Spinning and spooling apparatus

A spinning and spooling apparatus includes a spinning frame which has two sides each associated with a magazine for tubes which are conveyed through the spinning frame to provide respective spinning cops which are forwarded to an associated spooler. The spooler discharges the empty tubes which are then returned to the magazines by a feedback unit. The feedback unit includes a conveyor running from the spooler to the magazines and a controllable distributing guide which selectively provides a connection between the conveyor and one of the magazines.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
My present invention relates to the recycling of bobbin or spool tubes, 
cores or sleeves and in particular to a spinning and spooling apparatus 
provided with such a feedback or recycling unit. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
Conventional spinning and spooling apparatus provided with a ring spinning 
frame and a spooler have the common disadvantage of waiting periods for 
return of the empty cores, sleeves or tubes upon which the bobbin is wound 
and from which the yarn is removed because the demand for tubes of the 
spinning frame is sometimes higher than the discharge by the spooler or 
because the spooler must be stopped because the spinning frame cannot 
process a temporary oversupply of tubes. 
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
It is the principal object of my present invention to provide an improved 
spinning and spooling apparatus obviating the aforestated drawbacks. 
Another object is to provide an apparatus of the type described with 
improved means for recycling the bobbin-winding tubes. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
I realize these objects, in accordance with the present invention, by 
providing a feedback or recycling unit which includes a magazine for each 
side of the spinning frame cooperating with a conveyor in such a manner 
that tubes discharged from the spooler are selectively returned to one of 
the magazines by the conveyor. To provide this selective feeding of tubes 
into the magazines, a controllable distributing guide or branch is used 
which can selectively be brought into alignment or communication with each 
of the magazines depending which one has a demand for the recycled tubes. 
Through the provision of such a feedback unit the spinning and spooling 
apparatus can be continuously operated without any of the aforementioned 
problems since the use of the magazines provides a buffer for the tubes.

SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION 
FIGS. 1 and 2 show a first embodiment of a spinning and spooling apparatus 
1 and including a ring spinning frame 2 which is double-sided so as to 
have a frame side 2a and a frame side 2b. 
Adjacent to one end of the spinning frame 2, the apparatus 1 has a spooler 
3 which is also double-sided to define sides 3a and 3b. 
Arranged along the frame side 2a is a first conveyor 8 and along the frame 
side 2b is a second conveyor 9 for forwarding a plurality of bobbin tubes 
and formed spinning cops, e.g. cops 4, 5 and 6, 7 (bobbins/yarn such 
tubes) along the spooler 3. Both conveyors 8, 9 are provided with 
respective endless belts 11, 12 and extend beyond the front portion of the 
spinning frame 2. 
Thus each of the belts 11, 12 constitutes also a tube magazine which 
operates as a buffer for the tubes entering the spinning frame 2. Along 
each belt 11, 12, a plurality of pegs or pins, e.g. pins 13, 14, are 
uniformly spaced which receive empty tubes 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 when the 
latter are in the magazine portion of the respective belt 11, 12. 
Consequently, these tubes fitted onto the pins constitute the tube stock 
until being forwarded to the spinning frame 2. 
For returning tubes discharged by the spooler 3, the apparatus 1 is 
provided with a feedback or recycling unit 10. The feedback unit 10 
includes an upright elevator 23 arranged at the end face of the spooler 3 
remote to the spinning frame 2 and is provided to lift the tubes from an 
upper level. 
At each side 3a, 3b of the spooler 3, the elevator 23 is associated with a 
conveyor 20 and 21, respectively, along which the empty tubes are 
introduced into the elevator 23. The conveyors 20, 21 run parallel to the 
conveyors 8, 9 and are also designed as belt conveyors. The upper portion 
of the elevator 23 is provided with a spout 23a which cooperates with a 
further conveyor 22 (FIG. 1) along which the empty tubes discharged from 
the spooler 3 are returned to the respective tube magazines 11 and 12. 
As can be seen from FIGS. 1 and 2, tubes 24, 25, 26 are about to enter the 
elevator 23 so as to be lifted and placed onto the conveyor 22 while tubes 
27, 28, 29 have already been placed thereon. In order to prevent a 
congestion of tubes when being delivered by both conveyors 20, 21, it is 
possible for example to provide such a distance between two subsequent 
tubes on one conveyor that in between these two tubes a further tube from 
the other conveyor can be placed upon being discharged onto the conveyor 
22. 
The conveyor 22 which is also provided as a belt conveyor extends at a 
higher level above the apparatus 1 from the spout 23a to beyond the 
spinning frame 2 and is driven by a controllable stepper motor 32. 
Cooperating with the end portion of the upper run of the conveyor 22 which 
end portion is remote from the spout 23a) is a distributing guide or 
selection branch 33 through which tubes displaced by the conveyor 22 to 
the end portion of the upper run --as tubes 30 and 31--can be selectively 
supplied to either one of the tube magazines 11 or 12. The guide 33 is 
funnel-shaped and has a stationary inlet 31a aligned with the upper run of 
the conveyor 22 and an outlet 33b which is movable in direction of arrow 
36, (FIG. 5) between two end positions. Due to the funnel shape of the 
guide 33 the tubes which are forwarded horizontally along the conveyor 22 
are supplied to the associated pins 13 or 14 in a vertical position. 
The actuation of the guide 33 is dependent on the contents and on the 
advancement motion of one of the tube magazines 11, 12. Thus the exposed 
pins of one tube magazine are at first covered by the tubes and then the 
pins of the other magazine will be provided with respective tubes. It is, 
however, also possible to alternatingly or in any other arbitrary sequence 
provide exposed pins 13, 14 of the associated magazines with recycled 
tubes. 
Referring now to FIG. 5, it can be seen that the guide 33 cooperates with 
two loading chutes 34, 35 each of which is in alignment with the guide 33 
when the latter is moved in direction of arrow 36 between its end 
positions. The loading chutes 34, 35 are each curved so as to have an 
outlet positioned above the exposed pin--in FIG. 5 pins 13' or 14'--in 
order to fit a tube over it. 
In FIG. 5, a tube 31 is about to be introduced into the guide 33 which is 
in alignment with the chute 34 so that the tube 31 will be positioned over 
the pin 13' of the magazine 11 and is then forwarded along the conveyor 8. 
The actuation of the distributing guide 33 is provided by a control unit 37 
which will now be described in connection with FIGS. 7 and 8. Accordingly, 
the control unit 37 includes a step-by-step switch box 38 (stepping 
switch) which is connected to the stepper motor 32 via line 39. Via 
tractive means 44, the stepper motor 32 drives a roller 45 to which the 
belt of the conveyor 22 is connected so as to drive the latter in a 
desired manner. 
Arranged below each of the chutes 34, 35 and above each tube magazine 11, 
12 is a light curtain or barrier each consisting of a light transmitter 
46; 47, and a light receiver 48; 49, respectively. The light transmitters 
46, 47 generate two light beams one above another at such a distance that 
the upper light beam is interrupted when a tube is positioned on an 
associated pin while the lower light beam is interrupted when a pin is 
located in front of the light transmitter 46, 47 (FIG. 8). 
Via a line 42, the light transmitter 47 is connected to the light receiver 
49 via line 43. The step-by-step switch 38 is connected with the light 
transmitter 46 via a line 41 and with the light transmitter 47 via a line 
40. The lines 40 and 41 lead also to an associated switching magnet 51, 52 
of a directional control valve 53 which is in communication with a 
pneumatic servomotor 54. The servomotor 54 is provided with a piston rod 
55 which is fixed to one end of a control lever 56 whose other end is 
connected to the distributing guide 33 via a pivot 33c. 
In communication with the switch 38 is still further a line 57 leading to a 
motor 59 which drives the conveyor 8 and thus the tube magazine 11 via a 
drive roller 61. In similar manner, a motor 60 is provided which drives 
the conveyor 9 and thus the magazine 12 via a drive roller 62 and which is 
controlled by the switch 38 via a line 58. 
Assuming the tube magazine 11 has been furnished with tubes 50 as indicated 
in FIG. 7, and there is no need to provide further tubes to this magazine 
11, the conveyor 8 will be stopped so that the two light beams generated 
by the light transmitter 46 are interrupted. 
Consequently, the guide 33 can be switched into a position in which it is 
in alignment with the chute 35 to allow tubes to be furnished to the 
magazine 12. The tube 31 is already positioned at the forward end of the 
conveyor 22. When the pin 14' enters the light barrier 47-49, the lower 
light beam is interrupted and an impulse is sent to the switch box 38 and 
simultaneously to the switching magnet 52 via the line 40. Consequently, 
the directional control valve 53 is switched into the position shown in 
FIG. 8 which means that compressed air is introduced by an air pressure 
source P into the servomotor 54 so as to retract the piston rod 55. 
The retraction of the piston rod 55 is transmitted via the lever 56 onto 
the guide 33 which is then in alignment with the chute 35. The switch 38 
then excites the stepper motor 32 via the line 39 to move the conveyor 22 
about one step or switch cycle in direction of arrow 63. Since one switch 
cycle corresponds to the forwarding of one tube into the respective chute, 
the tube 31 will thus be forced into the guide 33 and through the chute 35 
onto the aligned pin 14'. This causes an interruption of the upper light 
beam of the light barrier 47-49 as well which emits an impulse to the 
switch box 38 via line 40. This impulse actuates the switch 38 to actuate 
the stepper motor 60 for moving the conveyor 9 and thus the belt-shaped 
tube magazine 12 in direction of arrow 64 until the next following pin 14 
enters the light barrier 47-49. 
During the forward movement the guide maintains its respective position, in 
the present case the alignment with chute 35. When the next following pin 
14 interrupts the lower light beam emitted by the light transmitter 47, 
the described cycle will be repeated until a furnished tube interrupts the 
upper and lower beams of the light transmitter 47 and remains in this 
position. Then, a possible demand of tubes by the other magazine 11 can be 
met. 
Turning now to the second embodiment as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, it 
can be seen that a spinning and spooling apparatus 65 includes a 
double-sided ring spinning frame 66 having frame sides 66a, 66b. Following 
the ring spinning frame 66 is a spooler 67 which is also double-sided with 
the spooler sides 67a, 67b. Along one side of the ring spinning frame 66 
and the spooler 67 extends a conveyor 70 which forwards the tubes and the 
formed spinning cops like spinning cop 68. In a similar manner, the other 
side of the ring spinning frame 66 and the spooler 67 is provided with a 
conveyor 71 which forwards the tubes and formed spinning cop 69 along the 
spooler 67. Running parallel to the conveyor 70 and associated with the 
spooler 67 is a further conveyor 73 for receiving the tubes discharged by 
the spooler 67. The conveyor 73 is part of a feedback unit 72 for 
returning the tubes to the front portion of the ring spinning frame 66 and 
is provided in form of a belt conveyor. 
Associated with the conveyor 73 is an intermediate storage unit 74 and a 
conveying pipe 75 which has a curved portion 75a so that the actual pipe 
75 runs above the spooler 67 and spinning frame 66 to the forward portion 
of the latter. At the outlet 75b, the pipe 75 is aligned with a 
distributing guide 78 which selectively feeds tubes 100 to one of two tube 
magazines 76, 77. The guide 78 is funnel-shaped so that the tubes 100 that 
are horizontal at the outlet 75b of the pipe 75 are supplied to the 
respective magazine in a vertical or upright position. 
As indicated in FIG. 6 by arrow 79, the guide 78 swivels between two end 
positions in each of which, the guide 78 is in alignment with one end of a 
loading chute 80, 81. The other end of the loading chute 80 is arranged 
above the tube magazine 76, while the other end of the loading chute 81 
opens above the magazine 77. To each of the tube magazines 76, 77 is 
associated a further loading chute 82, 83 through which the tubes are 
furnished onto the respective conveyors 70, 71 which forward the tubes to 
the ring spinning frame 66 to provide the spinning cops. After being 
discharged out of the spooler 67, the tubes are then returned through pipe 
75 to the guide 78 which is controlled in a manner to be described 
hereinafter. 
Each of the magazines 76, 77 contains a predetermined stock of tubes which 
is monitored by the light barriers 85 and 86, respectively. The light 
barriers each communicate via respective lines 87, 88 with a step-by-step 
switch 92 which is further connected via lines 89, 90 to a servomotor 93 
of the guide 78. Depending on the impulse sent by the switch 92, the 
servomotor 93 will cause the guide 78 to occupy either one of its end 
positions. Via line 91, the switch 92 is connected with the intermediate 
storage unit 74 which is illustrated in particular in FIG. 9. 
Accordingly, the storage unit 74 is provided with an intermediate magazine 
94 which collects the tubes 95 forwarded by the conveyor 73 from the 
spooler 67. At its lower end, the magazine 94 is provided with an outlet 
101 to the conveying pipe 75 which is completely filled with tubes as 
indicated by tubes 97, 98, 99. Opposite to the outlet 101, the magazine 94 
is provided with an opening 108 through which a piston 103 of a cylinder 
102 can penetrate. The cylinder 102 is pneumatically actuated and 
communicates with a bidirectional control valve 104 which in turn is 
connected to a compressed air source 105. The valve 104 is provided with a 
switching magnet 106 which is connected via the line 91 to the switch box 
92. Through spring means 109, the bidirectional control valve is reset. 
Assuming the switch box 92 is informed by the light barrier 86 via line 88 
that the tube magazine 77 is sufficiently filled with tubes, however, but 
that the light barrier 85 determines that the magazine 76 lacks some 
tubes, a corresponding signal is transmitted to the switch box 92 which 
activates the servomotor 93 to move the guide 78 in alignment with the 
chute 80 as shown in FIG. 6. Further, the switch box 92 transmits a signal 
to the switching magnet 106 of the directional control valve 104 for 
actuating the cylinder 102. 
Accordingly, the control valve 104 will occupy the position as shown in 
FIG. 9 and the piston 103 will be shifted to the right to move the tube 96 
located at the bottom of the magazine 94 through the outlet 101 into the 
pipe 75. 
Simultaneously with the introduction of the tube 96, all the other tubes 
located within the pipe 75 are advanced thus forcing the tube 100 (FIG. 3) 
at the outlet 75b of the pipe 75 into the guide 78 and through the chute 
80 into the tube magazine 76. 
In case the light barrier 85 still determines that there is a lack of 
tubes, the switch box 92 causes a further operating cycle as described 
until the light barrier determines that a sufficient accumulation of tubes 
in the tube magazine 76 has occurred. 
The transfer of the tubes from the magazines 76, 77 onto the respective 
conveyors 70, 71 is obtained e.g. in steps by using a modified 
step-by-step switch system similar to the one described in connection with 
FIGS. 7 and 8. The conveyors 70, 71 are also provided with a plurality of 
pins 110 which are uniformly spaced along each conveyor belt and are 
aligned with the chute 82, 83 of the associated tube magazine 76, 77.