Abstract: A continuous-acting take-up, coiling, cut-off and spooling machine is adapted for use with continuously producing metal casting equipment that casts metal rod or strip stock at a constant rate, and which produces the cast rod or strip stock at a relatively constant velocity. The machine coils, cuts-off, temporarily accumulates and spools or packages determinate lengths of the rod or strip stock formed by the casting apparatus. Driven rollers receive the leading end of the rod or strip stock. The rod or strip stock is cut to predetermined, desired lengths while still in motion so as to not disturb the feed velocity. Free-wheeling rollers forcibly impart a slight curvature and simultaneous axial displacement to the rod or strip stock along its length, forming coils or convolutions of helical configuration, which are deposited by gravity, over a turnably driven reel carried on a tiltable turntable.

Abstract: A low-friction thin-hub plastic multi-part sheave for handling wire, has two joined disc-like members with conical rim portions which together form a V-groove for the wire. The members have apertured central hub portions provided with facing shoulders that engage cooperable, oppositely-facing shoulders on the outer race member of an anti-friction bearing assemblage, to hold the latter captive between the disc-like members. The central hub portions and anti-friction bearing assemblage have respective, oppositely-facing, parallel exposed side surfaces which are flush and disposed in spaced-apart parallel planes, making for a thin hub assemblage.

Abstract: A pulley or sheave that is lagged with rubber or rubber-like material, has two disc-like members which are disposed broadside to each other and secured together to form an annular groove for receiving and guiding a strand of material. At their centers, the members have bearing means to accommodate a spindle. In the annular groove for the strand of material the members have oppositely disposed wall portions characterized by re-entrant side walls. A wear strip of relatively soft, resilient material such as rubber having an elongated rib occupies the annular groove, the rib being accommodated in and frictionally seized by the reentrant side walls. The wear strip has abutted ends, and presents an annular exterior space for engagement with the strand of material that is being handled.

Abstract: An apparatus for supporting and handling spools of the type intended to carry wire, and for rotating such spools at relatively high speeds in order to fill them. The apparatus comprises a housing having an access opening and a swivel carrier on the housing, capable of supporting the spool on one of its ends and of shifting the spool from the exterior of the housing to the interior thereof. The carrier, once it arrives at the interior, can lower the spool to an operative position on a special drive mechanism that is capable of rotating it. In addition, a traverse mechanism is provided in the housing, for guiding and reciprocating a strand of wire as it is being wound onto the spool. By virture of the arrangement wherein the carrier can swing the spool between the exterior and interior of the housing, lifting and handling of the spool is greatly facilitated. This is particularly important where spools weighing hundreds of pounds are being employed.

Abstract: A wire de-reeling apparatus for transferring wire from one or more spools and with a minimum of excessive looseness or kinking, the apparatus comprising a support for mounting the spool with one spool end free, a rotatable take-off wheel located at the free spool end and being generally coaxial with the spool, and a rotatable tension brush also disposed at the spool end and having a plurality of radially disposed, flexible wire-restraining tines. The wheel is rotatable under the action of a strand of wire being payed off the spool. The brush is mounted on a central hub which is at or near the spool axis, and the tines extend radially a short distance past the circumferential edge of the wheel, to be brushed by the strand of wire as it is being de-reeled.

Abstract: A composite, heavy-duty spool with plastic end cones, consisting of a cylindrical spool body of thick, rigid, heavy cardboard having open ends, and a pair of plastic end cones identical to each other. When dismantled, the end cones can nest in each other so as to occupy little space. Each end cone comprises a truncated, conical body portion all parts of which are essentially of uniform thickness. Integral with the conical body portion of each cone is a strengthened peripheral rim of U-shaped cross section defining an annular groove which faces axially away from the body portion. At its small base part, each body portion has a transverse wall that is apertured to receive a draft bolt, and has a plurality of integral strengthening ribs each of which is disposed both on the conical exterior and on the transverse wall exterior.

Abstract: A low-cost, heavy-duty spool construction for holding substantial quantities of wire, comprising a generally cylindrical spool body having open ends, in combination with a pair of substantially identical, conical end flanges provided with annular grooves in their convex surfaces, in which grooves the end edges of the spool body are received. The apex portions of the end flanges have planar sections which are apertured, and a tie bar extends through the apertures to hold the end flanges tightly against the respective ends of the body. The arrangement is such that the end flanges can be assembled to the body with a minimum of time and effort, and with virtually no chance of an incorrect positioning of the relative parts of the device occurring.

Abstract: A snap-on, wire pay-off cap assembly to facilitate the unreeling of wire past one end of a wire filled spool, comprising a wheel adapted to be engaged by the wire being de-reeled, a circular brush disposed broadside to the wheel and having tines extending past the wheel periphery, a support member rotatably mounting the wheel and fixedly mounting the brush in their respective operative positions, and an operable clamp carried by the support member and adapted to engage the rim of one of the spool flanges for holding the cap assembly captive at one end of the spool. The clamp includes several radially extending arms which have hooks at their ends, to latch over the rim of the flange. Spring means associated with one of the arms biases it in a radially inward direction to thereby maintain the engagement of the hooks and the rim.

Abstract: A wire pay-off cap assembly for use with wire-filled, flanged spools for controlling the unreeling of wire past the ends thereof, comprising a support member carried by the spool, a stationary circular tension brush mounted on the support member, and a freely rotatable wheel carried by a ball bearing assemblage on the member. The wheel is constituted as two separate pieces, one piece comprising a disk-like body mounted at its center on the bearing, and the other piece comprising an annular wheel flange having a concave cross-section providing a curved exterior surface for sliding contact with a strand of the wire being unreeled. Co-operable means are provided on the body and flange for releasably securing the two together such that the flange, when worn or damaged, can be readily replaced without removing the body from the support member.

Abstract: A tension brush assembly for facilitating the unreeling of wire from a wire-carrying spool, comprising a support body constituted of two annular members which are disposed broadside and in axial alignment with one another, and a plurality of flexible and resilient nylon tines which are clamped between the members with their outer ends being free and unattached, and which extend radially with respect to the body beyond outer peripheral edge portions thereof. The annular members are secured to one another by stitching which extends around the edge portions. Means are provided on the body to enable it to be mounted on one end of a spool, whereby the free ends of the tines extend beyond the spool flange portions. The arrangement is such that the tines prevent the wire from unravelling when the take-off speed is reduced or when the wire is halted. During normal take-off or unreeling, the wire sweeps past the flexible tines as the tension is either maintained constant or increased.

Abstract: A supporting fixture for tilting and holding heavy wire-carrying spools in predetermined angular positions with respect to a fixture base, such that wire can be readily payed-off the free ends of the spools. The device includes an upstanding elongate post which is pivotally secured to the base, and a clamping jaw slidably carried along the post and adapted to grip the flange of the spool being supported. The position of the jaw is adjustable to enable different sized spools to be accommodated. In one embodiment, tilting of the spool is accomplished by manually swinging the post. In another embodiment, a hydraulic cylinder is provided to shift the post and hold it in predetermined angular positions. A spindle is carried by the post, for insertion into the bore of a spool once the latter has been rolled into position on the base. The arrangement is particularly useful in tilting and supporting heavy wire-carrying spools which would otherwise be rather awkward to position and cumbersome to handle.

Abstract: A quick-connect pay-off cap assembly facilitating the dereeling of wire from a spool. The assembly includes a support member which carries a freely rotatable, flanged take-off wheel and a stationary circular tension brush having multiple tines extending past the wheel periphery and adapted to be brushed by the wire as it passes the flange of the wheel. The support member includes a radially expansible friction locking part which is insertable into either the bore of the spool or a hollow part of the support spindle which carries the spool. Manually operable means are provided on the support member for actuating the friction locking part. The arrangement is such that it enables an especially quick installation of the cap assembly to a particular spool or its spindle, all without the need for special tools or equipment.

Abstract: A spool-handling dolly consisting of a simple U-shaped chassis mounted on wheels and arranged to be wheeled over a floor surface. The chassis has an upright post and slide, along which there is movable a carrige that is raised and lowered by a drive means comprising a vertical screw and a handwheel. The wheel has a lifting shoulder or projection which is adapted to be inserted in the bore of a filled spool that is positioned with both its flanges resting on the floor surface. The carriage also has a clamp jaw adapted to cooperate with the lifting shoulder in a manner to clamp an upper portion of one of the spool flanges securely to the carriage. A guide means on the carriage enables the clamp jaw to be vertically adjusted for this purpose. There is a second drive means on the carriage, engaged with the clamp jaw for moving the same along the guide means in its vertical travel.

Abstract: A take-off device for unreeling wire from a spool with a minimum of looseness and kinking, comprising a support, means for mounting the support at one end of a wire-carrying spool, a take-off wheel rotatably carried for free turning by the support and disposed in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the spool, a tension brush assembly comprising a plurality of radially extending tines disposed adjacent a peripheral flange of the wheel and adapted to be engaged and flexed by a strand of wire as it unreels from the spool, and cooperable braking means on the support and wheel for imparting a drag force to the latter as it rotates under the action of the unreeling wire. The support includes a spindle, which in turn carries a ball bearing having inner and outer races. The inner race remains stationary with the spindle while the outer race is secured to the hub of the wheel to enable the latter to have rotation about the spindle axis.