EP0406541B1 - Automatic winding machine with a transport system in which cans or tubes are put in an upright position on pallets - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to an automatic winding machine according to the preamble of the first claim.

Modern spinning machines have a high output of spinning cops, which also places higher demands on the processing capacity of the downstream winding machines. It is therefore necessary to use a high degree of automation.

Since the beginning of the thread of the spinning cops supplied to the winding machine is normally not so freely on the surface of the cop that it can be exposed at the winding point and fed to a gripper, a preparation device must be arranged on the way to the winding point. Such preparation devices are known from a large number of patents.

JP-OS 50-136 440 describes a preparation device which is arranged at the head end of the spinning machine and searches for the thread on the cops, which are attached to arbors which are attached at equal intervals to the conveyor belt which passes the spindles of the spinning machine running. The time for the preparation of these cops is through the As a result of the requirements specified by the winding machine. This can result in an extremely short cycle time, which can increase the number of improperly prepared coils.

The cycle time is also predefined in a preparation device in which the cops are guided with pallets in pockets of a transport disk. In addition, when returning improperly prepared cops, they circulate several times, which limits the processing capacity of the preparation device.

The object of the invention is to propose an automatic winding machine which, in its processing capacity, does justice to the high output of freshly spun cops from spinning machines.

This object is achieved by the features of claim 1.

By arranging several separate preparation devices in the area of the feed path to the winding machine, the cops to be prepared can be divided among the preparation devices, so that the respective dwell time increases significantly and thus the preparation success increases. In addition, a direct cycle time commitment can be avoided. This is achieved in that the stations of the preparation devices position the pallets with cops and the cycle time can vary within certain limits depending on the success of the thread search.

The invention is advantageously developed by the features of claims 2 to 14.

With the help of different variants, it is possible to make a sensible division of the incoming pallets with spinning cops onto the preparation devices arranged on different conveyor belts. Due to the arrangement of the individual substations of the preparation devices along straight lines, a small space requirement is available. It is therefore possible to integrate the preparation devices into the areas of the winding machine sections. The space requirement can be further reduced by offsetting the individual substations of the preparation devices between adjacent conveyor belts. Another possibility of arranging the parallel belts closer to one another is to combine sub-stations belonging to different preparation devices as a unit. Certain units of these substations can also be used for both preparation devices. In this case, it is advantageous to alternately feed the pallets on adjacent belts to the common substation. By means of sensors arranged in front of branches, it is possible to route different lots onto different conveyor belts. Since the substations are arranged modularly on the transport tracks, it becomes possible to provide a respective combination of substations that is particularly suitable for the special batch. It is also possible to direct the remaining bobbins ejected from the winding units, which were detected by a sensor in front of the branches, to a special preparation device which, for example, searches for the thread on the bobbin cone.

The probability of success of the preparation can also be increased by arranging a last substation, which is only used if the upstream substation has not found the beginning of the thread.

Fig. 1

einen Teil eines Zuführweges für Kopse zur Spulmaschine mit parallelen Transportbahnen und auf gleicher Höhe angeordneten Unterstationen,

Fig. 2

einen Teil eines Zuführweges zur Spulmaschine mit versetzt angeordneten Unterstationen zwischen benachbarten Bändern,

Fig. 3

eine Variante der Anordnung in Fig. 2, wobei eine unterschiedliche Anzahl von Unterstationen vorgesehen ist,

Fig. 4

eine veränderte Anordnung der durch die Unterstationen der Vorbereitungseinrichtungen führenden Transportbänder,

Fig. 5

die Anordnung von Vorbereitungseinrichtungen in Reihe,

Fig. 6

die Anordnung von zu Einheiten zusammengefaßten Unterstationen verschiedener Vorbereitungseinrichtungen,

Fig. 7

eine vereinfachte Darstellung einer ersten Unterstation,

Fig. 8

eine vereinfachte Darstellung einer zweiten Unterstation,

Fig. 9

eine vereinfachte Darstellung einer dritten Unterstation und

Fig. 10

eine vereinfachte Darstellung einer vierten Unterstation, die nur wahlweise in Funktion tritt.

The invention will be explained in more detail below using exemplary embodiments. Show it:

Fig. 1

part of a feed path for cops to the winding machine with parallel transport tracks and sub-stations arranged at the same height,

Fig. 2

part of a feed path to the winding machine with offset substations between adjacent belts,

Fig. 3

2 shows a variant of the arrangement in FIG. 2, a different number of substations being provided,

Fig. 4

a changed arrangement of the conveyor belts leading through the substations of the preparation devices,

Fig. 5

the arrangement of preparation facilities in a row,

Fig. 6

the arrangement of sub-stations of different preparation facilities combined into units,

Fig. 7

a simplified representation of a first substation,

Fig. 8

a simplified representation of a second substation,

Fig. 9

a simplified representation of a third substation and

Fig. 10

a simplified representation of a fourth substation, which only functions selectively.

The pallets 1 with freshly spun cops 2 reach the area of the winding machine on a feed path 3. At this point, it should be noted that all conveyor tracks are conveyor belts, of which the pallets 1 by friction be taken along, with corresponding limits. At branches, the conveyor belts overlap in such a way that a smooth transition into the respective branch path is possible, unless a corresponding resistance is brought up by pent-up pallets. In Fig. 1, the first sub-stages 10, 10 'and 10''of the preparation devices are arranged so that there is a storage section in front of it, the length of which corresponds to a multiple of the diameter of the base of the pallets 1. After the respective reserve route formed in this way has been filled, the subsequent pallets are diverted to the branch line 4.

For example, at a junction 5, the conveyor belt of the conveyor track 6 projects so far into the area of the junction track 4 that pallets 1 moved past on the junction track 4 are taken over into the conveyor track 6 when the storage section in front of the first substation 10 'is not filled. For this purpose, it is necessary that the conveyor belt, which runs along the branch path 4, is narrower than the branch path 4. On the feed path 3 and the transport paths 6 and 7, three substations 10 to 12, 10 'to 12' and 10 'are located one behind the other. 'to 12''arranged. The structure of these substations can correspond, for example, to the illustration in FIGS. 7 to 9. Further explanations are still given. Following the substations 12 to 12 ″, a transverse transport path 8 is arranged, which again guides the cops 2 along the transport paths 6 and 7 with their pallets 1 to the feed path 3. The feed path 3 merges into a feed path 9, which then leads to a delivery path (not shown) for the cops. The cops with their pallets then reach the area of the winding units from this supply line. 2 shows a variant in which the transport tracks 6 and 7 are arranged at a considerably reduced distance from the feed track 3. This is made possible by the fact that the substations of adjacent transport tracks are arranged offset to one another.

This measure saves a considerable amount of space, as a result of which the arrangement of several preparations does not lead to a widening of the winding machine. In contrast to the first variant, sensors 15 and 16 are arranged on the feed path 3 and the transport path 6, which determine the respective fill level of the storage section in front of the first substations. These sensors 15 and 16 work together with switches 14 and 17 via control lines 14 'and 16'. This ensures that all preparation facilities are included.

A further variant of the invention shown in FIG. 3 shows the arrangement of sensors 18 and 20 in front of the switches 19 and 21. The switches are controlled via lines 18 'and 20'. Optionally, the sensors 18 and 20 are designed as color sensors which, for example, recognize the sleeve color of the heads 2 corresponding to a lot. Accordingly, they must be arranged at a height at which the cop 2 transported past does not have any wrapping. The control to certain transport lanes can be used to treat the heads of different lots differently. For example, it is possible to treat heads of a lot that are relatively difficult to prepare more intensively. For this purpose, a fourth substation 22 can be arranged, which for example preferably searches for the beginning of the thread on the head cone.

It is possible, for example, that the substation 12 ″ has a detector that recognizes the successful preparation. If this detector has not recognized successful thread preparation, the substation 22, which is otherwise inoperative, can take effect.

There is also the option of arranging a sub-station 22 ', which, like the sub-station 22, searches for the beginning of the thread on the head cone, also after the transverse transport path 8 on the feed path 3 (see FIG. 3). This substation 22 'could then are actuated by the sensors of the substations 12 to 12 ''. A corresponding time delay would have to be taken into account depending on the distance of these substations from the substation 22 '.

If different batches are processed, it may also be advisable not to combine the cops of different batches again, but rather to feed them to the winding sections intended for them in separate tracks 6 'and 7'.

FIG. 4 shows a further variant of the embodiment of the invention, in which the preparation devices are arranged one behind the other, but have separate accesses 23 and 26. This arrangement of the preparation devices also represents a kind of parallel connection, as was described in the previous examples. A sensor 24 can, for example, detect the passage of a pallet 1 and change the switch in each case. As a result, one copy of the transport path 27 and one copy of the transport path 28 are fed alternately. This arrangement can be continued as desired along the sections of the winding machine. The extremely small space requirement is particularly advantageous. Optionally, of course, the sensor 24 which controls the switch 25 via the line 24 'is also designed as a color sensor, as a result of which control depending on the batch is possible.

The variant shown in FIG. 5 shows a series connection of preparation devices along the feed path 3. This series connection can advantageously be managed in that the positioning devices of the substations are controlled in such a way that they pass through as many pallets without positioning as preparation devices arranged on the conveyor belt are.

A particularly space-saving variant of the invention is shown in FIG. 6. The substations 10 ‴ to 12 ‴ of different preparation devices on the transport tracks 29 and 30 are combined as a unit. The units of the substations are advantageously active alternately on the adjacent belts. The corresponding feeding of the pallets into the two transport tracks 29 and 30 can be secured by a switch 31, which switches over to the other position when touched by a pallet 1.

7 to 10 illustrate embodiments of the substations, without the invention being restricted to these embodiments. In the substation 10, the pallet 1 is positioned on the feed path 3 by means of a drive 32, preferably consisting of three star-shaped friction wheels. This drive 32 rotates the pallet 1 with cops 2 against the winding direction of the thread, with a needle 33 resting on the cops foot. This needle 33 is fastened on a rotatable needle holder 33 ', which brings the needle 33 into contact with the sleeve base after the cop 2 has been positioned. This is intended to solve an existing backwinding. To support the detachment of the beginning of the thread, a blowing nozzle 34 is additionally arranged so that its air jet largely coincides with the point of contact of the needle 33 on the sleeve base.

At a second substation 11, shown in FIG. 8, the beginning of the thread is to be searched for and detached by means of a needle 35 on the cop jacket. Analog to the needle 33, the needle 35 can be pivoted towards the cop shell by means of a rotatable needle holder 35 '. A drive 36, which is designed analogously to the drive 32, also rotates the cop against the winding direction of the thread.

In a third substation 12, shown in FIG. 9, the cop 2 is positioned opposite a suction slot 37 of a suction channel 40. The suction air removes that previously Thread end pulled into the suction slot 37. Since the suction slit extends over the head of the cop 2 to a height on the opposite side, which is in the region of the sleeve tip, the thread reaches the position shown in FIG. 9. After the thread end has been cut by a cutting device 38, the direction of rotation is reversed by the drive 41 and the length of the thread end defined in its length is loosely wound onto the sleeve tip. This winding can easily be uncovered again by an air flow in the region of the winding unit and then fed to a gripper. A detector 39 detects the beginning of the thread, which indicates the successful preparation of the cop for the subsequent unwinding process. The use of the detector 39 makes sense in the application of the present invention if a further substation, such as substation 22 in FIG. 3, is arranged downstream.

A possible embodiment of this substation 22 is shown in FIG. 10. Assuming that the detector 39 has not found a thread start in the substation 12 '', the drive 42, which, like the other substations, consists of three star-shaped friction wheels, is pivoted into the region of the transport path 7, as a result of which the relevant pallet 1 is in this Substation is positioned.

While the search for the beginning of the thread in the preceding substations, in particular in the third substation 12 or 12 'or 12'', has concentrated on the cop jacket, a suction bell 43 in the substation 22 is essentially effective on the cop cone. The main features of this substation correspond to a device for locating broken threads on a spinning machine, as is shown in DE-OS 26 12 660.

The suction bell 43 is moved vertically by means of a threaded spindle 48, which is actuated by a geared motor 47. A light barrier formed from a light source 44 and a photocell 45 determines when the suction bell 43 has reached the head cone. After reaching a position in which there is only a very small gap between the suction bell 43 and the head cone, a suction air flow is generated in a suction channel 50, which flow continues into the suction bell 43. Due to the narrow suction gap, the suction air on the head cone is very effective, which means that the thread start detection rate is very high. The effect is further improved by the fact that the cop is rotated counter to the thread winding direction by the drive 42 while the suction air flow is present. In addition, it is also possible to arrange a sensor 46 which, if the beginning of the thread is not recognized, can open a switch which is not shown and which leads to a storage path. Cops that have reached this storage section can then be subjected to manual preparation. With 49 a cutting device is designated, which cuts the thread end accordingly.

Instead of the suction cup shown, it is also possible to use the threaded spindle 48 to approach only one suction slot to the head cone, which can also be connected to the suction channel 113. Optionally, after cutting, the beginning of the thread can be blown into the head sleeve by means of a blow nozzle (not shown) or, for example, can be positioned at a height analogous to the substation 12 by the suction slot (also not shown) which, when the head is rotated by means of the drive 42, loosely winds above it of the head cone on the head sleeve. In the case of blowing in, it is necessary to provide the mandrels of the pallets with grooves or holes so that the blown-in air can escape.

Since it happens that residual bobbins are discharged from the winding units, in which further processing is still worthwhile, but whose thread start could no longer be exposed in the winding unit, the transport system of the winding machine can be designed such that these residual bobbins are also on the feed path 3 arrive. It is advantageous if the sensors 18 and 20 shown in FIG. 3 recognize that it is not a completely wound cop. These sensors 18 and 20 would then control the switches 19 and 21 so that the cop in question is passed into the transport path 7. This ensures that the substation 22, which searches for the beginning of the thread on the head cone, can be actuated if the preceding substations could not find the beginning of the thread.

Of course, there is also the possibility of guiding residual cops or cops originating from demolition parts of the spinning machines over a branch path, on which only one substation 22 is arranged, which searches for the beginning of the thread on the head cone.

Claims (13)

1. Automatic winding machine with a transport system, in which cops and tubes are put in an upright position on pallets, by which they are conveyed jointly on conveyor belts, characterised in that a plurality of preparing devices for preparing the beginning of the yarn are located directly on conveyor paths (3, 6, 7; 27, 28; 29, 30), which form a part of the feed path to the winding machine and on which the pallets (1) with freshly spun cops (2) are conveyed, and that they comprise means (32, 36, 41, 42) for keeping the pallets on the respective conveyor belt.
2. Automatic winding machine according to Claim 1, characterised in that the feed path (3) is divided into a plurality of conveying paths (3, 6, 7; 29, 30) extending parallel to each other, on which preparing devices are respectively located.
3. Automatic winding machine according to Claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the preparing devices respectively consist of several sub-stations (10, 11, 12; 22), which are arranged along the conveying paths and can be supplemented, removed or exchanged at will.
4. Automatic winding machine according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the sub-stations (10 to 10'', 11 to 11'' and 12 to 12''; 22) of the conveying paths (3, 6, 7) adjacent the preparing devices are arranged in a staggered manner.
5. Automatic winding machine according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterised in that formed between a branch path (4) and the respective first sub-station (10 to 10'') are reserve sections whereof the length corresponds to several times the diameter of the base of the pallets (1).
6. Automatic winding machine according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterised in that located between a branch path (13) and the first sub-stations (10, 10') are sensors (15, 16), which are connected to switch points (14, 17).
7. Automatic winding machine according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterised in that located before the branches (5, 13) are sensors (18, 20), which are connected to switch points (19, 21).
8. Automatic winding machine according to Claim 7, characterised in that located on the conveying paths (6, 7) are sub-stations differing respectively in their number and/or their construction.
9. Automatic winding machine according to one of Claims 1 to 7, characterised in that located at least on one conveying path (7) is a sub-station (22), which searches for the beginning of the yarn on the cop cone, receives it and then prepares it for the unwinding process and the sensors (18, 20) recognise cops which are not fully wound and control the switch points (19, 21) so that recognised cops are guided into this conveying path (7).
10. Automatic winding machine according to one of Claims 1 to 9, characterised in that the sub-stations (12, 12', 12'') arranged respectively adjacent thereto and upstream of the sub-stations (22; 22') search for the beginning of the yarn on the surface of the cop, receive it and position it and that these sub-stations have detectors (39), which at the time of successful preparation put the following sub-stations (22; 22') out of operation.
11. Automatic winding machine according to one of Claims 1, 3, 5 to 10, characterised in that the conveying paths (27, 28) are arranged one behind the other and have separate feed paths (23, 26), which branch from a common feed belt (3).
12. Automatic winding machine according to one of Claims 1, 3 or 8, characterised in that a common conveying path (3) is provided for several preparing devices, the positioning devices of the sub-stations being controlled so that they allow respectively as many pallets (1) to pass without positioning, as there are preparing devices located on the conveying path.
13. Automatic winding machine according to one of Claims 1, 2, 3 or 7, characterised in that the sub-stations of preparing devices located in different parallel paths (29, 30) are combined as units (10‴ to 12‴).

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