Apparatus for supporting a reel of cable for rotation

US4191339A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Western Electric Company, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Helmut Durr · Frankfurt am Main, DE
• George E. Mock · Duluth, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Feb 28, 1979
• Grant date: Mar 4, 1980
• Expiry date: Feb 28, 1999

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B65H54/42
• WIPO field: Handling
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

An apparatus (20) for supporting rotatably a reel (27) of cable so that it may be turned, for example, to render ends of the cable accessible for connectorization, includes a pair of spaced, parallel cradle rolls (30, 31), which in rest positions are in engagement with a support surface of a base plate (51). A reel is moved so that its flanges are supported on a reference surface (43) which extends between the cradle rolls and which is generally coincident with a factory floor surface that is spaced above the base plate. An actuating member (60, 60') associated with each cradle roll is moved from an unoperated position toward its associated cradle roll to cause wedges (69-69) extending from the actuating member and between the cradle roll and the base plate to cam the cradle roll upwardly along inclined surfaces of the wedges and vertical surfaces of bearing blocks (56--56) adjacent one side of each cradle roll in which passive satellite rollers (53--53) are mounted rotatably. The upward movement of the cradle rolls causes them to engage the flanges of the reel so that as the rolls are moved further upwardly, the reel is moved out of engagement with the reference surface and is sup…