AU694133B2

AU694133B2 - Installation for sharing a machine between at least two machines

Info

Publication number: AU694133B2
Application number: AU74145/94A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Bernard Joliey; Bernard Lemaire
Original assignee: Saint Eloi S A Atel
Current assignee: ATELIERS SAINT ELOI SA
Priority date: 1993-09-30
Filing date: 1994-09-21
Publication date: 1998-07-16
Anticipated expiration: 2014-09-21
Also published as: EP0646664A2; EP0646664A3; FR2710658A1; AU7414594A; FR2710658B1

Description

-1- Device for Sharing a Machine Between at Least Two Machines Technical Field The present invention relates to the coupling of machines in a production line and more particularly, but not exclusively, to machines which handle and treat wool.

Background of the Invention In the processing of wool, it is known to provide different conditioning processes for the wool, with the wool "rough roving" being delivered to the machines providing the condition by generally an equal number of feeding devices.

The machines which process the wool include winding mechanisms.

The feeder devices must be mounted in a precise position relative to the processing machines to avoid any unnecessary tension in the roving which may change the characteristics of the roving, particularly its weight per unit length. Still further, imprecise positioning may also result in tearing of the roving.

Positioning of the feeder devices is also difficult as they are relatively heavy and can weigh up to approximately 3 tonnes.

The feeder devices are equipped internally with their own drive mechanism and are adapted to provide power for the winding mechanisms of the wool processing machines. This can be achieved by a mechanical or electrical coupling between the feeder devices and their associated processing machines.

When a feeder device is rendered inoperable and requiring repair, it is a disadvantage that other feeder devices are not easily used in conjunction with the production machine associated with the feeder device requiring repair.

The above problems have been addressed by providing various means of supporting the feeder device such as frames and rails. Irequently, these rails are required to be recessed in the floor, which recesses often accumulate material and exacerbate the problems in respect of aligning the feeder device with its associated conditioning machine. Still further to this the incorporation of rails in an existing floor is relatively expensive.

Object of the Invention o 30 It is the object of the present invention to overcome or substantially ameliorate at least one of the above disadvantages.

Summary of the Invention There is disclosed herein a production assembly including: first and second machines having process or manufacturing functions held in a fixed relationship and both having guide means, the guide means of the machines being located in a common plane; N BT1 PVH0 IN LIBTTI01391 PVH d1 6 -2a third machine having a process or manufacturing function movable into engagement with the first machine or the second machine as selected, to operatively cooperate with the selected machine, the third machine having engaging means which engages with the guide means of the selected machine only when the engaging means are located close to the guide means; and lifting means to move the second machine so that the engaging means are aligned with the guide means so as to provide for engagement of the engaging means with the guide means.

Brief Description of the Drawings 1 o A preferred form of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 is a schematic top plan view of a pair of wool processing machines which are engaged with a movable feeding device; Figure 2 is a schematic side elevation of one of the processing machines and feeding device of Figure 1; and Figure 3 is a schematic plan view of an engaging and guiding assembly employed in the processing machines and feeding device of Figure 1.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment In the accompanying drawings there is schematically depicted a pair of wool t o 20 processing machines la and Ib, which would preferably perform different conditioning processes on wool delivered to the machines la and lb. Typically, the machines la and lb would each be provided with a winding mechanism which receives the wool to be Co processed. The wool is, in the form of "rough roving", delivered to the machines la and lb by means of a feeder device 2. The feeder device 2 is mobile and is provided with a drive mechanism 3 which propels the device 2 over a floor surface. The machines la and lb are provided with guide means 5a, which engage the device 2 and *may include a conduit guiding the "roving" from the feeding device 2 to the winding mechanism within the machine la or lb. Still further, the guide means 5a could be used to transfer driving motion from the device 2 to the machine la or lb as well as 30 means which would synchronise the device 2 in its operation with the machine la or lb, as required. More particularly, the device 2 may provide a mechanical drive system to transfer motion or alternatively may be provided with electrical coupling means to transfer electric energy to the machines la and lb.

The guide means 5a of the machines la and lb are located in a common plane

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IN .LIBOTT10 i 391 PVH The device 2 is provided with an engaging means 5b wlhich is adapted to cooperate with the guide means 5a only when the engaging means 5b are located close to the matching engaging means The engaging means 5a includ, two positioning surfaces 7 which are to engage the reference surfaces 6 to aid in aligning the device 2 with the selected machine la or lb. The surfaces 6 are spaced by a distance of approximately while the surfaces 7 are spaced by the approximate same distance. The surfaces 7 are provided by eccentrically mounted cams 8 which are rotated to bring the surfaces into engagement with the surfaces 6 as best seen in Figure 3.

The surfaces 6 are providecd by means of elongated members 9 having an end portion 9A provided with a ramp surface 10 which aids in engaging the surface 7 of the cam 8.

An abutment surface 11 is provided on the machine la while an abutment surface 12 is provided on the device 12, which surfaces 11 and 12 act as "crash stops".

When the surfaces 11 and 12 are engaged, the front face 13 of the machine 2 is correctly positioned with respect to the plane The rear end 14 of the device 2 is provided with a locking mechanism which includes a movable bolt which engages within the recess 16 to hold the device 2 in a position of engagement with the machine la.

i. 20 Extending between the members 9 is a plate 17a which further aids in aligning the device 2 with the selected machine la or lb.

The device 2 is provided with a frame 18 which includes a means for positioning the lifting means 30. The means for positioning the lifting means S cooperates with inflatable air cushion support means 4. The support means 4 when 1 25 pressurised aid in securing the device 2 in position and to locate the device 2 at the correct height relative to the machine la or lb to be engaged.

In a further embodiment, the frame 18 is provided with feet 19 which if required may be adjustable in height by means of a height adjustment means 21.

S "As mentioned previously, the device 2 may cooperate with the machines la S. 30 and lb by means of a mechanical and/or electrical coupling arrangement arranged at the interface 22.

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IN:\LIB-IO1391 :PVH

Claims

1. A production assembly including: first and second machines having process or manufacturing functions held in a fixed relationship and both having guide means, the guide means of the machines being located in a common plane; a third machine having a process or manufacturing function movable into engagement with the first machine or the second machine as selected, to operatively cooperate with the selected machine, the third machine having engaging means which engages with the guide means of the selected machine only when the engaging means 1o are located close to the guide means; and lifting means to move the third machine so that the engaging means are aligned with the guide means so as to provide for engagement of the engaging means with the guide means.

2. The production assembly of claim 1, wherein the guide means includes reference surfaces, and said first and second machines each include positioning surfaces which engage the reference surfaces to correctly locate the third machine relative to the first or second machine.

3. The production assembly of claim 2, wherein guide means includes at least one cam providing at least one of the positioning surfaces. 20

4. The machine of claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein each of the first and second machines is provided with an abutment surface, and the third machine is also provided with an abutment surface which engages the abutment surface of the first or second machine to aid in locating the third machine with respect to the selected first or second machine. 25

5. The assembly of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein said third machine is provided with a means of maintaining the position of the third machine with respect to the first or second machine.

6. The assembly of any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the third machine S°is provided with height adjustment means to adjust the height of the third machine with reference to the selected first or second machine.

7. The assembly of any one of claim 1, wherein the guide surfaces are provided by guide members having an extremity provided with a ramp surface to engage the reference surface.

8. The assembly of any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the third machine 35 is provided with inflatable air cushion support means to engage a surface upon which the third machine moves, to aid in positioning the third machine with respect to the selected first or second machine.

9. The assembly of any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the lifting means comprises an inflatable air cushion device. IN:\LIBT01391 :PVH A production assembly, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. DATED this Third Day of June 1998 Ateliers Saint Elol, S.A. Patent Attorneys for the Applicant/Nominated Person SPRUSON FERGUSON o 4 4* S.. S a 0* S S. I ~RA4,, (V O N LIBM0l1391 PVH Installation for Sharing a Machine Between at Least Two Machines ABSTRACT TO THE DISCLOSURE The invention concerns an installation r sharing a first machine between at least two machines which, in the product manufacturing chain, need to be adjacent to the first machine approximately along a joint plane including means to move the sole machine with firstly, each machine between which the sole machine is S zhared which has one fraction (5a) of a translation guiding T, device and secondly, the shared machine which bears an additional fraction (5b) of the guiding device It is characterized in that the means to move the sole machine include means for supporting said sole machine, and the guiding means have been designed so as to only act when the additional fractions (5a, 5b) are close to one another. (Figure 1)