US3656383A

US3656383A - Apparatus for automatically cutting connecting tow of continuous filamentary material between tote boxes

Info

Publication number: US3656383A
Application number: US88004A
Authority: US
Inventors: Merton L Dibble; Edward A Morehead
Original assignee: Eastman Kodak Co
Current assignee: Eastman Kodak Co
Priority date: 1970-11-09
Filing date: 1970-11-09
Publication date: 1972-04-18
Anticipated expiration: 1989-04-18

Abstract

Apparatus for automatically cutting a connecting tow of continuous filamentary material that extends between tote boxes that are in loading and off-loading positions, respectively. The connecting tow is engaged and consequently is held by a member attached to a carriage that moves between the tote boxes, and is guided and moved to an electrically energized heat severing device that is located to one side of the path along which the tote boxes move, whereupon the connecting tow is cut by the heat severing device and one of the cut ends is caused to drop into the tote box that is in loading position.

Description

PATENTEBAPR 18 m2 SHEET 1 [IF 2 MERTON L DIBBLE EDWARD AMOREHEAD INVENTORS ATTORNEY United States Patent Dibble etal.

1451 Apr. 18, 1972 l9/159A ....19/159A ....19/l59A 19/66TX 3,354,513 11/1967 Fornes....... 3,381,342 5/1968 Selby 3,546,722 12/1970 Watson...............................

721 Inventors: Merton L. 111111111; Edward A. Morehead, Primao'Emminer-Donald y both of Kingsport, Tenn.

Attorney cecil D. Quillen, Jr. and Malcolm G. Dunn [73] Assignee:

Eastman Kodak Company, Rochester, ABSTRACT NY.

1 Apparatus for automaticall y cutting a connecting tow of continuous filamentary material that extends between tote boxes that are in loading and off-loading positions, respectively. The connecting tow is engaged and consequently is held by a member attached to a carriage that moves between the tote boxes, and is guided and moved to an electrically energized heat severing device that is located to one side of the path along which the tote boxes move, whereupon the connecting tow is cut by the heat severin one of the cut ends loading posmon [22] Filed: Nov. 9, 1970 [2]] App]. No.: 88,004

[52] U.S. Cl.19/159 A, 28/21, 53/23, 53/123, 83/171, 83/566 [51] Int. 7/10 g device and [58] Field ofSearch...................83/167,171, 566, 569, 701

is caused to drop into the tote box that is in [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,351,992 11/1967 7 Carter............

12 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PATENTEMPR 18 I972 3,656, 383 SHEET 2 BF 2 MERTON L. DIBBLE EDWARD AMOREHEAD INVENTQRS ATTORNEY APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY CUTTING CONNECTING TOW OF CONTINUOUS FILAMENTARY MATERIAL BETWEEN TOTE BOXES BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to an apparatus for automatically cutting a connecting tow of continuous filamentary material that extends between tote boxes that are in loading and off-loading positions, respectively.

In the manufacture of man-made fibers, such as from cellulose acetate and polyester, to name only two examples, fiber is extruded or spun from a number of orifices in a continuous filamentary form from each cabinet of a series of aligned cabinets with each cabinet yarn end being formed of a number of continuous filaments and being joined with other cabinet yarn ends of the cabinet series to form a running tow or tow band" that may be subsequently puddled into tote boxes and stored in preparation for subsequent processing.

The puddling operation may involve an apparatus that moves back and forth above a tote box that is in loading position so as to puddle or lay the tow in even, orderly layers in the tote box so that upon subsequentprocessing the tow may be readily and orderly withdrawn from the tote box without the layers of the tow becoming so entangled that withdrawal becomes an impossibility.

When a tote box has been filled, it is then moved from the loading position to an off-loading position for subsequent disposition. The operator of the particular line where the tote boxes are located, upon observing that the tote box has moved to the off-loading position, walks over to the location, and cuts the connecting tow between the tote boxes. He drops one of the cut ends into the empty tote box that has just'been moved into the loading position and into which tow is being puddled or continuously supplied, and places an identification tag upon the other cut end that is attached to the tow that is in the loaded tote box that has been moved to the off-loading position.

One of the difficulties encountered in the operation described above is derived from the fact that the operator usually has the responsibility for a number of lines since it takes anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours, depending on denier size, for a puddler to fill a tote box, and therefore it is not economical to have only one operator for each line. The operator usually has a number of other responsibilities, and may not observe the movement of the loaded tote box into the off-loading position as soon as it occurs or else may be engaged in another duty and is thus not able to respond immediately. In the meantime, the puddler continues to puddle tow into the empty tote box. When that part of the tow that extends between the empty and loaded tote boxes is cut, the length of the one cut end will fall into the empty tote box across at least some of the layers that have been puddled thus far into the empty tote box. Later when the tow is withdrawn, the length of the cut end across the layers will interfere with the withdrawal of those layers and possibly result in an entanglement and breaking of the tow.

The movement of the tote box from loading position to an off-loading position is usually termed doffing. If the tow between the tote boxes is not cut immediately when doffing occurs, at least two problems are encountered. First, when the tow is cut, a long section of the tow will be dropped on top of the layers of tow that have been puddled thus far in the empty tote box, as mentioned above. This will sometimes cause creel breakouts and thus uneven runouts during withdrawal in subsequent processing of the tow. Second, it is possible for the weight of the tow hanging from the full or loaded tote box to pull a quantity of the tow into the empty tote box onto the layers puddled thus far into that tote box or onto the conveyor along which and by which the tote boxes move from position to position.

Since it is not always convenient for an operator to be on hand exactly at scheduled doff time, he will occasionally doff a tote box early or late in order that he be present to sever the tow as the tote box is doffed. This can cause considerable waste due to uneven runouts in the creel. For instance, tow may be simultaneously withdrawn from a number of tote boxes lined up one behind the other or in a creel with the individual tows from each tote box'being subsequently combined together to form a still larger or wider and thicker tow or tow band. Obviously, if an operator has doffed early or has doffed late with respect to one or more tote boxes in such lineup, some tote boxes will run out of tow before the other tote boxes do. This, then, is the meaning of the uneven runouts in the creel" mentioned above.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly an object of the invention is to obviate the difficulties and disadvantages inherent in the operation described above by providing an apparatus that, without requiring the presence of an operator, will automatically cut a connecting tow of continuous filamentary material that extends between a tote box that is in loading position and a tote box that is in an off-loading position.

The apparatus will respond automatically upon movement of a tote box from the loading to the off-loading position, and part of the apparatus is positioned between the tote boxes when the tote boxes are in their respective positions. The apparatus includes an electrically energized heat severing device that is positioned to one side of the path along which the tote boxes move from one position to the next and is located between the tote boxes, and a carriage that carries and moves a member into engagement with the connecting tow for guiding and moving the connecting tow to the heat severing device which cuts the tow upon engagement of the tow with the heat severing device. The carriage also has a second member that serves to extend the tow from the first mentioned member and across the plane in which the heat severing device lies so as to assure engagement of the tow with the heat severing device. The apparatus also includes a jet device, and the second member on the carriage serves a further purpose of guiding one of the cut ends of the tow to the jet device which forces or blows the one cut end into the empty tote box.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the apparatus and illustrating portions of the tote boxes in their loading and off-loading positions, respectively, and the puddler for puddling tow into the tote box that is in the loading position;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of the apparatus and illustrating the connecting tow immediately after it has been cut, the brush-like member on the removable carriage for engaging the tow and for holding one of the cut ends of the tow, and the electrically energized heat severing device; and

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic view in perspective of the arrangement of the electrical circuitry for energizing the apparatus upon a tote box engaging a switch when the loaded tote box has moved to the off-loading position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In reference to FIG. I, 10 designates the puddler for puddling tow 12 into the tote box 14 that is in the loading position. The puddler jet device 16 is guided back and forth relative to the tote box by the beam 18 that moves along the geared rail 20 in a manner well known. The remaining mechanism shown associated with the puddler will not be described because it is not deemed to be part of the invention. The puddler serves to position the tow in even and orderly layers in the tote box so that the tow can subsequently be withdrawn without difiiculty.

In reference now to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the apparatus of the invention includes an electrically energized heat severing device 22, a movable carriage assembly 24, a cylinder assembly 26 that may be pneumatically operated, and a control panel 28 that is adapted to electrically energize the heat severing device and actuate the movement of the cylinder assembly and carriage assembly upon the tote box being moved to an offloading position as shown at 30 in FIGS. 1 and 3, when the tote box has been loaded with tow and has tripped the switch device 32.

The electrically energized heat severing device 22 is positioned to one side of the path along which the tote boxes are moved from one position to the next, and is located between the tote boxes when they are in their respective positions of loading and off-loading. The device includes a support bracket 34, an upper clamping fixture 36, a lower clamping fixture 38 and a strand-like material, preferably a ribbon 40 that is made of nichrome steel. The support bracket 34 may be adjustably supported on one end of the diamond shape guide rod 42 that is supported by the stanchion 44.

The movable carriage assembly 24 is adapted to be moved back and forth along the diamond shaped guide rod 42 and includes the traveler or carriage 46, which is internally configured to conform to the shape of the guide rod 42, a mounting bracket 48 for the rake or brush-like member 50, and a mounting bracket 52 for a guide member 54.

The rake or brush-like member 50 and the guide member 54 are attached to and extend downwardly from the carriage for movement with the carriage. The guide member is preferably made of flexible material such as NYLATRON GS nylon molybdenumdisulfide formulation, and the rake or brush-like member is preferably pivotally mounted in a direction transverse to the path of movement of the carriage, for reasons that will be described. The rake may be in the nature of a wire brush so that upon engagement with the connecting tow 55, the tow will adhere to the rake even after the connecting tow has been cut so that the operator may readily grasp the cut end of the tow adhering to the rake and place an identification tag on it. In other words, the rake also serves to prevent one of the cut ends from falling into the loaded tote box or perhaps onto the conveyor (not shown) which moves the tote boxes from one position to the next. The rake also serves a further purpose in its holding function that is essential to the effectiveness of the operation. It is necessary to prevent the connecting tow, as it is moved into engagement with the heat severing device, from slipping along its length relative to the cutting ribbon. If permitted to slip, the mass of the connecting tow will tend to cool the heated ribbon and thus the ribbon will not cut the tow. Therefore, the adherence of the tow to the brush-like member will prevent such slippage and the full heat severing capability will be brought to bear at that location of the connecting tow that lies in the plane of the ribbon as the connecting tow is extended between the brush-like member 50 and the guide member 54.

It will be appreciated that the brush-like member 50 can be replaced by other suitable means capable of performing the holding function, without departing from the scope of the invention. It will also be readily recognized that if it is desired that the other cut end be held instead of letting it drop into the empty tote box, that the guide member 54 can be replaced by a member similar to the brush-like member or one capable of performing a holding function.

The cylinder assembly 26 that serves to move the carriage assembly 24 to and from the heat severing device 22 includes a piston 56 (FIG. 2) that is driven back and forth within the cylinder 58, with a cable 60 being attached to each end of the piston. The cable is also connected at each end of a bracket connection 62 disposed at the top of the carriage 46. The piston is preferably caused to be driven back and forth within the cylinder 58 by air pressure, and the cable 60 in turn is caused to pull the carriage assembly 24 back and forth accordingly. As may be seen from the drawings, the cable extends through the end of the cylinder at each end and over a pulley 64 adjacent each end of the cylinder for subsequent connection to the bracket connection.

It will also be recognized that other mechanisms may be used in place of the cylinder assembly and cable 60 to move the carriage assembly back and forth, such as a linear motor, for example.

OPERATION When the tote box 30 is in the off-loading position it engages the switch device 32, which may be a micro-switch, which thereupon through the control panel 28 actuates a fourway solenoid valve 66 (FIG. 3) and actuates the heating of the cutting ribbon 40. As may be seen from FIG. 3, the main supply of air enters through conduit 68 for subsequent travel through a branch conduit at 70 to the four-way solenoid valve 66 and through branch conduit at 72 to a solenoid valve 74 which serves to direct air to the air jet device 76 that serves a purpose to be described. The solenoid valves are electrically connected, as shown in FIG. 3 by the dash lines 78, 80. The switch device is electrically connected as also shown in FIG. 3 by the dash lines 82. The electrically energized heat severing device is electrically connected (FIG. 3) as shown by the dash lines 84. The dash lines 86 indicate the power source.

The four-way solenoid valve 66 enables the air to pass through the proper end of the cylinder to cause the piston 56 of the cylinder assembly 26 to move, thereby moving the carriage assembly 24 between the full and empty tote boxes. The rake or brush-like member is brought into engagement with the connecting tow 55 that is between the tote boxes, and guides and moves the connecting tow to the heat severing device; the tow is cut upon engagement with the heated ribbon 40. As previously described, one cut end of the tow remains adhered to the rake for subsequent tagging by the operator and the other cut end drops into the bottom of the empty tote box. The guide member 54 further serves to guide the one cut end to the air jet device, that is attached to the support bracket 34. The jet device serves to assure that the cut end does not adhere in any manner to the top edge of the empty tote box but rather is forced or blown into the tote box.

The cutting ribbon 40 remains heated only during the traversing movement of the carriage assembly 24 and is deactuated by a conventional time delay unit (not shown).

The carriage assembly 24 remains in the position to which it has moved when it moved the connecting tow to the heated ribbon until the tote box that is in the off-loading position has been moved away, whereupon the switch device 32 is deactuated and the carriage assembly is returned to the far end of the guide rod 42 in preparation for the next doff cycle.

The guide member 54 is made flexible in the event that a tote box should be inadvertently conveyed thereagainst while the guide member is in its path, thereby preventing any damage to the guide member.

The rake or brush-like member 50 is pivotally mounted in the direction transverse to the movement of the carriage assembly 24 for the same reason, i.e. in the event that a tote box should inadvertently be conveyed thereagainst while the rake is in the path of the tote box.

Since the cutting of the connecting tow will now occur shortly after the empty tote box has been moved into the loading position, the length of the cut end will usually drop to the bottom of the tote box before a complete layer of tow has been puddled thereacross. In this manner, the layers of tow will not be obstructed when subsequently withdrawn for further processing.

While the invention has been described in detail with particular reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood that variations and modifications can be effected within the spirit and scope of the invention as described hereinabove and as defined in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. Apparatus for automatically cutting a connecting tow of continuous filamentary material that extends between a tote box that is in loading position and into which the tow is being continuously supplied and a tote box that has been moved from the loading position after having been filled with tow to an off-loading position for subsequent disposition, the apparatus comprising:

an electrically energized heat severing device adapted to be energized for cutting the connecting tow between said tote boxes, the device being disposed to one side of the path along which the tote boxes move from one position to the next and being at a location that is between the two tote boxes;

means movable to and away from the heat severing device and adapted to engage, guide and move the connecting tow that is between said tote boxes to .the heat severing device;

means for moving the movable means; and

means adapted in response to the movement of a tote box from the loading position to the off-loading position for actuating the means for moving the movable means and for electrically energizing the heat severing device for cutting the connecting tow when the connecting tow is moved to the heat severing device.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim I, and wherein said electrically energized heat severing device includes a ribbon of material adapted to be heated when energized and adapted to cut the connecting tow when the connecting tow has been moved against the heated ribbon.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, and wherein said movable means includes a member adapted to engage the connecting tow as the movable means moves the connecting tow to the heat severing device.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 3, and wherein said movable means also includes a second member for engaging the connecting tow and extending the connecting tow from said first mentioned member and across the plane in which the heat severing device lies.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 3, and wherein the member adapted to engage the connecting tow is pivotally mounted for pivotable movement in a direction transverse to the path of movement of the movable means.

6. Apparatus as defined in claim 4, and wherein said movable means further includes a carriage to and from which said member adapted to engage the connecting tow and said second member are connected.

7. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, and wherein said means for actuating and for electrically energizing said heat severing device includes a switch means that is disposed and adapted to be engaged by a tote box when the tote box is moved into the off-loading position.

8. Apparatus as defined in claim 3, and wherein said member comprises a brush-like member with the bristles thereof being adapted to adhere to the connecting tow upon engagement with the tow.

9. Apparatus ad defined in claim 1, and wherein said means for moving the movable means includes a hollow cylinder and a pneumatic piston operable within the hollow cylinder, and the hollow cylinder being disposed above and between the tote boxes when the tote boxes are in their respective positions of loading and off-loading.

10. Apparatus as defined in claim 2, and wherein the heat severing device further includes a bracket for supporting the ribbon of material.

11. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, and wherein an air jet device is provided adjacent the location of the heat severing of the connecting tow and when the connecting tow is cut, is adapted to direct a jet of air against one of the cut ends of the connecting tow so as to force the cut end into the tote box that is in the loading position.

12. Apparatus as defined in claim 11, and wherein said movable means also includes a second member for engaging the connecting tow, and when the connecting tow is cut, is adapted to guide one of the cut ends to the jet device.

P0-1050 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION PatentNo. I Q Dated April 97 I Inventods) Merton L. Dib ble and Edwerd Morehe'ad It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patentare hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 5, line 22, between 'tow and "as the" insert ---between' said tote boxes and hold the connecting tow--.

Column 6; line l5, delete "ad" end'insert therefor.

----as---. v I

Signed and sealed this 5th day of September v1972.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETCHER JR. I ROBERT GOTTSCHALK' Attesting Officer Commissioner of-Patents

Claims

1. Apparatus for automatically cutting a connecting tow of continuous filamentary material that extends between a tote box that is in loading position and into which the tow is being continuously supplied and a tote box that has been moved from the loading position after having been filled with tow to an offloading position for subsequent disposition, the apparatus comprising: an electrically energized heat severing device adapted to be energized for cutting the connecting tow between said tote boxes, the device being disposed to one side of the path along which the tote boxes move from one position to the next and being at a location that is between the two tote boxes; means movable to and away from the heat severing device and adapted to engage, guide and move the connecting tow that is between said tote boxes to the heat severing device; means for moving the movable means; and means adapted in response to the movement of a tote box from the loading position to the off-loading position for actuating the means for moving the movable means and for electrically energizing the heat severing device for cutting the connecting tow when the connecting tow is moved to the heat severing device.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, and wherein said electrically energized heat severing device includes a ribbon of material adapted to be heated when energized and adapted to cut the connecting tow when the connecting tow has been moved against the heated ribbon.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, and wherein said movable means includes a member adapted to engage the connecting tow between said tote boxes and hold the connecting tow as the movable means moves the connecting tow to the heat severing device.

9. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, and wherein said means for moving the movable means includes a hollow cylinder and a pneumatic piston operable within the hollow cylinder, and the hollow cylinder being disposed above and between the tote boxes when the tote boxes are in their respective positions of loading and off-loading.