Tool for cable winding machine and methods
AssigneeCommScope, Inc. of North Carolina
InventorsDavid E. Sigmon, Ricky Rathbone, Andrew C. Robinson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A tool for a cable winding machine includes a plate and at least one clamp assembly mounted to the plate. The clamp assembly includes a clamp pad movable toward and away from the plate between a clamped position and a released position. A shaft is secured to the center of the plate. The tool can be part of a cable winding machine that secures to a spool. The end of the cable can be releasably clamped between the clamp pad and the plate.
Claims34
A tool for a cable winding machine, the tool comprising:
- (a) a plate;
- (b) at least one clamp assembly mounted to the plate, the at least one clamp assembly including
- (i) an outer disk with a connection arrangement to allow connection and removal of the clamp assembly from the plate;
- (ii) at least one cylinder arrangement secured to the outer disk;
- and
- (iii) a clamp pad section operably secured to the cylinder arrangement and being movable toward and away from the outer disk between a clamped position and a released position;
- and
- (c) a shaft secured to a center of the plate.
A spool assembly for holding a length of cable, the spool assembly comprising:
- (a) a winding cylinder;
- (b) a pair of flanges each having an interior surface and an exterior surface, the pair of flanges being secured to the winding cylinder spaced from and with respective interior surfaces in opposing relation to each other, a region of the winding cylinder between the opposing flanges being a winding region;
- (i) at least a first of the flanges including a through-slot sized to allow cable to pass through the first flange from the winding region;
- and
- (c) a tool operably connected to the first flange, the tool including a plate and a plurality of clamp assemblies mounted to the plate;
- each of the clamp assemblies having a power-driven clamp pad movable toward and away from the plate between a clamped position and a released position, the plurality of clamp assemblies being positioned to receive the cable from the through-slot in the first flange, when a cable is mounted thereon.
A method of winding a length of cable onto a spool, the method comprising:
- (a) orienting an end of a cable through a through-slot in a flange of a spool;
- and
- (b) using a tool and engaging a clamp assembly secured to the spool to releasably fix the cable to the tool for winding the cable about the spool, the clamp assembly including,
- (i) an outer disk;
- (ii) at least one cylinder arrangement secured to the outer disk;
- and
- (iii) a clamp pad section operably secured to the cylinder arrangement and movable toward and away from the outer disk between a clamped position and a released position.
A clamp assembly for use with a tool for a cable winding machine, the clamp assembly comprising:
- (a) an outer disk including a connection arrangement to allow connection and removal of the clamp assembly from a tool for a cable winding machine;
- (b) at least one cylinder arrangement secured to the outer disk;
- and
- (c) a clamp pad section operably secured to the cylinder arrangement and being movable toward and away from the outer disk between a clamped position and a released position.
A tool for a cable winding machine, the tool comprising:
- (a) a plate;
- (b) a plurality of clamp assemblies mounted to the plate;
- each of the clamp assemblies including an air cylinder head, a spring, and a clamp pad secured to the respective air cylinder head;
- each of the clamp pads being movable toward and away from the plate between a clamped position and a released position;
- and
- (c) a shaft secured to a center of the plate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.