GB2310436A - Seperation of threads - Google Patents

Abstract

Apparatus 2 is arranged to remove and separate about 200 lengths of yarn from a rotatably mounted beam 4 and comprises a yarn input device 6 and accumulation stations 8. Yarn is unwound from the beam 4 and each length is guided through a respective tube 20 to a station 8 wherein it is caused to be wrapped around an accumulation member so that each length ultimately defines an individual hank that can be re-used.

Description

SEPARATION OF THREADS This invention relates to the separation of threads and particularly, although not exclusively, relates to apparatus for and a method of separation of a multiplicity of lengths of thread from one another.

In the manufacture of carpet, tufting machines are used to receive lengths of yarn and weave them into carpet. The lengths of yarn are delivered from beams which comprise a rotatably mountable spindle around which a multiplicity, for example about 200, individual lengths of yarn are wound. Eight such beams may be used together to manufacture a carpet of 15 foot width.

From time to time, it may be noted that the yarn carried by a beam is sub-standard, for example due to a dyeing fault. In this event, carpet manufacturers generally cut the yarn from the beam and discard it, since the yarn cannot be rectified in downstream manufacturing steps and there are no convenient methods of removing the individual lengths of yarn from the beam for remedial treatment.

Since beams may carry several tons of yarn which may be worth not insignificant sums of money, it is costly to discard the yarn.

It is an object of the present invention to address the above-described problem.

According to the invention, there is provided apparatus for separating a multiplicity of lengths of thread from one another, the apparatus comprising movement means for causing lengths of thread to move substantially synchronously to respective accumulation positions.

Preferably, said apparatus is for separating lengths of thread which are supported on a member, for example a rotatably mountable member such as a beam. The threads are preferably wound round the member. Ends of the threads are preferably arranged in a predetermined manner, for example in lines.

Said movement means is preferably arranged for causing lengths of thread to move substantially at the same speed to said respective accumulation positions.

Said apparatus preferably includes guide means for guiding movement of lengths of thread between first and second positions. In said first position, said multiplicity of threads may be juxtaposed or substantially unseparated, for example by being wound around a beam. In said second position, said multiplicity of threads may be separated from one another.

Said guide means preferably includes a multiplicity of guide elements, wherein suitably a said guide element is provided for each length of thread. Said guide elements preferably define flexible guides. Said guide elements are preferably arranged for threads to slide over a surface, suitably a substantially smooth surface thereof. Said guide elements are preferably arranged to enclose threads. Said guide elements preferably comprise tube-shaped members. Said guide elements are preferably made out of a plastics material.

Said guide means preferably extends between a thread inlet area and an accumulation means of the apparatus.

Said thread inlet area preferably includes a support which supports said guide means. Where the guide means includes guide elements, said support preferably supports said guide elements in a predetermined arrangement.

Said accumulation means preferably defines said accumulation positions. Said accumulation means is preferably arranged for the accumulation of lengths of thread by winding threads around a support.

Said accumulation means preferably includes a traversing means for causing consecutive turns would round said support to be laterally offset - that is, consecutive turns are preferably not directly superimposed on one another.

Said accumulation means preferably includes an accumulation member which is preferably rotatably mounted for winding threads therearound. Where the apparatus includes a multiplicity of guide elements, said elements are preferably associated with said accumulation member so that a multiplicity of lengths of thread can be accumulated thereon. Said accumulation member is preferably arranged such that lengths of thread can be wound around a periphery thereof. The periphery may be defined by elongate supports which are radially spaced from a rotational axis of the accumulation member. The shape of said periphery may be adjusted for relieving tension in threads wound therearound so that said threads, in the form of hanks, may be disengaged from the accumulation member. The means for adjusting the shape of the periphery may constitute a hank release means of the apparatus.

Said aforementioned traversing means preferably includes a traversing member which is associated with said accumulation member of said accumulation means. Said traversing member may co-operate with said guide means, for example said guide elements thereof, for causing consecutive turns of thread accumulated by said accumulation means to be laterally offset. Said guide elements are preferably fixed relative to said traversing member. Said traversing member is preferably rotationally fixed but, suitably, translationally movable; for example it is preferably slidable back and forth.

Said movement means preferably comprise a drive means, for example an electric motor. Where the apparatus includes an accumulation means which comprises an accumulation member and a traversing member, both of said members are preferably arranged to be driven by said drive means. A link means is preferably provided for operatively connecting said accumulation member and said traversing member.

Said accumulation means preferably includes a plurality of accumulation members. Said accumulation means preferably includes a plurality of traversing member. Suitably, a respective traversing member is associated with each accumulation member. Said plurality of accumulation members and/or traversing members are preferably part of an accumulation station. Said apparatus preferably comprises a plurality of accumulation stations.

The invention extends to a method of separating a multiplicity of threads from one another comprising directing respective threads substantially synchronously to respective accumulation positions.

Said method is preferably for manufacturing hanks from a multiplicity of juxtaposed threads which may, for example, be mounted on a support.

The method preferably uses an apparatus as described herein.

Specific embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic side view of a separation apparatus; Figure 2 is a view of a beam in the direction of arrow II of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a view of a yarn input device in the direction of arrow III of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a view of a part of an accumulation member of the apparatus in the direction of arrow IV of Figure 1, with parts of a drive apparatus therefor being omitted in the interest of clarity; Figure 5 is a perspective view of a part of the accumulation member of Figure 4, with parts of a drive apparatus there for being omitted in the interests of clarity; Figure 6 is a perspective view generally in the direction arrow VI of Figure 4, showing part of a drive apparatus of the separation apparatus.

Referring to Figure 1, there is shown separation apparatus 2 which is arranged to remove and separate lengths (about 200) of yarn from a rotatably mounted beam 4. The apparatus 2 comprises a yarn input device 6 and five substantially identical accumulation stations 8, one of which has been omitted from Figure 1.

Each accumulation station 8 is mounted on a floor 10 and includes four spaced apart rotatably mounted accumulation members 12. Associated with each accumulation member 12 is a yarn guide device 14. Each guide device 14 includes a support rod 16 which is slidably supported by a plurality of support brackets 18 at spaced apart positions along its extent. Each support rod 16 supports ends of ten tubes 20 (Figures 4 and 5).

The tubes 20 extend to the input device 6 where their other ends are secured in position. (It should be noted that in Figure 1, many of the tubes 20 have been omitted, in the interests of clarity).

A drive apparatus (shown partially in Figures 4 and 6) which includes an electric motor is provided for causing the accumulation members 12 to rotate and the support rods 16 to traverse back and forth. The accumulation members are arranged to rotate through two revolutions per back and forth cycle of the support rods.

The apparatus is arranged such that movement of all of the accumulation members and support rods is synchronised and at the same speed.

The apparatus 2 may operate as follows to remove yarn from beam 4 and separate it into individual hanks.

Each of the ends of the 200 lengths of yarn on the beam 4 is secured to an end of a respective length of existing yarn which protrudes from an end of a respective tube 20 which is secured to the yarn input device 6. The respective lengths of existing yarn extend through the respective tubes 20 and exit therefrom at positions adjacent respective accumulation members 12. Each length of yarn is then secured to the adjacent accumulation member such that ten lengths of yarn are secured at spaced apart positions along the extent of each accumulation member.

The electric motor of the drive apparatus is then started, whereupon the accumulation members 12 and support rods 16 are caused to move synchronously. As each accumulation member 12 rotates, yarn is drawn through the tubes 20 and gradually unwound from the beam 4. It should be noted that each of the 200 lengths of yarn is unwound from the beam 4 at the same rate.

Once the ends of yarn from beam 4 have been pulled through the tubes 20, the drive apparatus may be stopped and the ends may be detached from the lengths of the existing yarn and then directly secured to the accumulation members in the same way as the existing yarn had been secured previously. The drive apparatus may then be restarted, whereupon the yarn is gradually unwound from beam 4 and wound onto the accumulation members. As the yarn is wound onto the accumulation members it is spread out slightly (by about 9 inches) due to the back and forth traversing of the support rods 16. This results in the yarn being "cross wound" on the accumulation members.

Once all of the yarn has been removed from the beam, the drive apparatus is stopped. It should be appreciated that the apparatus is stopped whilst some yarn still remains in the tubes 20 so that the yarn remaining can be used as existing yarn and thereby be tied to yarn from a subsequently processed beam 4 for pulling the yarn initially through the tubes.

Once yarn has been removed from a beam, each of the accumulation members 12 carries ten cross-wound hanks which may be removed from the apparatus and returned to the appropriate party, for example a dyer for remedial processing. Thus, it will be appreciated that substandard yarn may be easily removed from a beam and reclaimed.

The apparatus is described in greater detail below.

Referring to Figure 2, the beam 4 includes a spindle 22 around which about 200 lengths 24 of yarn are wound.

The lengths 24 extend away from the beam generally parallel to one another.

Referring to Figure 3, the yarn input device 6 include a framework which includes horizontally extending spaced apart frame members 26 which include openings 28 in which ends of tubes 20 are supported, so that lengths 24 of yarn can pass into the tubes. The tubes 20 extend from input device 6 to a position adjacent the accumulation members 12. Ten tubes 20 are secured at horizontally spaced apart positions on each support rod 16.

Referring to Figures 4 and 5, the support rod 16 is supported by three spaced apart brackets 18 which are secured to frame member 30 such that the rod 16 may slide within collars 32 provided at the end of the brackets.

Spaced apart horizontally extending frame members 34, 36 support the accumulation member 12 which comprises a central spindle 38 which is rotatably mounted by bearings 40. Radially extending struts 42 support four elongate horizontal extending supports 44 which define a framework around which yarn 24 can be wound.

The drive apparatus is arranged by means of gears and chains to drive all of the accumulation members 12 and support rods 16. Referring to Figures 4 and 6, it should be noted that the support rod 16 is fixed to one part 49 of an upwardly extending L-cross-section members 50. The other part 51 of member 50 includes an elongate slot 52 which defines a cam member in which a cam follower 54 is arranged. The cam follower 54 extends perpendicular from a surface of an arm 56 which is rotatably mounted at a pivot point 58 and is arranged to be driven by gears 60.

Gears 60 are arranged to be driven by a shaft 62 which is fixed to a gear 64. A chain 66 extends between gear 64 and a gear 66 which is fixed to the shaft 38 for driving both the shaft 38 and gear 64. The chain 66 extends to each accumulation member 12 for synchronising the movement of the accumulation members 12 and support rods 16.

It will be appreciated from Figure 6 that, as the arm 56 rotates, cam follower 54 moves within slot 52 to thereby move L-cross-section member 50 back and forth which in turn moves support rod 16 back and forth. A second arm 56 is, in fact, arranged to be driven by gears 60 which second arm 56 co-operates with a second member 50 for moving a support rod 16 of an accumulation member 12 which is horizontally adjacent to the member 12 shown in Figure 6.

It will be appreciated that the hanks wound around the outside of the supports 44 will be relatively tightly wound therearound. In order to relieve the tension in the hanks, prior to removing them from the apparatus, one of the supports 44 of each accumulation member is pivotably mounted by virtue of each of the radially extending struts 42 supporting the support 44 being pivotable about respective pivot axes 70. The pivotable struts 42 can be pivoted to allow the support 44 to move inwardly thereby to reduce the effective peripheral area defined by the four supports 44. A locking member is preferably provided for releasably securing the pivotably struts 42 in a fully extended position.Such a locking member may simply comprise a brace which is adapted to extend between a support 44 supported by the pivotable struts 42 and an adjacent support 44, with parts of the brace extending into openings 72 defined in the supports 44.

The bearing 40 is arranged to allow spindle 38 to be removed therefrom relatively quickly, so that the hanks can be slid off the accumulation members.

The reader's attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to this specification in connection with this application and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference.

All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive.

Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment(s). The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.

Claims (22)

1. Apparatus for separating a multiplicity of lengths of thread from one another, the apparatus comprising movement means for causing lengths of thread to move substantially synchronously to respective accumulation positions.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, for separating lengths of thread which are supported on a rotatably mounted member.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the threads are wound round the member.

4. Apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein movement means is arranged for causing lengths of thread to move substantially at the same speed to said respective accumulation positions.

5. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, including guide means for guiding movement of lengths of thread between first and second positions.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein in said first position, said multiplicity of threads is juxtaposed or substantially unseparated.

7. Apparatus according to claim 5 or claim 6, wherein in said second position, said multiplicity of threads are separated from one another.

8. Apparatus according to any of claims 5 to 7, wherein said guide means includes a multiplicity of guide elements.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein a said guide element is provided for each length of thread.

10. Apparatus according to claim 8 or claim 9, wherein said guide elements define flexible guides.

11. Apparatus according to any of claims 8 to 10, wherein said guide elements are arranged for threads to slide over a surface.

12. Apparatus according to any of claims 8 to 11, wherein said guide elements are arranged to enclose threads.

13. Apparatus according to any of claims 8 to 12, wherein said guide elements comprise tube-shaped members.

14. Apparatus according to any of claims 5 to 13, wherein said guide elements extends between a thread inlet area and an accumulation means of the apparatus.

15. Apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said accumulation means defines said accumulation positions each of which is arranged for the accumulation of lengths of thread by winding threads around a support.

16. Apparatus according to claim 14 or claim 15, wherein said accumulation means includes a traversing means for causing consecutive turns wound round said support to be laterally offset.

17. Apparatus according to any of claims 14 to 16, wherein said accumulation means includes an accumulation member which is rotatably mounted for winding threads therearound.

18. A method of separating a multiplicity of threads from one another comprising directing respective threads substantially synchronously to respective accumulation positions.

19. A method according to claim 18, for manufacturing hanks from a multiplicity of juxtaposed threads.

20. A method according to claim 18 or claim 19, wherein said threads are mounted on a support.

21. Apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings.

22. A method substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings.