Winding – tensioning – or guiding – Helical or random winding of material – Including wound package or empty spool handling
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-06
2001-09-04
Walsh, Donald P. (Department: 3653)
Winding, tensioning, or guiding
Helical or random winding of material
Including wound package or empty spool handling
C242S474100, C242S473500, C242S473600, C242S474200
Reexamination Certificate
active
06283400
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a cheese-producing textile machine for rewinding delivery bobbins of large volume, and relates more particularly to such machines having a manipulating and transport installation for the delivery bobbins for transferring the delivery bobbins from a loading position to a winding position.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Cheese producing textile machines of the above-identified type, preferably used for rewinding so-called dye bobbins, have been known for a long time and have been extensively described in various patent applications.
For example, German Published, Non-Examined Patent Application DE-OS 21 18 443 C2 discloses a textile machine, wherein each work station has a separate device for creeling of a large-volume delivery bobbin, for transferring this bobbin into an unwinding position, and for releasing the empty tube after rewinding to a disposal device. This so-called delivery device has three booms, which are arranged at the same distance, are seated rotatable around a horizontal axis and respectively have a bobbin holder at the ends. During the winding process, the booms are positioned in such a way that one bobbin holder with its large-volume delivery bobbin is in a winding position in the area of the work station of the textile machine, another bobbin holder is parked in a loading position where it can be equipped with a fresh delivery bobbin, and the bobbin holder of the third boom is in a drop position to transfer its empty tube to a following disposal device. During the manipulation process the delivery bobbins at times hang in an “overhead” position.
This delivery device, which has proven itself in practice, is quite elaborate in its mechanical structure. In addition, the manipulation of a large-volume delivery bobbin, which at times is moved through an “overhead” position, requires a very solid and expensive construction.
OBJECT AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the above mentioned prior art, an object of the invention is to provide an improvement of the above described type of delivery device for cheese-producing textile machines.
Briefly summarized, the present invention is applicable to a cheese-producing textile machine of the basic type adapted for rewinding delivery bobbins of large volume by means of a plurality of rewinding work positions. In accordance with the present invention, the foregoing objective is attained by providing each work position with an arrangement for manipulating and transporting the delivery bobbins, including transferring the delivery bobbins between a loading position and a winding position, wherein each manipulating and transporting arrangement has a first transport unit essentially horizontally arranged, a second transport unit essentially vertically arranged, and transport elements adapted to be transferred between the first transport unit and the second transport unit and to be arranged on each transport unit shiftably in a defined manner for receiving a delivery bobbin.
Thus, the embodiment of a manipulating and transporting arrangement in accordance with the invention with two separate transport units, i.e. a transport unit which essentially extends horizontally, and an almost vertically extending transport unit, results in a practical, i.e. cost-effective and rugged construction.
The transport operation of the transport elements which take up the delivery bobbins here takes place in a common transport plane, which extends for example orthogonally in relation to the longitudinal axis of the textile machine. The transport units themselves are constructed to be relatively narrow, so that the work stations have a comparatively close spacing, which has very positive effects on the space requirements of the entire textile machine.
The transport elements are seated on the two transport units in a defined shiftable manner in such a way that they can be introduced into various positions and can be transferred from one transport unit to the other transport unit without problems.
Preferably, the transport elements have an arbor for securely fixing in place of a delivery bobbin to extend parallel with the inclination of the vertically-arranged second transport unit.
Not only are the delivery bobbins securely fixed in place during transport, the inclined arrangement of the arbors of the transport elements also results in an optimal orientation of the delivery bobbins during the winding process, as well as an ergonomically advantageous position for the operators when the transport elements must again be equipped with fresh large-volume delivery bobbins.
It is further preferred that the two transport units have separate respective devices for the defined shifting of the transport elements. In a preferred embodiment, the horizontally arranged transport unit has an endless traction means equipped with carriers, which can be actuated by means of a reversible drive. Transport elements can be connected to these carriers via coupling devices, which may for example be forklike, on their undersides. The transport elements, which can be easily released when necessary, can be connected to the horizontal transport unit by means of these fork-like coupling devices which extend from above over the carriers on the endless traction means.
In the preferred embodiment, several carriers, most preferably five, are arranged at equal spacings from one another on the endless traction means which, in the course of shifting the transport elements, can pass over reversing wheels arranged at the end of the traction means. The carriers of the endless traction means work together with the fork-like coupling devices at the transport elements and thereby assure a dependable and positionally correct shifting of the transport elements on the horizontally arranged transport unit.
In an alternative embodiment of the manipulating and transporting arrangement, an arrangement of only two carriers may be provided on the endless traction means such that the carriers need not run over the reversing wheels arranged at the transport ends of the traction means. However, the use of only two carriers, which do not pass over the reversing wheels, requires a somewhat longer transport unit. Moreover, such a device must operate at two different step sequences, which are alternatingly actuated.
It is further preferred that the transport elements can be placed in three defined positions on the horizontal transport unit, i.e. in a winding position, a transfer position and an intermediate position. The individual positions can in this case be taken up in a predetermined sequence of steps, which assures a smooth winding operation at the respective winding head.
The drive device for the vertically-arranged transport unit preferably has a threaded spindle which is acted upon by a reversible drive. A transport carriage can be easily displaced upwardly or downwardly via this threaded spindle, depending on the direction of spindle rotation, to be adjusted between a transfer position located in the area of the first transport unit and a loading position spaced therefrom.
Preferably, the transport carriage of the elevator-like transport unit has a fixation device for the transport elements. Thus, on the one hand, the transport elements, and therefore the delivery bobbins, are securely fixed in place during their transport, and on the other hand a problem-free transfer of the transport elements between the individual transport units is possible.
The reversible drives of the transport units are preferably designed as stepper motors. Not only are such stepper motors very cost-effective and dependable, but when employed in connection with an electronic control device, for example a winding head computer, they also make the exact positioning of the transport element possible.
Further features, advantages and details of the present invention will be understood from the exemplary embodiments described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3854275 (1974-12-01), Bethea et al.
patent: 3913853 (1975-10-01), Raasch
p
Flamm Franz-Josef
Stiller Joachim
Sturm Christian
Kennedy Covington Lobdell & Hickman LLP
Pham Minh-Chau
W. Schlafhorst AG & Co.
Walsh Donald P.
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