US3579381A - Automatic bobbin and pirn cleaning - Google Patents

Abstract

AN IMPROVED METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CLEANING TEXTILE BOBBINS OR PIRNS INVOLVING THE STEPS OF REMOVAL OF MERGE DISC, REMOVAL OF METALLIC SCALE OR DUST FROM THE CORE, AND CLEANING AND DRYING OF THE EXTERIOR FOR SURFACE OF THE BOBBIN OR PIRN AS AN AUTOMATED COMBINED OPERATION WHEREIN THE SEQUENCE OF CONTINUOUS FEED, MERGE, DISC REMOVAL, DRY CORE CLEANING AND LOADING AND DISCHARGE OF THE PIRN OR BOBBIN SURFACE AFTER CLEANING AND DRYING IS AN AUTOMATIC, CONTINUOUS AND HIGH-SPEED OPERATION WHICH IS ADAPTED TO CLEAN BOBBINS AND PIRNS WITH A RANGE OF INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL DIAMETERS AND LENGTHS.

Description

May 18, 1971 1.. L. BAILEY ET AL 3,579,381

' AUTOMATIC BQBBIN AND PIRN CLEANING Filed Oct. 25, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. I

INVENTORS LAWRENCE L. BAILEY DONEL C. AUTIN ATTORNEY May 18, 1971 L, l E ETAL 3,579,381

AUTOMATIC BOBBIN AND PIRN CLEANING Filed Oct. 25, 1968 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS LAWRENCE L. BAILEY DONEL C. AUTIN ATTORNEY United States Patent Filed Oct. 25, 1968, Ser. No. 770,557 Int. Cl. 1308b 1/02 US. Cl. 134-8 15 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An improved method and apparatus for cleaning textile bobbins or pirns involving the steps of removal of merge disc, removal of metallic scale or dust from the core, and cleaning and drying of the exterior for surface of the bobbin or pirn as an automated combined operation wherein the sequence of continuous feed, merge disc removal, dry core cleaning and loading and discharge of the pirn or bobbin surface after cleaning and drying is an automatic, continuous and high-speed operation which is adapted to clean bobbins and pirns with a range of internal and external diameters and lengths.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In large industrial plants producing textile yarns, it is necessary to process and clean several thousand bobbins or pirns per day in order to supply the necessary cores for the textiles in production. These bobbins and pirns are then wound with the required weight of textile yarns and shipped to throwing mills and/or fabric manufacturers. Once the yarn has been removed from the pirn surface, the pirns are stored in boxes. Either prior to storage or during storage such pirns may become stained, dusty or develop a rust scale on the internal core. This dust or scale, when dislodged, would stain or discolor the yarn when subsequently wound on the pirn by the synthetic fiber manufacturer and would render it of secondquality or it might result in a hidden defect which would cause a streak or stain in the final dyed textile article. Therefore, all pirns must be washed before reuse.

Commercial bobbin washers are known which are suitable for washing and drying the exterior of the bob.- bins. However, such apparatus are generally comprised of massive equipment and are not readily adaptable to pirns, bobbins, or tubes having a range of internal and external diameters and lengths. Thus, only very large synthetic fiber plants employing a very limited range of bobbin sizes can economically utilize such apparatus. Heretofore, in such operations, the merge disc removal and internal cleaning of the metallic core in the pirns have been accomplished by separate and additional mechanical or hand operations. Thus, there has long been a need in the industry for apparatus of simple and efficient design adaptable to handle a range of pirn core sizes, lengths, and materials of construction which continuously perform the described merge disc removal, core cleaning, and external cleaning and drying operation as a continuous automated unit capable of handling 1000 to 2000 pirns per hour of various sizes at a low cost per unit.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The method and apparatus of the present invention involves the gravity feed of pirns or bobbins having an identification disc in one end thereof to a work station. The pirns advance in successive order along a convey way or rectangular-shaped trough to the work station where Patented May 18, 1971 an air cylinder provided with a reciprocal plunger is positioned adjacent to one side of the convey way for removal of the disc upon actuation of the air cylinder. A microswitch of a Well-known type is associated with the air cylinder for automatically controlling the operation of the cylinder. The microswitch is provided with a sensing trip wire which is contacted by a pirn as it enters the work station or work zone to actuate the microswitch which transmits a signal to operate the air cylinder.

The air cylinder plunger is provided with an enlarged end portion or similar means which is squeezed through an opening in the flexible identification disc. Upon retraction of the plunger the disc is removed from the pirn and dislodged into a collection means.

Preferably a second air cylinder and motor combination are positioned on the opposite side of the convey way and in alignment with the disc removal means for thrusting a reacting brush into the cylinder of the pirn for cleaning the internal bore at the same time the disc is being removed. The microswitch described above transmits a signal to both air cylinders simultaneously.

In sequence, the pirns move down the convey way from the first work station until they reach a hook at the end of the feed convey way which holds the pirn in place. The most advanced pirn is engaged on each open end by beveled spindles mounted on slowly rotating radial arms which are opened by fixed surfaces which expand these arms and on reaching the exact alignment position, the arms drop off the fixed surface under force causing the beveled spindles to grasp the pirn firmly at both ends.

The rotating arms then move on toward the next station causing the pirn to contact a microswitch for the next sequence of operation as the pirn rises and clears an end hook. The driven spindle engages a moving V-belt causing the pirn to rotate at about 200 r.p.m. The advancing pirn contacts a revolving brush rotating in a direction opposite to the direction of the rotation of the pirn with the brush in contact with a tank filled with suitable cleaning solvent or solution. After passing the revolving brush and cleaning station, bobbins are then rotated against a toweling surface, made from a material such as non-woven rayon, where the action of rotation of the pirn and the slow forward movement of the toweling combine to dry the surface. The toweling passes through a wringer and is discharged to a suitable container for its removal. The dried bobbin then passes on to the next station and, in transit, is disengaged from the drive belt. With continued rotation, the radial arms supporting the pirn contact a fixed surface which spreads the arms to overcome the force exerted by associated springs to disengage the beveled spindles from the pirn ends. With this accomplished, the pirn drops to a gravity discharge conveyor and rolls to the pirn storage area or is automatically recased.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an isometric drawing illustrating a preferred embodiment of feed and discharge convey ways, a merge disc removal apparatus, a core brushing apparatus and a rotary pirn pick-up device with pirn washing station, pirn drying station, and pirn discharge station.

FIG. 2 is an end view of a pirn illustrating the plunger for removing a merge identification disc from the end of the pirn.

FIG. 3 is an end view of a pirn illustrating a power brush being automatically inserted into the drive end.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of one side of a pirn pick-up arm showing a beveled insert and a spring end for spreading the arms for pirn engagement and discharge via the beveled spindle device.

FIG. is a view of the drive side of the beveled spindle engagement device illustrating a pulley for driving this section.

FIG. 6 is an elevation view of the springs and arms and fixed cam device which causes the arms holding the pirn to expand to discharge said pirn by disengaging it from the beveled spindle holders shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of fluted aluminum tube expander and sanding disc for repairing and smoothing ends of aluminum tubes.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to FIG. 1, pirns 1 are fed by gravity in a convey way 2 inclined at an angle of 5 to 20 until they reach position 3 or station 1A. At the time of arriving at that station, microswitch signals the actuation of an air cylinder 5 by means, not shown, which causes arm 6 to move through openings 7 and 8, and engage merge identification disc 9. The plunger arm end is provided with a knob or enlarged end portion which penetrates this paper or cardboard disc whereby closure of the paper disc behind the knob on the arm causes removal thereof from the pirn as the arm actuated by air cylinder 5 returns to original position. The merge disc passes through opening 8 but cannot pass through opening 7 and as a consequence is pulled from plunger disc 6 and discharged down chute 50 to a suitable storage container (not shown). Simultaneously with the above operation, an air cylinder 11 is actuated by microswitch 10 which pushes brush 12 into the core of the drive end of the bobbin. Motor 13 is also actuated to drive the pulley and drive belt 14 which rotates the brush 12 within the core pirn 3. Loose scale, dust and dirt are dislodged by the rotating brush and subsequently air cylinder 11 withdraws brush 12 from the pirn. Across opening 4 is an expansion and contraction bar for precisely aligning the position of the pirn at the work station 1A to align it with the brush arm and pirn merge disc removal plunger. This bar may be hydraulically actuated as illustrated in FIG. 1A wherein the bar 100 is forced against bobbin 3 by an air source, not shown, or a mechanical screw means which is of conventional design may be employed.

The washing and drying operation which follows the disc removal and internal cleaning operation is accomplished by rotation of the radial arms clockwise past earns 17 to spread the arms apart. As the arms advance past the cams they are released and the spring force provided by loops 20 cause the arms to snap into position with the core or cylindrical bore of the pirn being retained by the curved wires 10A and 16A at work station 2A. Each leg is provided with a beveled element 21 which fits into the internal bore of the pirns to engage the inside wall. Further clockwise rotation of the arms 18 removes the pirn from the convey way and advances it to work station 3A where it contacts brush 22 rotated by motor 25 for cleaning the pirn. A washing solution is maintained in bath 23 which is picked up by the brush.

In order to achieve better and more eflicient cleaning the pirn being washed is rotated in a direction opposite from the rotation of brush 22 by a V-belt 19 driven on a pulley 19A from a source, not shown. The V-belt fits into a groove on the external portion of the beveled elements 21, the details of which will be described later herein. The pirns are normally rotated from 100 to 1,000 r.p.m. and the brush from 1 to 20 r.p.m. in an opposite direction.

After the washing operation has been completed the pirn moves forward to station 4A and contacts a non-woven rayon toweling m terial 27 which is forwarded from a 4 supply roll. The toweling is held against the rotating pirn by a bar 28 under the force exerted by tension springs, not shown. The toweling is advanced between opposed rollers 30 and 31 to a chute 32 by a motor 33 which drives roller 31.

As drum 15 rotates clockwise past the wash zone 4A to zone 5A the pirn becomes disengaged from V-belt 19, and the finished pirn is deposited upon a discharge convey way 35. Release of the pirn is facilitated by the separation or spreading apart of arms 18 against cam surfaces 36 and 37 whereby the pirn drops onto the convey way and advances to a packaging area, not shown. The arms reach zone 2A to complete the cycle.

In a preferred embodiment the drum 15 is provided with 10 sets of radial arms thus providing for the rotation of 10 pirns during a complete revolution of drum 15. The shaft is rotated at a speed of 3 r.p.m. so that 30 pirns are picked up and discharged per minute.

Preferably, the frame 40 which supports the aforementioned elements is adjustable so that different length pirns may be accommodated. The ability to move the frame on one side inward or outward permits handling a variety of pirn lengths. For example, the drum 15 is formed as a sleeve on a shaft provided with keyways, not shown, for extending or contracting the length thereof to vary the width between the radial arms 18. The width of the convey ways 2 and 35 may be adjusted as desired.

Brush 22, which is employed for cleaning the pirn surface, is preferably constructed with nylon bristles or with jute bristles. The brush is self-cleaning by revolving within the cleaning solution in tank 23. The cleaning solution preferably is a non-toxic solvent such as a mixture of di or trichlorinated C -C hydrocarbon having a boiling point range of 160 F. to 285 F. and the particular cleaner does not exhibit an open pan flash point. Other additives such as rust inhibitors may be employed.

As mentioned herein, in the discussion of FIG. 1, the merge identification disc removal method and mechanism involves receipt of a signal from microswitch 10, which actuates air cylinder 5 to move plunger 6 through channel 7 and channel 8 to remove disc 9. The method for disc removal is illustrated in greater detail in FIG. 2, wherein plunger 6 penetrates paper disc 9 and on withdrawal action by the air cylinder, the merge disc clings to the knob on the end of the arm and is withdrawn from the center of plastic ring 81. The pirn 1 is illustrated with a Kralastic cover.

Removal of rust and scale from the inside of pirn 3 is illustrated in FIG. 3. Brush 12 impelled by shaft 93 which is in turn driven by motor 13 and positioned by air cylinder 11 (as illustrated in FIG. 1) moves brush 12 into the center of pirn 3. Brush 12 revolving at a speed of to 500 r.p.m. loosens scale which might otherwise stain yarn stored below said pirn. The drive end of pirn 3 is illustrated by slotted disc 90.

The non-driven side of the pirn holding means is a beveled spindle as illustrated in FIG. 4. Pressure ring 112 is attached to rotatable shaft 115 for facilitating rapid change to a different diameter of beveled spindle 21 for holding pirns having different size internal diameters. Roller bearings 113 provide radial and thrust support for the non-driven idler bevel spindle 21. As shown in FIG. 6, spring 20 provides a point for deflection of the beveled spindle 21 outwardly for disengagement of a pirn upon contact of radial arm 18 'with cam surface 36. The idler beveled spindle 21 is fastened to radial arm 18 by conventional fastening means.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of another driven beveled spindle 21A. In this form, spindle 21A is attached to rotatable shaft 119A via pressure ring 117. Shaft 119A, which is rotated by pulley belt 19 and pulley shaft 119, drives a pirn of the type disclosed via surface friction maintained between the pirn and beveled spindle 21A. This rotation turns idler beveled spindle 21A. The movement o beve d spindle 21A away from pirns is due to opening of hinge 20 under action of fixed cam (not shown) which deflects radial arms 18. Beveled spindles 21 and 21A, FIGS. 4 and 5, may be cast or machined from aluminum or zinc, or alternately they may be molded or machined from nylons or other high-strength plastic at a speed of 200 r.p.m. Sequentially, the pirn contacted brush 22 which had nylon bristles and was rotating at a speed of 2 r.p.m. in a direction opposite to that of the pirn rotation. This brush had a diameter of 10 inches and 5 a length of 15 inches. A cleaning material composed of matenalsf 1 a mixture of di and trichlorinated C -C hydrocarbons y g q g m Fg g g was briefly applied to the pirn surface by action of the m ms 18 mp ace wit a y e u e as l brush. Two seconds later, the pirn contacted a non-woven spreader 130 of the type illustrated in FIG. 7 WhlCh 1s towelrng WhlCl'l was movmg at the rate of 0.3 ft./m1nutc. drlven and supported by shaft 138. A sanding disc 1s at- 10 Th t t d t th t W fin t We all tached to the fluted roll at a dimension corresponding to e plm was re agams e g 0 mm the tube diameter. Motor 13, drives belt 14 to rotate this Faces of the cleamng agent It desjlrable that, thfi f fluted spreader inside the aluminum pirn to provide for mg agent removed from the Plastlc m a peflod an internal round surface. The attached sanding disc with exceedmg 4 Seconds- Preferablyg 1t 18 rerfloved a light spring tension loading, rotates and removes the small Peflod 1 3 Seconds to aVOld Softenlllg 0f the burrs on the tube side wall. It is desirable that only Kralasllc Coallngthose tubes with burrs be sanded. Thus, the dimension The radial arms rotating clockwise moved the pirn from of a fluted roll, maintains the sanding disc at a proper the toweling station 4A in a period of about 4 seconds distance so that only burrs and nicks are removed withto a position directly over the convey way where the out :dfiectlng h tube lengths- Referflng agaln 10 FIG- 20 action of the fixed cam surfaces spread the arms and the Internal filametel 131 011 the dflve end of the f allowed the pirn to drop to the convey surface. The pirns Hum P 3 1S rounded out by actlol} of a flutFd comcal rolled by gravity down the convey way to a casing station lg i 130dmade nylon E y g h a where they were automatically recased using a Model ocate t i a stance o g mm 3 1300 vertical caser loader as manufactured by Chisolm on To a removes any prqru mg mug e ges Ryder Company in Hanover, Pa. The cased pirns were which may be accumulated on the pun ends. Sllght presthen trans (med to a fie for the.r co m ti sure is maintained on the sanding disc 134 by rigid plate 1 P t t 1 t 1 nsu p on usmg 135 and spring 136 selectively spaced for pushing against mu 1p 6 case ranspor f the Sanding disc The non-woven towellng accumulated in a storage but Table I illustrates some dimensions of various bobbin Wh,1ch was 2 fe et long by 2 ffiet Wlde by hlgh' T his types which can be processed and cleaned efliciently using mm was lf every 24 hours- Thus, thls 1? anon the method and apparatus described herein. Bobbins 1 the merge ($180 was removed, the core of the p was and 3 are the, more commonly en ountered di io f cleaned and the Kralastic surface was cleaned with a units typically employed for winding 15 to 400* denier suitable cleaning agent. The pirn was dried and discharged thermoplastic varns. at the rate of 30 pirns per minute.

TABLE I Drive Ca Wall and en thick- Iype Cover O.D., Length, I.D., I.D., ness, unit material inch inch inch inch inch Number:

1 Bobbin Kralastic 1.610 13.125 1.291 0. 751 2 d0 .do 1.60 12.0 1.29 0.751 a .do .-d0 1.79 12.0 1.29 0, 751 4 do .do 2. 0 13. 0 1. 29 5 Phenolic- 3.0 17. 187 1. 502 1. 6- Aluminum 2. 875 12.876 2. 313 2. 313 0.0625 7 2. 486 12.875 2. 32 2. 32 0. 083 3.43 13.0 3.25 3.25 0.090

. The following example further illustrates the inven- TABLE H WASHING N CLEANING OF BOBBINS AND tron. CORES EXAMPLE Pirns or bobbins were received in 30 inch by 30 inch l ggig lg gfi by 45 inch shipping cartons cotnaining approximately 1 N05 M n and apparalitlllis 350 to 400 pirns per carton. These units were moved via $3 K gf j materlals handlmg equipment such as a Tow Motor 1n P t d f t 2d Ht multiple cases to the pirn cleaning location and placed i gf ifi- 4418 0014105 on the loading platform for a K Model 300 case unloader Cl Kr l tit ogbins 0. 54% 0. 05-0. 1 0. 001-0. 01 unscrambler, as manufactured by Chisolm Ryder Comiiifi tfif fi t L0 0,3414 pany at Hanover, Pa. The plrns were automatically un- Kmlastic bobbins (1241-4 loaded to the feed convey way as illustrated in FIG. 1. The pirns or bobbins were of the type shown in Table I As can be observed, the percent defects as 2nd quality and had the dimensions of bobbin 1. As the pirns moved yarn from the machine cleaned pirns were reduced aldown the convey way in sequence, a microswitch was most to a vanishing point using the apparatus and meth actuated whereby pneumatically operated arm v6 peneod as described. Cleaning costs were only 20 to 40% of trated the paper merge disc 9 and removed said disc from that comparable to manual cleaning. This represents a the cap end of the pirn. Simultaneously, brush 12 entered significant improvement in the process of cleaning several the drive end of the pirn, rotating at a speed of 200 rpm. thousand pirns per hour. to remove scale from the core thereof. Then, in sequence In another example, aluminum tubes listed as No. 6 this p1rn was plcked up by rotating arms 18 as shown in in Table I were employed. The aluminum tubes were FIG. 1. Belt 19 rotated the pirn in a clockwise direction automatically uncased as described above and rolled by gravity to station 1. At this point, it was contacted with a rotated nylon fluted spreader which at a speed of 200 rpm. readily rounds out the drive end of the aluminum tube suitable for subsequent uniform friction contact and driving. Simultaneously, a sanding disc tensioned at 3 oz. compression force on either side is rotated to within 1 to 3 mils distance from the tube edge to grind off any sharp edges on the tube end without reducing the tube length. The tube is then picked up by the action of the radial arms 18 and passed through the same brushing operation as described above using the same di and trichlorinated hydrocarbon having from C to C carbons. The use of an aqueous solution for cleaning aluminum should be avoided since there is a problem with the formation of aluminum oxide which can give difliculty in subsequent staining of the yarn Wound on the aluminum surface.

The aluminum tube in sequence was rotated against a non-woven rayon toweling and discharged to the exit convey way by the opening of springs and spreading of the radial arms holding beveled spindles to disengage the beveled spindles from the pirn. On passage out the convey way, the aluminum pirns were automatically cased as described above.

We claim:

1. Apparatus for preparing used empty bobbins for reuse which comprises in combination:

(a) means for advancing the bobbin to a first work zone,

(b) means for automatically removing from one end of the bobbin an identification disc within the work zone,

(c) means for automatically brushing the core of said bobbin,

((1) means for sequentially gripping and advancing the bobbins to a second work zone into contact with means for cleaning said bobbin with a liquid,

(e) means for drying the bobbins, and

(f) means for automatically releasing the bobbins.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the means for removing the identification disc is a pneumatically operated plunger.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the means for gripping and advancing the bobbin is comprised of pairs of radial arms selectively disposed on a rotatable drum, said arms being provided with means for holding a bobbin.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein cam surfaces are provided for deflecting the arms from their normal position.

5. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the means for cleaning the bobbin in the second work zone is a brush positioned to contact the bobbin.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein means is provided for rotating the brush.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein means is provided 8 in said second work zone for the opposite rotation of the bobbin and a brush, said brush being in contact with the outer surface of said bobbin.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the bobbin is rotated by a pair of conical-shaped members partially inserted into the bore at each end of said bobbin.

9. A continuous method for automatically cleaning textile bobbins having an internal bore which comprises, in sequence:

(a) advancing said bobbins to a first work station,

(b) removing an identification disc from one end of said bobbin at said first work station,

(c) advancing said bobbin to a second work station where cleaning of the outer surface of the bobbin is accomplished by contact movement between said surface and a wet brush,

((1) advancing said bobbin through a drying zone wherein the bobbin is dried, and

(e) advancing said bobbin to a release point.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the bobbin after drying is automatically released from the apparatus and forwarded to a packaging station.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the bobbins are advanced to the first work station by gravity.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein the internal bore of said bobbin is cleaned simultaneously with the removal of the identification disc.

13. The method of claim 9 wherein the bobbin and brush both are rotated in opposite directions in the second work zone.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the bobbin is dried by rotation of said bobbin in contact with a towel in the drying zone.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the brush rotates in contact with a cleaning solvent.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 885,912 4/1908 Chilton 1560 1,297,299 3/1919 Meyer 1560 1,412,719 4/1922 Stutts 28-19 2,295,576 9/1942 Gladfelter 15101X 2,327,986 8/1943 Bach 15-7OX 2,751,621 6/1956 Mitchell 134-6X 2,956,297 10/ 1960 Edmunds 1560X 3,112,550 12/1963 Bentley 28-19 3,150,396 9/1964 Unterbrink 15103.5UX

JOSEPH SCOVRONEK, Primary Examiner D. G. MILLMAN, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R.

Images