U.S. patent number 3,681,906 [Application Number 05/135,335] was granted by the patent office on 1972-08-08 for method and apparatus for doffing full bobbins and donning tubes on ring spinning and ring twisting machines.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Rieter Machine Works Ltd.. Invention is credited to Ulrich Burgermeister, Carlo Gaggini, Arthur Wurmli.
United States Patent |
3,681,906 |
Burgermeister , et
al. |
August 8, 1972 |
METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DOFFING FULL BOBBINS AND DONNING TUBES ON
RING SPINNING AND RING TWISTING MACHINES
Abstract
A method of, and apparatus for, automatically doffing full
bobbins and donning empty tubes at textile machines, especially
ring spinning and ring twisting machines, wherein a support rail is
moved from a idle position into a gripping position for full
bobbins placed upon spindles. The full bobbins are gripped by means
of the support rail while it is in such gripping position, and then
the support rail is moved upwards so as to doff the full bobbins
from the spindles. The support rail with the doffed full bobbins is
moved substantially parallel to and away from the machine, each
point of the support rail moving along a predetermined path. The
support rail with the doffed full bobbins is lowered towards a
transporting mechanism extending along the textile machine, and the
full bobbins are substantially vertically deposited onto the
transporting mechanism. The transporting mechanism is placed in
motion along the machine, the support rail lifted, and the full
bobbins deposited lengthwise onto the transporting mechanism in the
direction of transport thereof. Empty tubes pre-arranged along the
machine are gripped by the support rail, the support rail with the
gripped empty tubes then is moved upwards and in a direction
substantially parallel and towards the machine, each point of the
support rail moving along a predetermined path, the empty tubes are
donned onto spindles; and following completion of the donning
operation the support rail is moved back into its idle
position.
Inventors: |
Burgermeister; Ulrich
(Winterthur, CH), Gaggini; Carlo (Elgg,
CH), Wurmli; Arthur (Winterthur, CH) |
Assignee: |
Rieter Machine Works Ltd.
(Winterthur, CH)
|
Family
ID: |
4300168 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/135,335 |
Filed: |
April 19, 1971 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
|
|
|
|
|
Apr 20, 1970 [CH] |
|
|
5840/70 |
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
57/274;
57/270 |
Current CPC
Class: |
D01H
9/04 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
D01H
9/02 (20060101); D01H 9/04 (20060101); D01h
009/04 () |
Field of
Search: |
;57/52-54,156 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Petrakes; John
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. In a method of automatically doffing full bobbins and donning
empty tubes at textile machines, especially ring spinning and ring
twisting machines, comprising the steps of:
a. moving a support rail from an idle position into a gripping
position for full bobbins placed upon spindles;
b. gripping the full bobbins by means of the support rail while in
said gripping position;
c. upwardly moving the support rail to doff the full bobbins from
the spindles;
d. moving the support rail with the doffed full bobbins
substantially parallel to and away from the machine, each point of
the support rail moving along a predetermined curved path;
e. lowering the support rail with the doffed full bobbins towards a
transporting mechanism extending along the textile machine;
f. substantially vertically depositing the full bobbins onto the
transporting mechanism;
g. placing the transporting mechanism into motion along the
machine, lifting the support rail, and depositing the full bobbins
lengthwise onto the transporting mechanism in the direction of
transport thereof during such time as the support rail is
lifted;
h. gripping by means of the support rail empty tubes which have
been pre-arranged along the machine;
i. moving the support rail with the gripped empty tubes upwards and
in a direction substantially parallel and towards the machine, each
point of the support rail moving along a predetermined curved
path;
j. donning the empty tubes onto spindles; and
k. following completion of the donning operation moving the support
rail back into its idle position.
2. In a method of automatically doffing full bobbins and donning
empty tubes at textile machines, especially ring spinning and ring
twisting machines, wherein a support rail equipped with gripping
elements and operatively associated with a group of spindles serves
to selectively transport the full bobbins and the empty tubes, the
support rail moving from an idle position to a gripping position
for the full bobbins placed on the spindles and at which gripping
position the full bobbins are gripped and doffed from the spindles
by an upward movement of the support rail and are pivoted about a
vertical axis associated with each full bobbin and are deposited
onto a full bobbin dump, and wherein the empty tubes transported by
the support rail are pivoted towards the machine about a vertical
axis associated with each empty tube and are donned onto the
spindles by a downward movement of the support rail, the
improvement comprising the steps of:
a. moving the support rail with the doffed full bobbins
substantially parallel to and away from the machine, each point of
the support rail moving along a path, which, as seen in a
projection into a substantially horizontal plane, is a
substantially circular curve, the center of which is a point of a
vertical axis associated with said point of the support rail;
b. lowering the support rail with the doffed full bobbins towards a
transporting mechanism extending along the textile machine;
c. substantially vertically depositing the full bobbins onto the
transporting mechanism;
d. placing the transporting mechanism into motion along the
machine, lifting the support rail, and depositing the full bobbins
lengthwise onto the transporting mechanism in the direction of
transport thereof during such time as the support rail is
lifted;
e. gripping by means of the support rail empty tubes which have
been pre-arranged along the machine;
f. moving the support rail with the gripped empty tubes upwards and
in a direction substantially parallel and towards the machine, each
point of the support rail moving in the manner set forth in step
(a);
g. donning the empty tubes onto spindles; and
h. following completion of the donning operation moving the support
rail back into its idle position.
3. The method as defined in claim 2, including the step of moving
the support rail from an idle position located beneath the spindles
in an upward direction and then parallel towards the machine, with
each point of the support rail moving along the path as set forth
in step (a), and then lowering the support rail towards the full
bobbins into its full bobbin-gripping position.
4. The method as defined in claim 2, further including the step of
moving the support rail from an idle position located above and in
front of the spindles in a direction substantially parallel and
towards the machine, each point of the support rail moving along
the path as specified in step (a), and then lowering the support
rail towards the full bobbins into its full bobbin-gripping
position.
5. The method as defined in claim 2, including the step of lowering
the support rail from an idle position located above the spindles
towards the full bobbins and into a full bobbin-gripping
position.
6. The method as defined in claim 2, further including the step of
gripping and holding the full bobbins and the empty tubes,
respectively, by means of one and the same gripping elements which
respectively grip such full bobbins and empty tubes over a certain
length of their respective upper portion.
7. The method as defined in claim 2, further including the step of
lowering the full bobbins towards the transporting mechanism in a
controlled manner such that a clearance is maintained above the
transporting mechanism which is smaller than the length of the
gripping elements gripping the full bobbins, then releasing the
full bobbins from the gripping elements so that such full bobbins
are deposited substantially vertically onto the surface of the
transporting mechanism as they drop thereon, and then placing into
motion the transporting mechanism.
8. The method as defined in claim 7, further including the steps of
initially placing into motion the transporting mechanism in a
direction opposite to the transporting direction, and then
subsequently placing into motion the transporting mechanism in a
direction corresponding to the transporting direction for the full
bobbins.
9. The method as defined in claim 2, further including the steps of
lowering the full bobbins downwardly towards the transporting
mechanism, releasing the full bobbins from the gripping elements of
the support rail, lifting the support rail through a distance which
is smaller than the gripping length of the gripping elements
thereof, and then placing into motion the transporting
mechanism.
10. The method as defined in claim 9, further including the step of
initially placing into motion the transporting mechanism in a
direction opposite to the transporting direction, and then placing
into motion the transporting mechanism in a direction corresponding
to the transporting direction for the full bobbins.
11. The method as defined in claim 2, wherein the parallel movement
of the support rail set forth in steps (a) and (f) is carried out
during a point of time which differs from the elevational movement
of the support rail set forth in steps (b) and (f).
12. The method as defined in claim 2, wherein the parallel movement
of the support rail set forth in steps (a) and (f) is carried out
conjointly with the elevational movement of the support rail as set
forth in steps (b) and (f).
13. The method as defined in claim 2, further including the step of
manually pre-arranging the empty tubes.
14. The method as defined in claim 2, further including the step of
upwardly moving the support rail following deposit of the full
bobbins onto the transporting mechanism, moving the upper tips of
the empty tubes pre-arranged along the machine at substantially
right angles with respect to the lengthwise axis of the machine and
into a position beneath the gripping elements of the support rail,
and then lowering the support rail towards the empty tubes.
15. The method as defined in claim 14, including the steps of
moving the upper tips of the full bobbins at substantially right
angles to the longitudinal axis of the support rail and into a
position beneath the gripping elements thereof.
16. The method as defined in claim 2, further including the steps
of upwardly moving the support rail following deposition of the
full bobbins onto the transporting mechanism and into a position
where such support rail is arranged above the pre-arranged empty
tubes, then moving the support rail in a direction substantially
parallel and towards the machine, each point of the support rail
moving along the curve set forth in step (a) and into a position
directly above and in substantial alignment with the empty tubes,
then lowering the support rail towards the empty tubes.
17. The method as defined in claim 2, wherein following step (g)
where the empty tubes are donned onto the spindles a pressure is
exerted upon the support rail to press the empty tubes onto the
spindles.
18. The method as defined in claim 2, wherein each point of the
support rail moves along the path during steps (a) and (f), the
corresponding curve of which in the horizontal plane is an arc of a
circle extending through an angle of at least 75.degree. but not
greater than 120.degree..
19. The method as defined in claim 18, wherein said circular arc
extends through an angle of approximately 90.degree..
20. The method as defined in claim 2, wherein each point of the
support rail moves along a substantially circular curve during
steps (a) and (f), which curve is part of a respective circle, the
radius of which is identical with the radii of the partial circles
of all other points of said support rail.
21. An apparatus for automatically doffing full bobbins and donning
empty tubes at textile machines equipped with one or more groups of
spindles, especially ring spinning and ring twisting machines,
comprising:
a. at least one support rail extending along the machine;
b. gripping elements provided for said support rail, said gripping
elements serving to selectively engage with full bobbins and empty
tubes for the respective doffing and donning thereof;
c. means operatively connected with said gripping elements for
operating said gripping elements;
d. means for rotatably suspending said support rail, said rotatably
suspending means incorporating pivoting arm means of invariable
length engaging with said support rail, elevationally displaceable
substantially vertically extending rod means with which said
pivoting arm means are operatively connected, said vertical rod
means having freely extending lower ends, and means for mounting
each said vertical rod means to be rotatable about an axis;
e. means cooperating with said vertical rod means for rotating said
vertical rod means about said axis and for substantially parallelly
displacing said support rail towards and away from the machine;
f. means providing a full bobbin dump for receiving full bobbins,
said last-mentioned means comprising at least one transporting
mechanism extending along the machine and capable of being driven
in both longitudinal directions thereof; and
g. a device for pre-arranging empty tubes, said device extending
along the machine in spaced relationship from said transporting
mechanism.
22. The apparatus as defined in claim 21, further including a
substantially vertically extending guide element provided for each
vertical rod means, each said vertical rod means being arranged to
be vertically movable within its associated guide element.
23. The apparatus as defined in claim 21, further including a
respective guide element within which each vertical rod means is
arranged to be vertically movable and rotatable.
24. The apparatus as defined in claim 21, further including a
respective guide element for each said vertical rod means, and a
rigid frame with which each said guide element is connected.
25. The apparatus as defined in claim 21, further including means
for elevationally displacing said vertical rod means, said
elevational displacing means including a cord with which each
vertical rod means is connected for raising and lowering such
associated vertical rod means.
26. The apparatus as defined in claim 25, further including a rail
member extending along the length of the machine above the machine,
each of said cords for all of the vertical rod means being
suspended from said rail member.
27. The apparatus as defined in claim 26, wherein said rail member
is supported by the machine.
28. The apparatus as defined in claim 25, further including a guide
cylinder within which is housed each of said vertical rod means,
each of said vertical rod means being provided with a piston
displaceably arranged within the associated guide cylinder, means
closing the upper end of each guide cylinder and equipped with an
opening for the throughpassage of the associated cord from which
the vertical rod means within such guide cylinder is suspended, and
means providing a source of pressurized air communicating with each
guide cylinder.
29. The apparatus as defined in claim 21, wherein said means for
rotating said vertical rod means comprises at least one cylinder
and piston arrangement, means for rotatably securing said cylinder
of said cylinder and piston arrangement to said support rail, said
piston of said cylinder and piston arrangement including a piston
rod rigidly connected with one of said pivoting arm means.
30. The apparatus as defined in claim 21, wherein said means for
rotating said vertical rod means comprise actuation lever means
arranged at the end faces of said support rail, said actuation
lever means being capable of being driven in opposite
directions.
31. The apparatus as defined in claim 21, further including a
respective rotatable guide element within which is arranged an
associated vertical rod means.
32. The apparatus as defined in claim 21, wherein each vertical rod
means is mounted to be rotatable about its central axis.
33. The apparatus as defined in claim 21, wherein each vertical rod
means is mounted to be rotatable about an axis which is offset from
its central axis.
34. The apparatus as defined in claim 21, wherein each vertical rod
means is mounted to be rotatable about its own axis through an
angle of at least 75.degree. and no greater than 120.degree..
35. The apparatus as defined in claim 34, wherein each vertical rod
means is mounted to be rotatable through an angle of
90.degree..
36. The apparatus as defined in claim 21, wherein said transporting
mechanism comprises an endless transporting belt, lateral guide
members for the full bobbins extending along and to both sides of
said transporting belt.
37. The apparatus as defined in claim 36, wherein an upper run of
said transporting belt is arranged within a substantially U-shaped
channel means.
38. The apparatus as defined in claim 37, wherein said upper run of
said transporting belt is disposed in close proximity to the bottom
of said channel means.
39. The apparatus as defined in claim 21, wherein said gripping
elements extend downwardly from said support rail over a length
sufficient to grip the upper portion of the full bobbins or empty
tubes respectively.
40. The apparatus as defined in claim 39, wherein said gripping
elements protrude from said support rail over a length sufficient
to grip both the inside and outside of the upper portion of the
full bobbins or empty tubes respectively.
41. The apparatus as defined in claim 21, wherein said
pre-arranging device for the empty tubes enables said empty tubes
to be arranged such that their upper tips can be moved
substantially at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the
support rail.
42. The apparatus as defined in claim 21, wherein said device for
pre-arranging the empty tubes comprises a rail member extending
along the machine beneath the spindles, said rail member being
provided with upwardly protruding pins for receiving the empty
tubes, said pins being arranged at a mutual spacing from one
another substantially corresponding to the spindle gauge.
43. The apparatus as defined in claim 21, further including a guide
element provided for each vertical rod means, each said guide
element being connected with a frame of the machine.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a new and improved method of, and
apparatus for, automatically doffing full bobbins and donning tubes
on ring spinning and ring twisting machines wherein a support rail
equipped with gripping elements provided for a group of spindles
for transporting the full bobbins and the tubes moves from an idle
position to a gripping position for the full bobbins placed on the
spindles, in which position the full bobbins are gripped and doffed
from the spindles by an upward movement of said support rail and
are pivoted about a vertical axis associated with each full bobbin
and deposited onto a full bobbin dump, and wherein the tubes
transported by said support rail are pivoted towards the machine
about a vertical axis associated with each tube and donned onto the
spindles by a downward movement of said support rail.
In a prior art method and apparatus of the general type mentioned
above the tubes are placed by hand into tube-holding elements of
the doffing device during the spinning cycle. These tube-holding
elements are arranged at a mutual distance on a support rail
extending along the machine. Each doffing element furthermore is
equipped on its side opposite the tube-holding elements with
gripping elements for gripping holding the full tubes, the doffing
element being rotatable about a vertical axis through 180.degree..
After doffing the full bobbins from the spindles all full bobbins
are simultaneously pivoted about the vertical axis through
180.degree. away from the machine by rotating the doffing elements
and all tubes placed on the holding elements are pivoted towards
the machine, so that these tubes are placed above the spindles. As
the support rail is subsequently lowered for donning the tubes the
full bobbins still held by the holding elements are deposited with
their lower ends onto the machine frame before the support rail has
reached its lowest position, and at the same time the tube holding
elements are released, and as the support rail reaches its lowest
position the full bobbins are gripped again and lifted as the
support rail moves up to its idle position. Subsequently the
doffing elements are again rotated through 180.degree. back into
the initial position, whereupon the full bobbins are released and
deposited onto a full bobbin dump arranged above the spindles and
made ready by tilting out.
This known method exhibits the disadvantage that the tubes must be
donned onto the spindles before the full bobbins can be deposited,
as the full bobbin dump can be readied only after the tubes are
donned, otherwise the tube passage path for donning the tubes onto
the spindles would be blocked by the full bobbin dump. After
lifting the support rail, upon completion of tube donning, the full
bobbins must be pivoted by rotating the doffing element back
through 180 degrees into a position above the full bobbin dump
which only just then can be readied. Thus, the full bobbins doffed
from the spindles must be carried along, held by the doffing
element, throughout all the subsequent steps of the method for
donning the tubes, and only then can be deposited. Not only must
each doffing element be controlled for the outward and inward
pivoting of the full bobbins and the tubes, but also the release or
loosening of the full bobbins for a short period of time during
donning of the tubes must be controlled. The doffed full bobbins
thus not only undergo complicated steps of the operational method,
but also apparatus of expensive design is needed for this. A
further disadvantage of the known method and apparatus is the
considerable space requirement above the machine. As the full
bobbin dump is arranged above the spindles the support rail must be
upwardly extended or lifted through a correspondingly great
distance. Also in this known method the deposited full bobbins
cannot be automatically removed from the machine as the tilt-out
motion of the full bobbin dump does not permit this. Furthermore,
in the known technique discussed above the full bobbins are moved
into the region of the anti-balloon rings usually installed during
donning of the tubes, and the tubes are brought into the region of
the anti-balloon rings while the full bobbins are doffed. Thus,
such anti-balloon rings must be moved out of such region by means
of an additional control mechanism. Such method and apparatus are
not only expensive but also, due to the complicated steps to be
effected consecutively, are susceptible to disturbances, thus
economically not feasible.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, there is still present in the art a real need for an
improved method of, and apparatus for, doffing full bobbins and
donning tubes onto ring spinning and ring twisting machines, which
are not associated with the aforementioned drawbacks of the prior
art techniques and equipment. Therefore, a primary object of the
present invention is to provide just such novel method and
apparatus for fulfilling the existing need in the art and
effectively overcoming the aforementioned drawbacks of the prior
art.
Still a further and more specific object of the present invention
is to provide a novel method of the type under consideration which
eliminates the disadvantages associated with the heretofore
discussed prior art method, and specifically, deals with a new and
improved method wherein all full bobbins doffed from the spindles
are deposited and carried away from the machine prior to donning of
the empty tubes.
Yet a further significant object of the present invention relates
to novel type apparatus for doffing full bobbins and donning tubes
on ring spinning and ring twisting machines embodying mechanism
enabling deposition of the doffed full bobbins prior to donning of
the tubes, and wherein the apparatus is designed and constructed in
such a fashion that it is extremely compact and requires a minimum
amount of space.
Yet a further significant object of the present invention relates
to a new and improved type of apparatus for doffing full bobbins
and donning tubes on ring spinning and ring twisting machines which
is relatively simple in construction, extremely reliable in
operation, not readily subject to breakdown, and requires a minimum
of servicing and maintenance.
Now, in order to implement these and still further objects of the
invention, which will become more readily apparent as the
description proceeds, the method aspects of this invention for
doffing full bobbins and donning tubes on ring spinning and ring
twisting machines, is generally manifested by the features
that:
a. the support rail with the doffed full bobbins is moved parallel
to, and away from, the machine, each point of the support rail
moving along a path which, as seen in a projection into a
horizontal plane, is a substantially circular curve, the center of
which is a point of a vertical axis corresponding to said point on
the support rail;
b. after lowering of the support rail the full bobbins are
deposited vertically onto a transporting mechanism extending along
the machine;
c. the transporting mechanism is set into motion along the machine
and the full bobbins are deposited lengthwise in the transporting
direction onto the transporting mechanism as the support rail is
lifted;
d. the tubes prearranged along the machine are gripped; and
e. the support rail with the gripped tubes is moved further up and
parallel towards the machine, each point of the support rail
pivoting in the manner described above, and after the donning of
the tubes is completed, the support rail is moved back into its
idle position.
As explained above, the invention is not only concerned with method
aspects but also with apparatus constructions for the
implementation of the aforedescribed inventive method. Generally
speaking, the apparatus construction of the invention embodies a
suspended support rail which extends along the textile machine, the
support rail being equipped with gripping elements for full bobbins
and tubes associated with a group of spindles provided at the
machine. Means for depositing full bobbins and means for
prearranging tubes to place such in a preparatory position are
located along the longitudinally extending side of the machine.
Automatically operating means serve to ensure for the proper up and
down movements of the vertically guided support rail and for
pivoting the gripping elements of the support rail about an axis
which extends vertically with respect to the lengthwise axis of the
support rail and associated with each gripping element. The
invention contemplates rotatably suspending the support rail upon
pivotable or pivoting arms, the length of which is invariable. The
pivoting arms are rigidly connected with up and down movable
vertical rods, the lower ends of these rods extending freely
downwards and the rods being rotatable about a given vertical axis.
The means or mechanism for moving the support rail up and down is
operatively connected with the vertical rods. Furthermore, the
means for pivoting the gripping elements incorporates mechan-ism
for rotating the vertical rods about such vertical axis and for
causing the support rail to move substantially parallelly away from
and towards the machine, as selectively desired. The invention also
contemplates that the full bobbin dump or deposit area is
constituted by a transport mechanism which extends along the
textile machine, this transport mechanism can be driven in both
longitudinal directions of the machine, while the tube prearranging
device serving to locate the empty tubes in a preparatory position
for donning onto the spindles extends along the textile machine and
is separated from the transporting mechanism of the full bobbin
dump.
The support rail is preferably moved upwards from its idle position
beneath the spindles, then is moved parallel in a direction towards
the machine, with each point of the support rail moving along the
path described above, and thereafter the support rail is lowered
onto the full bobbins into its gripping position for such bobbins.
The support rail may also be moved from an idle position above the
spindles into its gripping position for the full bobbins, in which
case then the support rail can be simply lowered towards the
spindles, or else moved from its idle position above the spindles
parallel to and in the direction of the machine and then lowered
towards the spindles. In order to retract the support rail back
into its idle position upon completion of the doffing and donning
operations it is only necessary, for instance, to carry out the
reverse sequence of operational steps and movements.
In accordance with preferred manifestations of the present
invention it is contemplated to move the support rail,
simultaneously during its vertical up and down movement, parallel
towards or away from the machine, or prior to or after performing
its vertical movement to displace such support rail parallel
towards and away from the machine.
Since the invention contemplates designing the length of the
pivoting arms such that they are invariable, in other words
constant, when the support rail carries out the first-described
movement considered above each point thereof moves preferably along
a helical curve, the projection into a horizontal plane, in other
words the horizontal projection of which is a circle extending
about a vertical axis associated with such point on the support
rail. When the support rail carries out the second type of movement
discussed above each point of the support rail preferably moves
along a circular curve about a vertical axis associated with the
point on the support rail. Preferably, each point of the support
rail is moved along a path or curve, which when projected into a
horizontal plane, forms an arc of a circle of, for instance, at
least 75.degree. and at most 120.degree., preferably
90.degree..
Now in order to grip the empty tubes the support rail is preferably
moved up after the full bobbins have been deposited upon the
transporting device or mechanism. The upper ends of the
pre-arranged empty tubes are moved beneath the gripping elements of
the support rail at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the
textile machine and the support rail is then lowered. However, it
is also possible to lift the support rail after the full bobbins
have been deposited, then to move such support rail parallel to the
machine in the manner discussed above and to such an extent that it
is then located above the pre-arranged empty tubes, whereafter such
support rail can then be lowered onto these tubes. In the last
mentioned situation the support arm together with the gripped empty
tubes must again be moved parallel to and away from the machine.
The particular choice of one or the other type of movement for
gripping the tubes largely depends upon the available space at the
machine needed for this operation.
In accordance with a particular embodiment of the inventive
apparatus there are provided guide elements for the vertical rods,
these guide elements, for instance, being fixedly connected with
the machine. The vertical rods are preferably suspended from the
machine frame upon cables or cords and are movable up and down, for
instance, through the action of such cables or cords. However,
these vertical rods may also be suspended, for instance, in any
other suitable manner from the machine frame or from any other
rigid frame and may be moved up and down by a rack and gear
arrangement, for instance. The vertical rods are preferably
rotatable about their respective vertical axis. However, the
vertical rods may be also eccentrically rotatable about a vertical
axis disposed externally of the axis of the vertical rod itself. In
this latter situation an additional parallel movement of the
support rail can be obtained apart from the parallel movement
generated by the pivoting arms.
The transport mechanism is preferably designed as an endless
transport band or belt located between lateral guide elements for
the full bobbins, these lateral guide elements extending along the
transport belt. It is preferable to provide side walls which extend
upwardly along the transport belt, these side walls ensuring that
the full bobbins released by the gripping elements are properly
guided during such time as these full bobbins are deposited, so
that such full bobbins are placed lengthwise in the transporting or
conveying direction and are not deposited transversely across the
transport belt.
The tube pre-arranging device can be constructed in the form of a
rail member which extends along the machine. This rail member is
preferably provided with upwardly protruding pins arranged at a
mutual spacing from one another corresponding to the spindle gauge.
The empty tubes are manually placed onto these pins during the
spinning cycle and, therefore, these tubes can be properly
pre-arranged in a preparatory position for the subsequent donning
operation.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention will be better understood and objects other than
those set forth above, will become apparent when consideration is
given to the following detailed description thereof. Such
description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:
FIG. 1 is a schematic partially broken side view of a ring spinning
machine equipped with a full bobbin-changing device;
FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the ring spinning
machine depicted in FIG. 1, taken substantially along the line
II--II thereof;
FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of a portion of the full
bobbin-changing device employed in the ring spinning machine
depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2;
FIGS. 4a, 4b, 4c and 4d are respective elevational views, taken
substantially along the line IV--IV of FIG. 2, and illustrating
different operational steps performed by a part of the full
bobbin-changing device;
FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing details of a
modified form of empty tube displacement device;
FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a further modified
version of empty tube displacement device;
FIG. 7 is a schematic top plan view of an alternative embodiment of
full bobbin-changing device which can be used in the arrangement of
FIGS. 1 to 3 inclusive;
FIG. 8 is a schematic cross-sectional view of details of an
alternative embodiment of the ring spinning machine depicted in
FIGS. 1 to 3; and
FIG. 9 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing details of still
a further alternative embodiment of ring spinning machine.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Describing now the drawings, in FIGS. 1 and 2 there is illustrated
an exemplary embodiment of inventive ring spinning machine 3 which
is equipped with a headstock 1 and spindle rails 2, at each side of
which there is arranged in a row a plurality of spindles 4. To
simplify the illustration in the drawings, only one side of the
textile machine, here shown as the ring spinning machine 3, has
been depicted. Empty tubes 5 are placed upon these spindles 4, and
a non-illustrated yarn is delivered from an associated drafting
arrangement 6 (FIG. 2) located above the spindles 4, this yarn then
being wound by means of the rings 7 arranged upon a ring rail 8
which moves up and down, into a bobbin 9.
As best seen by referring to FIG. 3, a support rail 10 of great
stability extends along each lengthwise extending side of the ring
spinning machine 3. As clearly shown by referring to FIG. 2, each
such support rail 10 is in the form of an angle member, and
specifically the profile of each such support rail 10 substantially
corresponds to the shape of an inverted L. Pin members 12 arranged
at a mutual spacing from one another corresponding to the spindle
gauge extend downwardly from the horizontal leg 11 of the
associated support rail 10 and are fixedly connected to such rail.
At the inside corner of the L-shaped support rail there is arranged
a pressure hose 13 which extends lengthwise of the support rail 10,
and when this pressure hose 11 is pressurized it bears against the
tubes 5, or in the absence of such tubes against the pins 12. The
pressure hose 13 and the pins 12 cooperate with one another to
provide gripping means or elements serving to grip the full bobbins
9 or the empty tubes 5, as the case may be, and as will be more
fully discussed hereinafter. The pressure hose 13 can be
selectively connected through the agency of a control valve 14, as
best seen by referring to FIG. 1, with a pressure source or with a
vacuum source, of which only the respective pressure line and
vacuum line have been indicated at 14a and 14b respectively.
Actually, the gripping elements constitute subject matter which has
been described in detail in the commonly assigned U.S. application,
Ser. No. 95,180, filed Dec. 4, 1970, and entitled: "APPARATUS FOR
CONJOINTLY DOFFING AND DONNING A PLURALITY OF BOBBINS OR TUBES
PLACED ON SPINDLES OF RING SPINNING AND RING TWISTING MACHINES", of
which also Ulrich Burgermeister and Carlo Gaggini are the inventors
of that copending application. The details of the gripping elements
will be considered herein to the extent necessary for fully
understanding the underlying concepts of this development, but
reference may of course be had to the aforementioned copending
application for further details. Although the described
construction of gripping elements has been found to be particularly
suitable for the support rail 10, it is to be distinctly
understood, however, that the support rail 10 can be equally well
equipped with any other suitable type of gripping elements.
Now, it will be seen that the entire support rail 10 is supported
at the ring spinning machine 3 by substantially vertically
extending rods 15 which can be moved up and down within guides 16,
the vertical rods 15 also being mounted so as to be rotatable about
a given respective lengthwise axis. The guides or guide elements 16
are supported by cross members 17 which extend downwardly from
columns 18 of the ring spinning machine 3, as best seen by
referring to FIG. 3. The upper ends 19 of the guide elements 16 are
connected by a rail member 20 which extends lengthwise and above
the sides of the ring spinning machine. The rods 15 are suspended
at cables or cords 21 which are guided over freely rotatable rolls
22 attached to the associated lengthwise extending rail member 20,
and these cables are connected with any suitable drive arrangement,
such as a conventional and therefore non-illustrated motor and
capstan drive arrangement, so that the rods 15 and thus the support
rail 10 can be reciprocated up and down. The rails 20 are supported
by cross-members 23 which, in turn, are carried by the columns
18.
Now, to the lower end of each vertical rod 15 there is attached a
pivotal or pivoting arm member 24, the outer end of each such arm
member 24 being pivotably or rotatably connected with the
associated support rail 10 via a bolt or pin 25. Each vertical rod
15 is rotated by means of a reversible pneumatically actuated
piston-cylinder drive 26, 28 incorporating a piston member 26
reciprocable within a drive cylinder 28. Piston member 26 is
equipped with a piston rod 27 which is connected to the associated
pivoting arm 24 while the cylinder 28 is rotatably connected to the
support rail 10 by a linkage means 29. Depending upon the length of
the textile machine a piston unit 26 may be provided for each
suspended vertical rod 15 or for a few such vertical rods 15 there
may be provided such piston unit 26. As will be explained fully
hereinafter, the cylinder-piston arrangement discussed above serves
to inwardly and outwardly rock the corresponding support rail
towards and away from the ring spinning machine 3.
The invention further contemplates mechanism which provides a dump
or deposit area for the full bobbins and in the embodiment under
consideration such is constituted by an open-ended channel 30 of
substantially U-shaped cross-sectional configuration which is
arranged below and in front of the associated spindle rail 2, as
best seen by referring to FIG. 2. Each such channel 30 will be seen
to be equipped with lateral upstanding walls 31 extending along the
sides of the ring spinning machine 3. At the bottom 32 of each such
channel 30 there is arranged a transporting or conveying belt 33
which can be driven in both lengthwise directions and which is
guided about deflecting or diverting rolls 34 and 35 provided at
the open ends of the U-shaped channel 30, so that a run of the
transport belt 33 extends back beneath the bottom 32 of such
channel 30. Further, it will be seen that at one end of the
open-ended channel 30 there is arranged a further channel 36 which
likewise has both of its face ends open. This further channel 36 is
arranged so that it extends upwardly away from the first mentioned
channel 30, and here also channel 36 is similarly provided with a
conveying or transporting belt 39 guided over rolls 37, only one of
which is visible in FIG. 1, such that a run of the conveying or
transporting belt 39 passes through and above the bottom or floor
38 of the further channel 36 while the other run of such
transporting belt 39 passes beneath the bottom 38 of this channel
36. The transporting belt 39 can be driven in a suitable manner in
the direction of the arrow A.
Additionally, it will be observed that the transporting belt 39 is
provided with suitable angled entrainment members 40 which protrude
upwardly away from the surface of the transporting belt 39 and are
arranged at the belt in such a manner as to be preferably mutually
offset with respect to one another. The purpose of the transport
belt 39 and the entrainment member 40 will be explained more fully
hereinafter, but at this point it may be mentioned that such serve
to convey away the full bobbins received from the full bobbin dump
channel arrangement 30.
Continuing, it will be recognized that the invention contemplates
providing a rail member 41 between each spindle rail 2 and the
associated channel 30, rail member 41 extending along and
lengthwise of the ring spinning machine 3 and being equipped with
pins 42 which protrude upwardly for the purpose of receiving the
empty tubes 5. Rail member 41 is advantageously supported by means
of at least two support members 43, only one of which is visible in
the drawings, and these support members are movable in the
direction of the double-headed arrow B of FIG. 2 so that the tube
prearranging rail member 41 can be moved at a right angle with
respect to the lengthwise axis of the machine and specifically away
from and towards the ring spinning machine 3.
Having now had the benefit of the foregoing description of the
general arrangement and construction of the inventive ring spinning
machine equipped with the apparatus for doffing full bobbins and
donning empty tubes, the method aspects of the invention will now
be described in conjunction with the arrangement of FIGS. 1 through
3 inclusive, and is as follows :
Assuming that full bobbins 9 are to be doffed from the ring
spinning machine 3, then the support rail 10 is moved from its
starting or idle position, for instance that position indicated in
FIG. 2 in broken or phantom lines, upwardly to such an extent that
the lower end of the downwardly protruding vertical leg 44 of the
associated support rail 10 is located above the spindles 4.
Suitable control means which have not been particularly illustrated
serve to actuate the piston member 26 by appropriately admitting a
pressurized fluid medium into the cylinder 28 in such a way that
the piston 26 moves in a direction out of the cylinder 28 so that
the support rail 10, in turn, is moved parallel to and towards the
ring spinning frame 3. This lateral movement of the support rail 10
continues until it reaches a plane extending vertically and
parallelly in the longitudinal direction of the ring spinning
machine 3 and determined by the rotational axis of the respective
spindles 4, in other words, until the gripping elements at the
support rail 10 are located above the spindles 4. This position
corresponds to the solid lined position of the support rail 10 as
shown in FIG. 2 and to the phantom or broken lined position of the
pivoting arms 24 indicated in FIG. 3.
Since, as shown in FIG. 1, the length L of the pivoting arms 24 is
invariable, in other words constant, the parallel movement of each
support rail 10 is carried out in such a manner that each point of
the support rail 10 is pivoted along a circular curve about a
vertical axis associated with this point on the support rail 10,
this vertical axis extending vertically with respect to the
longitudinal axis of the support rail 10. Furthermore, each
gripping pin 12 is likewise pivoted along a circular curve about a
vertical axis associated with each such pin 12. It will be
appreciated that the pivoting movement of all points on the
associated support rail 10 follows circles having radii of
identical length.
Thereafter, the support rail 10 is lowered by means of the motor
and capstan drive arrangement actuated by control means so that the
support rail 10 moves down to region of the spindles 4 and until
the pins 12 are inserted into the upper ends 45 of the full bobbins
9. Then the pressure hose 13 is pressurized so that it bears
against the upper portion of the associated tube which has not been
covered with yarn and against the conical upper part (not shown) of
the full bobbin 9, to thus press each bobbin 9 against the
associated pin 12 as described in detail in the aforementioned U.S.
patent application, Ser. No. 95,180. Now the support rail 10 is
moved upwards so that the full bobbins 9 are doffed from the
spindle 4, and specifically until the lower rim of each of the full
bobbins 9 is located above the associated spindle tip 50. Then, by
retracting the piston 26 back into the associated cylinder 28 and
activated by the conventional control means, the pivotal arms 24
are moved from the position indicated in broken lines in FIG. 3
into the solid lined position of FIG. 3, the vertical rods 15 being
correspondingly rotated and the entire support rail 10 again being
moved out of the previously discussed plane, with each point of the
support rail 10 being pivoted in the manner similarly discussed
above. As a result, the support rail 10 is moved parallel to and
away from the ring spinning machine and thus from the spindles 4.
Owing to this operation the full bobbins 9 are placed in a position
above the deposit channel 30 into which they are then deposited.
Now, for the specific purpose of depositing the full bobbins 9 the
support rail 10 is lowered until a lower rim 51 of each of the full
bobbins 9 is in close proximity to and above the surface of the
transporting belt 33, as best seen by referring to FIG. 4a, in
other words until there appears a small clearance C between the
lower rim 51 of each full bobbin 9 and the upper run of the
transporting belt 33. Then the full bobbins 9 are released by the
gripping elements 12, 13 and dropped vertically onto the surface of
the conveying or transporting belt 33 inasmuch as the gripper pins
12 are still partially inserted into the corresponding upper
portions 45 of the full bobbins 9 and therefore serve to vertically
guide such full bobbins onto the surface of the transporting belt
33. This condition has been depicted in FIG. 4b. In order to ensure
that the full bobbins 9 are deposited freely and vertically onto
the surface of the transporting belt 33 the small clearance C (FIG.
4a) between the lower rim 51 of each full bobbin 9 and the upper
run of the transporting belt 33 is preferably chosen to be smaller
than the length D (FIG. 4a) of the pins 12 inserted into the upper
portions 45 of the full bobbins 9. Depositing the full bobbins 9
onto the transporting belt 33 can also be undertaken in such a way
that the support rail 10 with the full bobbins 9 is lowered until
the full bobbins 9 touch the transporting belt 33. Then the full
bobbins 9 can be released from the gripping elements 12, 13 and the
supporting rail 10 is moved up to such an extent that the pins 12
still guide the full bobbins 9 which are now freely and vertically
deposited upon the surface of the transporting belt 33, in other
words, the pins 12 still prevent tilting of the full bobbins which
have been deposited onto the surface of the transporting belt 33.
Also, in this last-explained situation the lift height through
which the support rail 10 is raised is, for instance, also always
chosen to be smaller than the length D of the gripper pins 12 as
explained above.
Now, after the full bobbins 9 are freely deposited in one or the
other manner as considered above onto the surface of the transport
belt 33, this transport or conveying belt 33, as best seen by
referring to FIG. 4c, is then initially moved somewhat in the
direction of the arrow E so that the full bobbins 9 are still held
by the gripper pins 12 but in an inclined position, with the upper
bobbin tips 45 each being directed away from the just considered
movement direction E. Now the support rail 10 is moved upwards so
that the pins 12 move out of the tips 45 of the full bobbins 9, the
full bobbins 9 then dropping onto the transporting belt 33. By
virtue of the guiding action afforded by the side walls 31 of the
deposit channel 30 and owing to the inclination of the full bobbins
which has been established prior to the time that the full bobbins
are released from the gripper pins 12 and deposited in overlapping
roof-tile fashion upon the transporting belt 33, all the bobbin
tips 45 are caused to point in the direction of the arrow F (FIG.
4d) which represents a subsequently started transport movement for
the transporting belt 33. The full bobbins 9 which have been
deposited onto the transporting belt 33 can also be guided, instead
of using the substantially U-shaped channel and its side walls 31,
for instance by one or more guide rods extending along the
transporting belt 33, these guide rods being arranged laterally of
and at a height above the transporting belt 33 suitable for guiding
the full bobbins. Thereafter, the transporting belt 33 starts
moving in the direction of the arrow F, thus conveying the full
bobbins 9 towards the transporting belt 39 running in the channel
36, the full bobbins 9 then being engaged by the transporting belt
39 of FIG. 1. The leading or frontmost full bobbin 9, viewed in the
direction of the arrow F, is entrained by one or more of the
entrainment members 40 of the transporting or conveying belt 39
and, thus, is pulled away from below the subsequent full bobbin 9,
each full bobbin 9 being successively entrained one after the other
by the further transporting belt 39.
Depositing the full bobbins 9 with their bobbin tips 45 oriented in
the conveying direction F and with these bobbin tips directed away
from the surface of the transporting belt 33 renders possible an
oriented deposition of the bobbins upon the transporting belt 33
and preferably allows for a trouble-free takeover of these bobbins
by the transporting belt 39 at the end of the transporting or
conveying belt 33. On the other hand, if the full bobbins 9 are
deposited, for instance, in random fashion upon the surface of the
transporting belt 33, then these bobbins cannot be positively
conveyed without disturbances by the transporting belt 33, and
furthermore, there is not ensured for a proper transfer of the
bobbins from the transporting belt 33 to the transporting belt 39.
Furthermore, if the full bobbins 9 are deposited, for instance, in
a controlled arrangement, but with their lower ends 51, however,
deposited onto the surface of the transport band 33 so as to be
leading and facing the transport band 33 in the conveying direction
F, then the full bobbins 9 cannot be transferred without
disturbance from the end of the transport or transporting belt 33
to the transporting or conveying belt 39. In this case what really
happens is that the full bobbins tend to slide back and topple over
the carrier or entrainment members 40 of the transporting belt 39
and back into the channel 30, thus no longer can be carried away by
the entrainment members 40. Such a damming-up or build-up of full
bobbins 9 can result in a blockage of the delivery end of the
transporting belt 33 such that further passage of bobbins is
interfered with. Therefore, deposition of the full bobbins 9 after
lifting the support rail 10 in the manner described in accordance
with FIGS. 4c and 4 d is most preferred.
Lifting of the support rail 10 during deposition of the full
bobbins 9 upon the transporting belt 33 as explained above is
carried out to such an elevational height that the lower ends of
the pins 12 are located above the tips 52 (FIG. 2) of the empty
tubes 5 pre-arranged manually upon the pins 42 at the rail member
41. Then the support rails 43 are moved away from the machine to
such an extent that the empty tubes 5 and their tips 52 are located
vertically beneath the gripping elements 12, 13 of the associated
support rail 10, this support rail then being lowered. Thereafter,
the support rail 10 with the tubes thus gripped by the gripping
elements 12, 13 is moved upwards and parallel into the plane
defined by the axes of the spindles 4 of the associated spindle
rail 2. Then by lowering the support rail 10 the empty tubes 5 are
now donned onto the spindles 4, and if needed additional weighting
can be applied. After lifting the support rail 10 and again moving
it parallel out of the aforementioned plane defined by the axes of
the spindles 4, each point of such support rail 10 is again pivoted
in the manner discussed heretofore, that is, in a direction
parallel and away from the machine, the support rail 10
subsequently being lowered into its idle or starting position.
FIG. 5 illustrates a modified embodiment of the invention wherein,
instead of using the empty tube-prearranging rail 41 depicted in
FIG. 2, there is employed a shaft member 53 which is arranged along
the machine, which for purposes of preserving clarity in the
showing of FIG. 5 has not been particularly shown therein. This
shaft member 53 is provided at its surface with pins 54 for
receiving the empty tubes 55. Shaft 53 is rotatable about its axis
56 in both directions of rotation as indicated by the arrows G and
H respectively. During a spinning cycle the empty tubes are, for
instance, placed onto the tube receiving pins 54 and, after a
support rail 57 equipped with the downwardly protruding pins 58 and
with the pressure hose 59 serving as the gripping elements, similar
to the construction of support rail 10 considered above in
conjunction with FIGS. 1 to 3 inclusive, has been lifted to an
appropriate height following completion of deposition of the full
bobbins as heretofore described in conjunction with FIGS. 4a
through 4d, the shaft 53 is rotated in the direction of arrow G.
Hence, the tip 60 of each tube is thus moved substantially at right
angles to the lengthwise axis of the textile machine and
specifically into a position beneath the gripping elements 58, 59
of the associated support rail 57, as indicated in broken or
phantom lines for the tube 55 of FIG. 5.
A further modification of the equipment insofar as a possible
constructional form of tube-prearranging mechanism is concerned has
been disclosed in conjunction with FIG. 6. There it is possible to
arrange the empty tubes 61 upon pins 62 provided at a rail member
63 extending along a ring spinning machine which has not been
particularly shown in FIG. 6. The rail member 63 can be moved
through the action of supporting rods or tubes 64, only one of
which has been shown in FIG. 6, parallel along a plane inclined
with respect to a horizontal plane K and in the direction of the
double-headed arrow L.sub.1. The tips 61' of the tubes 61, here
also only one such tube 61 being shown, thus are moved at right
angles to the lengthwise axis of the textile machine and
specifically into a position beneath the gripping elements 65 and
66, namely the pins and pressure hose, of the associated support
rail 68.
Turning now to FIG. 7, there is depicted therein an embodiment of a
drive arrangement for rotating for instance the rods 15 and
therefore carrying out the previously discussed parallel placement
of the support rail 10 of FIGS. 1 to 3. Here the support rail has
been referenced by numeral 70 and is similarly provided with the
gripping elements in the form of the pressure hose and gripper pins
for the full bobbins and empty tubes. To preserve clarity in
illustration these gripping elements have not been particularly
shown in FIG. 7. It will, however, be seen that the end faces 71
and 72 of the support rail 70 are provided with the support members
73 and 74, at each of which there is mounted to be freely rotatable
a respective roller 75 and 76, as shown. Support rail 70 is
pivotably or rotatably linked by means of the bolt members 77 and
77' with the pivot arms 78 and 78' respectively. The pivot or
pivoting arms 78 and 78' are arranged at rotatable rods 79 and 79'
respectively, which, in turn, are suspended along a lengthwise
extending side of the ring spinning machine, for instance in the
manner discussed above in conjunction with FIGS. 1 to 3. A
respective actuation lever member 80 and 81 bears against the
associated rollers 75 and 76 respectively, actuation levers 80 and
81 being mounted to be pivotable about the associated shafts 82 and
83 respectively. Further, each actuation lever member 80 and 81
will be seen to be equipped with an associated slide or roll
surface 84 and 85 upon which can roll the associated roller members
75 and 76 respectively. Actuation lever 80 can be positively driven
in the direction of the arrow M and serves for the parallel
displacement of the support rail 70 away from the ring spinning
machine. Thus, the points of the support rail 70 represented, for
instance, by the centers Z and Z' of the corresponding bolts or
pins 77 and 77', respectively, are moved along a circular path or
curve K.sub.B and K'.sub.B respectively, about the respective
vertically extending central axes Z.sub.A and Z'.sub.A of the rods
79 and 79' respectively. The centers Z and Z' and therefore also
each point of the support rail 70 are moved along a circular path
or arc, which in the case of simultaneously up and down movement of
the support rods 79 and 79' and parallel displacement of the
support rail 70, and with the circular arc projected into a
horizontal plane, will be seen to constitute a circular arc of at
least 75.degree. and at most 120.degree., but preferably through an
arc of about 90.degree.. While the actuation lever 80 can be
positively displaced in the direction of the arrow M, in other
words from the phantom lined position into the full lined position
of FIG. 7, the other actuation lever 81 can be displaced positively
in the direction of the arrow N, in other words from the full lined
position into the phantomed lined position of FIG. 7, and therefore
is utilized for displacing the support rail 70 parallel towards the
ring spinning machine and into the position of the support rail 70
shown in broken lines in FIG. 7. During the last-mentioned movement
of the support rail 70 the actuation levers 80 and 81 assume the
pivoted positions indicated in broken or phantom lines in FIG. 7
with rollers 75 and 76 rolling along the cam or rolling faces 84
and 85 of the actuation levers 80 and 81 respectively.
In the modified version of equipment depicted in FIG. 8, wherein
the same reference characters have again generally been employed
for the same components depicted in the arrangement of FIG. 2, the
cross members 23 of the machine also serve to support the creel 90
for the bobbins 91. The guide members 16 depicted in the embodiment
of FIGS. 1 to 3 and having open upper ends can here also be
replaced in the arrangement of FIG. 8 by guide means 92 in the form
of a cylinder receiving an associated support rod 94, the upper end
of which is formed as a piston member 93 reciprocable within the
guide cylinder 92. The upper end of the guide element 92 is closed
and is equipped with an opening for receiving the cable or cord 21.
Additionally, guide member 92 is provided with a lateral connection
96 communicating with any suitable and therefore non-illustrated
pressure source, such as a source of compressed air. By generating
a pressure within the piston chamber 97 the empty tube can be
pressed onto the associated spindle during such time as it is
donned. To achieve this purpose the throughpassage opening 95 is
constructed in such a way that it sealingly engages and surrounds
the throughpassing cord or cable 21. Moreover, the cross-section of
the cord 21 is chosen preferably to be of circular or round
configuration and is advantageously provided, for example, with a
sheave of plastic material so that the desired sealing of the
piston chamber 97 is guaranteed.
Finally, the mechanism serving to rotate the vertical support rods
as contemplated by the present invention and thus for carrying out
the desired parallel movement of the associated support rail can be
designed in a different way from that heretofore described, and as
specifically shown in the arrangement of FIG. 9. There the support
rail 100 provided with the gripper pins 101 and with the pressure
hose 102, serving as the gripping elements for the full bobbins and
the empty tubes, both of which have not been here shown in this
Figure but similar to what has been discussed above, is rotatably
suspended from the pivoting arm members 103 by means of pins 104.
Here also to preserve clarity in illustration only one such
pivoting arm 103 and only one such pin 104 have been shown in FIG.
9. Pivoting arm 103 is rigidly attached to a vertical support rod
105 which is guided to be movable elevationally, in other words up
and down within the guide cylinder 106 provided for the upper part
of the vertical support rod 105 which is designed in the form of a
piston member 107. A groove 108 extends the length of the vertical
support rod 105, and a cam member 110 arranged at the lower end 109
of the guide member or guide cylinder 106 protrudes into groove 108
in such a fashion that there is positively prevented any rotation
of the vertical rod 105 which is surrounded and guided by the lower
end 109 of the guide cylinder 106. The upper end of this guide
cylinder 106 is closed by an upper cover 111, this cover 111 being
provided with a sealed opening of, for instance, the type discussed
above in conjunction with FIG. 8, and serving to receive a cord or
cable 113 from which the vertical support rod 105 is suspended so
that it can be moved elevationally up and down together with the
cord or cable 113.
Continuing, in this embodiment it will be seen that a connection
nozzle or conduit 119 connected to a suitable and therefore
non-illustrated source of pressurized fluid medium, such as
compressed air, merges with the piston chamber 115 of the guide
cylinder 106, which chamber 115 is located between the upper face
of the piston member 107 and the confronting top cover 111. In this
way, pressure can be exerted onto the top face of the piston member
107 of the vertical support rod 105 and the tubes can be pressed
onto the associated spindles during the tube donning operation. The
cable or cord 113 is placed upon a suitable roller 116 which is
supported so as to be freely rotatable and connected with the rail
member 117 extending above the ring spinning machine 120. The
driving cable or cord 113 can be operatively connected with any
suitable drive, such as for instance the previously considered
motor and capstan drive arrangement serving to raise and lower the
vertical rod 105 and thus also to carry out corresponding movements
at the supporting or support rail 100. The upper situated rail
member 117 is supported by the cross member 118 which, in turn, is
attached to a column 119 arranged at the ring spinning machine 120.
This cross member 118 also here serves to support the bobbin creel
121. In the arrangement under consideration it will be observed
that the guide cylinder 106 is rotatably suspended at a support 123
through the agency of rings 122 arranged along its outer
circumference, support 123 being connected via a cross member 124
with the column 119. The end wall or cover 111 carries a gear 127
which is arranged coaxially with respect to the guide member 106,
gear 127 meshing with a gear rack 128 extending lengthwise of the
machine and which gear rack can be moved in both longitudinal
directions so that the meshing gear 127 and thus the guide cylinder
106 and the vertical rod 105 can be appropriately rotated.
Since the support rail for the gripping elements for the full
bobbins and empty tubes is suspended along the lengthwise extending
sides of the textile machine by means of columns, the actual
operation of the machine is facilitated and cleaning of the
underwinding crowns can be performed without interference.
Furthermore, pre-arranging the tubes into a preparatory position
onto the tube-prearranging device is similarly facilitated by
virtue of the arrangement of the support rail. It is possible to
move each support rail at any time up and down into any desired
position so that all parts, especially those in front of the
machine, are readily accessible when needed. Furthermore, parallel
movement of the entire support rail, complete with all of the
gripping elements for transporting the full bobbins or empty tubes
respectively, away from and towards the machine, enables a much
more simple design than would otherwise be needed in the case of
carrying out an individual control or rotation, respectively, of
the individual gripping devices associated with each spindle.
Additionally, arranging the tubes in their preparatory position to
be seized for the donning operation is preferably undertaken
manually, since this allows the tubes to be simultaneously
inspected to ensure that only clean and undamaged tubes will be
used. Furthermore, pre-arranging the tubes manually, as carried out
in accordance with a particular manifestation of the inventive
method, enables simple and reliable distribution of the tubes. A
further advantage of the inventive method is constituted by the
fact that, for instance, the full bobbins can be deposited quite
reliably onto a small transporting belt which is devoid of pins. It
will be understood and quite readily appreciated that transporting
full bobbins which have been deposited, for instance, upon pins
arranged at a transporting belt or chain tends to cause
disturbances, since the full bobbins cannot always be centrally
placed onto the pins of the transporting belt by the action of a
support rail. Thus, by depositing the full bobbins, as contemplated
by the invention, onto a small transporting belt which is not
equipped with pins, it is possible to positively and reliably avoid
any uncontrolled or random bobbin arrangement.
While there is shown and described present preferred embodiments of
the invention, it is to be distinctly understood that the invention
is not limited thereto but may be otherwise variously embodied and
practiced within the scope of the following claims.
* * * * *