Improved spooling system and a machine for manufacturing barbed wire incorporating the spooling system

Abstract

A spooling system for a machine for making barbed wire, said spooling system including: a support adapted to support a spool of barbed wire; means for rotating said support about a substantially vertical axis; means for reciprocating said support along a substantially vertical axis; means for guiding a length of barbed wire to said support, such that a barbed wire spool can be formed.

Description

[0001] IMPROVED SPOOLING SYSTEM AND A MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURING BARBED WIRE INCORPORATING THE SPOOLING SYSTEM

[0002] Technical Field

[0003] The present invention relates to a spooling system for use with a machine for making barbed wire, and to a machine incorporating that spooling system.

[0004] Background Art

[0005] Machines for manufacturing barbed wire have been in common use for decades, and are of two principal types:- a machine for making continuous twist barbed wire, in which two wires are twisted together in a single direction and the barbs pass between two adjacent wires and are twisted round the wires; and a machine for making “reverse twist” type barbed wire, in which two wires are twisted first in one direction and then in the opposite direction, with the barbs wound around the outside of the wires at each position at which the direction of twist changes.

[0006] In general, barbed wire uses two strands of wire with the barbs secured around one or both of those wires. However, it is possible to manufacture barbed wire from a single strand of wire with barbs wrapped around it. In another type of barbed wire, a single strand of wire is barbed, and is then twisted around a strand of plain (i.e. non-barbed) wire. Another possible variation is to use three or more strands of wire, only some of which may be barbed.

[0007] In general, the barbs are equidistantly spaced along the length of the wire, but this is not essential and the spacing may vary.

[0008] A different machine is used for continuous twist and reverse twist barbed wire, but both types of machine have in common that the spools of formed barbed wire are at or near the base of the machine, and have to be manually lifted from the housing when the spool is completed. This is heavy and unpleasant work, with a high risk of cuts and abrasions. A further drawback is that the design of the existing housings limits the external diameter of the spool.

[0009] Disclosure of Invention

[0010] An object of the present invention is to provide a spooling system for a machine manufacturing barbed wire, and a machine incorporating that spooling system, which overcomes the above-described drawbacks. The present invention provides a spooling system for a machine for making barbed wire, said spooling system including:

[0011] • a support adapted to support a spool of barbed wire;

[0012] • means for rotating said support about a substantially vertical axis;

[0013] • means for reciprocating said support along a substantially vertical axis;

[0014] • means for guiding a length of barbed wire to said support, such that a barbed wire spool can be formed.

[0015] Preferably, the barbed wire spool is formed around a drum supported upon said support, but it is also possible for the spool to be formed by coiling the barbed wire around itself.

[0016] It is envisaged that the spooling system of the present invention may be used to spool any of a wide range of types of barbed wire, including continuous twist barbed wire, reverse twist barbed wire, and both multiple and single strand barbed wire.

[0017] The present invention further provides a machine incorporating said spool, wherein said machine includes:

[0018] • a barb unit in which barbs are applied to a length of wire;

[0019] • and a guide system for guiding the wire coming from the barb unit onto the spooling system.

[0020] For a machine for making continuous twist barbed wire, said machine further includes a twist unit positioned between the outlet of the barb unit and the spooling system, said twist unit being arranged to receive wire from the barb unit and continuously twist the strands of wire together before the wire is spooled by the spooling system.

[0021] Brief Description of Drawings

[0022] By way of example only, a preferred embodiment of the present invention is described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-

[0023] Figure 1 is a diagrammatic isometric view of a machine for manufacturing barbed wire, and a spooling system, in accordance with the present invention;

[0024] Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 , but showing a different wire feed and more detail of the spooling system; Figure 3 is a plan view of part of the machine of Figure 1 ;

[0025] Figure 4 is a sectional side view online A - A of Figure 3; and

[0026] Figure 5 is an isometric view of part of the spooling system, on an enlarged scale.

[0027] It should be noted that in the drawings, the diameter of the wires is exaggerated, for clarity.

[0028] Definitions

[0029] As used herein, the terms listed below have the following meaning:

[0030] “Barbed wire” - one or more strands of plain wire around which short lengths of wire or thin plate have been tightly wound at spaced intervals, so as to project outwards from the plain wire.

[0031] “Continuous twist barbed wire” - barbed wire in which the one or more strands of plain wire have been twisted in the same direction over the length of the wire.

[0032] “Reverse twist barbed wire” - barbed wire in which the one or more strands of plain wire are twisted in one direction over a predetermined length of wire, and then in an opposite direction over the next length of wire; the changes in direction of twist usually occur where a barb is positioned.

[0033] Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0034] Referring to the drawings, a machine 10 in accordance with the present invention includes the following stages:

[0035] • a barb unit 11 ;

[0036] • a twist frame 12;

[0037] • a spooling unit 13.

[0038] Overview

[0039] Broadly, the machine 10 is set up to accept a feed of two parallel plain, smooth wires 14, 15 from an overhead supply (not shown) and to pass these wires through the barb unit 11 where sets of spaced barbs (which may be either two prong or four prong) are twisted round the wires 14, 15 generally (but not necessarily) at equally spaced intervals.

[0040] The direction of movement of the wires 14, 15 is indicated by doubled-headed arrows.

[0041] The wires 14, 15, now secured together at intervals by barbs 16, pass around a first guide pulley 17 located vertically below the barb unit and then are guided upwards to a second guide pulley 18 and horizontally across to a third guide pulley 19, and onto the twist frame 12.

[0042] From the guide pulley 19, the wires 14, 15 and barbs 16 pass vertically downwards through an aperture 20a in the top of a cylindrical bearing housing 20 which is formed with an inner cylindrical passage 20b (see Figure 4) through which the wires 14 / 15 and barbs 16 pass, to be formed into a spool by the spooling unit 13.

[0043] Another possible arrangement of the wires 14, 15 and barb unit 11 is shown in Figure 2:- in this variant, the plain wires 14, 15 (direction indicated by double-headed arrows) are brought into the barb unit 11 at the base of the unit via a pulley 17 a and pass through the barb unit where barbs 16 are applied to the wires 14, 15 as described below. The barbed wires 14, 15 exit the top of the barb unit 11 and pass over a pulley 18a and from there to a guide pulley 19, as described with reference to Figure 1 . The rest of the machine is as described with reference to Figure 1 .

[0044] Detailed description of the separate units

[0045] Barb unit

[0046] The barb unit 11 includes a master speed control for the whole machine:- the main motor 40 essentially pushes wire through the machine at a selected speed. It should be noted that this is a difference between the present machine and a standard barbed wire machine, which pulls wire through the machine. However, it would also be possible for the machine 10 to be arranged so that the wire is pulled through the machine rather than pushed through it, if required.

[0047] All movements of all parts of the machine 10 are made by servo-motors, which are centrally controlled and synchronized by the master speed control. However, it would be possible to use other types of motor, with or without a centralised control system. The barb unit 11 is of known type, and cuts the barbs from a supply of suitable wire (not shown) and also twists the barbs onto the wires at spaced positions along the length of the wires. The wire for forming the barbs 16 may be twisted around the wires 14, 15 and then cut or may be cut into suitable lengths, and then twisted around the wires 14, 15.

[0048] The wire forming the barbs 16 may be cut to length using any suitable cutter (for example a rotary cutter or a shear). The wire forming the barbs is twisted around the wires 14, 15 using a twister of known type.

[0049] Preferably, the barbs 16 are applied to the wires 14, 15 continuously, without requiring the feed of the wires 14, 15 to stop at intervals for the barbs to be twisted around them.

[0050] If the machine is to be used for continuous twist barbed wire, then the barb unit 11 simply performs the functions described above. However, if the machine is to be used for reverse twist barbed wire, then a reverse twister is incorporated in the barb unit 11 , so that the wires are twisted in opposite directions for consecutive sections, as the barbs are applied to the wires.

[0051] Twist Frame and Spooling Unit

[0052] The twist frame 12 and windup unit 13 cooperate to receive a continuous run of parallel wires 14, 15 with the barbs 16 at spaced intervals along the length of the wires and to produce a spool of barbed wire on the drum 24. The twist frame 12 includes a bearing housing 20 rigidly secured to, and rotatable with, a U-shaped frame 21 ; the free ends 22, 23 of the “U” extend diametrically opposite each other one on each side of a drum 24 which is supported upon a support 25 which in turn is carried by an reciprocating stand 26, one end of which is slidably mounted at one side of a cabinet 27, which forms part of the windup unit 13. The support 25 in use is rotated about a substantially vertical axis.

[0053] As shown in greater detail in Figures 3 and 4, the wires, 14, 15 carrying the barbs 16 pass down through the cylindrical passage 20b in the cylindrical bearing housing 20 and at the lower end of the passage 20b are directed around a fourth guide pulley 45 (visible in Figure 4 only) which turns the wires 14, 15 through nearly 90°, and then over two further guide pulleys 46, 47 which are secured to the exterior of the U-shaped frame 21 . The wires leaving the guide pulley 47 are substantially parallel to the wires entering the pulley 46, and are approximately horizontal.

[0054] The free end of the wires leaving the pulley 47 is guided around the drum 24, using any suitable means, to form a reel around the drum 24. The drum 24 is simply a former for the wires, and may be made of any of a range of suitable materials e.g. wood, metal or cardboard. Alternatively, the drum 24 may be omitted and the wire simply wound around itself to form a reel.

[0055] Four spaced support posts 49 are mounted on the support 25 and project through the centre of the spool / drum, to locate it correctly on the support 25.

[0056] Continuous Twist Barbed Wire

[0057] If the machine is being used to manufacture continuous twist barbed wire (i.e. barbed wire in which the wires 14, 15 are twisted around each other in a single direction) then as the wires 14, 15 leave the pulley 19 and enter the cylindrical passage 20b in the cylindrical bearing housing 20, the twist frame 12 is rotated at a predetermined rate around a substantially vertical axis, to twist the wires 14, 15 by the required degree. The linear feed rate of the wires 14, 15 through the passage 20b is adjusted as necessary to obtain the required number of twists in the wires 14, 15 per metre of wire.

[0058] As the twist frame 12 rotates, the support 25 which carries the drum 24 and the reel of barbed wire which is being formed around the drum, is rotated and reciprocated up and down along a substantially vertical axis such that each successive turn of barbed wire coming from the guide pulley 47 onto the drum 24 is correctly positioned adjacent the previous strand, to form a smooth reel.

[0059] Reverse Twist Barbed Wire

[0060] If the machine is being used to manufacture reverse twist barbed wire then the wires 14,

[0061] 15 have already been twisted when they leave the barb unit 11 , and therefore the twist frame 12 is not required and remains stationary:- the twisted wires 14, 15 and the barbs

[0062] 16 are fed down through the cylindrical passage 20b in the cylindrical bearing housing 20, around guide pulleys 45, 46 and 47 and onto the drum 24. The drum 24 is rotated and reciprocated in the manner described above, to form a reel of barbed wire. The process is otherwise as described with reference to continuous twist barbed wire. Spool Formation

[0063] Referring in particular to Figures 1 and 2, the support 25 is reciprocated by moving the stand 26 along a pair of spaced parallel rails 50 mounted along one side of the cabinet 27 and arranged to engage with corresponding tracks 51 formed at the edges of the stand 26.

[0064] The cabinet 27 houses three servo-motors (not visible) one of which reciprocates the stand 26, one of which rotates the support 25 about a substantially vertical axis and the third of which rotates the twist frame 12 if required.

[0065] When the spool of barbed wire on the drum 24 reaches a predetermined weight (as measured by one or more sensors mounted on the support 25) the machine is halted, the twist frame 12 (if used) ceases rotation and the stand 26 is halted at a predetermined position. Alternatively, the machine may be halted when a sensor measuring the length of wire feed through the barb unit indicates that a specified length of wire has been fed through the unit. The barbed wire is then cut between the guide pulley 47 and the spool and the free end of the barbed wire is secured.

[0066] As shown in Figures 2 and 5 only, a supporting table 52 Is supported adjacent one side of the cabinet 27 and is arranged to slide reciprocally in a horizontal plane along a supporting rail 53 (Figure 2 only). The table 52 is moved by a servo motor (not visible).

[0067] When the spool of barbed wire has reached the required size (as described above) and the barbed wire has been cut so that the spool can be removed, the spool (together with the drum 24 if present) is raised slightly above the upper surface of the support 25, sufficiently to allow the supporting table 52 to slide between the upper surface of the support 25 and the lower surface of the spool / drum. The spool is raised by extending two cylinders 25a (only one of which is visible - the other is diametrically opposite) underneath the spool. Once the spool is resting on the table 52, the support 25 and stand 26 are lowered, to extract the support post 49 from within the spool and the supporting table 52 is then slid in the reverse direction to remove the spool / drum from the spooling unit 13 and the spool / drum is then stacked or stored as required. If a drum 24 is being used, a fresh drum 24 is placed on the stand 26, as shown in Figure 1 , and the free end of the barbed wire coming from the guide pulley 47 is secured to the drum, or temporarily secured to the support 25, and the machine is restarted to form a further spool of barbed wire. Other Patterns of Barbed Wire

[0068] If the machine is being used to manufacture single strand barbed wire, then the wire is simply passed through the barb unit 11 where barbs are twisted around the wire at spaced intervals. The wire coming from the barb unit 11 then follows the same path as described above i.e. around guide pulleys 17, 18 and 19 and into the twist frame and spooling unit. Since no twist is required, the twist frame is stationary, as for reverse twist barbed wire and only the spooling function is used, as described above. In another possible variant, a single strand barbed wire may be manufactured as described in the preceding paragraph and then may be joined by a second strand of plain wire immediately before the twist frame, and the twist frame used to twist the plain wire and the barbed wire together. The resulting twisted wire is then spooled as described above.

Claims

Claims1 . A spooling system for a machine for making barbed wire, said spooling system including:• a support adapted to support a spool of barbed wire;• means for rotating said support about a substantially vertical axis;• means for reciprocating said support along a substantially vertical axis;• means for guiding a length of barbed wire to said support, such that a barbed wire spool can be formed.

2. The spooling system as claimed in Claim 1 , wherein said support includes means for raising a spool of barbed wire supported upon the support a short distance above the support, sufficient to allow a sliding table to pass between the lower edge of the spool and the support.

3. A spooling system as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein said spool of barbed wire is formed around a drum.

4. A spooling system as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein said spool of barbed wire is formed by winding said wire around itself to form a spool.

5. A machine for making barbed wire, said machine incorporating a spooling system as claimed in any one of claims 1 - 4, and further incorporating:• a barb unit in which barbs are applied to one or more lengths of wire;• a guide system for guiding wire coming from the barb unit onto the spooling system.

6. The machine as claimed in Claim 5, wherein said machine is designed to manufacture continuous twist barbed wire from two or more straight wires and said machine further incorporates a twist frame adapted in use to impart a continuous twist to said wires.

7. The machine as claimed in Claim 5, wherein said machine is designed to manufacture reverse twist barbed wire from two or more straight wires and said machine further incorporates a reverse twist unit.

8. The machine as claimed in claim 7, where said reverse twist unit is incorporated in the barb unit.

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