Claims
- 1. A self-compensating tension control device for regulating the payout of filamentary material from a spool, comprising:a fixed support; a spindle assembly pivotably mounted to said fixed support, said spindle assembly rotatably carrying the spool of filamentary material, wherein a pull-off force imparted by the filamentary material causes angular movement of said spindle assembly and rotation of the spool; and a braking assembly mounted to said fixed support and coupled to said spindle assembly, wherein the amount of braking force applied by said braking assembly corresponds to an angular position of said spindle assembly; and a band having one end fixed a first distance from said fixed support in a first direction and an opposite end biasingly fixed at a second distance from said fixed support in a second direction substantially opposite said first direction, said band engaging said spindle assembly and applying a braking force thereto when said spindle assembly is in an angular position directed toward a shorter of said first and second distances.
- 2. The device according to claim 1, said braking assembly further comprising:a ring mounted on said fixed support; an angle arm which extends said first direction from said ring; and a straight arm which extends said second distance from said ring, wherein said straight arm is adjustable to vary said second distance.
- 3. The device according to claim 2, said braking assembly further comprising:a spring assembly connecting said straight arm to said opposite end of said band.
- 4. The device according to claim 3, said spring assembly comprising:a pivot arm pivotably extending from said straight arm, said pivot arm having an arm plate with a shaft hole therethrough; a plunger assembly having a spring plate with a shaft extending therefrom that extends through said shaft hole and is connected to said opposite end of said band; and a spring interposed between said arm plate and said spring plate for biasing said opposite end of said band.
- 5. The device according to claim 4, wherein said spring assembly further comprises:a stop sleeve received upon said shaft and within said spring, said stop sleeve limiting travel of said spring plate with respect to said arm plate.
- 6. The device according to claim 2, further comprising:an extension arm slidably attached to said straight arm; and a set screw for holding said extension arm in a fixed position with respect to said straight arm.
- 7. A self-compensating tension control device for regulating the payout of a filamentary material from a spool, comprising:a fixed support; a spindle assembly pivotably mounted to said fixed support, said spindle assembly rotatably carrying the spool of filamentary material, wherein a pull-off force imparted by the filamentary material causes angular movement of said spindle assembly and rotation of the spool, said spindle assembly having a brake drum rotatable therewith; and a band mounted at both ends to said fixed support and contacting said brake drum, said band having one end fixed a first distance from said fixed support and an opposite end fixed at a second distance from said fixed support in a direction substantially opposite said first direction, said band engaging said brake drum and applying a braking force thereto when said spindle assembly is in an angular position directed toward a shorter of said first and second distances.
- 8. The device according to claim 7, wherein said opposite end of said band is biasingly fixed.
- 9. The device according to claim 7, wherein said second distance is adjustable to allow for adjustment of the braking force applied.
- 10. The device according to claim 7, further comprising a loading assembly fixably mounted to said fixed support and coupled to said spindle assembly and imparting an initial threshold to said spindle assembly to cause engagement with said band.
Parent Case Info
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
This is a continuation-in-part of copending patent application Ser. No. 09/151,552, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,098,910 filed Sep. 11, 1998, entitled “Self-Compensating Filament Tension Control Device”.
US Referenced Citations (33)
Foreign Referenced Citations (3)
Number |
Date |
Country |
60048872 |
Mar 1985 |
JP |
61060571 |
Mar 1986 |
JP |
09086790 |
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Continuation in Parts (1)
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Number |
Date |
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Parent |
09/151552 |
Sep 1998 |
US |
Child |
09/604364 |
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US |