WO2007083162A1

WO2007083162A1 - Transportable cart

Info

Publication number: WO2007083162A1
Application number: PCT/GB2007/050023
Authority: WO
Inventors: Colin Wood
Original assignee: Texkimp
Priority date: 2006-01-17
Filing date: 2007-01-17
Publication date: 2007-07-26
Also published as: GB0600883D0

Abstract

A transportable cart for use with a creel comprises a (5) frame (2) and a horizontal spindle (4). A yarn package (6)of the rotational type is shown mounted on the spindle (4). The cart includes an engagement means that is attached to the spindle at an outer side of the cart's frame. The cart is freely moveable. (10) When the cart is loaded on a creel, rotating means on a frame (32) of the creel engages the engagement means on the cart. Yarn is unwound from the yarn package via rollers located on the creel frame. (15) In use yarn packages may be replaced on the creel by removing the cart from the creel.

Description

TRANSPORTABLE CART

This invention relates to an improvement in the handling and delivery of yarn packages within the fabric production process or fabric converting process, and in particular to a transportable cart for the transport of yarn packages between winding machines and creels.

In the fabric industry, yarn is supplied to machines from creels, which unwind yarn packages. Yarn packages generally consist of a tubular carrier upon which yarn fibre is wound in an overlapping spiral pattern. Yarn packages are wound on a winding machine and are required to be increasingly large to ensure creels operate for extended periods between changes of the yarn packages.

It is common for the yarn package to be loaded from the winding machine on to a package transporter, for delivery to a warehousing facility. Here, articulated automated handling systems remove the yarn package from the transporter and load the yarn package on to storage frames or pallets. It is preferred to store the yarns on the spindle of horizontal yarn package holders, and it is common for the yarn packages to be stored in such facilities for between one and three months, dependant on the yarn material. In some applications the storage is necessary in order to dry the yarn, in others it is a holding facility until required.

Once required again, the storage handling system removes the yarn package from the storage frame and replaces it back on a package transporter, for delivery to the creel. The yarn package is unloaded from the package transporter at the back of the creel, where various handling systems replace a used yarn package with the new one.

The various handling steps require specialist tools and therefore contribute a large cost to the production process .

The yarn packages are generally located in the creel on horizontal yarn package holders that allow the yarn package to rotate freely. In use, the free end of the yarn is guided through the creel and toward a further process, such as a converting machine or fabric producing machine. The yarn is guided by a yarn guide apparatus, which comprises a series of rollers. The yarn is unwound from the yarn package by applying tension to the yarn.

In practice creels contain many rows and columns of yarn package holders. Consequently, the creel down time for each spent yarn package to be changed individually becomes inefficient. It is therefore common for trolley creels to be used. Trolley creels comprise a main frame and a number of independently moveable trolleys, each having an array of yarn package holders. Each yarn package holder has a corresponding yarn guiding apparatus. The trolley can be loaded with yarn packages off line and then wheeled in to replace a used trolley. Once in place the yarn is connected to the yarn guide apparatus on the main frame and the creel restarted.

The yarn guide apparatus may further include other functions such as a braking mechanism as disclosed in US 5803134, which applies a braking force to the spindle of the yarn package holder should yarn tension be lost. Furthermore, in order to reduce damage caused to the yarn, the rollers used in the yarn guide apparatus are often ceramic coated or hard anodized. Therefore to accommodate larger yarn packages the rollers are also required to be longer. Consequently, the yarn guide apparatus is becoming a high cost component compared to the rest of the creel apparatus, which means any redundant yarn guide apparatus becomes costly.

It is an object of the present invention to attempt to overcome at least one of the above or other disadvantages.

According to one aspect of the present invention, a transportable cart comprises a moveable frame with at least one rotatable spindle, wherein a yarn package of the rotational type is mountable on each spindle and each spindle further comprises engagement means for engagement with rotary means of a separate body.

Preferably, when the engagement means cooperates with the rotary means, the rotation of the spindle is controlled by control means mounted on the separate body.

Preferably the moveable frame comprises moveable means. The moveable means may comprise ball transfer units, wheels or castors. Such means may be downwardly facing on the base of the movable frame, to engage the floor and suitably, also on the base facing to a side of the moveable frame.

Preferably each spindle is mounted on the frame in a substantially horizontal position. Each spindle being supported solely by the frame. Preferably the engagement means may be fast with the spindle .

Preferably the spindle may include a radial face and the engagement means may be located thereon. The rotating means may preferably be rotatable about an axis, wherein said axis may be coincident with the axis of the spindle. The engagement means may comprise any well known engaging mechanism. The engagement means may comprise a face cog. Alternatively the engagement means may further comprise at least one radial protrusion and the rotating means may comprise a corresponding recess, wherein each protrusion engages with a recess to hold the spindle fast with the rotating means .

Alternatively, the spindle may comprise a circumferential face and the engaging means may be located thereon. Preferably at least one of the control means or rotating means is rotatable about an axis, wherein said axis is not coincident with the spindle axis. Preferably, the rotating means may rotate wherein the engagement means may comprise a radial cog. Alternatively, the drive means may comprise a rotating member that rotates, wherein the rotating means comprises a flexible member such as a belt. Alternatively, the rotating means may rotate about an axis that is coincident with the spindle axis. Preferably at least one of the rotating means or engagement means may comprise an internal cog. Additionally or alternatively at least one of the rotating means or engagement means may comprise at least partially a conical section, the face of the conical section may cooperate with a spherical section, wherein the spindle is held fast with the rotating means by friction.

Preferably the separate body may comprise equipment for the fabric converting industry or the fabric production industry. The separate body may comprise a creel and the control means may comprise a brake mechanism. The member may comprise a flexible member such as a rope wherein the rope is wrapped around the engagement means of the spindle, in use the brake mechanism controlling the tension of the rope to resist the rotation of the spindle. Additionally or alternatively, the equipment may comprise a storage frame and the control means may comprise a drive means wherein the rotating means comprises a belt that is driven by the drive means to rotate each spindle. The drive means may comprise an electric motor. The drive means may constantly rotate each spindle or alternatively the drive means may rotate each spindle through a determined angle, such that the yarn dries uniformly and without sagging.

Preferably the cart does not include any yarn guide apparatus . Preferably the any yarn guide apparatus are mounted on the separate body. Preferably the equipment includes means for mounting the transportable cart in position relative to the rotating means.

According to a further aspect of the present invention a method of transporting a yarn package comprises mounting the yarn package on a transportable cart, wherein the transportable cart comprises a moveable frame with at least one rotatable spindle, wherein a yarn package of the rotational type is mountable on each spindle and each spindle further comprises engagement means for engagement with rotating means of a separate body and the method further comprises moving the cart between different separate bodies such that the yarn package is mounted without removing it from the cart.

The present invention includes any combination of the herein referred to features or limitations.

The present invention can be carried into practice in various ways but several embodiments will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which;

Figure 1 is a top elevation view of a transportable cart in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a perspective view from the side of the transportable cart housed within a creel.

Figure 3 is an enlarged side elevation of the region of figure 2 where the yarn package engages with the creel.

Figure 4 is a front elevation view of a creel without the transportable cart in position.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a cart according to a second embodiment.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a region of the cart according to the second embodiment. Figure 7 is a cut-away, perspective view of multiple carts according to the second embodiment loaded onto a creel frame .

Figure 8 is a perspective view of the cart and creel frame shown in Figure 7 including a loading / unloading frame.

As shown in figure 1, a transportable cart for use with, although not limited to, a creel comprises a frame 2 and a horizontal spindle 4. A yarn package 6 of the rotational type is shown mounted on the spindle 4.

The cart comprises a frame construction. The base of the frame is defined by four lower frame members 7 joined together in a square configuration and arranged in a horizontal disposition. Three vertical frame members 7b extend upwardly from three corners of the base and are joined at the top by two upper horizontal frame members. A further vertical frame member 8 is attached between one of the lower frame members and one of the upper frame members in a position approximately a third of the width of the cart. The frame acts as a support to the upright 8. The further vertical frame member 8 includes a mounting hole mid way up the tube for location of the spindle.

The frame further comprises wheels or castors 10, mounted on the four corners of the lower section of the frame.

The spindle comprises any well known rotational yarn package holder such as, as shown in Figure 3, a rod 12 with extended sections 14 for engaging with the yarn package. The spindle further includes a bearing. The bearing is housed in the bore hole of the frame upright 8 and the rod locates in the bearing to enable the rod to freely rotate. The spindle 4 is mounted on the frame such that, as shown in Figure 2, the yarn package is suspended clear of the ground and of the frame members.

The rod of the spindle extends either side of the bearing. The yarn package is mounted to one side of the bearing. An engagement means is attached to the rod on the opposing side of the bearing. In the present embodiment of the invention and as shown in the Figures, the engagement means comprises any well known radial cog 16 attached fast to a circumferential face of the rod and coincident with the axis of the spindle.

The yarn package comprises a tubular carrier upon which yarn is wound back and forth in an overlapping spiral pattern. The yarn package is mounted fast to the spindle by the close fitting relationship between the extended sections 14 of the spindle and the tube of the yarn package. The spindle is sufficiently long enough to fully support the weight of the yarn package.

The transportable cart is freely movable by means of the wheels such that the cart may be transported about a factory floor or between buildings via manual handling.

Alternatively the cart may be transported by means such as a pallet truck or other automated handling system, the pallet forks acting on the underside of the lower frame. In this way the frame may be lifted and manoeuvred in any usual manner such that, for example, the cart can be located on equipment. Figure 2 shows the transportable cart locating in a creel. The creel arrangement is shown in Figure 4 and comprises a frame 32 upon which is mounted a rotating means and yarn guide apparatus .

The creel frame is permanently located on the factory floor. The creel frame generally comprises multiple yarn package areas arranged on a frame in a grid like manner. The yarn package areas are substantially the same and in accordance with the creel shown in Figure 2, and as described herein. As shown in Figure 2, frame members 34, 35 and 36 define a space within the creel frame. The cart is located in the space by abutment of the lower frame members of the cart and the frame members 34, 35, 36 of the creel. The abutment ensures the repeatable positioning of the cart within the creel.

The rotating means comprises a radial cog 38, which rotates about its axis. The axis of the radial cog 38 is off set from the axis of the spindle when the cart is in position. The cog further includes a flat elongate section that is positioned between the cog and the frame of the creel. The cog 38 is mounted on the frame by any well known method that allows the cog to freely rotate.

The yarn guide apparatus comprises a first 42, second 44 and third (not shown) horizontally mounted elongate roller. The rollers comprise any conventional type such that they rotate about a centre axis and are substantially parallel with the spindle axis. The third roller is located on the frame upwardly and forwardly of the spindle axis. The first and second rollers are mounted on a braking mechanism. The braking mechanism comprises two symmetrical plates 46 and a flexible member such as a rope 48. The first and second rollers are mounted at their distal ends between the two braking plates. The first and second rollers are mounted on the braking members spaced from each other with the first roller reward of the second. The two braking plates are attached to the frame such that they rotate about a common axis that is located parallel with and between the two rollers.

A first end of the rope is attached to one of the braking plates around the location of the first roller. The rope is wound around the flat elongate section of the cog 38. A second end of the rope is fixed to the frame.

The braking mechanism further comprises a spring (not shown) that biases the braking plates such that the second roller is urged to rotate downwardly. Consequently the first roller is urged upwardly, which tensions the rope 48 thus applying a braking force to the cog 38. The braking mechanism therefore acts as a control means to the rotation of the cog.

In use, the transportable cart is loaded with a yarn package from a winding machine and transported to the creel before being exactly located in the creel by abutment of the frames. When in position the spindle cog 16 and creel cog 38 engage such that the rotation of the spindle is locked to the rotation of the creel cog 38. Yarn is then routed upwardly from the yarn package over the first elongate roller and under the second elongate roller before travelling upwardly to the third roller and on to a converting system or a fabric production machine. Yarn is unwound from the yarn package by applying tension to the yarn. When tension is applied to the yarn the second roller is urged upwardly against the action of the spring to rotate about the pivot axis. Consequently the first roller is urged downwardly thus tension in the rope is reduced and the cooperating member, and the spindle, becomes free to rotate. If the yarn tension is reduced or lost, the biasing spring urges the braking mechanism to rotate, which reapplies tension to the rope and thus resists rotation of the cog 38 thus applying a braking force against rotation of the spindle.

The creel system as described is a typical example and the invention is not limited to such a creel type and works equally well with other arrangements of creels for example a driven unwind creel. Furthermore the transportable cart is not limited to locating on a creel and may for example locate on other equipment such as a storage frame. Such a storage frame would include similar features to the creel described and such as; frame members that abut with the frame of the cart to locate the cart in position. The storage frame may also include a cooperating member for engaging with the engaging member 16 of the cart such that the rotation of the spindle can be controlled by the frame equipment. Therefore the frame may include a controllable drive system such as an electric motor, such that the spindle 12 is rotated by rotating the cooperating member. It will be appreciated that in this way multiple carts can be located on the same frame and the motor can be connected to turn all the spindles simultaneously. The motor may be controlled to turn the spindles constantly, or to turn them through a particular angle at spaced time intervals . Figure 5 shows a cart 100 according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The cart 100 comprises a frame construction. The frame has two long lower members 101a and 101b and two short lower members 102a, 102b arranged in a rectangular configuration and substantially horizontal. A third short lower frame member 103 is arranged between the end members 102a and 102b. An upright 104 extends upwardly from the middle of short lower frame member 102. The frame further comprises bracing members 107 that provide support to upright 104. The bracing members extend between a respective end of short member 102a and an intermediate location of the upright 104. The upright 104 includes a mounting hole which is located towards its distal end. The mounting hole houses a bearing, through which a spindle 106 is mounted. The spindle projects from both ends of the bearing in upright 104. Accordingly, the spindle provides a stub to the outside of the frame upright 104 and a longer spindle for receiving the yarn package that projects over the frame. The distal end of the stub comprises engaging means 110, such as, for example, any well known facial cog. In the embodiment shown the engaging means 110 comprises a disc that includes a series of hole (not shown) arranged spaced apart from each other and at a constant radius from a centre of the disc 110. The centre of the disc is mounted to and coincident with the spindle .

As best shown in Figure 8, the spindle 106 projects from upright 104 towards a second upright 105. Second upright 105 is removable. A yarn package 108 is mountable on the spindle by sliding it over the spindle when the second upright 105 is removed. The spindle creates an interference fit with the tubular carrier of the yarn package such that the yarn package and spindle become locked together. The spindle does not extend across the total width of the yarn package thus the tubular carrier of the yarn package is accessible at the free end nearest the upright 105.

The free end of the yarn package is supported by the second upright 105. The upright 105 is removable from the frame. A hole is formed towards one end of the upright, in which a bearing 109 is housed. The bearing 109 cooperates with the inside of the tubular carrier. The upright 105 is mounted to the spindle, as shown in Figure 6, by fitting the bearing in to the tubular carrier so that the tubular carrier and bearing become locked together, for instance by friction. The upright 105 is then rotated downwardly. The distal end 120 of the upright 105 is rounded so that, as the upright is rotated, the rounded end 120 engages with the lower frame member 102b. When a yarn package 108 is mounted on the spindle, the yarn package may drop downwardly. Accordingly, the rounded end 120 acts as a cam to lift the end of the spindle to its true position. A guide 122 that is fixed to the lower frame member 102b positions the upright 105. When in position the upright abuts the end of the guide. A pin 124 can then be inserted through holes 126, 127 in the guide and upright 105 in order to lock the upright in position .

When a yarn package 108 is mounted on the spindle it is freely rotatable. As shown in Figure 7, yarn packages of different size may be accommodated on the same cart construction. For instance, Figure 7 shows a large yarn package 130 mounted to the cart wherein upright 105 extends from lower member 102b. Whereas a small yarn package 132 may also be mounted to the cart wherein the upright extends from lower frame member 103 and lower frame member 103 also includes guide means in order to act substantially the same as described in relation to lower frame member 102b.

Ball transfer units are mounted on the lower frame. Downwardly facing ball transfer units 112 are positioned on the bottom of the lower frame members such that the cart may be moved manually. Outwardly facing ball transfer units 114 are positioned on the side of the lower frame members that run parallel with the axis of the yarn package. Consequently, as will become clear, the ball transfer units aid the mounting of the cart within the frame members of the equipment, due to the balls engaging with the frame as the cart slides into position on the equipment.

Figure 8 shows multiple carts 100 mounted on a creel frame 150. The creel frame 150 is a frame construction defining individual spaces for each cart 100. Each cart 100 can be loaded on to the frame 150 by sliding the carts 100 relative to creel frame members. This sliding is aided by the ball transfer units. When the carts are in position the short lower frame member 102a abuts the frame of the creel such that the cart cannot be further slid into the frame. The cart can be pinned in place by dropping a pin through a hole in the lower member 102a and corresponding hole in the creel frame. When in position, as shown in Figure 7, the disc 110 locates in a co-operating member 38. The co-operating member is bowl shaped and includes a flat bottom with a sprung pin. If, when the cart is loaded, the holes in the disc 110 do not align with the sprung pin, the sprung pin depresses. However, as he spindle rotates, the disc rotates relative to the member 38. Consequently, when a hole is aligned with the depressed pin, the sprung pin extends through the hole. Consequently, the two parts become locked together. The engagement member 38 is rotatably mounted on the frame. The member 38 may be a braking member and may act as a brake to the spindle in any well known manner.

As shown in Figure 8, when a yarn package 108 is mounted on to a cart and the cart is loaded on to the creel, the yarn can be wound off the package by unwinding about rollers 156, 157, 158, 159. Roller 156 is mounted on a swinging arm 152, such that the roller 152 follows the unwinding yarn as it traverses back and forth.

In Figure 8, frame 154 is a loading/unloading frame. When a yarn package is spent, an empty frame 154 can be manoeuvred to be adjacent to the spent package and then the cart slid from the creel on to the frame 154 and removed. A fresh yarn package can then be loaded onto the creel .

In the embodiment where the engaging means 110 of the cart comprises a facial cog, the cooperating member 38 of the equipment in which the cart is mounted would also comprise a facial cog. The rotation axes of the two facial cogs are coincident when the cart is loaded in the equipment such that the two cogs engage, thus locking together. Accordingly, the cart can be mounted on a winding machine and the yarn wound directly onto the spindle. Alternatively the spindle may be detachable such that a yarn package can be mounted on to the spindle.

According to a further embodiment of the cart, the engagement means 16 comprises a flat gear for cooperating with a flexible member 38 such as a belt or any similar well known configuration. The equipment also comprises a flat gear. However, when the cart is located in the creel the axes of the two gears are off set such that they do not engage. The cooperating belt 38 cooperates with the two gears under tension in order to lock the rotation of the two gears together.

According to yet a further embodiment of the cart, the engaging means 16 comprises a conical section, the cooperating member 38 of the equipment comprises a circular tube that is coincident with the conical section when the cart is located in the creel. As the cart is loaded into the creel the conical section automatically aligns within the tube and friction between the tube and conical surface locks the rotation of the two together.

In a further alternative embodiment, the cart comprises substantially in accordance with the first embodiment but the rod of the spindle extends from only one side of the bearing and the rod extends the full extent of the yarn package such that a radial or circumferential face is accessible from the distal end. The radial or circumferential face comprising the engagement means. The cart according to the present invention may include more than one spindle. This would be achieved by mounting the spindles in a row or a column or a combination of rows and columns. Each spindle would be spaced from any others such that full yarn packages could be mounted on each spindle without interfering with the other yarn packages.

The cart according to the present invention has several advantages. The handling of the yarn package is reduced. Furthermore, the expensive components do not have to be repeated for each yarn package.

Attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to this specification in connection with this application and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference.

All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive.

Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings) may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features. The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment ( s ). The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.

Claims

1. A transportable cart comprising a moveable frame with at least one rotatable spindle, wherein a yarn package of the rotational type is mountable on the or each spindle and wherein the or each spindle further comprises engagement means for engagement with rotary means of a separate body.

2. The transportable cart according to claim 1 in which when the engagement means cooperates with the rotary means, the rotation of the spindle is controlled by control means mounted on the separate body.

3. The transportable cart according to either of claims 1 of 2 in which the moveable frame comprises moveable means.

4. The transportable cart according to Claim 3 in which the moveable means comprise rotary transfer units that provide moveable means to the base and sides of the transportable cart.

5. The transportable cart according to any preceding claim in which each spindle is supported solely by the frame.

6. The transportable cart according to any preceding claim in which the engagement means is fast with the spindle and the spindle includes a radial face and the engagement means is located thereon.

7. The transportable cart according to any preceding claim in which the engagement means comprises at least one radial protrusion and the rotating means comprises a corresponding recess, wherein each protrusion engages with a recess to hold the spindle fast with the rotating means.

8. The transportable cart according to any of claims 2 to 7 in which the separate body comprises equipment for the fabric industry and the equipment includes means for mounting the transportable cart in position relative to the rotating means and the control means comprises a brake mechanism.

9. The transportable cart according to any preceding claim in which the cart does not include any yarn guide apparatus and the any yarn guide apparatus are mounted on the separate body.

10. A further aspect of the present invention a method of transporting a yarn package comprises mounting the yarn package on a transportable cart, wherein the transportable cart comprises a moveable frame with at least one rotatable spindle, wherein a yarn package of the rotational type is mountable on each spindle and each spindle further comprises engagement means for engagement with rotating means of a separate body and the method further comprises moving the cart between different separate bodies such that the yarn package is mounted without removing it from the cart.