Automatic cord hanking machine

A cord hanking machine whereby each of a succession of cords of substantially uniform length is wound into a coil around which a tie can be applied to form the cord into a hank, said machine being characterized by:

• A. a pair of turntables, each having a pair of forwardly projecting coiling posts which are spaced equal distances to opposite sides of a rotational axis of the turntable;
• B. a turntable carrier on which said turntables are rotatably mounted in coaxial spaced apart relationship, with the coiling posts on each turntable projecting away from the other turntable;
• C. mounting means supporting said turntable carrier for rotational movements about a carrier axis transverse to the coinciding axes of the turntables;
• to carry each turntable alternately
• (1) to a coiling station at which a length of cord is delivered to the turntable and the turntable is rotated to coil the cord around its coiling posts and
• (2) to another station at which a further operation is performed upon the coiled cord, said mounting means comprising a substantially tubular shaft concentric to said carrier axis;
• D. a torque shaft coaxially rotatable in said tubular shaft, said torque shaft having at one end thereof a driving connection with a motor for rotating the turntables;
• E. clutch means on said turntable carrier having a pair of alternative conditions;
• (1) in one of which said torque shaft is drivingly connected with the turntable at the coiling station and
• (2) in the other of which said torque shaft is disconnected from both turntables;
• and
• F. a pair of latching devices on said turntable carrier, one for each turntable, each of said latching devices being arranged to engage its turntable and prevent rotation thereof at all times other than when the turntable is at the coiling station and said clutch means is in said other one of its alternative conditions.

A cord hanking machine of the type comprising a turntable rotatable about an axis and having a pair of forwardly projecting coiling posts which are spaced equal distances to opposite sides of said axis and around which a cord to be hanked can be coiled by rotation of the turntable, said machine being characterized by:

• A. a pair of cord gripper jaws on the front end portion of each of said posts, the jaws for each post being movable between open and closed positions in directions transverse to the post and being biased towards their closed positions;
• B. thrust transmitting means on the turntable, spaced behind the gripper jaws and movable relative to the turntable, said thrust transmitting means being drivingly connected with the gripper jaws to be maintained in a normal position by the biasing force on the gripper jaws;
• and
• C. actuator means adjacent to the turntable, engageable with the thrust transmitting means to shift the same out of said normal position and thereby move the gripper jaws to their open positions.

A cord hanking machine of the type comprising a turntable rotatable about an axis and having a pair of forwardly projecting coiling posts which are spaced equal distances to opposite sides of said axis and around which a cord is coiled by rotation of the turntable, and a tying machine by which a wire tie is looped around a coiled cord and twisted upon itself, said cord hanking machine being characterized by:

• A. means defining a tying station at which, during at least a part of the time that the hanking machine is in operation, the turntable has a predetermined position with its axis horizontal;
• B. releasable turntable latching means engaged with the turntable when it is at said tying station to maintain the turntable in a predetermined rotational orientation;
• C. means mounting said tying machine for bodily movement in opposite directions substantially parallel to the axis of the turntable at the tying station;
• and
• D. tying machine actuator means for moving the tying machine in said opposite directions between an advanced position in which the tying machine is adjacent to the turntable for tying a cord coiled around the coiling posts and a retracted position in which the tying machine is spaced a substantial distance forwardly from the coiling posts.

A cord hanking machine of the type comprising a turntable having a rotational axis and having a pair of forwardly projecting coiling posts spaced to opposite sides of said axis, and a tying machine for placing a tie around a cord that has been coiled on said turntable, said cord hanking machine being characterized by:

• A. a turntable carrier on which said turntable is rotatably mounted;
• B. means mounting said turntable carrier for rotary motion about a carrier axis transverse to said rotational axis to carry said turntable between a coiling station at which the turntable is rotated and a typing station at which said rotational axis is substantially horizontal;
• C. means mounting said tying machine for motion towards and from a turntable at the tying station in directions parallel to its rotational axis;
• and
• D. means for alternately moving the tying machine
• (1) in one of said directions to a position adjacent the turntable at the tying station, where the tying machine can place a tie around a coil of cord on the tying posts and
• (2) in the opposite direction to a position spaced substantially forwardly of the turntable to the clear of the turntable as it is carried into and out of the tying station.

A hanking machine comprising a turntable rotatable about an axis and having a pair of forwardly projecting posts which are spaced to opposite sides of said axis and about which a cord is coiled by rotation of the turntable, said hanking machine being characterized by:

• A. a pair of forwardly projecting cord gripper jaws mounted on the front end portion of each of said posts for convergent and divergent swinging motion about a pivot axis which coincides with the pivot axis of the gripper jaws on the other post;
• B. a plunger for each post, each post being substantially tubular and having its plunger slidable forwardly and rearwardly therein;
• c. means providing a connection between the respective plunger and gripper jaws for each post whereby the jaws are closed by motion of the plunger to a rearward position in which a portion of the plunger projects behind the turntable and are opened by forward motion of the plunger out of that position;
• D. means biasing each plunger to its said rearward position;
• and
• E. an actuator on the machine, behind the turntable, having a plunger driving element movable forwardly to engage the rear ends of the plungers and drive them out of their rearward positions.

A hanking machine comprising a turntable rotatable about an axis and having a pair of forwardly projecting posts which are spaced to opposite sides of said axis and about which a cord is coiled by rotation of the turntable, said hanking machine being characterized by:

• A. a turntable carrier upon which the turntable is rotatable and which is mounted for rotary motion about a carrier axis transverse to the axis of the turntable, to swing the turntable between a coiling station at which the turntable is rotated and another station at which a coiled cord is removed from the turntable;
• B. a pair of coil holding claws mounted adjacent to at least one of said posts, at opposite sides thereof, for swinging motion between forwardly projecting converged positions and laterally projecting diverged positions, each of said claws being curved along its length to embrace a coiled cord and confine it against sliding forwardly along said one post when the claws are in their converged positions;
• C. toggle means comprising
• (1) spring means connected with the claws to yieldingly maintain them in each of said positions,
• (2) first cam means slidable transversely to said one post for actuating the claws to their converged positions, and
• (3) second cam means slidable transversely to said one post for actuating the claws to their diverged positions;
• D. an actuator at the coiling station cooperable with the first cam means to shift the claws to their converged positions upon conclusion of turntable rotation;
• and
• E. a second actuator at said other station, cooperable with said second cam means to shift the claws to their diverged positions.