Reel take-up machine
AssigneeReeling Systems L.L.C.
InventorsDonald G. Graham, Christopher L. Graham
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A reel take-up apparatus includes a frame, a drive mechanism, a hydraulic counterbalance system, and a pair of positioning actuators. The frame may be configured to receive a reel from one end. The drive mechanism is generally slidably mounted to the frame and configured to rotate the reel. The hydraulic counterbalance system is generally configured to counterbalance a weight of the drive mechanism to allow the drive mechanism to float freely on the frame. The pair of positioning actuators may be configured to move a pair of support rollers toward and away from each other so as to (i) lift the reel from a support surface, (ii) support the reel during rotation by the drive mechanism, and (iii) lower the reel to the support surface for removal from the frame.
Claims20
A reel take-up apparatus comprising:
- a frame configured to receive a reel from one end;
- a drive mechanism slidably mounted to said frame and configured to rotate said reel;
- a hydraulic counterbalance system configured to counterbalance a weight of said drive mechanism to allow said drive mechanism to float freely on said frame;
- and
- a pair of positioning actuators configured to move a pair of support rollers toward and away from each other so as to (i) lift said reel from a support surface, (ii) support said reel during rotation by said drive mechanism, and (iii) lower said reel to said support surface for removal from said frame.
A reel take-up apparatus comprising:
- a frame configured to receive a reel from one end;
- a drive mechanism slidably mounted to said frame and configured to rotate said reel;
- a pair of positioning actuators configured to move a pair of support rollers toward and away from each other so as to (i) lift said reel from a support surface, (ii) support said reel during rotation by said drive mechanism, and (iii) lower said reel to said support surface for removal from said frame;
- a wire traverse mounted on said frame;
- and
- a cable guide and clamping device mounted on said wire traverse, wherein said wire traverse is configured to move said cable guide and clamping device back and forth between flanges of said reel to maintain an orderly winding and unwinding of cable onto and off of, respectively, said reel.
A method of winding cable onto a reel comprising:
- positioning a reel take-up apparatus around a reel, wherein said reel take-up apparatus comprises (a) a frame configured to receive said reel from one end, (b) a drive mechanism slidably mounted to said frame and configured to rotate said reel, (c) a hydraulic counterbalance system configured to counterbalance a weight of said drive mechanism to allow said drive mechanism to float freely on said frame, (d) a pair of positioning actuators configured to move a pair of support rollers toward and away from each other so as to (i) lift said reel from a support surface, (ii) support said reel during rotation by said drive mechanism, and (iii) lower said reel to said support surface for removal from said frame, (e) a wire traverse mounted on said frame, and (f) a cable guide and clamping device mounted on said wire traverse, wherein said wire transfer is configured to move said cable guide and clamping device back and forth between flanges of said reel to maintain an orderly winding and unwinding of cable onto and off of, respectively, said reel;
- causing said pair of positioning actuators to move said pair of support rollers toward each other until said reel is lifted from a support surface;
- causing said hydraulic counterbalance system to lift said drive mechanism to maintain alignment with said reel;
- and
- rotating said reel using said drive mechanism to wind cable onto or unwind cable from said reel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.