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US 7,802,749 B2Granted
Creel magazine supply system and method
AssigneeAutomated Creel Systems, Inc.
InventorDavid Chadwick
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A creel magazine for delivering packaged stranded material to a creel. The magazine includes magazine frame having guides for directing stranded materials to a creel or manufacturing process. Movable magazine cartridges rotatably support packages of stranded materials and are positioned on either side of the magazine frame. The apparatus and method provide for sequential delivery of stranded materials by alternating delivery sources between cartridges, intermediate replenishment of spent packages by rotation of a full package to a delivery position, and replenishment of spent cartridges.
Claims27
A creel magazine for supplying stranded materials to a manufacturing process comprising:
- a stationary magazine frame and a pair of replaceable cartridges positioned on opposite sides of said magazine frame, each replaceable cartridge comprising a plurality of ground wheels, a generally horizontal platform, a vertical frame, and a plurality of package holders, said plurality of ground wheels supporting said generally horizontal platform, said platform supporting said vertical frame attached to said platform, and said plurality of package rotators pivotally attached to and rotatable about said vertical frame, each said rotator of said plurality of rotators having at least two support arms extending outwardly from said rotator and disposed at a angle relative to one another, said at least two support arms adapted to receive and support a spooled package of stranded material, said package rotators disposed in a predetermined spaced relation relative to said magazine frame;
- said magazine frame comprising a plurality of upright members, a plurality of horizontal members extending between said upright members at intervals corresponding to the number and size of said packages carried by said cartridge, a plurality of primary guides disposed in spaced relation on said horizontal members, and at least one secondary guide disposed on a lateral end of said magazine frame further including a trailing end of said package on said first side is connected to a leading end of said package on said opposite side, said primary guides and said secondary guides disposed for receiving and carrying a discrete running length of said stranded material fed sequentially from a package carried by a cartridge on a first side of said magazine frame and a corresponding package carried by a cartridge on said opposite side of said magazine frame to said manufacturing process, further comprising a transfer device attached to said magazine frame, said transfer device receiving a length of stranded material between a package carried by a cartridge on a first side of said magazine frame and a corresponding package carried by a cartridge on said opposite side of said magazine frame.
A creel magazine for supplying stranded materials to a manufacturing process comprising:
- a stationary magazine frame, a first movable cartridge and a second movable cartridge positioned on opposite sides respectively of said magazine frame, each said movable cartridge comprising a frame and an array of support arms, said frame carrying said array of support arms attached to said frame, wherein each support arm positions a stranded material package mounted on each support arm in a feed position relative said magazine, and a running length of each stranded material is sequentially routed in a plurality of primary guides mounted to said magazine frame wherein a trailing end of stranded material carried by a first package in said first movable cartridge is connected to a leading end of said stranded material carried by a second package in said second movable cartridge, opposite said first package.
A method of supplying stranded material to a manufacturing process comprising the steps of:
- a. providing a plurality of spooled packages holding said stranded material;
- b. providing a plurality of movable cartridges for supporting said packages in a predetermined spaced relation on said cartridge;
- c. loading said packages on said plurality of movable cartridges in said predetermined spaced relation;
- d. positioning a first cartridge of said plurality of movable cartridges at a first side of a magazine frame, wherein said magazine frame is adapted to receive and carry discrete running lengths of said stranded material to said manufacturing process;
- e. positioning a second cartridge of said plurality of movable cartridges at a second side of said magazine frame which is opposite said first side relative to said magazine frame;
- f. connecting a trailing end of stranded material from a first package at said first side carried by said first cartridge with a leading end of stranded material from a corresponding second package at said second side carried by said second cartridge;
- g. repeating step f for each pair of corresponding first and second packages carried by said first cartridge and said second cartridge;
- h. feeding said first packages of stranded material through said magazine frame to said manufacturing process;
- i. transferring said feeding to said second package upon depletion of said first package without interrupting said manufacturing process.
6 more elements
A method of supplying stranded material to a manufacturing process comprising the steps of:
- a. providing a first movable cartridge carrying a first array of packages holding said stranded material;
- b. providing a second movable cartridge carrying a second array of packages holding said stranded material;
- c. positioning said first movable cartridge at a first side of a magazine frame which is opposite said first side relative to said magazine frame;
- d. positioning said second cartridge at a second side of said magazine frame;
- e. delivering said stranded material through said magazine frame to said manufacturing process from a first bank of packages carried in said first array that are adjacent to said magazine frame;
- and
- f. transferring delivery of said stranded material to a first bank of packages carried in said second array at said second side upon depletion of said packages carried in said first bank of said first array.
4 more elements
A method of supplying stranded material to a manufacturing process comprising the steps of:
- a. supplying a running length of said stranded material to said manufacturing process through a guide supported by a stationary magazine frame, said running length initially supplied from a first package of stranded material carried by a first removable cartridge positioned on one side of said stationary magazine frame;
- b. connecting a leading end of a second package of stranded material carried by a second movable cartridge positioned on an opposite side relative to said stationary magazine frame with a trailing end of said stranded material carried by said first package;
- and
- c. transferring delivery of said running length of stranded material across said stationary magazine frame to said second package upon depletion of said first package without interrupting supply of said stranded material to said manufacturing process.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.