Abstract This invention relates to a technique and device for accurately aligning filaments of varying size that are wound on a drum and is particularly useful in winding glass filaments for optical use. As the filamentary material is wound on a rotating steel drum, it is held in place next to the preceding winding by means of a magnetically coupled rider whose contacting surfaces are made of materials having low sliding friction. The rider is prevented from rotating with the drum by means of a rod positioned axially with respect to the rotating steel drum. The force with which the rider presses against the preceding winding or layer may be controlled by an electromagnet in the rider or by varying the alignment of the rod with respect to the axis of the steel drum.
A device for winding filamentary material comprising: steel drum means rotating about the longitudinal axis thereof; a magnetic rider means for accurately guiding and aligning said filamentary material as said material is being wound on said drum, said rider means maintaining each turn of the wound filament in close contact with the immediately preceding turn of filament; retaining rod means positioned axially with respect to the rotating steel drum for preventing said rider means from rotating with and falling off said drum, said rod means having a very smooth surface and being vibrated at a low amplitude, high frequency so as to eliminate the the tendency of the rider to stick to said rod; said drum means adjustably mounted on a carriage for transverse movement with respect to the feed of the filamentary material; said retaining rod means connected to the dame carriage as said drum means; said magnetic rider means consisting essentially of filament guides fabricated from a low friction material attached to a supporting body having magnetic means integral therewith for producing a strong magnetic coupling between the rider and steel drum, whereby said rider firmly abuts against the outermost side of the filament being wound on the drum and moves along the restraining rod only in r response the force placed on the side of the rider by the buildup of successively wound turns of filamentary material.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
230 words
A device for winding filamentary material comprising: steel drum means rotating about the longitudinal axis thereof; a magnetic rider means for accurately guiding and aligning said filamentary material as said material is being wound on said drum, said rider means maintaining each turn of the wound filament in close contact with the immediately preceding turn of filament; retaining rod means positioned axially with respect to the rotating steel drum for preventing said rider means from rotating with and falling off said drum, said rod means having a very smooth surface and being vibrated at a low amplitude, high frequency so as to eliminate the the tendency of the rider to stick to said rod; said drum means adjustably mounted on a carriage for transverse movement with respect to the feed of the filamentary material; said retaining rod means connected to the dame carriage as said drum means; said magnetic rider means consisting essentially of filament guides fabricated from a low friction material attached to a supporting body having magnetic means integral therewith for producing a strong magnetic coupling between the rider and steel drum, whereby said rider firmly abuts against the outermost side of the filament being wound on the drum and moves along the restraining rod only in r response the force placed on the side of the rider by the buildup of successively wound turns of filamentary material.