GB2207445A

GB2207445A - Means for severing strands of textile fibres

Info

Publication number: GB2207445A
Application number: GB08806002A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Silvano Bacciottini; Valdemaro Bacciottini
Original assignee: BACCIOTTINI F LLI SNC OFF
Current assignee: BACCIOTTINI F LLI SNC OFF
Priority date: 1987-06-05
Filing date: 1988-03-14
Publication date: 1989-02-01
Anticipated expiration: 2008-03-14
Also published as: DE3805166A1; ES2008429A6; DE3805166C2; IT1207807B; GB2207445B; IT8705189A0; GB8806002D0

Description

1 291.1 2 U 1/ 4 4 5 MEANS FOR SEVERING STRANDS OF TEXTILE FIBRES The

present invention relates to a device for severing strands (tops) of textile fibres being fed from a conveyor to a storage tub or container.

25.

Strands of artificial or synthetic textile fibres, known as Ittoptt, leaving certain spinning or processing machines are normally collected in tubs to be stored and/or forwarded to subsequent stages in processing.

As the strand of fibre is continuous, once each tub has been filled the strand must be broken off to enable the tub to be removed but, however, not in a manner which would cause the fibres to be broken or cut such as to jeopardise subsequent operations on the fibres.

Even today the strand of fibres Is severed manually when each tub is filled, the strand being grasped in the two hands of the operator and torn apart or cut at the desired point.

Although this manual operation severe the strand of.

fibre satisfactorily, it nevertheless requires the presence of an operator and direct intervention by him, which is not always easy, and obviously involves an economic burden.

In an attempt to eliminate the work of an operator in severing the strand of fibre, a mechanically acting severing device has in fact already been proposed. This device, however, extends and acts in a vertical direction, has to act at a distance from the strand conveyor while the tub is moving away, and is rather bulky and not very reliable from the safety point of view because it is placed along the path of the tub and can therefore interfere with the latter.

I- 11 The present invention relates to a device for severing a strand of textile fibres in order to eliminate both the operation of manual separation and avoid or minimize the disadvantages and limitations of the known vertically extending and operating device.

According to the present invention there is provided a device for severing strands (tops) of textile fibres when a tub.. collecting a said strand is filled from a conveyor, characterised in that said device comprises a displaceable gripping means or claw which is operable to grasp or grip the strand without breaking the fibres, and two stationary clamping means or jaws which are operable to hold and secure the strand while the said claw is displaced to saver the strand; said claw and said jaws being located in planes at right angles to each other and one above the other and said claw being displaceable towards and away from the jaws.

Advantageously the device to which the present invention relates may be placed alongside the conveyor carrying the continuous strand of fibre and adjacent to the end where the fibre is unloaded into the tub which is to be filled. The device therefore has minimum dimensions and acts above or in the immediate vicinity of a full tub before the latter is removed. Also the device includes simple but efficient means controlled by pneumatic actuators which operate with maximum safety and in perfect synchronisation with tub filling times.

The invention will be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Fig. 1 is a plan view of a strand severing device as a whole; r 1 3 Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the device of Fig. 1 viewed in the direction of arrow F; Figs. 3 and 4 are side elevations of the device of Figs. 1 and 2 when fitted to a conveyor and illustrating such in two consecutive positions - the first in which the strand of fibres which is to b6 severed is held and the second where the strands are severed; and Fig. 5 is a Olan view of the whole corresponding to that of Fig. 3 with the clamping and severing devices drawn back into their inoperative rest position.

In the drawings a conveyor fOis illustrated which is intended to carry a strand of artificial or synthetic fibres 11 and deposit such at an end fitted with a chute 12 into a collecting tub 13 which is supported on a platform 14 and can be removed once filled. Associated with the conveyor 10 and to one side of it, close to chute 12 and thus also close to the tub 13, there is provided a device for severing the strand"of fibre 11 once collecting tub 13 has been filled.

In accordance with the invention the severing device comprises a claw 15 and two jaws 16 which hold and secure fibre strand 11. Clew 15 is located at right angles to the direction of extension and movement of the jaws 16, although in a different plane, and claws 15 are displaceable with respect to the jaws which latter remain stationary in the clamping and severing position even though they can also move towards and away from each other.

In more detail, the claw 15 is mounted on a support 17 which is slideable on horizontal guides 18 and displaceable towards and away from jaws 16. The movements of support i 17 carrying claw 15 are controlled by a pneumatic piston 19 and are adjusted by means of appropriate limit switches (not shown). Claw 15 is opened and closed by means of a pneumatic piston 151 mounted an support 15 of the claw itself.

Jaws 16 can slide along a guide 20 secured to a corresponding support 21 and are controlled by pneumatic pistons 22 to open and close in synchronisation with the - movements of claw 15.

In the resting position, claw 15 is moved back or retracted away from jaws 16 and jaws 16 are spaced apart or open, see Figs. 1 and 2 and consequently the device has no effect on the strand of fibre which passes from conveyor 11 into the tub 13 being filled.

However, when the tub is full claw 15, which has been open, is controlled so as to be extended by moving forward, and passes between jaws 16 so as to engage and take hold of fibre strand 11 as it closes under the action of piston 151. In the first part of the subsequent retraction or backward movement of claw 15, strand 11 is then drawn by the claw between spaced apart jaws 16, see Figs. 3 and 4. At this point jaws 16 close, firmly securing strand 11 therebetween. Thus in the final part of its retraction or backward movement of claw 15 applies tension to the strand of fibres and severs it at a point lying between the claw 15 and the jaws 16.

Claw 15 and jaws 16 then open so as to release the two torn or severed ends produced by severing the strand of fibre, allowing the full tub to be removed and replaced by an empty tub and allowing the strand carried by the conveyor to fall into the new tub waiting to be filled.

The holding and severing device is itself automatically returned for the start of a subsequent operating cycle designed to sever the fibre strand again when the new tube is full, without any manual intervention. Suitable sensors may be provided to determine when a tub is full and activate the claw 15 and jaws 16 and to energise means to displace the tubs.

is 8

Claims

1. A device for severing strands (tops) of textile fibres when a tub collecting a said strand is filled from a conveyor, characterised in that said device comprises a displaceable gripping means or claw which is operable to grasp or grip the strand without breaking the fibres, and two stationary clamping means or jaws which are operable to hold and secure the strand while the said claw is displaced to sever the strand; said claw and said jaws being located in planes at right angles to each other and one above the-other and said claw being displaceable towards and away from the jaws.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, in which the claw is mounted on a support which is slideable an a guide and displaceable towards and away from the jaws by means of a pneumatic piston or other displacing means and in which said jaws are slideable along at least one guide at right angles to the guides of the said support with the claw and are controllable by pneumatic pistons or other activating means in order to open and close such in synchronisation with the movements of the claw.

3. A device as claimed in claims 1 and 2, in which the opening and closing of the claw is controlled by a pneumatic piston or other displacing means and in which the claw moves longitudinally along a line which passes through the jaws when they are open or spaced apart.

4. A device as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3, in which the claw and the holding and securing jaws are mounted an one side of the fibre strand conveyor and close to the discharge end thereof which discharges the fibre strand into the tub which is to be filled.

1 19

5. A device for severing strands substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

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