US2571880A - Can changing mechanism for textile machines - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 16, 1951 O, Q HINSON 2,571,880

CAN CHANGING MECHANISM FOR TEXTILE MACHINES Filed Aprl 5, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet l Oct. 16, 1951 0, Q HlNSQN 2,571,880

CAN CHANGING MECHANISM FOR TEXTILE MACHINES Filed April 5, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 00L/s C. H//Vo/V Oct. 16, 1951 oA c. HINSON 2,571,880

CAN CHANGING MECHANISM FOR TEXTILE MACHINES Filed April 5, 1945 4 Sheecs-Sheerl 3 l y glnzen l T ya 000.5 (I. H/No/v Oct. 16, 1951 O. Q HINSON 2,571,880

CAN CHANGING MECHANISM FOR TEXTILE MACHINES Filed April 5, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 NA /IV Moro/ Patented Oct. 16, 1951 CAN CHANGING MECHANISM FOB TEXTILE MACHINES Odus C. Hinson, Cramerton,

N. C., assigner, by

mesne assignments, to The Terrell Machine Company, Charlotte, N. C., a corporation of North Carolina Application April 5, 1945, Serial No. 586,651

11 Claims. 1

This invention has at its object the provision of novel and improved means for automatically transferring the delivery of sliver produced by a combing machine, card, drawing frame, or other textile machine, from a full can to an empty can when the first of such cans become filled to capacity.

In various textile machines which deliver their product in sliver form, it is common to provide in connection with the coller mechanism which coils the sliver into cans at the delivery end of the machine, a stop motion device which stops the machine when the can into which the sliver is being coiled becomes filled to capacity. While the action of this stop motion prevents overflow and consequent disorder and damage of the sliver, it leaves the machine stopped yand idle until the attendant shall note the condition, remove the full can and replace it by an empty can, and restart the machine by hand.

To prevent this loss of machine time and production, the invention provides self-acting means automatically stopping the machine after a predetermined measured length of sliver has been coiled into one can, transferring the delivery of sliver to an adjacent empty can, and again restarting the machine and the coiling mechanism to deliver the same measured quantity of sliver into the empty can. Thereby the production of the machine is interrupted only for the few seconds involved in shifting the delivery means from the full can to the empty can, with no dependence on the attention of the operator, who is thus given the full length of the prolonged period required to fill the empty can during which to remove the filled can and put an empty one in place in readiness for the next shift.

To these ends, the invention comprises in its preferred and complete form 'a plurality of rotated can-supports, and a coiling device shiftable from a position above acan located on one of such supports to a position above a can located on another of such supports, the shifting of such coller mechanism being effected by power means actuated by devices which measure the length of sliver delivered, and which power means also interrupt the driving of the machine producing the sliver, the shifting means being contrived to restart such main drive at the completion of the shifting movement. Preferably also, the driving of the rotating can-supports is selectively shifted and conned to the one which holds the can then being filled.

Other objects of the invention, and the manner of their attainment are as set forth hereinafter.

An illustrative embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a front elevation.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation.

Fig. 3 is a plan View.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the driving means for the rotating can-supports. t

Fig. 5 is a diagram of the electrical controls and connections used.

Fig. 6 shows the counter mechanism which calls the can change.

The invention is shown applied to the delivery end of a multiple head cotton combing machine, oi' which the uprights supporting the working parts (not shown) of a single comber head are indicated at I las mounted on a longitudinal frame-member 3 supported on legs 5. At 1 is indicated the sliver table along which the slivers from the several heads are drawn in parallel relation by drafting rolls located in the draw-box 3, the slivers being gathered into one as they leave the draw-box by a trumpet II through which the resulting single sliver is drawn by condensing rolls I3, all as heretofore.

In accordance with the invention, the single sliver emerging from rolls I3 travels upwardly and over a quadrant-shaped guide I 5 fixed on the novel shifting coller head Il of the invention, passing over the top surface thereof, around a cylindrical guide I8 in one working position of head I1, and down through a rimmed aperture I9 in the top of a housing 2I and between a pair of opposing calender rolls 23 fixed on shafts 25 mounted in bearings 2l within the housing, the shafts being geared together by pinions 29 to turn in unison in opposite directions and one thereof being driven by bevel gears 3| from vertical shaft 33 within a hollow column or housing 35 suitably mounted on the end frame of the combing machine and constituting a support for the coller head. The sliver is drawn downward by the rolls 23 and fed into the axially lo'cated upper end of the usual outwardly and downwardly inclined spout 31 integrally formed in the coiling member 39 rotatably mounted in its housing 4I and driven from a spur gear 43 fixed on vertical shaft 33 through an idler gear 45 engaging with teeth on the periphery of coiler member 39. The sliver emerging from the spout is thus laid in the usual coiled relation into one of the cans 41, positioned in slightly eccentric relation to the coller member. A lip 49 of the housing 4I extends out over the can mouth, to hold down the coiled sliver when the can becomes filled beyond the level of its mouth. Housing 2I is hinged to houslar movement, at

' motor, restarting the and is provided with a knob 53 lifted up and swung back in ing 4| at 5|, whereby it can be threading un. .g l

To provide for `automatically shifting the delivery from a full can to an 'empty can, the coiler head is mounted to swing horizontally about the axis of the column 35, by forming the top portion of such column with a tubular extension or hub 51 of reduced diameter, which hub fits easily within a corresponding sleeve 59 bolted by means of its flange 6| to the bottom of housing 4|, so that the coiler head can swingabout the axis of the column. To swing the coiler head, a rod 63 is fixed in a hub 65 forming a part of plate 8l cf the head and also in a hub B1 in the end of one arm of a lever 69 mounted free on shaft 33 by means of its central hub 1| and an extended bushing 13 fixed therein. Rod |53 is connected at about midlength to a link 15 which has a hub 11 fitting around the rod and supported by a collar 19 xed on the rod. The other end of this link is connected b v a clevis 8| and pin 83 with an ear on a hub 85 rotatably mounted on a pin 81 fixed in the end of a crank arm 89 rotated a half turn, when can change is needed, in any appropriate mann-er, herein by fixing the crank arm on a .iackshaft on which a worm gear 90 is fixed within a reduction gear box 9|, such gear being driven by a Worm 92 on the shaft 93 of a small electric motor 95.

The energizing of motor 95 is controlled by a yardage counter 91 of known or any preferred design which is driven by shaft 99 conventionally driving the lower calender rolls mounted in the sliver table 1 at the front of the pan which receives the combed web from each combing head. A familiar form of hunting tooth type of textile counter is herein used for the purpose, comprising a pair of intermeshing gears |80, |82, Fig. 6, one of which has one more tooth than the other, so that when driven by a pinion |84 on shaft 99 the two strikers |86 respectively fixed on the two gears will come together at the end of a long series of turns of shaft 99. This thrusts gear |82 away from gear |80 which latter is mounted on a fixed center, gear |82 being carried on a pivot |80 ilxed in the forked end of a lever |90 swinging on fixed pivot |92 and having-ria screw |94 fixed in its other end the head of which engages the plunger |98 of switch |98 normally in on" position. Actuation of switch |98 is momentarv only, as the momentum of the parts carries strikers |86 past centers far enoughso that pull spring 200 anchored at 202 swings lever |90 reversely and restores gears |80, |82 to ful'i mesh. After the number of revolutions of this calender roll shaft corresponding to the predetermined yardage of sliver desired to be put into each can 41, counter 91 acts in described manner to interrupt the current supply to the main motor driving the comber and simultaneously closes a circuit supplying electric current to motor 95, which runs until crank 89 has been given a 180 anguwhich instant aV switch in reduction gear box 9| actuated bv the movement of the worm gear opens the circuit to can-change motor 95 and closes the circuit of the main combing machine. The 180 movement imparted to crank 89 is transmitted through link 15 to move rod 63 bodily sid-ewise, swinging the entire coiler head |1 through substantially 80 of angular movement` about the axis of column 35, thus moving the coiler member 39 and its spout from over the filled can and into a position over the empty can to deliver its sliver into the empty can, In the bevel gears course of this shift, since the delivery of sliver from the spout is stopped at the moment, the sliver parts at a point between the spout and the top of the coiled mass extending up from the mouth of the filled can and pressing against the under side of housing 4|.

As heretofore, the can being filled is rotated about an axis eccentric to that about which the delivery end of the spout 31 revolves, and for this purpose, a turn-table |00 is provided to support each can, having a raisedflange |02 to receive the base of the can. To rotate these canholders, a pinion |0| is fixed on the foot of vertical shaft 33, which pinion meshes with the larger gear |03, of a compound gear rotating on a pin |05 fixed in the end of a lever |01 swinging freely about shaft 33, so that the smaller gear |08 of the compound gear meshes with that one of the two large gears |09 respectively connected with a given turn-table |00 when the coiler head |1 is in delivery position over the can on such turntable. A lost-motion connection comprising a radial arm ||0 rigid with arm 69 and swinging between upstanding flanges ||2 on lever |01 reduces the angular displacement of such lever to that needed to make the gear change. Thus, when the coiler head is shifted from over a filled can to a position over an empty can, the gear drive located in the turn-table platform is shifted from the turn-table |00 holding the full can to the turn-table supporting the empty can, and the latter can is duly revolved while the coiler head delivers the sliver thereinto, the filled can remaining at rest. Gears |09 are respectively fixed on stub-shafts ||3 rotatably mounted in suitable bearings in connection with platform I and forming the rotatable supporting and driving means for the turn-tables |00.

The drive for the coiler mechanism is taken from any going part of the machine to which the automatic can-changing device is applied. Herein the drive is obtained from the end of the halflap shaft ||4, Fig. 3, of the combing machine, by extending the jackshaft ||5 driving the drawing rolls in draw box 9 so that it extends from within gear-box I0 into coiler column 35, where it imparts rotation to vertical shaft 33 by means of I1. A third bevel gear |l9 meshing with the one on shaft 33 is employed to transmit motion by way of an added jackshaft |2|, Fig. 2, and intervening chain |23 and sprockets located within a guard |25 to the shaft |21 of lower calender roll I3.

The details of the electrical controls and connections employed to cause the device to work in the manner described are shown in Fig. 5. After the comber has run long enough to put the intended amount of sliver into the can being filled, the yardage counter 91 acts to close its circuit-maker momentarily, current from the 550- volt 3-phase line |3| passing through the closed manually operated cutout switch |33 and stepped down to 12 volts by transformer |35 energizes the coil of a magnetic switch |31 to close a second circuit energizing the motor with llO-volt current obtained from the low side of transformer |39. Motor 95, as previously explained, shifts the coiler head |1 from over the full can to a position over the empty can, by means of worm 92 upon its shaft 93 engaging with worm gear 90 located within housing 9| and xed on the shaft of crank 89. On this same shaft carrying the worm gear and crank 89 there is also fixed a contact disk |4| connected to ground and having a circular periphery provided with two diametrically opposite notches |43 cut deeply therein. A

contact-maker |45 to engage the full-diameter periphery of disk |4| is connected with that end of the coil of switch |31 that is connected with the yardage counter. Thus when yardage counter 91 momentarily completes the circuit through switch |31 to start motor 95, the contact-maker |45 makes contact with the rim of disk |4| as soon as the motor sarts, thus holding switch |31 closed and the motor energized, in spite of the reopening of the circuit in yardage counter 91, until the worm gear 90 and disk |4| have completed a half-turn, whereupon the alternate notch |43 arrives opposite contact-maker |45, opening the circuit through switch |31 and thereby opening the motor circuit to stop the driving of crank 09 after 180 of travel.

In`order to stop the combing machine while the shift of the coiler head is being accomplished. a main switch |41 is interposed in the leads carrying the 550-volt current to the main motor which drives the combing frame, this switch being spring-biased to remain normally open but mechanically connected with the armature of a solenoid |49 in a circuit fed by the 550-volt leads. so that when the solenoid is energized the main motor switch |41 will be closed, and when the solenoid is deenergized the main switch will again open automatically. Solenoid |49 is normally energized by a circuit comprising wire |59 from one of the leads |3| beyond the main motor switch |41, and wire |60 from another of the leads |3| before main motor switch |41, this circuit including the winding of the solenoid and a circuit closer |54 of commercial design forming no part of my invention (Cat. No. CR2960- SY-70R of General Electric Co.s catalog GEA- 606L, copyrighted 1943), having a contactor |58 normally making contact with the terminal of wire |60 to keep the solenoid energized and main switch |41 closed while the combing frame is running. When the coil of switch |31 is energized to close its contactor |53 to supply current to the coiler-shifting motor 95, a non-conducting mechanical linkage or interlock |5| between contactor |53 and the operating handle of circuit closer |54 opens contactor |58 thereof to break the circuit through the solenoidel and allow spring |6| to open the switch |41 to stop the main motor driving the combing frame. As soon as the rotation of contact plate |4| has again opened the circuit through magnetic switch |31 and allowed rcontactor |53 to open the circuit through motor 95, the mechanical linkage 5| acts on circuit closer |54 to restore contactor |58 to closed position in contact with the terminal of wire |60, and at the same time to make only momentary contact between such terminal and a second contactor |55 which is connected to a wire |56 attached to the same lead |3| as wire |59, but attached thereto at the other side of main motor switch |41. Current is thereby momentarily supplied bv the contactor |55, located within circuit closer |54, to solenoid |49 to close main switch |41 and restart the combing machine, thereby reestablishing the holding circuit through wire |59 and the solenoid to keep main switch |41 closed. A second circuit closer |62 identical with |54 is provided in series multiple with the latter in wires |56, |60, for manual starting and stopping of the combing frame.

While I have illustrated and described a certain form in which the invention may be embodied, I am aware that many modications may be made therein by any person skilled in the art,

without departing from the scope oi' the invention as expressed in the claims. Therefore, I do not wish to be limited to the particular i'orm shown, or to the details of construction thereof, but what I do claim is:

1. Apparatus for delivering sliver into cans, comprising in combination a machine producing sliver, means coiling the sliver into a can, means stopping the driving of such machine upon delivery of a predetermined amount oi.' sliver, means transferring the delivery of sliver from such can to an adjacent can, and means restarting the machine to produce more sliver after the transfer has been effected.

2. Apparatus for delivering sliver into cans comprising in combination a machine producing sliver, driving means therefor, means coiling the sliver into a can, means transferring the delivery of sliver from such can to an adjacent can, driving means for the transferring means, and devices effecting alternating and successive operation of the two driving means after each delivery oi' sliver for a predetermined period of the operation of the machine.

3. Apparatus for delivering sliver into cans comprising in combination a machine producing sliver, a coiler head having a revolving spout ceiling the sliver into one of a plurality of cans, means supporting the coiler head for movement from a position in which it delivers the sliver into one of such cans to a position in which it delivers the sliver into another of such cans, and means stopping the production of sliver upon delivery of a predetermined amount of sliver, then effecting the said movement of the coiler head, and then restarting the machine.

4. Apparatus for delivering sliver into cans comprising in combination a machine producing sliver, can-holders each supporting a can with capacity for rotation about a separate xed axis coinciding with the axis of such can, means delivering sliver` into the several cans in succession, power driving means rotating the can-holders about the said axes and means successively putting said power driving means in driving connection solely with the can-holder supporting the can receiving the delivery of silver.

' 5. Apparatus for delivering sliver into cans comprising in combination a machine producing sliver, a shiftable coiler head having a revolving spout coiling the sliver into a can, can-holders each supporting a can with capacity for rotation, driving means for rotating the can-holders, and means shifting the coiler head from a position over one can to a position over another can and establishing driving connection with the particular can-holder supporting the latter can.

6. Apparatus for delivering sliver into cans comprising in combination a machine producing sliver, a shiftable coiler head having a revolving spout coiling the sliver into a can, can-holders each supporting a can with capacity for rotation, means driving the coiler head and one canholder from the machine, means stopping the driving of the machine, the coiler head, and the can-holder upon completion of a predetermined period of operation. and means actuated by said stopping means shifting the coiler head to a pomeans supporting such head for swinging movement about a vertical axis, and power means inf-V depen/dent of the actuation of the said machine swin/ging the coiler head about such axis.

8. Apparatus for delivering sliver into cans, comprising in combination a machine producing sliver, a coiler head having a revolving spout, means supporting such head for swinging movement about a vertical axis, a link connected to the head in eccentric relation to such axis, and power means reciprocating the link transversely of such axis and positively actuating the link in both directions of its movement.

9. Apparatus for delivering sliver into cans, comprising in combination a machine producing sliver, a coiler head driven thereby having a revolving spout, means supporting such head for swinging movement about a vertical axis, canholders each supporting a can with capacity for rotation, meansselectively driving the can-holders, and power means independent of the driving of the coiler and its revolving spout shifting the coiler head from over one can to a position over another can and also putting the holder of the latter can in driving connection with its driving means.

10. Apparatus for delivering sliver into cans, comprising in combination a machine producing sliver, means coiling the sliver into a can, means stopping the driving of such machine after each delivery of sliver throughout a predetermined length of operation of the machine, means transferring the delivery of sliver from such can to an adjacent can, and means restarting the machine to produce more sliver after the transfer has been effected.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 255,473 Tatham Mar. 28, 1882 20 587,267 Meats et al July 27, 1897 998,375 Morton July 18, 1911 1,012,894 Morton Dec. 26, 1911 1,571,060 Naumberg Jan. 26, 1926 1,957,241 Bee May 2, 1934 25 2,011,019 Suffern Aug. 13, 1935 2,082,864 Whitin June 8, 1937 2,183,575 Lieberknecht Dec. 19, 1939 2,269,463 Lieberknecht Jan. 13. 1942 3 FOREIGN PATENTS o Number Country Date 231 Great Britain of 1862 4,847 Great Britain of 1881

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