The Boeing Company

Donald W Spencer

Richard J Buckwitz

A system for automatically coiling, cutting, and tying wires. The system (50) includes a plurality of wire reels (52) from which a measured length of a selected wire (114) is coiled at a coiling assembly (60). Each of the plurality of wires (54) are arranged in spaced-apart planar array across a wire select assembly (56). A control (82) selects one of the wires for coiling based upon a programmed work schedule. The end selected wire is drawn from a sensor assembly (88) on the wire select assembly by a wire feed assembly (58) and transferred to the coiling assembly. The coiling assembly winds the selected wire into a coil (402), at either a seven- or ten-inch (inside) diameter. Pinch marks previously applied to the wire or a length sensor (122) determine when a required length of the wire has been coiled. The coiled wire is then lifted from the coiling assembly by a pick and place assembly (66) and moved to one of two wire tying machines (61/62), where a tie is applied to the coiled wire so that it can be stacked on a pallet (400). A conveyor (70) conveys the pallets to an operator workstation (72) where the coiled wires are assembled into wire groups needed to make wire bundles.

Automatic wire cut, coil, and tie system

A safety communications system for personel employed in hazardous areas is responsive to motion sensing, as well as to worker initiated check-in signals, for registering an alarm at a central station after an absence of input for a predetermined time period. Confirmation of check-in and emergency transmission is also provided to the worker as assurance of system operation and to provide a local alarm to guide rescue efforts.

Communication system for hazardous areas

A method and apparatus for creating an identification sleeve on a thin, elongate object (35, 67, 113), such as a wire, pipe or ring, is disclosed. A printer (15, 65, 91) prints identification indicia on a strip of ultrasonically weldable heat shrinkable material (13, 63, 93). The strip is cut into flat pieces (13A, 63A, 93A), each of which contain identification indicia in a predetermined location, preferably at the center of the piece. The pieces are wrapped around the elongate object to be identified such that the indicia overlies the object and the longitudinal axis of the indicia lies generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the object. The pieces (13A, 63A, 93A) are wrapped around the object such that the pieces take on a U-shaped configuration. The outwardly extending legs of the U-shaped pieces are ultrasonically welded together adjacent to the object and the excess portion of the legs are cut away. Then the thusly formed sleeve is positioned by sliding it along the object. After being positioned, the sleeve is heated, resulting in the sleeve material shrinking until it tightly grips the object.

Growing community of inventors

Monroe, WA, United States of America

Donald W Spencer