GB986986A - Carriage for doffing and donning device - Google Patents

Abstract

986,986. Donning and doffing apparatus. WILLCOX & GIBBS SEWING MACHINE CO. Ltd. Nov. 14, 1962 [Nov. 15, 1961], No. 43023/62. Heading D1D. [Also in Division B7] A carriage for a donning and doffing device adapted to move on horizontal rails along a side of a spinning &c. machine, comprises a frame having rail-engaging rollers, a sub-frame having floor wheels, means connecting the frame and subframe which includes means for raising the rollers above the rail, and means for controlling the lift-means including controllers engaging the rail when the rollers are above the rail for automatically causing the rollers to descend to a position where the carriage is supported on the rail for movement therealong. In Fig. 2, the carriage having doffing-means 19, donning-means 21a and a container 20 for doffed bobbins, which can be withdrawn from the side of the carriage, comprises a frame 22 with rollers 23, 24 to run on and support the carriage on a rail 14 and guide-rollers 25, 26 to engage a lower rail 15. The sub-frame comprises a crossmember 28 at each end of the carriage each carrying a pair of floor-wheels 29 and each connected to a piston-rod 33 working in a piston 31 connected to the main frame 22. The cylinders are arranged as shown in Fig. 4; when a pump P is manually operated by a handle 36, Fig. 2, pressurefluid enters the first cylinder so that both cylinders rise, taking the frame 22 with them and raising the rollers 23, 24 above the level of rail 14. The carriage is now wheeled by handle H into a position parallel with the machine with the rollers above the rail, whereupon plungers 39, 40 of valves 37, 38 are actuated by contact with the rail to vent the cylinders for the rollers to descend to rest on the rail. In Fig. 5, where the container for doffed bobbins can be withdrawn rearwardly, the main frame 301 has a base 303 and the sub-frame comprises two cross-members 309 carrying the floor wheels and each connected to the base by bellcranks 312, the short arms of which are pivoted to piston-rods 313 working in cylinders 314 connected to the base 303. When these are charged, the members 309 are drawn inwardly to raise the main-frame. The cylinders are arranged as in Fig. 7; when the carriage is wheeled into parallel relationship with the machine, valves 320, 321 are opened as members 324 on the main frame engage the rail to vent the cylinders and cause the main frame to be lowered so that the rollers 315, 316 rest on the rail. A valve 323 such as to be operated by one of the members 324 after the valves 320, 321, serves to interrupt the connection between the cylinders so that the floor wheels can move independently over irregularities in the floor. The return circuit of the cylinders can be closed by a valve 322 to allow the cylinders to be energized to raise the frame and permit the carriage to be wheeled away from the frame. Specification 986,987 is referred to.