US2295642A - Cleaning apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 15, 1942. w. J. ELVIN ETAL CLEANING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 8. 1940 3 Shets-Shedt l INVENTORS. ELVIN WILLIAM J ELME RAY R R.STAHL. MOND D. REEL AND EPH H.DUCK

WORTH {WM ATTORNEYS Sept. 15, 1942. J. ELVIN EI'AL CLEANING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 8, 1940 ,IIIIIAIIIIII IIIIIIIIIIA v INVENTORS. LIAM J. ELVIN,

ER R.sTAH1 MOND D. REEL AND EPH H.D K WORTH Y ATTOR EYS iatented Sept. 15, 1942 William J. Elvin,

Meyersdale, Pa., W. Va., and

Md., assignors Joseph H.

Frostburg, Md Elmer R. Stahl, Raymond -D. Reel, Keyser, Duokworth, Lonaconing, to Celanese Corporation of America, a corporation of Delaware Application November 8, 1940, Serial No. 364,830

6 Claims.

This invention relates to cleaning apparatus, and relates more particularly to an apparatus for cleaning textile bobbins.

An object of our invention is the provision of means for cleaning textile bobbins used for packaging yarn or thread.

Another object of our invention is to provide an automatic bobbin cleaning means.

A further object of our invention is the provision of means for the cleaning of textile bobbins which will reach all surfaces thereof.

A still further object of our invention is the provision of suitable means for trapping and removing the dust and dirt loosened from the bobbins by the cleaning means.

Other objects of our invention will appear from the following detailed description.

In cleaning textile bobbins it has been the usual thing to wipe them free from dirt and dust by hand. Although this method of cleaning is slow and tedious, the dust and dirt thereon must be removed. If the bobbins are used without cleaning, the yarn wound thereon becomes soiled with resulting irregularities in the cloth woven therefrom and, if the soiled cloth is not thoroughly scoured before dyeing, uneven dyeing may result. The removal of the dust and dirt deposited on the metal bobbins therefore becomes an important economic factor.

Our invention will now be described in detail with referenceto the accompanying drawings, wherein there is shown a device for cleaning bobbins incorporating certain preferred embodiments:

In the drawings 7 Fig. 1 is a plan view of the device of our invention,

Fig. 2 is a rview taken along line 2-2 of Fig. 1 showing in detail a single cleaning brush in position, the means for clamping the bobbin in position, the bobbin releasing means, the driving chains and sprockets, and the suction fan-and ducts,

Fig. 3 is a detail view one. slightly enlarged scale showing the mechanism for moving the bobbins from the feed chute into position on the transport wheel,

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of the mechanism in Fig. 3, taken along line 4-4 in Fig. 1,

Fig. 5 is a side elevational view, taken along the line 55 of Fig. 1, showing the bobbin feed chute,

Figs. 6, '7, 8 and 9 are detail views showing the manner in which each of the driven cleaning brushes shown in Fig. 1 becomes in contact with detent 22 falls until the various portions of the bobbin to be cleaned,

and 1' r Fig. 10 is a detail view showing the counterbalanced bobbin supply cradle, the bobbin sup- :ply chute and the bobbin feed chute.

Like reference numerals indicate like parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

In the device of our invention, the bobbins II which are to be cleaned are first fed manually or by suitable mechanicalmeans (not shown) into the top of a chute l2 (see Fig. 5) having a lateral opening l2 at the bottom thereof. In Fig. 5 a bobbin H is shown in position ready to be fed to a mechanism, generally indicated by the reference character A, which is adapted to carry bobbins successively to a number of cleaning stations hereinafter described. Whenthe bobbins are placed in the chute I 2, the first one is stopped by a detent l3 and the space at the lateral opening l2" will remain empty until a trapping mechanism, hereinafter described, is et in motion.

The detent I3 is pivoted on a pin l4 held in brackets l5 attached to the side of the chute l2. The detent I3 is held in operative position by an expansible spring l6 which bears against the side of the chutel2 and against'an extension l3a integral with detent l3, the spring It being held in position by pins l'l.

In order for the bobbinto be dropped vtothe discharge position adjacent the lateral opening l2, the detent I3 is disengaged-to release the bobbin by the action of a cam l8 keyed to a rotating shaft l9 held in alignment by a bracket 20 fixed to the housing of the apparatus. The cam I8 is provided with a projection 18a. which is adapted to depress an arm l3b integral with and substantially at right angles to detent l3 causing the same to move out of opening 2| in the wall of chute l2 and away from the trapped'bobbins whereby said bobbin is released and falls to the bottom of the chute. The movement of detent l3 away from the chute causes. a detent 22 to rotate on its pivot 23 fixed to a bracket 24 and to move forward through. another opening v215 in the wall of the chute thereby preventing any succeeding bobbins in the chute from falling on top of the bobbin which is now in position to be fed to the bobbin carrying mechanism. between detent l3 and detent 22 may be regulated as by a screw 26. After the release of arm |3b by the arm projection l8a, the spring l6 expands causing the detent l3 to reenter opening 2|, themovement of detent 13 causing detent 22 to move out of opening 25 and the bobbin held by it is stopped by detent-.13.

The play shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, amino carry them by the several cleaning stations.

Automatic means are provided for moving a bobbin II into aligned slots 28 in plates 21. As

shown in Figs. 3 and 4, this means comprises a:

bifurcated arm 29 pivoted at 30 to 'a'rod 3I. The arm 29 is provided with an integral extension 29' by which said arm 29 is operatively connected to a rod 32 through an arm 33 which is pivotally attached to rod 32 by means of pins 34 and 35. The rods 3I and 32 are supported by and pass through blocks 36 and 31 fixed to a shelf 31: in the housing of the apparatus. The arm 29 is operated tomove the bobbins from the chute to the bobbin carrier by means of a pair of cams 38 and 39 keyed toa shaft 49. Cam 38 operates on a cam follower 4I' carried ina bifurcated end of rod 3| and cam '39- operates on cam follower I 42 similarly carried in a bifurcated end of rod 32. As the cam 38 causes rod 3I to move forward, cam 39 also movesrod 32 forward causing arm- 29 to enter chute I2. As rod 3| reaches the limit-of its forward motion, rod 32 continues to move an additional distance forward under the action of cam 3-9, causing arm 2-9-to pivot at 39 and move horizontally, thereby registeringbobbin H in aligned slots 28. Ascam- 38 turns, the movement of arm 29 and rod3'l is reversed by springs 43 and 44 anchored to-posts 45- and IIIi at one end and pulling on a rod -4I- set inrod 3I=at the other. The movement of rod- 32' islikewise reversed, as, cam 39 turns, by a second pair of springs (not shown) anchored below-springs 43 and 44' on posts45 and 46 and pulling on a rod 4I'setin rod 32. I

As the bobbin II registers withslots 28, it is caught by centering clamps? which arecaused to act by expansible springs '49 The-clamps 48 are held open by stationary cam 58 until the rotation of the bobbin transport plates 21 carries the cam follower I' beyond the stationary cam 50, thus permitting the springs 49- to expand-and closethe clamps on thebobbin. Stopmeanssuch as, adjustable stop screws maybe provided to limit the extent ofthe'closing movement of the clamps 48', thereby preventing tooclose a gripping of the bobbin and thus; insuring thefree rotation of. the bobbin while heldinthe clamps '48 during the cleaning operation. Said means may be provided on the bobbin transport plates 21. The clamps 48. are supported by brackets 52 to which they are pivotally attached by pins 53, brackets 52 being held on the bobbin transport plates 21 as by screws 54. The stationary cam 5nissupported by a spider 55.

The bobbin transport plates 21 are set on a shaft 2'! rotated by. a. chain. 56 meshing with sprocket wheels 51. and. 58 which are in suitable geared ratio. Sprocket wheel 58 iskeyed on to shaft 21' and wheel 51 is keyed on to shaft 59 whichis' driven by a motor 69. through suitable gearing enclosed in gear box BI- Asshown in Fig. 1, the: bobbin trapping, and feeding mechanismin-Fig. 5 isoperated by-av chain 62', driving the shaft I9 through a-sprocket wheel 53., the power for driving the chain '62 being taken from the drive shaft 59. In like manner, cams 38 and 39 which operate to move the forked arm 29 and register the bobbins with the aligned circular slots 28 are driven by a chain 63 connected to the shaft 40 by a sprocket wheel 64 and to drive shaft 59 by another geared sprocket wheel 65.

After the bobbin II has been clamped into position it is carried to the several cleaning stations, which comprise a series of angularly disposed revolving brushes. The first brush coming in contact with the bobbin is the brush 66 which cleans the outer surface of the top flange of the bobbin, the second brush '6'! cleans the outer surface of the bottom flange of the bobbin, the third brush 68 cleans the upper inner surfaces of the bobbin and. the fourth brush 69 cleans the lower inner surfaces. The combined action of the brushes acting in sequence serves to clean all the surfaces and the action of the brushes will be more particularly described in connection with the brush 61.

Asshowniin' Figs. 1. and? 2;. brush. 67 is driven by a shaft 10 connected to a suitable motor 11. The motor LI and brush shaft supporting posts 12 and: '13; are mounted on: a platform 1:4 which is pivoted on a post 15 for horizontal movement and on a pin 16' set: in brackets IT for suitable vertical movement; the auxiliary movement enhancing the action of the brush. Platform 14 is given a reciprocating vertical movement by-a double-acting cam 18 operating on a cam follower 19' mounted in brackets- The cam 18 is keyed on a shaft fl i which is turned by a, chain drive 82 meshing with asprocket 83 set on shaft 8|, said shaft being journal'ed in a: bearing v84. Chain 82 is moved by a sprocket 85 keyed on driven shaft 59. 'The reciprocating horizontal movement of the platform I4 isproduced by the cam 78, the periphery of which operates on cam follower 86 attached to the stud 86 depending from the underside of platform 14. The platform 14 and the brush 9'! are returned after each displacement by aspring 81' attached toa stud 88 at one end and to a post 89 integral with a channel 90 at the other end. This reciprocating vertical and horizontal motion of the brush 6! thoroughly-cleans-the outersurface of the lower flange of the bobbin H Anair duct 9'I catches the dirt which is brushed loose, the suction being provided by an enclosedsu'ction' ran 92* rotated by a motor 93 supported on a bracket 94. The duct'91 leadsto a mainheader 95 and the dust and dirt is discharged through a discharge duct 96. Platform 91 carrying brush 66 also describes a reciprocating, horizontal motion produced-by a cam 98 rotating in contact with a cam follower 99 and is returned after each displacement by suitable means; Brush 68is not given any positive vertical reciprocating motion. Platform 9! is;pivoted on a post I II II' for horizontal movement and' may be, pivoted vertically on a pin I 0 I: held in brackets I92 which are attached to the platform. 97. The brush 66 is rotated by a suitable motor.I03; Each of-the-brushes' 69,68 and B9 is also suppliedwith a suction duct communicating with the header 95' for carrying away the dust and dirt loosened from the bobbins, the ends of saidducts I04, I85 and I 06- being shown broken away in Fig. 1 andFig; 2'; A motor I01, suitably supported onzplatform I 98- drives brush B8 and brush 89' is driven by motor I89 supported on platform H0. 7

When the: bobbin II has passed eachof' the cleaning stations and is finally carriedbeyond brush '69, the cam'follower 5I on the clamp-I8 comes in contact with the stationary cam 56]. This causes the clamps 48 to open and the clean bobbin drops to a discharge chute I H from which said bobbin may be removed, or caused to slide into a convenient receiver.

The bobbins may be supplied for manual feeding to the bobbin supply chute l2 as shown in Fig. 10. A case full of soiled bobbins is set in a cradle H2 which is then raised and tipped by means of a counter-weight H3 so that the bobbins fall into a chute I M. The bobbins may then be removed through an opening I I5 and manually fed to the bobbin supply chute l2.

It is to be understood that the foregoing detailed description is merely given by way of illustration and that many variations may be made therein without departing from the spirit of our invention.

Having described our invention, What we desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A device for cleaning flanged bobbins comprising a series of centering clamps each adapted to engage the ends of the bore of the flanged bobbin and to leave the outer surfaces of the flanges free, means for moving said centering clamps together with the bobbins held thereby along a controlled path and a plurality of cleaning elements in said controlled path adapted to contact the surfaces of said bobbins.

2. A device for cleaning flanged bobbins comprising a series of centering clamps each adapted to engage the ends of the bore of a bobbin and to hold said bobbin freely rotatable and With the outer surfaces of its flanges free, means for moving said clamps together with the bobbin held thereby along a controlled path, and a plurality of cleaning elements in said controlled path adapted to engage the surfaces of said bobbins and to rotate said bobbins about their axis While cleaning the same.

3. A device for cleaning flanged bobbins comprising a series of centering clamps each adapted to engage the ends of the bore of a bobbin and to hold said bobbin freely rotatable and with the outer surfaces of its flanges free, means for moving said clamps together With the bobbin held thereby along a controlled path, and a plurality of rotating brushes in said controlled path adapted to engage the surfaces of said bobbins and to rotate said bobbins about their axis while cleaning the same.

4. A device for cleaning flanged bobbins comprising a series of centering clamps each adapted to engage the ends of the bore of a bobbin and to hold said bobbin freely rotatable and with the outer surfaces of its flanges free, means for moving said clamps together with the bobbin held thereby along a controlled path, a plurality of cleaning elements in said controlled path adapted to engage the surfaces of said bobbins and to rotate said bobbins about their axis while cleaning the same, and means for reciprocating at least one of said cleaning elements so as to facilitate the cleaning of said surfaces.

5. A device for cleaning flanged bobbins comprising a series of centering clamps each adapted to engage the ends of the bore of a bobbin and to hold said bobbin freely rotatable and with the outer surfaces of its flanges free, means for moving said clamps together with the bobbin held thereby along a controlled path, a plurality of rotating brushes in said controlled path adapted to engage the surfaces of said bobbins and to rotate said bobbins about their axis While cleaning the same, and means for reciprocating at least one of said brushes so as to facilitate the cleaning of said surfaces.

6. A device for cleaning flanged bobbins comprising a series of centering clamps each adapted to engage the ends of the bore of a bobbin and to hold said bobbin freely rotatable and with the outer surfaces of its flanges free, means for moving said clamps together with the bobbin held thereby along a controlled path, a plurality of cleaning elements in said controlled path adapted to engage the surfaces of said bobbins andto rotate said bobbins about their axis while cleaning the same, and means for reciprocating the cleaning elements in at least two directions.

WILLIAM J. ELVIN. ELIVIER R. STAHL. RAYMOND D. REEL. JOSEPH H. DUCKWORTH.

Images