EP1112954B1 - Machine and method for knot-tying, labelling and palletizing bobbins at the exit of a bobbin producing machine - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to the field of the textile industry, in particular the processing of spools of yarn at the output of winders or all other machines producing spools of thread, and machine for knotting, labeling and palletizing reels at the exit of such machines.

The subject of the invention is also a method implemented by such a machine.

Currently, the coils produced on winders or exit from other textile machines generally undergo different successive manual knotting operations, sticking a label distinctive and palletizing before shipment or transfer to another machine or other workstation. So these operations can be performed by a single operator who performs these operations successively.

However, such a procedure has the drawback of depend entirely on the operator's execution speed, so that the yield is relatively low. Therefore, it is possible, to increase the speed of execution, i.e. removal of the coils and processing of these, to increase the number of operators. However, such increase in the number of operators leads to an increase corresponding labor costs.

To overcome these drawbacks, it has been proposed different automatic knotting machines arranged at the outlet of the winders or other machines producing reels, these knotting machines automatic using a knotting needle provided with its end of an eye and penetrating the end of the coil to grip the end of the trolling wire and pull it, after a 90 ° rotation on its axis longitudinal, across said end of the coil. As a result, the thread of train is held by its end in the winding of the coil wire and can be released by a simple pull during use higher.

In such an embodiment, however, it is necessary to make the knotting needle perform a relatively complex course, which requires relatively expensive installation.

Regarding the labeling following this operation of knotting, this can, if necessary, also be carried out on a separate station, a robot then possibly taking up the coils to arrange them on a pallet.

These known embodiments of processing the coils with the output from winders or other machines producing reels allow, however, not to perform these different operations quickly, in a limited space and with a minimum of staff.

We also know, from DE-A-2 408 880, a device for loading of an overhead conveyor. This device cooperates with a carriage reel transport comprising turntables forming simple stores for storing said reels on rods. Each of these rods allows the storage of several coils one on the other in position vertical, this, however, without any other holding of the coils, for example in order to allow them to rotate.

The trays carrying the rods are rotatable through lateral friction drive means, this only to allow the presentation of the coils under the automated device for loading the overhead conveyor. This automated device is a data entry robot and feeding the coils but actually consists of a system automatic unstacking of the reels of the store rods and loading of these coils on nacelles integral with a conveyor air.

This document describes only a simple transfer function to from a static storage store to a conveyor for a further processing of the coils, the device itself not performing any processing of said coils.

Furthermore, DE-A-3 630 537 describes a turntable or a cross with vertical axis comprising studs for centering coils. These studs do not maintain the coils, i.e. do not allow clamping action of the latter. In fact, the turntable according to this document is not intended for any processing that may result in modification of the characteristics of the coils, but only constitutes a quality control and sorting station. This device allows a control of the weight and shape of the reels for sorting at the exit of the trays, i.e. ejection of non-conforming coils and loading a conveyor for the coils declared compliant.

Finally, we also know, from DE-A-37 25 889, a set comprising a rotary table motorized along two axes and ensuring simply the transfer and marriage of two independent coils from conveyor belts to air transport. The marriage consists in knotting the trolling wire of a reel on the reserve wire from another coil.

The device described in this last document is similar to a preparation station for further processing of the coils and is, in fact, inserted into a production line. This device simply forms a means of loading two coils connected by their ends respective on an overhead conveyor.

The object of the present invention is to overcome these drawbacks by proposing a machine making it possible to treat coils entirely in output of winders or other machines producing reels while not not requiring a fixed operator.

To this end, the invention relates to a machine as defined in the claim

The invention also relates to a method for processing coils at the exit of winders or other machines, which consists essentially to position said coils at the outlet of the machine producing, cutting the troll line, grasping them by means of a robot or similar and to bring them on a turntable, to grasp, to position, to maintain and cut to length the trolling wire, to tie or fix said wire by means of needle-knotting or fixing means analogous, possibly labeling each coil, then dismantling the reels individually and place them on a receiving pallet or similar, all operations being managed through a IT control means.

la figure 1 est une vue schématique en perspective d'une machine conforme à l'invention ;

la figure 2 est une vue en perspective, à plus grande échelle, du plateau tournant, du moyen de nouage à aiguille et du poste d'étiquetage ;

la figure 3 est une vue partielle en élévation latérale du poste de positionnement des bobines et de coupe du fil de traíne ;

la figure 4 est une vue en élévation frontale du poste suivant la figure 3 ;

la figure 5 est une vue en plan correspondant aux figures 3 et 4 ;

la figure 6 est une vue analogue à celle de la figure 4 représentant le dispositif de saisie, de positionnement, de maintien et de coupe à la longueur du fil de traíne et le moyen de nouage à aiguille ;

les figures 7 et 8 sont des vues en plan du dispositif suivant la figure 6, respectivement en position de repos et en position d'indexage du fil;

la figure 9 est une vue partielle, à plus grande échelle, de l'aiguille de nouage, et

la figure 10 est une vue partielle en élévation latérale, à plus grande échelle et partiellement en coupe d'un poste de pesage.

The invention will be better understood from the following description, which relates to a preferred embodiment, given by way of nonlimiting example, and explained with reference to the appended schematic drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a machine according to the invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective view, on a larger scale, of the turntable, the needle tying means and the labeling station;

FIG. 3 is a partial view in side elevation of the position for positioning the coils and for cutting the trolling wire;

Figure 4 is a front elevational view of the station according to Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a plan view corresponding to Figures 3 and 4;

Figure 6 is a view similar to that of Figure 4 showing the gripping device, positioning, holding and cutting to the length of the trolling wire and the needle knotting means;

Figures 7 and 8 are plan views of the device according to Figure 6, respectively in the rest position and in the indexing position of the wire;

FIG. 9 is a partial view, on a larger scale, of the knotting needle, and

Figure 10 is a partial side elevational view, on a larger scale and partially in section of a weighing station.

Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings schematically shows a winder 1 or other machine producing coils, this winder 1 or other machine being equipped with a complete coil processing machine outgoing.

According to the invention, this machine is essentially constituted by a station 2 for positioning the coils 3 at the outlet of a winder 1 or other machine producing bobbins and cutting thread train, by a robot 4 or the like for picking up the coil 3, supply a turntable 5 and disassembly of the coils of said turntable 5 and palletizing, by a device 6 for gripping, positioning, holding and cutting to the length of the trolling wire, by means 7 of needle tying, or the like, and by a labeling station 8, the set of these stations and devices being controlled by means of a IT control (not shown).

The robot 4 or the like for picking up the coil 3 at the outlet of the winder 1 or other machine producing reels is advantageously constituted in the form of an articulated arm mounted on a gantry 9 extending in front of the exit of the machine 1 and the position 2 of the reels positioning 3 and above the turntable 5 and the gripping device 6, positioning, holding and cutting to the length of the troll wire, as well as needle knotting means 7 and labeling station 8 (Figure 1).

As shown more particularly in Figure 2 of the drawings attached, the turntable 5 is mounted on a vertical support 10 containing its rotational drive device and is provided with pins 11 with expandable mandrel 12 (FIG. 10), these pins 11 being rotated, in a lower position of the coils 3 corresponding to the setting of the length of the trolling thread and the knotting, by cooperation with a drive gearmotor, not shown, and their expandable mandrel 12 being actuated on opening and closing, for the assembly and disassembly of the coils 1, by means of a device for gripper movement driven by a cylinder 13, in a higher position of the coils 3. Each expandable mandrel 12 is advantageously made up, as shown in Figure 10, by a gripper device 14 movable in a sleeve of said mandrel by means of a slide 14 'which is connected to a displacement means 15 loaded by spring, this displacement means 15 being maneuverable via a stirrup 16 secured to the jack 13.

The position 2 for positioning the coils 3 at the outlet of a winder 1 or other machine producing bobbins and cutting thread train, which is more particularly shown in Figures 3 to 5 of the drawings annexed, is advantageously in the form of a chute longitudinal vertically movable in front of several conveyor belts 17 of machine output producing coils 3 or one or more fixed troughs integral with the infrastructure of such a single mat 17 or of a corresponding number of belts 17, this or these chutes having a trough cross section and being inclined downwards from the end of said carpet (s) 17 and the upper face of this or these last and being provided at the end opposite to the belts 17 with a device 18 taking the trolling wire, cutting and eliminating it.

The realization of the chute constituting the station 2 in shape trough allows automatic positioning of the coil arriving on the conveyor belt 17 in the longitudinal axis of the latter and maintaining this positioning to obtain a good presentation of the coil 3 in front of the robot chuck 4 or the like for moving from the spool to the turntable 5 and its mounting on the mandrel expandable 12 of the corresponding pin 11.

The device 18 for trailing the wire, cutting and elimination thereof is preferably in the form of two trough sections extending transversely to the lateral faces of the trough constituting station 2 and opening onto a central part 19, these sections trough being each provided with a blowing nozzle 20 directing its jet towards the central part 19 which has an outlet 19 'in the form of a venturi or any other suction device and which is provided with an electric heating wire 21 or any other wire cutting device. So, before or after gripping of a coil 3 by means of the robot 4, its trolling wire may be caught by the air jets from the blowing nozzles 20 and directed towards the central part 19 and towards the exit 19 'of the latter. When propelling the wire drags by the air jets, said wire will pass in front of the electric heating wire 21 or any other wire cutting device and will be cut, the end cut then being eliminated through the outlet 19 'of the central part 19 towards a receiving receptacle or the like not shown.

The device 6 for gripping, positioning, holding and cut to length of the trolling wire, shown in Figures 2 and 6 to 8 of attached drawings, is advantageously mounted on the support infrastructure vertical 10 of the turntable 5 via a carriage vertical displacement 22 and is constituted by a means 23 for gripping the end of the trolling and cutting wire to the length of the latter, by means 24 for positioning and indexing said drag wire and cooperating with needle-tying means 7, or the like, and by a heating wire of 25 cutter or any other wire cutter.

The means 23 for gripping the end of the trolling and cutting wire the length of the latter is fixed on the vertical displacement carriage 22 and essentially consists of a longitudinal slot suction nozzle connected to a suction means (not shown). Cutting heating wire 25 or any other wire cutting device can be placed in the nozzle suction constituting the means 23 for gripping the end of the trolling wire and cut to the length of the latter or be disposed outside of it last, near the wire positioning and indexing means 24 of train.

The means 24 for positioning and indexing the trolling wire consist of two fingers extending horizontally above the area efficiency of the suction nozzle constituting the nozzle 23 and mounted, the first non-movable, but with possibility of pivoting around its vertical axis and, the second, on a carriage 26 movable in direction of the second finger, by means of a jack 26 ′ or the like. The first finger is provided with a roller 27 intended to cooperate with a cam corresponding 28 provided on the carriage 26 for moving the second finger and is loaded by a return spring 29 in position.

The needle knotting means 7 essentially consists of a needle 30 mounted on the end of the piston rod of a jack 31 and extending obliquely to the longitudinal axis, on the one hand, of the reel 3 on which the knotting must be carried out and, on the other hand, device 6 for gripping, positioning and cutting the trolling wire (Figures 6, 8 and 9). The inclination of the needle relative to the longitudinal axis of the reel is adjustable by mounting the jack 31 on a yoke 32 which can be rotated rotation, this yoke being itself mounted on an adjustable carriage 33 vertically and horizontally with respect to the displacement carriage 22 device vertical 6.

The needle 30 is provided with an inverted eye 34, shown more particularly in Figure 9 of the accompanying drawings, this eye 34 having a introduction slot with double slope opening, the edge of this slot being offset towards the inside of the needle body. Predicting such an eye reverse allows you to seize the thread and inserting it into the coil body, without subjecting any rotational movement of the needle 30. In addition, when the needle is withdrawn, deterioration of the wound yarns is also avoided.

When a coil arrives above the device 6, by rotation of the turntable 5, the coil 3 is rotated by through the gearmotor mounted in the vertical support 10 of the turntable, said gearmotor being engaged on the part corresponding to pin 11 by a command issued by means of IT control. A rotation of the coil 3 in the direction of a unwinding of the wire makes it possible to deliver a certain length of trolling wire, the end of which is sucked up by the nozzle forming the device 6. When the unwinding of a predetermined number of turns of the coil 3, the second movable finger constituting one of the positioning means 24 and indexing of the trolling wire is actuated in displacement in the direction of the first non-movable finger and drives the wire extending vertically from randomly on the course of said second finger. On arrival of this second finger near the first finger, its cam 28 comes into contact with the roller 27 of said first finger and drives it in a movement of tilting by which the wire is moved in a horizontal movement out of the vertical suction plane of the nozzle forming the gripping means 23.

The IT control means, which manages the progress of the wire and the control of the means 23 and 24 then issues a control of displacement of the needle 30 by means of the jack 31. It follows that the needle grazes by the upper part of its point the outside of the thread stretched out the horizontal, so that when the latter arrives opposite the eye 34, it gets into it. It follows that, during the consecutive movement of the needle and its penetration into the thread winding of the spool 3, the thread of drag is introduced or "tied" in said reel and remains in this last during the consecutive withdrawal of needle 30. The remaining part of the thread train sucked into the nozzle forming the means 23 is then cut by setting energized, by pulse, of the cutting heating wire 25 and the end cut is evacuated by the suction means to a receiving receptacle of falls.

The labeling station 8, shown schematically in the figure 1 of the accompanying drawings and partially to FIG. 2 of the accompanying drawings, essentially consists of a tape unwinding reel 35 labels, in an arm 36 for applying said labels on one end coils 3 or inside the coils of the latter and in a coil 37 for winding the label support strips after gluing these last, a printer, not shown, which may be provided between the reel 35 and arm 36 for printing said labels. The provision of a printer, allows, in particular, very rapid adaptation and individualized labels to each reel appearing in front of the item 8, depending on the data from the control system data processing, this data possibly varying from a reel to a other depending on different characteristics of coils from multiple station, for example a winder with several spool outputs different.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the machine can be completed, in addition, by a weighing station 38 (not shown in the Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings) extending in front of the turntable 5 provided coils 3, at the loading position of said turntable 5 and which is essentially constituted by a vertical support 39 comprising a vertical displacement means 40, on the upper end of which is fixed a weighing device 41 provided with a positioning chute 42 of a coil 3 and by a linear means 43 for loading the coil weighed on the expanding mandrel 12 of a spindle 11. The means of vertical displacement 40 equipping the vertical support 39 is advantageously constituted by a mechanical jack with electric or other drive and the linear means 43 for loading the reel preferably comprises a pneumatic or hydraulic cylinder acting on a sliding cradle mounted in the chute 42 fitted to the weighing device 41.

Thus, a coil brought from a winder or other machine producing coils and deposited by robot 4 or the like in the chute 42 of the weighing device 41, then, after its weighing, said reel is moved, together with the device 41, by means of vertical displacement 40, in a position of alignment of the axis of the coil 3 with the axis of spindle 11, then said coil 3 is pushed onto the spindle 11 and the mandrel 12 of the latter by the linear means 43.

The expandable mandrel 12 of the spindle 11 is then released and, after release of the device 41 downwards, the turntable 5 performs a rotation bringing the coil above the device 6 and the station knotting 7.

After the knotting operation, the spool is moved by a rotation of the turntable 5 towards a labeling position, then in a position in which the robot 4 or the like deposits said coil from said turntable 5 to bring it to a storage pallet. Then the robot takes a new reel on station 2 to start a new one treatment cycle.

All the movements of the different stations and devices of the machine according to the invention is advantageously managed through a computer control means according to methods known per se and which are not described in detail.

According to an alternative embodiment of the invention, not shown in the accompanying drawings, the fixing of the trolling wire on the coils can also be carried out, replacing the knotting by means of a needle, by fixing its end by pneumatic intermingling on the coil.

Thanks to the invention, it is possible to carry out a treatment complete with reels at the exit of winders or any other machines producing coils, i.e. carrying out a possible weighing of reels, knotting them labeling and palletizing fully automatic way.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the mode of embodiment described and shown in the accompanying drawings. Modifications remain possible, especially from the point of view of the constitution of the various elements or by substitution of technical equivalents, without going out of the protection field of the invention.

Claims (19)

1. Machine for knot-tying, labelling and palletising bobbins leaving a bobbin winding machine or any other machine producing yarn bobbins, substantially consisting of a positioning station (2) for bobbins (3) leaving a bobbin winding machine (1) or other machine producing bobbins and for cutting trailing yarn, a robot (4) or similar for grasping the bobbin (3), for feeding a turntable (5) with a horizontal axis and disassembling the bobbins from said turntable (5) and for palletising, a device (6) for grasping, positioning, retaining and cutting to length the trailing yarn, a knot-tying means (7) with needles or similar, and a labelling station (8), all of these stations and devices being controlled by means of a computer control means.
2. Machine according to claim 1, characterised in that the robot (4) or similar for grasping the bobbin (3) at the exit of the bobbin winding machine (1) or other machine producing bobbins is constituted in the form of an articulated arm mounted on a frame (9) extending in front of the exit of the machine (1) and of the positioning station (2) for the bobbins (3) and above the turntable (5) and the device (6) for grasping, positioning, retaining and cutting to length the trailing yarn, and of the knot-tying means (7) with needles and the labelling station (8).
3. Machine according to claim 1, characterised in that the turntable (5) is mounted on a vertical support (10) comprising its rotary drive device and is provided with spindles (11) with expansible mandrels (12), the spindles (11) being driven in a rotary manner in a position below the bobbins (3) corresponding to the cutting to length of the trailing yarn and to the knot-tying, by cooperation with a drive gear motor and their expansible mandrel (12) being actuated on opening and closing, for assembling and disassembling bobbins (1), by means of a displacement device with grippers moved by a screw jack (13), in a position above the bobbins (3).
4. Machine according to claim 3, characterised in that each expansible mandrel (12) consists of a holding device (14) with grippers which is displaceable in a sheath of said mandrel by means of a slide (14') connected to a displacement means (15) loaded by a spring, this displacement means (15) being manoeuvrable by means of a clip (16) which is integral with the screw jack (13).
5. Machine according to claim 1, characterised in that the positioning station (2) for the bobbins (3) leaving a bobbin winding machine or other machine producing bobbins and for cutting trailing yarn is in the form of a longitudinal channel which can be vertically displaced in front of a plurality of conveyor belts (17) for leaving the machine producing bobbins (3) or of one or more fixed channels integral with the infrastructure of a single belt (17) ofthis type or of a corresponding number of belts (17), this or these channel(s) having a trough-shaped cross-section and being tilted downward from the end of said belt(s) (17) and from the upper face of the latter and being provided at the end remote from the belts (17) with a device (18) for catching the trailing yarn and cutting and elimination thereof
6. Machine according to claim 5, characterised in that the device (18) for catching the trailing yarn and cutting and elimination thereof is in the form of two trough-shaped sections extending transversely to the lateral faces of the trough constituting the station (2) and emerging on a central part (19), these trough-shaped sections each being provided with a blowing nozzle (20) directing a jet toward the central part (19) which has an exit (19') in the form of a choke or any other extraction device and is provided with an electric heating wire (21) or any other device for cutting yarn.
7. Machine according to claim 1, characterised in that the device (6) for grasping, positioning, retention and cutting to length of the trailing yarn is mounted on the vertical support infrastructure (10) of the turntable (5) by means of a carriage for vertical displacement (22) and consists of a means (23) for grasping the end of the trailing yarn and cutting the latter to length and means (24) for positioning and indexing said trailing yarn, and cooperates with a knot-tying means (7) with needles, or similar, and a cutting heating wire (25) or any other device for cutting yam.
8. Machine according to claim 7, characterised in that the means (23) for grasping the end of the trailing thread and cutting it to length is fixed to the carriage for vertical displacement (22) and substantially consists of an extraction nozzle with a longitudinal slot connected to an extraction means.
9. Machine according to either of claims 7 or 8, characterised in that the cutting heating wire (25) or any other yarn cutting device is arranged in the extraction nozzle constituting the means (23) for grasping the end of the trailing yarn and cutting the latter to length or is arranged outside the latter, near means (24) for positioning and indexing the trailing yarn.
10. Machine according to claim 7, characterised in that the means (24) for positioning and indexing the trailing yarn consists of two fingers extending horizontally above the effectiveness zone of the extraction nozzle constituting the nozzle (23) and mounted, the first in a non-displaceable manner, but capable of pivoting around its vertical axis and, the second, on a carriage (26) which is displaceable in the direction of the second finger, by means of a screw jack (26') or similar.
11. Machine according to claim 10, characterised in that the first finger is provided with a roller (27) for cooperation with a corresponding cam (28) provided on the carriage (26) for displacing the second finger and is loaded by a position return spring (29).
12. Machine according to claim 1, characterised in that the knot-tying means (7) with needles substantially consists of a needle (30) mounted on the end of the piston rod of a screw jack (31) and extending in an oblique manner with respect to the longitudinal axis, on the one hand, of the bobbin (3) on which the knot-tying is to be carried out and, on the other hand, the device (6) for grasping, positioning and cutting the trailing yarn.
13. Machine according to claim 12, characterised in that the tilting of the needle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the bobbin can be adjusted by assembling the screw jack (31) on a rotationally orientatable cap (32), this cap itself being assembled on a carriage (33) which is vertically and horizontally adjustable with respect to the carriage (22) for vertical displacement of the device (6).
14. Machine according to claim 12, characterised in that the needle (30) is provided with an inverted needle eye (34) having an introduction slot with a double slope aperture, the edge ofthis slope being offset toward the interior ofthe needle body.
15. Machine according to claim 1, characterised in that the labelling station (8) substantially consists of a bobbin (35) for unrolling strips of labels, an arm (36) for applying said labels on one end of the bobbins (3) or to the inside of the tubes of the latter and a bobbin (37) for winding label support strips after sticking of the latter, wherein a printer may be provided between the bobbin (35) and the arm (36) to print said labels.
16. Machine according to any one of claims 1 to 15, characterised in that it is furthermore completed by a weighing station (38) extending upstream from the turntable (5) provided with bobbins (3) in the region of the position for loading said turntable (5) and substantially consisting of a vertical support (39) comprising a means for vertical displacement (40), on the upper end of which is fixed a weighing device (41) provided with a channel (42) for positioning a bobbin (3) and of a linear means (43) for loading the weighed bobbin on the expansible mandrel (12) of a spindle (11).
17. Machine according to claim 16, characterised in that the means for vertical displacement (40) providing the vertical support (39) consists of a mechanical screw jack with an electric drive or any other and the liner means (43) for loading the bobbin comprises a pneumatic or hydraulic screw jack acting on a sliding cradle assembled in the channel (42) provided in the weighing device (41).
18. Machine according to claim 1, characterised in that the trailing yarn is fixed on the bobbins, by replacing the knot-tying by means of a needle, by fixing its end by pneumatic intermingling on the bobbin.
19. Method for handling bobbins at the exit of the bobbin winding machines or other machines used by the machine according to any one of claims 1 to 18, characterised in that it substantially consists of positioning said bobbins (3) at the exit of the machine (1) producing them, cutting the trailing thread, grasping them by means of a robot (4) or similar and bringing them on to a turntable (5), grasping, positioning, retaining and cutting to length the trailing yarn, knotting or fixing said yarn by means of a knot-tying means (7) with needles or similar fixing means, optionally labelling each bobbin (3), then individually disassembling the bobbins and disposing them on a receiving pallet or similar, all the operations being managed by means of a computer control means.

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