Process and apparatus for high speed fabrication of copper wire

Claim 1

A process for continuous high speed fabrication of wire, comprising the steps of: (a) passing a continuous length of wire at a constant speed through a first die set to reduce the wire diameter to form an intermediate diameter wire; (b) applying a lubricant to the wire while it passes through the first die set; (c) wrapping the lubricated intermediate diameter wire on a capstan which rotates at a speed which is faster than said constant speed of the wire to form a first wrap of wire; (d) passing the lubricated wire of the first wrap at said constant speed from the capstan through an annealer; (e) annealing the intermediate diameter wire in a non-oxidizing atmosphere within the annealer; (f) quenching the annealed intermediate diameter wire; (g) wrapping the quenched annealed intermediate diameter wire on said capstan to form a second wrap of wire, the number of turns in the first and second wraps selected to maintain low tensile forces on the wire within the annealer and to prevent significant elongation of the wire during said step of annealing, wherein said capstan pulls the wire through the annealer; and (h) passing the wire of the second wrap at said constant speed from the capstan through a second die set to form the wire to a final diameter.