Textiles: spinning – twisting – and twining – Apparatus and processes – Package handling
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-24
2001-08-14
Calvert, John J. (Department: 3765)
Textiles: spinning, twisting, and twining
Apparatus and processes
Package handling
C057S090000, C057S266000, C057S268000, C057S270000, C057S271000, C057S272000, C057S275000, C057S276000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06272833
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND
The present invention concerns a process in accord with the manipulation of an empty spool on a textile machine and further concerns an apparatus for the carrying out of said process.
Already within the scope of common knowledge is a situation, wherein an empty spool, which is brought to a grasping apparatus by means of a spool conveyor is not to be requisitioned and picked up by the said grasping apparatus, when said spool locates itself at a spinning station which requires a spool, but is called for and picked up at an earlier time, after the conclusion of a transfer of an empty spool at the spool apparatus of a spinning station (see DE 195 29 566 A1). If an empty spool is subsequently requisitioned by a spinning station, then, the grasping apparatus, located in a mobile maintenance conveyance, can be brought to the proper spinning station carrying the previously seized empty spool, whereupon, said maintenance conveyance can immediately start its prescribed work. However, experience has shown, that the immediate attempts to deliver empty spools, which have been carried to the selected spinning station by the said maintenance conveyance, often fail, since the empty spools are not precisely aligned with the spool locating arms of the said selected spinning or spool station.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Thus the purpose of the present invention is to help overcome those described deficiencies and to assure, that by an optimal and simple method, the empty spool can be delivered at the spool station awaiting service. Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the following description, or may be obvious from the description, or may be learned through practice of the invention.
In accord with the present invention, the said purpose is achieved. This is done by means of the retaining of the empty spool held by the grasping apparatus, assurance is provided, that the empty spool does not change the relative position it takes in regard to the grasping apparatus because of the operational movement of said grasping apparatus, but that it retains that position from the moment of its pickup by the grasping apparatus.
If the retaining operation is discontinued immediately before the delivery of the empty spool at the spool station which requires it, then a precise positioning of the spool is assured, so that the release of the spool at the spool station can be carried out without problems.
The retaining operation of the empty spool, by a stopping device urged against at least one end of the empty spool while said spool is still in the held pattern, is best carried out and continued, remote from the spool conveyor. The functioning of other maintenance conveyances at the textile machine are not interfered with by this said retaining operation. In order to correct the position of the empty spool on the spool conveyor in relation to the grasping apparatus, if need be, an advantageous improvement of the process of the invention can be provided in which the empty spool is positioned in connection with its retaining arrangement relative to the grasping apparatus.
The retaining of the empty spool relative to the grasping apparatus can be provided at various times and over different intervals. When the grasping apparatus picks up the empty spool to be taken to a spool station, even before it finds itself at the spool station which requires the said spool, the danger arises, that the empty spool, because of shaking during the transport of the maintenance conveyance to the spool station to be handled, changes its position relative to the grasping apparatus. In order to avoid this, a development of the process in accord with the invention is provided in which the empty spool is retained in an axial direction at least during the movement of the grasping apparatus to the spool station which requires the empty spool.
A quick retaining of the empty spool is advantageous. On this account, and in conformance with the invention, provision is made that this axial retaining takes effect even before the grasping apparatus has undertaken its travel to the spool station which requires the empty spool. Favorably, the empty spool may be retained in an axial direction even during the pickup of the spool by the grasping apparatus.
Advantageously, the retaining of the empty spool is not only executed early, but, is retained in an axial direction at least at the beginning of its delivery to the spool station which requires the empty spool. In accord with the invention, an apparatus for carrying out the described process is also provided. The apparatus comprises a maintenance conveyance which can move along a plurality of spool stations arranged next to one another. Also, a grasping apparatus for the pickup of an empty spool in transport on a spool conveyor is provided which grips about the circumferential surface of the spool and moves it to a spool station. The maintenance conveyance further possesses a stopping device for the retention of the empty spool in a predetermined position relative to the grasping apparatus, and is located outside the travel path of the empty spool. This occurs when the spool is held by the grasping apparatus, and the retaining arrangement can be brought into an operational position in which it axially aligns the empty spool held by the grasping apparatus. The stopping device retains the empty spool in an axial direction by urging against at least one end of the empty spool. As stated, the retaining arrangement can assume an idle position, in which it locates itself outside of the operational and movement areas of the grasping apparatus, which latter may be holding the empty spool.
The retaining arrangement, likewise, can assume its expected retaining position, in which the empty spool is kept from moving axially in reference to the grasping apparatus. In this way, assurance is given, that the empty spool assumes the required position at the time of its delivery on the spool holding arms of the spool station which requires said empty spool.
In accord with a simple embodiment of the object of the invention, the stop-apparatus, for the stopping of the empty spool being carried on the spool conveyor to the grasping apparatus, is also a component of the retaining arrangement. It can be brought out of an idling position and into an operating position in a transport path of an empty spool which is moving on a spool conveyor.
In order to achieve a quick retaining of the empty spool relative to the grasping apparatus, an advantageous embodiment of the invented apparatus exists in which the retaining arrangement can be brought quickly into its barrier position.
So that the axial securement of the empty spool need not be interrupted during the period between the pickup of the empty spool by the grasping apparatus to the termination of the travel to the spool station requiring said spool, a development of the apparatus exists. Here, the retaining arrangement maintains its retaining configuration while the grasping apparatus picks up and waits while the maintenance conveyance moves. It is further an advantage, if the retaining arrangement does not need to cease its operations, when the grasping apparatus r eaches the pertinen t spool station. Preferably, the retaining arrangement also maintains its position for the axial alignment of the empty spool., even during at least a portion of the movement for the delivery of the empty spool to the spool equipment of the pertinent spool station.
In order to avoid, that the empty spool being conveyed to the grasping apparatus can assume no position deviating from the desired, relative placement in reference to the grasping apparatus, it is favorable if there is provided an apparatus for the positioning of the empty spool relative to the said grasping apparatus. Here, the retaining arrangement is designed as a positioning apparatus.
Advantageously, the retaining arrangement possesses two retaining bars, between which the empty spool is axially secured. The two bars can be individually or commonly controlled. The bars ca
Calvert John J.
Dority & Manning
Rieter Ingolstadt Spinnereimaschinenbau AG
Welch Gary L.
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