The present invention relates to wire handling for vehicle glazing panel cut out techniques. Vehicle glazing panels such as vehicle windscreens (windshields) are typically bonded in supporting frames by adhesive bonding material such as polyurethane, applied in a continuous bead about the periphery of the glazing panel and frame.

Wire cutting techniques have been previously proposed and used to effect glazing panel removal (for replacement or otherwise). Exemplary techniques are disclosed in, for example, EP-A-0093283, Canadian Patent Specification 2034221, US Patent 6616800, German Patent 4012207 and PCT Publications WO2006/030212, WO86/07017 and W098/58779. In particular WO2006/030212 discloses a technique in which during cutting the wire can be operated in certain circumstances to slip or slide with respect to the bonding material in order to saw or cut through the bonding material. This has proved advantageous. Typically the wire is high tensile steel wire which is square in cross section and supplied wound on a roll or store spool. Following use the wire is typically wound on to the winder spool of the particular glazing panel tool that was used to remove the wire. Figure 1 shows a prior art tool of the kind used in WO2006/030212 to remove a glazing panel as described in that document. The winder unit 1 comprises a pair of releasable suction cup mounts 10, 11 enabling the winder unit to be releasably secured to the windscreen. The suction cup mounts comprise a rigid plastics cup 12 and underlaying flexible rubber skirt membrane 13. Respective actuation/release levers 14 enable consistent suction to be applied and released. Such suction mounts are commonly employed in windscreen replacement and repair technology. The suction cup mounts 10, 11 are pivotably/tiltably mounted to the support bracket 15 of the winder unit to ensure that both mounts 10, 11 can locate in good engagement with the windscreen despite the curvature of the windscreen. The main body of the support bracket 15 carries a pair of underslung winding spools 4, 5 in side by side relationship. The spools are connected to axial winding shafts which are supported in bearings 16, 17 provided on the winder unit. The spools 4, 5 are driven axially rotationally either manually via a hand winder or by means of a mechanical actuator such as a motorised winding or winching tool. Drive bosses 18 are provided with female sockets 19 (square bores) for receiving the male driving tool. Positioned outwardly of the winding spools are respective wire guide pulley wheels 8, 9 of low friction plastics material. The pulley wheels are mounted to be rotatable about respective rotational axes. The guide pulleys rotate as the cutting wire is drawn tangentially across the pulleys as will be described. The winder spools 4, 5 are held to rotate in one direction only (each in opposite senses) by respective ratchet mechanisms. Each mechanism includes ratchet override permitting prior tightened wire to be slackened, or unwound (reverse wound).

Following use to remove the glazing panel the wire is typically wound on to the winder spools 4,5. In this condition the tool is what is referred to herein as a 'wire wound device' The wire is typically removed from the spools 4,5 subsequently and discarded. When removing the wire from the winder spools 4,5of the wire wound device, the wire releases in an uncontrolled manner and springs outwardly in a tangle which is referred to as 'birds nesting' which can also lead to the released wire becoming kinked. Re-use of used wire is difficult due to kinks or tight coils being present and also as a result of birds nest tangling following removal of used wire from a tool. An improved technique and system has now been devised.

According to a first aspect, the present invention provides a wire reprocessing system for reprocessing used wire wound onto a wire wound device, the reprocessing system comprising: a device docking station for docking the wire wound device with the used wire wound on; a re-spooling station for winding wire from the wire wound device onto a wire store device.

It is preferred that the device docking station is provided with one or more docking formations for docking with the wire wound device. In a preferred realisation, the wire wound device is docked with the docking station by being laid down into the docking station and pushed against a forward stop. It is preferred that the re-spooling station comprises a rotary device for winding the wire.

The wire store device may beneficially be arranged to be coupled to the rotary device in docked demountable engagement. Preferably, when in docked engagement a spool body of the wire store device is coupled for rotation with the rotary device.

In certain embodiments, the rotary device may be provided with one or more engagement formations for coupling with wire store device to ensure coupling for rotary movement. This may be achieved, for example, by means of the engagement formation comprising a detent projecting circumferentially outwardly of the rotary device.

In a preferred realisation the wire store device comprises an annular housing enabling docking with the re-spooling station.

Beneficially the re-spooling station includes drive means for winding the wire from the wire wound device docked at the device docking station. The drive means may be manually actuatable or driven by means of a motor for example. It is preferred that the device docking station and the re-spooling station are provided on a common support structure, such as a support platform.

In a preferred embodiment a wire feed arrangement is provided between the device docking station and the re-spooling station.

In certain embodiments the wire feed arrangement is arranged to be re-orientatable to feed wire from different feed directions. This would enable, for example the feed arrangement to be directed appropriately to remove wire wound on either spool of a double spool glazing panel removal tool.

It is preferred that the feed arrangement acts to guide the path of the wire between the device docking station and the re-spooling station.

It may be advantageous for the feed arrangement to act so as to deform the wire as it passes. The feed arrangement may beneficially act to deform the wire as it passes along a curvilinear path.

Processing of the wire in the manner described helps to straighten out the wire and also remove any kinks or tight coils.

In a preferred realisation, the feed arrangement includes one or more rotatable elements (such as banks of rollers) for guiding the path of the wire. The rotatable elements are preferably movable from a spaced or release position (not engaging the wire) to an engaged position in which the wire is engaged or pinched between the rotatable elements.

According to a second aspect, the invention provides a method of reprocessing used wire wound onto a wire wound device, the method comprising: docking a wire wound device, with the used wire wound on, at a device docking station; winding wire from the wire wound device onto a wire store device which is positioned at a re-spooling station.

According to a related aspect the invention provides a method of reprocessing used cutting wire which has been wound onto a glazing panel cut out tool, the method comprising winding the used cutting wire from the glazing panel cut out tool directly onto a wire store device which is positioned at a re-spooling station. Preferred aspects of the method correspond to preferred aspects of the system.

Particularly, it is preferred that the wire store device is demounted from the re-spooling station following winding on of the wire. Beneficially, prior to winding onto the wire store device the wire passes via a feed arrangement which engages the wire to deform or straighten the wire.

The invention will now be further described in a specific embodiment by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which;

Figure 1 is a schematic plan view of a winder unit of an exemplary cut out system in accordance with the invention; Figures 2 to 6 are schematic representations of a wire reprocessing system in accordance with the invention;

Figures 7 to 10 are schematic views showing the store device used in the invention. Referring to the drawings, there is shown a wire reprocessing system 20 for reprocessing used wire. The system comprises a docking station 21 provided with docking formations 22 23 24 enabling the tool 1 to be accurately and repeatably docked, consistently in the same position relative to the other components of the system. The docking formations comprise forward docking stops 22 23 arranged to locate the pulley wheels 8 9 and a rear docking stop 24 which is arranged to sit behind the support bracket body 15 of the tool.

The tool is lowered in position to be located properly at the docking station. The rear docking stop includes a resiliently flexible tab 24a which can flex resiliently outwardly to accept the support bracket body 15 of the tool as it is lowered into position. The tab 24a also flexes out of the way when the tool is removed from the docking station.

Positioned opposite to the docking station is a re-spooling station 25 which comprises a rotationally mounted capstan device 26. The rotary capstan 26 is arranged to receive an initially empty wire store/dispenser device 50, onto which used wire will be fed from the wire wound used tool 1, which will be docked at the tool docking station 21. The wire store/dispenser device 50 is used to store the wire for subsequent use and also to dispense the wire onto the glazing panel cut out tool 1 , when in use.

The rotary capstan device 26 is shown without a store/dispenser device 50 fitted in figure 2, and with a store/dispenser device 50 fitted in figures 3 to 6. The rotary capstan is provided with a recess for receiving the end of the wire secured through the store device 50.

The store/dispenser device 50 is shown most clearly in figures 7 to 10. The store/dispenser device 50 as shown in figure 7 comprises an annular outer sleeve 51 which receives, seated therein, a spool body 52 upon which wire is wound. The spool body 52 and outer sleeve 51 are assembled to be rotatable relative to one another. The spool body is shown in isolation in figure 9. The sleeve 51 is shown most clearly in figure 8 and can be seen to have an annular base 53 and an upstanding outer wall 54 which extends most of the way around the periphery of the device 50 but is provided with terminal upright edges 55 56 defining a peripheral opening devoid of the wall 54. An inner circumferential upstanding lip 57 extends all around the central void 58 of the sleeve 51. Towards the upper rim 59 of the peripheral upstanding wall 54 there is a shoulder 60 between the upper radial inner surface 61 of the wall 54 and the lower radial inner surface 62 of the wall 54. The surface 61 is spaced radially outwardly of the surface 62. A series of clip projections 63 are spaced around the upper radial inner surface of the wall. A stop tab 64 is provided projecting radially outwardly from the outer surface of the wall 54.

As shown in figure 9, the wire spool body 52 has an upper surface 64, an upper flange 66 just below the upper surface 64, the upper flange 66 extending radially outwardly. The item 52 also has a bottom flange 65 and a recessed annular wall 67 upon which the wire is wound. In order to assemble the device 50 the spool body 52 is pushed downwardly into the sleeve 51 until the bottom flange 65 rests on the base 53 of the sleeve 51. In so assembling the sleeve and the spool the clip projections deform and snap fit secure above the upper flange 66 of the spool 52. In this way the spool body 52 is held captive with respect to the sleeve but relative rotation is permitted between the two components. The wire spool body 52 is provided with recesses 70 71 on opposed internal circumferential walls for locating on formations provided on capstan device 26 as will be described later. A winding projection 73 is provided on the upper surface 64 of the wire spool 52 enabling hand winding of the spool body 52 with respect to the sleeve 51. The recessed annular wall 67 is provided with a wire insertion aperture 72 angled to extend completely through the wall and permitting an end of the wire to be inserted and secured with respect to the spool body 52. The upper surface 64 is provided with a viewing aperture 76 to enable the insertion aperture to be viewed from above. The rotary capstan 26 of the re-spooling station is provided on opposed circumferential wall portions, with detents 27 (only one is shown in Figure 2) which are arranged to match up and engage in recesses 70 71 on opposed internal circumferential walls of the wire store 50 as it is docked downwardly to rest on the platform flange 28 provided about the rotary capstan 26, settling snugly about the outer surface of the capstan.

The engagement recesses 70 71 are shaped to cooperate with the detents 27 such that once engaged the spool 52 is effectively rotationally locked with respect to the capstan device 26 such that the capstan and the spool 52 rotate in unison It should be noted that the housing 51 does not rotate in unison with the capstan and the spool body 52 ensuring that the dispensing gap between the edges 55 56 of the wall 54 remains in position.

However, the engagement between the detents 27 and the recesses 70 71 is such that the store device 50 can be lifted upwardly clear of the capstan 26, from the docked position with relatively little manual force applied. To this end the engagement formations (either the detents 27or the recesses 70 71) are preferably linear formations extending upwardly/ downwardly with respect to the circumferential walls of the capstan device 26 and the spool body 52. The recesses 70 71 preferably comprise slots or channels.

The re-spooling station 25 and the tool docking station 21 are provided on a common support platform 30. This ensures consistent and accurate spacing of the various components in the system. Positioned intermediately between the re-spooling station 25 and the tool docking station 21 is a feed station 31 which comprises a set of pinch rollers 32 through which wire spooled off the tool is fed before being wound onto the store 52 docked at the re-spooling station 25. As shown most clearly in figure 6, the pinch rollers 32 are arranged in two ranks, one rank being fixed on a support bridge 33, the other rank being movable in slots

34 between a pinch position shown in figure 6 and a release position in which the pinch roller ranks are more greatly separated. The movable pinch rollers are mounted on a slider

35 provided below the surface of the bridge 33 and provided with an actuation lever 36 for moving the movable roller rank between the pinch and release positions.

In the pinch position, wire passing through the feed station is deformed about the rollers to follow a slightly serpentine path. The purpose of the feed station is to guide the wire passing from the tool station to the re-spooling station and preferably also slightly work or stretch the wire to straighten the wire slightly from its previously relatively tightly wound condition in place on the tool winder spool 4 or 5, before being re-spooled at the re- spooling station 25 onto the storage/dispenser device 50. This process helps smooth out any kinks or tight coils. In certain embodiments of the invention the pinch rollers may be replaced with some other guide structure, or plastic deformation structure. In certain embodiments the feed station may be dispensed with altogether and the wire may be unloaded directly from the tool onto the re-spooling storage device 50.

The bridge 33 is mounted in a recessed portion 30a of the support platform 30 and is movable between to different feed orientations, depending upon which of the two the respective winder spools 4 5 is being unloaded. The two respective feed orientations are shown in figures 3 and 4 respectively. A bridge handle 37 is provided to aid re-orientation of the bridge 33.

In use a tool 1 is docked at the docking station 21 as shown in figure 5. At this time, or prior to docking all the wire is wound onto either one of the winder spools 4 5 of the tool and the free end is located by the operative. An empty storage dispenser device is docked with the capstan 26 of the docking station 25 in the manner described above. The free end of the wire is inserted into the insertion aperture of the spool body 52, and the intermediate length of wire lies between the spaced ranks of the pinch rollers 32 which are orientated at this time in their release position. A couple of turns of the capstan are made by locating a socket handle on the nut 41 of the capstan 26 and turning the capstan about its axis.

Next the pinch rollers 32 are moved to the pinch position by operation of the lever 36, in order to pinch the wire between the rollers. Then the capstan 26 is rotated to fully wind the wire of the spool via the feed station pinch rollers and onto the store/dispenser device 50. When fully wound onto the store/dispenser device, the store/dispenser device 50 can be lifted upwardly clear of the capstan 26, from the docked position with relatively little manual force applied. The wire is then ready for re-use securely loaded on the

store/dispenser 50.

The provision of the store/dispenser device 50 having an annular outer sleeve 51 and which receives, seated therein, a relatively rotatable spool 52 upon which wire is wound is also advantageous. This provides for storage, dispensing and or loading of the store device 50 in a controlled manner and prevents so called 'birds nesting' occurring. 'Birds nesting' occurs when a poorly constrained wound coil of wire springs of a spool in an uncontrolled manner thereafter becoming tangled, possibly kinked and difficult to use.

The present invention provides benefits in terms of enabling wire to be re-used and processed in an efficient and safe technique.