GB2110729A

GB2110729A - Positioning and transferring spinning cops

Info

Publication number: GB2110729A
Application number: GB08234106A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Willi Krenmayr
Original assignee: Machinenfabrik Schweiter AG
Current assignee: Machinenfabrik Schweiter AG
Priority date: 1981-12-07
Filing date: 1982-11-30
Publication date: 1983-06-22
Also published as: IT8224511A1; IT8224511A0; FR2517707A1; FR2517707B1; IT1154360B; GB2110729B; DE3243417A1

Abstract

Spinning cops arriving in an irregularly distributed and partially straightened manner are supplied individually or groupwise to an end plate 1 of a conveyor, on which they reach a stop 4 and are there stopped in a parallel position. A sliding beam 9 moves the spinning cops onto a storage plate 8 and from there to a transfer point of an elevator 10. Before performing the displacement movement, the end plate 1 is stopped by a sensor 5 when the cops strike the stop beam. A second sensor 6 positioned upstream of the first sensor interrupts the further supply of cops on detecting the cops already engaging with the stop beam. The displacement movement takes place when a third sensor 19 at the transfer point indicates that there is a deficiency of cops. As only the parallel alignment and not the individual arrangement of cops takes place on the end plate, the apparatus is simple, because the individual delivery is ensured by the storage plate, the latter being responsible for the individual delivery of spinning cops to the elevator. The apparatus can be part of a complete installation into which, at the inlet side, the spinning cops are introduced in an irregularly arranged manner. In practice, only limited presorting is required, transfer taking place in a simple and reliable manner from the end plate to the storage plate. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Method and apparatus for positioning and transferring spinning cops The invention relates to a method of and apparatus for positioning spinning cops and their individual transfer to a following device with an end plate, on which the spinning cops are moved in a position aligned in the direction of their longitudinal axis.

For the transfer of spinning cops for the further processing in a following device, it is known to arrange the spinning cops, conveyed up to and collected in an irregular manner in spinning cop containers, in a separately positioned means and to bring them into such a position that they can be transferred in the correct order to the following device. These known means have a relatively large space requirement, because a relatively long zone is required in which the spinning cops must be straightened and separated as from their irregular arrangement until individual cops are available, which can then be transferred to the following device. Such a device is, for example, a feed device, which transfers the individual spinning cops to the following processing machine.

In the known means, a relatively large amount of space is taken up by the parts carrying out a first presorting of the spinning cops collected in an irregular manner. Even more space is required if it is a question of bringing the presorted, i.e. partly aligned spinning cops into the correct position and into the correct spacing with respect to the neighbouring cop, so that trouble-free transfer to the following device is possible.

The present invention therefore seeks to so further develop a method of the aforementioned type that the preparation of the spinning cops for transfer to the following device cen be realised with limited space requirements, limited technical expenditure and limited susceptibility to faults.

According to the invention there is provides a method of positioning spinning cops and transferring them individually to a following device, in which the spinning cops are moved individually or in groups and in parallel to an end position, the cops being so moved in a direction along their longitudinal axis and, when required, for the purpose of transfer to the device, they are moved in the direction thereof in their parallel position, but at right angles to the feed direction.

The invention also provides in an apparatus for handling spinning cops, apparatus for positioning and transferring spinning cops comprising a conveyor having at its downstream end a frontal stop beam for aligning the spinning cops fed thereto and also a sliding member displaceable over the end plate at right angles to the feed direction thereof to transfer the cops from the conveyor.

The invention is described in greater detail hereinafter relative to a non-limitative embodiment and the attached drawing showing an apparatus for positioning spinning cops for the transfer thereof to a following elevator.

A belt (not shown) for conveying and aligning spinning cops terminates in an e.g.

vibrating end plate 1, having two guide runners 2, between which the spinning cops 3 can be moved into an end position. The width of end plate 1 can be such that a plurality of spinning cops can be moved in juxaposed, parallel manner in the feed direction, it being possible to move both one cop 3 or two or more cops 3 simultaneously on end plate 1.

At the end of the belt, end plate 1 defined by guide runner 2 is terminated by stop beam 4.

The spinning cops 3 moved on end plate 1 consequently strike against the stop beam 4 at the end of their path and initially remain there. At the entry side of end plate 1 are provided two sensors 5, 6, e.g. light barriers, with the aid of which the end plate 1 is controlled. As soon as all the spinning cops located on end plate 1 have reached stop beam 4, this is detected by a sensor 5, whereupon the end plate 1 is removed, so that the further feeding of cops 3 is stopped.

On one side of end plate 1 is provided a barrier 7, which prevents the lateral forcing away of spinning cops 3 and in the blocked position prevents the access of cops 3 to a storage plate 8. If barrier 7, e.g. a lowerable flap is removed, the spinning cops 3 can be moved through a sliding beam 9 at right angles to the original feed direction onto storage plate 8. From storage plate 8 the spinning cops 2 are supplied to an elevator 10, which has corresponding conveying recesses 11, which can in each case receive a single cop. Thus, several spinning cops 3 can be displaced in such a way that in each case only one cop 3 is supplied to elevator 1 0. For this purpose, it is merely necessary for a random number of cops 3 to be aligned parallel to one another at stop beam 4.

The sliding beam 9, which displaces the spinning cops 3 at right angles to the feed direction on end plate 1, is guided by means of a support 1 2 on a guide rod 1 3. A drive (not shown) acts on support 1 2 and brings about the transverse displacement of sliding beam 9. Stop beam 4 is also joined to support 1 2 and is moved together with the sliding beam 9. A guide roller 14 is also mounted on support 1 2 and acts on a connecting link 1 5. By means of a supporting rod connected to connecting link 15, barrier 7 is moved out of the blocked position on moving sliding beam 9 at right angles to end plate 1 in the sense of a transfer of spinning cops onto storage plate 8.A switch box 1 7 mounted on support 1 2 contains the control elements necessary for operating the sliding beam 9.

After carrying out the displacement movement by sliding beam 9, end plate 1 is no longer occupied by spinning cops and this is followed by a further switching in.

In front of sensor 5 is arranged a further sensor 6, which controls the supply of switching cops 3 to end plate 1. When one or more spinning cops come into the vicinity of sensor 6, the supply of further cops 3 is interrupted.

For this purpose, a device 18, which is e.g.

part of ;-le aforementioned belt is stopped.

Then, ol-ily those spinning cops 3 already located on end plate 1 are advanced, pass onto the stop beam 4 and then end plate 1 is stopped. If a further sensor 1 9 positioned in front of elevator 10 then indicates that there are no spinning cops 3, it generates a signal, which initiates the displacement movement of cops 3 with the aid of the sliding beam 9. It is obviously not necessary for the stop beam 4 and the sliding beam 9 to be arranged on support 1 2. Other solutions are also conceivable, e.g. for the stop beam 4 to be fixed. In addition, barrier 7 can be operated by a separate drive.

Storage plate 8, which can be provided with straightening webs 20 ensuring the maintenance of the parallel position of the spinning cops 3 rolling against the elevator, can have a bevelled edge portion 21 on the elevator side. If the storage plate 8 is tiltably designed in the sense of an elevator-side depression it is ensured that in each case only a single cop 3 can enter elevator 10 and access of the remaining cops 3 is prevented by the formation of a constriction.

The apparatus functions in the following manner. The spinning cops 3 arriving at the inlet side of end plate 1 need not reach the inlet point in a precisely defined arrangement.

It is sufficient if they are aligned roughly in the direction of guide runners 2. Sensor 6 interrupts the supply of further spinning cops 3, which remain in device 18, whilst the cops 3 on end plate 1 are moved up to the stop beam 4. If sensor 1 9 indicates a cop deficiency, all the cops at stop beam 4 are moved by sliding beam 9 onto storage plate 8, which is horizontal at this time.

When sliding beam 9 returns into its initial position, end plate 1 again starts to supply further cops to stop beam 4. Only when sensor 1 9 again indicates a cop deficiency, is the displacement process repeated and the supply of cops 3 recommenced. At this time, the storage plate 8 is pivoted, so that the spinning cops 3 located thereon can be individually removed from elevator 1 0.

The described apparatus can be constructed with random belt parts to form a complete installation, in which spinning cops arranged in an irregular manner are aligned and are drawn apart to such an extent that they can be removed from the apparatus. This ensures the individual transfer to the following device.

Since up to the time of transfer through the described apparatus, the cops are not only straightened and somewhat drawn apart, but need not be transferred in an individual manner, the degree of technical complication of the complete installation and the space requirements are relatively limited.

Claims

1. A method of positioning spinning cops and transferring them individually to a following device, in which the spinning cops are moved individually or in groups and in parallel to an end position, the cops being so moved in a direction along their longitudinal axis and, when required, for the purpose of transfer to the device, they are moved in the direction thereof in their parallel position, but at right angles to the feed direction.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the spinning cops are displaced on a storage plate located between the end plate and the device.

3. In an apparatus for handling spinning cops, apparatus for positioning and transferring spinning cops comprising a conveyor having at its downstream end a frontal stop beam for aligning the spinning cops fed thereto and also a sliding member displaceable over the end plate at right angles to the feed direction thereof to transfer the cops from the conveyor.

4. An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein to one side of the stop, a tiltable storage plate is arranged between receiving the aligned spinning cops transferred from the conveyor.

5. An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein a removable barrier is arranged between the stop and the storage plate.

6. An apparatus according to claim 4 or 5 wherein the storage plate is provided with straightening webs.

7. An apparatus according to claim 4, 5 or 6 wherein therefore in the vicinity of the transfer point, the storage plate has a bent edge portion.

8. An apparatus according to claim 3, 4 or 5 wherein at least one sensor is arranged at the inlet to a downstream part of the conveyor whilst a further sensor is positioned at the transfer point for establishing the presence or absence of a spinning cop.

9. An apparatus according to any one of claims 3 to 6 wherein at least one guide runner extending in the feed direction is provided on the downstream part of the conveyor.

10. A method of aligning and transferring spinning cops, such method being substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

11. Apparatus for aligning and trans ferring spinning cops constructed and arranged to operate substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.