. patent to W. B. Ewing, 2,223,317, wherein longtlengths of athin flat louver wire .are intermittently .fed into the weaving machine. ln weaving machinestof this type it is essential that the louverwires be straight and have substantially no bends throughout .their entire lengths, for in case-the wires are bent., the friction between `them and the operating-parts ci machine, through which they must pass, is suliicient to `stop the wires before they reach the proper position and in such-case the` weaving machine will not function properly. The `present inventiontherefore solves along existent problem in a simpleand convenient mannerby providing a storage bin `for the; louver wire` and control` mechanism for the device `for feeding the wire into the storage bin which maintains` a sufficient quantity of wire in the `bin attall times to satisfy the requirements of the weaving machine with which the present invention may he associated and `which maintains a sufficiently small amount of louver wire in the storage bin so that the wire will not be permanently bent.

The above and numerous other objects and advantages off the present invention will become apparent from .the following detailed description when read in` conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate apreferred embodiment of the` inventiom wherein:

Fig. i` is a more or lessschematic illustration. showing lthe storage bin in planl View and the electrical and fluid pressure responsive control means rfor controlling `the reciprocation of the `driving motor;

Fig. 2 is a sectional viewttaken substantially along the line 2--2 in Fig. l and showing theA driving motor and the `associated weaving machine for utilizing the louver wire stored in the storage' bin;

. Fig. 3` is a fragmentary side elevational view, 4shown partly in section, and taken substantially alongfthe line 33 in Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective View of .thelouver wire feed rollers.

The preferred embodiment of the invention, as exemplied by `theaccompanying drawings, wherein like reference `numerals in the .different views identifyidentical cludes a housing 'l5 rigidly mounted in a suitable manner on a frame 16 and suitably disposed within the housing4 15 is a set of gearing (not shownin detail) for transmitting rotary motion from a pulley 17 to a pair of attening and feeding rollers 18j The iiattening and feeding rollers 18 .are respectivelydriven in counterclockwise and` clockwise directions, as indicatedby the arrows `in Fig..` l,` in order to advance a round metallic wire i9 therebetween. The rollers 1S are sufficiently close together so as tofnot onlyengage and advancethe wire, but also tocompress the wire 19 to form a substantially flat elongated louver wire Ztl. The wire 19 may be drawn from a supply reel (not shown) having a large supplyof the wire thereon and forthe purposes of the present .invention it can be consideredfthatlthe wire" 19 is substantially continuous.

Also, for the purposes of the presentinvention, itmay be considered that the at louver wire 20 is also substantially continuous.

The plane of the louver wire 20, upon emerging from vbetween the rollers 18, is vertical and as it emerges it passes into the storage bin 12. yAs is most clearly shown in Fig. 2, the storage bin 12 comprises substantially flat top and bottom members identified by reference numerals f 21 and 22, respectively, and the top member 21 of the storage bin 12 is substantially parallel to the bottom member 22, the members 21 and 22 being spaced apart by a distance only slightly greater than the width of the louver bin 12 of a transparent material the disposition of the f louver wire within the bin 12 may be readily seen. A

contact plate 23 is disposed at one end of the bin and is electrically insulated from all parts of the bin 12 by means of an insulator strip 24. The storage bin 12 has a louver wire exit opening 25 in the corner of the bin diametrically opposite to an entrance opening 26 through which the louverwire 20 passes as it comes into the storage bin 12.

A block 27, mounted outside the bin 12 and adjacent the exit opening 25, has one corner rounded olf, as indicated at 28, and acts as a guide for the louver wire 20 after it leaves the storage bin 12 and until it reaches a pair of weaving machine feed rolls 29 and 30. It will be noted that the rounded corner 28 of the block 27 is substantially tangent to the line of travel of the louver wire 20 as it leaves the storage bin 12 and is also substantially tangent to the line of travel of the louver wire 20 in passing from contact with the block 27 into the feed rolls 29 and 30. The radius of curvature of the rounded off corner 28 of the block 27 is suiciently great so that the louver wire 20 is not bent beyond the limit of its elasticity. Itis contemplated that the feed rolls 29 and 30 will operate so as to intermittently withdraw louver wire 20 from the storage bin 12 in order to advance the louver wire 20 into the weaving machine 14. It is further contemplated that the feed rollers 18 will function to continuously feed the louver wire 20 into the storage bin 12.

It has been found through experience that a prime source of trouble encountered in the weaving of screens employing liat louver wires results from the fact that the louver wire is bent slightly, and when this occurs friction, due to contact between the louver wire and the flat sides of the slot in the weaving machine through which the rolls 29 and 30 advance the louver wire, is so great as to prevent the complete advance of the louver wire through the entire length of the slot. In such cases the weaving machines jam and break down, with a considerable loss of operating time before they can again be placed in operating condition. It has thus been found that if the louver wire can be A maintained straight while being advanced into the weaving machine bythe feed rolls 29 and 30 a great number of break-downs of the weaving machines are avoided. The rounded corner 28 of the guide block 27 eliminates any bending of the louver wire 20 as it passes from the storage bin to the feed rolls 29 and 30 and the disposition of the entrance and exit slots 26 and 25 in the storage bin 12 also aid in preventing the formation of permanent bends in the louver wirev 20.

Besides the contact plate 23, a number of louver wire Y directing blocks, each of which is made of a noneconducting plastic, 'are disposed within the storage bin 12 for ldirecting the louver wire 20 in such a manner as to prevent the formation of permanent bends or kinks therein. The first one of these blocks comprises a generally rectangular plastic block 31 having one side 32 disposed in substantially parallel relation with the one side of the f storage bin 12. The space between the side 32 of the block 31 and the side of the storage bin 12 is rather narrow but kquite sucient to permit the passage ofthe louver wire 20 therebetween. The block 31 has a rounded corner 33 for preventing theformation of permanent bends in the louver wire 20 if the louver wire should happen to be pulled around this corner 33. As will be noted, the guide-way formed by the side 32 of the block 31 and the side of the bin 12 serves to direct the louver wire 20 alongone' side of the bin toward the contact plate 23. Disposed in substantially parallel relation to the opposite side of the storage bin 12 is an elongated plastic guide block 34, with suicient space being provided between the block 34 and the side of the bin 12 to permit the passage of the louver wire 20 therebetween as it leaves the storage bin 12 through the exit slot 25. The end of the guide block 34 opposite the exit slot 25 is rounded off as indicated at 35, toprevent the formation of permanent bends in the louver wire 20 as it is drawn around the end 35 of the guide block 34 when the feed rolls 29 and 30 feed the louver wire 20 into the weaving machine 14. In the space in the storage bin between the blocks 31 and 34 are disposed a pair of plastic guide blocks 36 and 37. The block 36 abuts the block 31 and the block 37 abuts the guide block 34.l Suflcient space is provided between each of the blocks 36 and 37 to permit the passage of the louver wire 20 and theends of the blocks 36 and 37 providing the passage for the rlouver wire 20 are both rounded off to prevent the formation of permanent bends in the louver wire 20. The space in the storage bin 12 defined by the blocks 31, 36, 37 and 35 permits a certain freedom of movement of the louver wire 20 and it has been found that this space is important inpreventing the formation of bends in the louver wire 20.

As has been stated heretofore, the feed rolls 29 and 30 serve to intermittently advance the louver wire 20 into the weaving machine 14 and accordingly, the louver wire 20`disposed between the guide block34 and the one side of the storage bin 12 is alternately stationary and moving. It has also been stated heretofore that the feedingand flattening rollers 18 function continuously to advance the louver wire 20 into the storage bin 12. As will be obvious, whenever the louver wire 20 is not being withdrawn from the storage bin 12 the feed rollers 18, in advancing the louver wire 20 intoV the bin 12, tend to cause a loop 38 to be'formed in the wire 20. As is also apparent, the loop 38 continuously increases in size as long as the feed rolls 29 and 30are stationary and due to the fact that the feed rolls 29 and 30 are capable of withdrawing the louver wire 20 at a much greater rate than the feed rolls 18 are capable of feeding the louver Wire 20 into the storage bin 12, the loop 38 decreases very rapidly in size. When the loop 38 is of a size which permits it to touch the contact plate 23 or get very close to the contact plate 23 before the feed rollers 29 and 30 start to withdraw the louver wire 20 the optimum operating conditions prevail as there is then an adequate supply of louver wire in the loop 38 to satisfy the requirements of the rollers 29 and 30 and the weaving machine 14 without causing the loop 38 to' be drawn down to such a small loop that it will be drawn tightly around the corners of the blocks 31', 36 and 34., It will also be seen that if the louver wire 20 is fed into the storage bin 12 at too great' a rate then there will be too much wire in the storage bin 12 to be usedby the weaving machine 14 and a large number of loops will form in the storage bin. As the loops which form in the bin 12 increase in number, the louver wire 20 is compressed and permanent bends are formed therein. Since a single loopy38 Vof louver wire 20, of a sufficient sizeto approximately ll the storage bin 12, that is, engage the contact plate 23, is sufiicient to satisfy the requirementsof the weaving ma` chine for each operation of the feed rolls 29 and 30, it is desirable to operate thefeed rolls 18 at a speed which is sufficient to form a loop of this size between successive operations of the feed Irolls 29 and l30. Accordingly, it

would; be desirable to have `the` feed rollsk18, operate at` a constant rate of speed, which rate` of speed is the exact` rate required to forrnV a` single loop 38 in the storage bin 12 which substantially engages the contact plate 23. Due to a number of reasons, among which is the fact that it is impractical to attempt to have the feed rolls 18 driven at such an invariable rate of speed,` the present invention contemplates the provisionV of means` for driving the feed` rolls 18V at a` high rate` of speed and a low rate of speed. When the rolls 18 are driven at their high rate of speed,` they are capable of supplying a` slightly greater quantity of louver wire 20 than is needed bythe weaving machine 14. When the feed rolls 18 are driven` at their low rate of speed they are capable of supplying a quantity of louver wire 20` which is slightly less than the requirements of the weaving machine 14n.` The present invention therefore provides means for causing the feed rolls 18 to be driven at their high rate of speed when the loop 3,8` of louver` wire; 20 is too small` to engage the contact plate12 3 and to drive the feed rolls 18 at their low rate of speed for so loing as they are supplying a loop` 38 oflouver wire 20,I which engages the contact plate 23;

The means for causing the feedj rolls` 18 to be driven at their high or their low rate of speed will now be de scribed. The drive mechanism for driving the, rolls 18 comprises an electric motor 38 having a variable diameter pulley 39 suitably axed to its` shaft, and a belt 40, is provided for transmitting the drive from thepulley 39 to the pulley 17 which is connected through suitable gearing (not shown) for driving the rolls 18. The variable diameter pulley 39 comprises two sections 41 and 42, both of the sections being rotatably fixed to the motor shaft 43 and the section 41 being longitudinally fixed to the motor shaft while the section 42.l is longitudinally slidable on the shaft. Suitably fixed to the end of the motor shaft 43 is a cylindrical cap 44, and a compression spring 45 disposed around the motor shaft 43 abuts the cap 44 and is continuously effective to urge the pulley section 42 toward the pulley section 41. It will be noted that the pulley sections 41 and 42 are respectively provided with conical surfaces 41a` and 42a which are en-` gaged by the belt 40. As the sections 42 and 41,y are moved closer together or farther apart the effective diameter of the pulley 39 is changed.

It can beassumed that the belt 4i) is non-elastic and that the strength of the compression spring` 45 is sufiicient to maintain the belt 4()` under suicient tension to at all times maintain the` necessary frictionall contact between the belt 40 and the conical surfaces 41a and 42a to enable the` motor to drive the pulley 17. Therefore, in order to change the effective diameter of the pulley 39 it is only necessary to move the motor 38 toward or away from the pulley 17 within the limits afforded by the radial dimensions of the pulley sections 41 and 42. Thus, when the motor 38 is moved downwardly, as viewed in Figs. 2 or 3, the compression spring 45 is further compressed and the effective diameter of the pulley 39 is decreased so that the driving ratio between the motor shaft 43 and the rolls 18 will be` a low speed ratio. If the motor 38 is moved upwardly relative to the pulley 17 the compression spring 45 expands, the belt 40 engaging the conical surfaces 41a and 42a along lines defined by greater radii `from the center of rotation of the motor shaft 43 and the effective diameter of the pulley 39 -is increased so that there will be a high speed driving ratio between the motor shaft 43 and the rolls 18.

The mechanism for reciprocating the motor 38 toward and away from the pulley 17 so as to` vary the effective diameter of the variable diameter pulley 39` and thereby change the driving ratio between the pulley 39 and the feed rolls 18 will now be described. The motor 38 is suitably secured, as by bolts 46, toa base plate 4.7. A` frame member 48 is suitably securedV to the main frame 16` and a guide block 49 is rigidly bolted, to the frame member 48. 'lihe guide` block 49l is provided` with. a pair of dovetail grooves 50 for receiving corresponding dovetail projections 51 on` the base plate 47. The dovetail projections 51` are slidable in the dovetail grooves 50 in order to permit reciprocation of the motor 38. toward and away from the pulley 17. A lug 52, integrally` secured tothe guide block 49 is formed with a projection 53 having an aperture 54 extending therethrough. A long threaded adjusting bolt 55 is threaded through the base plate 47 and has a non-threaded portion 56. which passes through the aperture 54 in the projection 53. On the end. of the non-threaded portion 56` of the adjusting bolt 55 is a knob 57 whichr is suitably secured to a link 58 pivotally connected to a bell crank 59. The bell crank 59 is pivoted, as indicated at 6i), to a projec tion 61 secured to the frame member 48. The other end of the bell crank 59 is suitably pivoted to a pistonl rod 62 of a fluid pressure responsive motor 63.

The fluid pressure responsive motor 63` comprises aA cylinder 64 suitably secured to the frame member 4.8 and reciprocable within the cylinder 64 is a piston 65' integral with or secured to the piston rod 62. FluidY transmitting` conduits 66 and 67 are connected to the cylinder 64 at opposite ends thereof for transmitting fluid under pressure into or bleeding uid from the cylinder 64 so as to move the piston 65 to either e-nd of the cylinder.

It is contemplated that any suitable fluid, such as air or oil, by way of example only, when under pressure may be utilized for reciprocating the jpiston 65 to the left or to the right as viewed in either Fig. l or 2. When, fluid under pressure is admitted into the cylinder 64 through the conduit 66, the piston 65 is moved to the right, thereby pivoting the bell crank 59 in a counterclockwise direction about its pivot point 60 and lifting the bolt 55 and motor 38. When the motor is lifted in this manner, the compression spr-ing 45 functions to compress the pulley section 42 toward the pulley section 41 thereby increasing the effective diameter of the variable diameter pulley 39 and, in turn, increasing the driving ratio between the pulley 39 and the louver wire feed rolls 18. When fluid under pressure is admitted'` into the cylinder 64 through the conduit 67, the piston 65 is moved to the left, thereby causing the bell crank 59 to pivot in a` clockwise direction about its pivot point 60 and, in` turn, causing the motor 38 to be lowered. This causes the compression spring 45 to be further compressed and the sections 41 and 42 to be spread apart relative to each other so as to decrease, the effective diameter of the variable diameter driving pulley 39. The driving ratio between` the pulley 39 and the f eed rolls 18 is correspondingly decreased under these conditions.

Any suitable valve may be utilized for controlling the supply of fluid pressure to the cylinder 64 through the conduits 66 and 67V and accordingly no specific disclosure of the valve has been made herein. A schematic showing of a valve which may be utilized for control'- ling the,` fluid pressure supplied to the cylinder 64 is indicated generally by reference numeral 68 and comprises a valve housing 69 having` a pressure inlet conduit 70, a bleed conduit 71` and suitable ports communicating respectively with the conduits 66 and 67. The valve itself is represented by reference numeral 72 and is normally biased to the right by a tension spring 73, snitably secured at` its other end to a stationary member, andthe valve may be moved to the left by energizing a valve solenoid 74 by the passage of electric current therethrough. When the solenoid 74 is energized,I the valve 72 is `moved to the left against the bias of the spring 73 and this causes communication to be established between` the fluid` pressure inlet conduit 70 and the conduit 66, thereby causing fluid pressure to be appliedto` the left` face of the piston 65 so as to cause the piston. to be moved tothe right,` thereby lifting the motor 38 and establishing the high speed driving ratio between the pulley 39 and the driving feed rolls 18, so as to advance the louver wire 20 into the storage bin 12 at its high feed rate. Under this condition, communication is established between the conduit 67 and the bleed conduit`71 so that the fluid on the right side of the piston 65 in the cylinder 64 is bled out through the conduits 67 and 71. When the solenoid 74 is deenergized, the tension spring 73 is effective to move the valve 72 to the right, thereby establishing uid pressure communication between the conduit 70 and the conduit 67. Simultaneously, communication is established between the conduit 66 and the conduit 71. At this time uid is bled from the left end of the cylinder 64 through the conduits 66 and 71 and uid under pressure is applied` to the right end of the cylinder 64 through the pressure inlet conduit 70 and the conduit 67 so as to move the piston 65 to the left, thereby lowering the motor and decreasing the effective diameter of the variable diameter pulley 39. This causes the low speed driving ratio to be established between the variable diameter pulley 39 and the feed rolls 18 so that the louver wire 20 is fed into the storage bin 12 at its' low feed rate.

The means for controlling the operation of the valve 68 so as to in turn control the rate at which the louver Wire 20 is fed into the storage bin 12, will now be described. A pair of electric power transmitting lines 75 and 76 provide a suitable source of alternating current for energizing the primary winding 77 of a combined transformer and rectifier, indicated schematically by reference numeral 78. The combined transformer and rectifier 78 also includes three secondary windings 79, 80 and 81, as well as rectifying tube 82, the cathode 83 of which is connected to the ends of the secondary winding 81 and the plates 83a of which are respectively connected with the ends of the secondary winding 79. The rectifying tube 82 and the secondary windings 79 and 81 function in a well-known manner to provide a suitable source of direct current for a pair of leads 84 and 85.

The control circuit for controlling the operation of the valve 68 also includes a sensing relay 86 which is energized and deenergized respectively in accordance with the quantity of louver wire 20 in the storage bin 12. The control circuit also includes a low speed relay 87, a high speed relay 88, a high speed indicator light 89 and a low speed indicator light 90.

The sensing relay 86 comprises a winding 91, and a stationary contact 92, together with a movable contact 93, comprise a sensing switch which is closed whenever the winding 91 of the sensing relay 86 is energized. The housing 15 for` the gearing for driving the feed rolls 18 is grounded as indicated at 94 and when the loop 38 of the louver wire 20 engages the contact plate 23 an electrical circuit for energizing the winding 91 of the sensing relay 86 is completed and this circuit extends from the ground 94, through the flattening and feeding mechanism 10, through the louver wire loop 38, through the'contact plate 23, through a lead 95, through the winding 91 of the relay 86, through a lead 96, through the secondary winding 80 which provides a source of alternating current and through a lead 97 to. ground 98. Thus, it is apparent that the sensing switch comprising the contacts 92 and 93 is closed whenever the louver wire loop 38 engages the contact plate 23 and open whenever the louver wire loop 38 is disengaged from the contact plate 23.

The low speed relay 87 comprises a winding 99, the ends of which are respectively connected with leads 100 and 101. A condenser 102 bridges the leads 100 and 101 and a pair of contacts 103 and 104 are alsoincluded in the relay 87. Whenever the winding 99 of the low speed relay V87 is deenergized the movable contact`103 engages the stationary contact 104 and upon energization of the winding 99, the contact 103 is pulled up'so as to break the connection betweenthe contact 103 and the contact 104. Whenever the sensing switch comprising the contacts 92 and 93 is closed, an energizing circuit is established for the low speed relay 99 and this circuit extends from the lead 84, through the lead101, through the winding 99 of the low speed relay 87, through the lead 100, through the sensing switch comprising the contacts 92 and 93, through a lead 105 to the lead 85. Also, when the energizing circuit for the windingy 99 is completed, a circuit is also established for charging the condenser 102. The condenser 102 functions, upon the opening of the'sensing switch comprising contacts 92 and 93, to maintain the winding 99 of the low speed relay 87 energized forwa 'predetermined time interval thereafter so that the contacts 103 and 104 are not immediately closed upon an opening of the sensing switch. A

The high speed relay 88 comprises a winding 106 having its ends respectively connected with a lead 107 and with a lead 108. The lead 107 is connected with the lead 84 and the lead 108 is connected with the stationary contact 104 of the relay 87. When the relay 99 is deenergized its movable contact 103 engages its stationary contact 104 and an energizing circuit is established for the winding 106 of the high speed relay 88, which circuit extends from the lead 84, through the lead 107, through the winding 106 of the relay 88, through the lead 108. through the closed contacts 104 and 103 of the relay 87 and through a lead 109 to the lead 85. The high speed relay 88 also includes a condenser 110 for delaying the deenergization of the winding 106 after the Contact 103 is opened from its associated contact 104. As is obvious, the condenser 110 bridges the lead 107 and 108 and is connected in parallel with the winding 106. The high speed relay 88 also includes a pair of stationary Vcontacts 111 and 112 and a movable contact 113. When the winding 106 is energized the movable contact 113 is pulled up to engage the stationary contact 111 to thereby complete an energizing circuit for the valve solenoid 7 4, which circuit extends from` the line 76, over a lead 114, through the closed contacts 113 and 111, through a lead 115, through the winding of the solenoid 74, and through a lead 116 to the line 75. An energizing circuit is also established whenever the solenoid 74 is energized, for illuminating the high speed indicator light 89 and this circuit extends from the lead through the high speed indicator light 89 and through a lead 117 to the lead 116.

When the high speed'relay 106 is deenergized its movable contact 113 falls back into engagement with the stationary contact 112 and a circuitis established for illuminating the low speed indicator light 90. This circuit extends from the line 76, through the lead 114, through the closed contacts 113 and 112, through a lead 118, through the low speed indicator light 90, through the lead 117 and through the lead 116 to the line 75.y

The operation of the control circuit and the mechanism for correlating the rate at which the louver wire 20 is fed into the storage bin 12 in accordance with the amount of louver wire in the bin will now be described. When the louver wire loop 38 is too small to engage the contact plate 23, the sensing relay 86 is deenergized and the sensing switch comprising contacts 92 and 93 is open. At this time vthe winding 99 of the low speed relay 87 is deenergized and its movable contact 103 is engaged With the stationary contact 104. When the contacts 103 and 104 are closed, an energizing circuit is established for the high speed relay 106, thereby causing the movable contacts 113 to be engaged with the stationary contact 111. This completes an energizing circuit for the valve solenoid 74 and for the high speed indicator light 89. When the valve solenoid 74 is energized the valve 72 is moved tothe left to connect the conduit 70 with the conduit 66 and the conduitl 67 with theconduit 71. Fluid under pressure is thereby admitted into the left end of the cylinder 64 behind the pistor`165Y `and iluid is bled from the right end of the piston 64.

The piston 65 thereby moves to the right and causes the motor 38 to be moved to its upper position so as to allow the effective diameter of the Variable diameter driving pulley 39 to be enlarged. This causes the attening and feeding rolls 18 to be driven at theirhigh feed rate so as to feed the louver wire 20 into the storage bin 12 at a` high rate of speed.

As long as the louver wire 20 continues to be fed into the storage bin 12 at the high feed rate the supply of louver wire 20 in the storage bin 12 between each intermittent withdrawal thereof by the feed rolls 29 and; 30

increases. `Under these conditions the input rate exceeds` the overall withdrawal rate ofthe louver wire by the feed rolls 29 and30. Consequently, the size of thelouver loop 38 immediately preceding the withdrawal` ofthe louver wire 20 by` the intermittent operation of the feed rolls 29 and` 30, eventually increases until the loop 38 engages the contact plate 23. Uponthe engagement of the loop 38.with the contact plate 23the winding 91 of the sensing relay 86 is energized and the sensing switch comprising `the contacts 92 and 93 is closed. The closure of the sensingnrswitch completes an energizing circuit` for the low speed relay winding 99 and a circuit for charging the condenser 102. During the condition when the feed rolls` 29 and 30 begin to` withdraw the louver wire] 20 from the storage bin 12 almost immediately after the loop 38,y engages the contact.` plate 23, the energizing circuit for the sensing relay 91 is completed only momentarily and the sensing switch comprising thel contacts 92 and 93` is closed only momentarily. Momentary closure` ot thesensing` switch is insufficient `to enable the condenser 102` to become charged, and, accordingly, ask soon as the sensing switch opens,` or at, least, very soon thereafter,

the winding 99 of the low `speed relay 87 becomes de.

energizedand its movable contact .is` disengaged from its stationary contact 104 for a very short interval of time.` Because of the fact that. the contact 1,03 reengages the contact; 104 before the condenser 11,0` has been cornpletely` discharged, the Winding` 106 of the high` speed relay 88,y is not actually deenergized and the movable contact` 113 is maintained in its` up` position in engage ment with the contact 111 so as to, continue tomaintain the valve solenoid 74` in its` energized condition. This, in` turn, causes the louver wire 20 to continueto be fed 'at-the high` feed` rate.

When the high feed rate of the louver wire prevails for a considerable period of time, the loop 38. contacts` the contact plate 23 for a relatively long` interval before the louver wire is withdrawn by the feed rolls `29 and 30. Under these conditions, the sensing relay 91 remains energized and the sensing'switchl comprising the contacts 92 and 93 remainsA closed for a sufficient duration to fullycharge the condenser 102 and fully energize the winding 99 of the low` speed relay 87. At this time, thev contact 103 i-s pulledup to break itsA electrical` connection with the,` contact 104 and the energizing circuit forthewinding 1,06. of the high speed relay 88 is broken., The condenser 110 which` bridges the leads107 and 108 discharges,` maintaining the winding 106 energized for a short period of time, however, if the contact L03 is held disengaged` from, the` contact 104 for a sufficient interval,`the condenser 110 completely discharges andthe movable contact 113 falls into engagement with the stationary contact 112. The breakingof the electrical connection between the movable contact 113 and the1 stationary contact 111 causes deenergization of the valve solenoid, 74 and the spring 73 is effective to move the valve 72 to the right,A in which position the fluid pressure input conduit 70 is `connected with; the conduit 67 and the iiuidpressure` bleed conduit` 71 is connected with the conduit` 66. At this time, fluid under pressure is admitted into` the cylinder A64 decreasing the effective diameter of, the driving pulley 39.` This causes a change` in thedriving ratio between-` the pulley 39and the feed rolls 18 so that the louver wire 20 is thereafter fed into the storage bin 12 at its low feed rate.

The louver wire 20v is fed intothe storage bin 12 at` the low feed rate until the duration of the periods` of; contact between the loop 38 and the contact plate 23. is sufliciently -short to enable the condenser 102 to completely discharge between successive closures of the sensing switch comprising the contacts 92 and 93. As the periods of deenergization of the low speed relay winding 99 become successively longer due to the fact that` the louver wire loop 38 engages the contact plate 23 for shorter and shorter intervals of time between successive withdrawals of the louver wire by the feed rolls 29 and 30, the energizing circuit for the winding 106 of the high speed relay 88 is completed for longer intervals. When the intervals, while the winding 106 is energized, become suflciently long to fully charge the condenser 110, the relay winding 106 is able to exert sufficient magnetic attraction to pull up the4 contacts 113 and thereby again complete the energizingcircuit for the valve solenoid 74. At such time as the valve solenoid 74 is again energized, the tiuid pressure circuit for raising the motor is established and the high feed rate for the louver wire is again established.

Due to the fact that considerable force is required to raise the motor 38, it is undesirable that it be raised in order to change the feed rate of the louver wire to the high feed rate, or to be lowered in order to change the feed rate to the low feed rate with each opening and closure of the sensing switch comprising contacts 92 andI 93. The condensers 102 and 110 respectively associated with the low speed relay 87 and the high speed relay 88 provide a certain amount of delay, which may be of the order of two to three seconds, for preventing a change in the feed rate of the louver wire 20` until Stich time as the quantity of louver wire in the storage bin 12 definitely exceeds or is less than that predetermined quantity which is necessary in order toy have the loop 38 just engage the contact plate 23 prior to withdrawal of the louver wire from the storage bin 12` by the feed rolls 29` and 30. By utilizing the condensers 102 and 110 in the manner in` which they are used herein, continuous reversals of movements of the valve 72 and consequent raising and lowering of the motor 38 to effect changes in the effective diameter of the variable diameter pulley 39, take place only When such a change in the feed rate for the louver wire is definitely called for.

It will accordingly be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention provides a simple and ethcient device for controlling the supply of wire maintained in a storage bin from which the wire is intermittently withdrawn. t is contemplated that numerous changes and modications may be made in the invention without departing from4 the spirit and scope thereof.

What isclaimed is:

l. ln a device for controlling the supply of wire Innintained in a storage bin, feeding means for feeding the wire into the bin` either at a high rate or a low rate, means for intermittently withdrawing said wire from the bin and an electrical circuit including a wire sensing switch adapted to close when the quantity of wire in the bin exceeds a predetermined amount and adapted to open when the quantity of wire in the bin is less than said predetermined amount, said withdrawing means upon each intermittent operation thereof being effective to withdraw the wire from the bin at a substantially greater rate than either rate at which said feeding means feeds the wire into the bin whereby -said wire alternately effects opening andl closure of said4 sensing switch upon each intermittent withdrawal of wire from Said bin, said electrical circuit being effective to control said feeding means so as to effect the high wire feed rate in response to an opening of said sensing switch and the low wire feed rate in response to a closure of said sensing switch, said electrical circuit including means for delaying changes in the rate the wire is fed into the bin by said feeding means for a predetermined interval of time after said wire sensing switch changes its condition from closed to open or vice versa.

2. In a device for controlling the supply of wire maintained in a .storage bin, feeding means for feeding the wire into the bin either at a high rate or a low rate, means operable for intermittently withdrawing said wire from said bin at a rate substantially in excess of either said high or low feed rate and an electrical circuit including a wire sensing switch adapted to close when the quantity of wire inthe bin exceeds a predetermined amount and adapted to open when the quantity of wire in the bin is less than saidv predetermined amount, the quantity of ywire in the bin successively exceeding and being less than Said predetermined amount upon each intermittent withdrawal thereof from said bin such that said sensing switch is alternately closed and opened, said electrical circuit including a pair of relays operable respectively upon the closure and opening of said wire Sensing switch to control .said feeding means so as to effect the low wire feed rate and the high wire feed rate, said electrical circuit also including a pair of condensers respectively associated with said relays for delaying the operation thereof for predetermined time intervals after the conditions of said wire sensing switch changes from closed to open or vice versa, whereby the wire is fed into the bin at said low rate for so long as thequantity of wire in the bin exceeds said predetermined amount for intervals, between said successive withdrawals, exceeding predetermined periods of time and at said high rate when the quantity of wire in the bin exceeds said predetermined amount for intervals, bctween successive withdrawals, of less than said predetermined periods of time.

3. In a device for controlling the supply of an electrical conductor maintained in a storage bin, means for feeding the conductor yinto the bin either at a high rate or a low rate, means for intermittently withdrawing the conductor from the bin, the feeding means being electrically grounded and the bin having an insulated electrical conducting plate disposed therein, a relay connected in series with said plate, the conductor when fed into the bin forming a loop which becomes larger as the quantity of the conductor in therbin increases and the conductor engaging said plate to complete an energizing circuit for said relay when said loop increases to a size corresponding to a predetermined quantity of the conductor in the bin, Said withdrawing means, during each intermittent operation thereof, being effective to withdraw the wire from the bin at a substantially greater rate than the rate at which the feeding means feeds the wire into the bin whereby said loop of wire alternately is engaged with and disengaged from said plate, means rendered effective only after said relay remains energized for a predetermined time interval as a result of said conductor being in engagement with said plate for said interval for changing the rate at which the conductor is fed into the bin from said high rate to said low rate, and othermeans rendered effective only after said relay remains deenergized for a predetermined time interval as a result of said conductor being disengaged from said plate for said last-named interval for changing the rate at which the conductor is fed into the bin 4from said low rate to said high rate.

4. In a device for controlling the supply of an electrical conductor maintained in a storage bin, means for feeding the conductor'into the bin either at a high rate or at a low rate, means for intermittently withdrawing the wire from said bin at a rate substantially in excess of either said high'or said'low feed rate, the feeding means being electrically grounded and the bin having an insulated elec-y trical conducting plate disposed therein, a relay connected in series with said plate, the conductor when fed into the bin forming a loop which becomes larger as the quantity of the conductor in the bin increases and the conductor engaging said plate to complete an energizing circuit for said relay when said loop increases to a size corresponding to apredetermined quantity of the conductor in the bin, said loop successively engaging and disengaging said plate upon each intermittent withdrawal of the conductor from said bin, a pair of contacts controlled by said relay adapted to close upon energization and open upon deener gization of said relay, a second relay connected in series with said pair of contacts and energized when said pair of contacts is closed, a condenser connected in series with said pair of contacts and in parallel with said second relay and adapted to discharge and maintain said second relay energized for a predetermined time interval after the opening of said pair of contacts, a second pair of contacts controlled by said second relay and adapted to close upon deenergization and open upon energization of said second relay, and means connected in series with said` second pair of contacts and effective in accordance with the open or closed condition thereof for respectively causing said feeding means to feed the conductor into the bin at either said low rate or said high rate.

5. In a device for controlling the supply of an electrical conductor maintained in a storage bin, means for feeding the conductor into the bin either at a high rate or a low rate, means for intermittently withdrawing the wire from said bin at a rate substantially in excess of either said high or said low feed rate, the feeding means being electrically grounded and the bin having an insulated electrical conducting plate disposed therein, a relay connected in series with said plate, the conductor when fed into the bin forming a loop which becomes larger as the quantity of the conductor in the bin increases and the conductor engaging said plate to complete an energizing circuit for said relay when said loop increases to a size corresponding to a predetermined quantity of the conductor in the bin, said loop successively engaging and disengaging Said plate upon each intermittent withdrawal of the conductor yfrom said bin, a pair of contacts controlled by said relay and adapted to close upon energization and open upon deenergization of said relay, a second relay connected in Series with said pair of contacts and energized when said pair of contacts is closed, a condenser connected in series with said second relay and adapted to discharge and maintain said second relay energized for a predetermined time interval after the opening of said pair of contacts, a second pair of contacts controlled by said second relay and adapted to close upon deenergization and open upon energization of said second relay, a third relay connected in series with said second pair of contacts and energized when said second pair of contacts is closed, a condenser also connected in series with Said second pair of contacts and adapted to discharge and maintain said third relayl energized for a kpredetermined time interval after the opening of said second pair of contacts, and means effective upon the energization or deenergization of said third relay for causing said feeding means to feed the conductor 4at said high rate or said low rate.

References Cited in the file of this patent t `UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,827,349 Bing Oct. 13, 1931 2,043,354 Mallina June 9, 1936 2,139,482 Atz Dec. 6, 1938 2,147,467 Stephenson Feb. 14, 1939 2,277,514 Elser Mar. 24, 1942 2,295,161l Clay a Sept. 8, 1942 2,295,327 Bendz Sept. 8, 1942 2,393,015 'A `Bendz ..--5 a Ian. 15, 1946 2,480,781 Simpson Aug. 30, 1949

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