System for transporting bobbins between spinning machines

A system for transferring bobbins between textile machines includes a temporary storage device positionable at a location between two textile machines for temporarily storing bobbins being transported between the machine. A transport rail assembly has either one rail extending between the machines for transport of bobbins either directly between machines or between the rail and the intermediate storage device, or a pair of rails each extending from one of the machines to the storage device. The storage device stores bobbins in a plurality of rows and is mobile for selective movement to other locations. It may have slidable pallet members for supporting bobbins or outwardly projecting support members inclined in the range of horizontal to vertically upward for supporting bobbins inserted thereon. The storage device further includes at least one component shaped compatible with the rail for facilitating transfer of bobbins and the component can be selectively movable vertically with respect to the rail for transfer of bobbins supported on the device in rows. The rail assembly may include at least one branch rail selectively movable with respect to the storage device, which may include a plurality of pairs of rails for suspension of bobbins thereon.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to a system for transporting bobbins between 
yarn processing machines, and more particularly to a system for 
transporting bobbins between two machines in combination with a device 
between the machines for temporarily storing bobbins during transfer. 
Transport systems are known for transporting bobbins between textile 
machines and are known to include temporary storage means to accumulate 
the supply of bobbins and thereby maintain a supply during temporary 
fluctuations in the production rates of the machines. For example, German 
Patent document A 22 27 105 discloses a system for transporting bobbins 
between a plurality of fly frames and a relatively much larger plurality 
of ring spinning machines. More specifically, the disclosed transport 
system transports full bobbins from the fly frames to the ring spinning 
machines and returns empty bobbins from the ring spinning machines to the 
fly frames. The disclosed transport system can be provided with a storage 
apparatus positioned adjacent the longitudinal ends of the ring spinning 
machines to serve as temporary storage for the bobbins during their travel 
between the fly frames and the ring spinning machines. The storage 
apparatus consists of a plurality of parallel oriented rails or tracks on 
to which the bobbins are transferred. However, these storage apparatus 
rails, on which the bobbins can be temporarily stored, require a 
considerable amount of additional track lengths and, oftentimes, the space 
requirements of these temporary storage rails exceed the space available 
in the areas adjacent the ring spinning machines. 
Accordingly, the need exists for a transport system for bobbins for 
transporting bobbins to and from temporary storage apparatus positioned 
between textile processing machines. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The system of the present invention facilitates and minimizes the space 
requirements for the transfer and temporary storage of bobbins between 
machines. Briefly described, the system for transporting bobbins or the 
like between two yarn processing machines according to the present 
invention includes a unitary storage device for temporarily storing 
bobbins between the machines. This device has bobbin support members 
arranged thereon for supporting bobbins in a plurality of rows. The system 
also includes a bobbin transporting rail extending from at least one of 
the machines to the storage device for positioning bobbins between the one 
machine and a position at the location of the storage device for 
transferring bobbins between the rail and the bobbin storage device. 
The bobbin transporting rail in one embodiment extends between one machine 
and the bobbin storing device, in another embodiment a rail extends from 
one machine to the other machine and may be used alternatively for 
transporting bobbins between the machines and the bobbin storage device or 
directly between the machines, and in a further embodiment one rail 
extends from one machine to the bobbin storage device and another rail 
extends from the other machine to the bobbin storage device and the system 
can be used for transferring bobbins between the machines and the bobbin 
storage device or alternatively for transferring bobbins from one rail to 
the other for directly transporting bobbins between the machines. 
The bobbin storage device is preferably mobile for selective movement to 
other locations for loading and unloading bobbins therefrom. Also 
preferably the bobbin storage device has at least one component shaped 
compatible with the shape of the bobbin transporting rail for facilitating 
the transfer of bobbins from the rail to the bobbin storage device. For 
this purpose, the bobbin transporting rail may include at least one branch 
rail selectively movable to a position aligned with the position of the 
storage device component, which may be selectively movable vertically. 
Preferably, means are provided for transferring bobbins between the bobbin 
storage device and the bobbin transporting rail, and the bobbin storage 
device may include pallet members for storing bobbins thereon, which 
pallet members may be slidably mounted. In another embodiment the bobbin 
storage device has bobbin support members projecting outwardly at an 
inclination in the range of horizontal to vertically upward for supporting 
bobbins inserted thereon by the transferring means. 
Other and further features and advantages of the present invention will be 
apparent from the accompanying drawings and the following detailed 
description of the preferred embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
As shown in FIG. 1, the bobbin transporting system of one embodiment of the 
present invention includes a rail assembly 18 extending between a fly 
frame 21 and a ring spinning machine 22 for transporting empty or full 
bobbins to and from the fly frame 21 and the ring spinning machine 22 or 
to and from the fly frame or the ring spinning machine, and a unitary 
movable temporary storage device 10. The temporary storage device 10 
includes means for storing a plurality of bobbins next to and above one 
another so that the storage apparatus has large storage capacity while 
occupying a relatively small floor space. 
The rail assembly 18 is of the conventionally known rail type in which the 
bobbins are supported on bobbin holders movable along a rail or rails 
extending between the fly frame 21 and the ring spinning machine 22. 
In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, instead of the continuous rail 
extending between the fly frame 21 and the ring spinning machine 22 as 
illustrated in FIG. 1, the rail assembly 18 includes a first rail portion 
18' extending from the fly frame 21 to an intermediate location, such as 
adjacent a mid-point between the fly frame 21 and the ring spinning 
machine 22 at which location the temporary storage device 10 is parked. 
Additionally, the rail assembly 18 includes a second rail portion 18" 
which extends from the ring spinning machine 22 to the location of 
temporary storage device 10 where the two rail portions 18', 18" overlap. 
Full bobbins from the fly frame 21 are transported along the first rail 
portion 18' to the temporary storage device 10 and empty bobbins 
temporarily stored in the temporary storage device 10 are transported 
along the same portion 18' to the fly frame 21. Full bobbins temporarily 
stored in the temporary storage device 10 are transported along the second 
rail portion 18" to the ring spinning machine 22 and empty bobbins from 
the ring spinning machine 22 are transported to the temporary storage 
apparatus 10 for temporary storage therein. 
In the further embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3, the rail assembly 18 
includes a first portion 18' extending from the fly frame 21 to the 
intermediate location of the temporary storage device 10 and the temporary 
storage device 10 is movable to a position adjacent the ring spinning 
machine 22 to transfer full bobbins to the ring spinning machine and to 
receive empty bobbins from the ring spinning machine, and is movable to 
its intermediate location at which empty bobbins stored therein can be 
transferred to the first rail portion 18' for transport to the fly frame 
21 and full bobbins from the fly frame 21 transported along the first rail 
portion 18' can be transferred thereto. 
In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the rail assembly 18 includes the second 
rail portion 18" extending from the ring spinning machine to the 
intermediate location of the temporary storage device 10. In this 
embodiment, the temporary storage device 10 is movable to the intermediate 
location and a location adjacent the fly frame 21 at which empty bobbins 
stored in the temporary storage device can be transferred to the fly frame 
21 and full bobbins from the fly frame can be transferred to the temporary 
storage device 10 for temporary storage therein. 
The embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 1-4 illustrate different 
configurations of the rail assembly 18 which can be used in the bobbin 
transport system of the present invention in lieu of the branch rail-type 
system disclosed, for example, in the German Patent No. A 22 27 105. 
Additionally, the rail assembly 18 can be modified to include branch rails 
adjacent the respective machines in which one or several rows of bobbins 
can be supported temporarily next to the machine until they are 
transferred to the machine. In light of the practical knowledge 
conventionally known about the temporary storage of bobbins adjacent 
textile machines, rails having means movable therealong for suspending 
bobbins therefrom are preferred for such storage. Additionally, these 
branch rail assemblies are preferably positioned in the region of the 
spare bobbin frame of the ring spinning machine itself. 
In FIGS. 5 and 6, a temporary storage device 10a of a form utilized in the 
present invention is seen to include a rack 23 mounted on rollers 24 on 
which the temporary storage device 10a rolls on a surface such as a floor. 
The rack 23 includes a plurality of rails 11 arranged in pairs parallel to 
one another, with each respective pair of rails being vertically spaced 
from and aligned with the other pairs of rails. Preferably, the rails of 
each rail pair are spaced from one another at the same spacing at which a 
pair of rails of the rail assembly 18 are spaced from one another. A 
segment 16 having a plurality of creels 25 mounted thereto at uniform 
intervals for supporting bobbins thereon, is suspended from each of the 
rails 11 by a pair of spaced rail wheel assemblies 17 having grooved 
wheels which engage and roll along the rails 11. 
In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 10, the rail assembly 18 includes a 
pair of branch rails 38 selectively aligned with a conventional switch to 
the rail of the rail assembly 18. Each branch rail 38 is operatively 
connected to an alignment controller 42 by an arm 44. The alignment 
controller 42 has a controllable mechanism of conventional type, such as a 
mechanical drive apparatus, for moving the arms 44 to thereby move the 
free ends 40 of the branch rails 38. By selective movement of the free 
ends 40, the branch rails 38 can be raised, lowered and moved side to side 
to bring their free ends into alignment with the free ends 46 of rail 11 
of the bobbin storage device 10a of FIGS. 5 and 6. Once the free ends 46 
of the rails 11 and the free ends 40 of the branch rails 38 have been 
brought into alignment with each other, the bobbins 14 supported on the 
rails 11 can be moved onto the branch rails 38 and then moved along these 
rails to the main rail of the assembly 18 for further transport to the fly 
frame 21 or the spinning machine 22. 
In the form illustrated in FIG. 7, a temporary storage device 10b includes 
two pairs of rails 11 mounted on a rack 27. The rails 11 can be provided 
with the segments and corresponding rollers for supporting bobbins as 
described with respect to the embodiment of FIGS. 5 and 6. The temporary 
storage device 10b includes a conventional vertical movement apparatus 28 
such as, for example, an hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder with a piston 
extendable and retractable therein, which is connected to the rails 11 for 
raising and lowering the rails 11 as required to bring each pair of rails 
11 into alignment with the corresponding branch rails of the rail 
assembly. 
In a further form illustrated in FIG. 8, a temporary storage device 10c is 
in the form of a mobile unit mounted on a plurality of rollers 24. The 
unit includes mounting means for mounting a plurality of slidable 
drawer-like pallets 19, each of which is provided with means 12 such as, 
for example, posts, for supporting bobbins thereon. The pallets 19 can 
accommodate a relatively large of bobbins 14 in a relatively small amount 
of floor space. The pallets 19 can be inserted and withdrawn from the unit 
of the temporary storage device 10c as required to load or unload the 
bobbins 14 thereon. The temporary storage device 10c can be provided with 
a transfer apparatus for transferring the bobbins 14 from the apparatus to 
a textile processing machine, such as the ring spinning machine 22. 
Another form of the bobbin storage device of the present invention is 
illustrated in FIG. 9 and in this form the device 10d has a plurality of 
bobbin support members or posts 13 arranged in horizontal rows and 
supported on a rack 29. The posts 13 are upwardly oriented and are adapted 
to receive bobbins 14 inserted thereon. The posts 13 may project outwardly 
at an inclination in the range of horizontal to vertically upward as 
desired for preferred support of bobbins inserted thereon. The frame 29 
includes a plurality of grooved wheels 30 which roll along a pair of 
spaced parallel stationary rails 31 mounted on the floor. 
In each of the forms described, the bobbin storage device is a unitary 
device separate from the rails for independent accumulation of bobbins 
from the rails without being limited by the rails in capacity and floor 
space. Further, all forms of the device include bobbin supporting members 
arranged for supporting bobbins in a plurality of rows for compactness in 
storing a large number of bobbins in a small floor space as compared with 
a conventional branch rail system of storing bobbins. 
In addition, the bobbin storage devices 10, 10a, 10b, 10c and 10d are 
mobile independent of the rail assembly so that, if desired, the device 
can be moved to either of the machines for delivering or receiving bobbins 
or can be moved to other locations for receiving or delivering bobbins. 
As illustrated in FIG. 9, the system of the preferred embodiment of the 
present invention also includes a transfer means 20 for transferring 
bobbins 14 from the temporary storage devices 10, 10a, 10b, 10c or 10d to 
a rail of the rail assembly 18 and for transferring bobbins from the rail 
assembly 18 to the temporary storage device. The transfer means 20 
includes a vertical column 33 along which a triangular carriage 34 is 
vertically movable. The carriage 34 includes an endless belt 35 trained 
around a plurality of guide rollers and a drive roller. A bobbin gripper 
32 is fixedly mounted to the endless belt 35 and includes a grip arm 
mounted for rotation about an axis transverse to the direction of movement 
of the bobbin gripper 32 by the endless belt 35. The gripper arm of the 
bobbin gripper 32 can thus grip a bobbin 14 and transport along a surface 
of the triangular carriage that has been aligned with an inclined post 13 
of the storage device 10d for insertion of the bobbin onto the post 13. 
Similarly, the carriage can be manipulated to remove bobbins from the 
carriage 10d. Additionally, the grip arm can be pivoted about the axis to 
orient the non-engaged end of the bobbin for engagement by a vertically 
movable grip element 36 which is mounted for vertical movement on the 
column 33. As illustrated in FIG. 9, a bobbin gripper 32' gripping a 
bobbin 14' holds the bobbin in a position for receipt by the vertical 
gripper 36. Once the bobbin 14' has been received on the vertical gripper 
36, the bobbin gripper 32' can be moved by the endless belt to clear the 
bobbin and the vertical gripper. Then, the vertical gripper 36 can raise 
the bobbin 14' for insertion onto a creel on the transport assembly 18. In 
one modification of the embodiment shown in FIG. 9, the transfer means 20 
can be provided with a plurality of bobbin grippers 32 and vertical 
grippers 36 so that a horizontal row of bobbins 14 on the temporary 
storage device 10d can be simultaneously transferred therefrom. 
The system of the present invention, in addition to being capable of 
transporting bobbins between the storage device and the machines, is 
capable of selectively alternatively transporting bobbins directly between 
machines without temporary storing in the bobbin storage device. Thus, 
bobbins can alternatively be transported directly between machines with 
the single rail of FIG. 1, or they can be transferred from one rail to the 
other of FIG. 2 without transfer to the bobbin storage device. 
ENCLOSURE I 
With reference now to FIG. 10, the branch rails of the transport assembly 
18 will be further described. A pair of branch rails 38 are selectively 
couplable by a conventional switch to the rail of the transport assembly 
18 which extends from a position adjacent the fly frame 21 to a position 
adjacent the spinning machine 22. The free end 40 of each branch rail 38 
is movable by means of an alignment controller 42 which is operatively 
connected to the branch rails by arms 44. The alignment controller 42 is 
operatively connected to a horizontal adjustment device, illustrated in 
FIG. 13, and a vertical adjustment device, illustrated in FIG. 12, for 
horizontally and vertically moving the branch rails 38 to configure the 
transport assembly 18 for the rolling travel of the segments 16 between 
the temporary storage device 10a and the rails of the transport assembly 
18. The alignment controller 42 moves the free ends 40 into alignment with 
the free ends 46 of the rails 11 of the storage apparatus 10a so that the 
bobbins 14 supported on the rails 11 can be transferred to support means 
on the branch rails 38. Once the bobbins 14 have been transferred to the 
branch rails 38, they can be moved to the rails of the transport assembly 
18 for further transport to the fly frame 21, the spinning machine 22, or 
some other location for handling the bobbins. 
In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 10-13, the rail assembly 18 
additionally includes a pair of branch rails 38 each extending from the 
primary rail (the rail extending between the fly frame 21 and the ring 
spinning machine 22) to the same respective lateral side thereof. As seen 
in FIG. 13, each branch rail 38 is selectively connectable to the primary 
rail of the rail assembly 18 for rolling travel of the segments 16 
therebetween. One end of each branch rail 38 terminates relatively 
adjacent the primary rail of the rail assembly 18 and each branch rail 38 
extends generally at an acute angle with respect to the longitudinal 
extent of the rail of the rail assembly 18. 
A portion of the primary rail of the rail assembly 18 is formed by a pair 
of switch rails 48. As seen in FIG. 13, each switch rail 48 has a free end 
pivotally mounted to the frame supporting the rail assembly 18 for 
pivoting about a vertical axis extending through the path of travel of the 
segments 16 along the primary rail of the rail assembly 18. The other free 
end of the switch rail 48 is connected to the free end of a biasing member 
50, which can be in the form of a conventional spring. The other end of 
the biasing member 50 is mounted to a support frame. 
Each switch rail 48 is disposed for selectively interconnecting the primary 
rail and a respective branch rail 38. A conventional selective movement 
means in the form of a conventional solenoid assembly 52 includes a 
selectively extendable and retractable plunger 54 whose free end is 
pivotally connected to the switch rail 48 at a spacing from the pivot axis 
of the switch rail. The solenoid assembly 52 is actuable to extend the 
plunger 54 to effect pivoting of the switch rail 48 from a primary rail 
transport position in which the longitudinal extent of the switch rail is 
in alignment with the longitudinal extent of the primary rail for linear 
travel of the segments 16 along the switch rail 48 and the portions of the 
primary rail adjacent each end of the switch rail 48, and a branch rail 
connecting position in which the switch rail 48 has been pivoted about its 
pivot axis to bring its free end into aligned, adjacent relation with the 
adjacent free end of the respective branch rail 38 for rolling travel of 
the segments 16 from the primary rail of the rail assembly 18, along the 
switch rail 48 and onto the respective branch rail 38 to effect transfer 
of the bobbins 14 from the primary rail of the rail assembly 18 to the 
respective branch rail 38. 
The solenoid assembly 52 is operatively connected to a conventional 
solenoid control device 56 which includes a sensor 58 for sensing the 
travel therepast of a segment 16 along the rail of the rail assembly 18. 
The sensor 58 can be in the form, for example, of a light emitting 
component for emitting a light beam transversely across the travel path of 
the primary rail and a photo detecting component disposed for detecting 
interruption of the light beam. The sensor 58 is positioned relatively 
adjacent the primary rail at a location intermediate the switch rail 48 
and the fly frame 21. The conventional solenoid control device 56 can be 
configured to actuate the solenoid 52 to effect movement of the switch 
rail 48 between its main transport position and its branch rail connecting 
position in response to the sensing by the sensor 58 of a segment 16 
traveling therepast. 
As seen in FIG. 10, each branch rail 38 initially extends from its end 
adjacent the primary rail in a generally curved configuration and then 
extends in a generally linear extent to a free end 40. 
An alignment controller 42 is provided for selectively vertically moving 
the end 40 of each branch rail 38. As seen in FIG. 12, the alignment 
controller 42 includes a pair of conventional pneumatic cylinder and 
piston assemblies, each having a cylinder 60 pivotally connected at one 
end to a frame member and a piston 62 selectively extendable from, and 
retractable into, the cylinder 60. The free end of the piston 62 is 
pivotally connected to an arm 64 rigidly connected to the free end 40 of a 
respective one of the branch rails 38. The arm 64 extends transversely 
from the branch rail 38 relative to the longitudinal extent of the rail in 
a generally vertical direction. A pivot portion 65 of the linear extent of 
the branch rail 38 forming the free end 40 thereof is pivotally connected 
by a pivot connector 66 to the remainder of the linear extent of the 
branch rail 38. The pivot connector 66 permits pivotal movement of the 
free end 40 of the branch rail 38 relative to extent about a generally 
horizontal axis transverse to the linear extent of the branch rail. The 
arm 64 is rigidly connected to the branch rail 38 at a location 
intermediate the pivot axis and the free end 40 of the branch rail 38. 
The cylinder 60 is connected to a conventional pneumatic fluid source (not 
shown) for supply of pneumatic fluid to the cylinder 60 and for the 
receipt of pneumatic fluid discharged from the cylinder 60. Each alignment 
controller 42 is operable as follows to effect vertical alignment of a 
free end 40 of a selected one of the branch rails 38 with a respective one 
of the rails 11 of the temporary storage apparatus 10a. If the free end 40 
of the branch rail 38 is lower than the respective rail 11, the 
conventional pneumatic fluid source is manually or automatically 
controlled to supply pneumatic fluid to, and receive pneumatic fluid from, 
the cylinder 60 to effect retraction of the piston 62 into the cylinder 
60. The retraction of the piston 62 effects pivoting of the pivot portion 
65 of the respective branch rail 38 about the pivot axis of the pivot 
connector 66 with corresponding vertical displacement of the free end 40 
of the branch rail 38. The conventional pneumatic fluid source is 
controlled as appropriate to effect positioning of the free end 40 of the 
branch rail 38 at generally the same height as the respective rail 11 to 
which the bobbins 14 transported along the branch rail 38 are to be 
delivered. The operator then manipulates the temporary storage apparatus 
10a as necessary to dispose the free end of the respective rail 11 in 
substantially abutting engagement with the free end 40 of the branch rail 
38. 
If the free end 40 of the branch rail 38 is higher than the respective rail 
11 of the temporary storage apparatus 10a, the conventional pneumatic 
fluid source is manually or automatically controlled to supply pneumatic 
fluid to, and receive pneumatic fluid from, the cylinder 60 to effect 
extension of the piston 62 from the cylinder 60. The pivot portion 65 of 
the respective branch rail 38 pivots about the axis of the pivot connector 
66 in correspondence with the extension of the piston 62, thereby 
correspondingly moving the free end 40 of the branch rail 38 to a lower 
position generally at the same height as the respective rail 11 of the 
temporary storage apparatus 10a. The operator then manipulates the 
temporary storage apparatus 10a as necessary to move the free end of the 
respective rail 11 into substantially abutting engagement with the free 
end 40 of the branch rail 38. 
As seen in FIG. 11, the primary rail of the rail assembly 18 is in the form 
of a generally C-shaped channel having a pair of opposed, parallel 
longitudinal edges. The wheel of each spaced wheel assembly 17 is in the 
form of a pulley or grooved-type wheel having an inner circumferential 
surface of reduced extent formed intermediately a pair of flanged portions 
of relatively larger circumferential extent. 
The opposed, parallel longitudinal edges of the C-shaped channel are 
uniformly spaced from one another at a spacing slightly larger than the 
diameter of the inner reduced circumferential portion of the wheels of the 
wheel assemblies 17 and of lesser extent than the diametrical extent of 
flange portions of the wheels of the wheel assemblies 17 for movably 
retaining the wheels of the wheel assemblies 17 therebetween during 
rolling travel of the segments 16 along the rail of the rail assembly 18. 
The primary rail of the rail assembly 18 includes an electrical conducting 
strip 68 mounted to the inner surface of the side of the C-shaped channel 
which is opposite the opening formed by the opposed, parallel longitudinal 
edges. The electrical conducting strip 68 is operatively connected to a 
conventional electrical supply source (not shown) for supplying electrical 
current along the extent of the electrical conducting strip 68. The 
electrical conducting strip 68 is co-extensive with the primary rail of 
the rail assembly 18. Each segment 16 includes a conventional electric 
drive motor 70 having a drive shaft on which a respective one of the wheel 
assemblies 17 of the respective segment 16 is fixedly mounted. The 
electric drive motor 70 includes a pair of current collecting fingers 72 
mounted to the drive shaft of the electric drive motor. The free ends of 
the current collecting fingers 72 are supported relative to the electrical 
conducting strip 68 for conducting electrical current from the electrical 
conducting strip to the electric drive motors 70. 
The electric drive motor 70 rotates the wheel of the respective wheel 
assembly 17 in response to the flow of the electric current in the 
electrical conducting strip 68. The direction of rotation of the drive 
shaft of the electric drive motor 70 can be selectively adjusted in 
conventional manner to effect rolling travel of the wheels of the wheel 
assemblies 17 along the rail of the rail assembly. For example, the 
electric drive motor 70 can be a direct current electric motor which 
rotates its drive shaft in one direction in response to a positive flow of 
electrical current through the electrical conducting strip 68 and 
reversibly rotates the drive shaft in an opposite rotating direction in 
response to the flow of negative current through the electrical conducting 
strip 68. 
It will therefore be readily understood by those persons skilled in the art 
that the present invention is susceptible of a broad utility and 
application. Many embodiments and adaptations of the present invention 
other than those herein described, as well as many variations, 
modifications and equivalent arrangements will be apparent from or 
reasonably suggested by the present invention and the foregoing 
description thereof, without departing from the substance or scope of the 
present invention. Accordingly, while the present invention has been 
described herein in detail in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is 
to be understood that this disclosure is only illustrative and exemplary 
of the present invention and is made merely for purposes of providing a 
full and enabling disclosure of the invention. The foregoing disclosure is 
not intended or to be construed to limit the present invention or 
otherwise to exclude any such other embodiment, adaptations, variations, 
modifications and equivalent arrangements, the present invention being 
limited only by the claims appended hereto and the equivalents thereof.