The present invention relates to a handling unit for reelable cord-like goods, such as wire steel, or electric cables etc and more specifically to an integrated handling system for such goods in product 1 iπes. According to Swedish Patent No. 337 05^ it is known to automatical reel cable or wire on a drum or reel. In order to improve the reeling o winding process the reel can be moved in the direction of its axis so t the cable can be wound evenly on the reel.

One disadvantage with such an arrangement is that when the reel ha been filled, it has to be lowered down onto the floor, released and move substantially manually to a new working position for further processing. Such full reels which may have a weight of several tons, are very diffic to handle and moving a reel by rolling it is both time-consuming and dangerous. According to the published Swedish patent application 7901552-5 th disadvantages can be reduced by moving a reel in its axial direction alo guide means from one working position to another. Furthermore, the entir stand carrying the reel can be moved forwards and backwards along rails in the floor. This substantially reduces the number of reel loading and unloading operations and hence the necessary manual handling operations. However, in spite of these improvements the reels must still be . manually handled to a considerable extent on the floor, especially if th plant is large and includes a great number of mutually remote work stati There is also still a need of big and heavy stand structures to carry th reels which increases the need of space and reduces the free areas requi for manually handling the reels.

A further disadvantage with such known arrangements is the great ri of a loaded or unloaded reel falling from its stand, resulting in damage it or injury to persons handling it. This can happen, inter alia, due to wear or faulty assembly of the locking device of a dis ountable reel.

Another drawback with dismounta l reel structures is the difficult of achieving even and smooth rotation of the reel. If, for instance, a removable shaft or trunnions are used to keep the reel in its working pos some play is needed between the shaft and the reel hub to enable mounting the reel in its working position. This play often causes erraticnes≤ in reel rotat.ion.

It is also known to use fork trucks or the like for πro i α reels fr

Still another problem in the art of prior handling systems for cable reels- is the difficulty of obtaining the precision required for fitting a reel into its proper working position at a work station, when it is rolle along the floor or conveyed by a truck. The present invention, as defined in the appended claims, has the object of providing a solution to these problems.

In accordance with the present invention a handling unit includes a rotatable barrel carried in a yoke suspended on a rail in a conveyor rail system, said barrel being 'used for automatically coiling or uncoiling cordl ike material at a work station. The conveyor rail system connects a plurality of work stations with a buffer store of conveying units.

By means of the invention all manual handling of said material may be eliminated, thus reducing the risk of personal injury or material damage to a minimum. The exchange of handling units at a colling/uncoilin station where only one driving source is used will occur at least as fast as in prior art systems where often two alternately operating driving sources are used to maintain a continuous operation of a production line. V.'hen only one drrvinσ source per work station is used in accordance with the invention, the distance between two work stations at either end of a production line will always be constant, which is advantageous in controll the process.

The proposed system is economic with energy since there Is no need lifting or lowering reels, neither is there any need of mobile conveying appliances such as fork trucks or overhead travelling cranes etc. All th cord-like material in production is conveyed by means of the handling uni along the shortest path between the different work stations.

The need of specially treating flooring for obtaining evenness, appropriate surface strength and structural strength is eliminated with the aid of the present Invention since there Is no need of moving or stori reels on the floor.

In its construction the inventive system affords economy in space since consideration does not need to be taken in respect of manoevering space, conveying aisles or safety distances required for the conventional aids otherwise used In manufacture of this kind. The required floor area for production is further reduced by moving the storage and conveying -mea for the inventive handl ing units to an upper or a lower level, automatic lifts being used to convey said units between storage and production level

In today's plants about 30-50% of the production area is needed for storing of reels and conveying them to and from storage.

According to the inventive system, the location of handling units for work In progress is no longer restricted to short distances between the different stations. The locations may be selected according to environmental suitability, process association, availability of suitable premises and/or storage level etc. The same work station may further be used for several work operations, a higher degree of plant util ization thus being attained since the handling of units is no longer a problem. The system eriablesproduction in several shifts with operators only during day shifts, since a large number of handling units can be stored to cover the need for non-day shift production where no attendance is required. The handling units are automatically ordered to an from the working stations The salient advantages with the invention a re as follows:

The handling system for the reelable cord-like material in a produc 1 ine can be automated.

Manual rolling of heavy reels on the floor is avoided. Floor space is saved in the plant. The speed of availability of a. reel at a work station increases. The risk of accidents is minimized.

The fitting in of a rotatable barrel in a work station is facilitat Control and regulation of material flow is improved. The distance between two interacting work stations can always be constant.

Smooth coiling or uncoiling of the material is achieved. Multis rTt ^' Operation of the plant is enabled with operators in attendance only during the daytime.

The invention will now be described with reference tc the attached drawings Illustrating different embodiments of the invention, in which

Fig. 1 Is a handling unit with built-in reel in accordance with the invention,

Fig. 2 is a handl ing unit with removable reel with a drum, Fig. 3 is an uncoiling station, Fig. . is a coiling station,

Fig. 5 is a coupling device for engaging a uni to a coiling or braking device at a work station,

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Fig. 6 is a means for moving a unit transverse the main material flow,

Fig. 7 is a turntable for rotating the handling unit horizontally, Fig. 8 is a handling unit lift, Fig. 9 Is an inventive plant layout having two production lines, Fig. 10 Is a plant having a plurality of production lines, Fig. 11 is a block diagram of a control system for a plant accordin to the invention,

Fig. 12 is another embodiment of a control system for a plant accor to the invention,

Fig. 13 is a handler of a handling unit according to another embodi ment of the invention.

The handling unit 1 illustrated in Fig. 1 is used for coiling, unco or storing cables or the like, and comprises a U-shaped yoke 2 carrying between its legs 3 and k a reel 5 comprising two end walls 6 and a barrel The reel 5 is rotatably mounted In the yoke 2 by means of a shaft 8 and two bearings 9. In order to prevent unnecessary rotation of the reel 5 it is secured by a catch (not shown) which can be released when the unit is in a working position. The upper part of the yoke 2 is provided with four wheels 11 for moving the unit 1 along a rail system 10. The wheels 11 a re mounted on the yoke 2 such as to enable the handling unit to be conveyed in a rail system with curves. A motor 12 is used as a driving source for the unit 1, the motor being coupled to at least one of the wheels 11. The motor is powered from a live rail 13 via .a current collector \k . A drivabl coupling member 15 is provided at each end of the shaft 8.

The handling unit in Fig. 1 operates as follows. A control system which will be described later starts the motor 12 via the power rail 13 and the current collector I k so that the unit moves along the rail system I ^Q . The wheel s 11 then roll on the rails 16 supported by support bars 17. When the unit reaches a working position In a work station current to the motor 12 is interrupted, thus stopping the unit 1. A driving means (not shown) Is then applied to the coupling member 15. The unit is now ready in its working position for coiling material such as cable up on the barrel 7 when the driving means is caused to rotate the reel 5. When the material has been coiled up on the barrel to a desired extent, the driving means Is stopped and disengaged, a catch (not shown) is engaged with the reel to prevent its rotation, and the -.aterial on the

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reel is severed from that being produced, whereafter the motor 12 of .the unit 1 is started for moviπg the unit to another work station or to storage.

It should be noted that the reel 5 in Fig. 1 has been shown as a barrel with two end wall discs 6, although this form is not essential according to the invention, since the reel in the unit 1 is suspended from the rail system the whole time, and there is no need to roll the reel along the floor. It is only necssary for the reel to be constructed such that easy coiling/uncoiling of the material on it is obtained. Fig. 2 illustrates a unit 21 for utilization in a similar manner as the unit 1, but, as distinguished from unit 1, It is adapted for a removable reel 25. The unit 21 comprises a U-shaped supporting yoke 22 carrying a reel 25 between its legs 23 and 2k . The reel is mounted on trunnions 26 and 27 which are carried by the legs 2k and 23, respectively The reel is rotated with the aid of a driving means (not shown) applied t the coupling 15 which in turn is uπrotatably connected to a driving dog 2 provided with means for engaging the end wall 6 of the reel 25. In this case the yoke 22 has its upper part formed such that the legs 2k , 23 can be sufficiently axially diplaceable for accommodating and releasing a reel 25 and allowing., it to pass between the trunnions 26, 27. The displac ment is guided by a shaft 29 secured to the leg 23 and sliding in the upper part of the yoke.

The unit 21 in Fig. 2 includes a driving motor 12 and wheels 11 for travel in a rail system similar to the one for unit 1 in Fig. 1. This unit 21 is used as an input unit in the conveying system for receiving reels of material for processing and as an output unit from which reels of processed material can be removed from the production l ine.

A reel 25 is loaded onto the yoke 22 by means of a lifting table 32 and is fixed into the- yoke 22 with the aid of an operating means 31 actin on a screw 30 to displace the yoke upper part. Thereafter the unit 21 _ operates as an ordinary handling unit 1. In this case the reel 25 should have disk-shaped end walls 6 for rolling on the floor.

Fig. 3 illustrates an uncoiling station for material such as cable. The unit 1 is driven by its motor into i s wo k!no posi ion in the rail system 10 and is there coupled to a braking device 0. When the device 40 is engaged, the reel catch is released and rotation will now be braked by the device hG . The device k0 includes an arm Al pivotal ly mounted at one

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end and at its other end provided with a braking member k2 which, on engaging the unit 1, keeps ϊt steady and prevents any pendulum movements or vibrations. The arm k \ can be li ed by means of a piston k ~ driven by -a motor kk, to allow a handling unit to pass the station. The arm k \ is movable at right angles to Its pivoting direction with the aid of another motor kS for engaging or disengaging the braking element k2.

Fig. k illustrates a coiling station for material such- as cables. The unit 1 is driven by its motor 12, Fig. 1, Into its working position on the rail system 10 and is there coupled to a driving means 50 (described In detail hereinbelow) . In conjunction therewith the reel catch is released (rotatϊoπ-wi 11 now be prevented by the means 50), makin the unit ready for operation. in order to coil the material smoothly and uniformly on the reel, w.ithout lateral stresses therein, the reel Is moved axial ly during coilin such that for one revolution of the reel it is axial ly displaced the widt of the material. This so-called "traversing" is, of course, a reciprocati movement wi h a stroke equal to the number of turns in one layer on the drum times the width of the material less one such width. The speed of th traversing movement is directly dependent on the width and rate of feed of the material. The motor 12 of the handling unit is preferably used as a driving source. Guide rolls 58 for the material are provided in front o the unit and these rolls are adjustable in relation to the diameter of th end walls 6. The guide rolls can be mounted on the floor or suspended fro the rail system 10. The means 50 includes a pϊvotably mounted arm 51 which, on engaging the unit, keeps it steady and prevents any pendulum movement or vibration The arm 51 can be lifted by means of a motor (not shown) to _^ a-1-l'ow a handl unit to pass the station.

The arm 51 is movable at righ angles to its pivoting direction, i.e In the axial direction of the reel, by means of a motor 52 for engaging and disengaging a coupling part 55 of the arm with and from the reel 5. The motor 52 displaces the arm 51 with the aid of a driving chain 53 assembled around two end rollers 5^- The coupling part 55 preferably incl a latching means, not shown, latching the coupling part 55 and the arm 51 to the coupling member 15 of the handling unit so that the arm 51 will accompany the traverse of the unit. The latching iieans is adapted for releasing the member 15 when the motor 52 rakes the a r~. 51 and its ccupl I part 55 out of engagement with the memoer 15.

A driving motor 56 in the' means 50 is used to provide driving powe via a transmission device -57 to the reel 5 for rotating it during- the coi 1 ing opera ion.

It Is obvious for one skilled in the art that the braking capacity of the braking device kO in Fig. 3, at an uncoiling station at the end o a production line, should be adjusted for smooth and shock-free operatio both for the reel at the uncoiling station and for the coil ing reel at the other end of the production line.

Fig. 5 Illustrates in more detail an embodiment of a coupl ing devic for engaging a handl ing unit at a work station, preferably a coil ing station. The left part of the coupl ing devIce correspoπds to the coupl ing member 15 in Fig. 1 and the right part corresponds to the coupl ing part 55 in Fig. k . Alternatively, the right part can correspond to the braking member k2 in an uncoiling station according to Fig. 3- The left part, corresponding to coupl ing member 15 includes an end portion 77 of the shaft 8 in Fig. 1. The end portion 77 is journal led in a bearing 78 in a bearing housing 72 attached to the leg 3 or k in Fig. 1 The end portion 77 is further formed as the inner or male half 70 of a toothed coupling and is surrounded by the outer part 71 of the bearing housing.

The coupling part 55 comprises a rotatable spl ined shaft 88 which i movable into a jacket 95- The spl ined shaft 88 and jacket 95 are surround by a πon-rotatable intermediate tube 92, which Is dlsplaceable in a fixed support tube 93. The spl ined shaft is also journal led in a bearing 3k in a non-rotating outer sleeve-1 ike portion 85. The left end of the shaft 88 is further formed into the outer or female half 87 of the toothed couplin and is arranged to be moved into or out of engagement with the inner or male half 70 by means of a piston 89, moving in a cylinder 91, the outer end of said piston being attached to a lug 90 In the outer sleeve 85 to provide movement for engagement or disengagement of said halves 70, 87 of the toothed coupl ing.

When the driving, axial ly movable outer half 87 is moved into engagement with the inner half 70, a front end portion 86 of the outer sleeve 85 will simultaneously press back a locking ring 75, unrotatably mounted in the bearing housing part 71 and orovided with the same toothing as the half 87, thereby releasing the shaft 77 for rotation. When the oute half 87, by means of piston 89. is pulled out of engagement, the locking

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ring 75 w.i 11 move forward again under the action of a plurality of spring 73 around guiding pins 7k . This will lock the axle 77, preventing the reel 15 from rotating freely when the driving device 50 or the braking devJce kQ Is disengaged. The piston 89 Is preferably driven by a motor or any other controll abl driving means.

Al ernatively, the motor k~ in Fig. 3 or the motor 52 In Fig. k can be used as the sole means of axial ly displacing the outer sleeve 85 so that the- outer sleeve 85 rigidly accompanies the arm k \ or the arm 51, the shaft 88 thus being no longer movable In the jacket 95- The piston 89, jacket 91 and the lug 90 a re then not used.

Fig. 6 illustrates a carriage 101 for moving a handling unit 1 from one rail system 10 to a parallel rail system 110, this movement being at right angles to said rail systems. The carriage 101 is constructed with the same rail profile as the rail systems 10 and 1.10 and enables the unit 1 to pass straight through or into the parallel rail system 110. When -the unit 1 has entered the carriage 101 and has been locked against unwanted movement, a motor 102 drives, via a gear 103 and a shaft 104, the wheels 105 running on a rail profile 106, thus moving the carriage 101 to the ra ^" system 110. When the carriage 101 has been located, the unit 1 can then p into the rear parallel rail system 110. Tne simplest way to form the lowe part of the carriage Is to cut the rail system 10 at two planes 107 and 1 below the carriage 101, the part 109 of the rail 10 being fastened to the carriage 101, to move in the direction of the arrow 111 when parallel transfer occurs.

Fig. 7 Illustrates a turntable 121 having the same rail profile as the rail system 10 and which Is arranged so that a unit can pass through it and along the rail system 10 or be diverted into another rail system 120. The turntable 121 also enables changing the conveying direction or the coiling/uncoiling direction of the material. When the unit 1 has entered the turntable 121 and has been locked against unwanted movement, the turntable 121 which Is suspended In ^* a slewing ring 122, can be turned by a turning motor 123 Into a desired direction. The turntable 121 can be locked In given positions, enabling the unit 1 to move with a specific s-ide of the unit facing in any specified direction into the rail system

120 or 10, since, as indicated by the double arrow in Fig. 7, the turntab o operates through 3 0 in ei her direction.

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The rail systems 10 and 120 are cut at planes 2k and 125 concentric with the turntable axis and with a diameter such that the turntable 121 with handl ing unit 1 can rotate freely.

Fig. 8 illustrates a lift 131 for a unit 1 which may be used to transfer the unit to a rail system at a different level. The lift 131 has a portion carrying the unit 1 and having the same rail profile as the rail system 10 for enabling the unit 1 to pass on or stay in the lift for raising or lowering the unit. There a re at least two corner pillars 132 provided with wheels 133 to prevent any inclination of the l ift 131- Raising and lowering the lift 131 is performed with the aid of screws 134 in the pillars 132. Each screw Is driven by a motor 135, adapted electronically, electrically or mechanically for synchronous operation of the screws. When the unit 1 has entered the l ift 131 and has been lock against unwanted movement, the lift Is raised or lowered to the desired level. When the lift has been located at its new position, the unit 1 can continue out into the next rail system 130. The rail system 10 has been cut at plane 136 and the rail system 130 at plane 137, to ^' provide space for the rail parts 138 of the lift.

Fig. 9 illustrates a fully atomated, closed material flow system between two production lines, here exemplified by an insulation line 201 and a cabl ing line 202. The insulation line 201 comprises a coiling station 203, a turntable 20 (according to Fig. 7) to the right of the station 203 for taking up empty handling units 205, and a turntable 206 to the left of station 203 for discharging loaded units 207 to a buffer store 220, and a control operating unit 208 integrated with the l ine 201. The cabling line 202 comprises four uncoiling stations 205-212 and a control and operating unit 213 integrated with the line 202. The buffer store 220 comprises transport rails 21 k , power supply and signal rails 215 for the units, a transfer carriage 216 (according to Fig. 6) for transferring units from one line of units to the other, and two bypass devices 217 and a predetermined number of uni s 205, 207. The system is operated as follows. The insulation line 201 continuously produces cord-li material, a predetermined length of which is coiled on the reel of unit 207a, which is coupled to the coiling device at station 203. When the right length has been reached, the material on the reel is cut and finish-ceiled. The loaded unit 207a is then conveyed to the left turntable 206 after disengaging the driving device 250 and l ifting it from the

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handling unit conveying path so that an empty unit 205a can enter the working position from an Idle position in the right turntable 204, the unit 205a then being coupled to the driving device 250 according to Fig*. 4 at the coiling station 203 for being loaded with the next length of material. The empty right hand turntable 204 is turned 90 counter ^¬ clockwise and an empty unit 205b from the buffer store 220 is fed into it. The turntable then returns to its starting position in register with the coiling station 203. The left hand turntable 206 containing a loaded unit Is now turned 90 counterclockwise, and the loaded uni fed into the buffer store to a preprogrammed position 207b. In the buffer store 220 the carriage 216 and the bypass structure 217 are used for conveying and repositioning units according to a given production program. In the cabling line 202, discontϊnuously producing goods of already determined length, the material is uncoiled from four units 207c-f at unwinding stations 209-212. When material has been uncoiled from the units 207c-f the braking device 240, as shown in Fig. 3, at the uncoiling stations 2Q9~212 are released ^" and these devices are swung away from the handling uni tconveying path, allowing the empty units 207c- to be transferred to the buffer store 220 to programmed positions. Loaded units 207a, b, g, h are transferred to the uncoiling stations 209-212 according to a given program, for example by using the carr 216 in readiness for the next uncoiling operation. The handling units require no manual operations, the whole operation sequence being controlled by a production program established for the two lines. Manual actuation of the system is, however, possible from two control units 208 and 213, or from a supervisory system.

Fig. 10 illustrates a fully automated materials flow system for a complete factory, here exemplified by a factory for producing power cable The factory comprises production ^' units as follows: one stranding line ^' 26l two insulation lines 262, 263 for XLPE-cable (cross-linked polyetheπe), one screening line 264, one jacketing line 265, one test room 266, a repa line 267, a recoiling line 268, a packing machine 269 for big reels and a packing machine 270 for small reels and two stations 271, 272 for respect ly charging and discharging reels 273- The stranding line 261 comprises a coiling station 27^ and a contro and operating unit 275 integrated with the l ine 26l. The two insulating lines 262. 263 for XLPE each contains one uncoiling station 276, 277 and

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one coil ing station 278, 279- There are three carriages 230, 2δl , 282 for transferring units at the uncoil ing stations 276, 277, one carriage 28l being used in common. There are also three carriages 284, 285, 286 transferring units at the coil ing stations 278, 279, one of them, the carriage 285 being used in common. There is a control aπc operating unit 287, 288 integrated with each of the lines 262, 263. The screening l ine 264 comprises an uncoiling station 289, a coiling station 290 and a control and operating unit 291 integrated with the line 264. The jacketin line 265 comprises an uncoil ing station 292 with two carriages 293, 2 4, one on each side of unwinding station 292, for transferring units, a coil station 295 with two carriages 296, 297, one on each side of the winding station 295, for transferring units, a bypassing structure 298 and a cont and operating unit 299 integrated with the- line 265. The test room 266 includes a turntable 340 feeding units to a collection rail 341 and to a test room rail 342, and an operating panel 343 control line unit movements The repair line 267 Includes two forward-backward coiling stations 344, 345, two turntables 346, 347 and a control and operating unit 348 integra with the line 267. The recoiling line "268 includes an uncoiling station 3 a coiling station 350 and a control and operating unit 351 integrated wit the line 268. The packing machines 269, 270 include intern ^' ttent drives 352, 353 for reel rotation. A handling unit lift 355 is provided for vertical unit transfer between the right hand store 35 in the Figure and the coiling station 274 for the stranding line 261, the uncoiling and coiling stations 276, 277, 278, 279 for the insulating lines 262, 263 for XLPE and the uncoiling station 289 for the screening line 264. There is a unit lift 356 between the store 354 and the coiling station 290 for the screening line 264. There is a unit lift 357 between the store 354 and th uncoiling station 292 for the jacketing line 265. A u it lift 359 is provided between the left hand store 358 in the Figure and the coiling station 285 for the jacketing line 265, the test room 266, the uncoiling station 3 9 for the recoiling line 268, the packing machire 269 for big reels and the charging and discharging station 271 for reels. There is a unit lift 360 between the store 358 and the test room 266 and the repair l ine 267. There is a unit lift 36l between the store 353 and the winding station 350 for the rewinding line 268, the packing machine 270 for small reels and the charging and discharging station 272.

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The first store 354 to the right in Fig.- 10 comprises four pairs of parallel rail systems 362, one transfer carriage 363, a turntable 364 and a given number of units. The second store 358, to the right in the. Figure, comprises six parallel rail systems 365, a transfer carriage 366, four turntables 367, 368, 369, 370 and a given number of units. These two stores 354, 358 are Interconnected by a rail system 371 for conveying units to intermediate lines 264, 265 and between the stores 354, 358. There is a turntable 372 adjacent the coiling station 292 for the jacketing line 265. Adjacent the coiling station 290 for the screenin line 264 there is a turntable 373 and adjacent the lift 360 for the repai line 267 there is a turntable 374. All rail systems charge live rails for current and signals for the transport units. The operation of the syste Is as fol lows:

The stranding line 261 produces stranded wire and the wire strands are colled in predetermined lengths in a unit at the coiling station 274.

When the desired length has been reached the strand Is cut and fϊnϊsh-coϊl on the reel. The coiling device at station 274 is released from the unit and the loaded unit is conveyed via the carriage 280, 1 ift'355 to the turntable 364 which turns it 180 in order to get the right uncoiling direction for the next operation. The unit Is then transferred via the ' carriage 3 3 to the store 354 and to a predetermined programmed position. Meanwhile, in the store 354, 358 the carriages 363, 366 are being used fo advancing and relocating units according to a production program, and an empty unit has been fetched from the store 354, transferred to the lift 355 and down to the rail 376 for setting up at the winding station 274 for the stranding line 26l. The line 261 is then ready to recommence operation. The unit loaded with wire strands, on order from one of the tw uncoiling stations 276, 277 for the continuously operating insulating lin 262, 263 for XLPE, is conveyed to the carriage 363 in the store 354, from these to the lift 355, down to the production plane and out to a selected carriage 280 or 282 and turther to a wating position adjacent to the uncoiling station 276 or 277. When units a re changed, the braking device at uncoiling station 276 or 277 will be moved out of the conveying path, enabling the empty unit to be conveyed to the common carriage 281 for further conveyance up to the store 354 to a predetermined position.

Simultaneously, the loaded unit is taken from the aitinα position into Its working position and is coupled to the bra inc device at station 276

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or 277 and is then ready for the next operation in the line 262 or 263 The insulated strands are coiled on to the reel of the unit at coiling station 278 or 279. When the right length has been reached the insulat strands are cut and the end is finish-coiled on the rail. Simul aneous advance of the loaded unit out to the left carriage 285 or 286 is commenced, and the coiling device at station 278 or 279 «s moved out o the conveying path, enabling the empty unit in the right carriage 284 285 to move into the working position and be coupled to the coiling de at station 278 or 279 for receiving the next length. The loaded unit i the left carriage 285 or 286 is moved to a predetermined, programmed position In the store 354, for taking down via carriage 363 and lift 3 to the next working position, which is the screening line 264 for dis¬ continuous screening. The unit is coupled to the braking device at the uncoiling station 289 and is then ready for uncoiling. The screened cab is coiled up in the unit at the coiling station 290. When the right len has been reached the screened cable Is cut and the end is finish-coiled the reel. The coiling device at station 290 Is disengaged and moved out of the conveying path, enabling the loaded unit to be transferred via t lift 356 to storage^ and to be replaced by an empty unit from the store 354, where a changeover will occur similarly as at the stranding line 2 The unit loaded with screened cable will be conveyed, by order from the continuously producing jacketing line 265, from the store 354 via the carriage 3 3, said two turntables 364, 372 and lif 357 to the uncoilin station 292, where units are exchanged similarly as at the uncoiling stations 276, 277 of the insulating lines 262, 263- The sheathed cable coiled in the unit at the coiling station 295, where uni s are exchange similarly as at the coil ing stations 278, 279 of the insulating lines 2 263. The loaded unit is then conveyed via the lift 359 and carriage 366 or via the turntables 367, 368, 369, 370 to a given position in the sto 358. The unit loaded with sheathed cable is taken from the store 358 vi the lift 359 and turntable 340 to the collecting rail 34l for preparing the ends before testing In the test room 266. After testing the unit is taken up to the store 358 via the lift 360 and turntables 367, 368, 369 370. Units with rejected material are taken to the repai line 267, thr the lift 36θ to the turntables 346, ~ k 7 adjacent the coll ing stations 3 34 ^' for faul tracing, rep ir and recoil ϊnα ar.d for conveying back to t test room 266 for a new test and storage or repetition c~ procedure for

rejects. The unit with approved cable is ordered from the store 358 and comes via a carriage 366 or the turntables 367, 368, 369, 370 and lift 359 down to the recoiling l ine 268 or for direct packing to the packing machine 269 for big reels. At the recoiling line 268 the unit Is coupled to the braking device at the uncoiling station 349 for recoiling a delivery length in a unit at the coiling station 350, where units have been fetched from the store 358 via the lift 361 and possibly via the carriage 366. After the coiling operation the unit is conveyed for packin to the packing machine for small units. After packing the unit is conveye to the unit charging and discharging stations 271, 272 where packed units a re discharged and new units are picked up for conveying to the store 358 via th ^' e 1 if s 359, 361.

The handl ing units require no manual operations except for handling the free reels 273 at the charging and discharging stations 271, 272. The system is fully controlled by an established production program in a programmable central data unit, to be described later. Alternatively, the system can be manually operated from individual operating units 275, 287, 288, 291, 299, 343, 348, 351 at the corresponding production section.

Fig. 10 illustrates a system where units are stored and conveyed on a level above the production level. It is, however, possible to do the storing and associated conveying at a level .below the production level, using culverts for conveying purposes, for example.

Fig. 11 is a block diagram of a control system for a plant accordin to Fig. 9 or Fig. 10. According to Fig. 11 the operation of a number of handling units la-ln is controlled by an automatic data unit 384 which can be connected via a line 383 to a control unit 382 which in turn is connected via a line 38l to a host 380. This controlling computer system is preferably of the type described In the publ Icatϊon "IBM 3644 Automatic Data Unit, Component Description, GA 24-3653-2". However, any other similar data system for controlling Industrial processes can of course be used.

The automatic data unit 384 starts a motor 12 in a unit la by sending from its "digital out" unit 387 on the line 391 an initiating control word comprising the address of unit la and a FORWARD command to a control bar 390. Each unit in the system is connected to the control bar 390 by sliding contacts 301a-n, one for each unit. When the control word reaches a decoder 302 In the unit la via slϊdiπq cc-.tact 301a

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the control word will be decoded and a FORWARD relay 305 will be activated via the output 308 of the decoder 302. The FORWARD relay 305 connects the motor 12 to the current collector 14 and the power rail 13, Fig. 1, for driving the unit 1a forward. The unit 1 will be stopped by a stop word on the l ine 391, the decoder 302 activating its output 307 and hence the stop relay 304. Similarly a movement in a reverse directio is initiated for the unit la by a backward command activating the output 306 and hence the backward relay 303. I should be noted that the decode 302 in the other units 1b-1n are not energized, since the control word in the present case only include addresses for the unit ι _a .

The control system moni ors the movement of the units 1 in the rail system, see Fig. 1, by means of a number of sensors , preferably photocel 1 One such photocell 46 is shown In Fig. 3 and one photocell 59 in Fig. 4. These sensors a re shown schematically in Fig. 11 with reference numerals 3l a~3l6n. When a unit 1, for example the unit In, approaches a work station, a sensor, such as 316b will sense this movement and close its contact, whereby a signal will be sensed in the "digital in" unit 388 on channel 393- The data unit 384 then addresses the unit In with a stop command to stop the unit in a correct position at the station. The control motors 44 and 45 in Fig. 3 and the control motors 52 and 56 in Fig. 4 are controlled by circuits 3l5a-315n which are connected to the data uni 384 by one or more digital-out lines 392. These circuits are permanently located in coiling or uncoil ing stations and need not Le addressed by words requiring a decoder. The control system also includes a plurality of manually or auto¬ matical ly control led operating circuits 317a~317n distributed as required in the plant, preferably on the operating panels 208, 213 according to Fig. 9, in order to transmit plant operating signals over the digital-iπ channel 394 to the data unit 384. The automatic data unit 384 comprises a display 386 and a keyboard 385 to provide operator supervϊsion" of the system.

The data collected in the unit 384 is transferred to the host 380 for analysis, for possible correction of the control program and for general production control. Fig. 12 illustrates a modified embodiment of the control systen according to Fig. 11. The control bar 390 has been divided into a plural i of sub-bars 390k~390r, at least one for each work station, each bar einσ

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connected to the digital-out unit 387 via one or more lines 395. A handling uni la, in contact with the sub-bar 390k, and which is started by a start command via the line k from the line 395, moves towards the sub-bar 3901 and can be stopped at this bar by a stop order

5 on the line 3951. Each work station and each storage position in the buffer store can then be provided with i s own sub-bar 390k-r, eliminat¬ ing the need of individual address, decoding in each handling unit.

The function of the control system In accordance with Fig. 11a, Fig. 12 will now be described for the plant illustrated In Fig. 5.

10 It is assumed that an empty handling unit 207 is located at a coiling station 203 ready for colling. A push button operation on the control panel 208 or some automatic start operation activates the control circuit 317a which signals this status to the dϊgltal-ϊπ unit 388. The digϊtal-out unit 387 activates a control circuit 315a for a drive means

15 250 for connecting the means 250 to the unit 207a, whereby its reel starts coiling up cable from production line 201. During the colling operation th motor 12 of the unit 207 Is driven al ternatiπgly forwards and backwards, as shown by the arrow 321 or 320 by signals from the digϊtal-out (DU) unit 387 v a the bar 390, thus causing the unit to traverse.

20 When the cable has been coiled up on the barrel, which operation can be sensed by a sensor 316, ime-programmed or the 1 ike, the driving operation is stopped by a stop command to the circuit 315a and the driving means 250 is disengaged. The motor 12 of the unit 207a Is started for movement towards the turntable 206, e.g. forwards, by a signal from DU 387

25 When the unit reaches the turntable 206, this will be sensed by a sensor, 31 a, which is preferably a photocell 46 In the rail system 10. The digital-in (Dl) unit 388 senses this state and the DU 387 stops the motor 12 with a stop command and sends a signal to the operation- circuit, i.e. 315b, of the turntable starting Its drivemotor 123- When the turntable

30 has turned 90 , its motor is stopped with a STOP command to the circuit 315b, the motor 12 being started in reverse and stopped when the unit has reached a programmed position In the buffer store 220, e.g. the position 207b in Fig. 9.

At the same time as the unit 207a starts moving towards the turntabl

35 206, the motor 12 of the empty unit 205a will be started :π order to move the unit 205a to the colling station 203, whereafter the operation is repeated.

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The conveyance of the other units to and from the uncoiling statio 209-212 and thei r-engagement with and disengagement from the braking devices 240 is priπciply controlled in the same way by conveying signals from DU 387 to the units, operating signals from DU 387 to control circuits 315 to operate the braking devices 240 and by sensing signals from the sensors 316 and operating signals from the circuits 317 to 01 388.

The carriage 216 and the bypassing units 217 are also controlled by control signals via the rail system 390 and by signals from the sensors 316. it should be observed that when a coiling station cooperates in a production l ine with an uncoil ing station in the other end of the l ine, as shown in Fig. 10, the automatic data unit 384 should synchronize via DU 387, 01 388 and associated l ines the operation of both said stations in order to achieve shock-free and smooth operation of the production 1 ϊπe.

The present Invention has been described according to a preferred embodiment but it is, however, obvious for one skilled In the art that a number of coπtructional changes can be made in the system without departing from the inventive concept.

Hence, the conveyor rail system can be arranged under the handling uni instead of above it. Furthermore, the rail system can be replaced by any other similar guiding and controlling path along which the handling units a re moved. The barrel 5 of the transport- unit shown in Figs. 3 and 4 can of course also be driven via the end walls 6. Further, the coupling elemen 15 at the end of the. shaft 8 could include a gear with which the coupling part 55 on the arm 51 or the braking element 42 on the arm 41 may be engaged. In order to increase the degree of automation in the system still further an end of a cable can automatically be inserted into an attachment means 18 on an empty barrel, according to Fig. 1. This requires suitable cable guides 375 at a coiling station, e.g. station 295 In Fig. 10.

Fig. 13 shows a device for handling units 1 in a system according to another embodiment of the invention. The handler 401 comprises a cart 402 or a sledge guided in a rail syscerr 0 by αuidir:__ rolls 403. A step._TK_.tor 404 is mounted on the cart -02 ^" or driving e cart 402 and

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a handling unit 1. The driving power is transferred to the rail system 1 by a drain 405 fastened to a rail 17. Two chain wheels 406 and 407 are running along the rail 17 driven by the step motor 404. The first wheel 406.. is coupled directly to the step motor 404 and the second wheel 407 is driven by the first wheel 406 via a chain 4θ8. The use of two wheels 406, 407 for driving against the chain 405 enables a synchronous passage over rail joints etc where otherwise a risk of slipping would occur and would disturb an exact positioning in the system. The stop motor comprise a digital pulse generator 409 for locating the handler 401 to a right position. The cart comprises a gripper 410 for transport of a unit 1. When released the handler 401 can bypass one or several units 1. There is a power and control rail 13 along the rail system 10 for supplying driving power to the step motor 404 and for providing forward, backward and stop orders and order for gripping or releasing a unit 1. A follower 14 Is provided on the handler 401. Digital control signals received from a computer or data unit 383 (Figs. 11 and 12) are processed in an electronic unit 411 In the handler 401.

The handler 401 In Fig. 13 operates as follows-. By means of a contr system, previously described with reference to Figs. 11 and 12, the step motor 404 Is started via the power rail 13 and the follower 1 causing the handler 401 to move along the rail system 10. When the handler 401 reaches a desired unit 1 the handler will stop and the gripper 401 grips the unit 1 which will be fixed by a control signal from the electronic unit 4ll. The handler 401 starts moving and transfers the unit 1 to a - desired position. The handler will now stop and the gripper 410 releases the unit 1 when so ordered by the data unit 383. The handler 401 Is now free for the next operation.

One advantage provided by the handler 401 is that a motor 12 Includ in each unit 1 of Fig. 1 can be replaced by one or several handlers 401, depending on the intensity of transportations and the distances moved. This will reduce the cost for each unit 1 and the data unit 383. ft should be noted that the handler 401 in Fig. 13 has been shown with a chain 405 transferring driving power, but other similar means can be used, such as a toothed rack, a wire or a friction device. The handler can also be running on one rail or on a separate rail instead of or. the two rails 17- Further, he handler can have an accumulator as power sourc and a wireless transrπis≤ ion system for commands and orders.

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All such changes can be made without departing from the inventive concept of the present invention.