US3716979A

US3716979A - Method and arrangement for supplying sliver to a fine spinning machine

Info

Publication number: US3716979A
Application number: US00098840A
Authority: US
Inventors: K Handschuh; F Schumann
Original assignee: Schubert und Salzer Maschinenfabrik AG
Current assignee: Rieter Ingolstadt Spinnereimaschinenbau AG
Priority date: 1969-12-24
Filing date: 1970-12-16
Publication date: 1973-02-20
Anticipated expiration: 1990-02-20
Also published as: DE1964857B2; GB1283310A; FR2072043B1; DE1964857A1; CS161767B2; BE759270A; CH515844A; JPS5627615B1; SU441714A3; FR2072043A1

Abstract

Sliver is transported in large transport cans to a refilling device adjacent to a fine spinning machine having two parallel rows of spinning stations. The sliver is transferred from such large transport cans to supply cans which are smaller and are movable between the refilling station and individual spinning stations. At least four parallel supply can supporting tracks are provided, two of which are spinning head feeding tracks and two are refilling tracks. One refilling track receives empty supply cans transferred from the feeding tracks for circulation past the refilling station, and the other track receives the refilled supply cans for transfer to a spinning head feeding track. The refilling can tracks can be connected at both ends for unidirectional, or at one end for reversible, transfer of empty supply cans from one refilling track past a refilling device to the other track. The filled supply cans may be exchanged for emptied supply cans by connecting a spinning head feeding track to a refilling track and moving the supply cans along a continuous path, or by rails pushing filled supply cans transversely from a filling track onto an adjacent spinning head feeding track, thereby pushing empty supply cans onto another filling track.

Description

ilnited States Patent [191 Handschuh et a1.

[ 1 Feb. 20, 1973 [73] Assignee: Schubert & Salzer Maschinenfabrik Aktiengesellschaft, lngolstadt, Germany [22] Filed: Dec. 16, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 98,840

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Dec. 24, 1969 Germany ..P 19 64 857.8

[52] US. Cl ..57/34 R, 57/5889, 57/156, 19/159 A [51] Int. Cl. ..D0lh 9/18 [58] Field of Search ..57/1 R, 34, 36, 50, 58.89, 57/5891, 58.93, 58.95, 52, 127.5,156; 191159 A [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,125,782 3/1964 Kaine et a1. ..19/159 3,132,461 5/1964 Arai ..57/1 3,199,152 8/1965 Tooka et a1. ....l9/159 3,323,177 6/1967 Binder et a1. ..19/159 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,143,742 2/1963 Germany ..19/159 Primary Examiner-Werner H. Schroeder Att0rney-Robert W. Beach [5 7 ABSTRACT Sliver is transported in large transport cans to a refilling device adjacent to a fine spinning machine having two parallel rows of spinning stations. The sliver is transferred from such large transport cans to supply cans which are smaller and are movable between the refilling station and individual spinning stations. At least four parallel supply can supporting tracks are provided, two of which are spinning head feeding tracks and two are refilling tracks. One

refilling track receives empty supply cans transferredfrom the feeding tracks for circulation past the refilling station, and the other track receives the refilled supply cans for transfer to a spinning head feeding track. The refilling can tracks can be connected at both ends for unidirectional, or at one end for reversible, transfer of empty supply cans from one refilling track past a refilling device to the other track. The filled supply cans may be exchanged for emptied supply cans by connecting a spinning head feeding track to a refilling track and moving the supply cans along a continuous path, or by rails pushing filled supply cans transversely from a filling track onto an adjacent spinning head feeding track, thereby pushing empty supply cans onto another filling track.

15 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures tab/16.979

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SHEET 7 OF 9 war/02M A TraEA/ZJ PATENIED FEBEO 1975 SHEET 8 OF 9 INVENTOR5' METHOD AND ARRANGEMENT FOR SUPPLYING SLIVER TO A FINE SPINNING MACHINE The invention relates to methods and apparatus for the supply of sliver to fine spinning machinery and more particularly to open end spinning machinery, in which the sliver originating from a previous fiberpreparing machine is passed in transport cans to the fine spinning machine. The invention is also concerned with arrangements for carrying out such methods.

The supply of sliver deposited in transport cans to fine spinning machines is a conventional practice. However, there are difficulties in accommodating such transport cans at each spinning station, since the spacing between spinning stations is kept as small as possible, to reduce the space requirement of the frame. For this reason numerous proposals have already been made for a compact accommodation of sliver transport cans. Thus, for example, in accordance with one proposal the containers were to be placed in a creel over the spinning machine or on an individual platform which is arranged above or below the platform on which the machine is mounted.

Although the previously made proposals for the accommodation of transport cans are very diverse in nature, they are all based on an arrangement in which the sliver is supplied from cans of small diameter which are made to suit the spatial relationships existing in the spinning frame and the sliver is supplied to the machine in these containers. The use of cans of small diameter as sliver deposit containers for the fiber-preparing machine preceding the fine spinning machine, for example a preparing machine such as a drawing frame, impairs the efficiency of such a machine substantially if it is provided with a can-changing arrangement. The high throughput speed obtained at the present time with drawing machines cannot be fully utilized if small sliver take-up containers have to be filled, so that there is a trend to use larger and larger cans. On the other hand, so-called can spinning" of a conventional type makes a sliver deposit device necessary on the preceding fiber-treating machine which runs counter to the economics of production. A further disadvantage of the previous type of silver supply to fine spinning machines is the necessity of transporting and storing the large number of such small cans, something which leads to substantial costs being incurred.

One aim of the present invention is to provide an economic and convenient solution to the above problem in the case of fine spinning, more particularly in the case of open end spinning direct from a can sliver supply.

The present invention includes a method for the supply of sliver to a fine spinning machine, in which the sliver is filled into large transport cans at a preceding fiber-treating machine, is moved in these cans to the fine spinning machine, is transferred to a plurality of smaller supply cans arranged permanently adjacent to the fine spinning machines, and is passed from the supply cans to the spinning leads of the fine spinning machine.

The exchange of the empty supply cans for full supply cans can be carried out in an alternate fashion for each machine side respectively. This offers the advantage that the spinning stations of the side of the frame not affected by the change-over can carry on production, so that losses in production due to stopping are reduced by one half. A shortening of the time taken for changing can be achieved by adopting the feature that the exchange of the empty supply cans for full supply cans is carried out by simultaneous transverse displacement of the empty and full can rows. This manner of operation offers the further advantage that the laying on or connection of the sliver in a full can with the preceding length of sliver in an emptying can is possible during the operation of the machine so that no 7 stopping of the machine is necessary during can change-over.

The number of can paths can be reduced, and, therefore, a particularly compact arrangement is achieved if the empty supply cans are exchanged for full supply cans in an orbital system, and if the empty supply cans of both sides of the spinning frame are indexed past the filling position in separate filling circuit.

The method of supply of sliver in accordance with the invention facilitates current attempts to rationalize spinning. It makes possible a saving in space, in containers and in the number of operators. Furthermore the method can avoid the above-mentioned disadvantages which would occur if the preceding fiber treating machine is specially adapted to the fine spinning machine.

The present invention also relates to a spinning arrangement comprising a fine spinning machine, supply cans which circulate only between an adjacent refilling device and the fine spinning machine, and transport cans for carrying sliver from a preceding fiber-treating machine to the fine spinning machine for filling of the sliver into the supply cans.

In accordance with a preferred feature of the invention relating to the arrangement for carrying out the method, the mechanism comprises a can-refilling means adjacent to the fine spinning machine, the supply cans being circulated between this refilling means and individual spinning stations of the fine spinning machine. Independent operation of the two sides of the frame or machine can be made possible by providing a plurality of refilling means.

A further feature of the arrangement resides in the provision of at least four can tracks or paths parallel to the rows of spinning positions or heads. A compact and therefore particularly advantageous accommodation of the supply cans on the can tracks can be achieved by adopting the feature that the number of supply cans is so large that all can tracks are fully occupied. In accordance with a preferred arrangement embodying the invention, the can tracks are connected at least at one end with each other so that the supply cans can change over from one can track or path to the other. For this purpose the supply cans can be moved by endless transport or conveying chains or belts in the direction of the can tracks or by means for displacing rows of cans in a direction perpendicular to the can tracks.

Further details of the invention are described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic front elevation of an open end spinning machine with a refilling device.

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic top plan showing the arrangement of the supply cans for a filling circuit and a change-over circuit with the associated transport means, parts being broken away.

FIG. 3 is a vertical section taken on line III-III of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary transverse section on line IVIV ofFIG. 3.

FIGS. 5 6, and 7 are diagrammatic top plans showing alternative arrangements of the supply cans parts being broken away in FIG. 5.

FIG. 8 is a top plan of the refilling means and the associated feed device.

FIG. 9 is a detail of the displacing or feed device shown in FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a side elevation of the feed device shown in FIG. 8 and FIG. 9, with parts broken away and parts in section.

FIG. 11 is a longitudinal vertical section through the arrangement of the supply containers of FIG. 6.

Referring now to FIG. 1 it can be seen that a refilling device 2 is located on the frame side opposite to the drive side 11 of an open end spinning machine 1. This refilling device is supplied with sliver F from sliverfilled transport cans 3, the sliver coming from a preceding fiber-treating machine not shown. The sliver F is removed from the transport cans 3 by the refilling device 2 and placed into smaller supply cans 5 adapted to the spinning heads or stations 4. The supply cans 5, of which at least one is provided for each spinning head 4 to feed it with sliver, are preferably arranged inside the spinning machine 1 for reasons of compactness and always remain adjacent to the machine or frame. The spinning stations 4 are conventionally arranged in rows on both sides of the spinning frame 1, for which reason supply cans 5 are provided for both sides of the frame. When the supply cans 5 are empty, they are moved in a manner which is to be described below from the spinning heads 4 of the frame to the refilling device 2, filled by it and then moved again away from the refilling device 2. The principal parts of the refilling device 2 are formed by a turntable of conventional construction and a housing covering the turntable. The turntable serves as a supply device.

The arrangement and movement of the supply cans 5 can be carried out in various ways. As shown in FIG. 2 only one refilling device 2 is provided for both sides of the spinning machine or frame 1. The exchange of empty supply cans for filled cans is carried out alternately for the two sides of the machine. Before exchange of the supply cans 5 the spinning stations 4 are stopped on the side of the frame or machine for which the changeover is to be effected.

Four can tracks or paths K,, K K and K are provided for supporting and guiding movement of supply cans 5, but the supply of cans is limited to the number which would fill three tracks. The can tracks K, and K, carry full supply cans 5, from which sliver is supplied for the spinning stations or heads. At the beginning of the refilling cycle, empty supply cans 5 are arranged on one of the two other can tracks K, or K In FIG. 2 the cans are shown in their positions midway through the refilling cycle in which the empty supply cans 5 are arranged on the can track or path K The cans which have been moved past the refilling device 2 and filled with sliver from the transport can 3 stand on the can track K,.

The supply cans 5 are moved along the can tracks or paths by endless conveying chains or conveying belts arranged beneath the cans. While the two outermost can tracks K, and K, are each provided with one

transport chain

61 and 62 respectively, transport on the two inner can paths K and K is carried out by a transport chain 63 which is common to these two tracks. For entraining the cans 5 dogs 67 are attached to the transport chains. The transport chains are guided by idler sprocket wheels 68.

The

transport chains

61, 62 and 63 are driven by a reversible motor 6 (see FIGS. 3 and 4) through a belt or chain drive and

bevel gearing

610, 620 and 630 which are fixedly engaged with and drive the

sprocket wheels

611, 621 and 631, respectively, which sprocket wheels are engaged with the respective transport chains. The driving bevel gears of the

bevel gearing

610, 620 and 630 are fixed on

shafts

64, and 66.

Dog clutches

640 and 650 make possible a connection between the driving shaft 65 and the driven

shafts

64 and 66, respectively. Further description of the drive and control of the transport chains is not necessary since such means are sufficiently well-known to those in the art.

For reliable guidance of the supply cans guide

rails

75, 76 are arranged on both sides of each can track or path. The guide rails and 76 of the two inner can tracks K, and K, at their ends remote from the refilling device 2 are connected with the guide rails 75 and 76 of the respective can track K, or K, adjacent to them, as is shown in FIG. 2. At the end of the can tracks K and K in front of the refilling device 2

guide arms

71, 72 which can be pivoted about axes 7 are provided.

The can paths or tracks K and K are connected with each other by the transport chain 63. After the filling of each can 5 the transport chain 63 is indexed to move the full can 5 from the refilling device 2 onto the can path K and an empty can 5 from the can path K, to the refilling device. For alternate refilling cycles the motor 6 is reversed and empty cans on track K, are moved step-by-step past the refilling device and onto track K During the circulatory movement for filling, the

guide arms

71 and 72 are swung into the position shown in full lines so that the passage to the outer can tracks K, and K, is prevented. The transport or conveying

chains

61 and 62 are stationary during the refilling cycle, since the full cans 5 on the can tracks K, and K, are emptied by the operating spinning heads 4. As soon as all cans 5 in the filling circuit are filled in the manner described and are moved in the direction of the arrow P, from the can track K onto the can track K the circulatory movement for filling is stopped. Accordingly the filled cans are positioned for the can changeover for the spinning head on the machine side adjacent to can track K,.

As soon as the supply cans 5 on the can track K, are empty, they are exchanged for filled supply cans S-carried on the can track K,. The exchange is by circulating the cans along the orbit defined by the can tracks K, and K, and the arcuate connecting portions of

rails

75 and 76 in the direction of the arrows P The guide arm 71 is swung into the broken line position 71' at the beginning of this changeover cycle so that movement onto the can track K, is blocked. The sprocket wheel 611 is driven by bevel gearing 610 operable by driven shaft 64 (FIGS. 3 and 4) which is connected with the driving shaft 65 by the dog clutch 640 for driving the transport chain 61. The transport chain 61 moves the emptied supply cans 5 to the can track K and the cans are released from the dogs 67 owing to the change in the direction of movement of the chain 61 as it passes around the idler wheel 68 adjacent sprocket wheel 61 1. Such cans are then engaged by the dogs 67 of the transport chain 63 and entrained. in a similar manner the full cans 5 are transported by the transport chain 63 to the other end of the can track K and taken over by the transport chain 61. The lateral guidance of the cans is carried out by the guide rails 75 and 76.

After the termination of the circulatory movement for can changeover the clutch 640 between the driving shaft 65 and the driven shaft 64 is disconnected, the guiding arm 71 is moved out of the broken-line position 71' into its original full-line position and the motor 6 (see FIG. 4) is reversed so that the supply cans 5, now emptied, standing on the can track K are moved by the transport chain 63 in a clockwise direction (as indicated by arrow P in steps to the refilling device 2,

filled by it with sliver and then transported on the can track K By the time can changeover cycle begins on the opposite side of the machine, all empty cans have been filled by refilling device 2 and changed over from the can track K to the can track K so that the can track K is completely filled with filled supply cans 5. Accordingly can changeover for the spinning heads adjacent to the can track K can be effected. When the supply cans 5 on track K are emptied, the guide arm 72 is swung into the broken-line position 72 and the sprocket wheel 621 is rotated in the direction of arrow P by connection of the shaft 66 through clutch 650 with the driving shaft 65. The empty supply can 5 which are entrained by the dogs 67 of the transport chain 62 now move from the can track K, to the can track K and the filled supply cans 5 standing on the can track K move onto the can track K in a manner similar to the can changeover described above. After all supply cans 5 of this side of the machine have been transferred from one can track K or K to the other can track, the drive of the transport chain 62 is interrupted and the guide arm 72 is swung out of the broken-line position 72 into the solid-line position of FIG. 2 so that cans on track K can be moved onto path K The subsequent filling of the empty supply cans 5 on the can track K is effected by indexing chain 63 in the direction of P in the previously described manner.

The device for filling and changing the supply cans in accordance with FIG. 5 differs from that described above in that all four can tracks K K K and K are completely occupied by supply cans 5 and the two inner can tracks K and K are connected with each other at both ends. The ends of the can tracks K and K remote from the refilling device 2 are provided with

further guide arms

73 and 74. Accordingly it is possible to move the supply cans 5 in a circuit past the refilling device 2 supplied by transport can 3. It is also possible to exchange simultaneously supply cans 5 standing on the can tracks K and K which cans have been emptied by supplying sliver to the spinning heads or stations, for cans which have been filled. Consequently, after the exchange or changeover operation, all of the cans 5 on tracks K and K are empty and ready for initiation of the can-filling operation.

During the circulatory movement of the supply cans 5 for filling, the

guide arms

71, 72, 73 and 74 are swung into their full line position so that the supply cans 5 moved by the dogs 67 of the transport chain 63 moving in a counterclockwise direction (arrows P are positioned at the refilling device 2 and are then transferred from can track K to track K while the paths to the can tracks K and K are blocked. The filling operation is terminated when all supply cans 5 have been filled and again returned to their original positions.

At the beginning of the cycle for exchanging emptied supply cans 5 on the can tracks K and K, for the filled supply cans 5 on the can tracks K and K the

guide arms

71 and 72, together with the

guide arms

73 and 74 are moved into the broken-line positions 71, 72; 73', 74' and the two shafts 64 and 66 (FIGS. 3 and 4) are coupled with the driving shaft 65 for driving the

transport chains

61 and 62. Owing to the swinging movement of the guide arms the supply cans S standing on track K which continue to be moved by the transport chains 63 running in an counterclockwise direction, are transferred from this track onto the track K and the emptied cans 5 are transported along can track K, by the transport chain 61 and dogs 67 for transfer from track K onto the can track K (see arrows P Simultaneously the filled supply cans 5 located on the other machine side are conveyed from the can track K onto the can track K while the emptied supply cans 5, propelled by the transport chain 62, move from the can track K, to the can track K (see arrows P After the guide arms are swung out of the broken-line positions 71', 72, 73' and 74 into their starting full-line positions and the

transport chains

61 and 62 are stopped a new can-filling cycle commences.

Naturally it is also possible to use different driving means for the supply cans 5 than that shown. Thus, for example, the circulatory movement for filling could occur in a direction opposite to the arrows P,, that is in the clockwise direction, and the following changeover of the supply cans 5 could occur in a direction opposite to that indicated by the arrows P and P Also'it is possible to carry out the filling circulatory movement in the clockwise direction and after termination of the circulatory movement for filling to reverse the drive of the transport chain 63 so that, on changing over the emptied supply cans 5 for filled cans, the cans are moved in the direction of the arrows P and P In contrast to the embodiments of the invention so far described for the supply of sliver, in which the empty supply cans are exchanged for filled cans a continuous path, FIG. 6 shows an embodiment for changeover of the cans involving the simultaneous transverse displacement of the empty and full can rows. This changeover is carried out alternately for one side of the spinning frame or machine and then for the other side.

Of the five can tracks K K K K and K three can tracks are fully occupied by supply cans when the system is ready for the changeover operation. The can tracks K, and K carry the supply cans 5, which supply sliver to the spinning heads or stations. On one of the two can tracks K, or K, there are empty supply cans 5. Immediately before, during and immediately after the can changeover for the spinning stations or heads on the side of the can track K the can track K is filled with empty supply cans 5. For filling the empty cans 5 are moved in the direction of the can track K as far as the refilling device 2 (arrow P Subsequent displacement of a can located at the end of track K adjacent the refilling device 2 will be in a direction perpendicular to the can tracks (arrow P-,) so that the cans are passed underneath the turntable of the refilling device 2 and are filled with fiber sliver from the transport can 3. The filled cans are removed so as to pass onto the can track K (arrow P which track after the termination of the circulatory movement for filling is completely filled with filled supply cans 5.

The exchange of the emptied supply cans 5 standing on the can track K, for the filled supply cans 5 on the can track K is carried out by simultaneous displacement of these two can rows in a direction perpendicular to the can tracks in the direction of the arrow P The filled supply cans 5 displace the empty supply cans 5 from the can track K onto the can track K, as shown in broken lines as cans 5 in FIG. 6, and such filled cans take up their positions on the can track K.,.

A new circulatory movement for filling now commences. The empty supply cans 5' advance in steps in the direction along the can track K towards the refilling device 2 (arrow P After displacement of the individual supply cans 5' in a direction perpendicular to the can tracks until they come underneath the refilling device (arrow P and after filling with sliver they are conveyed as filled cans 5 back onto the can track or path K (arrow P As soon as the supply cans 5 standing on the can track K are empty, they are exchanged for the filled supply cans 5 on the can track K,,. The exchange is carried out by a simultaneous transverse displacement of the two rows of cans in a manner similar to that described above for the exchange of cans between tracks K K and K After displacement in the direction of the arrow P empty supply cans 5 again stand on the can track X ready for the next circulatory movement for filling.

The transport of the supply cans along the can tracks K K and K is ensured'by the

transport chains

641, 651 and 661 (FIG. 11), which are driven in steps. When the supply can standing under the turntable of the refilling device 2 is filled with sliver from the transport can 3, the drive of the transport chain 651 is energized and, depending on the position of the empty supply cans 5, either the drive of the transport chain 641 or of the transport chain 661 is energized. The dogs 67 of the transport chain 651 engage the filled supply can 5 and transport it onto the can track K Simultaneously an empty supply can 5 is conveyed between the

arms

80, 81 of a displacing device 8 arranged within the refilling device 2 (see FIG. 8). The

displacing device 8 is moved along a rail 82 by

grooved wheels

820 and 821 and is guided by further grooved wheels 822 along a lower rail 82' (see FIG. 10). A

' motor (not shown) located outside the refilling device 2 drives shaft 83 to turn sprocket wheel 85 mounted on such drive shaft and thereby to drive an endless transport chain 84. The transport chain 84 is guided by idler sprocket wheel 86, shown in FIG. 8. A reliable guidance of the supply cans 5 during displacement in a direction perpendicular to the can tracks in the directions of the arrows P, and P is ensured by the

guide rails

860, 87, respectively.

A further guide rail 88 is arranged between the

arms

80 and 81. When, during its forward movement along the can track K (arrow P the supply can 5 abuts against the rail 88, the displacing device 8 is set in motion. The supply can 5 is accordingly moved underneath the turntable of the refilling device 2 having the pair of calender rollers 20, whereupon refilling of sliver F is begun from the transport can 3 into the supply can 5.

After the

arms

80, 81 have been swung away from the supply can 5, the displacing device 8 returns to the appropriate can track K or K in which position it is ready for receiving a further supply can 5 after

arms

80, 81 are swung into the transport position. Swinging movement of the

arms

80, 81 is effected by a reversible motor 89 arranged between the arms through a gear wheel 890 mounted on the motor shaft through idler which drives through idler wheels, the gear wheels 891 (FIGS. 9 and 10) mounted on the

shafts

801, 810. The

arms

80, 81 are rigidly connected to the

shafts

801, 810 to swing with shaft rotation.

A simultaneous displacement of the two rows of cans in a direction perpendicular to the can tracks on can changeover is ensured by a displacing device 9 shown in FIG. 11. Each end of the upper and lower displacing

arms

91, 92 extending through vertical rods 90 carry

rails

910, 920 extending parallel to and having lengths equal to the can tracks. A row of vertical rods 90 are spaced along a line parallel to the can track and are connected with lead nuts 93 on threaded rods 94 with opposite threads and are moved backwards and forwards by the rods which rotate in the same direction. A motor, not shown, drives rods 94 through bevel gearing 95. After movement of rods 90 to the right in FIG. 11 to displace the rows of cans on tracks K and K the vertical rods 90 with the, displacing

arms

91, 92 remain between the can tracks K and K until transverse displacement in the opposite direction transferring cans on tracks K and K becomes necessary. The shown arrangement and movement of the supply cans 5 is particularly advantageous in that only one displacement device 9 is required. It is, however, also possible to displace the empty supply cans 5 from the tracks K and K onto the can track K so that alternate filling cycles transfer filled cans onto the outer can tracks K and K and the direction of transverse displacement of the can rows during changeover will be in a direction toward the middle track K In this instance it would be necessary to provide a displacing device 9 on each side of the frame.

While in the embodiments of the invention described above each spinning machine is only provided with one refilling device, the spinning machine of FIG. 7 is provided with two refilling devices 21 and 22 supplied by

transport cans

31, 32, respectively. This use of twice as many refilling devices and the provision of six can tracks makes possible the simultaneous changing over of the supply cans on both sides of the machine or frame by simultaneous displacement of the empty and full can rows.

Of the six can tracks available the tracks K K and K, are arranged for cooperation with the refilling device 21 while the tracks K K and K are arranged for cooperation with the refilling device 22. The supply cans 5 from which sliver is supplied to the spinning heads are located on the can tracks K and K.,. The can tracks K and K, at the beginning of the filling cycle are completely occupied with empty supply cans. The

, transport devices are the same as those described above with reference to FIGS. 6 and 8 to 11 so that the following description is limited to operation of the filling and changeover cycles.

The empty supply cans 5 on the can track K are supplied by a transport chain to the refilling device 21 as indicated by arrow P In this position they are engaged by the displacing device 8, shown in FIG. 8, to be moved under the turntable of the filling device and filled. Each filled can 5 is pushed by the displacing device 8 onto the transport chain of the can track K which is then energized to convey the filled supply can 5 onto the can track K The displacing device 8 returns to the can track K and is ready for receiving the next empty supply can 5. The transverse displacement of the supply cans within the refilling device 21 is indicated by arrow P while removal onto the can track K is indicated by the arrow P In a similar manner the empty supply cans 5 on the can track K, are transported to the refilling device 22 (see arrow P They are similarly positioned under the turntable of the refilling device and after filling are pushed onto the can track K (arrow P by a displacing device 8. Following this they are moved onto the can track K in the direction of arrow P After the termination of the two circulatory filling operations the can tracks K and K are completely filled with filled supply cans 5.

The exchange of the emptied supply cans for filled cans is effected simultaneously on both sides of the machine by simultaneous transverse displacement (arrows P and P of the rows of cans standing on the can tracks, K, and K, and on the can tracks K and K by means of two displacing devices 9 of the type shown in FIG. 11. Consequently the filled supply cans 5 pass from the can track K onto the can track K, and from the can track K to the can track K and push the emptied supply cans 5 onto the can tracks K and K respectively, in which position the empty cans stand ready for the next circulatory movement for filling.

The billing cycle can also be reversed in the case of this embodiment so that the empty supply cans 5 stand on the can tracks K and K and, after their filling at the refilling devices 21 and 22, move onto the outer can tracks K and K,. The simultaneous transverse displacement of the empty and full can rows on can changeover in this instance is in a direction opposite to that indicated by the arrows P and P for which purpose separate displacing devices 9 are provided at the outer sides of the can tracks K and K The method in accordance with the invention for supply of sliver to fine spinning machines solves a significant transport problem in spinning factories. It is possible, of course, to provide different means for transporting the cans. For example, for the transport of the supply cans along the can tracks, it is possible to use transport belts or bands instead of chains. Also the displacing device within the filling device can be replaced by transport chains, belts or straps arranged transversely relative to the can tracks.

We claim:

1. A method for supplying sliver to a plurality of spinning stations in a fine spinning machine, which comprises feeding sliver to such spinning stations from supply cans, transporting emptied supply cans to a refilling station, refilling such emptied supply cans at such refilling station with sliver from a transport can larger than such supply cans and containing sliver, the transport can having been received from a fiber-treating machine, and transporting such supply cans to such spinning stations for again feeding sliver from the supply cans.

2. The method defined in claim 1 for supplying sliver to a plurality of spinning stations in a fine spinning machine, the stations being arranged in a row at one side of the machine, including simultaneously removing from all of the spinning stations of such row supply cans from which sliver has been fed, and simultaneously placing in all the spinning stations of such row supply cans containing sliver to be fed to the respective spinning stations of such row.

3. The method defined in claim 2 for supplying sliver to a plurality of spinning stations in a fine spinning machine, the stations being arranged in rows at opposite sides, respectively, of the spinning machine, including simultaneously removing from the spinning stations of the rows at both sides of the spinning machine supply cans from which sliver has been removed, and simultaneously placing at all the spinning stations of both rows at opposite sides of the spinning machine supply cans containing sliver to be fed to the respective spinning stations.

4. The method defined in claim 2 for supplying sliver to a plurality of spinning stations in a fine spinning machine, the stations being arranged in two rows at opposite sides, respectively, of the machine, including simultaneously removing from all the spinning stations of a first row supply cans from which sliver has been removed, simultaneously placing at all the stations of such row supply cans containing sliver from which sliver is to be fed to the spinning stations of such row while supply cans remain located undisturbed at the spinning stations of the other row, and, while the supply cans remain located undisturbed at the spinning stations of the first row, simultaneously removing from the spinning stations of the second row supply cans from which sliver has been removed and simultaneously placing at the supply stations of such second row supply cans containing sliver to be fed to the spinning stations of such second row.

5. The method defined in claim 2, in which the supply cans are removed from all of the spinning stations in a row and in a direction transversely of the length of such row, and, in placing the supply cans in the spinning stations, moving such cans in a row in a direction transversely of the length of such row.

6. The method defined in claim 2, in which the cans in being removed from the spinning stations are moved along one portion of an orbit away from the spinning stations, and the cans being placed in the spinning stations are moved along another portion of the same orbit toward such spinning stations.

7. The method defined in claim 3, in which refilling stations are located at opposite sides, respectively, of the fine spinning machine, cans removed from the spinning stations at the opposite sides of the fine spinning machine are moved toward their respective refilling stations along one portion of their respective orbits, and cans to be placed in the spinning stations at opposite sides of the spinning machine are moved toward such spinning stations along the same respective orbits from the refilling stations.

8. Mechanism for supplying sliver to a plurality of spinning stations in a fine spinning machine, comprising supply cans, means for feeding the stations from said supply cans, a refilling station, a transport can larger than said supply cans receivable in said refilling station and having been received from a fiber-treating machine, said refilling station including means for refilling said supply cans from said transport can, and means for moving said supply cans from said refilling station to the spinning stations of the fine spinning machine.

9. The sliver-supplying mechanism defined in claim 8, in which a plurality of the spinning stations are arand connecting means connecting the four tracks in two pairs, said connecting means connecting corresponding ends of the tracks of each pair for movement of cans from one track of a pair to the other track of the same pair while cans are moving simultaneously from said other track of such pair to said one track of the same pair.

13. The sliver-supplying mechanism defined in claim 8, in which the moving means includes at least three tracks along which supply cans; can move, first connecting.means connecting a first one of said tracks to a second one of said tracks, second connecting means connecting said first one of said tracks to the third track, and selecting means operable selectively to transfer supply cans from said first track to said second track by said first connecting means, and from said first track to said third track by said second connecting means.

14. The sliver-supplying mechanism defined in claim 8, in which the moving means includes endless trans- 'port means for moving supply cans from the can- 11. The sliver-supplying mechanism defined in claim 10, including sufficient supply cans to fill all four tracks simultaneously.

12. The sliver-supply mechanism defined in claim 10,

refilling means to the spinning stations of the fine spinning machine and back to the can-refilling means.

15. The sliver-supplying mechanism defined in claim 8, in which the moving means includes track means for carrying supply cans in a row, and displacing means for moving such'a row of supply, cans in a direction transversely of the length of said track means.

Claims

9. The sliver-supplying mechanism defined in claim 8, in which a plurality of the spinning stations are arranged in two rows, and at least four can tracks parallel to the rows of spinning stations.

10. The sliver-supplying mechanism defined in claim 8, in which a plurality of the spinning stations are arranged in two rows, and the moving means includes at least four tracks parallel to the rows of the spinning stations for moving supply cans therealong relative to the spinning stations.

11. The sliver-supplying mechanism defined in claim 10, including sufficient supply cans to fill all four tracks simultaneously.

12. The sliver-supply mechanism defined in claim 10, and connecting means connecting the four tracks in two pairs, said connecting means connecting corresponding ends of the tracks of each pair for movement of cans from one track of a pair to the other track of the same pair while cans are moving simultaneously from said other track of such pair to said one track of the same pair.

13. The sliver-supplying mechanism defined in claim 8, in which the moving means includes at least three tracks along which supply cans can move, first connecting means connecting a first one of said tracks to a second one of said tracks, second connecting means connecting said first one of said tracks to the third track, and selecting means operable selectively to transfer supply cans from said first track to said second track by said first connecting means, and from said first track to said third track by said second connecting means.

14. The sliver-supplying mechanism defined in claim 8, in which the moving means includes endless transport means for moving supply cans from the can-refilling means to the Spinning stations of the fine spinning machine and back to the can-refilling means.