US3811631A

US3811631A - Winding tube changing mechanisms

Info

Publication number: US3811631A
Application number: US00165414A
Authority: US
Inventors: M Mayer; R Naydowski
Original assignee: Barmag Barmer Maschinenfabrik AG
Current assignee: Oerlikon Barmag AG
Priority date: 1970-07-30
Filing date: 1971-07-26
Publication date: 1974-05-21
Anticipated expiration: 1991-05-21
Also published as: DE2037826A1; GB1342924A; CH522559A; FR2101958A5; CA946858A

Abstract

Apparatus for automatically feeding empty tubes, separately or in groups, to bobbin holders which pivot about a horizontal axis extending longitudinally of the machine and embodying at least one opening device adapted to travel into and out of engagement with the machine and by which, when moved into engagement with the machine, a bobbin holder is swung upwards into a prescribed position and a bobbin lever is swung laterally outwards; at least one loading device which is adapted to move into and out of engagement with the machine and which, when it is moved out of engagement with the machine, automatically takes up an empty tube by gripping it externally on the circumference, bringing taken-up empty tube into the region between the centering plates of the bobbin holder, which is swung upwardly into the prescribed position and opened by the opening device when the loading device is moved into engagement with the machine.

Description

United States Patent [191 Mayer et a1.

[11] 3,811,631 [451 May 21, 1974 1 WINDING TUBE CHANGING MECHANISMS [75] Inventors: Manfred Mayer,

Remscheid-Lennep; Reinhard Naydowski, Remscheid, both of Germany [73] Assignee: Barmag Barmer Maschinenfabrik Aktiengesellschaft, Wuppertal, Germany [22] Filed: July 26, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 165,414

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data July 30, 1970 Germany 2037826 [52] US. Cl. 242/18 R, 242/35.5 A [51] Int. Cl B65h 54/02 [58] Field of Search.. 242/18 R, 35.5 A, 35.5 R

[56] References Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS 2,753,124 7/1956 Gutermann 242/18 R 3,092,340 6/1963 Furst 242/35.5 R 3,311,311 3/1967 Furst 242/18 R 3,370,798 2/1968 Hagihara et a1... 242/18 R 3,552,666 1/1971 Stenmans 242/35.51 R 3,563,478 2/1971 Bell 242/18 R X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,103,267 2/1968 Great Britain 242/35.5 A

Primary ExaminerJohn W. Huckert Assistant Examiner-Milton S. Gerstein Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Johnston, Keil, Thompson & Shurtleff [57] ABSTRACT Apparatus for automatically feeding empty tubes, separately or in groups, to bobbin holders which pivot about a horizontal axis extending longitudinally of the machine and embodying at least one opening device adapted to travel into and out of engagement with the machine and by which, when moved into engagement with the machine, a bobbin holder is swung upwards into a prescribed position and a bobbin lever is swung laterally outwards; at least one loading device which is adapted to move into and out of engagement with the machine and which, when it is moved out of engagement with the machine, automatically takes up an empty tube by gripping it externally on the circumference, bringing taken-up empty tube into the region between the centering plates of the bobbin holder, which is swung upwardly into the prescribed position and opened by the opening device when the loading device is moved into engagement with the machine.

10 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures ATENTEMAY 2 1 m4 FIGZ \ ATTORNEYS SHEEIZHFS 32 TKIIICI-I-II INVENTORS MANFRED MAYER 1 1 ATTO RNEYS 11151115011021 4 3', 8 1 1 ,6 3 1 sum 11 5 107 25 l l i 108 INVENTORS MAN FRED MAYER REINHARD 1 NAYDOQNSK I Q I ATTORNEYS PMENTEUMY 21 1914 SHEET 5 BF 5 INVENTORS MAN FRED MAYER REINHARD NAYDOWSKI F-mk" *(i r x kw L k .M- ATTORNEYS WINDING TUBE CHANGING MECHANISMS The invention has for its objective the reduction of the working hours spent in attending to the winding arrangements of textile machines by providing an apparatus which is able to carry out entirely automatically the replacement of finished spools by empty tubes on bobbin holders.

A further object of the invention is an apparatus which carries out the above function quickly withou occupying a large space.

According to the present invention there is provided an apparatus for feeding empty tubes, separately or in groups, to the bobbin holders of textile machines. The bobbin holders are adapted to pivot about a horizontal axis extending longitudinally of the machine. Each has a bobbin lever, which can be swung out laterally against the force of a spring. The apparatus is adapted to travel along the front of the machine and comprises .at least one opening device which is adapted to travel into and out of engagement with the machine and by which, when moved into engagement with the machine, the bobbin holder is adapted to be swung upwards into a prescribed position and the bobbin lever is adapted to be swung laterally outwards. At least one loading device is also adapted to move into and out of engagement with the machine. When moved out of engagement with the machine, it automatically takes up an empty tube by gripping it externally on the circumference. The taken-up empty tube is brought into the region between the centering plates of the bobbin holder, which is swung upwardly into the prescribed position and opened by the opening device when the loading device is moved into engagement with the machine.

The apparatus provides a swift feeding of the bobbin holder. This is achieved by the fact that, while the opening device is carrying out the opening movements, the loading device has already moved with a new empty tube to the position between the centering plates of the bobbin holder, which is swung upwardly to a prescribed height.

For textile machines having a plurality of superimposed banks of bobbin holders, it is possible in accordance with one embodiment of the invention to simultaneously feed each of the banks of bobbin holders by having several feeding devices arranged one above the other, each feeding device comprising at least one opening device and at least one loading device. With this construction, a separate lifting movement is avoided. By suitable coupling, a common drive means is sufficient for the feeding arrangements disposed one above the other.

According to another embodiment of the invention for use with textile machines having several superimposed banks of bobbins, the opening device and the loading device can be designed to be adjustable in height independently of their working movement. By this means, it is also possible in a simple manner for several banks of bobbins to be fed by the same feeding arrangement.

According to another advantageous embodiment of the invention, each feeding arrangement can comprise, in juxtaposition, a plurality of identical opening devices and a plurality of identical loading devices. This arrangement can be used in the embodiment having several feeding arrangements arranged one above the other and also with the feeding arrangement which can be raised and lowered.

In principle, it is possible for the opening devices and the loading devices to travel along a rectilinear path transversely of the textile machine. For the purpose of saving space, however, it is advantageous for the opening devices and the loading devices to be pivotable about a vertical axis on a carriage which can move along the machine which is to be fed. With this construction, the opening devices and loading devices are brought into the opening position or loading position near the machine by horizontal pivotal movements transversely of the textile machine.

With this type of arrangement, the empty tube magazine is preferably so arranged that the ends of the empty tubes point transversely of the textile machine. In this way, it is possible to arrange for the empty tube magazine to be of sufficient length without thereby increasing the space required transversely of the textile machine. Furthermore, the pivotal arrangement is especially suitable in the case where the bobbin holders are arranged to be offset inwards from the front of the textile machine.

According to a more specific embodiment of the pivotal arrangement, it is advantageous to pivot the opening devices and the loading devices together by means of a common drive between an end position remote from and an end position near to the machine in such a way that, when the feed arrangement is pivoted towards the machine, the opening devices carry out their opening movements and the loading devices carrying the empty tubes are moved forward into the region of the previously upwardly swung and opened bobbin holders. When the feeding arrangement is swung away from the machine, the empty tubes can be automatically fed to the returned loading devices.

With this arrangement, it is possible for the empty tube magazine, arranged with its longitudinal dimension parallel to the front of the textile machine, to be removed laterally from the front region of that part of the textile machine which is just about to be fed.

By this means, a very small space is required immediately in front of the part of the textile machine to be fed.

In a further embodiment of the invention the opening device, which is provided with a stop for deflecting the bobbin lever upwardly and another stop for deflecting the bobbin lever laterally and outwardly, is adjustable by means of a pivoting driver about a horizontal axis which is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the machine and is adjustable transversely with respect to the ma chine. The opening device is adapted to be swung from a prescribed lower end position situated beneath the lowest possible position of the bobbin lever while carrying the bobbin lever into the prescribed upper position, and is movable laterally by means of another drive. By this construction of the opening device, it is firstly ensured that the bobbin lever and the completed bobbin is gripped in any possible pivoted position of the opening device. In this case, the pivoted position of the bobbin holder in relation to the associated friction drive roller fixed rigidly to the machine frame is prescribed by the actual thickness of the completed bobbin which, in certain circumstances, as with a premature breakage of the thread, may be very thin. Secondly it is ensured that, independently of the initial position of the bobbin lever, the bobbin holder with its centering plates always assumes a certain position for receiving an empty tube,

so that the movement of the loading device can be kept simple.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the opening device can have associated therewith a suitable discharge chute for the finished bobbin dropping out of the opened bobbin holder. In this case, in a further embodiment of the invention the holding means for the horizontal pivot axis of the opening device and the pivoting drive thereof are structually combined with the discharge chute. The latter is arranged on a longitudinally displaceable carraige so as to be adjustable transversely of the machine and, when the opening device is in the end position near the machine, is adjustable longitudinally of the latter. With this construction, the opening device is adjusted above the discharge chute transversely of the machine. After the opening device has swung the bobbin lever upwardly, simultaneously lifting the completed bobbin from the friction roller into the prescribed position, it is then shifted longitudinally of the machine and above the discharge chute for opening the bobbin holder.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the loading device comprises gripper members which are of channel-like construction and support the empty tube on the casing. The gripper members have associated with the rearward ends thereof a stop by means of which, as the loading device is introduced into its end position remote from the machine, the discharge flap of the outlet of an empty tube magazine is opened in such a way that an empty tube drops from the outlet into the gripper members.

THE DRAWINGS Preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a side elevation of part of the lower winding section of a textile machine provided with the feeding arrangement according to the invention, the view corresponding to the section plane ll in FIG. 2;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view, partly in section and partly in elevation, showing the pivot bearing of the feeding arrangement according to the invention, the view corresponding to the arrow III in FIG. 2, with a different arrangement of the horizontal conveyor;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged, prespective view of a gripper device;

FIG. 5 is a vertical longitudinal section through a magazine for empty tubes;

FIG. 6 shows the outlet of an empty tube magazine with a discharge flap opened by a gripper;

FIG. 7 is a side elevation of a vertical conveyor, which takes the completed bobbins from the horizontal conveyor and discharges them into a container;

FIG. 8 is a plan view of FIG. 7; and

FIG. 9 is an overall plan view of the feeding mechanism on a travelling carriage.

A textile machine, for example a double-twisting machine, is indicated at 1. In the lower section, only partially illustrated, the textile machine comprises winding arrangements 4 in two banks 2 and 3. Each winding arrangement consists essentially of a bobbin holder 6 which can swivel up and down about a horizontal shaft 5 and seves to accommodate a bobbin 7, and a fixedly arranged driving roller 8, which is continuously driven in a manner not shown.

The bobbin holder comprises two arms 9 and 10 which, with their respective centering plates 11 and 12, engage the ends of the winding tube which is a hollow truncated cone. For cancelling the centering action, one arm 10 can be swung out laterally about a shaft 14 against the force of a spring 13. The same am is extended in relation to the other arm 9 to form the socalled bobbin lever, by means of which the bobbin holder is swung upwardly in order to bring the bobbin out of contact with the driving roller 8.

A mechanism automatically feeds the bobbin holders. The feeding unit 15 comprises an underframe 16, on which are arranged a feeding mechanism 17, an empty tube magazine 18 and also conveyors 19 and 124 which carry away the finished bobbins.

The underframe consists of a frame unit 20, which is guided on the side of the textile machine by means of two spaced grooved wheels (only one, 21, is shown) engaging a guide rail 22 mounted on the textile machine, and is supported approximately centrally on the opposite side, so as to produce a three-point mounting, by means of a wheel 23 on the floor 24.

The entire feeding mechanism 17 is arranged so that it can pivot about a fixed pivot unit 25 mounted on the underframe 16. The pivotal range is this being between the feeding position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and a position (not shown) swung out relatively thereto by 90. Firstly the mechanism 17 is provided with new empty tubes 26 from the magazine 18 and secondly the complete feeding unit 15 is moved along the textile machine.

The pivoting mechanism is to be seen from FIGS. 2 and 3. A pivot arm 27, on which the feeding mechanism 17 is arranged in a manner to be discussed in greater detail below, is arranged to turn about a shaft 28. The turning movement is effected by a swivelling cylinder 29, the piston rod end of which is connected at 30 to a projection 31 on the arm 27 and the cylinder end of which is connected at 32 to an arm 33 which is rigidly connected to the pivot unit 25.

The feeding arrangement 17 is arranged to be adjustable in height on the pivot unit 25. For this purpose, a lifting cylinder 34 is arranged inside the pivot unit 25. The cylinder end is fixed to the cover 35 of the pivot unit 25 and the rod end is pivotally connected at 36 to the underside of a lifting plate 37. Arranged on the lifting plate are the support means for the swivelling cylinder 29 and the pivot shaft 28. The pivot arm 27 and lifting plate 37 can be adjusted by means of the two cylinders to correspond to the position of the winding banks 2 and 3. Arranged on the underside of the lifting plate are guide rods 38, which are displaceably guided in guide bushes 39in the cover 35. The cover 35 is connected fast to the pivot unit 25 so as to turn therewith.

The feeding arrangement 17 assumes a suspended position in relation to the pivot shaft 28. A supporting arm 40, which extends transversely of the pivot arm 27 and serves to support the supply mechanism 17, is offset downwardly relative to the pivot arm 27 by means of a connecting rod 41. The arm 40 projects on both sides of the rod 41. The longer portion directed towards the textile machine in FIG. 2 serves for the mounting of an opening device 42, while the oppositely directed shorter portion serves for the mounting of a loading device 43. Both devices are so constructed that simultaneously two juxtaposed bobbin holders of one bank are fed. The operation as regards the opening and loading of the two adjacent bobbin holders is the same.

The pivot arm 27 and pivot shaft 28 are partly supported by a roller bearing at the bottom end of the vertical connecting rod 41. One roller 80 of this bearing is shown in FIG. 3. When the feeding arrangement pivots, the pair of rollers travel downwards on the cylindrical wall of the pivot unit 25. The pair of rollers can have associated therewith a stop which, when the arrangement is adjusted vertically, lifts the pair of rollers with the arm 41 away from the cylinder wall. In this way, any scraping of the rollers on the wall is avoided.

FIG. 3 shows an arrangement whereby the horizontal conveyor can be raised and lowered. For this purpose, the conveyor 19' is fixed by means of its support frame 106 and a lug 107 on a supporting sleeve 108, which can be moved up and down on the wall 109 of the round pivot unit 25. The lifting cylinder 34 serves for the lifting and lowering movements and can also be adapted for the arresting action in the required position. Fixed on the bottom end of the guide rod 38 is a support ring 117. This also travels upwards with the lifting plate 37 when it is raised. A bore 118 in the support ring is sufficiently large for the support ring to be able to move upwards without obstructing the lifting cylinder 34. Fixed on the support ring 117 is a lug 119, which is connected to the supporting sleeve 108 through a vertical slot 120 formed in the wall 109 on that side thereof which is on one of the sides of the textile machine, i.e., on the side situated behind the plate of the drawing.

With the arrangement of the horizontal conveyor as described, this latter is adjusted upwards by the same distance to the bank of bobbin holders at a higher level as the vertical adjustment of the feeding mechanism 17.

A transfer section 121 of the horizontal conveyor 19' is also to be seen in FIG. 3. The transfer section is fixed beyond a discharge roller 122, which is preferably driven by means of a motor forming a structural part of or fitted into the roller, so as to project by means of side plates 123 on the conveyor 106. In a manner not shown in FIG. 3, the finished bobbin, lying on the part 122, is gripped by a vertical conveyor, which will hereinafter be further described.

The complete opening device 42 is supported on a discharge chute 44 associated therewith, which chute in its turn is held on the support arm 40 to be adjustable longitudinally of the pivot arm 27. Serving for the adjustable support are two guide rods 45 and 46, which are fixed on a side plate 47 of the chute 44 and engage through

guide bushings

48 and 49, which are provided on a side face 50 of the support arm 40. Arranged on the bottom end of the face 50 is a cylinder 51, which serves for the sideways adjustment of the chute 44. The purpose of the sideways adjustment is explained below in conjunction with the opening device 42.

The opening device 42 comprises essentially two

pivot arms

52 and 53, which each grip one side of a bobbin lever from below by means of two

lateral lugs

54 and 55 and on the other side laterally outwards by means of two

abutments

56 and 57 on the free end of the lugs. With another arrangement which is not illustrated, in which the pivot arms grip between the bobbin lever and the bobbins 7, the

lugs

56 and 57 can be omitted, because then the pivot amis, preferably constructed as flat metal members, form the stop for gripping the bobbin lever laterally outwards.

The pivot arm 52 is rotatably mounted at 58 on the side plate 47 and the pivot arm 53 is rotatably mounted at 59 on a holding plate 60 of the chute 44. A cylinder 61, the cylinder end of which is pivoted at 62 on the side plate 47 of the chute 44 while the piston rod end is pivoted at 63 on the pivot arm 52, serves for the upward and downward swivelling of the pivot arm 52, and, through a connecting member 64, the pivot arm 53.

As already mentioned, the loading device 43 is arranged on that end of the support arm 40 which is further from the textile machine 1, and in fact parallel to the opening device 42. The loading device comprises two upwardly

open grippers

65 and 66, which are interconnected by means of a stirrup member 67 and, by means of a rack 68 which engages on the gripper 65, are jointly adjusted in a horizontal plane transversely of the pivot arm 27 towards the textile machine. The rack 68 is driven by an electric motor 69 through a pinion 70. The motor 69 is arranged on a lug 71 of the pivot arm 40 which extends parallel to the pivot arm 27. This lug also comprises two

guide bushings

72 and 73, through which engage two guiding and holding

rods

74 and 75 of the

grippers

65 and 66. The guide rods are fixed on the gripper 65.

The

grippers

65 and 66 each consist of an immovable part 76, which is adapted to the truncated cone form of the empty tube 26, and a part 77 which is movable relatively thereto and which is made substantially shorter than the part 76 and engages around the middle of the tube 26 like a clamp. The clamping part 77 is capable of swinging away from the part 76 about a shaft 78, against the force of a spring.

For the exact introduction of the empty tubes between the centering plates ll and 12, each gripper member has associated therewith a centering device. This consists of a wire stirrup 84, which has two horizontally directed

arms

85 and 86 which are applied from above and below to the large plate 11 and thereby ensure that the empty tube to be introduced into the bobbin holder is in exact alignment with the centering plates 11 and 12. For the easy gripping of the centering plate 11, the free ends of the

arms

85 and 86 of the centering stirrup 84 are bent upwards and downwards, respectively. In a manner not illustrated, the large plate 11 comprises a circumferential groove, into which are pushed the arms of the wire stirrup 84. By the cooperation of the groove and

wire stirrup arms

85 and 86, the orientation of the

grippers

65 and 66 is adjusted relatively to the plates 11 and 12 in a horizontal direction.

As a result of the

gripper members

65 and 66 being mounted by means of two leaf springs 87 on a support frame 88 constructed as an angle member, the gripper members are able to follow the guiding of the centering stirrup 84. The rack 68 and the guide rods 74 and engage on the frame 88 in a manner not shown in detail. In FIG. 4, the connecting stirrup 67 is partially shown, by which the gripper member 66 is fixed on the guided and driven gripper member 65. Both gripper members can be reciprocated in the direction of the arrow 1 15.

The construction of a gripper member 65 can be seen in greater detail in FIG. 4. The empty tube is gripped between the

parts

76 and 77. The clamp 77 is held by means of a torsion spring 89 in the closed position. The clamp consists of a lower gripper section 90 and an upper section 91, which serves in a manner hereafter explained for opening the clamp and projects upwardly beyond the shoulder 81 of the gripper part 76.

In the embodiment shown, the part 76 of the gripper member consists of several rectangular plates welded to one another at the longitudinal sides, while

side plates

92 and 93 are welded thereon along the narrow sides. Arranged on theside plate 93 is a tube supporting plate 94 serving as an auxiliary centering means for the small centering plate 12. This plate consists of two parts 110 and 111 which, seen from above, abut one another at obtuse angles. The plate 94 can swivel about an axis 112, which is arranged on the plate 93 at the edge thereof. The plate 94, in the position shown in FIG. 4, is more especially held by a torsion spring against a stop (not shown) beneath the plate. The plate 94 has associated therewith a cut-off 113 in the part 76, into which the plate 94 can more especially fit with the part 111 when the plate 94 is swung inwardly against the force of the spring.

The empty tube which is to be introduced into the bobbin holder and which, in the embodiment shown, is assumed to be of conical form, lies with its larger end on the side plate 92, there being a certain spacing between the end and the stirrup 84. The smaller end of the empty tube lies on the plate 94 which slopes slightly upwards in the outward direction, and in such a way that the plate 94 projects outwardly somewhat beyond the empty tube.

The action of the centering plate 94 is as follows: When the

grippers

65 and 66 are introduced between the opened bobbin holders, which are swung upwardly to the correct height, the tubes are gripped by the arms of the bobbin holder by the chute 44 being displaced towards the right in FIG. 2. The plate 94 then serves as an aid to the introduction of the small centering plate 12 arranged to have a slight movement on the bobbin lever 10. This centering plate is first of all gripped by a downwardly sloping edge 114, is swung upwards slightly and then introduced over the plates 110 and 111 into the end of the empty tube.

The necessity of the plate 94 being able to pivot inwards is apparent when FIGS. 1, 2 and 4 are considered together. If the bobbin holders are opened, the

grippers

65 and 66, with the empty spools lying on the side flange 92 and the centering plate 94, are able to pass the

abutments

54, 56 and 55, 57 of the

pivot arms

52 and 53, respectively. After the introduction of the centering plates 11 and 12 into the empty tubes (the bobbin holders 6 and the opening device 42 then assuming the position to be seen in FIG. 2, but with empty tubes 26 in the bobbin holders instead of the bobbins 7 which are shown), the

stops

54, 56 and 55, 57 are in the way of the centering plates 94 with the return movement of the

grippers

65 and 66. The passing movement is, however, assured by the fact that the centering plates 94 move with the underside of the plate 110 against the

stops

54, 56 and 55, 57 and are temporarily swung upwards and inwards during the further movement.

The construction of the magazine 18 for the empty tubes is to be seen from FIG. 5. This corresponds to a construction given as an example. The tubes 26 are accommodated in a narrow parallelelopiped box. One such box is associated with each

gripper

65 and 66. As

will be seen more especially from FIG. 9, the empty tube magazine 18 consists of a base frame 150, into which can be introduced two boxes 151 and 152 with the empty tubes. The outlet 83 and also a conveyor associated with each box are components of the basic structure. In order to accommodate the upper run of the conveyor, the bottoms of the empty tube boxes are formed with a longitudinal resess.

The distance between the two side walls of each box is such that the tubes can only slip down with slight play. As a result, they cannot twist to lie longitudinally with respect to the walls. Arranged in a longitudinal slot (not shown in detail) in the base, is the upper run of an endless conveyor 95, which is provided at intervals with driver elements 96 and conveys in the direction of the arrow 117. The discharging end wall 97 is provided at the bottom end, in the region of the upper run of the conveyor, with a discharge opening 98, which is somewhat higher than the largest diameter of the empty tube, where a conical tube is concerned.

Arranged before the wall opening 98 is a discharge box 83. By means of a sloping discharge plate 99, the tubes pushed out by the driver elements 96 pass behind the closed end wall 100 of the discharge box. By downward hinging of a discharge flap 82, one tube can fall downwards. The discharge flap is, for example, formed by two rods. A divider arm 101, which is pivotally mounted at 102 in a vertical plane, ensures that always only one tube can drop out with each opening of the discharge flap 82.

For this purpose, the free end of the divider arm is fitted approximately centrally into a spring 103, which serves as a return spring for the spaced discharge rods 82 which can be swung about a horizontal axis 104 downwardly in the opening direction. As shown in FIG. 6, the divider am 101 with the discharge flap 82 opened bears with its free end against the next tube and in this way prevents more empty tubes falling down during one filling operation. The return spring 103 is arranged in the space between the two tube boxes and is connected by means of a horizontal rod (not shown) to the divider arms of both boxes.

The cooperation of one of the

grippers

65 and 66 with the associated empty tube magazine 18 is to be seen more clearly from FIG. 6. With the swinging back of the feeding device 17 from the position according to FIG. 2, first of all the clamp 77 bears with the part 91 against the end wall 100 of the outlet 83, the clamp being swung in the opening direction against the force of the torsion spring 89. Meanwhile, a shoulder 81 of the gripper has engaged an opening arm 105 of the bottom flap 82. Against the force of the spring 103, the flap 82 is deflected into the position according to FIG. 6, so that the empty tube situated at the front, as illustrated, passes into the

gripper

65 or 66. The flap 82 formed by two rods is then swung into the region between the

side cheeks

92 and 93 of the gripper. An arrow 116 indicates the direction of movement of the gripper in the region of the empty tube magazine 18.

It can be seen from FIGS. 7 and 8 how the completed bobbins released from the bobbin holder by means of the opening device are carried away. The completed bobbins 7 passing by way of the chute 44 (FIGS. 1 and 2) on to the horizontal conveyor 19 are initially conveyed in the direction of the arrow 128 on to the transfer section 121 fixed on the frame construction 106 of the conveyor 19, where they are gripped in succession by the vertical conveyor 124 in the direction of the arrow 145. For this purpose, the transfer section is so formed of freely projecting rods 125 which are arranged parallel to and spaced from one another, that a basket 126 of the vertical conveyor, which is likewise composed of freely projecting rods 127, is able to move upwardly from the region of the delivery section 121 and in this way to carry upwardly the completed bobbin which is situated thereon.

The basket 126 is rotatable counterclockwise about a pivot 129, but in the other direction is held nonrotatablyon a lateral projection 130 of a slide block 131. The slide block is fastened at one end on an endless conveyor chain 132 and is accommodated at the other end by a vertically movable slide guideway 133. The conveyor chain runs over four deflecting rollers 134 and also over a driving sprocket 136 which is driven by a motor 135. The horizontal slide guideway 133 is in its turn guided parallel to itself so that it can be raised and lowered on to vertical guide rods 137. While the chain 132 assumes the driving function, the slide guideway 133 carried by the slide block 131 during its upward and downward movement serves to stabilize the position of the basket 126.

A chute 138 is arranged in the region where the downward movement of the basket 126 commences. This chute, the slope of which is preferably adjustable, is fixed by means of a holding arm 139 on the frame 140 of the vertical conveyor. A rod 141 ensures that the basket tips when it starts the downward movement according to arrow 142, whereby the conveyed bobbin 7 passes by way of the chute 138 into a container 143. The latter is preferably provided with its own running gear 144 and coupled to the undercarriage 20 of the feeding arrangement.

FIG. 9 shows in plan view the complete feeding arrangement and a part of a textile machine. It is possible to see the undercarriage 20 which can travel along a textile machine, indicated by a part of a row of bobbin holders 6 with bobbins 7 which are shown. The undercarriage is mounted at three points. Provided on the machine side are the two grooved wheels or pulleys 21, which run on a rail 22 arranged on the textile machine, and the wheel 23, which runs on the floor 24. One of the pulleys is driven by a motor 146. The feeding arrangement 17, consisting of the opening device 42 and the loading device 43, together with the pivot column 25 and the horizontal conveyor 19, occupies approximately the middle third of the undercarriage when the feeding arranagement is in the position swung away from the textile machine as shown in FIG. 9. Arranged in the rear third, in the half remote from the textile machine, is the magazine 18 for empty tubes. The front third is occupied essentially by the verticlal conveyor 124 and the collecting container 143 for completed bobbins in the half facing the textile machine. The other half of the front third serves to accommodate a hydraulic control system, which is not shown in detail.

Apart from the vertical conveyor 124, which projects to a greater height, all parts of the bobbin holder feeding arrangement are arranged as regards height in the region of the bobbin holders. By this means, it is possible to arrange another feeding arrangement on the same undercarriage above the feeding arrangement for the bobbin holders. This is advantageous, for example, in the case of a twisting machine, particularly a double- 10 twisting machine, which comprises the twisting spindles in the upper part and the bobbin holders in the lower part. The feeding arrangement for the spindles can be arranged above the feeding arrangement 17 for the bobbin holders and can effect the feeding of the spindles simultaneously with the replacement of the completed bobbins. Indicated at 148 and 149 are tubes which are arranged on the undercarriage and which can serve for guiding or supporting a spindle feeding arrangement (not shown). Together with the bobbin holder feeding arrangement according to the invention, it ismore especially possible to use an arrangement for feeding spindles on textile machines, such as shown in German Patent Specification P 20 19 370.8.

The feeding arrangement operates as follows: In the position of the feeding arrangement swung away from the textile machine 1, which position is not shown, the carriage 16 will travel up to two bobbin holders 6 which are to be fed. The pivot arm 27 will then be swung by means of the pivot cylinder 29 from a position transverse to the longitudinal front of the textile machine 1 into a position parallel thereto. By this means, the opening device 42 is moved into its operating position. The pivot levers 52 and 53 assume their lowest, downwardly swung position. In this position, and with the swinging of the arrangement towards the textile machine, they then also pass beneath the bobbin levers 10, when only an empty tube is disposed in the bobbin holder 6. By admission of pressure to the cylinder 61, the two bobbin holders in question, by the upward swinging of their bobbin levers 10, are now swung upwards into a prescribed position. Thereafter, by admission of pressure to the cylinder 51, the chute 44 is adjusted in relation to the pivot column 25. This causes the opening of the two bobbin holders through the

stops

56 and 57. The bobbins 7 roll by way of the chute 44 on the conveyor 19, which carries them away. At this time, another side plate 47a of the chute ensures that the package discharges in the prescribed manner.

. A baffle plate 79 arranged on the lug 71 of the support arm 40 prevents the bobbins rolling beyond the conveyor.

The opening device 42 remains in the position in which it is swung upwardly into the prescribed location and is adjusted laterally. The prescribed height corresponds to the working plane of the loading device 43. By switching on the electric motor 69, the grippers and 66, each with an empty tube 26, are now moved horizontally by means of the rack 68 and pinion 70 into the region between the centering plates 11 and 12. As soon as the tubes 26 are positioned between the centering plates, first of all the chute 44 is adjusted away from the pivot column 25. By this means, the centering plates are caused to engage in the two ends of the tubes. The tubes are now brought to bear against the driving rollers 8 by lowering the

levers

52 and 53. Thus, the new winding operation commences. Before the downward movement of the

levers

52 and 53, the

grippers

65 and 66 have been returned into the initial position according to FIGS. 1 and 2. In this position, the clamps 77 engage under the tubes held by the centering plates, this being against the force of a spring.

For the movement of the arrangement for feeding the next two bobbin holders, the entire feeding arrangement 17 is swung out through away from the textile machine. The

grippers

65 and 66 then engage beneath the empty tube magazine 18. Hence, empty tubes are automatically brought into the grippers in the manner as described.

It is thought that the invention and its numerous attendant advantages will be fully understood from the foregoing description, and it is obvious that numerous changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the several parts without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention, or sacrificing any of its attendant advantages, the forms herein disclosed being preferred embodiments for the purpose of illustrating the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for feeding empty winding tubes to bobbin holders of textile machines having on the front thereof bobbin holders with centering plates and adapted to pivot about horizontal axes extending longitudinally of the machine, each bobbin holder having a bobbin lever which can be swung out laterally against the force of a spring, which apparatus comprises means to move said apparatus longitudinally along the front of the textile machine, at least one bobbin holder opening device, movement means operable by drive means to move said device into and out of engagement with a bobbin holder and pivot it upwardly about its horizontal axis into a first, prescribed position and also swing said bobbin lever laterally outwardly, at least one winding tube loading device, and said loading device including means to grip an empty tube externally on its circumference, and means to move said last-mentioned means with the gripped empty tube into position between the centering plates of the bobbin holder when the latter is swung upwardly into the first, prescribed position and opened by the opening device, said opening device having a member for deflecting the bobbin lever upwards and another member for deflecting the bobbin lever laterally and outwards, each opening device having associated therewith a discharge chute for the discharge of a wound bobbin which drops out of an opened bobbin holder, and conveyor means at the discharge end of said chute for deliverying the wound bobbin to a collection member, said drive means embodying a horizontal pivot shaft and the pivoting drive therefor, the support for said shaft and said drive being structurally combined with the discharge chute which is mounted on a carriage adjustably movable transversely with respect to the longitudinal axis of the machine, and said movement means embodying fluidoperated piston cylinders for pivoting said loading device into and out of engagement with the machine.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, for use with a textile machine having a plurality of horizontal banks of bobbin holders arranged one above the other, said apparatus having a plurality of said feeding devices arranged one above the other for simultaneously feeding the banks of bobbin holders.

3. An apparatus according to claim 2, for use with a textile machine having several horizontal banks of bobbin holders arranged one above the other, and means for adjustably setting the height of each opening device and each loading device independently of their respective working movements toward and away from said machine.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said apparatus embodies, in juxtaposition, a plurality of like opening devices and a plurality of like loading devices coacting in respective pairs.

5. An apparatus according to claim 1, and means mounting said opening device and said loading device pivotally about a vertical axis on said carriage.

6. An apparatus according to claim 5, a common drive for pivoting said opening and loading devices together between said first position remote from said machine and a second position near said machine, in which the second position each of said opening devices engage their respective bobbin holders and said loading devices carrying an empty tube move into the region of the upwardly swung and opened bobbin holders, and means to feed automatically an empty tube to said loading device when the latter is in said first position.

7. An apparatus for feeding empty winding tubes to bobbin holders of textile machines having on the front thereof bobbin holders with centering plates and adapted to pivot about horizontal axes extending longitudinally of the machine, each bobbin holder having a bobbin lever which can be swung out laterally against the force of a spring, which apparatus comprises means to move said apparatus longitudinally along the front of the textile machine, at least one bobbin holder opening device, movement means to move said device into and out of engagement with a bobbin holder and pivot it upwardly about its horizontal axis into a first, prescribed position and also swing said bobbin lever laterally outwardly, at least one winding tube loading device, and said loading device including means to grip an empty tube externally on its circumference, and means to move said last-mentioned means with the gripped empty tube into position between the centering plates of the bobbin holder when the latter is swung upwardly into the first, prescribed position and opened by the opening device, means mounting said opening device and said loading device pivotally about a vertical axis on a carriage of said first-mentioned means, a common drive for pivoting said opening and loading devices together between said first position remote from said machine and a second position near said machine, in which second position each of said opening devices engage their respective bobbin holders and said loading devices carrying an empty tube move into the region of the upwardly swung and opened bobbin holders, and means to feed automatically an empty tube to said loading device when the latter is in said first position, and said loading device embodying coacting gripper members which grip an empty tube, one of said gripper members having associated therewith means which, with the travel of the loading device into its first position remote from the machine, causes outlet means of an empty winding tube magazine to open and permit an empty winding tube to drop through the outlet into the gripper members.

8. An apparatus for feeding empty winding tubes to bobbin holders of textile machines having on the front thereof bobbin holders with centering plates and adapted to pivot about horizontal axes extending longitudinally of the machine, each bobbin holder having a bobbin lever which can be swung out laterally against the force of a spring, which apparatus comprises means to move said apparatus longitudinally along the front of the textile machine, at least one bobbin holder opening device, movement means to move said device into and out of engagement with a bobbin holder and pivot it upwardly about its horizontal axis into a first, prescribed position and also swing said bobbin lever laterally outwardly, at least one winding tube loading device, and said loading device including means to grip an empty tube externally on its circumference, and means to move said last-mentioned means with the gripped empty tube into position between the centering plates of the bobbin holder when the latter is swung upwardly into the first, prescribed position and opened by the opening device, said bobbin holders each having a centering plate rigidly connected to an arm which cannot be swung out laterally, and said loading device embodying yieldably mounted tube grippers with two centering stirrups to contact the centering plate above and below as the gripper is moved into the tube-loading position.

9. An apparatus according to claim 8, said bobbin holders each having a centering plate mounted for limited movement on the arm which can be swung out laterally, said grippers on the side facing the arm which can be swung outwardly comprising a sheet metal flap which can be pivoted upwards and inwards against the force of a spring and which serves as a support for one end of the tube, which flap projects laterally beyond the end of the tube and comprises a downwardly sloping discharge edge by which the centering plate is introduced into the end of the tube during the return swinging of the bobbin lever.

10. An apparatus for feeding empty winding tubes to bobbin holders of textile machines having on the front thereof bobbin holders with centering plates and adapted to pivot about horizontal axes extending longitudinally of the machine, each bobbin holder having a bobbin lever which can be swung out laterally against the force of a spring, which apparatus comprises means to move said apparatus longitudinally along the front of the textile machine, at least one bobbin holder opening device, movement means to move said device into and out of engagement with a bobbin holder and pivot it upwardly about its horizontal axis into a first, prescribed position and also swing said bobbin lever laterally outwardly, at least one winding tube loading device, and said loading device including means to grip an empty tube externally on its circumference, and means to move said last-mentioned means with the gripped empty tube into position between the centering plates of the bobbin holder when the latter is swung upwardly into the first, prescribed position and opened by the opening device, each opening device having associated therewith a discharge chute for the discharge of a wound bobbin which drops out of an opened bobbin holder, and conveyor means at the discharge end of said chute for delivering the wound bobbin to a collection member, means for adjustably setting the height of each opening device and each loading device independently of their respective working movements toward and away from said machine, and said conveyor means embodying a horizontal conveyor which delivers the wound bobbins to a vertical conveyor whereby the horizontal conveyor can be raised and lowered together with said devices,

Claims

1. An apparatus for feeding empty winding tubes to bobbin holders of textile machines having on the front thereof bobbin holders with centering plates and adapted to pivot about horizontal axes extending longitudinally of the machine, each bobbin holder having a bobbin lever which can be swung out laterally against the force of a spring, which apparatus comprises means to move said apparatus longitudinally along the front of the textile machine, at least one bobbin holder opening device, movement means operable by drive means to move said device into and out of engagement with a bobbin holder and pivot it upwardly about its horizontal axis into a first, prescribed position and also swing said bobbin lever laterally outwardly, at least one winding tube loading device, and said loading device including means to grip an empty tube externally on its circumference, and means to move said last-mentioned means with the gripped empty tube into position between the centering plates of the bobbin holder when the latter is swung upwardly into the first, prescribed position and opened by the opening device, said opening device having a member for deflecting the bobbin lever upwards and another member for deflecting the bobbin lever laterally and outwards, each opening device having associated therewith a discharge chute for the discharge of a wound bobbin which drops out of an opened bobbin holder, and conveyor means at the discharge end of said chute for deliverying the wound bobbin to a collection member, said drive means embodying a horizontal pivot shaft and the pivoting drive therefor, the support for said shaft and said drive being structurally combined with the discharge chute which is mounted on a carriage adjustably movable transversely with respect to the longitudinal axis of the machine, and said movement means embodying fluid-operated piston cylinders for pivoting said loading device into and out of engagement with the machine.

10. An apparatus for feeding empty winding tubes to bobbin holders of textile machines having on the front thereof bobbin holders with centering plates and adapted to pivot about horizontal axes extending longitudinally of the machine, each bobbin holder having a bobbin lever which can be swung out laterally against the force of a spring, which apparatus comprises means to move said apparatus longitudinally along the front of the textile machine, at least one bobbin holder opening device, movement means to move said device into and out of engagement with a bobbin holder and pivot it upwardly about its horizontal axis into a first, prescribed position and also swing said bobbin lever laterally outwardly, at least one winding tube loading device, and said loading device including means to grip an empty tube externally on its circumference, and means to move said last-mentioned means with the gripped empty tube into position between the centering plates of the bobbin holder when the latter is swung upwardly into the first, prescribed position and opened by the opening device, each opening device having associated therewith a discharge chute for the discharge of a wound bobbin which drops out of an opened bobbin holder, and conveyor means at the discharge end of said chute for delivering the wound bobbin to a collection member, means for adjustably setting the height of each opening device and each loading device independently of their respective working movements toward and away from said machine, and said conveyor means embodying a horizontal conveyor which delivers the wound bobbins to a vertical conveyor whereby the horizontal conveyor can be raised and lowered together with said devices.