System and method for classifying wire

Abstract

A quantity of wire is associated with a number of interruptions that occurred during the production and/or subsequent processing of the wire. The number of interruptions is used to classify the wire as being of a particular quality and/or suitable for a particular task.

1 . A system for manufacturing wire from a material, the system comprising:
 a loading station for loading the material;   a drawing station for transforming the material into the wire through plastic deformation of the material;   an unloading station for unloading the wire onto a first storage device;   means for drawing the material from the loading station, through the drawing station, to the unloading station;   means for tracking a number of first interruptions in the drawing of the material through the stations; and   means for associating the number of first interruptions with the first storage device,   wherein each first interruption corresponds to an unintended change in speed of the drawing of the material through the stations.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising: a cleaning station for cleaning the material. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising: a plating station for depositing a layer of copper on the wire. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising: a coating station for applying a surface coating to the wire. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein tracking the number of first interruptions includes identifying where in the material each of the first interruptions occurs. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein associating the number of first interruptions with the first storage device includes applying corresponding indicia to at least one of an outer surface of the first storage device and an outer surface of a package enclosing the first storage device. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the indicia is printed on a label. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first storage device is one of a reel, drum, stem, and box. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a transfer station for transferring the wire from the first storage device to a second storage device;   means for tracking a number of second interruptions in the transfer of the wire from the first storage device to the second storage device; and   means for associating a sum of the number of first interruptions and the number of second interruptions with the second storage device,   wherein each second interruption corresponds to an unintended change in speed of the transferring of the wire from the first storage device to the second storage device.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein tracking the number of second interruptions includes identifying where in the wire each of the second interruptions occurs. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein associating the sum of the number of first interruptions and the number of second interruptions with the second storage device includes applying corresponding indicia to at least one of an outer surface of the second storage device and an outer surface of a package enclosing the second storage device. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the indicia is printed on a label. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the second storage device is one of a reel, drum, stem, and box. 
     
     
         14 . A system for manufacturing wire from a material, the system comprising:
 a loading station for loading the material;   a cleaning station for cleaning the material;   a drawing station for reducing a diameter of the material;   a plating station for depositing a layer of copper on the material;   a coating station for applying a surface coating to the material to complete formation of the wire;   an unloading station for unloading the wire onto a storage device;   at least one motor for drawing the material through each of the stations; and   logic for automatically tracking a number of interruptions in the drawing of the material from the loading station, through the cleaning station, drawing station, plating station and coating station, to the unloading station, and automatically associating the number of interruptions with the storage device,   wherein each interruption corresponds to an unintended change in speed of the drawing of the material through the stations.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the logic is operable to automatically track where in the material each of the interruptions occurs. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein associating the number of interruptions with the storage device includes applying corresponding indicia to at least one of an outer surface of the storage device and an outer surface of a package enclosing the storage device. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the indicia is printed on a label. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the storage device is one of a reel, drum, stem, and box. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the drawing station comprises at least one die, and wherein the material undergoes plastic deformation from being drawn through the at least one die. 
     
     
         20 . A system for manufacturing wire from a material, the system comprising:
 a loading station for loading the material;   a cleaning station for cleaning the material;   a drawing station for transforming the material into the wire through plastic deformation of the material;   a plating station for depositing a layer of copper on the wire;   a coating station for applying a surface coating to the wire;   an unloading station for unloading the wire onto a first storage device;   means for drawing the material from the loading station, through the cleaning station, drawing station, plating station, and coating station, to the unloading station;   means for tracking a number of first interruptions in the drawing of the material through the stations; and   means for associating the number of first interruptions with the first storage device,   wherein each first interruption corresponds to an unintended change in speed of the drawing of the material through the stations.