US3791124A

US3791124A - Method and apparatus for controlling the doffing of bobbins and the donning of tubes on spindles of ring spinning and ring twisting machines

Info

Publication number: US3791124A
Application number: US00263754A
Authority: US
Inventors: S Kaufmann; H Rutz
Original assignee: Maschinenfabrik Rieter AG
Current assignee: Maschinenfabrik Rieter AG
Priority date: 1971-06-18
Filing date: 1972-06-12
Publication date: 1974-02-12
Anticipated expiration: 1991-02-12
Also published as: BE784704A; ES404281A1; GB1399527A; BR7203910D0; CH541636A; DD97678A5; IT958383B; DE2226077A1; FR2142002A1

Abstract

A light source is positioned to direct a beam of light on a receptor on a straight line axis located above the row of spindles but within the contour of the tubes mounted on the spindles. After doffing, the light source is turned on to detect the presence of undoffed tubes or the presence of a spindle which may have been torn up during doffing. If the beam of light is interrupted, donning of fresh tubes can be prevented until the spindles are cleared.

Description

tts [191 auirnann et a1.

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLIING THE DOlFlFHNG OlF BOlBlBllNS AND THE DONNllNG OF TUBES ON SPllNlDLES OE RHNG SPINNHNG AND RING TWlSTlNG MACHKNES Inventors: Siegfried Kauimarin; llllans Rutz, both of Winterthur, Switzerland Assignee: Rieter Maschine Works, Ltd.,

Winterthur, Switzerland Filed: June 12, 1972 Appl. No.: 263,754

Foreign Application Priority Data June 18, 1971 Switzerland 8896/71 11.8. C1. 57/52, 57/54, 57/156 Int. Cl. D0111 9/00, DOlh 13/14 Field of Search 57/52, 53, 54, 156

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Rebsamen 57/52 [451 Feb. 12, 1974 6/1972 Whitney 57/53 8/1972 Burgermeister et al. 57/52 Primary ExaminerJohn Petrakes Assistant Examiner-Charles Gorenstein Attorney, Agent, or Firm--Kenyon & Kenyon Reilly Carr & Chapin [5 7] ABSTRACT A light source is positioned to direct a beam of light on a receptor on a straight line axis located above the row of spindles but within the contour of the tubes mounted on the spindles. After doffing, the light source is turned on to detect the presence of undoffed tubes or the presence of a spindle which may have been torn up during doffing. If the beam of light is interrupted, donning of fresh tubes can be prevented until the spindles are cleared.

21 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTED FEB 1 2 3. 7910124 sum 2 0F 4 PATEN'IEB FEB 1 2 I874 v II METHOD AND APPARATUS F OR CONTROLLING THE DOFFING OF BOBBINS ANDTHE DONNING OF T UBlES ON SPINDLES OF RING SPINNING AND RING TWISTING MACHINES This invention relates to a method and apparatus for controlling the doffing of bobbins and the donning of tubes on spindles of ring spinning and ring twisting machines.

It has been known to utilize various types of automated equipment to carry out a doffing procedure in which bobbins are doffed from spindles of a ring spinning or a ring twisting machine. Also, it has been known to utilize the same equipment to carry out the donning of empty tubes onto the spindles after the bobbins have been doffed. Further, in order to monitor the doffing of the bobbins, various photoelectric or light beam detectors have been used to determine if the bobbins have been removed prior to initiation of the donning of fresh tubes; For example, it has been known to doff bobbins by means of a doffing device which moves along the row of spindles, a so-called travelling doffer'unit. This doffing device has been provided with a (as seen from the doffing device) tiltable n-shaped fork member, on one leg of which a light source is mounted in such a manner that a light beam or a bundle of light rays can be directed between the two legs onto a light receptor arranged on the other leg. In addition, the fork member has been coupled with the drive mechanism of the doffing device. Before doffing, the fork member is positioned between the bobbins and the machine frame in such manner that its legs encompass a limited number of bobbins on the row of spindles to be doffed. The light source and the light receptor are thus positioned so that the straight line connecting the centers of the light source and of the light receptor extends outside the spindles within the area outlined by the contour of the full bobbins. After doffing of the bobbins, the light source is switched on and the row of spindles is monitored by the light beam. If, after the doffing process, a bobbin remains on the spindles, the light beam terminates in the contour area of the bobbin so that no light reaches the light receptor. As a result, the drive mechanism is deactivated and the doffing device is stopped. If, however, light reaches the light receptor, when the light source is switched on, this would indicate that an ordinary doffing process of all bobbins has been accomplished and the fork member is then tilted into an upper position.

However, as the light beam in the above type of equipment has extended in the area of the border (ie the sides) of the contour of the full bobbin, this presents a disadvantage. that a partially filled bobbin which is not doffed, or an empty tube, cannot be detected and signalled by the light beam. Thus, the method cannot be used for the doffing of bobbins and the donning of tubes wherein a doffing device arranged on the machine automatically doffs the bobbins and automatically dons the tubes. This is because any tubes which remain on the spindles and are not signalled can cause serious disturbances during the subsequent donning of new tubes onto the spindles and the doffing and donning device can be destroyed in the process. Further, due to the limited span of the fork member, a limited number of spindles can be monitored at one time by means of light beam. This, however, is not desireable in a doffing and donning device which is incorporated into a machine to doff and don all the spindles arranged along a side of the machine.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to achieve control of the doffing of bobbins and donning of tubes in a doffing and donning device incorporated into a machine which automatically doffs all bobbins arranged on a side of the machine simultaneously and also automatically dons all the tubes.

It is another object of the invention to be able to cletect the presence of partially filled bobbins or empty tubes on the spindles of a ring spinning or ring twisting machine after an automated doffing operation has been carried out.

It is another object of the invention to detect the presence of partially removed spindles after the doffing of bobbins therefrom.

It is another object of the invention to monitor a row of spindles in a ring spinning or ring twisting machine for control of an automated doffing and donning device therefor.

Briefly, the invention provides a method and apparatus wherein a light beam or a bundle of light rays is directed above the tops of the spindles of a ring spinning or ring twisting machine to detect the presence or absence of a tube, or the presence or absence of an uplifted spindle, at preselected times. Depending upon whether the light beam or bundle of light rays is interrupted or not, the operation sequence of an automatic doffing and donning device is controlled.

The method includes the steps of automatically doffing the full bobbins formed on a row of spindles of the machine, of thereafter directing the light beam or light ray bundle longitudinally of the spindles above the row of spindles and disposed at least partially within an area corresponding to the contour of a donned tube to a predetermined position, and of subsequently automatically donning fresh empty tubes onto the spindles in response to the presence of light from the light beam at the predetermined position.

The apparatus of the invention cooperates with a machine having a row of aligned spindles for receiving tubes to form bobbins on each spindle and includes an automatic doffing and donning device for sequentially doffing bobbins from a row of spindles on a machine and donning empty tubes onto the spindles, a light source at one end of the row of spindles to direct light beams above the spindles but within the contour of a donned tube, and a light receptor at the opposite end of the row of spindles to receive the light beam. In addition, the light receptor is operatively connected to a stop motion means within a drive of the doffing and donning device so as to selectively activate the stop motion means in response to the reception or absence of light from the light beam.

In one embodiment, the bobbins are gripped automatically by gripping elements which are spaced along the machine side according to the spindle gauge and arranged on a support member which is movable up and down. By moving up the support member, the bobbins can be automatically doffed and, eg uponv pivoting the support member away from the machine, can be deposited onto a bobbon receptacle. Subsequentially, the fresh tubes held ready can be gripped, e.g. by the same gripping elements, and can be transported by the support member to the spindles and, by lowering the support member, can be donned to the spindles.

The light source can be of any suitable type of light source and can be equipped with optical devices, such as e.g. lenses and/or mirrors for generating a light beam or a bundle of light rays to be directed to the light receptor. The term light beam in the following also designates a bundle of light rays. The light receptor can be any type of detector adapted to the light source, such as e.g. a photocell, a secondary electron multiplier or similar devices.

The light source and the light receptor can be arranged in such manner that their centers are arranged on a straight connecting line which e.g. extends above the spindle tops and below an upper rim and within the outside diameter of the tubes. The row of spindles can then be monitored by the light beam directed through this area to the receptor.

In another embodiment, the centers of the light source and of the light receptor are arranged in such manner that only a fractional portion of the crosssections of the light emitted by the light source is interrupted, e.g. by a bobbin remaining on the spindles so that the light receptor is darkened only partially. This occurs when the straight connecting line extends through an area corresponding to the upper rimof the bobbin. Thus, in the case of a bobbin which has not been doffed, only a part of the light beam, as seen in cross-section, is interrupted by the portion of the tube extending above the top of the spindle while a corresponding part of the light receptor is blacked out. In this case, the light receptor can react to only the blacked out part of the light beam which is of reduced cross-section.

The light source can be arranged at one side of the drive headstock and the light receptor at the opposite tailstock, or they can be arranged vice-versa, so that the light beam emitted by the light source e.g. is directed above the whole row of spindles arranged along a machine length side to the light receptor and extends over the whole length side of the machine. Alternating arrangements of light sources and light receptors can also be provided along the row of spindles for reasons of light intensity, susceptibility of the light receptor or due to an excessively long light path, so that the whole row of spindles is controlled in a number of control sections.

In operation, the light source is switched on e.g. after doffing, and if light reaches the receptor, the process of exchanging tubes can continue. If the light beam is interrupted by the upper portion of a bobbin remaining on the spindles, the exchange process is interrupted so that this disturbance can be corrected. The light receptor can be connected with a programmed switch of the bobbin exchange device, and e.g. if light reaches the light receptor, a signal is generated in the programmed switch to activate continuation of the tube exchange process. If, after switching on the light source, no light reaches the light receptor, or if due to partial exposure,

an insufficient quantity of light reaches the light receptor, a signal is generated by the light receptor in the programmed switch which causes interruption of the exchange process. The light source can also be switched on during the doffing process or before the doffing process. In this case, the light receptor is switched on to be activated only after the bobbins have been doffed, as the absence of the light beam which cannot reach the light receptor because the bobbins are still on the spindles would otherwise cause the receptor to generate an undesireable signal at this time.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description and appended claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a view of a partially opened ring spinning frame with doffed bobbins according to the invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a top view of the ring spinning frame shown in FIG. 1 in a section along line ll-II of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 illustrates a view similar to FIG. 1 with one bobbin remaining on a spindle after doffing;

FIG. 4 illustrates a top view of the ring spinning frame taken along line IV-IV of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 illustrates a detail of a bobbin remaining on a spindle after a doffing operation and with a beam of light being interrupted in accordance with the invention; and

FIG. 6 illustrates a top view of the bobbin and spindle of FIG. 5 in relation to a light beam according tothe invention.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a ring spinning machine 3 equipped with a drive headstock 1 and a spindle rail 2 is provided with a number of spindles 4, 4' arranged in a row on each machine side 5, 5' (only one row being shown in FIG. 1). A

support member

6, 6 of great stability extends along each machine side 5, 5' of the ring spinning machine 3 and is equpped with gripping elements (not shown) of any suitable type arranged at mutual distances corresponding to the spindle gauge. These gripping elements are described in detail e.g. in US. Pat. No. 3,667,204 and such description is incorporated herein. Each

support members

6, 6 is supported in the ring spinning machine 3 via rods 7 which are arranged to rotate and to move up and down in

guide elements

8, 8. The guide elements 8, 8' are supported by

cross-supports

9, 9 extending from columns 10 of the ring spinning machine 3 towards the machine sides 5, 5'.

As shown in FIG. 1, the guide elements 8 are connected at their upper ends with a rail 11 which is arranged on the ring spinning machine and extends above the machine on each machine side 5. The rods 7 are suspended on strings 12 which are placed on freely rotatable rolls 13 arranged on the rail 11 and which are connected e.g. with a motor driven Windlass 12 (indicated by dashed lines in FIG. 1) so that the rods 7 and thus the support member 6 can be moved up and down. A pivoting device 14 is provided at the lower end of each rod which is rotatably connected with the support member 6 and by means of which the a support member 6 can be pivoted away or towards the ring spinning machine 3 while the rod 7 rotates. A bobbin receptacle 15 with side walls 16 (one side wall only being shown) is provided below, and in front of, the spindle rail 2 and a transporting belt (not shown) is arranged between the side walls 16. The belt is disposed to cooperate with an upwardly inclined duct 17 at one end of the bobbin receptacle which is provided with open end faces and which contains a transporting device (not shown).

In FIG. 1, the support member 6 is shown in an elevated position after dotting the bobbins 18 which, upon pivoting of the support members 6, or 6' respectively, away from the machine 3 and upon lowering of corporated herein.

Referring to FIGS, 1 and 2, a light source 19, 19' is provided at the end of each row of spindles 4, 4' in the drive headstock 1 while a

light receptor

21, 21 is provided at a predetermined position in part of the ring spinning machine 3 at the other end of each row of spindles 4, 4' opposite to the drive headstock 1. The

center

22, 22 of each light source 19, 19' and the

center

23, 23 of each

light receptor

21, 21 are arranged on a straight connecting line B, B so that a light beam 28 emitted by the

light source

19, 19 can reach the

light receptor

21, 21. The straight connecting line B, B in this arrangement extends above the

spindles

4, 4 within an area corresponding to the part or contour of the tubes 24 of the bobbins 18 extending above the spindle tips, as shown in FIG. 1, for a bobbin 18n placed on spindle 4n indicated with broken lines.

Referring to FIG. 1, the motor driven Windlass 12' is connected by a circuit 12" to a stop motion device S which is activated by a programming device 27 via a circuit 27. The stop motion device-S is further connected with the drive means for activating the pivoting device 14 as indicated by a circuit 14.

In operation, after doffing of the bobbins 18 from the spindles 4 by moving up the support member 6, the bobbins 18 are located in the position indicated in FIG. 1. Now, the light sources 19, 19' are switched on by a switching device connected via a circuit 26 with the programming device 27 which controls the switching device 25, so that each

light beam

28, 28 is directed above the spindles 4, 4' through the area corresponding to the upper part of the tube 24 of the bobbins 18 towards the

light receptor

21, 21 so that all spindles are monitored. As all bobbins 18 have been doffed, the light beam 28, 28' reaches the

light receptor

21, 21 which also is connected with the programming device 27, and which can be activated thereby if needed. The resulting signal of the light receptor 21, 21' indicates that all bobbins 18 have been doffed correctly as the

light beam

28, 28 controls all spindles 4,

4 along the machine 3. Thereupon, the

light source

19, 19 and, if desired, the

light receptor

21, 21 are switched off by the programming device 27, and the doffing process of the bobbins 18 is automatically continued, i.e. the support member 6 is pivoted away from the machine and is lowered and the bobbins 18 are deposited on, or in, the bobbin receptacle 15.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, if a bobbin 18 due to any reason is not doffed and remains on the spindle 4, the upper tube part 24 of the bobbin 18 is located in the path of the light beam '28. Thus, the light beam 28 is wholly interrupted and no longer reaches the light receptor 21. The light receptor 21 then signals this disturbance to the programming device 27, which activates the stop motion device S and interrupts the operation of the respective drive means of the bobbin exchange device connected with (not shown) the programming device 27 and thus prevents continuation of the doffing process and of the subsequent automatic donning of tubes.

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, the straight connecting line B extends above the tips 30 of the spindles 4 within an area corresponding to an outside diameter D of the bobbin 18 and is limited by an upper rim 31 of the upper tube part 24 of the bobbin l8 extending'above the spindle tip 30 and by an outside diameter C of a tube 32. As indicated, the light beam 28 emitted by the light source 19 (see FIGS. 3 and 4) and centered on the straight connecting line B as indicated by the arrows, reaches the tube part 24 above the spindle tips 30 and below the upper tube rim 31 and within the diameter C, so that the light receptor 21 (see FIGS. 3 and 4) is completely blacked out by the tube part 24 and cannot receive any light from the light source 19. 4

After the controlled doffing and depositing of the bobbins 18 on the bobbin receptacle 15 (see FIG. 1), fresh tubes 32 for taking up a spun yarn are donned and the support member 6 is moved up to the position shown or lowered to the position indicated with broken lines. The whole arrangement can also be stopped automatically after a last spinning phase by means of the control device using the light beam 28. For this purpose the programming device 27 can be connected with a drive of the machine 3 and programmed so that if the light beam 28 reaches the light receptor 21, 21', the light receptor 21, 21' then signals the lack of tubes on the spindles 4 to the programming device 27 whereupon the programming 'device 27 prevents the further start-up of the spinning machine 3.

In the case of a deformation of a spindle, such can prevent a bobbin from being doffed in a normal manner. Also, the spindle can be torn from its retaining device. To this end, disturbances which can be caused by deformation or jamming of the bobbin tube on the spindle can also be detected after doffing of the bobbins. For example, after the bobbins are moved up with the support member, as shown in FIG. 1, so that the path of the light beam from the light source to the light receptor is cleared by the bobbins doffed, any spindle which has been torn out or any part of a spindle extending below the bobbins is located in the path of the light beam. As the light beam is thus interrupted and cannot reach the light receptor, continuation of the bobbin exchange process can be interrupted by the programming device. Thus, damage to the bobbin exchange device or to the spinning machine can be prevented.

The inventive method presents the advantage that the automatic sequence of doffing full bobbins and donning empty tubes can be controlled or checked e.g. after doffing. Visual control of the correct doffing of all full bobbins by the operating personnel, as Well as stoppage of the bobbin exchange device for this purpose, i.e. an interruption of the doffing process for control purposes, can be dispensed with so that the danger of overlooking a spindle which might remain on a spindle by visual monitoring can be eliminated. Thus, pressing of a tube onto a bobbin remaining on the spindles during the tube donning process can be prevented along with any damage that would be imposed on the bobbin exchange device or to the spinning machine by such. It is a further advantage of the invention, that by elimination of interruption of the exchange process for control purposes, the automatic process sequence can be effected within shorter time and, thus, more economically and that the reliability and effectiveness of the process can be improved.

What is claimed is: l. A method of controlling the doffing and donning of tubes on spindles of ring spinning and ring twisting machines wherein the tubes extend upwardly above the spindles when donned thereon comprising the steps of automatically doffing full bobbins from a row of Iongitudinally aligned spindles; directing a light beam longitudinally of the row of spindles above the row of spindles and at least partially within an area corresponding to the contour of a donned tube to a predetermined position; and

automatically donning empty tubes onto the row of spindles in response to the presence of light from said light beam at said position.

2. A method as set forth in claim 1 which further comprises the step of depositing the doffed bobbins in a bobbin receptacle prior to donning of the empty tubes.

3. A method as set forth in claim 1 which further comprises the steps of receiving the light beam at said position after passage of the beam above the spindles and generating a signal in response to reception of the light beam at said position and of subsequently automatically donning the empty tubes in response to said signal.

4. A method as set forth in claim 1 which further comprises the steps of generating a signal in response to the absence of light from said light beam at said predetermined position and of subsequently interrupting the donning of the empty tubes in response to said signal.

5. A method as set forth in claim 4 wherein the light beam is directed wholly within said area to be interrupted over the whole cross-section thereof by a donned tube and which further comprises the step of detecting the total absence of light from the light beam at said position.

6. A method as set forth in claim 4 wherein the light beam is directed partially within said area to be interrupted over a fractional portion of the cross-section thereof by a donned tube and which further comprises the step of detecting the absence of light from said fractional portion of the light beam at said position.

7. A method as set forth in claim 4 which further comprises the step of detecting the presence of a tomup spindle in the path of said light beam after doffing and of interrupting said donning of empty tubes in response thereto. I

8. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said light beam is extinguished after said step of donning.

9. The combination of a machine having a row of longitudinally aligned spindles for receiving tubes thereon for forming of a bobbin on each spindle, each tube being sized to extend upwardly above a respective spindle; an automatic doffing and donning device for sequentially doffing bobbins from said row of spindles and donning empty tubes onto said row of spindles;

drive means for operating said doffing and donning device;

a stop motion means connected to said drive means for interrupting operation of said drive;

a light source disposed to direct a light beam longitudinally above said spindles within the contour of a donned tube; and

a light receptor disposed to receive the light beam from said light source, said light receptor being operatively connected to said stop motion means to activate said stop motion means in response to the absence of the light beam.

10. The combination as set forth in claim 9 which further includes a support member extending along a side of said machine, means for mounting said member for up and down movement, and gripping elements on said member for gripping the bobbins.

11. The combination as set forth in claim 10 which further includes a bobbin receptacle extending along said machine side.

12. The combination as set forth in claim 9 wherein said light source and said light receptor are disposed on a straight line extending above said spindles and within an area limited by an upper rim of a tube on a respective spindle and an outside diameter of said tube.

13. The combination as set forth in claim 9 wherein said light source is located at one end of said row of spindles and said light receptor is located at an opposite end of said row of spindles.

14. The combination as set forth in claim 13 wherein said machine includes a drive headstock at one end of said row of spindles and wherein said light source is mounted in said headstock and said light receptor is mounted in an opposite part of said machine arranged at the other end of said row of spindles opposite to said headstock.

15. The combination as set forth in claim 9 further comprising a programming device connected to said drive, said stop motion means and said light receptor for activating said light receptor, stop motion means and said drive inprogrammed sequence.

16. The combination as set forth in claim 15 further comprising a switching device connected to said light source for switching said light source on and off, said switching device being connected to said programming device to be selectively activated thereby.

17. The combinatin as set forth in claim 15 further comprising a drive for said machine connected to said programming device for actuation thereby.

18. The combination as set forth in claim 15 wherein said light receptor activates said programming device after doffing.

19. The combination as set forth in claim 18 wherein said light source is connected to said programming device and wherein said programming device switches on said light source and switches off said drive in response to the absence of light on said light receptor after doffing and maintains activation of said drive in response to the presence of light from the light beam on said light receptor.

20. The combination as set forth in claim 18 wherein said programming device is connected to said light source to selectively switch 011' said light source.

21. The combination as set forth in claim 9 further comprising a switching device for selectively switching said light source on and off.

Claims

1. A method of controlling the doffing and donning of tubes on spindles of ring spinning and ring twisting machines wherein the tubes extend upwardly above the spindles when donned thereon comprising the steps of automatically doffing full bobbins from a row of longitudinally aligned spindles; directing a light beam longitudinally of the row of spindles above the row of spindles and at least partially within an area corresponding to the contour of a donned tube to a predetermined position; and automatically donning empty tubes onto the row of spindles in response to the presence of light from said light beam at said position.

7. A method as set forth in claim 4 which further comprises the step of detecting the presence of a torn-up spindle in the path of said light beam after doffing and of interrupting said donning of empty tubes in response thereto.

9. The combination of a machine having a row of longitudinally aligned spindles for receiving tubes thereon for forming of a bobbin on each spindle, each tube being sized to extend upwardly above a respective spindle; an automatic doffing and donning device for sequentially doffing bobbins from said row of spindles and donning empty tubes onto said row of spindles; drive means for operating said doffing and donning device; a stop motion means connected to said drive means for interrupting operation of said drive; a light source disposed to direct a light beam longitudinally above said spindles within the contour of a donned tube; and a light receptor disposed to receive the light beam from said light source, said light receptor being operatively connected to said stop motion means to activate said stop motion means in response to the absence of the light beam.

15. The combination as set forth in claim 9 further comprising a programming device connected to said drive, said stop motion means and said light receptor for activating said light receptor, stop motion means and said drive in programmed sequence.

20. The combination as set forth in claim 18 wherein said programming device is connected to said light source to selectively switch off said light source.