US3137913A - Bobbin stripper - Google Patents

Description

June 23, 1964 L. W. HAYES, SR

BOBBIN STRIPPER Filed Feb. 15, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. LOUIE W. HAYES, SR.

ATTORN June 23, 1964 w. HAYES, SR 3,137,913

BOBBIN STRIPPER Filed Feb. 15, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 BY 5,59 (M66. MM

ATTORN Y LOUIE W- HAYES, SR.

United States Patent O M corporation of Delaware Filed Feb. 15, 1962, Ser. No. 173,558 7 Claims. (Cl. 2819) This invention relates to'bobbin strippers and more particularly to apparatus for cleaning waste yarn from a bobbin.

In the manufacture of chemical fibers and in other textile operations a considerable amount of yarn is wound onto bobbins and for various reasons never used, the bobbins generally being only partially filled. Before these bobbins can again be used this waste yarn must be removed. In the past it has been a common practice to remove the yarn manually, the operator running a sharp knife longitudinally along the bobbin to cut the yarn so that it will fall from the bobbin. This procedure has several disadvantages. One of the disadvantages of this method is that it is extremely slow. Furthermore, the knife used for severing the yarn is likely to nick or scratch the surface of the bobbin, thereby causing the bobbin to damage the yarn subsequently wound thereon. With this problem in mind, one of the objects of this invention is to provide a new and improved bobbin stripping apparatus.

Another object of this invention is to provide an apparatus for automatically and rapidly severing waste yarn from a bobbin.

A further object of this invention is to provide a bobbin stripper wherein bobbins are automatically fed into a work position whereupon a cutter is moved longitudinally along the bobbin to sever the yarn therefrom.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a bobbin stripper having a guide which engages and moves along the surface of a bobbin to space a yarn cutter from the bobbin.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a bobbin stripper wherein the operation of the various elements thereof is automatic.

One embodiment of the present invention contemplates a bobbin stripper having a feed chute leading to an indexed bobbin carrier. The bobbin carrier moves the bobbin into an operating position, whereupon a rotating cutter is moved translationally or longitudinally along the bobbin to sever the yarn thereon. A saddle or guide moves along the bobbin with the cutter to keep the cutter from touching or damaging the bobbin.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent when the following detailed description is read in conjunction with the appended drawings, in which FIGURE 1 is a front view of an apparatus illustrating one embodiment of the invention and showing the general arrangement of the various elements of the apparatus;

FIGURE 2 is an end view of the indexing mechanism which is shown diagrammatically in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of FIGURE 1 showing the feed and discharge chutes;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged front view of the cutter showing the construction of the saddle which supports the cutter on the bobbin; and

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged view of the cutter showing the manner in which it is positioned relative to the saddle.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, a base 11 is shown supporting a frame 12 on which are secured a pair of spaced, circular discs or plates 13. A shaft 18 rotatably mounted on the frame 12 carries a bobbincarrying reel 19 which includes a pair of fiat, circular 3,137,913 Patented June 23, 1964 end plates 20 and a tublular hub 21. The hub 15 is secured to the end plates 20, while the end plates are secured to the shaft 18 to form a unitary bobbin supporting and indexing reel 19.

The end plates 20 are provided with arcuate recesses 24 which receive spin bobbins 25 c well known type and index these bobbins to a work station where the yarn is removed. An indexing mechanism 26 (shown only diagrammatically in FIGURE 1 but in detail in FIGURE 2) is connected to the shaft 18 for indexing the reel. The indexing mechanism includes a wheel 21 having a'plurality of notches or recesses 22 having the configuration shown in FIGURE 2 and a pair of levers 23 pivotally mounted on the shaft 18 on opposite sides of the wheel 21. The levers 23 are secured together at their outer ends so that they move together. An air cylinder 27 secured to the frame 12 has its piston rod connected to the levers 23 for oscillating these levers, the air cylinder 27 having an advance air connection or line 32 and a retract air connection or line 33. The levers 23 carry a pawl 28 having on the end thereof a roller 31 which enters one of the recesses 22 to move the wheel 21 and the reel 19 when the levers 23 are moved clockwise (FIGURE 2). It can thus be seen that oscillation of the levers 23 by the air cylinder 27 will move the wheel 21 to index the reel 19 to sequentially position the bobbins at the work position.

A bobbin supply chute 29 (FIGURE 3) mounted on the frame 12 is positioned to feed the bobbins 25 one at a time into the recesses 24 in the reel 19 as the reel is indexed, the chute 29 being inclined so that the bobbins roll into the recesses 24.

An inclined discharge chute 30 mounted on the frame 12 receives the bobbins 25 from the reel 19 after the yarn has been removed. The discharge chute is so positioned that the stripped bobbins roll out of the reel and down the chute 30 when the reel reaches a predetermined position.

A pair of air cylinders 34 and 35 (FIGURE 1) mounted on the frame 12 are connected to plungers 36 and 37 slidably mounted in collars 40 and 41 secured in recesses in the circular plates 13. The plungers 36 and 37 have tapered ends adapted to enter the ends of the uppermost bobbin 25 on the reel 19 and hold this bobbin rigidly for the yarn stripping operation.

The cylinders 34 and 35 are connected to a source of compressed air through advance air lines or tubes 42 and 43 retract air lines 45 and 46. When compressed air is admitted to the advance air lines 42 and 43 the plungers 36 and 37 are moved toward each other to enter the ends of and grip a bobbin 25 in the work position. When air is admitted to the retract lines 45 and 46 the plungers 36 and 37 are withdrawn away from each other to free the bobbin 25 in the work position.

A rotating circular cutter 50 having a serrated or saw-like edge is used to sever the waste yarn 51 from the bobbin 25. The cutter or blade 50 is rotatably mounted on a bracket 52 which is slidably mounted on a block 53 attached to a shaft 54, the upper end of the bracket 52 being slidably positioned in the lower end of the block 53. The cutter is driven by a motor 58 carried by the block 53 and acting through a belt 59 passing over a pulley 60, the pulley 60 being secured to a shaft 64 on which the cutter 50 is secured.

The bracket 52 has secured to its lower end a guide or saddle 66 which rides along the bobbin 25 to keep the cutter 50 out of contact with the bobbin. The cutter 50 is positioned very close to the bobbin 25 to sever all of the waste yarn 51, yet does not actually touch the bobbin because of the action of the cutter guide 66. A pair of spring-like guards 65 extend from the saddle 66 upward to the upper end of the bracket 52 to prevent loose yarn from tangling around the cutter.

The shaft 54 is slidably mounted in collars 67 mounted on the frame 12 so that the cutter 54) can be moved longitudinally along the length of the bobbin 25, the starting position of the cutter 50 being that shown in FIGURE 1. An air cylinder 70 has its piston (not shown) connected to the shaft 54 for moving this shaft to carry the cutter along the bobbin 25, the cylinder 70 having an advance air connection or line 72 and a retract air connection or line 73. Since the motor 58 drives the cutter 50 continuously, movement of the cutter past the bobbin 25 severs the waste yarn 51 therefrom. A guard 71 attached to the frame 12 extends over the hub 15 of the reel 19 to keep the waste yarn off the reel.

The operation of the device disclosed herein is automatic and continuous. At the end of the indexing stroke of the cylinder 27, the levers 23 engage and close a switch 75 (FIGURE 2) to connect a source (not shown) of compressed air to the advance air lines 42 and 43 of the air cylinders 34 and 35 to advance the plungcrs 36 and 37 and to the advance air line 72 of the air cylinder 70 to move the cutter 50 past the bobbin 25.

Since the plungers 36 and 37 do not move as far as the cutter 50, the plungers enter the ends of and grip the bobbin before it is reached by the cutter. The cutter 50 moves past the bobbin 25 and strips the waste yarn 51 therefrom. At the end of its stroke the block 53 carrying the cutter 50 engages and closes a switch 76 (FIGURE 1). Closure of the switch 76 connects the air source to the retract air connections 33, 45, 46 and 73 of the cylinders 27, 34, and 70, respectively. This causes the cylinders to Withdraw the levers 23, the plungers 36 and 37 and the cutter 50.

The cutter 50, having further to travel, reaches the end of its retract stroke after the plungers 36 and 37 and the levers 23 are fully retracted. When the block 53 reaches the end of its retract stroke it engages and closes a switch 77 to connect the air source (not shown) to the advance air connection of the indexing cylinder 27, whereupon the cylinder 27 moves the levers 23 clockwise (FIGURE 2) to index the reel 19 and thereby position another bobbin in work position. At the completion of the indexing operation the levers 23 again close the switch 75 and the above-described sequence of operations is repeated. It can be seen from this that the apparatus operates automatically and continuously.

It is to be understood that the embodiment disclosed herein may be modified or altered and that numerous other embodiments may be contemplated which will fall within the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A bobbin stripper for removing yarn from a bobbin, comprising a base, indexing and support means on the base for sequentially positioning bobbins in a stationary work position, a rotary cutter mounted above the base for movement longitudinally along a bobbin maintained in said work position, said cutter being mounted for translational movement in a direction radial to the bobbin, and an element positioned adjacent to the cutter for engaging the bobbin and spacing said cutter from said bobbin.

2. A bobbin stripper for removing yarn from a bobbin, comprising a base, a reel mounted on the base for supporting a bobbin, means attached to the reel for indexing said reel to position the bobbin in a work position, a shaft mounted on the frame for sliding movement in a direction parallel to the axis of the bobbin, a rotary cutter carried by the shaft and mounted on said shaft for translational movement in a direction radial to the bobbin, a pair of elements positioned on opposite sides of the cutter for engaging the bobbin and spacing said cutter from the bobbin in said work position, means on the shaft for rotating the cutter, and means for moving the shaft to move the cutter past the bobbin.

3. A bobbin stripper for removing yarn from a bobbin, comprising a base, a reel mounted on the base for supporting a bobbin, an indexing mechanism connected to the reel for moving said reel to position the bobbin at a work position, a pair of plungers positioned at opposite ends of the bobbin in said work position, said plungers having tapered ends adapted to enter and hold said bobbin, means for actuating the plungers, a shaft positioned above the work position and mounted for sliding movement in a direction parallel to the axis of said bobbin, a rotary yarn cutter mounted on the shaft for translational movement in a direction radial to said bobbin, means carried by the shaft for rotating the cutter, and a pair of elements positioned on opposite ends of the cutter for engaging the bobbin and spacing said cutter radially from said bobbin.

4. A bobbin stripper for removing yarn from a bobbin, comprising a base, means on the base for supporting a bobbin, a shaft mounted above the bobbin for sliding movement in a direction parallel to the axis of the bobbin, a cutter mounted on the shaft for translational movement in a direction radial to said bobbin, means for moving the shaft to traverse the cutter longitudinally along the bobbin, and a pair of elements connected to the cutter and positioned on opposite sides thereof for engaging the bobbin and spacing said cutter from the surface of said bobbin to prevent damage thereto.

5. A bobbin stripper for removing yarn from a bobbin, comprising a base, a reel mounted on the base and having therein a plurality of recesses for holding bobbins, means for indexing the reel to sequentially position the bobbins in a work position, a shaft mounted above the Work position for sliding movement in a direction parallel to the bobbin in said work position, a block carried by the shaft, a rotary cutter movably mounted on the block for translational movement radially toward and away from the bobbin, means carried by the shaft for rotating the cutter, a pair of elements connected to the cutter and positioned on opposite sides thereof for engaging the bobbin and spacing the cutter from the surface of the bobbin to prevent damage thereto, and means for actuating the shaft to move the cutter longitudinally along the bobbin in said work position, said shaft actuating means and said reel indexing means being operated in timed relationship.

6. A bobbin stripper for removing yarn from a bobbin, comprising a base, a reel mounted on the base and having a plurality of recesses for receiving and holding bobbins having waste yarn thereon, means connected to the reel for indexing said reel to sequentially position the bobbins in a work position, a supply chute positioned adjacent to the reel for feeding bobbins into the recesses in said reel, a discharge chute positioned adjacent to the reel for receiving bobbins therefrom, a shaft mounted above the reel for sliding movement in a direction parallel to the axis of a bobbin in said work position, a block attached to the shaft, a rotary cutter movably mounted on the block for translational movement radially toward and away from the bobbin, a pair of elements connected to the cutter and positioned on opposite sides thereof for engaging the bobbin to space the cutter from said bobbin to prevent damage thereto, means carried by the shaft for rotating the cutter to sever the waste yarn on the bobbins, and means for moving the shaft to move the cutter past the bobbin in said work position.

7. A bobbin stripper for removing yarn from a bobbin, comprising a base; a reel rotatably mounted on the base and having therein a plurality of recesses for receiving and holding bobbins having waste yarn thereon; an indexing mechanism connected to the reel for indexing the reel to sequentially position the bobbin in a. work position; a supply chute positioned on one side of the reel for feeding bobbins into the recesses in the reel; a discharge chute positioned on the other side of the reel for carrying the bobbins from the reel; a pair of plungers mounted on opposite ends of the work position and having tapered ends for entering the ends of the bobbin in work position to hold said bobbin; means on the base for actuating the plungers; a shaft mounted above the reel for sliding movement in a direction parallel to the axis of the bobbin in said work position; a block carried by the shaft; a rotary cutter movably mounted on the block for translational movement radially toward and away from the bobbin; a pair of elements connected to the cutter and positioned on opposite sides thereof for engaging the bobbin in work position and spacing said cutter from said bobbin to prevent damage thereto; means on the shaft for rotating the cutter, a pair of guard members positioned on opposite sides of the cutter for deflecting severed yarn away from said cutter; means for moving the shaft to move the cutter past the bobbin; and means on the base for actuating the indexing mechanism, the plunger actuating means and the shaft moving means in timed sequence.

Walsh Sept. 8, 1914 Whitaker Oct. 14, 1952

Claims (1)

1. A BOBBIN STRIPPER FOR REMOVING YARN FROM A BOBBIN, COMPRISING A BASE, INDEXING AND SUPPORT MEANS ON THE BASE FOR SEQUENTIALLY POSITIONING BOBBINS IN A STATIONARY WORK POSITION, A ROTARY CUTTER MOUNTED ABOVE THE BASE FOR MOVEMENT LONGITUDINALLY ALONG A BOBBIN MAINTAINED IN SAID WORK POSITION, SAID CUTTER BEING MOUNTED FOR TRANSLATIONAL MOVEMENT IN A DIRECTION RADIAL TO THE BOBBIN, AND AN ELEMENT POSITIONED ADJACENT TO THE CUTTER FOR ENGAGING THE BOBBIN AND SPACING SAID CUTTER FROM SAID BOBBIN.

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