US20010004999A1

US20010004999A1 - Interface in the transport system of a textile machine producing cross-wound bobbins

Info

Publication number: US20010004999A1
Application number: US09/747,625
Authority: US
Inventors: Joerg Perseke; Norbert Bohnen
Original assignee: W Schlafhorst AG and Co
Current assignee: Oerlikon Textile GmbH and Co KG
Priority date: 1999-12-23
Filing date: 2000-12-22
Publication date: 2001-06-28
Also published as: EP1110898A3; JP2001199636A; EP1110898A2; CZ20004788A3

Abstract

An interface for feeding fresh spinning cops (19) into the transport system (21) of a textile machine that produces cross-wound bobbins. The interface comprises a centering device (33), installed in the area of a receiving conveyor (1), for placing the spinning cops (19) onto insertion spindles (65) of transport pallets (17) circulating in the transport system (21) and an impressing device (26) for fixing the spinning cops (19) onto the receiving spindles (65). A drive (27) is arranged in the area of the receiving conveyor (1) which drive effects the transporting of the transport pallets (17) on the receiving conveyor (1) and the actuation of the centering device (33).

Description

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of German patent application DE P 199 62 295.7, filed Dec. 23, 1999, and German patent application DE. 1 P 100 44 632.9, filed Sep. 9, 2000, herein incorporated by reference.

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an interface for feeding fresh spinning cops into the transport system of a textile machine producing cross-wound bobbins, also referred to as cheeses.

2. Background of the Invention

Modern textile machines producing cross-wound bobbins, e.g., automatic cross-wound bobbin winders, generally comprise a plurality of similar winding heads as well as a transport system for supplying spinning cops and/or empty tubes to these winding heads and removing them from these heads. Transport pallets with vertically arranged receiving spindles or pins circulate within such a transport system comprising, as is known and described in, as well as elsewhere, German Patent Publication DE 43 39 964 A1, several different transport conveyors. Either spinning cops or empty tubes are transported on these transport pallets. Moreover, processing stations for the spinning cops and/or for the empty tubes, such as, e.g., cop preparation stations, tube monitors, tubes cleaning devices, etc., are customarily arranged at locations along such a transport system.

The transport system of an automatic cross-wound bobbin winder can either be directly connected via a so-called changeover device to the transport system of an associated textile machine connected upstream of the winder transport system, typically a spinning machine for producing spinning cops, which instance is referred to as a compound textile machine, or the transport system of the automatic cross-wound bobbin winder is supplied via a special interface with spinning cops of a separately arranged free-standing ring spinning machine, as indicated in European Patent Publication EP 0 534 229 B1. In this instance an appropriate interface for removing the empty unwound tubes is also provided.

An interface for feeding fresh spinning cops comprises, e.g., a cop mounting and centering device arranged in the area of a receiving conveyor which device is normally preceded by a circular flat transporter. Cop mounting and centering devices and circular flat transporters are basically known, e.g., from German Patent Publications DE 33 48 033 C2 or DE 41 12 434 A1.

In order to assure that the spinning cops are held securely on the transport pallets in subsequent work processes it is also known that the receiving spindles of these transport pallets can be provided with tensioning means onto which the fresh spinning cops are impressed by a special impressing device after the mounting and centering onto the transport pallets. A device consisting of a cop mounting and centering device and of a following impressing device and arranged at a receiving conveyor is shown and described, e.g., in German Patent Publication DE 40 16 466 A1.

However, these known devices have the disadvantage that they are relatively expensive to construct. The known devices have, e.g., at least two separate drives. A first drive loads a mounting and centering device as well as a following impressing device via a cam disk packet whereas a second motor is connected to a circulating conveyor belt arranged in the area of the receiving conveyor, which conveyor belt transports the transport pallets loaded with spinning cops.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention accordingly has a basic objective to improve upon the state of the art discussed above, and more particularly to create an interface for feeding fresh spinning cops into the transport system of a textile winding machine producing cross-wound bobbins which interface is simplified with respect to its drives.

The invention addresses this problem by providing an improved interface for a transport system of a textile winding machine which has a receiving conveyor for feeding thereonto of spinning cops, a centering device in the area of the receiving conveyor for setting spinning cops onto receiving spindles of transport pallets circulating in the transport system and a downstream impressing device for fixing the spinning cops on the receiving spindles. According to the present invention, the interface comprises a drive arranged in the area of the receiving conveyor for driving transportation of the transport pallets along the receiving conveyor and for actuating the centering device.

The embodiment in accordance with the invention has the particular advantage that the transportation of the spinning cops in the receiving conveyor and also the mounting and centering of the spinning cops onto the receiving spindles of the transport pallets now take place in an economical manner by means of a single drive.

In an advantageous embodiment, a transport disk is arranged on the input side of the receiving conveyor which disk comprises at least two transport pockets for transporting transport pallets. Such transport disks are distinguished by a long service life and a simple design. The transport pockets arranged in a predetermined angular interval assure a completely uniform, cyclic transport of the transport pallets on the receiving conveyor. That is, the transport pallets are transported further in an indexable fashion by a certain, always uniform path upon each actuation of the transport disk and the transport pallets are thereby positioned exactly in the range of the centering device as well as of a tube impressing device arranged in the vicinity.

A preferred embodiment also provides that even the following tube impressing device is connected via an appropriate transmission arrangement to the transport disk. That is, in such a design the transportation of the transport pallets, the insertion and centering of the fresh spinning cops on these transport pallets as well as the subsequent impressing of the spinning cops onto the receiving spindles of the transport pallets take place by means of a single drive.

In an advantageous embodiment, the transmission arrangement comprises an eccentric element rotating with the transport disk, with a two-armed lever in following relation on this eccentric which lever is connected via a draw rod to a vertical linkage of the tube impressing device. Frictional losses like those that always occur in a mechanical transfer of power can be minimized by such a relatively direct coupling of transport disk and tube impressing device, which decreases the load from the transport disk drive.

The centering device may be mechanically coupled to the adjacent tube impressing device. Such a mechanical coupling assures in a simple manner that each spinning cop is positioned in the prescribed manner on an associated transport pallet and fixed in an orderly manner on the receiving spindle of the transport pallet.

A preferred embodiment provides that the centering device and the impressing device are connected via a lever arrangement. Such a coupling is not only extremely robust and insensitive but can also be serviced and/or repaired without significant expense by the service personnel if required.

In an advantageous embodiment at least two sensor devices, preferably Hall sensors, are installed in the area of the transport disk, which sensors are loaded by corresponding ferromagnetic components of the transport pallet or of the transport disk.

The first sensor device reacts to control bores in the metallic transport disk that are arranged in such a manner that the Hall sensor of the first sensor device is non-loaded only at the correct alignment of the transport disk. The second Hall sensor is loaded when a new transport pallet, that comprises a steel ring, e.g., in the area of its standing foot, has been received in a transport pocket of the transport disk disposed at the ready in a receiving position. A signal of this second sensor device results, in conjunction with a corresponding release signal of a light barrier arranged in the area of the centering device, in the execution by the transport disk of a working stroke.

The transport disk is driven in a preferred embodiment by an electromotor that can be controlled in a defined manner, preferably by means of a stepping motor. Such stepping motors are not only relatively inexpensive but can also be positioned without significant measures.

In a preferred embodiment at least one switching means connected to the centering device and to the impressing device is arranged in the area of the receiving conveyor which switching means extends into the transport path. The transport pallets transported by the transport disk on the receiving conveyor in the direction of transport pivot the switching means outward at each transport stroke, which results at first in an opening actuation of the centering device.

Preferably, the switching means advantageously comprises two switching devices in the form of opener stars. As already indicated above, the opener stars are positioned in the non-loaded state in the area of the transport path of the transport pallets and are pivoted outward by the transport pallets during their further transport.

The opener stars are arranged on bearing shafts in such a manner as to rotate in unison therewith such that their pivoting motion is transferred via actuating elements to a lever arrangement which is connected to the impressing device. Thus, the pushing force introduced from the drive motor of the transport disk onto the transport pallets acts via the opener stars and the associated lever arrangement not only to transport the transport pallets on the receiving conveyor but serves at the same time to control the centering device and also to open the impressing device.

In a preferred design, the lever arrangement includes actuating wires extending into the transport path of the transport pallets on the receiving conveyor and a vertically arranged linkage connected to a bearing arrangement having at least one tube impressing shell arranged thereon. Such an embodiment is not only very robust and insensitive but can, as already indicated above, also be readily serviced or repaired by the service personnel if required.

It is particularly advantageous that the bearing arrangement comprises a parallelogram guide rod arrangement to which the tube impressing device is connected. The parallelogram guide rod arrangement comprises for its part at least one tube impressing shell. However, in a further development of the invention, an embodiment can also be advantageous in which two tube impression shells are provided at different heights and successively in the direction of transport of the transport pallets.

The parallelogram guide rod arrangement can be raised above the lever arrangement and is loaded by at least one spring element for urging the impressing shells in a direction toward the receiving conveyor into a tube impressing disposition. Such a design advantageously assures not only a uniform impression force of the tube impressing shells, so that it is assured that the spinning cops are always thrust completely over spring baskets of the receiving spindles of the transport pallets but it also reliably avoids damaging of the tubes during the impressing process by too great an impression force.

Further details of the invention can be gathered from an exemplary embodiment explained in the following disclosure with reference made to the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic top plan view of a transport system of an automatic cross-wound bobbin winder with an interface in accordance with the present invention arranged in the area of a receiving conveyor for feeding of fresh spinning cops. [0028]
FIG. 2 is a top plan view on an enlarged scale of the receiving conveyor indicated in FIG. 1. [0029]
FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the lever arrangement installed in the area of the receiving conveyor which lever arrangement connects the spinning cop centering device arranged in this area to the downstream impressing device. [0030]
FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the lever arrangement according to FIG. 3. [0031]
FIGS. 5[0032] a and 5 b are elevational views of the adjustable centering aids arranged inside the centering device.
FIG. 6 is a front elevational view of a spinning cop aligning device connected in front of the centering device. [0033]
FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of the spinning cop aligning device according to FIG. 6. [0034]
FIG. 8 is a top plan view similar to FIG. 2 showing a further, preferred embodiment of an interface in accordance with the present invention. [0035]
FIG. 9 is a side elevational view of the embodiment of interface according to FIG. 8. [0036]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to the accompanying drawings and initially to FIG. 1, a [0037] transport system 21 of an automatic cross-wound bobbin winder (not shown in detail) is schematically indicated. Transport system 21 comprises interface 22 for feeding spinning cops 19 that were manufactured on a separate, free-standing ring spinning machine and further comprises an appropriate interface for removing empty tubes, e.g., tube withdrawal device 23.
Such known [0038] transport systems 21 comprise a plurality of different transport conveyors via which winding heads 24 of the automatic cross-wound bobbin winder are supplied with spinning cops 19 and via which empty tubes 18 are removed from the winding heads.
As is known, a [0039] cop supply conveyor 2 follows a receiving conveyor 1 in such transport systems from which cop supply conveyor branch preparation conveyors 3. Preparation conveyors 3 are connected via transport removal conveyors 4 to storage conveyor 5 that, in turn, communicates with tube return conveyor 8 via numerous transport conveyors 6 running through respective winding heads 24 transversely between storage conveyor 5 and tube return conveyor 8. Tube return conveyor 8 is followed by distributor conveyor 9 that empties into receiving conveyor 1. In addition, tube return conveyor 8 is connected via connecting conveyor 7 directly to cop supply conveyor 2.
A so-called [0040] transversal passage 10 extending between distributor conveyor 9 and cop supply conveyor 2 branches off from distributor conveyor 9, on which one tube monitor 15 is usually arranged. Tube cleaner conveyor 11 with tube cleaner 16 arranged thereat is connected to the transversal passage 10. In addition, a manual preparation conveyor 12 can branch off from tube cleaner conveyor 11.
During a winding operation, [0041] numerous transport pallets 17 circulate within transport system 21 in direction of transport T, which plates are provided either with spinning cops 19 or with empty tubes 18. Transport pallets 17 are briefly empty only in the area between empty tube withdrawal device 23 and centering device 33 of interface 22.
As FIG. 1 schematically indicates, a so-called [0042] cop preparation station 13 is installed in the area of preparation conveyors 3 in which station spinning cops 19 are prepared in such a manner that they can be rewound subsequently at winding heads 24 to large-volume cross-wound bobbins. The transportation of transport pallets within transport system 21 takes place, with the exception of receiving conveyor 1, via rotating endless conveyor belts 14, preferably flat belts.
As will be explained in detail hereinafter, [0043] transport pallets 17 are nevertheless not transported by conveyor belt 14 in the area of receiving conveyor 1 but rather by transport disk 25 that can be controlled in a defined manner. Transport disk 25 rotates in a manner that can be cyclically controlled and thereby pushes transport pallets 17 in a controlled manner over receiving conveyor 1.
As FIG. 1 furthermore shows, [0044] interface 22 for feeding fresh spinning cops 19 is installed in the area of receiving conveyor 1. Interface 22 comprises centering device 33 as well as tube impressing device 26 mechanically coupled to centering device 33. Moreover, centering device 33 is connected to circular flat transporter 20.
FIGS. 2 and 8 show alternative embodiments of the interface of the present invention. In each case, a [0045] transport disk 25 is arranged in the entrance area of receiving conveyor 1. This transport disk comprises either three transport pockets 34 staggered by 120° or, as shown in FIG. 8, two transport pockets 34 staggered by 180°. Moreover, transport disk 25 comprises control bores 35′, 35″, 35′″, as shown in FIG. 2, located in correspondence with compatibly designed sensor devices 29, 31.
These [0046] sensor devices 29, 31 are advantageously Hall sensors that can be loaded ferromagnetically, and are connected along with light barrier 30, 63 positioned in the area of centering device 33 to control device 28, that also controls the drive of transport disk 25, which drive is preferably in the form of electromotor 27.
Moreover, as is further apparent from FIGS. 2 and 8 two pivotably mounted switching means, preferably in the form of so-called opener stars [0047] 36, 36′, are arranged in the area of receiving conveyor 1. Opener stars 36, 36′ are connected via levers 37, 37′ to rotatably mounted bearing shaft 38, 38′ in such a manner that they rotate in unison with it.
As FIGS. 3 and 4 show in particular, loading shaft flaps [0048] 39 and 39′ as well as actuating elements 40 and 40′ or, as in the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 8, solely loading shaft flaps 39, 39′, are articulated to bearing shafts 38, 38′, likewise in such a manner that they rotate in unison with them. Actuating elements 40 and 40′ according to FIGS. 3 and 4 are connected in turn to pivot lever 41 mounted such that it can rotate in a limited manner by means of pivot shaft 42. Actuating wires 46 are arranged on pivot shaft 42 and extend into the area of the transport tracks of transport pallets 17.
Moreover, [0049] pivot lever 41 is connected via connecting link 43 to angle lever 45 mounted so that it can rotate about shaft 44. Substantially vertically arranged linkage 47 follows angle lever 45 and is connected to support arrangement 48. The support arrangement can be designed as parallelogram guide rod arrangement 48, as shown in FIG. 3, that is loaded by at least one spring element 49 to urge the arrangement 48 downwardly for impressing tubes onto transport pallets 17 as more fully explained hereinafter. In a further aspect of the invention, such a parallelogram guide rod arrangement 48 can also comprise two impressing shells 50 and 51 positioned at different levels as shown in FIG. 3.
FIG. 4 schematically shows a top view of [0050] lever arrangement 64 that was described above with respect to the side view of FIG. 3, and connects centering device 33 to tube impressing device 26. As already explained above, loading shaft flaps 39 and 39′, opener stars 36 and 36′ as well as actuating elements 40 and 40′ are connected to pivotably mounted bearing shafts 38 and 38′ via corresponding levers. Actuating elements 40,40′ are connected in turn to pivot lever 41 mounted so that it can rotate in a limited manner via pivot shaft 42 and coupled to connecting link 43. Moreover, actuating wires 46 are fixed to pivot shaft 42 and extend, as previously described, into the transport path of transport pallets 17. Connecting link 43 loads angle lever 45, that can pivot about shaft 44 and is connected to vertically arranged linkage 47 of tube impressing device 26.
FIGS. 5[0051] a and 5 b show loading shaft flaps 39 of centering device 33 in section. As indicated, centering aids 52 that can be continuously adjusted to different cop diameters are arranged within loading shaft flaps 39 and 39′.
FIGS. 6 and 7 show spinning [0052] cop alignment device 66 arranged in the area of interface 22 and connected between centering device 33 and circular flat transporter 20. Such known spinning cop alignment devices 66 consist substantially of a supply shaft 53 connected to circular flat transporter 20, support 54 and magazine wheel 55 with receiving pockets 56. Support strips 57 with diverters 58 as well as cop funnel 59 follow magazine wheel 55. Moreover, sensor element 60, preferably in the form of a light scanner or light barrier, is installed in the area of support 54.
A further preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. This advantageous embodiment differs from the previously described device primarily by the manner of control of [0053] tube impressing device 26. As FIG. 8 indicates, transport disk 25, can be loaded via electromotor 27 and is directly connected to tube impressing device 26 (not shown in FIG. 8) via transmission arrangement 70. Transmission arrangement 70 comprises essentially eccentric cam element 71 arranged on transport disk 25 in such a manner that it rotates in unison with disk 25, two-armed lever 72 resting on eccentric cam element 71 and draw rod 73.
As is known from the previously described exemplary embodiment of FIG. 3, draw [0054] rod 73 is connected, via angle lever 45 that is pivotably mounted in shaft 44, to vertically arranged linkage 47 of tube impressing device 26. At least one impressing shell 50 is first raised above linkage 47 and subsequently lowered under the biasing force of spring power onto the tube tip of spinning cop 19 in this embodiment also.
The operation of the present invention may thus be understood with reference to the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 3. [0055] Empty tubes 18 whose yarn has been unwound and rewound at winding heads 24 travel in upstanding disposition on transport pallets 17 via tube return conveyor 8 onto distributor conveyor 9 and are removed thereat from the transport pallets 17 by tube withdrawal device 23. Transport pallets 17, which are then empty, are transported via distributor conveyor 9 into the range of transport disk 25 disposed in a ready position to receive empty transport pallets 17. A single transport pallet 17 thereby moves into one of transport pockets 34 of transport disk 25. The transport pallet 17 is at least partially ferromagnetic and thereby loads Hall sensor 29 arranged in this area. The signal of Hall sensor 29 is processed in control device 28 to control electromotor 27 such that, if an appropriate release signal of light barrier 30, 26 is present, transport disk 25 rotates in direction R. Transport disk 25 is rotated until Hall sensor 31 switches into an unloaded state, e.g., on account of control bore 35″ in transport disk 25. Thus, in the present exemplary embodiment of FIG. 2, transport disk 25 is indexed by 120 degrees for each transport pallet 17 received. Transport disk 25 thereby positions the transport pallet 17 at the entrance of the receiving conveyor 1 and moves transport pallets 17 already on receiving conveyor 1 in the direction of centering device 33 as well as of impressing device 26.
At the same time a [0056] fresh spinning cop 19 is made available via spinning cop alignment device 66 (shown in FIGS. 6 and 7) on centering device 33. Specifically, spinning cop alignment device 66 is provided with a fresh spinning cop 19 via known circular flat transporter 20, which cop slides via supply shaft 53 onto support 54 of spinning cop alignment device 66 and is braked on buffer 62. Spinning cop 19 rests on support 54 thereby in any desired tip alignment. Spinning cop 19 is subsequently transported further in an indexable manner by magazine wheel 55, comprising, e.g., six receiving pockets 56 arranged at an interval of 60°, and is transferred onto support strips 57.
As soon as [0057] sensor 60 installed in the area of support 54 determines that a spinning cop 19 is no longer present on support 54, another spinning cop 19 is supplied via supply shaft 53. Moreover, sensor device 30, 63 arranged in the area of receiving conveyor 1 detects whether a spinning cop 19 is positioned below loading shaft flaps 39, 39′ of centering device 33 on a transport pallet 17 or whether an empty transport pallet is available thereat for receiving a fresh spinning cop 19. If this is the case, magazine wheel 55 is indexed further by 60 degrees and the spinning cop 19 present on receiving strips 57 is transported in direction V (FIG. 7) to cop funnel 59.
Moreover, since diverters [0058] 58 are installed above support strips 57 at an interval somewhat greater than the diameter of the tube tip, spinning cop 19 glides during this transport on support strips 57 with its tube tip between support strips 57 and diverters 58 while the tube foot, which is greater in diameter, is pressed away from diverters 58. Diverters 58 shift spinning cop 19 thereby on support strips 57 in the direction of the tube tip such that the tube foot looses its support and spinning cop 19 falls, as shown in FIG. 6, with the tube foot leading downwardly into cop funnel 59. Spinning cop 19 passes via cop funnel 49 between closed loading shaft flaps 39, 39′ of centering device 33 and falls under the alignment of centering aids 52 over receiving spindle 65 of transport pallet 17 positioned thereat.
[0059] Sensor device 30, 63 arranged in the area of centering device 33 detects this spinning cop 19 and transmits a corresponding signal to control device 28. If a signal of Hall sensor 29 loaded by transport pallets 17 is also present at that time in control device 28, transport disk 25 is indexed further by one spacing, which results in a transport step of transport pallets 17 located on receiving conveyor 1. That is, all transport pallets 17 standing on receiving conveyor 1, whether empty or provided with a spinning cop 19, are shifted on receiving conveyor I by one transport pallet diameter in direction T.
As indicated in FIG. 2, the [0060] transport pallet 17′ immediately in front of opener stars 36, 36′ thereby pivots opener stars 36, 36′ outwardly in direction S. Since the opener stars 36, 36′ are connected via levers 37 and 37′ to bearing shafts 38 and 38′ and shaft flaps 39, 39′ are likewise connected via corresponding levers to bearing shaft 38 to rotate in unison therewith as aforedescribed, this pivoting motion of opener stars 36, 36′ pivots shaft flaps 39, 39′ outwardly so that the particular transport pallet 17 with spinning cop 19 can leave centering device 33.
Moreover, actuating [0061] elements 40, 40′ are connected to bearing shafts 38 in such a manner that they can rotate in unison with them, likewise via corresponding levers. These actuating elements are shifted forward by the pivoting motion S introduced via the opener stars 36, 36′, as indicated in FIG. 3, and this forward movement VB is transferred to pivot lever 41, that can pivot about pivot shaft 42. Actuating wires 46 are also connected to pivot lever 41 and pivot shaft 42 in such a manner that they can rotate in unison with them. These actuating wires are pressed downward during transport on receiving conveyor 1 by a transport pallet 17 standing with a spinning cop 19 supported thereon, e.g., in the area of centering device 33. Even this pivoting movement U is transferred via pivot lever 41 to connecting link 43. In turn, connecting link 43 loads angle lever 45, mounted so that it can rotate about shaft 44. The forward movement is converted by angle lever 45 into a lifting movement that is transferred via linkage 47 to bearing arrangement 48 of tube impressing device 26.
More specifically, bearing [0062] arrangement 48 comprises e.g., a parallelogram guide rod arrangement which is pivoted in direction H by linkage 47 against the force of spring element 49 that acts on bearing arrangement 48. Impressing shells 50, 51 arranged on the parallelogram guide rods of the bearing arrangement 48, are thereby raised to such an extent that spinning cops 19 standing under them are freed and can also be shifted further by one stroke in direction T.
At the end of each shifting stroke, actuating [0063] wires 46 extending out laterally into the transport path of transport pallets 17 lose all contact with the transport pallets located on receiving conveyor 1. Parallelogram guide rod arrangement 48, that had been held prior to this point by actuating wires 46 in a raised position, is now lowered by spring element 49 and presses spinning cops 19 thereby with impressing shells 50, 51 onto receiving spindles 65 of transport pallets 17. In the exemplary example shown, the impressing of spinning cops 19 onto receiving spindles 65 of transport pallets 17, which spindles are generally provided with a spring basket or the like, takes place in two stages.
As already indicated above, the invention is not limited to the described exemplary embodiment, and specifically is not limited to a two-stage impressing process. It is understood that the apparatus in accordance with the invention can also operate in a one-stage manner after the appropriate modification shown in FIG. 8. That is, the spinning cops can also be loaded by a tube impressing device comprising only one impressing shell. [0064]
It will therefore be readily understood by those persons skilled in the art that the present invention is susceptible of broad utility and application. Many embodiments and adaptations of the present invention other than those herein described, as well as many variations, modifications and equivalent arrangements, will be apparent from or reasonably suggested by the present invention and the foregoing description thereof, without departing from the substance or scope of the present invention. Accordingly, while the present invention has been described herein in detail in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that this disclosure is only illustrative and exemplary of the present invention and is made merely for purposes of providing a full and enabling disclosure of the invention. The foregoing disclosure is not intended or to be construed to limit the present invention or otherwise to exclude any such other embodiments, adaptations, variations, modifications and equivalent arrangements, the present invention being limited only by the claims appended hereto and the equivalents thereof [0065]

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. An interface for feeding fresh spinning cops into a transport system of a textile winding machine for producing cross-wound bobbins, wherein the transport system has a receiving conveyor for feeding thereonto of spinning cops, a centering device in the area of the receiving conveyor for setting spinning cops onto receiving spindles of transport pallets circulating in the transport system and a downstream impressing device for fixing the spinning cops on the receiving spindles, the interface comprising a drive arranged in the area of the receiving conveyor for driving transportation of the transport pallets along the receiving conveyor and for actuating the centering device.

2. The interface according to

claim 1

, characterized in that the transport system comprises a transport disk arranged at an input side of the receiving conveyor, the transport disk comprising transport pockets for receiving the transport pallets for indexable transport onto the receiving conveyor, the transport disk being associated with the drive of the interface to be operated thereby.

3. The interface according to

claim 2

, characterized in that the transport disk is connected via a transmission arrangement to a tube impressing device.

4. The interface according to

claim 3

, characterized in that the transmission arrangement comprises an eccentric element integrally movable with the transport disk.

5. The interface according to

claim 4

, characterized in that a lever device is disposed in following relation with the eccentric element and is connected via an actuating rod to a vertically arranged linkage of the tube impressing device.

6. The interface according to

claim 1

, characterized in that the centering device is mechanically coupled to the tube impressing device.

7. The interface according to

claim 2

, characterized further by a sensor arrangement in the area of the transport disk comprising a first sensor for controlling alignment of the transport pockets and a second sensor for detecting the presence of a transport pallet in one of the transport pockets.

8. The interface according to

claim 7

, characterized in that the sensors comprise Hall sensors that can be loaded by at least partially ferromagnetic transport pallets.

9. The interface according to

claim 2

, characterized in that the drive comprises an electromotor connected to the transport disk and controlled in a defined manner.

10. The interface according to

claim 1

, characterized further by switching means extending into the transport path of the transport pallets in the area of the receiving conveyor and coupled to the centering device, the switching means being pivotable in response to movement of the transport pallets along the receiving conveyor for actuating at least the centering device.

11. The interface according to

claim 10

, characterized in that the switching means comprises two switching devices comprising opener stars connected via respective levers to respective bearing shafts mounted to rotate in a limited manner for unitary movement of the opener stars, the levers and the bearing shafts.

12. The interface according to

claim 11

, characterized in that the centering device comprises loading shaft flaps connected to the bearing arrangement, and characterized further by actuating links connected to a lever arrangement fastened to the bearing arrangement.

13. The interface according to

claim 12

, characterized in that the lever arrangement comprises a pivot lever rotatable in a limited manner about a pivot shaft, a connecting link, a pivotably mounted angle lever and a vertically arranged linkage connected to the angle lever.

14. The interface according to

claim 13

, characterized further by actuating wires arranged on the pivot shaft and extending into the transport path of the transport pallets on the receiving conveyor.

15. The interface according to

claim 13

, characterized in that the vertically arranged linkage is connected to a bearing arrangement having at least one tube impressing shell arranged thereon.

16. The interface according to

claim 15

, characterized in that the bearing arrangement comprises two tube impressing shells arranged at different heights and successively in the direction of transport of the transport pallets along the receiving conveyor.

17. The interface according to

claim 16

, characterized in that the bearing arrangement is loaded by at least one spring element for urging the impressing shells in a direction toward the receiving conveyor for acting on tubes supported on transport pallets.

18. The interface according to

claim 12

, characterized in that the loading shaft flaps of the centering device include centering aids adjustable to the diameter of the spinning cops on the transport pallets.