Textile machine with product transport apparatus

The present invention relates to a textile machine for producing/processing yarns, in which the empty tubes and full yarn packages are transported by a product transport system which includes a guideway for the product conveying devices, and a separate overhead rail which supports a tractor drive unit. The tractor drive unit may be coupled to either end of the product conveying devices by an elongate chain, which permits the product conveying devices to be moved onto and from said tracks which extend along an aisle along the front of the textile machine.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates to a textile machine for producing and/or processing 
yarns with a plurality of production or processing stations arranged side 
by side in the longitudinal direction of the machine, with a yarn winding 
unit being associated with each station, and further including a transport 
system for transporting empty tubes or full yarn packages to or from the 
winding units, the transport system comprising an electric overhead 
conveyor traveling along a guideway or track system of the type of a rail. 
A textile machine of the described type is disclosed in DE-OS 21 23 689 and 
corresponding U.S. Pat. No. 3,895,725. In this prior machine, the 
transport device comprises in its longitudinal direction several carriages 
of an electric overhead conveyor. The joined carriages may correspond in 
their length and in accordance with the yarn packages deposited thereon to 
one section each of processing stations. The carriages are pulled by a 
power drive of the electric overhead conveyor, so that continuously 
circulating drive means are not needed, since they may greatly interfere, 
require energy even when idle, and be subjected to wear. Each of these 
carriages forms a transport container for a yarn package transport device 
into the textile machine, stationary additional drives are provided in the 
region of guiding or receiving devices, so as to cause the package 
transport devices to enter into or move out of the transport container, it 
being possible to construct these drives in particular as frictional drive 
wheels. While this known package transport device already permits travel 
along relatively narrow curves and reduces the space needed when packages 
are buffered or temporarily stored, the space utilization is not yet 
optimal, inasmuch as the package transport devices or the axially 
extending support beams used for this purpose restrict a further narrowing 
of the curves. Furthermore, it is possible to maintain the flow of 
material, in particular the transfer of the empty tubes to the processing 
machines, only by means of a plurality of additional drives which are 
susceptible to breakdown, and a correspondingly complicated control 
system. 
It is further provided that, for purposes of receiving the full yarn 
packages, the electric overhead conveyor moves into the machine aisles of 
the respective processing stations, whereby high costs are incurred for 
switches and laying the necessary overhead contact wires. 
It is therefore the object of this invention to provide an improved textile 
machine of the described type, so as to simplify the material flow from 
and to each processing station substantially without incurring additional 
expenses for carriage drives. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The above and other objects and advantages of the present invention are 
achieved by the provision of a textile apparatus which comprises a textile 
machine having a plurality of yarn winding stations positioned in a 
side-by-side arrangement extending in a longitudinal directional along a 
front face of the machine, a product transport system for transporting 
products to or from the winding stations of the textile machine and 
comprising a) a guideway having a portion thereof extending along the 
front of the textile machine, b) a product carrying device mounted for 
movement along the guideway, c) an overhead rail extending adjacent and 
parallel to at least a portion of the length of the guideway, d) a tractor 
drive unit mounted for powered movement along the overhead rail, and e) a 
coupling unit for releasably coupling the tractor drive unit to the 
product carrying device. 
In a preferred embodiment, the product carrying device may be constructed 
as a chain link element conveyor which travels along the guideway. Also, 
the chain link element conveyor may be a chain link train. For this reason 
these terms are used synonymously therein. 
The use of the described type of transport system allows additional, 
stationary drives for delivering empty tubes to, or for removing full yarn 
packages from the processing stations of the textile machine to be 
omitted, since the tractor drive unit itself moves the carrying devices or 
the chain link train, which receive the yarn packages, to each processing 
station. Thus, a particularly economically operating and cost-favorable 
transport system for a textile machine is created. If need arises, the 
chain link train permits a variable suspension of the carrying devices, it 
being possible to arrange the packages closely adjoining one another on 
the carrying devices. The suspended carrying devices are also described as 
hanging carriages. Each of the carrying devices forms a frame for 
accommodating an adequate number of package mandrels or receiving grooves, 
which can receive the full yarn packages or the empty tubes, or on which 
the full yarn packages or empty tubes are to be deposited. The number of 
package mandrels or receiving grooves corresponds essentially to the 
number of winding spindles of one machine side. It is especially 
advantageous to construct the chain link train as an articulated link 
chain, in particular a Cardan joint chain, since it allows to make the 
possible curve radii of the guideway system very narrow. Furthermore, the 
use of a Cardan joint chain results in a reduced risk that the individual 
chain links wedge into one another when moving in the opposite direction, 
i.e. during a pushing motion, which could lead to a breakdown of the 
operation. 
In a particularly cost-favorable embodiment of the transport system, the 
rail for the electric overhead conveyor, which includes the tractor drive 
unit, is designed as a circular course in which switching elements are 
absent, and the second separate guideway for the chain link train includes 
a main track extending parallel to the rail of the drive unit, and a 
number of side tracks which diverge from the circular course. Thus, the 
side tracks diverging from the main track serve to transport the yarn 
packages from the respective processing stations or to transport empty 
tubes to the processing stations. These side tracks are connected via 
switches with the main track. The switches are each located at the end of 
a machine aisle, where the main track of the guideway system crosses. 
Thus, a switch is associated to each machine aisle, each switch is 
arranged to terminate in the main travel direction of the tractor drive 
unit on its rail. Although each switch can be controlled by a motor, air 
pressure, or other means, it will however also suffice, when out of two 
successive switches only that one is controllable which is in each 
instance the first to be operative oppositely to the main travel 
direction. The second switch is set, for example, by a spring, to its 
branch-off position, and can therefore be pushed by the chain link train 
against the force of the spring in the main travel direction. 
Each side track of the separate guideway may be provided not only as a 
transport path from or to a processing station, but it may also be used as 
a "parking possibility" of the chain link train carrying the yarn packages 
or empty tubes. In a further embodiment, an additional track section 
serving to "park" the yarn packages may also be constructed as a turning 
or looping track. It is preferred to provide the turning track outside of 
the machine area. If need arises, the electric overhead conveyor travels 
around it along its circular course. This allows to pick up again the 
chain link element conveyor from the other end after a corresponding 
coupling. In this manner, it is possible to turn the package mandrels from 
one end to the other, when related to the direction of entering into the 
machine aisle. This will be useful, for example, for servicing the A and B 
sides of the textile machine, since in this instance it is possible to 
service both machine sides with a single transport system. Such a turning 
loop may likewise be provided, so as to be able to deliver the yarn 
packages from the hanging carriages always toward the same side. 
To supply the processing stations in the respective machine aisles, the 
electric overhead conveyor travels along its circular course, and in so 
doing, it pulls the coupled chain link train along the main track of the 
guideway extending parallel to its circular course, until a switch is 
passed which leads to a specific machine aisle. The switch tongue abutting 
in this process by the force of a spring is forcibly opened, and upon the 
passage of the last chain link, returns to its divergent position. 
Thereafter, the travel direction is reversed, so that the chain link train 
is caused by the corresponding setting of the switch to move into this 
machine aisle. 
Considering the fact that the length of a machine aisle is greater than the 
spacing between two successive switches, which lead each into one of two 
successive machine aisles, this may result in that, while the rear end of 
the chain link element conveyor has passed the switch of the machine aisle 
to be serviced, the front end of the chain link element conveyor has 
however passed already the switch of the following machine aisle. 
In this instance, it is proposed to keep the switch of the following 
machine aisle open via a controllable switch actuating mechanism, while 
the switch of the machine aisle to be serviced can automatically stay in 
its branch-off position, for example, by spring bias. 
After having entered into the machine aisle, the electric overhead conveyor 
may be uncoupled from the chain link train, and be moved to a next chain 
link train, which can then be brought in like manner, after a 
corresponding coupling, to the processing stations in a further machine 
aisle. This procedure may be repeated depending on the number of 
processing stations, or as needed, with the use of only one, in any event 
only a small number of electric overhead conveyors serving as a drive. An 
additional advantage consists in that this drive concept of a transport 
device for a textile machine allows to change an operating level without 
the use of an elevator. 
This further development of the invention is based on the recognition that 
the rail of the electric overhead conveyor, and which has a circular 
course, may be arranged on a level above the floor, which is so high as to 
leave an adequate clearance between the lower ends of the carrying devices 
or hanging carriages and the floor for walking along the aisle below the 
electric overhead conveyor. 
On the other hand, it is then possible to lay the rails of the separate 
guideway for the product carrying devices, so as to incline from the 
circular course downward into the machine aisle, and to extend there with 
their projecting package mandrels or receiving grooves as much as possible 
on the same level as the winding spindles of the takeup devices, so as to 
permit the empty tubes to roll downward to the takeup devices or the full 
yarn packages downward from the takeup devices. 
Moreover, this arrangement has the advantage that, as a result of having 
the second guideway system extend downward into the machine aisle, the 
chain link train remains always taut, even when it is pushed into the 
machine aisle. 
Advantageously, it is possible to connect the chain link train to the 
electric overhead conveyor via a continuous coupling chain. Such a 
coupling chain may be, for example, an articulated link chain, in 
particular a Cardan joint chain. The length of such a coupling chain may 
be dimensioned, so as to allow to position the transport devices for the 
full yarn package or empty tubes facing all processing stations of a 
machine front of the textile machine. This allows an optimal positioning 
of the chain link train, in which all processing stations can be serviced 
in a single position of the chain link train. Preferably, the coupling 
chain is provided at its end with a coupling element for joining the chain 
link train to the electric overhead conveyor. This also allows to achieve 
a simple and fast separation of the coupling chain from the chain link 
train, as soon as same has been transported to the intended track section, 
and when subsequently, after a corresponding uncoupling, another chain 
link trains is to be moved by means of the electric overhead conveyor.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
The present invention now will be described more fully hereinafter with 
reference to the accompanying drawings, in which preferred embodiments of 
the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many 
different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments 
set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this 
disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope 
of the invention to those skilled in the art. Like numbers refer to like 
elements throughout, and unless otherwise specified, the following 
description will always apply to all Figures. 
A textile machine 1, as shown by way of example in FIG. 1, comprises a 
plurality of processing stations 2 with machine aisles 3. The processing 
stations extend along a common machine front, which faces one of the 
machine aisles. To supply empty tubes to, or to remove full yarn packages 
4 from the particular processing stations 2, a transport device 5 is used. 
This transport device 5 comprises a transport drive in the form of an 
electric overhead conveyor 7 traveling along a circular rail 6, in which 
switching elements are absent. Attached to this electric overhead 
conveyor, via coupling elements 11, is a coupling chain 8, which is 
constructed as a Cardan joint chain. Coupled to chain 8 via coupling 
element 11 is a product carrying device 9 which is in the form of an 
articulated chain link train 10 for carrying yarn packages 4. Each chain 
link train 10 travels along a main portion 12 of a guideway which extends 
parallel to the circular course of the rail 6 of the electric overhead 
conveyor 7. From this main portion 12 of the guideway, via corresponding 
switching elements 13, secondary side tracks 14 of the guideway branch 
off, which lead to the machine aisles 3 between processing stations 2. As 
indicated in this Figure, these secondary side tracks 14 may be 
constructed with upward or downward grades. 
As a result of this invention, a single drive in the form of electric 
overhead conveyor 7, or at least, a small number of electric overhead 
conveyors 7, allows to move in a predetermined sequence to the particular 
processing stations 2 a number of chain link trains 10 corresponding to 
the requirements in each instance, which carry the empty tubes to be 
processed or the fully wound yarn packages 4. Thus, the use of a plurality 
of drives, as has been common practice until now, may be omitted, so that 
costs are reduced, and the susceptibility to breakdown is lessened as a 
whole. Stated otherwise, the electric overhead conveyor consists of only 
one transport drive, which may also be called the locomotive or tractor 
drive unit. 
As shown in FIG. 2, the coupling of a chain link train 10 with an electric 
overhead conveyor 7 as a drive means allows to accomplish an economic 
transportation of relatively closely spaced-apart yarn packages 4. The 
electric overhead conveyor may be associated with a coupling chain 8 in 
the form of a Cardan joint chain, which forms the connection to chain link 
train 10 via corresponding coupling elements 11. The coupling chain e may 
be varied in its length depending on requirements. The guideway 12, 14 
supports and guides the chain link train 10. With respect to this 
guideway, it is possible to make the coupling chain 8 extremely variable, 
whereas the electric overhead conveyor 7 travels along a simple circular 
course or rail 6 without any switching elements. Thus, depending on need 
and necessity, the electric overhead conveyor 7 moves, via coupling chain 
8, the chain link train 10 in the fashion of a locomotive within the 
guideway 12, 14. 
As best shown in FIG. 3, it is thus possible to move a chain link train 10 
of a certain length with electric overhead conveyor 7 and coupling chain 8 
to a processing station 2 located outside of the main portion 12 of the 
guideway, or to a parking or temporary storage zone along side tracks 14, 
in that chain link train 10 is pushed or pulled to the desired position by 
coupling chain 8 which is driven by electric overhead conveyor 7. The 
attachment of electric overhead conveyor 7 to coupling chain 8 furthermore 
allows to easily overcome grades and to pass through narrow curves. 
FIGS. 4 and 4a illustrate, how an element of the chain link train services 
a yarn winding device associated thereto. As illustrated, a hanging 
carriage 20 is supported at its upper end for movement by means of 
carrying device 9 along secondary side track 14, which leads into the 
particular machine aisle. 
The hanging carriage comprises a plurality of individual levels. Each of 
these levels is used to either store empty tubes 26 or full yarn packages 
4. All levels serving the same purpose are identical to each other and 
have the same vertical spacing between one another. The empty tubes 26 or 
the full yarn packages 4 lie with the outer ends of the tubes on supports, 
which are each inclined in a certain manner and form the levels. 
In the illustrated view, the machine front is to the left of the break 
line. There, the individual yarn winding units are vertically superposed, 
as is shown in the embodiment of FIG. 6. 
The arrangement of the levels of hanging carriage 20 corresponds 
substantially to the arrangement of the yarn winding units of the machine 
front. 
Arranged between the machine front and the hanging carriage, is a so-called 
intermediate frame 27, which arranges the transfer of new empty tubes from 
hanging carriage 20 to the particular yarn winding unit, and likewise the 
transfer of the finished, full yarn packages 4 from the yarn winding units 
to the hanging carriage. 
To this end, the intermediate frame 27 is provided with ramps 28, 29, which 
connect substantially without a transition to the inclined levels of 
hanging carriage 20. The inclination of the levels of hanging carriage 20 
corresponds substantially to the inclination of ramps 28, 29, and the 
levels can be positioned in alignment with the respective ends of ramps 
28, 29. 
Furthermore, a support 30 holding empty tubes 26 is arranged above each 
support 31 associated thereto and accommodating full yarn packages 4. This 
means that the empty tubes of each overlying level are supplied via 
associated ramps 28 to the yarn winding units, where they are received by 
package supports so as to be wound. Subsequently, the fully wound yarn 
packages 4 are released from the package supports and delivered via the 
respective ramps 29 to supports 31 for the full yarn packages. There, the 
full yarn packages roll against a stop 32, so as to be secured in their 
position, while they are transported by hanging carriage 20. Preferably 
the stops engage on each tube end projecting beyond the ends of the 
packages. 
In the illustrated position of hanging carriage 20 in front of the textile 
machine, the hanging carriage 20 is precisely secured in its position, at 
its upper end by carrying device 9, and at its lower end by a U-shaped 
positioning rail 21, so that the ends of the supports 30, 31 are only 
slightly spaced from the adjacent ends of ramps 28, 29. Basically, the 
U-shaped positioning rail 21 may extend over the entire length of 
secondary side track 24 and parallel to same. On the other hand, it may 
consist of a length of rail, which is arranged only in the region in front 
of the textile machine. 
As is shown in the embodiment of FIG. 4a, the hanging carriage 20 may be 
provided with a locking device 57, which centers the hanging carriage 20 
in its position in front of the winding machine. In the present 
embodiment, the locking device 57 consists of an elbow lever 58, which is 
movable by a piston-cylinder unit 59. With its free end, the elbow lever 
58 engages in a corresponding centering catch 60 of hanging carriage 20, 
and thus avoids that, in the axial direction of secondary side track 14, 
the hanging carriage is not positioned exactly in front of the textile 
machine. In the present embodiment, the centering catch 60 consists of a 
U-shaped or V-shaped strap, which is fixedly connected to hanging carriage 
20. The free end of elbow lever 58 engages in this strap, as soon as the 
carriage 20 is properly positioned. 
In the present embodiment, the locking device is arranged at the upper end 
of hanging carriage 20. However, depending on the installed situation, it 
may also be located at the lower end of hanging carriage 20 or also at 
other places. 
Furthermore, the opportunity presents itself to guide the hanging carriage 
20 in U-shaped positioning rail 21 by means of two rolls one succeeding 
the other in the longitudinal direction of the machine. This allows to 
reliably prevent the hanging carriage 20 from turning unintentionally. 
Furthermore, it is essential that the unloading of empty tubes 26 and the 
transfer of full yarn packages 4 occur in a controlled manner. To this 
end, different control devices are shown. In the embodiment of FIG. 4, 
vertically displaceable control mechanisms 33, 34 are provided, which are 
actuated in their direction of movement by corresponding piston-cylinder 
units 35. Each of the control mechanisms 33, 34 possesses at the roll-off 
height of the projecting end of the associated winding tube a stop 36, 
which allows to stop the advancing winding tube, first, in the illustrated 
position of control mechanism 34, which is reached first in the roll-off 
direction. The stop may be constructed as a rotatably supported ball 
bearing, so that the kinetic energy of the advancing full yarn package is 
first converted into mere rotational energy, and then is evenly slowed 
down. 
Once each of the ramps 29 has received a full yarn package in the position 
illustrated in solid lines, the control mechanism 34, which comes first in 
the roll-off direction, is opened by means of piston-cylinder unit 35, 
whereas the control mechanism 33, which is reached thereafter, when viewed 
in the roll-off direction, remains in its illustrated and closed position. 
Subsequently, the full yarn packages roll to the position shown in dashed 
lines, which is defined in corresponding manner by the second control 
mechanism 
In the meantime, the package lever 43 of the yarn winding device, as shown 
in FIG. 6, has received a further empty tube 26, so that basically a 
further empty tube 26 is permitted to roll from hanging carriage 20 onto 
the corresponding ramp 28. 
However, pivotally supported empty tube stops 37 are still in front of 
empty tube 26 being on standby, and prevent same from rolling off. These 
empty tube stops are actuated by second control mechanism 33, as soon as 
same is set into motion by the corresponding piston-cylinder unit 35. To 
this end, the second control mechanism 33 possesses spaced apart stops 38, 
whose path intersects with the free end of empty tube stops 37. As can be 
noted, a vertical upward movement of stops 38 will cause empty tube stops 
37 to move upward, so that the empty tubes 26 having been retained, are 
now able to reach the corresponding ramps 28. 
At the same time the full yarn packages 4 being in the position shown in 
dashed lines are released, in that the stops 36 of second control 
mechanism 33 are moved out of the roll-off path of the laterally 
projecting tube ends. 
Accordingly, the performance of the second control mechanism 33 is based on 
a double function, since same realizes both the release of new empty tubes 
and the release of full yarn packages 4 waiting for their removal. 
After the hanging carriage 20 has thus been freed of the carried-along 
empty tubes 26 and received the new full yarn packages 4, the latter can 
be removed in the above-described manner. 
As a distinction from the embodiment of FIG. 4, FIG. 4a illustrates other 
possible control mechanisms. In this embodiment, the intermediate frame 27 
is provided with an extension 52, which is rotatable about an axis 53 
extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of the yarn package and 
arranged at that end of ramps 29, which faces package receiving level 31 
on hanging carriage 20. 
The axis of rotation extends such that when the free end of rotatable 
extension 52 is swung downward, namely that end facing hanging carriage 
20, the opposite end of rotatable extension 52 is raised so far that the 
full yarn package being shown in a standby position rolls toward this free 
end. 
Thus, a barrier is formed, which prevents an unintentional rolling of the 
full yarn packages toward hanging carriage 20. 
Consequently, in this one rotated position as illustrated, the rotatable 
extension 52 closes ramp 29. In the other possible end position of 
rotatable extension 52, same is in alignment with its free end facing the 
full yarn package level on hanging carriage 20, and its other end is 
aligned with the remainder of ramp 29, so as to create for the advancing 
full yarn package a continuous possibility of rolling off. 
Although in the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 4a the first control 
mechanism 34 is not needed, it may yet be provided for singling the full 
yarn packages as they roll along. To actuate the rotatable extension 52, 
the second control mechanism 33 is used, which engages with a 
corresponding pin 54 in an oblong hole 55 of rotatable extension 52. To 
this end, the oblong hole 55 is provided in an angularly projecting 
rocking lever 56 of rotatable extension 52. 
Consequently, the pin is movable in the axial direction of second control 
mechanism 33, while it is simultaneously engaged in oblong hole 55. This 
allows to impart in an upward movement of control mechanism 33 a motion to 
rotatable extension 52, which basically moves same to a blocking position, 
while at the same time stop 38 eliminates the effect of empty tube stop 
37. Accordingly, it applies also to this embodiment that the second 
control mechanism 33 fulfills the aforesaid double function. 
Important in these systems is that both empty tubes and full yarn packages 
are able to roll automatically, each by their gravity, along supports 30, 
31 and adjacent ramps 28, 29. In each instance, the rolling motion is 
realized by a coordinated cooperation between control mechanisms 33, 34 
(FIG. 4), or control mechanism 33 only (FIG. 4a), in combination with 
stops 36 and 38 (FIG. 4) or stop 38 only (FIG. 4a). 
As to further details, reference is made to FIG. 6. 
FIG. 5 is a floor plan view of a textile machine in accordance with the 
present invention. Supplementing the foregoing description, the Figure 
shows a textile machine having four machine aisles 3. It is understood 
that a large number of such machine aisles may be arranged parallel to one 
another. 
Arranged in each of the machine aisles is a secondary side track 14 of the 
guideway, which branches off from a main track 19 of the guideway for the 
product conveying devices 9. The main portion 12 extends substantially 
parallel to the rail 6 of the electric overhead conveyor, a portion of 
which is shown in dashed lines in FIG. 5. The main travel direction of the 
electric overhead conveyor and associated tractor drive unit is indicated 
at 18. Accordingly, the electric overhead conveyor travels along a 
circular, closed-loop course, and couples a chain link train, as need 
arises. 
The processing stations 2 are arranged side by side along the machine 
aisles, and present thus a closed machine front, along which a plurality 
of yarn winding devices are arranged side by side and on top of one 
another in vertical direction. 
Two machine fronts facing one another, also named A or B sides of the 
machine aisle, can be serviced from a single machine aisle. 
In the present embodiment, a turning or looping track 15 is arranged 
outside the region of the machine, which permits to turn around carrying 
devices 9 such that when they move out of the area of the turning track, 
they point with their package mandrels 44 always in the required 
direction. In a corresponding application of the embodiment shown in FIG. 
4, this applies also to the alignment of the therein illustrated receiving 
levels for the full yarn packages. 
The chain link train arriving in main travel direction 18 either is allowed 
to pass unhindered at turning track 15, or it reversed in its travel 
direction upon passing an entry switch 39 to turning track 15, and it is 
thus moved to the turning segment of the turning track. In so doing, the 
orientation of the full yarn packages is reversed, and the full yarn 
packages may again leave with a reversed package orientation upon passing 
exit switch 40 of turning track 15. 
In the present application, such forcibly controlled switches 39, 40 are 
uniformly illustrated with a pressure spring 45. The illustration of these 
forcibly controlled switches corresponds to the illustration of entry 
switch 39 leading to the turning track. 
Controllable switches may also be employed, in which the position of the 
switch tongue is controlled by a precontrolled actuating mechanism, so as 
to define the position of the switch either in the one or the other end 
position. These switches are shown each with a double arrow pointing to 
the two possible setting directions (note, for example, the switches at 
the entry ends of the machine aisles). 
As regards the switches of the turning track, it is essential that the 
entry switch 39 points in the main travel direction 18 to the throughgoing 
length of the main portion 12 of the guideway. In this instance, the entry 
switch 39 may be provided with a tongue, which rests resiliently biased 
always against throughgoing main portion 12 of the guideway. The chain 
link train, as it passes by, opens the switch itself, when traveling over 
entry switch 39, until the last element of the chain link train has passed 
the switch. It is thus possible to use a forcibly controlled switch, which 
does not require an additional switch actuating mechanism. 
Should the full yarn packages be already correctly oriented in the main 
travel direction 18 of the arriving chain link train, and should the 
tractor drive unit of the electric overhead conveyor be already coupled to 
the rear end of the chain link train, the latter can be pushed straight 
ahead without passing through turning loop 15. In this instance, the exit 
switch 40 is likewise self-opening in the above-described manner, so that 
also here no further control is required. 
This characteristic of the switch arrangement in connection with turning 
loop 15, and the fact that the spacing between the entry switch 39 and the 
exit switch 40 is greater than the length of a chain link train, allow to 
move the tractor drive unit of the electric overhead conveyor without many 
resources from a position in front of the train to a position behind the 
train, in that it is detached from the train, after same is positioned 
between entry switch 39 and exit switch 40, so as to then travel along the 
circular course behind the train, where it is reattached. 
This is advantageous, so as to be able to push the train into a stationary 
temporary storage 22. It is therefore not necessary to provide a track for 
the electric overhead conveyor to exit from the temporary storage, since 
the electric overhead conveyor does not even enter into temporary storage 
22. 
The temporary storage 22 comprises a plurality of parallel arranged parking 
track sections 23, which terminate with their ends in a common horizontal 
plane of temporary storage 22. Several of these parking track sections 23 
may be arranged horizontally or vertically to one another. To move the 
storage trains from main portion 12 of the guideway into the stationary 
temporary storage 22, so-called unilaterally approachable transfer track 
sections 16 are used, which branch off from main portion 12 of the 
guideway. 
These unilaterally approachable transfer track sections 16 each terminate 
in a horizontal or vertical position, which extends basically in the same 
plane as the horizontal plane of parking track sections 23. 
To move the storage trains into the stationary temporary storage 22, a 
so-called shuttle transport device 24 is used. Such a shuttle transport 
device 24 is provided for each level of parking track sections 23. The 
shuttle transport device is adapted for back and forward movement only in 
a horizontal plane. It can in each instance be positioned, so that the 
associated transport railway 25 of shuttle transport device 24 is aligned 
at its one end with side track 16, and at its other end with the free end 
of parking track sections 
To construct the shuttle transport device as compact as possible, the 
transport railway 25 is curved several times in S-shape, in such a manner, 
however, as to permit the chain link train to move easily onto parking 
rail 
After the chain link train is transferred to shuttle transport device 24, 
same moves along its horizontal plane of movement so far as to be able to 
push the received chain link train onto a corresponding parking track 
section 23 in temporary storage 22, and to detach it there. 
The temporary storage 22 serves to temporarily store the full yarn packages 
for a certain period of time, for example, when the operation in packing 
area 41 is not continuous in a 24-hour period. Thus, a certain buffering 
or temporary storage of the yarn packages occurs, which is always 
necessary, when finish processing of the full yarn packages in a 
continuous operation is not possible or not necessary. 
Essential for stationary temporary storage is that the length of its 
parking track sections allows to accommodate at least one chain link 
train. Other lengths may be considered, which allow to accommodate an 
integral multiple of chain link trains. 
In any event, the parking track sections are associated to the second 
separate guideway system, so that the chain link train can be pushed by 
the electric overhead conveyor onto a parking track section 23. 
Thereafter, the coupling chain may be detached by releasing coupling 
elements 11 between electric overhead conveyor 7 and carrying devices 9, 
and the tractor drive unit of the electric overhead conveyor is available 
for the next transport order. 
The removal of the chain link trains from the storage occurs in reversed 
manner. To this end, each chain link train is pulled out of the temporary 
storage onto shuttle transport device 24. 
To do so, the electric overhead conveyor 7 is connected to the parked chain 
link train after the startup of shuttle transport device 24, and same is 
then removed from temporary storage 22 via transport railway 25. 
Thereafter, the chain link train can be delivered by the shuttle transport 
device 24 to an unloading robot 42. There, the transport devices are freed 
of full yarn packages 4, which are then presorted, inspected, packed, and 
delivered to shipping in packaging area 41. 
A special advantage of this embodiment of the invention is based on that 
the main portion 12 of the guideway arranged in front of stationary 
temporary storage 22 and likewise the unilaterally approachable transfer 
track sections 16 may be adapted without any additional expenses to the 
multilevel temporary storage 22. 
To this end, it is only necessary to lay the main portion 12 of the 
guideway with an upward or a downward grade in front of the temporary 
storage, corresponding to the overall height of all levels across the 
width of the temporary storage, so that the main portion 12 of the 
guideway lies with its two ends at the different levels of the temporary 
storage. When now each of the transfer track section 16 branches off at 
the height, at which the corresponding level of the parking track sections 
extends, the correct level of parking track sections 23 is automatically 
approached via only a single upward or downward sloping length. 
However, it should be remarked that in the place of upward and downward 
sloping lengths, the shuttle transport device 24 may be designed and 
constructed for movement not only in the horizontal, but also in the 
vertical direction. 
Shown in FIG. 6 is a side view of a textile machine with a view into the 
two machine aisles 3. Such a textile machine has a first aisle 3 
(right-hand portion of the Figure), in which the full yarn packages 4 are 
accommodated in feed yarn package creels. The individual yarns are unwound 
from the supply packages, processed (for example, textured), and 
subsequently again wound. The winding or takeup occurs in the second aisle 
3 (in the left-hand portion of the Figure). 
Here, the feed yarn package creel is formed by the hanging carriages 20. 
Thus, the feed yarn creel becomes a component part of the second guideway 
system, whose secondary side tracks 14 enable the supply and removal of 
hanging carriages 20 to or from the machine aisles 3. 
In this arrangement, the feed yarn creel is likewise stationarily held at 
the bottom of a U-shaped positioning rail 21, so that despite its 
movability and thus for the rapid replacement of yarn packages a 
stationary feed yarn creel is obtained. 
The significant advantage of this further development lies in the short 
time that is required to replace feed yarn packages, when, for example, 
the full yarn packages have been completely unwound. Therefore, it is 
possible achieve short interruptions in the production. 
This advantage is accomplished in that the feed yarn package creel can be 
fully loaded already outside the machine aisle, so that it only needs to 
be replaced as a whole. 
Further shown is how the empty tubes 26 are exchanged for full yarn 
packages 4 in the winding region of the illustrated textile machine in the 
machine aisle 3 shown on the left. Although reference is made to FIG. 4, 
it can however noted in addition that the arriving empty tubes 26 are 
removed by means of a gripper 46 from the free end of ramp 28. In so 
doing, the empty tubes are singled by means of a dropping blocking lever 
47. 
Since the path of movement of gripper 46 intersects the path of movement of 
package lever 43, it is possible to transfer the empty tube from gripper 
46 to the package lever in the region of their common intersection. 
Moreover, the package lever 43 can be moved unhindered in direction toward 
ramp 29 so far that it is able to remove from the direct winding region, 
with its centering plates laterally engaging into the tube ends, the 
package clamped therebetween, and to deposit it on the ramp. An axial 
spreading of the centering plates allows to release the yarn package, and 
it can then be transported away on hanging carriage 20. 
While in the embodiment of FIG. 6 the hanging carriage 20 cooperates 
directly with the processing stations of textile machine 1, the embodiment 
of FIG. 7 uses a doffer 48. 
Such a doffer 48 travels along the machine front, and is provided, for 
example, with a doffer arm 49 which is rotatable in a horizontal plane. 
For example, the doffer arm 49 is arranged at the same height as 
individual winding spindles 50, which are directed into machine aisle 3. 
In any event, the doffer arm 49 is aligned and positioned in front of a 
winding spindle 50, so as to permit to push the full yarn packages from 
the winding spindle onto the doffer arm. 
For the sake of simplicity, it is also possible to arrange the spindles 51 
of hanging carriages 20, so as to permit the doffer 48 to remove the full 
yarn packages from winding spindles 50, and to position its arm for 
purposes of facing the carriage spindle 51 by rotating about its vertical 
axis. There, the just-received full yarn packages are removed by pushing, 
and the next takeup position can be serviced. 
In the drawings and specification, there have been disclosed typical 
preferred embodiments of the invention and, although specific terms are 
employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not 
for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being set forth in 
the following claims.