Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
152 words
A wire-feeding apparatus for the controlled feeding of wire comprising a set of two opposed aligned rollers mounted on substantially parallel axes of rotation and with peripheral edges close to each other, one of said rollers being a driven feed roller and the other of said rollers being a pinch roller, drive means connected to said feed roller for rotating it at a controlled rate, both of said rollers having indented V-shaped peripheral cross sections, said peripheral cross section of said feed roller having a relatively sharp obtuse angle, said peripheral cross section of said pinch roller having a relatively shallow obtuse angle, said angles accommodating a wide range of wire diameters, said peripheral cross section of said feed roller having a pair of sloped walls, said walls being serrated to facilitate gripping said wire, and resilient means urging said peripheral edges of said rollers together for gripping said wire between them.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
152 words
A wire-feeding apparatus for the controlled feeding of wire comprising a set of two opposed aligned rollers mounted on substantially parallel axes of rotation and with peripheral edges close to each other, one of said rollers being a driven feed roller and the other of said rollers being a pinch roller, drive means connected to said feed roller for rotating it at a controlled rate, both of said rollers having indented V-shaped peripheral cross sections, said peripheral cross section of said feed roller having a relatively sharp obtuse angle, said peripheral cross section of said pinch roller having a relatively shallow obtuse angle, said angles accommodating a wide range of wire diameters, said peripheral cross section of said feed roller having a pair of sloped walls, said walls being serrated to facilitate gripping said wire, and resilient means urging said peripheral edges of said rollers together for gripping said wire between them.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
A wire-feeding apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said obtuse angle of said feed roller is from about 100° to 140°.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
A wire-feeding apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein said obtuse angle of said pinch roller is from about 130° to 160°.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
A wire-feeding apparatus as set forth in either of claims 1 or 3, wherein said obtuse angle of said feed roller is about 120°.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
A wire-feeding apparatus as set forth in either of claims 1 or 2, wherein said obtuse angle of said pinch roller is about 150°.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
A wire-feeding apparatus as set forth in claim 4, wherein said obtuse angle of said pinch roller is about 150°.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
A wire-feeding apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said serrations are regularly spaced with said serrations on one said wall being staggered relative to said serrations on the other said wall.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
A wire-feeding apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said serrations comprise triangular teeth having a vertex angle of about 90°.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
168 words
A wire-feeding apparatus for the controlled feeding of wire comprising a set of two opposed aligned rollers mounted on substantially parallel axes of rotation and with peripheral edges close to each other, one of said rollers being a driven feed roller and the other of said rollers being a pinch roller, drive means connected to said feed roller for rotating it at a controlled rate, both of said rollers having indented V-shaped peripheral cross sections, said peripheral cross section of said feed roller having a relatively sharp obtuse angle, said peripheral cross section of said pinch roller having a relatively shallow obtuse angle, said angles accommodating a wide range of wire diameters, said peripheral cross section of said feed roller having a pair of sloped walls, said walls being serrated to facilitate gripping said wire and provided with a groove at their junction whereby debris is carried away from said walls, and resilient means urging said peripheral edges of said rollers together for gripping said wire between them.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
168 words
A wire-feeding apparatus for the controlled feeding of wire comprising a set of two opposed aligned rollers mounted on substantially parallel axes of rotation and with peripheral edges close to each other, one of said rollers being a driven feed roller and the other of said rollers being a pinch roller, drive means connected to said feed roller for rotating it at a controlled rate, both of said rollers having indented V-shaped peripheral cross sections, said peripheral cross section of said feed roller having a relatively sharp obtuse angle, said peripheral cross section of said pinch roller having a relatively shallow obtuse angle, said angles accommodating a wide range of wire diameters, said peripheral cross section of said feed roller having a pair of sloped walls, said walls being serrated to facilitate gripping said wire and provided with a groove at their junction whereby debris is carried away from said walls, and resilient means urging said peripheral edges of said rollers together for gripping said wire between them.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
179 words
A wire-feeding apparatus for the controlled feeding of wire comprising a set of two opposed aligned rollers mounted on substantially parallel axes of rotation and with peripheral edges close to each other, one of said rollers being a driven feed roller and the other of said rollers being a pinch roller, said feed roller comprising circular outer flanges and inner disks with beveled edges, with detachable fasteners holding said flanges and disks together, to facilitate disassembly and reassembly, drive means connected to said feed roller for rotating it at a controlled rate, both of said rollers having indented V-shaped peripheral cross sections, said peripheral cross section of said feed roller having a relatively sharp obtuse angle, said peripheral cross section of said pinch roller having a relatively shallow obtuse angle, said angles accommodating a wide range of wire diameters, said peripheral cross section of said feed roller having a pair of sloped walls, said walls being serrated to facilitate gripping said wire, and resilient means urging said peripheral edges of said rollers together for gripping said wire between them.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
179 words
A wire-feeding apparatus for the controlled feeding of wire comprising a set of two opposed aligned rollers mounted on substantially parallel axes of rotation and with peripheral edges close to each other, one of said rollers being a driven feed roller and the other of said rollers being a pinch roller, said feed roller comprising circular outer flanges and inner disks with beveled edges, with detachable fasteners holding said flanges and disks together, to facilitate disassembly and reassembly, drive means connected to said feed roller for rotating it at a controlled rate, both of said rollers having indented V-shaped peripheral cross sections, said peripheral cross section of said feed roller having a relatively sharp obtuse angle, said peripheral cross section of said pinch roller having a relatively shallow obtuse angle, said angles accommodating a wide range of wire diameters, said peripheral cross section of said feed roller having a pair of sloped walls, said walls being serrated to facilitate gripping said wire, and resilient means urging said peripheral edges of said rollers together for gripping said wire between them.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
A wire-feeding apparatus as set forth in claim 10, wherein said feed roller includes split hubs secured by detachable fasteners to further facilitate disassembly and reassembly.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
48 words
A wire-feeding apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein a pair of said sets is arranged in succession with the centers of said pinch rollers a short distance outboard of the centers of said feed rollers, whereby said wire fed from said apparatus is maintained substantially straight.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
37 words
A wire-feeding apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein a plurality of said sets is arranged with said feed rollers having a common axis of rotation, whereby a plurality of said wires may be fed simultaneously.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
93 words
A wire-feeding apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein a supply reel is mounted adjacent and ahead of said feed roller for providing a supply of said wire thereto, a brake being connected to said supply reel, operating control means being connected to said drive means for said feed roller and to said brake, and said operating control means being constructed and arranged to maintain a drag on said supply reel while said feed roller is being driven and to stop said supply reel just prior to stoppage of said feed roller.