Continuous take-up apparatus for a linear product

Claim 2

A continuous take-up apparatus for a linear product comprising a generally V-shaped frame structure, actuator means for oscillating said frame about a horizontal axis between first and second positions, said frame structure having rotatable shafts parallel to said horizontal axis for supporting product take-up reels thereon for rotation therewith, said shafts being positioned on two apexes of a triangle whose remaining apex coincides with said horizontal axis, means for rotating said shafts, guide means disposed in a plane above said reels and mounted for movement at least in a direction parallel to said shafts to guide said linear product to one of said reels, shifting means between said reels movable in a direction parallel to said shafts for shifting said linear product axially beyond said one end of said reels when said one reel is substantially full of said product, said actuator means oscillating said frame about said horizontal axis so that said full reel is moved to a reel take-off position and another empty reel is moved to a working position, engaging means adjacent one end of each of said reels for engaging and arresting said linear product on said empty reel to changeover said product from said full reel to said empty reel.

Claim 3

A continuous take-up apparatus as claimed in claim 1 including means for moving said guide means in a direction laterally of said shafts within said plane.

Claim 4

A continuous take-up apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which said means for rotating said shafts comprise a pair of motors mounted on said frame structure for movement therewith, said motors being each operatively connected to said shafts for rotating reels thereon.

Claim 5

A continuous take-up apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which said means for shifting linear product include a linear product shifting bar mounted on said frame structure for reciprocal sliding movement in directions parallel to the axes of rotation of reels and a fluid-operated piston and cylinder assembly mounted on said frame structure, the piston of said assembly being connected to said linear product shifting bar.

Claim 6

A continuous take-up apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which said frame has a pair of legs defining the V-shaped configuration terminating in free end portions, each of said legs being bifurcated at said free end portions to define a pair of parallel arms, one of said arms of each leg rotatably supporting said one of said shafts and the other of said arms of each leg having a pin member movable along its axis between an inner normal position an an outer retracted position.

Claim 7

A continuous take-up apparatus as claimed in claim 2 in which said linear product guide means include a pair of slide block members aligned in a direction parallel to said axes of rotation of reels, at least one lateral shaft member extending between said block members, a sheave member rotatably mounted on said lateral shaft member for guiding said linear product to a working reel, means on one of said slide block members for moving said sheave member along said lateral shaft member, and the means for moving said guide means in a direction laterally of said shafts includes force generating means and link means connecting said force generating means with one of said slide block members.

Claim 8

A continuous take-up apparatus for linear product comprising a frame structure mounted for oscillatory movement about a horizontal axis between first and second positions said frame structure having rotatable shafts for supporting product take-up reels thereon for rotation therewith, said shafts being positioned on two apexes of a triangle whose remaining apex coincides with said horizontal axis, means for rotating said shafts, guide means disposed in a plane above said reels, and mounted for movement in a first direction parallel to said shafts to guide said linear product to one of said reels, means for moving said guide means in a second direction laterally of said shafts within said plane, shifting means between said reels movable in a direction parallel to said shafts for shifting said linear product axially beyond said one end of said reels when said one reel is substantially full of said product, actuator means for oscillating said frame structure about said horizontal axis so that said full reel is moved to a reel take-off position and another empty reel is moved to a working position, engaging means adjacent one end of each of said reels for engaging and arresting said linear product on said empty reel to changeover said product from said full reel to said empty reel.

Claim 9

A continuous take-up apparatus for linear product comprising a frame structure mounted for oscillatory movement about a horizontal axis between first and second positions said frame structure having rotatable shafts for supporting product take-up reels thereon for rotation therewith, said shafts being positioned on two apexes of a triangle whose remaining apex coincides with said horizontal axis, means for rotating said shafts, guide means disposed in a plane above said reels, and mounted for movement in a first direction parallel to said shafts to guide said linear product to one of said reels, means for moving said guide means in a second direction laterally of said shafts within said plane, shifting means between said reels movable in a direction parallel to said shafts for shifting said linear product axially beyond said one end of said reels when said one reel is substantially full of said product, actuator means for oscillating said frame structure about said horizontal axis so that said full reel is moved to a reel take-off position and another empty reel is moved to a working position, engaging means adjacent one end of each of said reels for engaging and arresting said linear product on said empty reel to changeover said product from said full reel to said empty reel.

Claim 10

A continuous take-up apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein said linear product guide means includes a pair of slide block members aligned in a direction parallel to said axes of rotation of reels, at least one lateral shaft member extending between said block members, a sheave member rotatably mounted on said lateral shaft membeR for guiding said linear product to a working reel, means on one of said slide block members for moving said sheave member along said lateral shaft member and the means for moving said guide means in a direction laterally of said shafts includes force generating means and link means connecting said force generating means with one of said slide block members.