Device for automatically positioning the windings formed by a flexible elongated member stored in an annular basket rotatable about a vertical axis

Claim 2

A storing device of the type which automatically positions the windings formed by a flexible elongated element in an annular storage basket driven in rotation about a vertical axis by motor means, the storage basket having an annular space provided with a bottom and being open at its upper end, so as to permit the introduction of the elongated element thereinto, the elongated element being driven by displacement means having an outlet, wherein the portion of the elongated element between said displacement means and the storage basket forms at least a free loop portion which is not subjected to any tensile stress, said device comprising: drawing means having an outlet for pulling the elongated element forming said free loop portion, guiding means for guiding the elongated element during its introduction into the storage basket, and control means, controlling on the one hand the rotational speed of the storage basket as a function of the length of elongated element displaced at the outlet of said displacement means and controlling on the other hand the length of the elongated element displaced at the outlet of said drawing means as a function of rotational speed of the storage basket.

Claim 3

A device according to claim 1, wherein said guiding means comprises a guiding track for the elongated member, said guiding track being integral with a carriage displaceable along a guiding rail parallel to a direction radial to the storage basket, the displacement of said carriage along said guiding rail being controlled as a function of the rotation of said storage basket.

Claim 4

A device according to claim 2, wherein said control means comprises first detecting means which generates a signal representative of the length of the elongated member displaced through said displacement means, second detecting means which generates a signal representative of the rotational speed of the storage basket, third detecting means which generates a signal representative of the position of said carriage on said guiding rail, fourth detecting means which generates a signal representative of the length of the elongated member passing through said drawing means, automatic means connected to said detecting means to receive and process the signals generated by said detecting means and to generate a first resulting signal adapted to control the speed of motor means driving the storage basket by controlling the rotation thereof as a function of carriage position and the length of the elongated member displaced through said displacement means, thereby ensuring that said loop portion constituted by the elongated member has a substantially constant length, said automatic means generating a second resulting signal adapted to control the operation of said drawing means as a function of the rotational speed of the storage basket, and the position of said carriage on said guiding rail, thereby ensuring that the length of the elongated member between said drawing means and the storage basket remains substantially constant.

Claim 5

A device according to claim 3, wherein the storage basket and said drawing means are actuated by hydraulic motor means controlled through electro-valve means actuated by said resulting signals delivered by said automatic means.

Claim 6

A device according to claim 3, wherein said automatic means comprises correcting circuit means receiving on a first input terminal the signal representative of the rotational speed of the storage basket generated by said second detecting means, and on a second input terminal the signal representative of the position of said carriage delivered by said third detecting means, said correcting circuit means delivering on its output terminal a corrected signal representative of the length of the loop of the elongated member which is stored into the storage basket, comparing circuit means having first input terminal means connected to said correcting circuit to receive said corrected signal and second input terminal means connected to a first switch having first and second positions, in one of which it connects exclusively the second input terminal of said comparing circuit to said first detecting means from which it receives the signal representative of the length of elongated member displaced at the outlet of said displacement means, said comparing circuit delivering on its output terminal a control signal for said motor means driving the storage basket, said control signal being transmitted to an element controlling the operational speed of said motor means.

Claim 7

A device according to claim 5, wherein there is provided a generator of signals identical to those delivered by said first detecting element, said second input terminal of said first comparing circuit being connected to said generator through said first switch when the latter is in said second position, said generator being actuated when said free loop portion, formed by the elongated element between said displacement means and the storage basket, has reached a predetermined minimum length, the operation of said generator being interrupted when said free loop portion reaches a predetermined maximum length.

Claim 8

A device according to claim 6, wherein there is provided an additional comparing circuit having two input terminals, the first of said input terminals being connected to said fourth detecting element which delivers a signal representative of the length of the elongated member pulled through said drawing means, the second of said input terminals being connected to the output terminal of said correcting circuit, said second comparing circuit delivering on its output terminal a signal which is a function of the signals applied to its input terminals, this signal controlling the operation of said drawing means through a control element to which is transmitted said output signal.

Claim 9

A device according to claim 7, wherein said second input terminal of said additional comparing circuit is connected to the output terminal of said correcting circuit through a second switch with first and second positions which is controlled in synchronism with said first switch, when the latter is placed in its first position, and comprising third and fourtH switches having first, second and third positions, said third and fourth switches controlled in synchronism, said third switch connecting said generator to said first switch, exclusively in said first and said second positions of said third switch, and interrupting the connection when placed in said third position, said fourth switch connecting said second input terminal of said additional comparing circuit to said generator in said third position of said fourth switch and to said output terminal of said correcting circuit in said second position of said fourth switch, said third and fourth switches thus permitting a fully independent control of the storage basket and of said drawing means, when said third and fourth switches are respectively located in their first and third position and when said generator is simultaneously actuated.

Claim 10

A device according to claim 5, wherein there is provided an additional comparing circuit having two input terminals, the first of said input terminals being connected to said fourth detecting element which delivers a signal representative of the length of the elongated member displaced through said drawing means, the second of said input terminals being connected to the output terminal of said correcting circuit, said second comparing circuit delivering on its output terminal a signal which is a function of the signals applied to its input terminals, this signal controlling the operation of said drawing means through a control element to which is transmitted said output signal.

Claim 11

A device according to claim 9, wherein said second input terminal of said additional comparing circuit is connected to the output terminal of said correcting circuit through a second switch with first and second positions which is controlled in synchronism with said first switch, when the latter is placed in its first position, and comprising third and fourth switches having first, second and third positions, said third and fourth switches controlled in synchronism, said third switch connecting said generator to said first switch, exclusively in said first and second positions of said third switch, and interrupting the connection when placed in said third position, said fourth switch connecting said second input terminal of said additional comparing circuit to said generator in said third position of said fourth and to said output terminal of said correcting circuit in said second position of said fourth switch, said third and fourth switches thus permitting a fully independent control of the storage basket and of said drawing means, when said third and fourth switches are respectively located in their first and third position and when said generator is simultaneously actuated.

Claim 12

A storing device of the type which automatically positions the windings formed by a flexible elongated member in an annular storage basket driven in rotation about a vertical axis by motor means, the basket having an annular space provided with a bottom and being open at its upper end so as to permit the introduction of the elongated member thereinto, the elongated member being driven by displacement means, said device comprising: drawing means for supplying said elongated member to said storage basket, guiding means for guiding said elongated member during its introduction into said storage basket, control means for controlling the relative operation of said guiding means, said storage basket and said displacement means in such a manner as to position said elongated member in said storage basket so as to prevent successive windings of said elongated member from overlapping or sliding on one another.

Claim 13

A storing device of the type which automatically positions the windings formed by a flexible elongated member in an annular storage basket driven in rotation about a vertical axis by motor means, the basket having an annular space provided with a bottom and being open at its upper end so as to permit the introduction of the elongated member thereinto, the elongated member being driven by displacement means, said device comprising: drawing means for supplying said elongated member to said storage basket, guiding means for guiding said elongated member during its introduction into said storage basket, control means for controlling the relative operation of said guiding means, said storage basket and said displacement means in such a manner as to position said elongated member in said storage basket so as to prevent successive windings of said elongated member from overlapping or sliding on one another.

Claim 14

A device according to claim 1, wherein said guiding means comprises a guiding rail for the elongated member, said guiding rail arranged parallel to a line radial to said storage basket, carriage means movable along said guiding rail for carrying said elongated member, the displacement of said carriage means along said guiding rail being controlled as a function of The rotation of said storage basket.