Abstract: A wire drawing machine includes a draw die for reducing unfinished wire to a predetermined size, a power-driven capstan rotatable about a horizontal axis for drawing wire through the die, and an integral floor-mounted coil-supporting table which carries a coil of unfinished wire for processing through the die. The machine components are located in and connected to a generally L-shaped housing proximate to and wrapping partially around the coil-supporting table. The wire is guided along a path above the coil and housing as the wire travels from the coil to the die such that the floor space needed to process the unfinished wire is confined to the combined space of the turntable and housing.

Abstract: A fin mill machine for forming electrically conductive strip stock into corrugated fin material includes a form roller for forming corrugations in the strip stock, which is at an electrical common. A detector detects when the strip stock wraps up around the form roller. The detector includes an electrical circuit having a source connected to a load by a probe. The probe is positioned adjacent the form roller to contact the strip stock when the strip stock wraps up around the form roller such that the electrical circuit has an effective load different than the load. A controller is operable with the detector to monitor the effective load of the electrical circuit. The controller disables the form roller when the effective load of the electrical circuit is indicative of the probe contacting the strip stock.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for protecting a die from damage due to material jams in material stamping equipment wherein feed material is stamped in a die and then advanced through the die by action of press feed rolls powered by a press feed roll drive motor. The position error of the press feed rolls or the torque of the press feed roll drive motor is monitored during the advance of the feed material through the die. The monitored position error of the press feed rolls or the monitored torque of the press feed roll drive motor is then compared to the expected position error of the press feed rolls or the expected torque of the press feed roll motor, respectively.

Abstract: A wire defect detection apparatus (70) is disclosed for use in a machine (10) that process wire (48) during the course of a sequence of manufacturing operations. The defect detector (70) includes a pair of rollers (80, 86), one being a follower roller (86), between which the wire is passed. The follower roller (86) is journaled for rotation on one end (88) of a pivoting arm (72), the other end (104) of the arm having an accelerometer (100) attached thereto. During operation of the machine (10), the accelerometer (100) produces a signal (118) that is received by a detection circuit (108). If the signal (118) is above or below predefined limits, indicating a defect in the wire (48), another signal (120) is sent to the controller (114) of the machine to either stop the machine or to execute some other change in the sequence of operations of the machine. Otherwise the machine (10) is permitted to continue operating uninterrupted.

Abstract: A detector on a wire lead machine includes a pair of contacts biased into a normally closed position. The wire is fed between the contacts, keeping the contacts open, and the insulation on the wire prevents electrical conductivity between the contacts. If the wire runs out, the contacts close to shut off the machine. Additionally, a splice on the wire establishes an electrical path between the contacts and, again, the machine is shut off. The detector includes a detection circuit which generates a control signal. In the event a splice is passing through the contacts, the detection circuit generates a control signal having a relatively short time duration (as for example, 100 microseconds) and holds the signal for a sufficient time period (as for example, 500 milliseconds). This allows a suitable control means (which may include a microprocessor) to shut off the machine because of either wire runout or a splice on the wire, thereby preventing serious damage to the machine and maintaining productivity.

Abstract: An in-line wire drawing machine includes a power-driven capstan rotatable about a horizontal axis and operable to unwind wire from a coil and to pull the wire through a drawing die for reducing the diameter of the wire. In order to conserve floor space, the coil is supported on an overhead turntable located above the capstan and rotatable about a vertical axis to enable unwinding of the coil. Wire unwound from the coil is directed rearwardly therefrom to a pair of guide rollers, proceeds downwardly alongside the rear of the machine and then travels forwardly to the die. A tangle detector is located upstream of the die and automatically shuts down the machine if the wire in the coil becomes tangled or snagged and fails to pay off of the coil in a free manner.

Abstract: In an apparatus for feeding self-hardening hot rolled wires from supply reels to a consumer and for straightening the wires, in each feed path there is a rotor-type straightening device (3) with a straightening rotor (3b) deflecting the wire (1) radially between two fixed wire guides (3a) and rotating at high speed; the wire forms loops (12, 16), in front of and behind the rotor-type straightening device (3), the front loop (12) having assigned to it a sensing means (5, 8, 10) which switches off the rotor-type straightening device (3) when the length of this loop falls below a minimum value, while assigned to the rear loop (16) are two switches (18, 19) which, when a maximum or a minimum permitted length of this loop is reached, control the rotor-type straightening device (3) so as to correct the loop length.

Abstract: A machine draws stock from a source to a first work station at which a first operation is performed on the stock. The stock is then delivered to a second work station so a second operation may be performed on the stock. The machine has an electromechanical system which drives the machine and a switch energizes and deenergizes the system. The stock is engaged by a lever arm as it moves toward the first work station, the lever arm being held in a first position when engaging the stock and moving from the first position toward a second position when the end of the stock is reached. A contact bar moves the switch from its "on" to its "off" position to deactivate the electromechanical system and terminate the drawing of stock. The lever arm and the contact bar are interconnected so movement of the lever arm from its first position to its second position is transmitted to the contact bar.

Abstract: This disclosure pertains to a broken wire switch for use in conjunction with a wire drawing machine. It includes a light source and a light detector, both mounted on the common side of the path of travel of the wire. The light source and detector are arranged so that the radiation pattern of the light source and the field of view of the light detector intersect at a point in the normal path of travel of the wire. An electric switch associated with the light detector interrupts the operation of a windup block that advances the wire.

Abstract: Multi-stand rolling mill with a device for protection against overloads due to irregularities in the feed of the rolled product, comprising a kinematic chain for transmitting motion to the stands from at least one drive means, with an individual drive shaft for each stand and a coupling between each of the drive shafts and the respective rolling stand. The couplings are electromagnetic couplings. Detector means are provided for detecting irregularities in the rolled product feed. The latter are associated with at least one of the stands, preferably the last and are operatively connected to at least one group of the couplings, and preferably all, to simultaneously operate the group of couplings, and preferably all the couplings, to cause all the rolling stands to be simultaneously disconnected from the kinematic chain.