Method and apparatus for winding wire rod

Abstract

An apparatus for winding wire rods which are fed in succession from a rolling mill along a wire path, comprising: a carriage which is movable, at one end of the wire path remote from the rolling mill, in a direction perpendicular to the wire path; plural wire winders for winding the wire rods, the wire winders being mounted on the carriage such that the wire winders are disposed in the direction of movement of the carriage; and a device for moving the carriage to position selected so that one of the wire winders is in its winding position. A winding method is also disclosed, which comprises: positioning one of the wire winders at its winding position and winding the wire rod as a first coil by this one wire winder; upon completion of winding of the wire rod as the first coil, positioning the above one wire winder to its non-winding position before the leading end of the next wire rod fed from the rolling mill reaches the end of the wire path, and positioning another wire winder in its winding position; and winding the next wire rod as a second coil by this another wire winder, while concurrently taking out the first coil from the previously operated wire winder.