System and method for securing free end of wound cable

Abstract

A system for securing a free end of a cable wound on a spool includes a spooling machine having at least one spooling head for winding a length of the cable onto the spool and a stretch wrap applicator for securing the free end of the cable on the spool with stretch wrap that is pinched between the free end of the cable and the outermost windings of the cable wound on the spool. A stretch wrap applicator for a spooling machine having at least one spooling head includes a housing, a roll of stretch wrap disposed within the housing and a pulling clamp for gripping and pulling a starting end of the stretch wrap so as to position the stretch wrap between a spool of wound cable having outermost windings and a free end of the cable wound on the spool. A method for securing the free end of a cable wound on a spool includes providing the spooling machine and the stretch wrap applicator, moving the pulling clamp from an initial position around a free end of the cable, gripping a starting end of the stretch wrap, moving the pulling clamp and the stretch wrap back to the initial position with the stretch wrap disposed between the free end and the outermost windings of the cable and moving the pulling clamp in a downward direction so as to pinch the stretch wrap within a nip defined between the outermost windings and the free end of the cable.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE To RELATED APPLICATION[0001]This application claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 011,013 filed on Jun. 11, 2014, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention relates generally to systems, apparatus and methods for securing the free end of wound cable. More particularly, the invention is a system and method for securing the free end of a length of an elongate, flexible cable that is wound onto a spool by a spooling machine. The free end of the cable is secured using stretch wrap that is automatically applied to a spool of wound cable as the cable is being cut so that the leading end of the stretch wrap is nipped between the spool of wound cable and the free end of the cable. In an exemplary embodiment, the stretch wrap system is mounted horizontally and movable in a transverse direction to service at least two cable spooling stations on a spooling machine.B...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention is a system and method for winding a length of flexible cable onto a spool and securing the end of the cable onto the spool with stretch wrap. The system includes a spooling machine with two spooling heads and a stretch wrap applicator that can move in a transverse direction along a rail or angled rail. The stretch wrap applicator has a pulling clamp that can grip the starting end of the cable and move it back to the initial position with the cable wrapped around the spool. The method involves positioning the pulling clamp around the free end of the cable and the outermost windings of the cable wound on the spool, pinching the stretch wrap between the outermost windings and the free end of the cable, and wrapping the stretch wrap around the cable until the free end is secured. The technical effects of the invention include improved efficiency in winding and securing cables onto spools and easier handling of the cables during transportation.

Problems solved by technology

However, a number of disadvantages, deficiencies and problems are associated with the automatic stretch wrap applicator of the MGS / Hall spooling machine.

The MGS / Hall stretch wrap applicator requires an excessive number of separate components, which results in high cost and reduced reliability of the applicator.

Therefore, the relatively thin layer of stretch wrap can slip on a wound cable having an excessively smooth or slick jacket, and as a result, not be pulled around the spool of wound cable.

Thus, the free end of the cable can extend outwardly from beneath the stretch wrap and potentially snag causing premature removal of the stretch wrap.

Furthermore, the use of a separate stretch wrap applicator for each of the two spooling heads unnecessarily duplicates components of the spooling machine and increases acquisition, maintenance and operating costs.

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