Bicc Public Limited Company

Vincent L Allard

Henry Gallard

Apparatus for winding cable on to a spool comprises a movable table (11) on which at least three spools may be located. The table is mounted substantially horizontally such that the spools may be located thereon with their longitudinal axes substantially vertically upright. The table is movable between three positions; a loading position (12) where an empty spool is loaded on to the table; a winding position (13) where a spool is rotated and cable (2) is wound on to the spool; and an unloading position (14) where a wound spool is removed from the table. There is also provided first lifting means (15) for loading a spool on to the table, second lifting means (16) for removing a spool from the table, means (30) for loading the cable on to a spool, means (38) for cutting the cable, and a programmable controller adapted to control the sequence of operations.

Winding apparatus

Cable is wound on to a spool (2) comprising a longitudinally extending barrel (3) and a flange (4) extending from the barrel at one end thereof. At an ejection station the spool (2) is separated from the wound cable to leave a coil of cable (1). A removable flange (5), of a larger diameter than the spool flange (4), is placed over the barrel of the spool prior to winding. Subsequent removal of the spool (2) leaves a coil of cable (1) resting on the flange (5). An ejection station for separating the spool (12) from the wound cable is also described.

Coil forming method

A station for testing one or more electric conductors (8) covered in insulating material (9) includes one or more contact probes (14) movable to pierce the insulation and contact the conductors (8). Additionally one or more contact pins (12), resiliently mounted in a mounting (11) are movable to engage and electrically connect with one free end of the exposed conductors (8). A voltage set up between the contact probes (14) and the one or more contact pins (12) provides an indication of whether the contact probes have made an electrical connection with their respective conductor. The probes (14) are circular with a circumferential cutting edge (15). They may conveniently be moved to pierce the insulating material (9) by rotation of their mounting (16) about the axis of the conductor under the action of a cam follower (17) on a cam profile (18).

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Staines, United Kingdom

Vincent L Allard