US2225848A - Device for interchanging empty bobbins for full bobbins in winding machines - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 24, 11940.

SEEGENTHALER DEVICE. FOR INEERCHANGING EMPTY BOBBINS FOR FULL BOBB'INS IN WINDING MACHINES FiledAug. 5, 1958 Patented Dec. 24, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DEVICE FOR INTERCHANGING EMPTY BOB- BIN S FOR FULL BOBBINS IN WINDING MA- CHINE S Erlenbach, Switzerland Application August 5, 1938, Serial No. 223,370 In Switzerland November 13, 1937 7 Claims.

This invention relates to devices for interchanging empty bobbins for full bobbins in winding machines of the type disclosed in my U. S. Patent No. 2,131,147 in which a plurality of bobbins are mounted eccentrically ona carriage adapted to be rotated from time to time to-positions suitable for winding empty bobbins and replacing full bobbins with empty bobbins.

The device according to the invention operates in such manner that during the time in which one bobbin is being wound the full bobbin which previously had been wound andremoved from the winding position is automatically released from the respective holding device, and that thereupon an empty bobbin is automatically inserted in this holding device which empty bobbin is subsequently moved into winding position, while a-full bobbin is removed from this position.

Therefore, the time required for winding one bobbin is utilized for automatically interchanging a previously finished, thatis, a full bobbin for an empty bobbin, so that an absolutely continuous automatic operation of the winding machine is rendered possible without discontinuance of operation during the interchanging of bobbins. Furthermore, a relatively great amount of time is afforded for effecting the mechanical operations for interchanging an empty bobbin for a full bobbin.

This device and the operation thereof are hereinafter more explicitly explained by taking reference to the accompanying drawing in which an embodiment of the device is illustrated, by way of example only. The winding machine, in connection with which the present improvement is illustrated, is of the type disclosed in my U. S. Patent No. 2,131,147 and has a displaceably and rockably mounted cop supporting frame or carriage. In the drawing,

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of the machine showing the cop supporting frame in theposition after the interchanging of bobbins is completed;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing the cop supporting frame in the position in which the full cop is released and an empty bobbin is subsequently inserted in the respective holding device;

Fig. 3 shows a vertical section on the line IIIIII in Fig, 2 on a larger scale, and

Fig. 4 is a vertical section on the line IV-IV in Fig. 2 showing parts'of a cop feed mechanism to assume rotationally displaced positions as regards Fig. 3.

The cop supporting frame or carriage is provided with two face plates I, 2 which arefirmly interconnected by a hollow shaft 3 by means of which the cop supporting frame is mounted on a fixed bearing shaft 4. The cop supporting frame is advanced step by step longitudinally of the bearing shaft 4 in the direction of the arrow I in Fig. 1 in a manner known per se during the building of the cop with the aid of a feeler (not shown) in dependence on the cop winding in progress of formation. The means for advancing the frame step by step and the feeler means for controlling the advance are disclosed in my U. S. Patent No. 2,131,147, wherein the former comprises principally screw I2, coupling member II, and electric motor 33 for driving screw I2, the circuit for said motor being controlled by cop feeler I6 which controls the contact arm It of said circuit to cause the motor to be energized to move the spindle frame forward stepwise. The face plate I has two projecting arms I, I, which extend in the plane of the plate and serve for alternate cooperation with a longitudinal rail 5 arranged in the lower part 5 of the machine frame.

The arm of the face plate I which extends downwardly cooperates with the longitudinal rail 5' which serves as a stop for this arm, thereby preventing the cop supporting frame or carriage from rotational displacement. The. face plate 2 is provided, in a manner similar to that described for the face plate I, with two projecting arms 2', 2" which extend in the plane of the plate and serve for cooperation with the longitudinal rail 5'.

On the pair of plates I, 2 are mounted two winding spindles 6, 5' in diametrically opposed relation, each spindle being constructed as a roller, the roller of the upper winding spindle 6 which assumes the winding position (Figs. 1 to 3) being rotated by bearing engagement with an endless driving belt (not shown) which passes over the same. A spindle drivingmeans of this kind is disclosed in U. S. Patent No. 2,131,147 wherein it comprises belt I which alternately drives spindles I, I. which correspond to spindles 6, 6- of the present mechanism. Each one of the winding spindles 6, 6 is provided at its end projecting beyond the face plate I with a cop tube driving head I, 1' respectively for the reception of cop tubes 8, 8' respectively the other ends of which are received within opposing abutment cups of socket 9, 9' respectively.

posing abutment cup 9 or 9. The cups 9, 9' are arranged on plates Ill, I respectively which are pivotally connected to a plate H and form together therewith a counter holding device for the cop tubes. The plate H is firmly connected to the face plate I by a tube l2 passing over the bearing shaft 4, thus forming a component part of the rockable cop supporting frame. Each of the two plates ll], ID of the counter holding device is urged in the direction towards the respective driving head I or I by leaf springs l3, [3' respectively, for the purpose of retaining the cop tubes in the holding devices.

In the lower part 5 of the machine frame a stop lever 14 is provided which is normally held in bearing engagement with a stationary counter face by a tension spring IS. The oncoming winding thread passes over a thread guide [6 which reciprocates during the operation of the Winding machine through a constant range corresponding to the length of cone of the cop winding in progress of formation, as indicated by the double arrow in Figs. 1 and 2.

As the winding on the cop tube 8 is completed the arm 2 of the face plate 2 arrives at a point beyond the end of the longitudinal rail 5, whereupon the cop supporting frame is rocked round the bearing shaft 4 through half a revolution, preferably automatically (by means not shown), in

the direction of the arrow shown in Fig. 3. The means for rocking the frame per se forms no part of the present invention and therefore it has been omitted from the present disclosure for the sake of simplicity, but such means is disclosed in my U. S. Patent No. 2,131,147 wherein it comprises principally belt I and extension member 26 which cooperates with the belt for rocking the frame. Simultaneously with this rocking movement the cop supporting frame is longitudinally displaced relative to the bearing shaft 4 by spring action, whereby it is returned into initial position.

By effect of this rocking movement of the cop supporting frame, in course of which the arm I of the face plate I passes through a notch in the longitudinal rail 5', the respective winding spindle 6 or 6' is rocked out of winding position together with the corresponding full cop tube 8 or 8' and instead the winding spindle carrying an empty cop tube is rocked into this position in which it is immediately driven by the endless driving belt which comes into frictional engagement therewith. At the same time as this rocking movement occurs, the carriage is also retracted longitudinally into its initial position by means similar to the spring l9 and arm 10 disclosed in my Patent No. 2,131,147. The rocking movement of the cop supporting frame during which the cop tubes 8, 8 perform a gyrating movement is limited by the arms I and 2' of the face plates 0 I, 2 hitting the lower longitudinal rail 5, whereby the cop supporting frame is secured in its new position of adjustment at the same time. On the return of the cop supporting frame into initial position, that is, after it has been turned through I80, the oncoming winding thread is wound on the empty cop tube moved into winding position, while the cop supporting frame is again fed step by step in the direction of the arrow I in Fig. 1 under the control of the feeler provided.

As the cop supporting frame is displaced step by step together with the full cop tube 8' having been moved out of winding position (Fig. 1), the plate III of the counter holding device cooperates with the stop lever l4, so that its translatory movement is discontinued by the stop lever I4 acting on its free end and the plate 10 is rocked about its pivot joint on the plate H. Consequently the full cop tube 8' is released from engagement with the respective holding device and is thus expelled from the resilient abutment of 5 the spindle driving head 'I" (Fig. 2) so as to drop into a lower receptacle (not shown). The plate ID remains in rocked position for a certain time, that is, until it slides off the upperl end of the stop lever I4, whereupon it is rocked back into 10 position of rest again by action of the associated spring. By effect of this action, the plate I0 forces an empty cop tube into engagement with the spindle driving head I which tube was moved into initial feeding position after the full cop tube 15 had been released, that is, delivered, so that this empty cop tube is secured in position between the spindle driving head I and the abutment 9.

Various auxiliary devices are secured on the lower part of the machine frame, by means of 20 depending carrier members, and are hereinafter explicitly explained. The numeral l1 designates a box-like magazine for empty cop tubes. At the lower end of the magazine I! which is obliquely disposed, two leaf springs 18, I9 are arranged, 25 as shown in Fig. 3, which serve for preventing the series of superposed empty cop tubes from unintentionally dropping out of the magazine l1. On a shaft 20 a lever 2| is secured which carries on its outer end a rod 22 extending perpendicular- 30 ly thereto. On the rod 22- two gripper arms 23 are mounted for limited rocking movement, and are urged by torsion springs 22 in the direction towards the lower end of the magazine I1 and each of which is provided with a concaved seating 23 35 for successively receiving the empty cop tubes for feeding them from the magazine H to the cop supporting frame.

The oscillatory cop feed mechanism thus formed is further provided with a feed control member 40 24 which is also mounted on the shaft 20, and is provided with a specially shaped head for cooperation with the empty cop tube having been received in the seatings 23' of the gripper arms 23, in such manner, that this cop tube does not 45 drop out of the mechanism during the subsequent rocking movement of the latter into a raised position (hereinafter explained). On the shaft 20 alpinion 25 is fixed which meshes with a toothed I pivotal sector 26. This sector 26, which is mount- 50 ed on a pin 21, is connected by a link 28 with a crank pin 29 which in turn is connected with a shaft 30 by means of a crank arm. On the shaft 30 a clutch member 3| is axially displaceably arranged for common rotation therewith, 55 and a complementary clutch member 32 is mounted on the shaft 30 and is operatively connected with a chain drive 34 through the intermediary of a spur gear drive 33, cooperating intermittently with the member 3 I During the operation 60 of the machine the clutch member 32 is continuously driven.

The clutch member 3| is provided with a disk 35 having a lateral cam track 35'. In a circumferential groove of the clutch member 3| a 55 setting lever 36 engages, said setting lever being mounted on a bolt 31, and cooperates with a guide roller 38 which is arranged on a spring-loaded lever 39. For the above-mentioned purpose the setting lever 36 is provided with two oblique faces 70 for alternate cooperation with the roller 33. With the setting-lever 36 cooperates an abutment 49 which is arranged on an arm 4| which is rotatably mounted on an extension 3 of hollow spindle 3 which it is coupled axially so that it moves 75 axially with the carriage but does not partake of the rotary rocking movements which the cop supporting carriage carries out for removing the full cop tubes from the winding position and for conveying an empty cop tube into the winding position. The free end of arm 4| bears laterally against the lower part 5 of the machine frame.

Each time an empty cop tube must be fed to the cop supporting frame from out of the magazine H, the abutment 40 cooperates with the setting lever 36 (Fig. 1) which is then rocked to the right as regards Fig. 1 until its tip rides up over the dead center with respect to the roller 38 on the lever 39, whereupon the setting lever 36 is swung abruptly into the other end position shown in Fig. 2 under the influence of the roller carrier lever 39. In this way, the clutch member 3| is connected and, consequently, the shaft 30 is driven and the crank pin 29 is rocked from the position shown in Fig. 3 in the direction of the arrow indicated, so that the toothed sector 26 is rocked back and forth.

Consequently, the cop feed mechanism is rocked, at first, for a short distance in the direction of arrow 0. in Fig. 3, thus towards the magazine l1, and the inclined face of the head of lever 24 strikes against the upper part of the lowermost cop tube thus forcing said tube downwardly, overcoming the resistance of retaining springs l8, It]. The cop then comes to rest in the recess 23 with which the member 24 then coopcrates for holding the tube therein. The feed members 23, 24 then rock in the opposite direction, i. e., in the direction of arrow 2), into the position shown in Fig. 4. In this way, the empty cop tube having been grasped by the cop feed mechanism is brought into the initial feeding position, that is, in between the driving head I and the plate Ill, plate It! having been rocked to open position as shown in Fig. 2 When the empty cop tube arrives at the initial feeding position,

, and upon further longitudinal movement of the carriage, the plate slides across the stop lever l4 and then brings the holding socket 9' to bear against the cop tube end, thereby pressing the other end into the driving head i, so that the cop tube is retained in the holding devices I, 9'. Thereupon, the cop feed mechanism returns into its initial position.

The above-described movements of the cop feed mechanism are effected while the crank pin 29 completes a part of its rotary course, as will be readily understood. While the crank pin 29 travels through the last portion of its course, the setting lever 36 is rocked past its dead center by the cam track 35 of the disk 35 in the direction causing it to cooperate with its other oblique face with the roller of carrier lever 39, as shown in Fig. 1. By this means, the clutch member 3| is disconnected and thus the initial condition of the clutching device for actuating the crank pin 29 is restored. As the cop supporting frame returns into initial position, the respective plate It or l ofthe counter bearing member slides across the stop lever l4, due to the cop supporting frame, having been rocked, meeting with the stop lever M, in such manner, that the latter evades, that is, rocks out of position, by energizing the associated spring I5.

Owing to the cop tube magazine being situated at a lower level than the cop tubes mounted in the cop supporting frame, the operation of the device can be watched without the sight being obstructed. The device can be, so to speak, added to the machine frame as a separate unit. It willbe understood that the construction of details of the device may be varied from the showing of the drawing.

The stop lever l4 may be adjustable so as to allow of adjusting the same in accordance with the length of the bobbins to be produced as well as in precise agreement with a predetermined time of operation.

In operation, when a cop tube has been fully wound, the spindle frame will have progressed so far to the right in its stepwise movement that an arm I or will be able to pass through a slot in guide rails 5, and the carriage is then rocked through 180 by the driving belt. At the same time, the carriage will be moved longitudinally, to the left in Figs. 1 and 2, to the starting position for winding an empty cop tube. During this longitudinal movement to the left, the hinged plate In, or ID, is able to pass pivoted stop lever M by rocking said lever to the left. As the winding operation proceeds, the carriage frame moves to the right by progressive stepwise movements. When it reaches the position shown in Fig. 2, hinged plate In or It will have engaged stop lever M which cannot pivot to the right, and plate ID or H! with its abutment 9 or 9' will'be swung away from socket I or I, and therefore full cop 8 will be released and discharged.

Just after the full cop is released, arm 48 swings clutch lever 36 past the center position and, under the influence of roller 38 and its actuating spring, lever 36 and clutch member 35 are thrown to the right with the member 35 in engaging relation with clutch-member 32, whereby the empty cop feeding means is actuated. Through the train of actuating gearing, including shaft 39, crank 29, rod 28, and gears 25 and 26, arms 2| and 24 are first swung slightly in the counterclockwise direction to grasp an empty cop and are then swung clockwise in Fig. 3, carrying the cop feed pocket formed between arm 24 and spring 23 to a position extending in line with spindle head 1 or and abutment 9 or 8. As plate In or III clears the top of stop M, it spring back toward spindle head I or 1' and the ends of the empty cop are retained between head i or and abutment 9 or 9', and the arms 2| and 24. then return to their starting positions.

As the clutch member 35 turns further, its cam face 35' engages lever 36 and swings it to the left and past its dead center with respect to roller 38, and the clutch is thereby disengaged. The winding apparatus then proceeds with its winding operation and stepwise movement to the right until one of the arms I or I" again passes through the notch in rail 5','at which time the sequence of operations above described is repeated.

What I claim is:

1. Cop tube changing mechanism for cop winding machines of the kind having a machine frame, a rotatable and longitudinally movable spindle carriage, a plurality of spindles mounted in said carriage and in which successive rotational movements of the carriage bring empty cop tubes into winding position and remove full tubes from winding position into position to be removed and substituted by empty tubes, said tube changing mechanism comprising two pairs of cop tube end holding devices, one of said devices of each pair being a resiliently axially movable socket, a stop for moving said socket from an end of a fully wound cop tube in position to be removed during longitudinal movement of the carriage during the winding of another cop tube for releasing the full ione of'said devices of each pair being a resiliently 2520f the carriage which accompanies the winding tube, means including gearing and a clutch for feeding an empty cop tube into'position to be held by said holding devices while said socket is in removed position, and means for resiliently returning said socket to cop tube engaging position when the longitudinal movement of the carriage carries the socket past said stop.

2. Cop tube changing mechanism for cop winding machines of the kind having a machine frame, a rotatable and longitudinally movable spindle carriage, a plurality of spindles mounted in said carriage and in which said carriage performs longitudinal reciprocation as a tube is wound and also performs successive rotational movements which bring empty cop tubes intowinding posi tion and remove full tubes from winding position into position to be .removed and substituted by empty tubes, said tube changing mechanism comprising two pairs of cop tube end holding devices,

axially movable socket, a stop pivoted for movement in only one direction for'moving said socket from an end of a fully wound cop tube in position to be removed during the longitudinal movement of another cop tube for releasing the full tube, means for feeding an empty cop tube into position to be held by .said holding devices while said socket is in removed position, said socket being released from said stop during the progress of the longitudinal movement of the carriage so that said resiliently movable socket returns to tube holding position and thus holds the empty tube that had been fed into position to be held,

and during the return longitudinal movement of the carriage the pivoted stop is pivotally moved out of the path of movement of a tube holding socket by engagement of the socket therewith.

3. Cop tube changing mechanism for cop winding machines of the kind having a machine frame, a rotatable and longitudinally movable spindle carriage, a plurality of spindles mounted in said carriage and in which successive rotational movements of the carriage bring empty cop tubes into winding position and remove full tubes from winding position into position to be removed and substituted by empty tubes, said tube changing mechanism comprising two pairs of cop tube end holding devices, one of said devices of each pair -being a resiliently axially movable socket, a stop pivoted for'movement in only one direction for engaging and moving a movable socket from an end of a fully wound cop tube in position to be removed during the winding of another cop tube for releasing the full tube, said movable socket being brought into engagement with said stop by the longitudinal movement of the socket, means for feeding an empty cop tube into position to be held by said holding devices while said socket is in removed position, said means including a drive clutch and means for engaging and disengaging said clutch in dependence on the longitudinal movement of the carriage, said socket being released from said stop by the continued longitudinal movement of the socket to return to tube holding position resiliently, said stop allowing movement of said movable sockets in the opposite direction by pivoting out of the path thereof when engaged thereby.

4. Cop tube changing mechanism for cop winding machines of the kind having a machine frame, a rotatable'and longitudinally movable spindle carriage, a plurality of spindles mounted in said carriage and in which successive rotational movements of the carriage bring empty cop tubes into winding position and remove full tubes from winding position into position to be removed andv substituted by empty tubes, said tube changing mechanism comprising two pairs of cop tube end holding devices, one of said devices of each pair being a resiliently axially movable socket, means including a stop pivoted for movement in only one direction for engaging and moving a movable socket from an end of a fully wound cop tube in position to be removed during the winding of another cop tube for releasing the full tube, means for feeding an empty cop tube into position to be held by said holding devices while said socket is in removed position, said means including a drive clutch and means for engaging and disengaging said clutch in dependence on the longitudinal movement of the carriage, a tube supply chute, a pair of arms, one arm having a recess for receiving an empty tube and the other arm serving as a contact for retaining a tube in said recess, means for swinging both of said arms together when the clutch is engaged first toward said tube supply chute to receive a tube and then in the opposite direction to carry the tube into position to be received by the tube holding devices, said removed socket being withdrawn from engagement with said stop by the continued longitudinal movement thereof to allow said socket to return to tube holding position resiliently.

5. Cop tube changing mechanism for cop winding machines of the kind having a machine frame, a rotatable and longitudinally movable spindle carriage, a plurality of spindles mounted in said carriage and in which successive rotational movements of the carriage bring empty cop tubes into winding position and remove full tubes from winding position into position to be removed and substituted by empty tubes, said tube changing mechanism comprising two pairs of cop tube end holding devices, one of said devices of each pair being a resiliently axially movable socket, means including a stop pivoted for movement in only one direction located in the path of longitudinal movement of the movable socket of a full cop tube for moving said socket from an end of a fully wound cop tube in position to be removed during the winding of another cop tube for releasing the full tube, means for feeding an empty cop tube into position to be held by the pair of holding devices to which said removed socket belongs while said socket is in removed position, said means including a drive clutch and means for engaging and disengaging said clutch in dependence on the longitudinal movement of the carriage, a cop tube supply device, a pair of arms, one arm having a recess for receiving an empty tube from said device and the other arm serving as a contact for retaining a tube in said recess, means including a crank drive and a gear drive for rocking both of said arms together when the clutch is engaged first toward a tube supply to receive a tube from said supply device and then in the opposite direction to carry the tube into position to be received by the tube holding devices, said removed socket being withdrawn from engagement with said stop by the continued longitudinal movement thereof to allow said socket to return to tube holding position resiliently.

6. Cop tube changing mechanism for cop winding machines of the kind having a machine frame, a rotatable and longitudinally movable spindle carriage, a plurality of spindles mounted in said carriage and in which successive rotational movements of the carriage bring empty cop tubes into winding position and remove full tubes from winding position into position to be removed and substituted by empty tubes, said tube changing mechanism comprising two pairs of cop tube end holding devices, one of said devices of each pair being a resiliently axially movable socket, means including a stop pivoted for movement in only one direction for engaging and moving a movable socket from an end of a fully Wound cop tube in position to be removed during the winding of another cop tube for releasing the full tube, said movable socket being brought into 'engagement with said stop by the longitudinal movement of said socket, means for feeding an empty cop tube into position to be held by said holding devices while said socket is in removed position, said means including a drive clutch and a trip device having a setting arm actuated by the longitudinal movement of the carriage for engaging and disengaging said clutch in dependence on the longitudinal movement of the carriage, said removed socket being withdrawn from engagement with said stop by the continued longitudinal movement thereof to allow said socket to return to tube holding position resiliently.

'7. Cop tube changing mechanism for cop winding machines of the kind having a machine frame, a rotatable and longitudinally movable spindle carriage, a plurality of spindles mounted in said carriage and in which successive rotational movements of the carriage bring empty cop tubes into winding position and remove full tubes from winding position into position to be removed and substituted by empty tubes, said tube changing mechanism comprising two pairs of cop tube end holding devices, one of said devices of each pair being a resiliently axially movable socket, means including a stop pivoted for movement in only one direction and located in the path of longitudinal movement of the movable socket of a full cop tube for engaging and moving said socket from an end of a fully wound cop tube in position to be removed during the winding of another cop tube for releasing the full tube, an empty cop tube reservoir located at a lower level than the spindles of the spindle carriage, automatic means for feeding an empty cop tube from said reservoir into position to be held by said holding devices while said socket is in removed position, and said removed socket being withdrawn from engagement with said stop by the continued longitudinal movement thereof to allow said socket to return to tube holding position resiliently.

WALTER SIEGENTHALER.

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