Method and Apparatus for Continuous Bulbing of Stranded Cable

Abstract

A method of forming a bulb in a cable bolt includes providing cable from a cable source, advancing the cable in a first direction, and forming a bulb in a portion of the cable while the portion of the cable is continuously advanced and while the cable is continuously provided from the cable source.

The invention claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of forming a bulb in a cable bolt, the method comprising:
 providing cable from a cable source;   advancing the cable in a first direction;   forming a bulb in a portion of the cable while the portion of the cable is continuously advanced and while the cable is continuously provided from the cable source.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the bulb is formed by moving a bulb forming mechanism along with the cable. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising cutting the cable to a preset length while the cable is continuously advanced by moving a cutting device along with the cable. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the cutting device has a first position and a second position spaced from the first position, the cutting device moving between the first and second positions while cutting the cable to the preset length. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the cable source comprises a spool having a length of cable, and wherein the cable is provided from an inner portion of the spool. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the bulb forming mechanism is movable between a first position and a second position spaced from the first position, the bulb forming mechanism moving from the first position to the second position while forming the bulb. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising spooling the cable after being cut to a preset length onto a spooler. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the bulb forming mechanism moves from the second position to the first position after forming the bulb. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising forming a plurality of bulbs in spaced apart portions of the cable. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the bulb forming mechanism comprises first and second clamps, the first clamp engaging the cable as the bulb forming mechanism moves along with the cable, the second clamp moving relative to the first clamp to form the bulb. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the cable is advanced via a drive mechanism. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein an entire portion of the cable extending from the cable source is continuously advanced until the cable is cut to the preset length. 
     
     
         13 . An apparatus for forming a bulb in a cable bolt, the apparatus comprising:
 a drive mechanism configured to continuously advance a length of cable; and   a bulb forming mechanism movable along a longitudinal axis defined by the length of the cable between a first position and a second position spaced from the first position, wherein the bulb forming apparatus is configured to form a bulb on a cable while moving along with the advancing cable.   
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , further comprising a cable source configured to provide a length of cable. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the length of cable extends to the drive mechanism and from the drive mechanism to the bulb forming mechanism. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , further comprising a cutting device configured to cut a length of cable to a preset length. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the cutting device is movable between a first position and a second position spaced from the first position. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the bulb forming mechanism comprises first and second clamps, the first clamp configured to engage a cable as the bulb forming mechanism moves along with the cable, the second clamp being movable relative to the first clamp to form a bulb on the cable. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the bulb forming mechanism comprises a motor to move the bulb forming mechanism between the first and second positions. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , further comprising a cable source configured to provide a length of cable, wherein the length of cable extends to the drive mechanism and from the drive mechanism to the bulb forming mechanism.