US2675184A - Textile mechanism - Google Patents

Description

April 131954 Filed Aug 17, 1943 E. J. ABBOTT ET TEXTILE MECHANISM l0 Sh eets Sheet 1 April 13, 1954 E. J. ABBOTT ETAL 2,675,184

' TEXTILE MECHANISM Filed. Aug. 17, 1948 I0 Sheets-Sheet 2 46506725075 Mm vz yq my 1;.17err April 13, 1954 Filed Aug. 1'7, 1948 E. J. ABBOTT ETAL 2,575,184 TEXTILE MECHANISM l0 Sheets-Sheet 3 April 13, 1954 E. J. ABBOTT ET AL TEXTILE MECHANISM Filed Aug. 17, 1948 10 Sheets-Sheet 4 1 w j i yaw "W K 0 MM Mea an; mawdelflafi 2 3; MM 7 J 482" a:

E. J. ABBOTT ET AL April 13, 1954 TEXTILE MECHANISM Filed Aug. 17, 1948 10 Sheets-Sheet 5 m l M,

III/II E. J. ABBQTT ET AL April 13, 1954 TEXTILE MECHANISM 10 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Aug. 17, 1948 [72067550219 maid me a Z, Parr Aprll 13, 1954 E. J. ABBOTT ET AL 2,675,184

TEXTILE MECHANISM 4 Filed Aug. 17, 1948 10 Sheets-Sheet '7 o o o o o o o 0 I" 0 O 0 O O 0 O O O O O 0 O O O O o o o o o a o o O O O 0 Q 0 O O O O O O O 0 O 0 O 0 O O O O D O O O O O O O O 0 fnaaahn; lz rxw dq apzz April 13, 1954 Filed Aug. 17, 1948 E. J. ABBOTT ET AL TEXTILE MECHANISM l0 Sheets-Sheet 8 g fvegwwr uulmm ul Q/zv @fr" flaws/(075 April 13, 1954 E. J. ABBOTT ET AL TEXTILE MECHANISM 1O Sheets-Sheet 9 Filed Aug. 17, 1948 may W April 13, 1954 E. J. ABBOTT ET AL 2,675,184

TEXTILE MECHANISM Filed Aug. 17, 1948 10 Sheets-Sheet 10 Patented Apr. 13, 1954 EdwardrJ. Abb'o N .r H bott tt and :WinthropiL: assignors,abyanesne assignments, to Aborsted Mills,- Incorporate a corporationof New Hampshir Pen'y,1Wilton,.

ApplicationAugust 17; l948,- Serial-N oi "44 ,754

14 Claimsa. (Cl. 1.

This invention relates to fltcxtile .mechanismza and more particularly to improvedwmechanism fo1'-*arranging textile packages adapted for cornbination with mechanism which :delivers :such wound packages, such as an automatic winding 5 machine. or machines.

Among the A principal ob are to provide mechanism-which will handle-i the-packages gently, guardingthem against dam-'- age, but capable of keeping paceswithua rapid. StIGaJll-Of productionof packages, .for example, the product of- 'alarge group of automatic wind ing units. Thus, LOHE' object: of the :inventioni is= to concentrate=-the--operations of: arranging the packages in a single mechanism adapted to serve' l3 a considerable number of winding emits; and-ton... gathertogether and systernatically" arrange the packagesfrom-suchwinding :umts ata conven-:-- ient place." The invention .acontemplates the ac curate and-careful :Jconstruction of i the package 9 anism" becausev 0f s..themeed forgentle-handling of individual packages; such aspackages of 1. fine delicate filaments, butprovides p economy ofioperationbecause of-the largenum her of winding units -with which asingle such jects of the inventions-1..

mechanism ot the": present invention can -co operate;

The inventioniaims toprovide for' a reliable-J omatic supply of a large numberzof package dei's, lsuch l as pins of 'pinboards; :ne'cessary/to receive a. large-volume of production OfpaClWgBSg but aims to reduce to the minimumthe-amount of r supervision? and. .-.attention required 0f 1 the operator.

The.inventionafurther aims to guard against any voids or vacanciesamong:the automaticallyi filled 'packageholders; such as mightbe-occa--- sioned by oneor-more of the manywindingunits being "idle. The -inventionalso aims-to" prevent any uncontrolled discharge of packages-such -as ao he-event that the supply-of lders-became exhausted.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will beapparent from this specification and its drawings in which the invention'is explained byijj way of example.

In the accompanying drawings,

Fig. 1 is a front elevationof bobbinznechanism shown as combinedwith a spindle filling bobbin winder, of the winder beingshown;

Fig-2 is a view 'from;the 1-ight.of;Fig'.c;1,: partlyi in elevation and partly in ,:ver.tical:asectiongabobes bins-being. cmitteazfrom.sthetapinsl of fthe -l-pin an empty package 'ho arranging traveling. only i a ..=fragment;

boards-and. bobhimarrang 2, all buttions, 'andzzalso anel ing .a package havingsjustrroll plate aof Ttheu winding...: machine. 1

Fig; 3fiscazplanuofthe apparatus.of Figs. 1 and onerof: theamany winding units. being:

the. reception-pf a .=.pa'ckage abyix the cradle;

Fig.5 is a fragmentar a verti or of Fig. .4 with various:partst;omittecl,:cand showed from: the tboba bin-supporting; onto. thepackag Fig.6 :is: a View simil the .line.. 6-.-6- of Figm, ing,ib'eencro-lledafrom thescraclle into a horizontally 1 disposed ipackage carrier;

Fi isra vievcvfromnthesame-point of view as .Fig. r2 .butcon :a larger parts brokentaway. or .Lrem mechanism forty-the. and ..for.;: they showing: ;-the;- 2gate; adaptedstohcontr of :the ackagesi fromwthe packagez-carriers;

Fig 1-8 .isca averti'cal :section elevation, :onl1thealinei8+;8= of Fig. 9 is a 91-9 ofiig'..-7

FigrrlO Genevargearingmf Figs-l7, Sandi);

Fig.; .l1kli$ aidetail, of atone evolutiongclutch .oflFigsul and 2;;

Fig;*'.i12.:isi a ffragm showing: a 1packagexhol boardi'heldwin place on of ;'a group of; package Fi'galB. .isl a .fragmen the Jeft lf-SideL0fJFigUx 1 packagecarriers and thegate;

Fig.1 .14 is.=;a wiring ei-rdelivering cradles.

arato. Figlfi but takenon sudoya .ro-w of its pins;

ingspindlefilling bobbin-winder;

Fig. 15 is a fragment tiongktakensomthewiine 5-.-l5:of Fig. ..-1 showing mechanism rfomremoving; apinboar serve-istack,- :1.the elevator; m'smzbeingifully. lowered Figvlfi -is a fra poi-nt of :1: vie W1 plate fully raised, th

plate.v of such mechaing rmechanism in .1 this;

4 is1a schematiciidiagram showing one. of ckagercarriers .receiving 1 position and; showing-La package-delivering cradle in;two .posiy ectric; switch responsive y View in' the. nature of"; cal section taken on the line 5-5 of FigrB showingathe' package. havscale and with many ovedgashowing driving +package=delivering cradle 1. plurality" ofgpackagez. carriers, and

ol discharge:

al view; partly. in

vertical sectional vieW.=on;.-the .line-s; s.. a detail; mainly plan; showing:

imainlyyin vertical section entary. view; mainly in: plan,

der, Lin. the form of .a pine.

.its conveyora-for reception.

tary elevationtaken from" 2,;showing also two of the -.:diagram 2 of; the -..'+bobbin 7 arrangmggmechanismaasacombiried with .a travel-x.

ary view in right:.eleva-.a

gmentary view; "from the sameas -*15',-showing --the' elevatorlowermost pinboard of Fig. 15 havin'g advanceer out of the Waymf the-eIe- 'vatdr plate; l

Fig. 17 is a view similar to Fig. 16 showing the elevator plate partly lowered from its position of Fig. 16;

Fig. 18 is a fragmentary view in plan, but at a later time in the operation of filling a pinboard than is shown in Fig. 3, showing a further pinboard brought by the conveyor chains into abutting relation to the rear end of the pinboard. being filled;

Fig. 19 is a plan view, largely diagrammatic, of bobbin-arranging mechanism combined with a group of automatic stationary spindle filling bobbin winding units, only a few of the many such units being shown;

Fig. 20 is a diagrammatic view from the right of Fig. 19, with many parts omitted;

Fig. 21 is a diagrammatic front elevation of a portion of the apparatus of Figs. 19 and 20; and

Fig. 22 is a detail view showing switch actuating mechanism of the apparatus of Figs. 19 to 21.

Although the invention is applicable to arranging various types of textile packages, the invention will be explained by way of example as applied to arranging packages which consist of bobbins of filling-wound yarn. In Figs. 1 to 18, the

bobbin-arranging mechanism is shown as combined with a traveling spindle filling bobbinwinder, which combination is advantageous, and in Figs. 19 to 22 similar mechanism is shown as combined in somewhat different manner with a group of stationary spindle filling bobbin winding units.

Various constructions of package holders, onto which the packages. are arranged, may be employed. The simplest of such package holders are the individual bobbin-holding pins of pinboards. As shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, l2 and .13, a pinboard may for example comprise a fiat bottom H from which several rows of bobbin-holding pins l2 project upwardly. In the form shown each pinboard includes ten rows of pins, each row consisting of eight pins. Each pin is adapted to hold a filling wound bobbin by extending up into the bottom opening of the bobbin.

Such pinboards are supported as subsequently 4-" described and are moved from left to right in Figs. 1, 3, l3 and 18 or toward the observer in Figs. 2 and 15 to receive the wound packages, or more specifically filling-wound bobbins, upon their several pins.

The traveling spindle filling bobbin winder of which a portion is shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 may include many of the features of Reissue Patent No. 22,492 and Patents Nos. 2,362,455, 2,377,367,

2,395,028, 2,426,167 and 2,426,168. Thus the wind er may include a plurality of winding units indicated generally at l5 movable around an endless track consisting of upper and lower stationary rails l6 and I1 (Fig. 3) Each winding unit may be individually driven by its own electric motor. I9 deriving its current through the frame of the machine and through suitable brushes contacting with stationary conductor bars 20, yarn package as the winding unit travels around the machine.

Yarn Y from a supply package carried by the unit may bedrawn upwardly throughsu-itable tension devices 2| and through a breakage detector 22 to a traversing thread guide assembly indicated at 23, and thence onto a winding bobbin held between inner and outer centers 24 and 25.

The inner center 24 is rotated by the motor l9 to rotate the bobbin. The thread 23 is reciprocated by suitable cam and linkage connections also driven by the motor, and, during the winding, the thread guide assembly is progressively advanced from the base of the bobbin toward the tip, to provide the typical filling wind. Upon the completion of a wound package by i the winding unit, winding is stopped'and the individual motor of the unit is de-energized by breaking the circuit to the motor, for instance by lifting of the units brushes from the conductor bars 25. This action should normally oc-' cur somewhat before the winding unit reaches by means of an. endless chain l8 so as to wind an individual ably the machine by the the apparatus shown in Figs. 1 and 3. Preferis provided with a known form of mechanism which will deenergize the individual motor at such place in any event, whether or not the package has been completed. It will therefore be understood that the winding units enter'the apparatus particularly shown in Figs.

1, 2 and 3 in an inactive condition but still holding the wound bobbin in winding position between the centers 24 and 25.

The outer center 25 of each unit is retractable to discharge the wound package from winding position by means of a crank arm on the winding unit and a stationary abutment 3| diagrammatically indicated on Fig. 3. Upon the crank arm 30 encountering the abutment 3|, bobbin will drop from the centers a short distance onto a horizontal stationary plate 32 which extends along thev path of travel of the winding units l5, underneath their head portions. The bobbin is rolled along this plate by being held between a vertical plate 35 and a rod 36 (Fig. 2) both of which extend from and move along with the winding unit.

'When the crank 30 leaves the right end of abutment 3| in Fig. 3, the outer center 25 is allowed to close upon a new empty bobbin appropriately held by suitable bobbin-feeding mechanism located in this region, the bobbin-feeding mechanism being omitted from these drawings for clarity of illustration but a line b-b indicating the center line at which a new empty bobbin is held bobbin-feeding mechanism. In Fig. 2 a new empty bobbin B is shown as having been received between the centers 24 and 25, in winding position, and above the discharged full bobbin which is being rolled along on the plate 32, and in Fig. 3 this new empty bobbin in winding position has been broken away to show the discharged full bobbin below it.

From the right end of the plate 32 the packages roll singly and successively onto a package-delivering cradle/l0 adapted to deliver the packages singly and successively to further packagearranging mechanism subsequently described which effects a distribution of the successively,- received packages with relation to the pins of a pinboard, in two directions, that is, crosswise and lengthwise of the pinboard, so as to fill the plurality of rows of pins of the pinboard. Preferably this distribution involves distributing packages to the individual pins of a row, then to the individual pins of the next row, and so on to individual pins of successive further rows. Distribution within a given row is preferably accomplished by carrying the successive packages difguide assembly-1 Discharge ofthe packages distributed over one the wound,

academia row of pins preferably takesplace simultane e upon them arrival of a comiplete row of packages each I in position to be discharged to 'a corresponding pin oftheroww This permits -to thei-r distributed posiously,

packages to be carried tions in relatively short steps== or without any" rapid motion, several packages moving simul tan'eously, and all the packages-"of =a rowsimul-"--- taneously reaching'posi 'ons in--alignment'-With theupins onto which they are to be recei-v'ed.'

The package-arranging mechanism preferably includes a plurality of: individual package carrierm 4i in the formofopen movable in anendless travel of the winding units.

In Figs. 1, 2 aud t; the

ended chutesor -troughs path outside the path of cradle Mi -isshown inits receiving position about to receivea bobbin from InFig1-4 the cradle iG-is shown in full lines in its delivery position adjacent to the package'carrier .4 |--to which it has just delivered a bobbin, andalso-inbrokendiiies in its package receiving position.

For shifting the cradle-between its two extreme positionsof Figh l, across 'rod"-45;-on which thein blocks 46 at each-endthe being connected by vertica1- pivots to: horizontal parallellinks '49 which -inmounted at 'EU upon a station i cradle tilts, is fixed two such blocks turnare-pivotally cry-part of themachine An'extension su -extending from one of the link's 50 is *connectedby a link 52 to a crank disk 53 which is intermittcntly rotated, as-subsequently describedpcarry ing'thecradle-from its broken line position of Figs to its full lineaposition and back to'such broken line position in crank disk".

The cradle carries a downwardly extending arm 54 carrying-a rollerifiadap ted to roll along one a revolution of the a guide surface-'58 to determine the-inclination and in=full-lines inFig; l the -guidesurface '56 position, the

retreatspermitting the cradle to tilt to' the'inclination shown inFig; 6 to roll the package onto the package carrier 4 I? The machine preferably adapted to detect the presence ing package, -to be arranged,

includes means of a newly arrivand upon such detection to set in motion a single-cycle drive for various-ofthe parts of the mechanism: In the preferred form of the invention such detectorincludes a normallyopenmicroswitch-Sl, Figs-4 3 and 5, having an actuating arm 58 located in position: to be. engaged by the ro1ler5 5 of:the cradle-in. the. package-receiving: position of the latter. When a bobbin. rolls offtheplatezBZ. onto the cradle, the cradle .-is slightly. tiltedsby. the...

weight of a the bobbin; acting through the :roller 55 and actuating arm 58 to close themicroswitch 51. As subsequently described with reference to the wiring diagram. of. .Fig.

ber to the pins of a row, are brought into position over the respectivepins and thendischarged, the. are pr f ra y1twentyeiour packagercarriers 4 I in number: These package-carriers aresho'wn 14,. this initiates a cycle of operation. of various parts, .including, and delivery of the disposed. .package tions -on--which the outer carriers dii ride,--is shapedto-direct each' package: carrier into an-elevatedapproximately horizontalposition adjacent to the'delivery position of the such package carrier 4L being:v

6 in Figsi-B and? as individually pivotallylsecured to anendless'tractor. element, preferably-am ends.

less-chain59 rumiing-pn-spaced sprockets St and- Sprocket 604s driven in steps. as

Bl (Fig. 7). subsequently described to -advance the chain; m1 steps corresponding length to the reenter :to

centerspacing ot the package-holding pins (2 01 a a row-on= =the pinboardJ As shown in Figw 3 package carriers 41 as th'ey *occupya straight portion of the path of' the chain are closely dis--= posed=side by side, their center to center spacing also corresponding to the center to center spacing of thepins of a row A bar- Bihaving both straight and curvedpor cradle 40, one shown-soeleva tedineach of Figs. 2; 3, 4 and; The bar- 63 is then curved to. allow the packagem carriers-to swing straight; path over and across the .pinboard, :thisgenerally vertical-position being adapted for endwise: deliveryof the packages onto the pins otthea pinboard. l

A srtationan 7), adjacent-to until-the carrier. arrives above:- theepinboardx Thereafter, a gateti (Figs. 1;7and8) retainsthe package in the package carrieruntil the stepby stepadvance of the carriers has assembled a group or eight packages over the pinboard .abovewith. the sprocket I 60. '1 At the. completion of: one revolutionsof. the sprocket, which correspondstm the assembly of eight packages overthe pinboard'; I a cut-away portion 13 of the hub arrives over the roller 'andthe' rolle'r can then rise into the cut away-portion; the crank-arm]! and shaft 69 then rotating :to .allow :the gate to swing to the right in Fig. .8 or. left. inFigi 1, releasing the groupof eight zassembledpackagesand allowing them to drop ontoxthe corresponding pins ofthe pinboard. I Inthe firstxpart 0f the next cycle of operation,"

the, gate is restoredto closedpositionby a crank armrl l whichextends fromshaftfisiand is ens:

gagedby a cam .IEcarriedby the shaft 53*. ofthe Following a closure of the gate by crank disk 53. cam I5, roller 10 is removed from the vicinity of 1 thecut-awayportion 73 of .hub 12 by one step of the step-by-step rotation of the sprocket 12. Subsequent step-by-step rotationof the sprocket- 12 againpresents the .cut-away portion 13 to theroller .16 when .a further has been assembled for discharge.

The relative shift between thepackage-carriers 4i, employedito distribute the packages lengthwise of the pinboard'is prefl erably accomplished by step-by-step movement.- of the pinboard past the packagercarriers 4|.

The pinboards are shown as supported by rests. ing on a pinboard conveyor comprising spaced chains 88 'clri'venas. subsequently. described and adapted frictionally tourge a pinboard. to the parts of the package downwardly into an inclinedbutgenerally vertical position and pass alongl a curved guide plate (Figso3 and the path of the outer ends ofthe; package carriers; retains. the package in 1 1 its carrier during passage from the elevated i position The gate-611s carried by arm's group of eight packages the pinboard and pivotally secured at I right in Figs. 1, 3, and 13 or toward the bottom of the sheet in Fig. 12. Angle pieces 81, 81 are adapted to guide the side edges of the pinboards as they rest on the chains.

Mechanism for detaining a pinboard in position for reception of a row of packages by a row of pins may comprise a pair of hooks 82 each 84 outside of the angle pieces 8I,.and each having a widely open mouth at its forward and adapted to engage with the outermost pin 12 of a row. The fulcrum 84 of each hook and the widely open mouth of the hook are so arranged, as will be evident from Fig. 12, that when the hooks are not held in place, as subsequently described, in position to detain the pins, the forward force of the pinboard under the influence of the moving chains 88 can swing the hooks around their fulcrums, disengaging their open mouths from the pins.

Each hook 82 is normally held in its pin-detaining position of Fig. 12, and only released to move out of this position in response to the discharge of a row of assembled packages.

Arms 85 extend downwardly from gate 61 into a position such as shown in Figs. 12 and 13 to engage cam plates 81 extending upwardly from the hooks. As each arm 85 swings to the left in Fig.

. 13 or toward the upper end of the sheet in Fig.

12,,each cam plate 81, which is inclined to the vertical path of swinging of the arm 85, allows its hook to be swung outwardly b the forward force of the pinboard, disengaging the pin of the pinboard. Return of the gate into closed posi tion acts through the arm 85 and cam plates 81 to return the hooks 82 into holding position. However, simultaneously with a return movement of the gate, the chains 89 are advanced one step in their step-by-step movement as subsequently described, which advance of the chains is sufficient to move the last-held pins and their packages beyond the hooks. The hooks next hold pins of the next row of pins on the pinboard, detaining the pinboard in position to receive a further group of packages on this next row ofpins. The

operation of assembling and positioning the packages continues, and the rows of pins are successively filled with assembled groups of packages.

The step-by-step advance of the package carriers 4| which carries a row of packages intoassembled discharging position, is brought about in response to presence at the cradle of the package to be arranged, as detected by the microswitch 51 previously described. This insures that no pin of a pinboard will be left empty even though one or more packages are missing from one or more winding units, because a package carrier does not advance past its packagereceiving position unless the cradle receives a package to be placed in the package carrier.

A preferred form of drive for the package carriers and other parts of the mechanism includes a one revolution clutch indicated generally at 90 (Figs. 1, 2 and 11) of which the lower driving member 9| is in the form of a pulley loose upon the main shaft H and adapted to be operated by a belt 92 in synchronisrn with the travel of the winding unit chain 18. The drive to the belt 92 may for example be from gearing meshing with one of the sprocket wheels on which the conveyor chain 18 runs.

An upper driven member 95 of the one revolue tion clutch is fast on a collar 95 fast on the main shaft 1 l5, and as indicated in Fig. 1, carries a stop member 91 adapted to be held by a latch 98 to detain the shaft 1 15 against rotating.

Latch 98 is connected to the armature of a solenoid III], which as shown in the wiring diagram of Fig. 14, is energized by closure of the microswitch 51. Detection of, a package by the microswitch 51 thus causes the latch 98 to be raised, releasing the driven member 95 of the one revolution clutch, and permits the main shaft H5 to rotate through one revolution. Opening of the microswitch 51 as the cradle begins its shifting movement, allows the latch 93 to drop into position to stop the driven member 95 and main shaft I I5 at the end of a single revolution.

A single revolution of the main shaft H5 operates the package-delivering crade by the crank disk 53 and its shaft 53 through one cycle of movement to deliver the package to a package carrier 4! and return the cradle to package-receiving position, and also, following reception of the package by a carrier 4|, advances the chain 59 and sprocket 6B and the series of package carriers 4| one step in their step-by-step movement, namely, to the extent of the distance between adjacent pins of a row.

Referring to Fig. 7, shaft H5 has fast thereon near its upper end a gear 1 11 which meshes with a gear I 18 fast on the countershaft 53 Above its gear H1, shaft H5 extends loosely through the sprocket and its hub 12, and also through the slotted gear I20 of a Geneva movement, slotted gear I20 being fast to hub 12 and sprocket ,69. Gear H8 carries the pin element I21 of the Geneva movement cooperating with the slotted gear ii to impart to the sprocket 60 and hub 12 the above described step-by-step movement.

The above described single-cycle drive which includes the one revolution clutch is preferably also employed to impart an increment of advance to the conveyor chains 80 which advance the pinboards past the package-discharging gate.

Conveyor chains 80 run on sprockets I30 and 13! respectively fast on shafts 132 and I33. An eccentric and eccentric follower are operated by shaft H5 and act through a link I36, crank arm I31, pawl I38 and ratchet wheel I39 to rotate the sprocket shaft 132 in an amount corresponding to one'inch advance of the conveyor chains 80 for each package that reaches the cradle 40.

During the major portion of the time that eight packages of a group are being assembled, the step-by-step advance of the conveyor chains beneath the pinboard is an idle movement, the pinboard being detained by hooks 82 as described above.

However the following pinboard, which is to replace the pinboard being filled, is advanced to the right in Fig. 1 at the full rate of advance of the conveyor chains 89 and accordingly is quick- 1y brought into abutting relation to the rear of the receiving pinboard.

The distance between the front row of pins and the front edge of the pinboard, as well as the distance between the rear row of pins and the rear edge of the pinboard is one-half the distance between rows of pins. Accordingly, the distance from the rear row of pins of one pinboard to the front row of pins of the next abutting pinboard is equal to the distance between each row of pins on each board (i. e. one and one-half inches). Abutting pinboards thus present an uninterrupted pattern of pins as one pinboard chains 80 is sufliciently longso for holding of pinboards drawing these from. the stack, without jamming :or interference, and delivering them to package- "receiving position, the. withdrawal. of .the pin- .boards from the stack taking place in timed relation to the reception of eryto. a pinboard.

plungertl 41, cam/follower I:48:zand cam most position of Fign15.

"lying pinboards to the ing crank arm I di carries downwardly springs Ifiil'resting on enlarged-heads. I 59 at the replaces thewnext. ;preceding pinboardin package-receiving position.

The one inch vstep-byestep advance of the that when a pinboard is released by the hooks 82, the row of packages just deposited is moved out of the way of the package carriers 4|. This step-by-step advance need'not be equal to the fulldistance betweenrows of pins, namely, zone and onehalf inches, because the'further movementof the chains at the next step-by-step advance can coinplete the necessary one and one-half inch ad- Vance of a pinboardinto position to beheld by the hooks.

The filled pinboards may be removed from the conveyor chains manually," ormay pass 011 onto any suitable conveyor.

' The mechanism preferably includes provision a vertically disposed reserve stack to be filled. and provision for withpaokages and their deliv- As shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 15, alframe including vertical angle pieces I4!) is adapted to receive and confine:-a'verticallyldisposed stack of pinboards. above the conveyor chains 80, some dis- 2 tance in advance: of x the: delivery position of the package carriers II.

Detents I42. in" the form of plate-like elements pivoted'tat [4313i] opposite sides :of 'the sta'ck are adapted to extend insbeneath the bottom of a pinboardas best'shown in'Fig. 15, supporting that pinboard anditherotherzpinboards restingzthere- An. elevator." plate I46 'n nrvable;vertically by a beneath the level of the chains/805m its lower- :.Tl1e' cam I49. is driven as shown in Fig. 1'by asprocket15ll; chain I 5I and sprocketl52 from the. shaftJI'33 intimed relation to the 101134111380. andthe package-delivering mechanism,.so that: one revolution of the elevator cam M9 takes place during the delivery of eighty packages to thepinsz and eighty .forward step-by-step movements 0f 'thechains 80.

As will be seenfromwthe shapecof'the cam I49 of Fig.v 1, 'the'upward stroketofvthe plunger MI and elevator nearly the top of this stroke.

the stroke the elevator platform-I46 engages the bottom of the pinboard held 'by'the detents I42,

removingthe pinboard from contact with'these plate I 45 is relatively rapid until -Near the top of detents and lifting this :pinboa'rd andthe overslightly elevated position shoWnin Fig. 16.

Each detent I42-carries an inwardly extend- "extending rods I51 having bottom of rods I51. Upwardamovement of: the

elevator. platform carries :theusprings [58' into engagement with the crank arms I42 connected "to the :detents, tending to lift the .crarrkuarms and swing the detents outwardly. The detents are thus swungoutwardly to Fig. 16 as the position of The downward motion oflthe elevator platform,

I49, lies soon asthe pinboard releases therupper endsof the-.detents as it is lifted. therefrom.

. higher pinboard.

. while been swung inwardly by I42- while .these are-stilr-held outwardly .by the crank arms M22 1 boards.

step-by-step,

,drawn from the stack chains.

eral mechanismin .case of absence of a pinboard, and .inthe preferred form of mechanism winding unitsitravel thisis accomplished-bystopping such traveland accordingly preventing. en-

. and the next Figs. 1 and 3 show the bottommost pinboard partly withdrawn from the stack by the chains 80.

At this stage thispinboard is partaking of the advance of the chains 80, which advance continues one step for. each package, although the preceding pinboard is pausing at the place of discharge of the package carriers while a row of 20.

packages is being assembled for delivery. .As a result each pinboard isrelatively rapidlytwithwhile the elevator plate dwells in its lowermostposition .beneath the Thepinboard withdrawnpfromthe stack soon clears the stack and advances into-abutting relation to the rearof the pinboard which .is receiving packages, as diagrammatically shown in Figpla, andthereafter advances onlyt atlthe relatively slower rateat whichirows of pins are filled by the package carriers.

After the pinboard has been carried out from aboveuthe vertical path of the elevator plate I46,

the cam I49 again raises the elevator plate. I 46 succeeding pinboard is positioned on the chains for-removal fromthestack.

I The machine preferably includesiprovision for stopping the dischargeof packages from the sevwinding. units to :the package-arranging wherein the gagement of the package-discharging crank. arms "Jill of further winding units with the stationary .pinboards. Presence of abutment 3|.

Furthersupply of new empty bobbinsto the winding units is also suspendedby the stopping of travel. of the units.

A limit switch indicated generally at I-fill: inFig.

1 is spring urged toward open. position, in which position a roller IGI at the end .of its actuating arm I62 lies above the bottom: of the path of the a. pinboard packagereceiving 4 position however depresses the. actuating arm, closing the switch I50.

Asindicatecl in the wiring diagram, Fig. 14, limit switch 160 is. in series with a switch I 64 which is v operated by the usual .stop .button associated with and the;.elevator plate M5 a. startingbox I87 connected .to a.three phase powerline I58. The startin box-I61, controlled by the push button stop switch: I64 and .limit switch I60 is adapted to de-energizethe traveling spindlewinding machine and package-arranging mechanism. Thus the clutch solenoid III], a

transformer I'IIl whichsupplies current to the conductor rails 20, and an electric motor III which drives thechain I 8 all become de-energized when the limit switch I50 opens.

The machine may however .be re-energized, even though a pinboard is not present, by manually holding the usual starting switch I12 closed.

Thus if a pinboard has not as yet reached the limit switch I69, the machine can nevertheless be started and run by holding the starting'switch I I2 closed, andthepinboard canbel'caused to advance -to. package receiving position wherein itcloses the adapted to discharge its I12 may be released.

Figs. 19 to 22 show the application of packagearranging mechanism of this invention to a group of automatic stationary spindle filling bobbin winding units diagrammatically shown and indicated generally at I88. The mechanism for feeding empty bObbiIls to the several winding units is omitted for clarity of illustration.

As shown in these figures, each winding unit is wound package, tip end first, down a chute I85. The several chutes I85 are curved so that their lower portions discharge their bobbins onto an endless belt conveyor I86,

such belt conveyor being suitably driven by an electric motor, not shown.

Conveyor I85 thus carries a procession of the packages from the several winding units endwise to a position alongside and somewhat above the position of the horizontally disposed package carrier II of the package-arranging mechanism. In this embodiment the cradle of Figs. 1 to 18 is unnecessary and hence is omitted.

The packages are successively deflected laterally from the conveyor I86 by an inclined guide plate I8! and rolled down an inclined tiltable plate I88 onto the successive horizontally disposed package carriers il, whereupon the package-arranging mechanism operates to arrange the packages on pinboards'as in the previously described form of the invention. a

In both illustrated forms of mechanism each cycle of operation of the package-arranging mechanism is initiated by closure of a microswitch 51, which acts to allow a single revolution of the one-revolution clutch 99. However in the mechanism of Figs. 19 to 22 the microswitch 51 is closed by the tilting plate I88 as a package rolls over this plate onto a package carrier. For

instance the plate I88 over which the packages roll may be pivotally mounted as shown at I89 in Fig. 22 and carry a downwardly extending crank arm I90 adapted to press against the actuating plunger ISI of the microswitch, so that increased pressure of the crank arm as a package rolls down the plate I88, will momentarily close the microswitch. The microswitch,

, suitably connected electrically to the solenoid I I0,

causes the solenoid to remove the latch 98 from the stop 91 and permit a cycle of operation of the driving connections as described above.

The limit switch I60, above described, can be similarly employed in the mechanism of Figs. 19 to 22 to de-energize the driving motors of the plurality of stationary spindle winding units and :1

thus stop winding and also de-energize the motor for the endless conveyor I86 in a manner similar to de-energization of the motor III of Fig. 14, when a pinboard is missing from package-receiving position.

We claim:

1. Textile mechanism including a, plurality of winding units each adapted to wind a thread package, package-arranging mechanism and means for delivering the wound packages of the several. winding units to the package-arranging mechanism, the package-arranging mechanism including a plurality of individual thread package carriers movable in succession to receive individual thread packages, a detector responsive to the presence of a package so to be received, and mechanism controlled by the detector for advancing the plurality of package carriers one step in response to such response of the detector.

2. In a textile machine including a'plurality I 90 against the plunger,

of bobbin winding units, automatic bobbinchanging mechanism adapted to act upon the several units, and means for causing relative traveling movement between the winding units and the bobbin-changing mechanism, means for collecting the wound bobbins from the bobbinchanging mechanism, means for discharging such bobbins to a plurality of individual bobbin holders, a detector responsive to exhaustion of such bobbin holders to receive bobbins, and mechanism controlled by the detector for disabling the bobbin-changing mechanism upon detection of such exhaustion of bobbin holders.

3. In a textile machine including a plurality of bobbin winding units, automatic bobbin-changing mechanism adapted to act upon the several units and means for causing relative traveling movement between the winding units and the bobbin-changing mechanism, means for collecting the wound bobbins from the bobbin-changing mechanism, means for discharging such bobbins to a plurality of individual bobbin holders, a detector responsive to exhaustion of such bobbin holders to receive bobbins, and mechanism controlled by the detector for stopping said relative traveling movement upon detection of such exhaustion of bobbin holders.

4. In a textile machine including a plurality of bobbin winding units, automatic bobbin-changing mechanism adapted to act upon the several units and means for causing the winding units to travel past the bobbin-changing mechanism, the machine including means for collecting the wound bobbins from the bobbin-changing mechanism, means for discharging such bobbins to a plurality of individual bobbin holders, a detector responsive to exhaustion of such bobbin holders to receive bobbins, and mechanism controlled by the detector for stopping such travel of the winding units upon detection of such exhaustion of bobbin holders.

'5. In a textile machine in which pinboards are advanced step by step past package-discharging mechanism, mechanism for holding a vertically disposed stack of pinboards, a conveyor disposed to remove pinboards from the stack and advance the pinboards past the package-discharging mechanism, means operable upon a pinboard on the conveyor at a place where such pinboard has been removed from the stack for detaining such removed pinboard against advancing with the conveyor, the conveyor engaging the pinboards frictionally and being movable forwardly notwithstanding a pinboard on the moving conveyor is detained by said detaining means against forward movement, means for periodically temporarily disabling the pinboard detaining means so as to permit a step-by-step advance of a pinboard past the package-discharging mechanism, driving means for the conveyor operating to advance the conveyor, per'each disablement of the pinboard detaining means, a materially greater distance than the extent of the step of advance of a pinboard permitted by such disablement of the pinboard restraining means, the conveyor thereby acting during pauses of a pinboard at the package-discharging mechanism so as to remove a pinboard from the stack in less time than required for step by step movement of a pinboard past the package-discharging mechanism, and means for engaging the next succeeding pinboard of the stack withthe conveyor.

6. In mechanism for arranging textile packages, the combination of a surface adapted to establish a path of rolling travel for the packages,

position for and arranged to est for the packages, a cradleinto whichiindividual packages can roll from said surface,. means for package from said surface and means for tilting the cradle when laterally removed from said "place, to rollthe package therefrom, a plurality of individual package carriersmovable in an endless-path to assemble a group of individuallyheld packages in a row, the carriers being constructed for tilting movement betweengenerally horizontal and generally vertical positions, means for directing the package carriers to a generally horizontal position to receive/a package rolled from thecradle, and means'for tilting. the pack age carriers to a generally vertical discharging endwise discharge of the packages therefrom.

7. In mechanism for arranging textile packages, the combination of a surface constructed ablisa a path of rolling travel shifting the cradle laterally .away fromits place .ofreception of a package from said surface and means for tilting the cradle when laterally removed from said place to roll the package there from, a plurality For individual Lpackage carriers movable in an endlesscpath to assemble. a group i of individually-held packages in a row,.--the car -riers being constructed for-tilting movement between generally horizontal and'generally vertical positions, means for directing the package carriers to a generally horizontal position to receive a package rolled from the cradle, and means for tilting the package carriers to a generally verti cal discharging position for endwise discharge of the packages therefrom.

8. Mechanism for arranging wound textile packages upon individual package holders in rows, comprising a plurality of individual package carriers movable in an endless path in a part of which the carriers are aligned with package holders of a row, means for delivering packages to successive carriers at a place in said endless path, single-cycle driving mechanism connected to advance the carriers to the extent of the distance between adjacent package holders of the row, said driving mechanism including mechanism for rendering it ineffective at the end of a single cycle during which such advance of the carriers takes place, a detector for detecting the presence of a package to be arranged, and means controlled by said detector for activating said single-cycle driving mechanism upon the presence of a package to be arranged.

9. Mechanism for arranging wound textile packages upon individual package holders in rows, comprising a plurality of individual package carriers movable in an endless path in a part of which the carriers are aligned with package holders of a row, means for delivering packages to successive carriers at a place in said endless path, single-cycle driving mechanism connected to operate the package-delivering mechanism to deliver a single package to a package carrier, said driving mechanism including mechanism for rendering it ineffective at the end of a single cycle during which such delivery of a package takes place, a detector for detecting the presence of a package to be arranged, and means controlled by said detector for activating said singlecycle driving mechanism upon the presence of a package to be arranged.

10. Mechanism for arranging wound textile packages upon individual package holders in rows, comprising a plurality of individual packholders of a row, means for delivering packages to successive carriers at a place'in said endless path, single-cycle driving mechanism connected to operate 'thepackage -delivering mechanism to deliver a single packageto a package carrier and to advance the carriers to the "extent of the distance between adjacent package holders 'of the "mechanism upon the presence row, said driving mechanism including mecha-- nism for rendering it ineffective at the end of a single cycle during which such delivery of a package and advance of the carriers takes place, a. detector fordetecting the presence of a package to be arranged, and means controlled 'by'said detector for activating said single-cycle driving of a package to be arranged.

ll; Mechanism' for arranging wound textile packages upon individual package holders in rows, comprising a plurality of individual package carriers movable in an endless path in a part of which the carriers are age holders of a row,

ages-to successive carriers at a place in saidenda group of the carriers to said row holders; conveyor mechanism for advancingllthe v package holders 1 single-cycle driving mechanism adapted 'to impast the discharging mechanism,

part an increment of advance tosaid conveyor mechanism, said 'driving mechanism including *znechanism for rendering it ineffective atthe end of a single cycle during which such single incremerit of advance of the conveyor mechanism takes place, a detector for detecting the presence of a package to be arranged, means controlled by said detector for activating said single-cycle driving mechanism upon the presence of a package to be arranged, means for detaining the package holders against advance by said conveying mechanism, and means for releasing the package holders to permit advance thereof by the conveyor mechanism after discharge of such group of packages to the row of package holders.

12. In mechanism for arranging wound textile packages from a winding machine of the type including a plurality of winding units traveling in a procession, the package-arranging mechanism being located at one side of the path of travel of the packages of the winding machine, a cradle movable back and forth between a receiving position for receiving a wound package traveling with its winding unit to a delivery position laterally removed from such path, a detector responsive to the presence of a package to be arranged, and mechanism controlled by the detector for moving the cradle through a single cycle from its receiving position to its delivery position and back to its receiving position upon such response by the detector.

13. In mechanism for arranging wound textile packages from a winding machine of the type including a plurality of winding units traveling in a procession, the package-arranging mechanism being located at one side of the path of travel of the packages of the winding machine, a cradle movable back and forth between a receiving position for receiving a wound package traveling with its winding unit to a delivery position laterally removed from such path, mechanism for accumulating a group of wound packages delivered singly by the cradle including mechanism for advancing the packages of said group step by step, a detector responsive to the presence of a package to be arranged, and a single-cycle driving mechanism connected to operate the cradle and said step-by-step advancing mechanism, the single-cycle driving mechanism being controlled by said detector to actuate the cradle through a single cycle from its receiving position to its delivery position and back to its receiving position and to actuate the step-by-step advancing mechanism for a single step of advance of the packages of said group for each such response by the detector.

14. A winding machine including a plurality of winding units adapted to travel in a procession, means for discharging wound packages from their winding positions in the several units, means for causing the discharged packages to accompany their respective traveling winding units to a place in the path of travel of the units, a generally horizontal cradle adapted to receive individual such discharged packages at said place in the path of travel of the units, means for shifting said cradle in and out toward and from the path of travel of the winding units in timed relation to their travel to receive successive packages, means for discharging a package from the cradle at the outward position of the cradle, a plurality of package carriers, means for moving the package carriers into position to receive individual packages from the cradle at said outward position of the cradle and thence farther outward away from the path of travel of the winding units, means for tilting the package carriers with their packages into generally vertical discharging positions, and a horizontal conveyor for moving pin- 16 boards step by step beneath the said generally vertical positions of the package carriers to receive groups of packages upon successive rows oi ins.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Re. 21,288 Novotny Dec. 5, 1939 1,243,408 Hawthorne Oct. 16, 1917 1,383,739 Meyer l July 5, 1921 1,849,148 Mojonnier Mar. 15, 1932 1,896,639 Meyer et a1 Feb; 7, 1933 1,963,621 Geyer June 19, 1934 1,981,642 Benoit Nov. 20, 1934 2,050,547 Thayer Aug, 11, 1936 2,069,926 Read Feb. 9,. 1937 2,119,767 Anderson June 7, 1938 2,247,718 Treckmann July 1, 1941 2,377,367 Perry et a1 June 5, 1945 2,426,167 Abbott et al Aug. 26, 1947 2,445,998 Drake July 27,- 1948 2,452,376 Holstebroe et al Oct. 26, 1948 2,505,427 Peterson 1 Apr. 25, 1950 2,543,931 Peterson Mar. 6, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 442,961 Germany Apr. 11, 1927 385,867 Great Britain Jan. 5, 1933 748,268 France Apr. 10, 1933

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