Computer controlled coiling machine

A system for controlling the feeding of wire to a workstation for the formation of a coil spring by means of at least one moveable work tool that is disposed at the work station and that is selectively operated to move to different positions in the formation of a desired spring, said system comprising a feed mechanism for feeding wire to the work station and computer control means for controlling the feed mechanism to optimize the rate of spring making, said control means including data entry means for setting predetermined characteristics regarding wire feed and work tool motion in constructing the desired spring, means for determining, from the entered data, work tool motion intervals, said control means further including:

• means, responsive to the means for setting predetermined characteristics and the means for determining work tool motion intervals, for calculating a rate of change of work tool movement during work tool motion intervals, the means for calculating comprising means for calculating a predetermined velocity range of wire feed during a work tool motion interval as an indirect function of the rate of change of work tool movement;
• means, responsive to the rate of change calculated by the means for calculating, for establishing a first predetermined range of velocity of wire feed during the work tool motion interval;
• means for establishing a second predetermined range of velocity of wire feed outside of the work tool motion interval;
• means for sensing termination of the work tool motion interval;
• and
• means, responsive to the means for sensing termination of the work tool motion interval for changing from the first range to the second range of velocity of wire feed.

A system for forming a coil spring, comprising:

• a moveable pitch tool means for controlling a pitch of the spring being formed;
• a moveable diameter tool means for controlling a diameter of the spring being formed;
• a wire feed means for feeding wire at a variable velocity to said pitch tool means and said diameter tool means;
• means for detecting movement of said pitch tool means;
• means for detecting movement of said diameter tool means;
• means for determining a rate of change in the detected movement of said pitch tool means;
• means for determining a rate of change in the detected movement of said diameter tool means;
• means for determining which tool means has a greater rate of change;
• and
• means for adjusting said wire feed means to feed wire to said pitch tool means and said diameter tool means at a velocity determined by the tool means which has the greater rate of change.