GB593586A - Improvements in or relating to bobbin sorting apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

593,586. Sorting bobbins. FOSTER MACHINE CO. April 10, 1945, No. 8895. Convention date, July 11, 1944. [Class 117] Apparatus for separating bobbins which have some residual yarn or threads thereon from completely empty bobbins comprises means for conveying a bobbin through a predetermined path of travel, exploring means for searching the surface of the bobbin during said travel to detect yarn (if any) thereon, and means for changing the path of travel, actuated by the exploring means only upon detection of yarn on the bobbin. As shown in Fig. 1, bobbins 11, which have been removed by hand or automatically from a winding machine, are conveyed along a belt 10 and directed by a deflector 30 into a shoot 28 from which they are picked up each by a pair of hooked-shaped hangers 46 attached to two endless chains 41. The chains are driven by sprockets on shafts 42, 17. As the hangers approach the top of their travel, the bobbin comes into contact with feelers 50, Fig. 3, each comprising a curved plate, the underside of which is formed with teeth 51. The feelers are pivoted to operating levers 54, 57 which are pivotally connected to channels 37, 38, respectively, and are linked together by a pivot pin 68, The arm 54 has a depending end 79 and the arm 57 a longer depending end 82. The levers are normally held in horizontal position by means of stops 77. If the bobbin contains no residual yarn the teeth 51 of the feelers 50 slide over the bobbin as it rises and eventually when the bobbin moves over the top of the sprockets 43 one end of the bobbin strikes the end 79 of the arm 54 whereby the bobbin is disengaged from the hangers and flung to the right. If on the other hand the bobbin contains residual yarn, the yarn gets caught in the teeth of a feeler 50, whereby the levers 54, 57 are raised as shown, so that the end 82 of the lever 57 eventually obstructs the bobbin causing it to be flung to the left.