Wire Barrel Packing System and Method of Use

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present invention relates to systems for loading a wire into wire barrels or other containers.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Barrels (or other containers) are frequently used to load various types of wires, such as conductors and/or other similar materials. Capstans are power driven machines frequently used on such barrels to pull the wires from a feeder and feed it into, for example, an empty wire barrel or another container for storage or transport. For example, FIG. 1 depicts a perspective view of a conventional capstan and a wire barrel, in accordance with the prior art. In this example, and in accordance with the prior art, a wire 20 is pulled from a feeder 30 at a speed set at a capstan 40, pushed through a guide tube 45 affixed to or adjacent to an area of the capstan, and fed into a wire barrel 50.

In conventional systems, the wire has a tendency to land freely when the wire is pulled from a feeder and fed into the barrel via a guide tube. For example, a gap (“G” as depicted in FIG. 1) may be formed when loading (or packing) into the wire barrel due to various characteristics of the wire or the manner in which it is loaded into the barrel, such as its flexibility, diameter, elongation, lay length in the case of stranded wires, the radius at which the wire is put into the barrel, and/or other characteristics of the wire or the manner in which it is loaded. Such gaps can cause wires to be inadequately laid down and result in uneven rows of wires (“UR” as depicted in FIG. 1). In addition to potentially resulting in barrels not being fully loaded (or packed) with wires, there is also an increased risk of looping or tangling of the wires inside the barrel. This can exert extreme stress on the wire when pulling the wire from the wire barrel and, in some cases, even cause the wire to break. These problems are exacerbated when loading a group of multiple conductors into a single barrel.

To ensure a wire is properly aligned for loading through the wire guide and that there are no gap or uneven rows of wires when the wires are loaded into a barrel, an operator must typically monitor the loading of the wire into the barrel throughout the process. Additionally, wires are often loaded into barrels by varying the rotational speed of the capstan (e.g., to allow an operator to monitor the process (which can similarly result in gaps or uneven rows of wires inside the barrel. This can result in a substantial loss of operation time due to the time required to monitor and address issues with the wire within, or as it is pulled from, the barrel. There is a need for an improved wire loading/packing capstan or apparatus that reduces the risk of damage to the wire and the likelihood of a gap or uneven rows of wire, while also enabling a wire to be loaded or fed into a barrel with greater speed and/or efficiency.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Aspects of this disclosure relate to a wire barrel packing system for loading wire into a barrel that ensures wire is loaded evenly within the barrel. In various embodiments, the wire barrel backing system comprises a frame within which a barrel is positioned for receiving a wire, a turntable on which the barrel is placed, a capstan configured to pull the wire from a feeder and feed the wire into the barrel, and/or one or more other components. In various embodiments, the turntable is configured to rotate the barrel as wire is fed into the barrel. In various embodiments, the capstan is configured to move relative to the frame and the turntable as wire is fed into the barrel. In some embodiments, the capstan may comprise a belt wrap capstan. In some embodiments, the wire barrel packing system may further comprise a wire landing guide configured to guide the wire as the wire is fed from the capstan into the barrel. In such embodiments, the wire landing guide may be positioned perpendicular to a bottom surface of the barrel. In various embodiments, the capstan may be configured to move vertically with respect to the frame and the turntable. In various embodiments, the capstan may be configured to raise vertically with respect to the frame and the turntable as wire is fed into a barrel. In some embodiments, the capstan may be configured to lower vertically with respect to the frame and the turntable prior to loading a new barrel. In some embodiments, the capstan may be configured to move vertically with respect to the frame and the turntable to position a wire landing guide within a pre-determined distance from a bottom of the barrel or a top of the wire loaded into the barrel. In some embodiments, the capstan may be configured to move horizontally with respect to the frame and the turntable. For example, the capstan may be configured to move inwardly and outwardly horizontally to cause the wire to be laid evenly within the barrel in a helical manner. In various embodiments, the capstan may be configured (or caused) to move automatically in a vertical and/or horizontal direction as described herein. For example, in various embodiments, the system may further comprise a motor and a set of rails attached to the frame, and the motor may be configured to cause movement of the capstan along the set of rails. In various embodiments, the system may further comprise one or more devices or sensors configured to monitor the loading of the wire into the barrel.

Aspects of this disclosure also relate to a method for loading wire into a barrel using a wire barrel packing system that prevents gaps and an uneven laying of the wire. In various embodiments, the method may comprise positioning a capstan over a barrel. For example, the method may comprise rolling a barrel onto a turntable positioned beneath the capstan and then the capstan may be positioned over the barrel as needed. In some embodiments, positioning the capstan over the barrel may comprise raising or lowering the capstan to a pre-determined distance from a bottom of the barrel or a top of the wire that has been loaded into the barrel. In some such embodiments, the pre-determined distance may comprise a distance between a bottom of a wire landing guide associated with the capstan and the bottom of the barrel or a top of the wire loaded into the barrel. Once the barrel is in position beneath the capstan, the method may further comprise feeding a wire into the barrel using the capstan, wherein a turntable on which the barrel is positioned is rotated as wire is fed into the barrel. The wire being fed into the barrel may be monitored using one or more devices or sensors, and the loading of the wire into the barrel may be adjusted based on the monitoring of the wire being fed into the barrel via the capstan. For example, in some embodiments, the adjusting of the loading of the wire into the barrel may comprise adjusting a rotational speed of the turntable and/or moving the capstan inwardly and/or outwardly horizontally relative to the barrel to cause the wire to be laid evenly within the barrel in a helical manner.

These and other objects, features, and characteristics of the systems and/or methods disclosed herein, as well as the methods of operation and functions of the related elements of structure and the combination thereof, will become more apparent upon consideration of the following description and the appended claims with reference to the accompanying drawings, all of which form a part of this specification, wherein like reference numerals designate corresponding parts in the various figures. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for the purpose of illustration and description only and are not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention. As used in the specification and in the claims, the singular form of “a”, “an”, and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention is illustrated by way of example and not limited in the accompanying figures in which like reference numerals indicate similar elements and in which:

FIG. 1 depicts a perspective view of a capstan and a wire barrel, in accordance with the prior art;

FIG. 2 depicts a perspective view of an example wire barrel packing system, according to one or more aspects described herein;

FIG. 3 depicts a pictorial view of pseudo-helical mechanism used in an example wire barrel packing system, according to one or more aspects described herein; and

FIG. 4 depicts a flow diagram of an example method for loading wire into a barrel using a wire barrel packing system that prevents gaps and an uneven laying of the wire, according to one or more aspects described herein.

These drawings are provided for purposes of illustration only and merely depict typical or example embodiments. These drawings are provided to facilitate the reader's understanding and shall not be considered limiting of the breadth, scope, or applicability of the disclosure. For clarity and ease of illustration, these drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following description of various examples of the invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and in which are shown by way of illustration various example structures, systems, and steps in which aspects of the invention may be practiced. These aspects are indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principles of the invention may be employed and the present invention is intended to include all such aspects and their equivalents. It is to be understood that other specific arrangements of parts, structures, example devices, systems, and steps may be utilized, and structural and functional modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. Also, while the terms “top,” “bottom,” “front,” “back,” “side,” and the like may be used in this specification to describe various example features and elements of the invention, these terms are used herein as a matter of convenience, e.g., based on the example orientations shown in the figures. Nothing in this specification should be construed as requiring a specific three-dimensional orientation of structures in order to fall within the scope of this invention.

The invention described herein relates to a wire barrel packing system that ensures wire is loaded evenly within the barrel and methods of using the same. In various embodiments, the wire barrel backing system may comprise a frame within which a barrel is positioned for receiving a wire, a turntable on which the barrel is placed, a capstan configured to pull the wire from a feeder and feed the wire into the barrel, and/or one or more other components. In various embodiments, the turntable is configured to rotate the barrel as wire is fed into the barrel. In various embodiments, the capstan is configured to move relative to the frame and the turntable as wire is fed into the barrel. In some embodiments, the capstan may comprise a belt wrap capstan. In some embodiments, the wire barrel packing system may further comprise a wire landing guide configured to guide the wire as the wire is fed from the capstan into the barrel. In such embodiments, the wire landing guide may be positioned perpendicular to a bottom surface of the barrel.

In various embodiments, the capstan may be configured to move vertically with respect to the frame and the turntable. In various embodiments, the capstan may be configured to raise vertically with respect to the frame and the turntable as wire is fed into a barrel. In some embodiments, the capstan may be configured to lower vertically with respect to the frame and the turntable prior to loading a new barrel. In some embodiments, the capstan may be configured to move vertically with respect to the frame and the turntable to position a wire landing guide within a pre-determined distance from a bottom of the barrel or a top of the wire loaded into the barrel. In some embodiments, the capstan may be configured to move horizontally with respect to the frame and the turntable. For example, the capstan may be configured to move inwardly and outwardly horizontally to cause the wire to be laid evenly within the barrel in a helical manner.

In various embodiments, the capstan may be configured (or caused) to move automatically in a vertical and/or horizontal direction as described herein. For example, in various embodiments, the system may further comprise a motor and a set of rails attached to the frame, and the motor may be configured to cause movement of the capstan along the set of rails. In various embodiments, the system may further comprise one or more devices or sensors configured to monitor the loading of the wire into the barrel.

FIG. 2 depicts a perspective view of wire barrel packing system 100, according to one or more aspects described herein. Although referred to herein simply as “wire” for convenience, wire barrel packing system 100 may be used to load various types of wire or similar materials and load/pack the same using the techniques described herein. For example, in various implementations, wire barrel packing system 100 may be used to load both bare and insulated wires, welding wire, optic fiber, low voltage wire, cords, MC wire, non-metal wire such as fiber or string, and/or other products having a similar shape. In an example implementation, wire barrel packing system 100 may be used to load or pack conductor wire. In some embodiments, single wires (or conductors) may be loaded using wire barrel packing system 100. In other embodiments, wire barrel packing system 100 may be used to load or pack multiple wires (or conductors) within a single barrel. For convenience, the wire barrel packing systems and methods are described herein as suitable for packing a barrel with wire. However, the systems and methods described herein may be suitable for packing a barrel and/or any other container suitable for storing or encompassing wire. In other words, while the term “barrel” is used herein for convenience, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that said barrel may be selectively replaced herein with a box (e.g., a Gaylord box), carton, bin, drum, receptacle, or any other container suitable for storing or encompassing wire.

In various embodiments, and as depicted in FIG. 2, wire barrel packing system 100 may include a frame 110, a capstan member 120, a wire landing guide 140, a positioning member 160, monitoring member 300, and/or one or more other components. In various embodiments, wire barrel packing system 100 may be configured to allow improved control of a wire packing process locally or remotely during the feeding of a wire into a barrel. Accordingly, wire barrel packing system 100 may be designed to reduce the likelihood of tangles and any associated damage therefrom, thereby minimizing the time, cost, and energy needed at the manufacturing site.

In various embodiments, capstan member 120 may be configured to pull wire from a feeder and feed it into a wire barrel or other container for storage or transport. For example, as depicted in FIG. 2, capstan member 120 may include a belt wrap capstan with 12-16 inch wheels configured to pull wire from a feeder at a speed set at the capstan that is pushed through a wire landing guide 140 affixed to or positioned in an area adjacent to the capstan and fed into a wire barrel. In other embodiments, capstan member 120 may comprise (or be replaced by) a capstan, a caterpillar, a sheave, and/or any other pulling/pushing device now known or future developed that is suitable for pull wire and/or push wire into a wire barrel or other container for storage or transport. In various embodiments, capstan member 120 may comprise a capstan and a capstan table to which the capstan is affixed. As described herein, capstan member 120 may be moved relative to a frame 110 and one or more other components of wire barrel packing system 100. However, it is to be understood that the capstan, the capstan table, and/or capstan member 120 may be moved to cause the one or more other components to move within or relative to frame 110. For example, the capstan table may be connected to one or more components of positioning member 160 that are configured to move capstan table (and the capstan) relative to one or more other components of wire barrel packing system 100.

In some respects, capstan member 120 may be configured to control a loading position of the wire in wire barrel packing system 100 by defining where a wire lands on (or with respect to) an inner bottom surface 55 of the wire barrel. In many respects, capstan member 120 and positioning member 160 are together configured to determine where the wire is to land with respect to the inner bottom surface 55 of the wire barrel throughout the process to reduce the risks of any gap or uneven rows of wires forming, thereby minimizing potential damage to the wire and inefficiencies with respect to how the barrel is packed.

When wire is pulled by capstan and lands within the barrel (e.g., either on an inner bottom surface 55 of the wire barrel or on top of wire already loaded within the barrel), a force may be exerted on the wire due to the material characteristics and/or diameter of the wire that causes the wire to move horizontally within the wire barrel and become misaligned on the inner bottom surface 55 of the wire barrel. In various embodiments, wire landing guide 140 may be used to guide wires as they move from capstan member 120 to the barrel.

In various embodiments, wire barrel packing system 100 may include a wire landing guide 140 that may be used to guide wires as they move from capstan member 120 to the barrel. In various embodiments, wire landing guide 140 may be attached to capstan member 120 using one or more mounting fasteners. For example, a wire landing guide tube may be attached to capstan member 120. In such embodiments, wire landing guide 140 may be positioned perpendicularly with respect to an inner bottom surface 55 of barrel. In some embodiments (e.g., as depicted in FIG. 2), wire barrel packing system 100 may comprise a hockey stick style wire landing guide 142 comprising a landing leg 144 with an angle. In other embodiments, a hook-style wire landing guide may be removably attached to capstan member 120 by hanging the hook-style wire landing guide onto the capstan member 120. In various embodiments, wire landing guide 140 may be of any appropriate shape, size, type, or configuration, whereby it may guide wire to an appropriate loading (or stacking) position or angle within the barrel. It is to be understood that the one or more mounting fasteners may comprise one or more screws, bolts, and/or any other type of fastener now known or future developed without departing from the scope of the invention described herein.

In various embodiments, positioning member 160 may include a motor 162, a drive member 164, one or more rails (or slides) 166, and/or one or more other components. In various embodiments, motor 162, drive member 164, one or more rails (or slides) 166, and/or one or more other components of positioning member 160 may be attached to frame 110. In some embodiments, one or more components of positioning member 160 may be operatively engaged with or in coordination with a turntable 200. A pseudo-helical mechanism may be operatively coupled with the turntable 200 and one or more rails 166, wherein the pseudo-helical mechanism positions the capstan member 120 relative to turntable and/or the one or more rails. The turntable and one or more rails may be adjustable relative to one another between an inner-most limit (or position) and an outer-most limit (or position).

In various embodiments, and as depicted in FIG. 3, positioning member 160 may be configured to radially (e.g., along an axis “R”) and axially (e.g., along an axis “A”) move capstan member 120 relative to a bottom surface of wire barrel 50. In various embodiments, capstan member 120 may be slidably movable with respect to inner bottom surface 55 of barrel between an inner-most position and an outer-most positions.

In various embodiments, positioning member 160 may include any suitable number of rails 166. For example, positioning member 160 may include one turntable and four linear rails that may be operatively engaged with motor 162. The positioning member 160 may be perpendicularly engaged with the motor 162 in geometry. In other embodiments, the positioning member 160 may be operatively engaged with the motor 162 differently in geometry. A pseudo-helical mechanism may be operatively coupled with the turntable 200 and one or more rails 166, wherein the pseudo-helical mechanism pseudo-helically positions the capstan member 120 relative to turntable 200 and/or the one or more rails 166. In various embodiments, drive member 164 may include any suitable type of mechanical device that translates rotational motion of the motor 162 to linear motion with little friction. For example, drive member 164 may include a ball screw and/or a servo cylinder to move capstan member 120.

In various embodiments, turntable 200 may be of any appropriate shape, size, type, or configuration, in which it may rotate a wire barrel to an appropriate loading (or packing) position. By way of a non-limiting example, the turntable 200 may rotate a wire barrel such as a 50 gallon barrel (e.g., having a height of 32 inches, an outer diameter of 23 inches, and a center tube diameter of 13 inches) or a 75 gallon barrel (e.g., having a height of 43 inches, an outer diameter of 23 inches, and a center tube diameter of 13 inches) to cause a wire to be laid within the barrel evenly and/or in the appropriate helical manner to prevent gaps or an uneven laying of the wires.

In various embodiments, a clamp 210 and/or one or more other components of wire barrel packing system 100 may be configured to securely transmit rotational energy to the wire barrel 50. For example, clamp 210 may be securely connected to the turntable 200 and selectively attach the wire barrel 50 to the turntable 200. In various embodiments, clamp 210 may be rigidly connected to a side of the wire barrel 50 via a selectively detachable connection. In some embodiments, clamp 210 may be configured to securely attach clamp 210 to the wire barrel 50 by any fastening configuration. For example, a bolt or rivet fastening configuration may be utilized on a side of the clamp 210 to receive wire barrel 50. For example, in some embodiments, clamp may be opened by external pulling cylinders and closed by spring loaded mechanism to avoid bringing air into the turntable. In other embodiments, clamp 210 may be a manual clamp to lock the wire barrel to the turntable.

In various embodiments, wire barrel packing system 100 may include a monitoring member 300 comprising one or more devices or sensors 305 configured to monitor the status of the process of loading a wire barrel and facilitate improved management of the process. In such embodiments, the one or more devices or sensors 305 of monitoring member 300 may be selectively attached to one or more components of wire barrel packing system 100 at a plurality of locations. In some embodiments, the devices and/or sensors 305 of monitoring member 300 may be selectively attached on the positioning member 160 to enable monitoring member 300 to effectively monitor the area surrounding the wire and detect, for example, a distance from an inner bottom surface 55 of barrel and/or other aspects of the wire, the barrel, and one or more other components of wire barrel packing system 100. For example, in some embodiments, the monitoring member 300 comprises one or more devices or sensors 305 configured to monitor a distance from an inner bottom surface 55 of wire barrel, in which the one or more devices or sensors 305 include a laser sensor. In other embodiments, wire barrel packing system 100 may further include one or more devices configured to deliver pre-programmed control operation(s) at a designated point.

FIG. 3 depicts a pictorial view of a pseudo-helical mechanism used in wire barrel packing system 100 of FIG. 2, according to one or more aspects described herein. In various embodiments, the one or more devices and/or sensors 305 may detect a rotating status when barrel makes a revolution. For example, as depicted in FIG. 3, when barrel completes a first full revolution (e.g., R11), positioning member 160 may be configured to make a first radial movement (e.g., r11) causing capstan member 120 to move towards an outer side of the barrel. When barrel completes a second full revolution (e.g., R12), positioning member 160 may be configured to make a second radial movement (e.g., r12) causing capstan member 120 to move further towards the outer side of the barrel. The radial movement may be set (or pre-programmed) and adjusted in a human machine interface (refer as “HMI” herein and after in this disclosure), in which radial movement (e.g., r11, r12 . . . r1n) is effectively a diameter of the wire being wound.

In various embodiments, any required movement(s) or pre-programmed control operation(s) may include one or more radial movements and/or axial movements using positioning member 160. For example, when barrel completes each revolution of the barrel, the radial movement continues to move capstan member 120 traversing outwardly until it reaches a pre-determined value (e.g., R1n programmed in HMI), which represents the outer-most winding point from center of the barrel. The presence of capstan member 120 at the outer-most winding point would indicate that capstan member 120 needs to move upwardly inside the wire barrel. As such, capstan member 120 may make axial movements (e.g., a1 or a2) at inner-most or outer-most winding points.

Once the capstan member 120 reaches the outer-most winding point, wire barrel packing system 100 may be configured to perform additional pre-programmed control operation(s). For example, wire barrel packing system 100 may be configured to change a direction of radial movement (e.g., from outward radial movements r1n to inward radial movement r21). Then, positioning member 160 may be configured to make additional radial movements (e.g., r22 . . . r2n) for each revolution of the barrel to allow capstan member 120 traversing towards inner side of the barrel until the capstan member 120 reaches to an inner-most limit (or position). In some embodiments, at various inner-most limits and outer-most limits, wire barrel packing system 100 may be configured to adjust a height of the capstan member 120 as the barrel fills with wires, so that the wire barrel packing system 100 may maintain a pre-determined distance (e.g., 2-3 inches) between a bottom of the wire landing guide 140 and wires loaded onto the wire barrel.

In some embodiments, one or more devices and/or sensors 305 of monitoring member 300 may be selectively attached on the wire barrel packing system 100 to enable monitoring member 300 to effectively monitor the area surrounding the wire barrel packing system 100 and detect, for example, a distance between a bottom of the wire landing guide 140 and wires loaded onto the wire barrel, and/or other aspects of the wire, the barrel, and one or more other components of wire barrel packing system 100. In other embodiments, one or more counters 307 (e.g., pre-programmed on HMI, or actual footage identified by HMI) may be mounted on the capstan member 120 to count footage produced.

FIG. 4 illustrates an example of a process 400 for loading wire into a barrel using a wire barrel packing system that prevents gaps and an uneven laying of the wire, according to one or more aspects described herein. The operations of process 400 presented below are intended to be illustrative and, as such, should not be viewed as limiting. In some implementations, process 400 may be accomplished with one or more additional operations not described, and/or without one or more of the operations discussed. In some implementations, two or more of the operations of process 400 may occur substantially simultaneously. The described operations may be accomplished using some or all of the components described in detail above with respect to wire barrel packing system 100.

In various embodiments, a capstan member may be raised and/or lowered so that a wire landing guide may establish a pre-determined distance (e.g., 2 inches) from an inner bottom surface of a barrel. In various embodiments, a barrel may be on rollers (mounted on the turntable) so it may roll off the turntable to non-driven rollers. A new wire barrel may be rolled into a winding position and then clamped. In an operation 402, process 400 may include positioning a capstan member over a wire barrel. In various embodiments, an operator may initiate a preparation cycle. For example, a positioning member may move the capstan member so that the wire landing guide may be positioned a predetermined distances (e.g., 2 inches) above the inner bottom 55 of barrel. Then, the positioning member may move the capstan member so that the capstan member is positioned a specified distance (e.g., 6.5 inches) from a center tube (e.g., from an axis “A” shown in FIG. 3) as described herein.

In an operation 404, process 400 may include feeding wire into the wire barrel using the capstan member. In various embodiments, an operator may initiate a winding cycle. Then, the capstan member may start pulling the wire and feed the wire into the wire landing guide. In various embodiments, the turntable may rotate the wire barrel, for example, as wire is fed into the wire barrel. A rotating speed of the turntable may be calculated as an equation, for example, where turntable speed is lines speed/(π×d)*K, where d is a distance from a center point of the barrel (i.e., from an axis “A” shown in FIG. 3) and K is a scaling factor set by the HMI.

In an operation 406, process 400 may include monitoring the feeding of wire into the barrel. In some embodiments, a status of the capstan member and the positioning member relative to a wire barrel may also be monitored. In some embodiments, the monitoring member may comprise one or more devices or sensors configured to monitor a status of the process surrounding a wire barrel, and provide improved wire management. In some embodiments, a rotating speed of the turntable may be further adjusted based on results from monitoring a status of capstan member and positioning member.

In an operation 408, process 400 may include determining whether any required movement(s) or pre-programmed control operation(s) at a designated point exist. For example, one or more devices or sensors may be used to monitor a status of the process surrounding a wire barrel and provide improved wire management. As another example, the wire barrel packing system may detect a distance between a bottom of the wire landing guide and wires loaded onto the wire barrel, and/or other aspects of the wire, the barrel, and one or more other components of wire barrel packing system. In some cases, one or more counters (e.g., pre-programmed on HMI, or actual footage identified by HMI) may count footage produced.

In an operation 410, process 400 may include performing pre-programmed finalizing operation(s) when the loading of wire into the barrel is completed. For example, wire barrel packing system may stop the capstan member and the turntable. In some cases, an operator may cut the wire and initiate finalizing operation(s), for example, by moving the capstan member to a home position. In other cases, operator may manually remove a wire barrel filled with wire. In various cases, operator may restart another cycle for any next production cycle.

In an operation 412, process 400 may include performing pre-programmed control operation(s) at a designated point. More specifically, in some embodiments, process 400 may automatically perform the pre-programmed control operations at the designated point according to a wire packing process to load the wire into the wire barrel to prevent gaps or an uneven laying of the at least one wire into the wire barrel. For example, as depicted in FIG. 3, when barrel completes a first full revolution (e.g., R11), a positioning member may make a first radial movement (e.g., r11) causing the capstan member to move towards an outer side of the barrel. As another example, wire barrel packing system 100 may be configured to change a direction of radial movement (e.g., from outward radial movements r1n to inward radial movement r21). Then, positioning member may be configured to make additional radial movements (e.g., r22) for each revolution of the barrel to allow the capstan member to traverse towards an inner side of the barrel until the capstan member reaches to an inner-most limit (or position).

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of the components set forth herein. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or being carried out in various ways. Variations and modifications of the foregoing are within the scope of the present invention. It should be understood that the invention disclosed and defined herein extends to all alternative combinations of two or more of the individual features mentioned or evident from the text and/or drawings. All of these different combinations constitute various alternative aspects of the present invention. The embodiments described herein explain the best modes known for practicing the invention and will enable others skilled in the art to utilize the invention.

While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined by this description.

Wire Barrel Packing System and Method of Use

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