Retractable guide for core wires for making a flat multicore cable - to facilitate replacing individual core cable feeds when broken during extrusion sheathing

摘要

In a process for making flat multiple core cables by extruding twin convergent sheets of insulating matl. on to the upper and lower faces respectively, of a horizontal array of continuous core fibres entering calender rolls, the lateral spacing of the core cables is maintained by a mobile guide comb just upstream of the sheet/roll nips. Each core wire passes through a slot at the nose of the guide, which is tapered to approach between the convergent sheets until close to the nip. The guide can retract longitudinally to facilitate removal of the top cover and rapid replacement of any broken cable(s). Suitable for mfr. of cables with up to 100 core wires of 0.16-6 mm dia. in thermoplastic, thermosetting or elastomeric insulation. The calendar rolls may be profiles to provide a thin web between each pair of core wires. Allows one or more broken core wires to be replaced at an accessible and safe position, quickly enough to avoid disturbance of extruder conditions, while operating the guide close enough to the nip to maintain close alignment with the calender roll channel profiles.